Everyone's Schemes
Having finally managed to get out for a stroll, the group naturally wasn't going to head back so soon.
Under the Limitless Sect gazes of the Wuji Sect disciples, Fu Shuangjiang dutifully led the group to several more shops backed by powerful forces and stocked with many rare items.
This trip naturally incurred a considerable expense, as the shopkeepers happily rode their flying magical Law Artifact, delivering large and small packages of goods to the Limitless Sect.
The disciples were filled with envy and jealousy, and also harbored some resentment towards their sect leader.
After all, they knew very well that the money spent on Ji Fucang and the others would definitely be recouped from them in the future.
However, none of them dared to stop Ji Fucang, after all, he was a distinguished guest personally recognized by the sect leader, the kind that the entire sect should treat with utmost respect.
Suppressing their dissatisfaction, the group dared not relax. Seeing the "distinguished guests" walking faster and faster, they quickly followed suit.
Seeing their actions, Jimo Qing also secretly gave Ji Fucang a wink.
Ji Fucang subtly beckoned with his fingers hidden in his sleeve. Sang Ying, who was surrounded by them, glanced at them with obvious disgust on her face, causing the other disciples to silently avert their gazes.
After all, he was a great benefactor who saved the Black Tortoise Realm; shouldn't we at least give him some face?
Having achieved a satisfactory result, Ji Fucang made another move, causing the puppet "Sang Ying" he was controlling to turn its head back.
Just as Limitless Sect had feared, everyone had indeed planned this trip down the mountain.
To prevent Jiang Zhuoxue from escaping while they were trapped in the Limitless Sect, Sang Ying and the others secretly planned to set up several Teleportation Array outside the Limitless Sect.
However, Sect Master Wu was quite wary of them. Even when they left the courtyard, someone had to follow them all the way, let alone outside the mountain gate.
In order to ensure the plan could proceed smoothly, Ji Fucang took out his trump Puppet Technique – and the group worked through the night to create a fake "Sang Ying".
Due to a lack of good materials and a tight schedule, the replica only looks similar on the outside, but there are still some subtle differences from the True Person.
The biggest problem is that she can't speak.
With such a glaring flaw before them, the group had to be even more cautious. So, after releasing the puppet in the previous shop, they quietly surrounded it, afraid that their disciples, who were monitoring them, would notice something amiss.
Fortunately, everything is going smoothly now, but I don't know how things are going with Sang Ying.
While the group on this side was still filled with worry, Sang Ying, who had changed her appearance, had already quietly taken care of everything.
The city at the foot of the Limitless Sect is called Crane Islet, and it is considered the largest city in the area.
Even though it had experienced a beast tide earlier, with the help of many cultivators in the city, Crane Islet City quickly recovered to its former prosperity.
Sang Ying was new to the area and didn't dare to rent a room easily. If she attracted the attention of someone and caused unnecessary trouble, their escape route would probably be cut off.
With that in mind, she decided to take the risk and went directly to the outskirts of Crane Islet City. She found a cave where no one would linger and quickly set up various formations, including Teleportation Array and concealment arrays.
Seeing that it was getting late, she covered up the cave and then quickly returned to Crane Islet City.
As for Ji Moqing and his group, led by Jimo Qing Fu Shuangjiang, who had practically bought up the entire West Market, they also cooperated with each other after receiving Sang Ying's message. Under the noses of several Limitless Sect disciples, they secretly switched Sang Ying and the puppet back.
The sun had already sunk below the western mountains, and it was time for everyone to return to their sect.
A group of people walked through the bustling streets of the West Market, about to use their magical Law Artifact to head towards the Limitless Sect.
Sang Ying suddenly became concerned about the two people who had just brushed past her. She turned her head to look at the two figures that quickly disappeared into the crowd, but she couldn't see anything.
"What's wrong?" Fang Chi immediately noticed that something was off about her.
Seeing that the people who had been assigned to monitor her were also looking over at the sound, Sang Ying shook her head at Fang Chi: "It's nothing. I thought those two looked familiar, so I thought they were acquaintances."
She gave a brief explanation, and everyone, hearing that nothing was wrong, didn't think much of it and simply ignored it.
Sang Ying didn't see that after the two men had walked away, one of them turned back and glanced at her retreating figure.
"Have we seen that person somewhere before?" Si Jing, draped in a long robe, searched his memory.
His companion bluntly turned his head back. "We don't have time to think about these things now. Even if you know her, would you dare to go and acknowledge her as your friend?"
Si Jing thought about it and agreed. What they were about to do was no simple matter, so it was best not to cause trouble for others.
After a moment's thought, the two figures quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Sang Ying and the others returned relatively late; at least the Limitless Sect hadn't settled the accounts with the merchants in the West Market for the Spirit Stone yet.
The bags and packages were piled up like a small mountain at the entrance of the Limitless Sect. The steward of the outer sect was pulling several unfamiliar men aside to settle accounts with a dark expression.
Judging from their clothes, they were probably shop assistants from the shops in the West Market, who had specially delivered the goods to my door.
As each item was received and each Spirit Stone was given out, the manager's heart ached terribly. Just then, he ran into Sang Ying and her group returning laden with their spoils. Seeing their beaming faces, the manager's anger flared even more.
He dared not say much to the distinguished guest recognized by his sect leader, but he glared at several disciples with a dark face.
The sect leader had previously instructed them to keep a close eye on these outsiders, so why didn't these fools stop them?
In just today, he has already spent millions of Spirit Stone, all of them high-grade Spirit Stone!
Although those Spirit Stone didn't belong to him, spending them himself was enough to make him feel bad for a long time.
The outer sect's accounts are almost empty of Spirit Stone. If this continues, they won't be able to pay the outer sect disciples' monthly stipends!
The steward silently wiped away a tear of bitterness, but didn't stop them from going in. However, after they had walked quite a distance, the steward couldn't help but glare fiercely at his good-for-nothing disciples several times.
"Steward Song, don't be distracted, hurry up and give me the Spirit Stone!" Another shop assistant urged, disrupting the manager's hard-won composure once again.
The news of the distinguished guests' return quickly reached Sect Master Wu's ears. Only after hearing that these people had not left the disciples' sight all day did he feel relieved and wave his hand to dismiss them.
Inside the main hall sat many high-ranking cultivators, who were the sect leaders and elders of this realm's sects, and also Sect Master Wu's current allies.
However, those who had previously been on good terms with Sect Master Wu did not show any good expression towards him today.
"Sect Master Wu, we have been staying in your sect for many days. What are your plans for dealing with that evil dragon, and when will you finally do so?!" A cultivator couldn't contain his impatience and asked directly.
Sect Master Wu hadn't expected them to be so blunt, but fortunately, he had already planned for this. "Everyone, don't worry, I've already devised a way to deal with this evil dragon. Within three days, the dragon will surely die!"
Amidst the uproar and excitement of the audience, Sect Master Wu smiled slightly, seemingly already envisioning his glorious future.