Chapter 520 - 295: Secret Affairs of the Far South, Magical Treasure Refining
Chapter 520: Chapter 295: Secret Affairs of the Far South, Magical Treasure Refining
His Divine Sense surged in forcefully. A moment later, Lin Changheng withdrew it, a look of confirmation on his face.
The Messenger had indeed been turned and become a mole. Or rather, he had been a sleeper agent from the start, planted to pass information at a critical moment.
It described, in exhaustive detail, everything the Messenger had seen and felt on his trip. The section about his contact with Lin Changheng was especially meticulous; the writing practically painted a picture between the lines.
This showed he was a master of his craft, and that great importance was placed on Lin Changheng.
"Just as well."
Lin Changheng smiled. A wisp of Glowing Golden Flame drifted out and landed on the corpse, instantly reducing it to ash. A mountain breeze blew, leaving not a single trace behind.
...
Dealing with the matter didn’t actually take much time.
Lin Changheng extended his senses slightly and realized the Messenger had already passed through the Immortal City’s gate and entered the city proper.
He immediately followed, not stopping until he personally saw the man fly into the Immortal Lake. Only then did Lin Changheng relent.
「Three days later.」
Lin Changheng met Bai Hengwan again in a certain administrative hall within the Inner City.
She was alone. Not only had her attendants been dismissed, but an Array was fully active, enveloping the entire hall.
"Ms. Bai."
"Mr. Lin!"
The two exchanged greetings. It had been some time since they last met, and the aura around Bai Hengwan was now significantly stronger, making Lin Changheng’s scalp tingle.
In all his hundred-plus years in the Cultivation Realm, Lin Changheng could say he had only ever met one person with such Talent—Bai Hengwan!
An Earth Grade, Anomalous Spirit Root Talent.
Her Cultivation speed was simply astounding.
Her aura was like a beacon, drawing Lin Changheng’s attention so completely that he found himself overlooking her stunning beauty.
Her Cyan Silk cascaded like a waterfall, held in place only by a Plain Jade Hairpin. Her features were as fine as a painting, and her skin was fairer than snow. Dressed in a moon-white Magic Robe, she possessed an incomparable elegance. An ordinary person wouldn’t dare to look directly at her, as if a single extra glance would disturb her celestial grace.
"What’s wrong? Is this the first time you’ve seen me, Mr. Lin?"
Sensing Lin Changheng’s gaze, Bai Hengwan gave a faint smile. Her voice was like a clear spring, tinged with a hint of teasing.
"Ahem, that’s not it. It’s just that the progress of your Cultivation is so astonishing it puts me to shame, Ms. Bai."
Lin Changheng didn’t feel embarrassed. He averted his gaze, completely unflustered, as he spoke.
"My progress may be fast, but there really isn’t much time left."
Hearing this, Bai Hengwan showed no sign of happiness. Instead, a faint worry clouded her expression.
"Elder Qing Lan isn’t going to make you all fight in an arena, are they?"
For some reason, an image popped into Lin Changheng’s mind, and an odd look crossed his face.
"That would be better, actually. At least there would be a clear standard."
Bai Hengwan shook her head. "No one can guess our Master’s thoughts, nor can anyone influence them. Their might is glorious and utterly unfathomable."
Lin Changheng said no more, also feeling a headache coming on. ’What’s the difference between this and the war of succession between the nine princes from my past life? No standard procedure, no clear focus, no rules—it all comes down to the whims of the one in charge.’
After that, by unspoken agreement, neither of them brought up the matter again.
Lin Changheng then brought up the matter of the treacherous Messenger he had discovered and took out the thin sliver of a "Jade Scroll."
"I was wondering, Ms. Bai, if you might be able to find out who is behind this?"
Lin Changheng, surprisingly, was the one making a request.
"Hmm?"
Bai Hengwan was taken aback, her beautiful eyes studying Lin Changheng for a few moments. Generally, given Mr. Lin’s cautious nature, he would avoid this kind of troublesome business at all costs. Yet now he was taking the initiative to ask about it?
It was a rare occurrence, to say the least.
"To be honest, it seems I’ve also been targeted by this person. Five years ago, they took advantage of my carelessness to place some kind of Curse Seal on me. Fortunately, I found a way to deal with it, so there was no lasting harm."
Lin Changheng’s expression didn’t change as he relayed this, his tone so light it was as if he were talking about someone else.
"That actually happened?"
Bai Hengwan’s tone finally shifted. She had always tried to keep Lin Changheng from getting involved to avoid this very situation, only asking him for Elixirs and never for his open support unless it was an emergency.
’So, Lin Changheng was dragged into this after all? And five years ago, no less... They’re planning far too far ahead!’
Bai Hengwan’s expression clearly soured.
"That’s not all. I discovered that their methods seem to involve Demonic Cultivation Techniques and Magic."
Lin Changheng held nothing back, hoping to blow the matter wide open.
It would be best if he could use the power of the Floating Immortal City to wipe out the Demon Cultivators in one fell swoop, eliminating the trouble for himself.
But to his surprise, after hearing him out, Bai Hengwan merely looked thoughtful. She didn’t appear overly shocked, but was instead considering how this could be used to her advantage.
This gave Lin Changheng the distinct impression that the Floating Immortal City wasn’t particularly concerned about remnants of the Demonic path.
They didn’t have the same attitude of deep-seated hatred and determination to exterminate all Demonic practitioners that was publicly displayed throughout the Song Territory.
Bai Hengwan had a delicate and keen mind. Sensing Lin Changheng’s confusion, she suddenly smiled. "Are you wondering about our attitude toward the Demonic path, Mr. Lin?"
"I am. Please enlighten me, Ms. Bai."
Seeing that Bai Hengwan was willing to elaborate, Lin Changheng immediately clasped his hands in a salute, adopting an expression that showed he was all ears.
"Hating the Demonic path, vowing to hunt down and kill every last Demonic Cultivator... that has nothing to do with Sects and Immortal City powers like us. It’s just a show we put on for certain people."
Bai Hengwan explained bluntly.
"Oh? Certain people? Perhaps you could be more specific, Ms. Bai."
Her words immediately piqued Lin Changheng’s curiosity. ’Certain people? They must be individuals of astonishing power and high status in the Song Territory to make all the top influences willing to put on a show for them.’