https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-293-The-Terror-of-Golden-String-Puppetry/13506555/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-295-The-Secret-of-the-Ten-Thousand-Pit/13506557/
Chapter 294: Rampant Plundering
Chapter 294: Rampant Plundering
Several days passed before Lv Yang confirmed that Xiu Xin’s True Man form was stable.
The Golden String Puppet technique truly lived up to its reputation. As soon as Lv Yang activated it, regardless of Xiu Xin’s initial resistance, his True Man eventually submitted.
As for Yun Miaoqing, Lv Yang chose not to bind her with the Golden String Puppet.
There was no need. After discovering that Lv Yang could accelerate her cultivation, she had devoted herself entirely to sealed cultivation. Especially after Yun Miaozhen proposed temporarily staying at Hidden Sword Manor, Yun Miaoqing had barely left her chambers.
This suited Lv Yang perfectly.
The only inconvenience was Xiu Xin’s isolation in the Sword Pavilion. Since he practiced the Heartless Ice Sword Art, his cold demeanor alienated others. The art’s emphasis on supreme emptiness—cold as ice—appealed only to a rare few. Most cultivators saw no reason to endure emotional frost. The only companion Xiu Xin could summon was a Foundation Building Mid-Stage sword cultivator.
“The current Golden String Puppet can only control Early Foundation Building cultivators,” Lv Yang mused. “Mid-Stage Foundation Building? I’ll need my Immortal Spirit body to reach that realm first. Better not take the risk.”
Caution came first. As for infiltrating the Sword Pavilion to manipulate Early Foundation Building disciples? That would be like defecating under a Golden Core Sovereign’s nose—a reckless move Lv Yang refused to consider.
The priority remained clear: elevate his own cultivation.
His Immortal Spirit body was still at Early Foundation Building. Advancing further required devouring more Celestial Metal Spirit Items, a manageable task.
A thunderous boom echoed through Hidden Sword Manor as Yun Miaozhen’s frigid Spiritual Awareness enveloped the estate. She released her Late-Stage Refining Qi aura, a power Lv Yang had gifted her after helping her break through from Refining Qi Mid-Rank to Late-Rank. The breakthrough cemented her loyalty, though once she stepped out, her focus narrowed to her single directive:
“Find an excuse to plunder Hidden Sword Manor.”
As a subsidiary sect under the Sword Pavilion, Hidden Sword Manor brimmed with Celestial Metal Spirit Items. Lv Yang had long desired to seize them but hesitated to provoke the Sword Pavilion. Yun Miaozhen, however, could act without suspicion.
The manor was no Foundation Building powerhouse. Its strongest cultivator was merely a Refining Qi Perfection master, no match for Yun Miaozhen’s Late-Stage Refining Qi. Xiu Xin’s presence further ensured compliance.
“Effective immediately, Hidden Sword Manor is sealed! No one enters or leaves!” Yun Miaozhen’s icy decree rang out.
Promptly, Xiu Xin joined her, producing a handkerchief-like artifact. Though ordinary, when empowered by a Foundation Building True Man, it expanded into a sky-spanning barrier, encapsulating the manor.
“What cultivator dares seal our estate!?”
A dark-robed elder soared from the manor’s core, his voice trembling with urgency. His Refining Qi Perfection aura lacked the luster of a Supreme Divine Ability, and his aged face betrayed decades of cultivation.
Recognizing Yun Miaozhen, he stiffened. “You’re the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion’s disciple sent to select a Sword Core.”
“Yun Miaozhen of Yushu,” she acknowledged coldly. “I’ve received intelligence that Hidden Sword Manor colludes with the Northern Jiang Demon Sect to ambush Jade Pivot disciples.”
“What!?” The elder nearly popped his eyes out. Collusion with demons was a death sentence in Jiangnan.
Noting Xiu Xin’s silent presence, he dropped to his knees. “This is a grave misunderstanding! We’ve served the Sword Pavilion for generations. How could we betray you!?”
Yun Miaozhen’s eyes narrowed. “Are you accusing me of lying?”
“N-no! But—”
She cut him off. “Enough. I’ve come prepared to root out these demons.”
‘They should arrive soon.’
As if summoned, a surge of demonic energy erupted within the manor. The elder’s face drained of color.
Demons?!
Yun Miaozhen remained unfazed. The “demons” were actually Holy Sect disciples Xiu Xin had manipulated through karmic threads to target Yun Miaoqing.
One such disciple now glared, his face twisted with confusion. “Why am I here? I only meant to ambush low-ranking Sword Pavilion disciples at Jiangnan’s edge… What’s happening!?”
“Die.”
Xiu Xin flicked his fingers. A sword beam flashed, ending the disciple’s life.
“Demons from the North are all enemies,” Yun Miaozhen declared. Turning to the elder, she added, “You didn’t know? Irrelevant. Your negligence remains a crime. Had these demons succeeded in kidnapping our disciples, your entire sect would face annihilation.”
The elder’s face contorted. “But they’re dead now. Could we… avoid further investigation?”
“That depends on you,” Yun Miaozhen replied. “To prove your innocence, find the root cause.”
The elder’s eyes darted. “We recently acquired new Spirit Sword Cores for forging. The demons might’ve targeted them. Perhaps they tampered with the shipment… Could you inspect them?”
Yun Miaozhen finally nodded. “A reasonable lead.”
Inside a secluded meditation chamber, Yun Miaozhen entered with a heavy storage pouch, bowing before Lv Yang.
“Master, I’ve gathered all Celestial Metal Spirit Items from the manor. They’re here. For more, we’ll need to look beyond.”
Lv Yang accepted the pouch, nodding as he channeled the items into his Immortal Spirit body.
“Good work. But this isn’t enough. A single Hidden Sword Manor won’t suffice.”
“The message to the Yun Clan elder is sent,” Yun Miaozhen whispered. “They’ll come for me.”
Lv Yang smiled. “The first fish is hooked.”
(End of Chapter)
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