Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality

“Hey, hey, hey, why are you all looking at me!” Li Haoran snapped.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou averted their gazes. Right, it wasn’t only the Nine Nether Sect that had former Sect Leaders. The Solar Sect and Heartless Sect could also have them.

Besides, Qin Haoran was so poor that he ended up being chased by debt collectors. He didn’t seem like someone who could leave behind treasures.

“Who is Master Mi? Who is the ‘former Sect Leader’ that Master Mi mentioned? And what is the ‘treasure left behind’?” Qin Yanyan asked a series of questions.

Across the entire Central Continent, only the four major demonic sects—oh wait, three now—could have a position titled “Sect Leader.”

This Master Mi could very well be a member of one of the three demonic sects.

Little Seven was startled by Qin Yanyan’s intensity and shook her head. “I don’t know. Master Mi only communicates with us one way. He placed a restriction on our souls, making us obey him. He rarely tells us anything.”

“Every time Master Mi comes to collect yang energy, he asks if anything strange has happened in Ancient Lotus Town or if we’ve found any unusual items.”

The three ghosts didn’t know Master Mi’s identity.

Mayor Fan was also shocked. He knew Little Seven and the others were under “Master Mi,” but he didn’t know that Master Mi was from a demonic sect.

If he had known, he would never have used Little Seven and the others for promotion.

No matter how much he wanted to advance his career, he wouldn’t risk associating with a demonic sect.

With the Undying Sect being uprooted recently, many officials who had collaborated with them for personal gain were ousted, causing upheaval in the court.

Speaking of which, it was the Dao Seeking Sect that discovered the Undying Sect. Truly, the Dao Seeking Sect deserved its place as one of the Five Great Immortal Sects.

One wondered which important figure from Dao Seeking Sect found the Undying Sect headquarters.

“Fairy, do their souls have restrictions?” When it came to knowledge about souls, Lu Yang was completely in the dark. It was better to ask the all-knowing Everlasting Fairy.

“They do, but the method used to place the restrictions is quite crude—beginner level. Should I remove them?”

Lu Yang pondered for a moment and asked, “Will Master Mi notice?”

“Are you joking? Do you know who I am? Even if Master Mi were here in person, he wouldn’t notice the restrictions being removed from these ghosts.”

“Then please go ahead, Fairy.”

Lu Yang informed the three female ghosts that Master Mi was from a demonic sect. The three ghosts were immediately terrified, shaking like leaves and repeatedly insisting they were good ghosts with no ties to the demonic sects.

Lu Yang smiled, “I know you three have no connection to the demonic sects. But I’m worried that under Master Mi’s control, you might be forced to do things against your will. So, I intend to remove the restrictions on you and have the Dao Seeking Sect supervise you to ensure you don’t commit any evil deeds. How about that?”

The three female ghosts dared not disagree and nodded vigorously.

Everlasting Fairy secretly removed the restrictions placed by Master Mi and replaced them with identical fake ones. Anyone below the Unity stage wouldn’t be able to detect the difference.

The three female ghosts felt an immediate relief in their souls as the long-standing restrictions disappeared.

Little Seven timidly raised a hand and cautiously asked, “Um, excuse me, can we go back now? It’s almost time for class.”

They had to teach the scholars every day, always punctual and dedicated.

“Very well, we’ve learned enough about the situation.”

Everyone prepared to leave.

Before leaving, Lu Yang reminded the mayor, “Mayor Fan, the matter of the demonic sect is of great importance. Please do not mention our visit to anyone.”

Knowing that there were traces of a demonic sect here, they had to take some action before heading back.

“Of course,” Mayor Fan nodded. When it came to dealing with a demonic sect, it was best to let professionals like the Dao Seeking Sect handle it. He was just a small official and didn’t want to get involved.

After bidding farewell to Mayor Fan, the four humans and three ghosts returned to the dilapidated temple. The three female ghosts went to the main hall to teach their class, while the four humans gathered in a side room to discuss their next steps.

Earlier, in front of the mayor, Li Haoran had been unable to speak freely. Now, without outsiders present, he felt it was safe to share more. “Actually, I have a vague memory of coming to Ancient Lotus Town in my past life to hide something. I took measures to isolate it from any kind of detection, so it must be a treasure.”

“So there really is a treasure here?”

“Is Master Mi really from the Nine Nether Sect?”

“Where is the treasure hidden?”

“What is the treasure?”

“How could you have left behind a treasure when you were so poor in your past life?”

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou fired off questions one after another.

Li Haoran rolled his eyes and said helplessly, “It’s just a fragment of a memory. I don’t remember clearly, but there is something in Ancient Lotus Town for sure.”

“Wait, what are you three talking about?” Qin Yanyan was confused. What treasure? What Nine Nether Sect?

What did this have to do with her former father?

The three exchanged glances. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou both saw the resignation in Li Haoran’s eyes.

“Qin Yanyan and Su Yiren will find out about this eventually. It’s better to be open about it now,” Lu Yang advised. As Qin Yanyan’s uncle, he felt she deserved to know the truth.

Meng Jingzhou agreed.

Li Haoran hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell his former daughter the truth about Qin Haoran’s identity.

“Actually, your father, Qin Haoran, was the previous Sect Leader of the Nine Nether Sect…”

Li Haoran laid out the entire story. As Qin Yanyan listened, her expression grew increasingly strange. She had never imagined that her unseen father was a demonic sect leader, adept at deception, and deeply in debt.

After quietly listening to the revelations about her father, Qin Yanyan let out a long sigh and then a wry smile. What could she do upon learning her father was a demonic sect leader? She could only accept it.

In truth, she had no emotional attachment to Qin Haoran. She had grown up with Su Yiren, and “Qin Haoran” was merely a symbol of “father” to her.

“Oh, by the way, your dad being a demonic sect leader means you’ll face restrictions if you pursue a career in government, military, or any sect’s entrance exams. You won’t pass the political vetting,” Lu Yang kindly reminded her. He had recently been brushing up on the laws of The Great Xia and had learned quite a bit.

Qin Yanyan: “…”

Thank you for the reminder.

Meng Jingzhou also chimed in, “Your parents were married for five hundred years. Given your father’s habits, he probably accrued more debts during that time. But don’t worry, your mother isn’t responsible for those debts since she wasn’t aware of them and your father spent the money on the Nine Nether Sect. According to the law, these debts are not joint marital debts.”

Meng Jingzhou was well-versed in economic law.

Qin Yanyan: “…”

Thank you for the reminder as well.

Qin Yanyan felt the earnest concern of her two uncles.

“My father was so eager to break through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage. He even said he wanted to secure a future for me and my mother…”

Li Haoran nodded solemnly. “To increase his loan limits.”

“And to enhance his ability to withstand overdue debt collections.”