Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality

“In the end, we need a few high-level cultivators to support the structure of the Heavenly Court Sect. You know that I don’t have many connections in the cultivation world, so after thinking it over, I realized that the elders of our sect are the most suitable candidates!”

Meng Jingzhou added, “Besides, the more you do something, the better you get at it. In the business of deception, experience is key. The elders have already deceived the Nine Nether Sect once, so doing it again shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Dai Bufan was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. The main thing was that he felt Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou made a lot of sense.

The Nine Nether Sect wasn’t foolish; the actors couldn’t always be the same people—they needed to switch things up.

“Alright then, if that’s the case, just make sure you talk to the elders. If they agree, I won’t have anything to say against it.”

Dai Bufan was temporarily managing the mission hall on behalf of the Grand Elder, but ultimately, he was still a disciple and couldn’t make decisions for the elders.

Although he had a feeling the elders would be quite pleased with the idea.

After all, it was a rare opportunity for them to collectively deceive the Nine Nether Sect a second time.

Dai Bufan was aware that the last time the Dao Seeking Sect’s Nine elders acted together, they almost bankrupted the Nine Nether Sect through their scheme.

Nine hundred years ago, the elders’ original plan was to drain the Nine Nether Sect of all its funds, which would naturally lead to internal conflicts and the sect’s collapse.

Who would have guessed that the Nine Nether Sect would prove to be so resilient? Even after being stripped of their money, they still managed to survive.

…

At Heaven’s Gate Peak, in the council hall.

Eight elders were gathered around Li Haoran, observing him as if he were a rare specimen.

They had just learned that Li Haoran was the reincarnation of the previous Sect Leader of the Nine Nether Sect.

“Who would have thought that reincarnation really exists, and that it would happen within our Dao Seeking Sect? How fascinating!”

“Indeed, but then again, our Dao Seeking Sect is a place of outstanding people and a blessed land—why wouldn’t something like this happen here?”

“I’ve always said that our founder made the right choice when he selected this location. The feng shui of our Dao Seeking Sect is far better than that of the other four immortal sects. I’ve studied feng shui extensively!”

“Don’t start, Senior Brother. Your feng shui studies mostly involve choosing burial sites. I even heard that when you were sleeping in a coffin, you encountered several groups of tomb robbers. They were so frightened by you that they nearly died, thinking you were a corpse coming back to life.”

“Let me correct you—that was what I call lying in wait.”

“His limb regeneration is perfect, and his Golden Core is smooth and flawless. It’s a first-grade Golden Core with no defects, which doesn’t seem like something Qin Haoran would have left as a backup plan if he died and reincarnated.”

“I don’t see any issues either. By the way, Nephew Li, do you know what type of Golden Core Qin Haoran formed? It’s possible that your Golden Core is somehow linked to his, and he might be gradually assimilating you through it, turning you into him.”

Li Haoran thought carefully and replied, “I don’t know what Qin Haoran’s Golden Core was called. I only have a vague memory of him holding a soul-summoning banner, summoning his Golden Core, accompanied by the wailing of hundreds of ghosts and the howling of monstrous beasts. The scene was grand, like the king of a hundred ghosts making an appearance.”

The eight elders, with their vast experience, quickly identified the type of Golden Core.

“From that description, it sounds like the ‘Wailing Ghosts and Howling Wolves Core.’ It creates a big spectacle that can scare people and also allows for sonic attacks. It can also be used to create an impressive display when you’re lacking in manpower. It has quite a few functions.”

Li Haoran asked curiously, “What grade is that Golden Core?”

“Second grade.”

“Qin Haoran’s Golden Core and Nephew Li’s Golden Core have no similarities. Nephew Li’s Golden Core should be fine.”

“Junior Nephew Yun Zhi, have you noticed any problems?”

Yun Zhi, who had been silent until now, gently shook her head. “No.”

“Then there are no issues,” the elders concluded.

Just as everyone was about to disperse, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou walked in.

