Chapter 87: Chapter 22: Meeting a Kindred Spirit Overseas, Turns Out to Be a Colleague
Over at Shushan, Qiu Changtian’s task in the Ling Yunpo swordplay competition was to defeat Duan Fenhai and secure the second rank on the Immortal Sword Ranking, which he did successfully.

The next goal was to hold onto that second rank, which required striking down any challengers with thunderous might, to ensure no one else dared attempt a challenge.

This “thunderous might” was quite literal in meaning.

The Postnatal Five Elements Great Extermination Divine Light was too domineering, turning a Flying Sword into scrap metal with a single brush.

It looked unharmed on the outside but was devoid of spiritual essence within, something anyone could detect as being amiss.

Only the Five Thunder True Law could deceive with the Daoist magic sealed within the Thunder Punishment Sword… after all, no one knew which Daoist magics were sealed inside it.

So, during this period, besides his daily breathing and Qi Refinement, Qiu Changtian focused on practicing the Five Thunder True Law to increase the power of his Thunder Method.

He also made sure to check on Junior Sister Xu’s mood, watching for any signs of deviation.

Junior Sister Xu’s mood had improved lately, spending her time wholly in cultivation, playing the zither and composing music, or soaking in Kunlun Spring at the market—a life of considerable comfort.

The other junior brothers and sisters were much the same, engaging in their own hobbies after their daily breathing and Qi Refinement, allowing their thoughts to flow freely and unhindered.

Guan Zhan was addicted to practicing his swordsmanship, Yan Zhitui liked to read, Chen Zhen and Zhong Tianhuai were fond of adventuring everywhere in search of ruins and blessed lands, while Jian Qingnan would gather with other Inner Sect junior sisters, chattering endlessly about who knows what.

Compared to the warmth of the Penglai Jade Pure View, and the competitive atmosphere within the Shushan Shangqing Faction, the Kunlun Taiqing Sect was probably the most in line with the “disinterestedness” of Cultivating Immortality—an unrestrained, do-what-you-like kind of sect.

After several days of cultivation, Qiu Changtian then loaded his save file to visit Luo Yan.

There was no particular reason for it; he had simply grown accustomed to spending a few days in each line before switching, to prevent forgetting what needed to be done on a line that hadn’t been loaded for a while.

Currently, Luo Yan was on an expense-paid business trip to Wuzhi Island on orders from his master, Elder Shi Ding, alongside Miss Shi.

The Heavenly Craft Workshop had previously helped set up an island protection formation for the Wuzhi Cave, but now the formation was malfunctioning, requiring Luo Yan to find the problem and fix it.

The disciple from Wuzhi Cave assigned to receive them was a beautiful female cultivator named “Li Qinniang.”

Luo Yan always felt that there was something off about this woman.

[Position Three: East Sea, Wuzhi Island.]

[Identity: Luo Yan.]

[Mirror Flower Water Moon Template overlay, in the midst of time-space travel.]

In the market alleyways of Danzhi Island, Luo Yan got used to the blurry feeling for a moment, then walked out with a warm smile.

At a stand ahead, the vendor was eagerly promoting a so-called “beautifying” pearl powder to two fairies, only to be quickly seen through by Li Qinniang with a few words, sheepishly offering them a fifty percent discount.

Miss Shi, considering Li Qinniang a bosom friend by now, walked arm in arm with her, sharing intimate girlish secrets, as Luo Yan followed behind with a smile.

No matter what trick Li Qinniang was plotting, he wasn’t very worried.

If she chose to hide it, it meant she didn’t want to provoke a conflict with us for the time being.

As for ambushing us, it was even less likely. After all, who the Heavenly Craft Workshop would send to Wuzhi Island was an utter unknown—what if Elder Shi Ding himself came?

So first of all, on our side, no suspicions were to be revealed, to avoid letting the other party easily detect anything.

Second, the reasons why the other party invited us had to be uncovered, to eliminate unnecessary risks.

For the latter, Luo Yan planned to take responsibility personally, as only his superior intellect could smoothly penetrate the enemy’s conspiracy.

As for the former, that would be left to Miss Shi, who didn’t know anything to begin with and could therefore confuse the other party.

