Demon Sword Sect's Undercover

Hou Niao was very satisfied, because the Sword Sect had gained four more true masters.

As for the current strength, Tie Guan was, of course, the best; but the future was uncertain, Yan Baiyi had great potential.

Without stopping, he continued to visit the cave mansions of several friends, wanting to know what level everyone had reached over the years.

Understanding their level of strength was necessary to assign tasks properly, otherwise it was just sending them to their death. Two hundred years of cultivation saw many old friends falling behind and disappearing from sight.

Some come, some go, but how many can truly accompany you for a lifetime? Within his own ability, providing them the greatest help to continue with him on the journey was his small wish.

After a round, there was both joy and worry.

Fang Yazi remained stable, still that young boy. He didn't top the ranks, nor did he particularly stand out, but he showed surprising late-stage potential.

Wang Mian and Zong Qian were somewhat falling behind. They had tried their best, but some things couldn't be changed by mere effort.

Li Shipeng was someone he originally didn't think much of, but these years had passed without him being left behind. His achievements in Body Sword Skill far surpassed Flying Sword Skill, setting his cultivation direction.

More of his friends leaned towards the ordinary, which was the normal rule of cultivation; when geniuses entered an even higher circle of geniuses, most people were weeded out. It wasn't that just following Hou Niao they would forever be in the limelight.

The last person he bothered was someone whose relationship with him on the cultivation path was very strange—half mentor, half friend, half kin, half rival. For a long time, they disdained each other, viewing the other as a burden, a stumbling block.

But this person, Hou Niao didn't know what would happen to himself in the future without him? Would he still continue to be this Sect Hierarch?

Sneaking a look at his sword performance, Hou Niao discovered his swordsmanship skills were far beyond his imagination. The Heavenly Dao was fair; in their era, there were geniuses like them, and their previous generations had equally incomparable talents.

"Come out! What's wrong with you, a proper Sect Hierarch, sneaking around like a thief in your own sect?" Li Chuping sheathed his sword and shouted at a cloud cluster in the sky.

Hou Niao stepped out, his words showing little respect, "Capital Commandant, I've always thought you attained high rank through nepotism. Now it seems, it's I who was blind."

Li Chuping gave him a sidelong glance, "Finally speaking the truth? I always thought you had some unspeakable purpose joining the Quanzhen Sect. Now it seems, my premonition wasn't wrong?"

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Li Chuping, he lamented, "Actually, those stories of youth have no significance, because when a person grows up, they find their past naivete laughable. The world opens up before their eyes, and what they thought was tremendously important becomes trivial. What truly matters, I find I know nothing of, and that is the most confusing."

Li Chuping snorted, "When a person starts to feel sentimental, it means they're getting old."

Hou Niao was not willing to acknowledge age, "Old? I'm just getting started. It's just that time is ruthless, the world changes dramatically, people come and go, some old friends leave a mark but can't be resumed, some new faces feel unfamiliar but must be accepted. The crucial point is, such feelings will only increase in the future. Capital Commandant, you've experienced more than I have, how do you handle these emotions?"

Li Chuping gazed into the distance, silent and said, "When approaching someone, take it slower to avoid missing what's there; when leaving someone, do it swiftly to avoid lingering. I failed at both, approached you hopelessly before seeing clearly…"

Hou Niao laughed, "My view is opposite to yours, which stands from a mortal's perspective; in the Cultivation World, when approaching someone, do it quickly to not miss out; leaving someone, do it slowly to avoid a final farewell…"

Li Chuping remained silent, both right, and both wrong. "Actually, the best approach is to get close to as many people as possible, so when you leave, you won't care too much. Selecting talent from Outer Path cultivators is the right move. Opening the windows might let in flies, but more so it lets in fresh air in this world that's been too closed off from the Universe. How long can we survive on just this stale air?"

Hou Niao nodded, "Yes, that's why most Daoist sects leave their decision-making to visitors from the Upper Realm, even if they don't know the truth, as they know more than we do."

Li Chuping rarely had the chance to chat with this increasingly enigmatic person over these years, today was such an opportunity.

"What do you think, where does Jinxiu's future lie? What will we encounter after Heaven Creation? Is there a general direction? Don't tell me it's integrating into the Universe. If it were that simple as integrating, then why all the fanfare and effort?"

Hou Niao scratched his head, "Capital Commandant, I am Hou the Sect Hierarch, not Hou the Demi Immortal; like you, I have no idea about the future, but I've always thought, isn't there someone on Jinxiu Continent who doesn't know a thing?"

Li Chuping looked at him, face full of doubt, "Anchor Chain people? Upper Realm visitors? Those stealthy intruding Demon Beasts from outer space?"

Hou Niao shook his head, chuckling, "No, they don't know either. If they did, they might not come. I'm talking about our Jinxiu locals."

Li Chuping's gaze sharpened; his keen instincts immediately sensed the crux of the matter, "You're referring to the Heavenly Heart Pavilion?"

Hou Niao nodded; it was the first time he spoke about his suspicions to anyone, and only Li Chuping was worthy of such heartfelt truths,

"The Heavenly Heart Pavilion, an existence on Jinxiu Continent that's very peculiar, we've always thought it was an insignificant Daoist lineage crafting illusions, setting up rank lists, and spreading rumors, etc.

But in the past century's changes on the Continent, and with the Upper Realm's involvement, I've noticed it seems like Heavenly Heart Pavilion has been involved in every event, although their role wasn't obvious, thinking carefully, they seemed indispensable. Without their coordination, none of these changes could unfold?"

"Why must the passage opening be at Sui Mo City? Shouldn't it be random? What's attracting the connection of the spatial passage?

Why does the Heavenly Heart Pavilion create a Constellation True Inheritor list? Is it just for show?

A Daoist lineage that doesn't engage in Continent affairs has only two possibilities: either they are genuinely of pure spirit, or they have higher goals. Have you ever heard of cultivators with genuinely pure spirits?

Their Pavilion Master, that Nascent Soul Grandmaster who stays hidden, who on earth is he? During my recent travels across the Continent, I asked countless masters, but not one had seen him. Even these masters were just following hearsay, like me…

So I wanted to know, what different actions has the Heavenly Heart Pavilion recently taken, including actions that seem meaningless?"