"It's just some worldly identities, Fellow Daoist Zhen need not mind." Liu Zhanshang waved his hand, unconcerned.

Yuan Ming nodded slightly, feeling somewhat amused in his heart.

The reason he had guessed the other's identity was due to a sentence he had heard by chance in the ancestral teachings of the Liu Imperial Family's genealogy early on, "Look far with high esteem, follow the path respectfully and prosperously." Every member of the Imperial Family was arranged in generational order according to these teachings. Although it had been three thousand years and he could not specifically determine the generation, the character 'Zhanshang' was indeed from the genealogy.

He thought that if he met Liu Tianming in the future, he would tell him about today's encounter with his ancestor.

Subsequently, under Yuan Ming's lead, the group from Chang Chun Temple finished touring the Chaotian Sect's four extreme conditions and witnessed the style of each peak, until dusk approached when they returned to their arranged accommodations.

However, when Yuan Ming was guiding the group from Chang Chun Temple to their accommodations, he did not leave; instead he accompanied them into the residence.

"Fellow Daoist Zhen has already troubled you much today. If you happen to have time to visit Da Jin or Chang Chun Temple in the future, I hope you could inform us in advance to allow us to extend our hospitality," Liu Zhanshang said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Liu is too kind. Regarding the itinerary for the next few days, I still need to confirm some details with you, Fellow Daoist Liu. May I have a private word?" Yuan Ming spoke in a calm and unhurried manner.

Liu Zhanshang looked at Yuan Ming thoughtfully for a moment, then instructed his sect mates to scatter and rest. He entered his own room with Yuan Ming, cast a soundproofing magic with a flick of his hand, then turned around and quietly waited for Yuan Ming to speak.

Yet, Yuan Ming seemed not entirely reassured, as he solemnly took out an array plate and set up another formation to block divine senses before he slowly began to speak:

"Fellow Daoist Liu, what I am about to discuss is highly confidential. I hope that after hearing it, you will immediately contact Senior Wan Qi to return and not reveal it to a second person."

"It's our first meeting, Fellow Daoist. If you have something highly confidential, why insist on discussing it with me?" Liu Zhanshang shook his head, clearly somewhat dismissive.

"Because this matter involves Chang Chun Temple significantly. After accidentally discovering it, I have been restless and tossing and turning. Having enjoyed our conversation today, I truly felt uneasy and wanted to inform you," Yuan Ming sighed first, then under Liu Zhanshang's somewhat puzzled gaze, he revealed the shocking information:

"Fellow Daoist Liu, are you aware that your Chang Chun Temple's secret Cultivation Technique 'Nine Elements Technique' has been stolen and learned by others?"

"What? That's impossible. Anyone who cultivates the 'Nine Elements Technique' must register their name in the temple and need a guarantor. If it leaks, it involves more than just one person; please be cautious with your words, Fellow Daoist Zhen," Liu Zhanshang suddenly stood up, his face full of tension.

Yuan Ming shook his head and said nothing, instead, he handed over a jade scroll.

Liu Zhanshang took the jade scroll, barely probed it with his divine sense, and his expression froze. By the time he finished reading, he was sweating profusely.

"Is this the entire 'Nine Elements Technique'? Fellow Daoist, where did you obtain this?"

"In all honesty, I found this while organizing the cave mansion for my master. The name 'Nine Elements Technique' is renowned. I memorized its content at that time and later copied it, wanting to ascertain its authenticity. Seeing your reaction today, it seems my suspicions were correct, this cultivation technique is indeed a unique teaching of your temple," Yuan Ming said somberly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhanshang became restless, pacing back and forth in the room holding the jade scroll. After a moment, he suddenly remembered something, rapidly took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, and contacted the leading Core Formation Elder to report.

About 15 minutes later, the room door was pushed open hurriedly, Wan Qi Ze entered the room, seeing the nervous Liu Zhanshang and the sighing Yuan Ming, he immediately frowned deeply.

"Something serious has happened, Master Mo Qi," Liu Zhanshang began without waiting for him to ask, recounting Yuan Ming's words and handing over the jade scroll.

After Wan Qi Ze read the contents of the jade scroll, his face also showed shock. He then ordered Liu Zhanshang to close the room door, raised his hand, and two more soundproofing spells were cast. Next, he spat out a small sword that gleamed with golden light, which instantly flew out and pressed against Yuan Ming's neck.

"Who sent you here, and where did this cultivation technique come from? Tell me everything clearly, or I won't mind killing you first and then using a secret technique to search your soul," Wan Qi Ze said, his tone overflowing with killing intent.

Yuan Ming's face showed fear and grievance, but he was already prepared. He immediately spoke out the rehearsed arguments:

"Senior Wan Qi misunderstood me. I came here of my own accord, with no one behind the scenes directing me. As for the cultivation technique, I have already told Fellow Daoist Liu: I found it by accident when organizing my master's cave mansion. If the senior does not believe me and insists on searching my soul, there is nothing I can do. Consider it a misunderstanding of my sincere intentions," Yuan Ming said.

"Haha, your acting might fool others, but it won't fool me. Who would not take care of such a secret item? Besides, you said it belongs to your master. There's no involvement between you and our Chang Chun Temple. You betray your own sect for no reason, just to hand this over to us? Do you think I'm a fool?" Wan Qi Ze shouted fiercely.

