Chapter One Hundred: A Scheme within a Scheme (Celebrating One Hundred Chapters!)

Qinghong scrambled out of the Sea of Blood in a sorry state and stopped at a cold mountain pond to wash himself. "Disgusting, truly disgusting! To think those people from the Sea of Blood would come up with something so wretched!"

In the immortal path, who does not treat their own magic treasures as the apple of their eye, carefully refining and nurturing them? Although any cultivator could handle that river of filth, who would be willing to contaminate the spiritual essence of their own artifacts? Moreover, the stench was so foul that ordinary people would avoid it at all costs.

He scrubbed himself for a long time in the clear, chilly waters of the pond, finally managing to wash away the lingering sense of revulsion.

"The Blood Spirit Demon Pool must be holding the children kidnapped from the nearby area by the Sea of Blood. Ever since the spiritual eggs appeared in Jinyuan City last year, the Golden Turtle energy has permeated the earth. Children with great spiritual potential can perceive the yin and yang. Once tainted by this primal energy, their physical foundations become extraordinary, making them the most prized prey for the demonic sects." After careful deliberation, Qinghong used a Heaven-Veiling Talisman to send a message to Tushan: "Where are you and Tiancheng? If you have time, come to Jinyuan City and lend me a hand."

"We are near Mount Chenghuang. Your cheap junior brother is currently refining a magic treasure. Why, do you have a task for us?"

"Tell him to come find me as soon as possible. I need to help him break the blood oath on him."

"Hmph! With your cautious nature, you’re surely just treating him as a test subject, aren't you?" The youth sat on a blue stone, his furry tail flicking behind him as he watched Tianchengzi, who was busy gathering poisonous herbs for his craft.

Having lost all his previous magic treasures and unable to keep borrowing the Yellow Springs Conch from others, Tianchengzi had immediately begun searching for materials to forge his own equipment upon leaving. The treasure he was refining was a notorious item mentioned in the "Demon Dragon Sutra," known as the "Ten-Earth Yang-Breaking Departing Dragon Lock." It was a tool of extreme yin and evil from the Yin-Underworld Sect. One had to take yin jade with nine orifices, refine it repeatedly in three hundred and sixty-eight types of venoms, temper it with Weak Water, bury nine Profound Yin Ice Souls within the nine apertures, and finally refine it for forty-nine days to complete it. This item was specifically designed to suppress yang energy and was the bane of all immortal cultivators. The more pure one's yang energy, the more easily one was countered.

Tushan and Tiancheng had made some lucky discoveries in an immortal mansion, which led to this attempt to refine such a demonic object.

After inquiring in detail and learning the nature of the treasure, Qinghong’s expression eased slightly: "That’s a relief. At least it’s not something that violates the natural order, like the Profound Underworld Bone Sword."

"Don't worry, I’m here. Nothing will go wrong," Tushan said, patting his chest. "As a Heavenly Fox cultivating the path of merit, how could I let him kill indiscriminately?"

"Since you are so compassionate, why not come over and help out?"

"No!" Tushan curled his lip. "Whenever you ask me for help, it’s never anything good. Besides, it’s quite a distance from Mount Chenghuang to Jinyuan City, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t make it in time. If you really need someone, why not recruit a few people from the righteous sects? The Daoist Sect has always loved saving the world and helping others; they are your best bet."

"Suit yourselves, then." Qinghong ended the communication, thinking to himself: "The Blood Spirit Demon Pool is indeed formidable. With that river of filth blocking the way, ordinary methods won't work. How exactly can one infiltrate the pool? Should I, as Tushan suggested, find others to help?"

He looked at the rippling water, lost in deep, troubled thought.

*Splash—*

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the other side, followed by the sound of splashing water.

"Who’s there!" Qinghong was instantly alert, twenty-four Azure Tide Pearls rising around him. However, he had no time to put on his clothes and was still bare-chested as he tried to investigate.

On the other side, a woman also raised a book of Daoist jade, cautiously approaching the large rock.

The two of them froze in place.

"Senior Brother Qinghong?"

"Junior Sister Li?"

Qinghong and Li Jingxun exchanged awkward looks. They both instinctively pulled clouds and water-light to cover themselves and retreated to opposite sides of the boulder.

Leaning against the blue stone, Qinghong immediately explained: "I heard splashing over there and thought someone from the Sea of Blood had come to cause trouble. I didn't expect it to be you, Junior Sister."

Li Jingxun looked slightly bashful. She then composed herself and calmed her mind before saying: "I went to probe the Blood Spirit Demon Pool earlier and got covered in blood water. I had no choice but to find clean water to wash, but I didn't expect to find you here, Senior Brother."

Li Jingxun was gentle by nature and lacked the temperament of a spoiled young lady, so naturally, she wouldn't say, "I want to bathe in this pond, so you must leave."

