Chapter 4068: Giving The Beasts Their Missions
Chapter 4068: Giving The Beasts Their Missions
Ashy’s eyes brightened. "Me?"
"Yes. I need you to infiltrate a restricted area and listen to what the people inside are saying."
Ashy immediately puffed up her feathers. "Yay! Gossip mission!"
Lin Mu chuckled. "Something like that."
He knew that Ashy’s abilities were exceptionally well suited for this kind of work.
As a Blinding Shadow Stream Nightingale, she possessed extraordinary concealment capabilities. Her affinity with shadows allowed her to hide in places that ordinary cultivators would never think to examine.
Furthermore, her small size made her particularly difficult to notice. Even powerful cultivators could overlook her if she remained careful.
"I want you to listen out for anything involving Taegong, the Vault Division’s internal affairs, or unusual movements of treasures and records," Lin Mu explained.
Ashy tilted her head. "Can I listen to other things too?"
Lin Mu smiled helplessly. "As long as you remember the important information."
"Okay!" Ashy chirped happily.
She was already imagining all the interesting conversations she might overhear.
Lin Mu then turned toward the Yin Yang Twin Serpents. "As for you two, I need you to scout the surrounding forests."
Xiao Yin raised her head. "Both of us?"
"Yes. But you’ll be going to different locations." The two serpents looked at each other.
"Different locations?" Xiao Yang repeated.
Lin Mu nodded. "The Vault Division has several facilities within the Core Court. There are three major branches, and their administrative responsibilities rotate every decade."
He used the jade slip map to project a simplified map in front of them. Three locations appeared upon it, each marked with a different point of light.
"The branch currently serving as the main division is here," Lin Mu explained, pointing toward the first location. "That’s where the Wild Peak cultivators and I will be going."
He then indicated the remaining two. "These are the other branches. Although they aren’t currently responsible for the main administrative functions, they still possess personnel, storage facilities, and restricted areas."
Xiao Yin examined the map. "So you want us to watch these places?"
"Exactly." Lin Mu nodded. "Taegong has disappeared, and we don’t know where he’s hiding. There’s a reasonable chance that he’s somewhere within the main branch, especially if he has support from other members of the Vault Division."
He paused briefly. "However, he could also be hiding in one of the other branches. And if someone is helping him, they might be moving him between facilities."
Xiao Yang’s eyes brightened. "So if we find him, we catch him?"
"Inform me first," Lin Mu replied. "I want to know who he’s meeting and what he’s doing. If we catch him too early, we might lose the opportunity to identify the people behind him."
The White serpent considered that. "Okay. But if he tries to escape?"
"Then you can stop him, provided you can do so without drawing too much attention." Lin Mu replied.
Xiao Yang gave an enthusiastic hiss. "Understood!"
Lin Mu looked toward Xiao Yin. "I want you to examine the second branch and the surrounding wilderness. Look for hidden formations, unusual Immortal Qi fluctuations, concealed entrances, and people moving through restricted areas."
Xiao Yin nodded. "I can do that."
"Xiao Yang, you’ll handle the third branch. The same instructions apply to you." Lin Mu stated.
"Alright!" The white snake nodded.
Lin Mu continued, "Both of you should avoid unnecessary confrontations. These facilities belong to one of the sect’s most important Divisions, and there may be powerful cultivators stationed within them."
The serpents nodded again. Although they enjoyed fighting, they understood that Lin Mu was serious. He then turned toward Little Shrubby.
Before Lin Mu could speak, the liger raised his head. "And I’ll provide speedy support!"
Lin Mu smiled. "Exactly."
Little Shrubby’s speed was exceptionally useful for responding to unexpected developments.
With his Flash Fire Liger and Thunderbolt Cheetah bloodline’s extraordinary speed, he could traverse vast distances quickly, especially when combined with the various abilities granted by his other bloodlines.
If either serpent discovered something dangerous, Little Shrubby could reach them a lot more quickly than most cultivators.
"Your task is to remain mobile," Lin Mu explained. "I’ll give you a position where you can respond to either of them. If they encounter trouble or discover something important, you’ll help them withdraw or relay the information to me."
Little Shrubby nodded eagerly. "Alright!"
"And remember, I want everyone to remain concealed." Lin Mu stated.
The liger gave a serious nod. "I understand, Master."
Lin Mu looked at all four of his companions. "Good. I’ll release you three near your assigned areas, while Ashy will remain hidden in my shadow."
Ashy chirped happily. "That’s easy!"
She immediately fluttered down from his shoulder. A faint ripple passed through the shadow beneath Lin Mu’s enormous body, and the tiny bird disappeared into it. The Yin Yang Twin Serpents watched with interest.
Xiao Yang gave a soft hiss. "I hope there are some strong enemies."
Xiao Yin shook her head. "You just want to fight."
"So do you!"
"Only if they’re interesting."
Lin Mu chuckled. "Save the arguments for later."
He activated his connection to his Sleepscape. The beasts obediently entered, with Little Shrubby taking one final look at the surrounding forest before disappearing.
Lin Mu waited until all four were safely inside before closing the entrance. ’That takes care of the preparations.’
With his companions ready to investigate the other Vault Division branches, he could focus on the main facility without worrying as much about Taegong escaping through another location.
Of course, the Vault Division was an enormous organization, and there was no guarantee that his four beasts would discover everything. But their presence would significantly expand his ability to monitor the situation.
Lin Mu raised his hand once more as spatial Qi gathered around his fingers. A portal opened before him and he stepped through, returning to the region he had used as his intermediate point.
From there, he opened another spatial passage that brought him back to the Core Continent. Once he arrived, he made his way toward the teleportation array connected to the wilderness facility where the others were gathering.
The journey was remarkably smooth. He released the beasts and they went to their designated locations.
By the time he reached the destination, barely half an hour had passed since he had told the Wild Peak elders to proceed without him. The teleportation facility was still bustling with activity.
Several groups of Wild Peak disciples were arriving in batches, while the High Elders coordinated their movements. The smaller destination array could only accommodate fifty cultivators at once, so transporting the entire group required multiple trips.