Thus, Luo Yan adopted a relaxed demeanor, pretending to be in no rush, and started having a grand time with the two fairies, eating and playing around the market.

“Junior Brother, Junior Brother, how about that clam pot?” Shi Liuli suddenly asked.

Luo Yan followed her gaze and saw rows of neat clay pots set up at a small stand by the side of the street.

Steam rose from the pots, which contained clams and glass noodles cooked to a mushy consistency, with a bright soup color and tempting aroma.

However, all the ingredients were ordinary foods with no rare or beneficial items for cultivators.

Eating out of loneliness, it seems.

“Wow, Senior Sister, you really have a sharp eye,” Luo Yan feigned surprise, “These vermicelli pots look incredibly delicious.”

“Oh, there’s just no dealing with you,” Shi Liuli said, very pleased with herself, and then turned to Li Qinniang. “My little Junior Brother is good in all aspects, except he’s always craving for tasty food, and no matter how many times I’ve told him, he never changes.”

She showed a helpless expression that said “It’s all because Junior Brother wants to eat,” signaling Luo Yan to hurry up and buy it.

Luo Yan went to grab his wallet with a wry smile.

No, I must be professional as a spy, never using force unless absolutely necessary.

Li Qinniang found it amusing from the sidelines. She could see right through Shi Liuli’s excuse of blaming her own cravings on her Junior Brother.

Luo Yan secretly scrutinized her smile and suddenly realized that this woman seemed very much like him.

For example, both treated Miss Shi as a fool…

“Would Fellow Daoist Li also like to try some?” He asked while unhesitatingly buying three cans, and passed the first one to her.

“I’ve already tried these local snacks countless times,” Li Qinniang said with a flower-like smile, accepting it, “but indeed, they’re so good I never tire of them.”

Luo Yan took the second can, patiently blew it cool, and then handed it to Miss Shi.

Shi Liuli was overjoyed. These little tacit understanding moments between senior sister and junior brother, especially when displayed in front of outsiders, brought her great pleasure and enjoyment.

However, Li Qinniang seemed to have no realization of this, simply eating the vermicelli calmly.

No, that’s not right. Luo Yan mused in his heart.

With the woman’s previous behavior, she couldn’t possibly have missed Miss Shi’s show-off.

She just didn’t care.

With that thought, Luo Yan could finally confirm that this person was likely the same kind as him.

I should bestow my false persona upon you, Fellow Daoist Li…

Hm?

Suddenly, Luo Yan remembered something and quickly said to the Kunlun Mirror:

“Ah Jing! Does Li Qinniang show any traces of being possessed by a Heavenly Demon?”

“Just telling it like it is,” the Kunlun Mirror covertly activated its ability, observing for a while before saying without changing her expression, “Indeed…”

Her voice paused for a moment, then she continued:

“It’s not a case of Heavenly Demon possession, but like you, she’s not showing her true appearance to others—she’s used some kind of Heavenly Demon Illusory Art to disguise herself into what you all see now.”

“Hmph,” Luo Yan burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is.”

This “Li Qinniang” wasn’t a cultivator from Wuzhi Cave at all but a Demonic Path spy that had been swapped in.

Trying to spy in front of me is like showing off woodworking skills in front of Lu Ban, or wielding a broadsword in front of Guan Yu!

“Can you confirm it’s the Heavenly Demon Illusory Art?” Luo Yan asked to confirm again.

“Confirmed,” said the Kunlun Mirror with certainty.

The Heavenly Demon Illusory Art is a signature illusion technique from the Intercepting Cult’s Demonic Path.

This branch of the Demonic Path excels at harvesting people’s Seven Emotions and Six Desires, and even living souls, to refine all sorts of Demon Heads and cast various Evil Demon Laws.

Among them is a magic called “Ten Aspects Release Method,” which allows the caster to freely change their face, stature, skin color, voice, and scent, and even become a child, youth, elder, strong man, or woman, considered the most inscrutable illusion in the world.

Of course, Ah Jing’s Mirror Flower Water Moon is an exception and is not included in this.

Confirming the true identity of the opponent as a cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Path, Luo Yan felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest and immediately became assured.

A mere Evil Demon of the External Path, impersonating a righteous cultivator, let’s see how I deal with you!