Just Because He Took One Extra Look in the Crowd

"An extra reward?"

Lu Changzhi was slightly taken aback.

He quickly recovered.

The Sign-In System had indeed mentioned that there would be extra rewards at certain times.

"But the grade actually starts at saint grade."

It was somewhat unexpected.

With a thought, Lu Changzhi took out the Blood Soul False Body he had just received.

He quickly frowned.

The so-called Blood Soul False Body was a palm-sized figure.

It was black and red all over, and it gave off a bloody smell. At a glance, it gave a very unpleasant impression and seemed quite evil.

[Blood Soul False Body]: A single-use item. By drawing on blood and souls, it can imitate a target's presence and spiritual sense. After use, it will utterly destroy the target's body and soul, and a portion of the target's memories can be obtained. This item has no offensive power whatsoever and can only be maintained for seven days after use...

After checking what the item did, Lu Changzhi was a little surprised.

So the false body was meant for disguising oneself as someone else.

"It's just that the price..."

As Lu Changzhi spoke, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

It seemed he could make use of this item right now.

If spies from other sects proved too difficult to dig out, he could have someone else do it for him.

That way, he would not have to worry about spies from other sects failing to deliver.

"Now I just need to find a suitable spy."

With that thought, Lu Changzhi put the false body away.

In the blink of an eye, the day came for Lu Changzhi to meet Luo Zhen.

Before Lu Changzhi even set out, the area around Luo Zhen's residence was packed so tightly that not even water could have flowed through.

As soon as Lu Changzhi arrived, countless people turned their attention to him.

"Peak Master Lu, are you really going to take Luo Zhen as your disciple?"

"Yes, yes! What's so special about Luo Zhen?"

"What exactly does it take to enter Hidden Origin Peak?"

The crowd's voices rose one after another, without end.

Lu Changzhi swept his gaze over them and was about to speak.

For some reason, though, he noticed one of the people asking questions.

For no apparent reason, he felt that something was off.

But he could not quite describe it.

So Lu Changzhi simply used the system to check the person's information.

[Name]: Luo Shenghuan

[Realm]: Creation Realm First Level

[Aptitude]: High earth grade

"Hm?"

Seeing that the realm was actually the Creation Realm First Level, Lu Changzhi's heart gave a sudden leap.

Just because he had taken one extra look in the crowd.

He had actually found someone who might be a spy?

What kind of luck was this?

The other person was wearing the clothes of an inner sect disciple.

The presence he gave off was only at the Spirit Sea Realm.

But at his actual realm, he could already serve as an elder.

Lu Changzhi committed the person's presence and appearance to memory.

Then he headed toward Luo Zhen's residence.

Luo Zhen was already waiting at the door. When he saw Lu Changzhi arrive, he bowed respectfully.

"Let's go inside first."

Lu Changzhi spoke.

The two then entered the courtyard, one behind the other.

A formation descended, cutting off sounds and probing from outside.

"Peak Master Lu, please accept Luo Zhen's bow. I earnestly beg you, Senior, to take me as your disciple and allow me to cultivate at Hidden Origin Peak."

Without another word, Luo Zhen immediately prepared to kneel and bow.

Lu Changzhi hurriedly stopped him and said:

"You're currently Peak Master Xu's personal disciple. I came today to look at your aptitude and other aspects. Nothing has been decided yet, so there's no need to rush into taking me as your master."

A troubled look appeared on Luo Zhen's face as he said:

"But that's what everyone outside is saying—that you're going to take me as your disciple and let me cultivate at Hidden Origin Peak."

Lu Changzhi pondered for a moment, then asked:

"Why do you want to cultivate at Hidden Origin Peak?"

Luo Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Hidden Origin Peak is a specially established peak, so being able to enter it is an honor in itself. And since it was specially established, it must have a greater advantage in resources, which could let me go further on the path of cultivation."

Lu Changzhi nodded. "That makes sense. But have you considered that changing peaks and taking a new master is rather troublesome? Besides, Dharma Form Peak has nurtured you for years, and that..."

Before he could finish, Luo Zhen said:

"Although I have been a disciple of the Five Symbols Sect for many years, I was only ever an inner sect disciple. I only became a true disciple recently."

"If Peak Master Lu is willing to take me in, I believe Peak Master Xu won't stand in the way of my future."

As Luo Zhen spoke, a fierce light shone in his eyes.

Water flows downhill; people strive for higher ground.

He had to seize this opportunity, no matter what.

After chatting with him for a while longer, Lu Changzhi rose and left.

"Peak Master Lu, how did it go? Are you really going to take him as your disciple and let him join Hidden Origin Peak?"

The moment he came out, countless voices asked him questions again.

The crowd was clearly extremely concerned about the matter.

Lu Changzhi did not answer, merely revealing a meaningful smile.

Then he flew away through the air.

Luo Zhen walked out of the courtyard and looked in the direction Lu Changzhi had gone.

"Luo Zhen, how did it go? How did it go?"

Facing the crowd's questions, Luo Zhen took a deep breath and smiled.

He said nothing, but his meaning was self-evident.

After leaving, Lu Changzhi did not go far.

From a distance, he watched Luo Shenghuan's movements.

Luo Shenghuan did not go to Luo Zhen, but left like everyone else.

Before long, Luo Shenghuan returned to his residence.

Lu Changzhi went to look through the disciples' records.

The Five Symbols Sect was large and divided into many areas for management.

Knowing the location of the residence, it was not difficult to check.

Before long, Lu Changzhi found the person's information.

Both the aptitude and presence matched.

The only difference was that, in the Five Symbols Sect's records, his name was Cui Wei.

"So there really is something wrong?"

Lu Changzhi murmured softly.

"Still, he's hidden so much of his strength. Dealing with him will be somewhat tricky."

After some thought, Lu Changzhi abandoned his plan to use the Dao-Severing Sword.

"I'd better go find the sect master and the others."

"Why do I have an ominous feeling?"

Inside the house, Luo Shenghuan's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Could it be that Peak Master Lu discovered me?"

After pondering for a moment, he shook his head gently:

"Unless it's the Five Symbols Sect's patriarch, no one else could possibly see through my talent. This Peak Master Lu surely couldn't have noticed anything either."

At the mention of his talent, a hint of pride appeared in Luo Shenghuan's eyes.

In fact, he was already seventy.

But his body grew far more slowly than that of an ordinary person.

Now, even if his body were examined, it would only appear to be in its twenties.

That was his advantage.

Older cultivators disguised as disciples were easily discovered.

And when it was simply a younger person in disguise, they were easily found wanting in experience.

He, on the other hand, was just right.

Together with the opportunity he had obtained in his early years to conceal his presence,

that was the secret to how he had remained hidden for so many years.

"I suppose the sect's orders have made me pay too much attention to this matter lately. I've actually been a little too cautious."

Luo Shenghuan shook his head and thought to himself:

It's not a big problem. I'll wait a while, then sound out Luo Zhen again. Nothing unexpected should happen.