The moment they stepped into the council hall, both of them felt a suffocating pressure—the Sixth Elder, who possessed the Flawless Immortal Physique, was present, and the group had been communicating via divine sense.

“Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, do you have something to discuss?” the Fifth Elder asked curiously.

Lu Yang used his divine sense to explain, “It’s like this: to deceive the Nine Nether Sect, we specifically established a Heavenly Court Sect…”

Lu Yang gave a brief overview of the situation, with Meng Jingzhou occasionally adding details.

“So that’s the situation. We don’t have enough people at the moment and would like to ask the elders to pose as protectors of the Heavenly Court Sect.”

Silence. A long silence.

Just when Lu Yang thought the elders might not agree, the divine sense communication suddenly became lively.

“If there’s something this fun, you should’ve told me sooner—I would’ve taken Old Fifth’s place!”

“Haoran is my disciple, so it’s naturally my responsibility to go!”

“Junior Nephew Lu, you really have some good ideas. Why didn’t I think of this back then?”

“Heavenly Court Protector—that sounds much grander than being an elder of the Dao Seeking Sect!”

“Count me in, count me in. Deceiving the Nine Nether Sect is something I excel at.”

“Exorcising demons is our duty!”

“I missed out on messing with the Undying Sect last time, but I can’t miss this chance with the Nine Nether Sect!”

The elders were far more enthusiastic about this plan than Lu Yang had imagined. It seemed to remind them of their youthful days when they had caused all kinds of chaos in the mortal world.

“I’ve spent years dealing with graves, so I’ll be called the Netherworld Heavenly King.”

“I guard the medicine garden and have extensive knowledge of spiritual plants. How about the Hundred Herbs Heavenly King?”

“I’m skilled in body refinement. Even the monks who have cultivated the Vajra Body in the Buddhist lands are no match for me. I’ll be the Indestructible Heavenly King.”

“I’m a Confucian cultivator, so I’ll be the Great Scholar Heavenly King.”

“Junior Nephew Lu already named me the Heavenly King of Many Treasures.”

“Let me think… I possess the Flawless Immortal Physique, so I could be the Purity Heavenly King… or the Cleanliness Heavenly King… no, I’ll stick with the Flawless Heavenly King. But ‘Cleanliness Heavenly King’ does have a nice ring to it.”

(TL Note: Somewhat related, while doing research, I found out that the Flawless Immortal Physique is the same as the Void Imperfection Physique that the protagonist of Emperor’s Domination has.)

“I’m best at alchemy, and controlling fire is crucial in alchemy, so I’ll be the Golden Flames Heavenly King.”

“I was the one who first deceived the Nine Nether Sect last time, and here I am again—it must be fate. I’ll be the Genesis Heavenly King.”

“It’s a pity that Old Nine isn’t here for this fun.”

“He’s currently locked up with the Minister of Justice, so I doubt he’ll make it in time.”

“What would Old Nine be called? Sword Fighting Heavenly King?”

“The Sword Fighting Heavenly King? That’s ridiculous! Don’t forget how Old Nine helped us get rich back in the day—he should be called the Prosperity Heavenly King!”

“Old Nine spends all his time in prison—why not call him the Imprisonment Heavenly King?”

“Can we come up with names that actually sound like they belong to the Heavenly Court Sect?”

“How about the Ten Thousand Swords Heavenly King?”

“That still doesn’t sound quite right.”

The elders enthusiastically discussed their titles, chatting noisily. After settling their own titles, they began to speculate on what Daoist Non-Speaker’s title should be.

While the elders were busy discussing, Lu Yang quietly asked Yun Zhi, who had been quietly observing. Yun Zhi’s brow was slightly furrowed, as if she was making an important decision.

“Eldest Senior Sister, are you considering whether or not to join the Heavenly Court Sect?”

The position of Sect Leader was crucial.

Yun Zhi looked up, her eyes gleaming slightly. “No, I’m considering what title Master should have. He’s so talkative—how about the Loud Mouth Heavenly King?”