With a wave of her hand, she caused the water to surge, raising a three-foot-high wall of water, using the large boulder as a boundary.

"Senior Brother, you need not be concerned on my account. You were here first; it is I who have disturbed you." Li Jingxun was poised and refined as she cleaned the filth from herself on one side, while Qinghong washed on the other.

...

Seeing the atmosphere remain somewhat awkward, Qinghong asked: "You said you just went to the Blood Spirit Demon Pool. Is it the one a hundred miles away? The one with the river of filth at the entrance?"

"Judging by your tone, you went there too?"

"Yes, that’s why I’m washing up."

Both of them couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

"No wonder when I arrived, I happened to run into two demonic cultivators scouting the entrance. So it was you who was there just moments before." Li Jingxun suddenly understood.

"By the way, why are you out here, Junior Sister? Didn't you return to your sect?"

"I am out searching for my opportunity to reach the Immortal Realm." Li Jingxun’s expression shifted slightly before she explained: "Yesterday, I heard that many children had gone missing in the vicinity, so I came to investigate."

The Daoist Sect was known for its emphasis on accumulating merit, so presumably, the Junior Sister had come down the mountain to perform good deeds. Qinghong felt he understood: "It just so happens I have nothing better to do, so I shall help you accumulate this merit. However, that river of filth is too ominous; we must find another way."

Li Jingxun nodded in agreement. After washing, the two went ashore to discuss their strategy, strolling slowly toward Jinyuan City.

"Beyond the actions of the demonic cult, there must be a specialized channel behind the kidnappings of the children in Jinyuan City. Since we are here, we must root out this channel as well." In Qinghong's mind, there was likely an external organization secretly established by the demonic sect, specializing in human trafficking.

Not to mention the Sea of Blood, even the Yin-Underworld Sect had disciples brought to them by human traffickers. Some traffickers would even scout locations, mark households, and then let the demons break in to seize their victims.

The two stayed at the Bi estate, spending the night gathering energy and practicing their arts.

...

After Qinghong and the others departed, the Blood Spirit Demon Pool returned to calm after a period of chaos.

It was true that the river of filth blocked the way, but beyond it, a vast expanse of blood-red water appeared, with thousands of lotus flowers rising amidst the churning waves. Each lotus was several acres in size, supporting magnificent palaces.

Not long ago, the demon Xiu Hun, who had parted ways with Song Shaoming, was resting leisurely on one of the lotuses: "Senior Brother certainly knows how to enjoy himself. Aside from the disgusting river at the entrance, this place is quite decent."

This Blood Spirit Demon Pool had been built by Song Shaoming. He had been hiding here all last year, and Du Yue and the others never suspected a thing, assuming Song Shaoming had merely happened upon the location, never realizing he had been cultivating here all along. Thus, even after the great battle, this site had not been exposed.

Now, Xiu Hun had brought Yuan Chuping and others here to continue searching for children to practice their arts. Because the children of Jinyuan City were nourished by the lingering Golden Turtle energy, their spiritual potential and physical foundations were superior to those elsewhere.

Xiu Hun said to the two blood servants beside him: "When you return to Jinyuan City, find more boys and girls. These are rare materials; I might as well forge a few magic treasures for myself."

These two blood servants were pawns of the Sea of Blood, embedded in Jinyuan City under Song Shaoming’s orders. Now that Xiu Hun was in charge of the pool, they had come to meet him. Hearing his words, they couldn't help but smile bitterly: "My Lord, you are making things difficult for us again. If we target the stray beggars in the city, it won't attract much attention. But there are only so many children in the city; if we make any larger moves, we fear it will alert others. You know that the righteous sects have interests outside their mountain gates; someone may have already noticed something amiss."

The other agreed: "Indeed, even with the wealthy families, because of their ties to the imperial court, it is not easy for us to steal their children."

Xiu Hun frowned upon hearing this and had to drop the idea.

"Very well, then. Let safety be the priority." He glanced toward another palace in the distance.

Yuan Chuping and three others had been sent into that palace, along with four children thrown in for them to drain blood from. However, Yuan Chuping was hiding in a corner, clearly unwilling to commit the act.

"Not drinking? Let's see how long you can hold out." Xiu Hun gave a cold laugh, making no further arrangements for Yuan Chuping's choice. Under the influence of the Sea of Blood’s divine arts, no matter how firm the will, it would eventually succumb to instinct.

"Let them suffer for a few days." Xiu Hun withdrew his gaze and suddenly remembered something else: "By the way, how is that matter I asked you to investigate?"

"My Lord, you wanted to find men with pure yang fates; we have already found a few in Jinyuan City. However, these men are quite old. If you want someone of a suitable age, there is only the young Master Wang, who recently passed the imperial examinations."

"Oh? Then him it is. Find a way to bring him to the Sea of Blood tomorrow. My Senior Brother needs his heart to refine a treasure. Remember, bring him back alive!"

