Su Zixuan slowly reached out and took the command token.
As her spiritual sense swept lightly over it, the Ghost Mantis image on the token seemed to come alive in an instant, conjuring a colossal creature dozens of zhang tall in her mind. Its terrifying aura rushed at her, making even her tremble slightly.
This token is no ordinary thing indeed, Su Zixuan thought. Her spiritual sense then swept over Cao Yuan's Storage Bag, and a thoughtful look flickered in her eyes.
She carefully tucked the command token and Storage Bag into her robes, knowing that the secrets hidden behind this Ghost Mantis Token might be even greater than she had imagined.
"Changsheng." Su Zixuan turned toward Lin Changsheng, her expression grave. "Our participation in this operation must be kept strictly confidential.
"Place divine soul restrictions concerning this matter on everyone from the sect. Nothing must leak. As for those outside the sect, handle them as you see fit. Make absolutely certain nothing can go wrong."
Lin Changsheng acknowledged her respectfully, then turned and left with the sect disciples to begin handling the aftermath.
Su Zixuan put away the command token and the restricting formation. With a flicker, she turned into a streak of light and sped toward the Demon Lotus Sect's core Branch Altar.
She knew time was pressing. She had to report this matter to her master as soon as possible.
Several days later, on a small island several thousand li from Hidden Spirit Island, lay the most important of the Demon Lotus Sect's five Branch Altars.
On the surface, this place was a stronghold occupied by water bandits.
Farther inland, a mountain range lay perpetually wreathed in clouds and mist so thick that one could not see the fingers of an outstretched hand.
Within the mountains, however,