Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

He recalled the questions previously asked by the other party and the information exchanged. This person was the first to reveal the matters concerning Prince Wu and Sheng Yan, the General of the Suppressing Demon Guards.

Afterwards, news from the Buddhist Sacred Land of Vajra Temple was exchanged for intelligence on the Xiao Family from Longwai, one of the Five Clans and Seven Families.

Now, information on another family from the Five Clans and Seven Families, the Suzhou Chu Clan, was being traded for intelligence on the White Lotus Sect.

The cross-reference of information was incredibly complex.

If it wasn't a deliberate attempt to speak evasively and conceal one's identity, then the wide coverage of the messages exchanged made Lei Jun somewhat suspicious that the other party might be from the Tang Imperial Court. Or, conversely...

Many thoughts flashed through Lei Jun's mind, but his face remained impassive. "Then, let's talk one-on-one later," he said.

YueYao replied, "Okay."

Mu Yao then spoke up, "I don't have any intelligence to share today. However, I do have an item here. I wonder if the three of you are interested in trading or exchanging? It's a pill recipe."

YueYao, a good foil whether by nature or design, never let any statement fall flat, preventing any lull in the conversation. "What would you like to exchange, my friend?" he asked.

Mu Yao said, "A pill recipe for a pill recipe. However, I must clarify that what I have is an incomplete recipe called the Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill. To my knowledge, it was once a lost pill recipe from the Celestial Master Mansion, a Sacred Land of the Daoist Talisman Sect."

Lei Jun raised his eyebrows at this.

He almost thought his identity had been exposed. Such a coincidence? Or was it an intentional probe? Was it a test knowing that I am a disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion, or just to see if there was anyone from the Celestial Master Mansion among us?

The Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill recipe, if authentic, could certainly be of considerable significance. To Lei Jun's knowledge, his sect did indeed possess such a miraculous Spirit Pill in the past, but it had been lost in the early years. That was a very long time ago, during the first schism of the Celestial Master Mansion caused by a change in the Taoist Heritage, long before the strife beyond Li Wai. Naturally, it would be beneficial to recover the Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill recipe.

But Lei Jun made no move for the time being.

For one thing, he was unsure whether this was a deliberate probe by someone with a hidden agenda. Secondly, the means he currently had for trading were not secure. His master, Yuan Mobai, had finally come down from Dragon Tiger Mountain, but it was clear he was otherwise occupied. As for his senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, she was caught up in an intense engagement with the Lin Clan's experts over Poyang Lake. His junior sister, Tang Xiaotang, had not returned to the mountain with any news. Not to mention, Lei Jun himself was currently stationed at Xianliu Palace. Even if he could travel around, he didn't want to risk dealing with unknown individuals at the moment, lest he fall victim to a double cross. Besides, Mu Yao's Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill recipe was incomplete.

Thus, although Lei Jun was momentarily tempted, he made no outward sign of it.

Just as with Riyao before, Mu Yao's offer also fell through.

Seeing this, Mu Yao did not take offense, merely expressing anticipation for the next gathering.

Consequently, Riyao and Mu Yao "signed off" one after another, leaving only Lei Jun and YueYao for a "private chat."

"There's no need to discuss the unrest caused by the White Lotus Sect, or the Future Maitreya walking the world," Lei Jun said. "The Future Maitreya walking the world is not for the disturbance in Huai Mountain; on the contrary, he is for quelling that matter. The unrest in Huai Mountain is not unanimously supported within the White Lotus Sect."

YueYao said, "I roughly understand that, but I'm unclear on the details."

In the starry sky of the "book," everyone's voice sounded the same, making it difficult to discern identities, but Lei Jun could still tell the other party seemed to chuckle as they said, "It's not that I intend to take advantage of your information, Jinyao. However, I do happen to have heard about this. The Future Maitreya has appeared in multiple places, taking away many White Lotus Sect disciples. As a result, this has halted the local conflicts arising due to the sect."

Lei Jun asked, "Then, are you aware of any external forces colluding with the White Lotus Sect agitators?"

YueYao replied, "Oh? I'm unaware of this. Please enlighten me."

Lei Jun said, "Prince Wu."

"Ah, him..." YueYao said. "Thank you for sharing. Now, it's my turn."

As agreed, he continued, "There has also been a commotion recently within the Suzhou Chu Clan. The old Clan Chief of the Chu Clan had a fierce argument with his youngest daughter, Chu Yu. Subsequently, Chu Yu left the ancestral land to reside in her own Moon Chamber."