"Senior Wan Qi is wrong. I have no intention of betraying my sect. The one who truly wants to betray is my master. He has been a part of Chaotian Sect for a long time, yet as a peak's master, he ignores the tasks given by the sect, does not manage the peak diligently, and also secretly hoards Chang Chun Temple's cultivation techniques. What is his purpose? Who is he stealing the cultivation techniques for?" Yuan Ming said.

Hearing this, Wan Qi Ze's brows slightly furrowed. Although the golden light sword still pressed against Yuan Ming's neck, the murderous look in his eyes somewhat receded.

"If it were for stealing from the sect, but I, as his direct disciple and also his student, have never seen such cultivation techniques circulating within our sect. If it were for his own theft, he has never changed his main cultivation technique, so what use would he have for this secret book? Therefore, I boldly speculate that my master, Shen Lingyun, might belong to another power, lurking within our sect for some other purpose, perhaps even to steal the core cultivation techniques, and this 'Nine Elements Technique' could be the result of his previous infiltration," Yuan Ming continued to explain rapidly as he saw this.

Wan Qi Ze fell silent. After a long time, he suddenly retracted the Golden Sword Treasure. Seeing this, Yuan Ming quietly sighed in relief, knowing his analysis had taken effect.

His statement actually wouldn't withstand scrutiny, but firstly, even though this speculation might be false, the fact that Shen Lingyun was a traitor was true. By drawing the target and shooting the arrow, even if others were suspicious, seeing the correct results, they wouldn't care too much about the process.

Secondly, he only needed to solve the matter of Chaotian Sect's destruction, without needing to consider the consequences. Even if the lie were exposed, what did it have to do with him, Yuan Ming?

"Why did you choose to tell us this statement just now, instead of discussing it with other Core Formation Elders within the sect?" Suddenly, Wan Qi Ze seemed to have caught a hole in Yuan Ming's statement.

"I'm insignificant and my words carry little weight, especially when they concern my own master. How many would believe me if I spoke out? Moreover, does Shen Lingyun have any accomplices within the sect? I might run into another elder who has infiltrated; I know nothing and can't trust others. The reason I told Senior Wan Qi, first, is because of the 'Nine Elements Technique', and second, because you're outsiders with no ties to our sect. Even if you were undercover, not gathering intelligence within our sect and instead operating in other sects, what purpose would that serve?" Yuan Ming explained logically.

Wan Qi Ze fell silent again and, after a moment, he spoke again, this time with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

"What would you have me do?"

"Don't worry, Senior. I already have a plan. You just need to step in at the critical moment to save my life. It won't be difficult for you. Even if asked later, you were merely passing by and this wouldn't lead to any enmity with our sect," Yuan Ming stated confidently.

Afterward, he laid out his plan in detail, and Wan Qi Ze nodded repeatedly, looking at Yuan Ming with a bit of admiration in his eyes.

"Your plan, although it won't make you bear the infamy of betraying your master and ancestors, those old stubborn members of Chaotian Sect won't accept this. In the future, no Core Formation cultivator would want to take you as a disciple. I think you might as well join me and enter Chang Chun Temple to avoid being settled by those old stubborn members later," Wan Qi Ze suddenly suggested.

"Thank you, Senior Wan Qi, for your appreciation. I respectfully accept your offer," Yuan Ming responded joyfully, bowing to Wan Qi Ze.

Afterward, the two of them discussed in secret for a long time, and eventually finalized the plan. Under Liu Zhanshang's complicated gaze, Yuan Ming smiled as he bid farewell and left the lodging at Chang Chun Temple.

...

The next day, Yuan Ming visited Shen Lingyun and repeated the same statement as last time, getting his token.

After that, Yuan Ming continuously made his way to the Deacon Hall, pretending to check there for a while, before taking a bunch of Jade Scrolls back to Shen Lingyun's Cave Mansion.

The same conversation was repeated, but this time, as Yuan Ming turned to leave and Shen Lingyun suddenly made a sneak attack, his silver long sword hit Yuan Ming, but did not pierce through his chest. Instead, it was repelled by a golden light.

"Master, what are you doing!" Yuan Ming exclaimed in astonishment.

Shen Lingyun did not respond, but realizing that Yuan Ming was prepared, he immediately formed a spell, intending to eradicate him entirely.

But at that moment, a hearty laugh from Bi Changyou suddenly came from outside the Cave Mansion.

"Ha ha, Junior Brother Shen, I've brought Fellow Daoist Wan Qi from Chang Chun Temple to discuss the Dao with you."

Shen Lingyun was shocked inside, and his hands stopped moving. His expression changed for a while before returning to calm.

"I was just testing whether you've been lax on a daily basis. Now it seems that I was overly concerned," he said.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming gave a secretive smile and suddenly took out a long sword surrounded by Core Formation Stage mana, stabbing his own left shoulder, then used his mana to fly backwards out of the Cave Mansion.

"Master, why would you hurt your disciple?"

Outside the Cave Mansion, Bi Changyou and Wan Qi Ze were floating in mid-air, both full of smiles as they awaited Shen Lingyun to come out and greet them, when they suddenly saw Yuan Ming flying out backward, crying out with a bloodied wound on his left shoulder, and they were dumbfounded, unsure of what had happened.

Just then, two ghostly shadows suddenly appeared above Lingxing Peak, replaying the events that had just unfolded inside the Cave Mansion.

However, the content of the shadow performance, up to the point where Shen Lingyun attacked, did not record the moment Yuan Ming was protected by golden light.

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