...

Early the next morning, Li Jingxun went out to scout the city. By the afternoon, she had gained a general understanding and came to discuss it with Qinghong.

"So fast?" Qinghong asked in surprise. "You only went out for the morning, and you’ve already figured out the situation in the city?" He had intended to use immortal techniques to calculate the causal threads and map out the connections in Jinyuan City, but before he could even set up his Nine-Cloud Profound Crystal Plate, Li Jingxun had already solved it.

"For matters within the city, one must naturally turn to the local 'snakes'," Li Jingxun said with a smile. "It just so happens I have two acquaintances in the city, so I went to ask them."

"You only came to Jinyuan City for the first time last year; where would you find acquaintances? And could they possibly be faster than our immortal divination?"

"Of course. Across the lands, wherever the Imperial Dynasty exists, they have their eyes and ears."

Seeing Li Jingxun being so mysterious, Qinghong grew curious: "Who are they? Could they be the manifestations of some Earth Immortal deity?"

Li Jingxun smiled without answering until Qinghong pressed her three times. "It is the Beggar's Sect."

"The Beggar's Sect?" Qinghong’s expression turned odd. "Is that some martial arts school?" He thought of many martial arts novels from his past life.

Li Jingxun replied: "It is not as mystical as you imagine. The so-called Beggar's Sect is simply an organization founded by a group of beggars. As the saying goes, 'every trade has its rules, every group has its norms.' Beggars form small bands and follow their own set of rules. They roam the streets and alleys; for any matter, big or small, in the city, one naturally asks them."

Qinghong listened intently, pouring her tea. "So, you went to ask the beggars for information?"

"Not quite. The Beggar's Sect is neither large nor small. There are those who are nomadic and those who are settled, those who perform for their living and those who are pure beggars. While they all call themselves the Beggar's Sect, they are not one unified entity."

Some beggars lived by singing or performing arts, relying on their craft. Others were pure beggars. Still others were divided by region. Though they all shared the name, they were not one single family.

"A predecessor of our Daoist Sect once wandered the world as a beggar. Later, he joined our sect and achieved the immortal path. But he never forgot his roots, mindful of the suffering of beggars everywhere. After he succeeded in his cultivation, he made a vow to seek a path of survival for all the beggars in the world."

"That predecessor had great wisdom and perseverance. He sealed his own immortal powers, used no magic, and relied on mortal means to run businesses, then adopted beggars and taught them to read and write, helping them enter business or government. Through generations of mutual support, the Beggar's Sect has become an organization that cannot be ignored."

In other words, the Beggar's Sect that Li Jingxun spoke of was an peripheral organization of the Daoist Sect. It was funded by the Daoist Sect to take in homeless beggars. Its core purpose was "to help more beggars escape poverty." Because these people were of beggar origin, they were called the Beggar's Sect; this only described their background, not their current status. Many were now officials in the Great Hong Imperial Dynasty, forming a vast network of connections.

"When poor, one improves oneself; when successful, one helps the world." The Daoist Sect had always advocated for benevolence and morality, being the most proactive among the righteous sects in engaging with the world. This approach was, in itself, a form of education. If left to roam, what if these homeless children grew up to become evildoers?

"Cultivating homeless beggars into useful people not only saves them from poverty but also reduces the possibility of them turning to evil when they grow up. This is the path of moral education. Your sect is truly worthy of being the heart of benevolence. I imagine that this predecessor who made such a grand vow must have achieved much?"

Li Jingxun smiled: "That person is the current leader of our Daoist Sect."

Hearing this, Qinghong was stunned for a moment, then sighed with emotion: "A person of great benevolence and righteousness—no wonder he can lead the Daoist Sect."

"Taking in beggars can also invisibly strike at the demonic sects, preventing them from kidnapping beggars as disciples. Asking them to find the demonic cult members is indeed an excellent method. Tell me, what clues have you found?"

"According to them, in recent days, there have been mysterious people active in several pleasure houses. Furthermore, many beggars have gone missing; it is highly likely that this is the work of the demonic sect."

As she spoke, Li Jingxun’s beautiful eyes blinked, staring fixedly at Qinghong.

Qinghong was lost in thought, but then realized: "You don't mean to suggest that I should go and investigate those pleasure houses, do you?"

"If the demonic cult members conceal their celestial fate, it is very difficult to detect their tracks using immortal methods. I must trouble you, Senior Brother, to make a personal trip." As she spoke, she personally poured tea for Qinghong: "I hope you can help, Senior Brother."

Go to a pleasure house? Qinghong frowned, but upon reflection, when it came to gathering information, that place was indeed the most well-informed.

"The Daoist Sect builds the Beggar's Sect, and the demonic sect hides in the pleasure alleys—you major sects really know how to play." Qinghong drank the tea in one gulp and said helplessly: "Fine, I shall go! But you are coming with me!"