Chapter 623 - 103: Li Miaolin

Liu Huai’en was struck speechless by the question. After a moment of silence, he said, "You’re a bold one, aren’t you? Using yourself as bait to enter the fray, just so your northern branch can smoothly interfere in the south. Aren’t you afraid of getting yourself killed?"

Li Miaolin just chuckled, not answering the question directly. Instead, he glanced at the Qi Cultivator who had been guiding them. The man was quick on the uptake and immediately stepped aside.

Liu Huai’en frowned slightly as he watched the Qi Cultivator leave. ’Should I get rid of him?’ he wondered. Just then, he heard Li Miaolin say, "I secretly refined them into puppets long ago. And don’t even think about using my own plan against me, Fellow Daoist. Changqing Zhenren would never trust me."

He then looked at Lu Shan and the others. Their right hands were already forming hand seals, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. They clearly didn’t trust Li Miaolin, which was why he hadn’t invited them into the courtyard for tea.

"As for that talk of getting myself killed, Fellow Daoist, I’ve actually thought about it a lot. But compared to this opportunity to enter the Southern Cultivation Realm, a little danger is worth the risk. If things really go south, I can always get on my knees and beg for mercy. Your Wan Zhi Daoist and my master have some history, after all. As long as I beg, I’m sure she’ll spare my life."

Hearing this, Liu Huai’en looked Li Miaolin up and down once more and laughed. "You’re an interesting one. If I get the chance, I’ll have to find you for a few drinks."

Li Miaolin smiled back. "Surely you don’t think like those fools from Lishui Prefecture, Fellow Daoist. You don’t really believe we’ve made ourselves stupid by cultivating in seclusion, do you? I may have never left the Western Continent, but that doesn’t mean I know nothing. There is no order on the Western Continent, much less any regard for the etiquette of the Human Dao. Among people, there is no good or evil—only the strong and the weak."

"When I have nothing better to do, I often make puppets and ’play games’ with the surrounding tribes. Hatred, slaughter, war, and the ever-present struggle for power—I’ve seen it all. Sometimes, I even create puppets, grant them specific memories, and watch them kill each other..."

Hearing this, Liu Huai’en sized up Li Miaolin once more. Lu Shan, however, cut in from behind. "Daoist, why don’t we save all this for when we get to Jinhuai City?"

Li Miaolin immediately stopped speaking and cupped his fist. "My apologies. For so many years, I’ve had no one around but my master and the servants from the tribes. I really haven’t had anyone to talk to. Seeing all you Fellow Daoists, I couldn’t help but get a little carried away."

"Fellow Daoist, please!"

Liu Huai’en made an inviting gesture but didn’t show the documents again. Li Miaolin’s attitude had thrown him off his stride, and Lu Shan’s reminder had snapped him back to his senses. This man couldn’t be truly trusted—not until he was actually with them on Nanlin Road.

As for the Demon Race army Li Miaolin mentioned, or the secret agents he was in contact with, those were minor details now. All sides had already entered the fray, and once in, there was no backing out.

The return trip was less complicated than the journey out. They simply used their identity tokens to fly, heading straight for Qianmu Temple. By the time the group arrived, the sun was setting.

The moment they took to the sky, Wang Ping was informed via his puppets in Ningzhou Road. Consequently, as they entered Qianmu Temple, Li Miaolin found himself surrounded by Yuan Zheng and a group of other Third Realm Cultivators.

Once Liu Huai’en had explained the situation, Wang Ping bowed to Li Miaolin in front of everyone and apologized. "I was too rash. My apologies for alarming you, Fellow Daoist."

Li Miaolin quickly returned the bow. "Not at all, True Man. It was I who was audacious. I should have come to pay my respects to you first."

With that, he actually prostrated himself!

At that moment, Yu Lian, who was perched on Wang Ping’s shoulder, spoke within his Spirit Sea. ’The stench of slaughter on this man is overwhelming. The number of lives lost to him in this world could almost rival half the population of the Xia Dynasty during its golden age!’

