Time seemed to freeze at that instant. Li Chen's Divine Sense flashed like lightning as he rapidly considered every consequence of his identity being exposed, yet he showed not the slightest panic.
Before coming here, he had already anticipated how difficult these three Second Sages of the Confucian Dao would be to deal with. Without a transcendent mind and intelligence, he could never contend with them. Thus, he had long since shut off his biological instincts and human emotions, switching to a mechanical mind and using absolute rationality, paired with a virtual personality, to control his actions.
As his Spirit-Particle-Converted Brain worked, Li Chen swiftly recovered his composure. Rather than flee, he sat down cross-legged right before the three Second Sages and asked with a smile, "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Master Han said, "Every cause must have an effect, and every effect must have a cause. I saw causality connected to the Vast Sea upon you, young friend, and thus knew long ago that you were a Puppet Master Grandmaster of the Puppet Dao."
Li Chen said, "Even so, you should not have known that I was Li Chen."
Master Han said, "Several months ago, I indeed did not know that you were my young friend Li Chen. Only later did a chance occurrence reveal it to me."
"I see. Was it causality?" Li Chen ventured. "There should have been no flaws in my disguise. Most likely, the poems and classical essays I wrote gave away my roots."
Master Han neither confirmed nor denied it. "In truth, we bear you no ill will. Young friend, for you to cultivate to the Grand Confucian Realm through your own efforts alone, your aptitude must be rare indeed. Why not simply join our Confucian Sect?"
Li Chen said, "Is this an