Chapter 3

Wang Chong secretly practiced for more than ten days and had勉强 managed to activate the first restriction of the Yantian Pearl, allowing him to slightly manipulate this magical treasure. As he gained a slight understanding of the Yantian Pearl, he became even more puzzled. This magical treasure seemed to be used for divination and fortune-telling. Such treasures were common among wandering fortune-tellers and were not considered valuable, let alone capable of withstanding the divine powers of the Huixian Mirror.

"Forget it!"

Wang Chong consoled himself, muttering to himself, "I've already infiltrated the Emei Sect. Thinking too much is useless. I should rather think about how to steal the Emei Sect's advanced Daoist techniques to complete my mission for my sect."

Wang Chong gently closed his fingers, and the Yantian Pearl transformed into a cool essence of primordial energy, flowing through his meridians and into his body. He put aside his doubts and began to ponder how to act in the Wuling Immortal Mansion, the heart of the Emei Sect.

The Emei Sect's elders had slain the Daoist Yan and brought Wang Chong and another disciple of Daoist Yan, Yue Yuanzun, to the Wuling Immortal Mansion.

Yue Yuanzun's background was even more pitiful than Wang Chong's. His ancestor was a well-known clean official who was framed by corrupt officials, leading to the confiscation of his family's property. Only he was saved by an old servant, preserving the Yue family's lineage.

Because of their similar backgrounds, the Emei Sect's elders had differing opinions and much debate.

If they were from a heterodox sect, a demonic or evil sect, dealing with captured disciples from other sects would be simple. They could either kill them, select those useful for extracting life force to refine magical treasures, or take them as servants for menial tasks, acting as they pleased.

However, the Emei Sect was a proper sect that emphasized heavenly principles and virtue, with many rules and a cautious approach, valuing benevolence and kindness.

Even the most righteous and hate-filled Daoists Xuanya and Xuhe only planned to let them fend for themselves, at most suggesting to strip them of the magical powers they learned from their evil master to prevent them from causing harm after leaving the mountain.

Some felt that their talents were not bad, their backgrounds were clear and pitiful, and if they were taken into the Emei Sect and carefully taught, they could be reformed into righteous individuals.

A few elders believed that the Emei Sect should not be so lenient or strict, and suggested sending them to become disciples of overseas scattered immortals, considering it a form of accomplishment.

The Emei Sect had another very important matter that required the attention of several elders. Since the handling of Wang Chong and Yue Yuanzun was not a major issue, the elders did not reach a decision and left for overseas affairs.

Wang Chong and Yue Yuanzun's futures would have to wait until the elders returned from their overseas trip.

Wang Chong looked outside the stone cave. This small cave was a temporary residence provided by the Emei Sect. The cave entrance had a faint glow, a protective restriction that allowed him to see outside but kept out wind and rain, and isolated him from the cold and heat. Despite the storm outside, not a drop of rain or a gust of wind could penetrate the cave, demonstrating the effectiveness of the protective restriction.

Even the storm's intensity could not match the turmoil in Wang Chong's heart. He thought to himself, "Grandmaster Futuo mentioned to me that the Emei Sect's founder, Yin Dingxiu, practiced for 1,300 years and was known as the first among Daoists. He had great fortune, not only obtaining countless magical treasures but also personally refining nineteen flying swords, whose sword techniques were considered the best in the universe. Recently, Grandmaster Yin Dingxiu ascended to immortality in broad daylight, leaving behind a large sect with many young disciples who had not yet matured. Everyone is eyeing the sect with greed. Our Tianxin Sect is just a minor branch of the demonic sect, small and weak. Even a small benefit would be enough to strengthen our sect, which is why I was sent to infiltrate the Emei Sect to steal their true Daoist techniques. To learn the Emei Sect's advanced Daoist techniques, I need to gain the favor of the Emei Sect's elders and become their disciple. But how can I make the Emei Sect's elders willing to take me as a disciple?"

As Wang Chong was deep in thought, the Yantian Pearl, hidden in his meridians, suddenly jumped, and a cool breath of air rushed to his brow. He felt his brow throb a few times, closed his eyes slightly, and saw a scroll unfold in the void.

The scroll depicted mountains and rivers, caves and ravines, various strange flowers and plants, and steep peaks, giving the young man a sense of familiarity.

Wang Chong compared the scenery in his memory, and his heart was suddenly filled with shock. He exclaimed to himself, "This scroll... isn't it the map of the Emei Sect's Wuling Immortal Mansion?"

The scenery in the scroll was vivid and detailed, with mountains and rivers of varying heights, as if the Emei Sect's landscape had been reduced a thousand times and imprinted in his mind. The scroll showed the mountains and waters of the Wuling Immortal Mansion, with different rays of light rising from dozens of places.

Wang Chong focused his consciousness on the entrance of the Wuling Immortal Mansion, where the light was the strongest. In the radiant mist, a treasure appeared, ancient and simple, with rugged patterns, which was the Emei Sect's Huixian Mirror, the sect's most important treasure.

As he focused on the Huixian Mirror, some text appeared in the scroll: "The Huixian Mirror is a rare treasure of the immortal mansion, the Emei Sect's most important magical treasure, with countless uses. It can detect the presence of demonic energy and reveal the past and future, the previous life and the present. It currently has no master, but the treasure has a spirit and should not be moved lightly..."

Wang Chong was shocked and shifted his consciousness to the center of the Wuling Immortal Mansion, where a green mountain peak floated in the air, majestic and towering.

More text appeared in the scroll: "The Cui Bi Peak is the hub of the Emei Sect's Wuling Immortal Mansion, the Two-Worlds Qianyuan Sumeru Golden Light Great Array, the Emei Sect's most secret treasure, controlled by Daoist Xuande! This treasure was refined by Grandmaster Yin Dingxiu over a thousand years and is integrated with the Wuling Immortal Mansion. Touching one point affects the entire body. Without the cultivation of a True Lord, even with the secrets to break the array, it cannot be successful. Inside, it contains the nineteen most powerful magical treasures refined by Grandmaster Yin Dingxiu, seven invisible immortal swords, the Emei Sect's most important scripture, the *Taiqing Bao Lu*, half a scroll of the *Zifu Zhenzuan*, and twenty-eight scrolls of scriptures collected by the Emei Sect from other sects!"

Wang Chong realized that the places where the light gathered in the scroll were all where the Emei Sect's treasures were hidden. He hurriedly opened his eyes, and the scenery disappeared.

The young man, unable to contain his shock, repeatedly opened and closed his eyes, confirming that the scroll was stored in his mind, visible only to him and not in reality.

Wang Chong suppressed his shock and fear, thinking to himself, "What is this? Why can the Yantian Pearl reflect the secret map of the Emei Sect's Wuling Immortal Mansion and know what treasures the Emei Sect has? How can it record such details? Our Tianxin Sect is just a minor branch of the demonic sect, and Grandmaster Futuo's cultivation is only at the level of a Six-Desire Demon. How could he have such a magical treasure?"

Under the agitation of his emotions, Wang Chong inadvertently revealed a bit of his aura. He was startled and quickly adjusted his true qi to avoid revealing his cultivation from the Tianxin Sect.

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