Hearing this, Wang Ping’s hand, which was already moving to help Li Miaolin up, froze for an instant. It was only an instant, though. He then naturally helped Li Miaolin to his feet and smiled. "You have come all this way for the people of Ningzhou Road, Fellow Daoist. It is I who should have come out to greet you!"

Li Miaolin repeatedly demurred, "I wouldn’t dare," while observing everyone present from the corner of his eye. At the scene were Yuan Zheng, Dongcan, Ying Qing, Hou Jun, Liu Huai’en, and Lu Shan with his two fellow Artifact Cultivators. Including Wang Ping before him and Yu Lian on his shoulder, there were a full ten Third Realm Cultivators present.

Just as he was taking stock, a streak of light flashed across the horizon. It was Wu Fu, who had seen the commotion from Zhonghui County Town and flown up to investigate. As Li Miaolin looked over, the spot between his brows began to twitch uncontrollably. A wave of delayed fear washed over him.

"Well, it seems all the Fellow Daoists have gathered today!" Wu Fu said with a casual, cupped-fist greeting.

"We’re welcoming an honored guest." Wang Ping replied, facing the golden sunset as he gestured to Wu Fu. "This is Daoist Li Miaolin, the new Chief Supervisor for Ningzhou Road."

Wang Ping then introduced everyone to Li Miaolin. By the time the polite introductions were over, the sun had set. They chatted for a while longer before Yuan Zheng found a reason to lead the others away.

Liu Huai’en smartly stayed behind; after all, Li Miaolin still couldn’t be completely trusted.

"Fellow Daoist Liu mentioned you came to Ningzhou Road at the invitation of Lishui Prefecture. Can you tell me who from Lishui Prefecture specifically invited you, Fellow Daoist?"

Wang Ping’s question was blunt. As he spoke, he took out his Communication Token to contact Hu Yin, telling her to arrange for reinforcements to head south immediately. He then sent a voice transmission to Xia Wen Yi in the front hall, summoning him to the Mountain Peak Dojo.

"They came to see me under the name of Lishui Prefecture, but the one I spoke with was a fellow member of our Taiyan Sect. I’m sure you’ve heard his name, Fellow Daoist..." Li Miaolin glanced at Liu Huai’en beside him. "He is Elder Zhiyuan, formerly one of the five chiefs of the Third Seat in the Daoist Scripture Hall!"

Liu Huai’en’s brow furrowed slightly when he heard this.

Wang Ping had the same reaction. The name was a surprise; he had expected it to be Chengxi or Quecai. He couldn’t imagine why Elder Zhiyuan would do something like this.

’Does he also want to compete for the Fourth Realm?’ Yu Lian asked. ’Weren’t there rumors that he had already lost his chance to break through?’

"That old fossil styles himself an ’elder,’ but he’s petty as hell. I’d guess he’s jealous of your reputation as a genius, Fellow Daoist, while he himself is nothing but a has-been!" Li Miaolin said, first taking a jab at Master Zhiyuan before continuing in a more serious tone.

"He appears to be from the Northern Taiyan Sect’s lineage, but he actually started his cultivation journey with the Taiyan Sect branch from the Southwest Sea Region. It’s an obscure piece of information; fewer than five people alive today know of it."

Wang Ping looked up at Xia Wen Yi, who had just flown up to the Mountain Peak Dojo, and motioned for him to wait. He then returned to Li Miaolin’s point. "Are you saying the person behind him is Daoist Chengxi?"

"I am."

"Are you certain?"

"The contact they arranged to meet me in Ningzhou Road was turned into one of my puppets the day after I arrived. Over the past half-month of investigation, I’ve gained control of almost their entire network. Through their memories, I’ve even discovered where Daoist Chengxi is currently cultivating!"

After saying this, Li Miaolin added an explanation, "My lineage specializes in puppets. We can use a pre-inscribed Array to power a Heaven-Reaching Talisman, allowing us to refine a living person into a puppet in an instant. However, the number I can create is limited, and they only survive for half a year at most!"