Chapter 98: The Sect’s Scalpers

Artifacts from the Underworld showing up in the mortal realm was never a good sign. Yun Jiao couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off — especially the way that Gu Master had died. None of them had even touched him, and yet he had suddenly turned to stone. Later, they even tried summoning his soul, but nothing answered. No matter what methods they used, his spirit simply wouldn’t appear.

That left only two possibilities:

Either his soul had been trapped somewhere… or he had been completely annihilated.

Yun Jiao suspected it was the latter.

And that “master” the Gu man mentioned — who exactly was he talking about? Perhaps… not a person at all?

A sense of looming conspiracy prickled at the back of her neck. Without hesitation, she reported everything to the Tianshi Hall.

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“What?!” Master Xu, the Hall Lord, nearly jumped out of his seat. “The Underworld!?”

The surrounding elders all gasped in unison.

“It can’t be…”

“It’s exactly the one you’re thinking of,” Yun Jiao confirmed.

“But how could anything from the Underworld cross into the mortal realm?” Xu still found it unbelievable.

“That, I don’t know,” Yun Jiao admitted. “But that Gu Master wasn’t working alone. He mentioned a ‘sacrifice’ and took those children for their innate spiritual energy. I don’t think it was just for feeding Gu insects.”

The elders’ faces all darkened. The atmosphere turned grim as Xu finally said, “Understood. We’ll begin investigating immediately and see if similar cases have occurred elsewhere. Thank you for reporting this, Daoist Yun. But if it truly involves the Underworld…”

He trailed off. No one needed him to finish the thought.

A thousand years ago, the Celestial Sects might have had the power to stand toe to toe with the Underworld — to parley with the Lords of Death themselves. But now?

Everyone’s expression grew solemn.

“Alright then, that’s all for now,” Yun Jiao said, ready to end the transmission. But just before cutting the link, she added casually, “Oh, by the way — we’re heading back tomorrow. Have you all finished your exam papers? Remember, they’re due tomorrow.”

Master Xu: “……”

The Elders: “……”

The communication went dead silent.

A moment ago, the air had been heavy with dread and tension. Now, everyone just wanted to cry.

If you didn’t mention exams, we could still be friends!

()

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Technically, the Gu Master was already dead, and the remaining Gu insects — those that hadn’t yet evolved into a King — should die off soon. But to be safe, Yun Jiao and her group stayed in Lian Village for one more day. The whole affair felt too abnormal to leave so quickly.

By the next afternoon, they finally prepared to depart. The four Heavenly Masters, now fully recovered, came to see them off.

“What’s this?” the old man blinked as Master Chen suddenly handed him a talisman.

“A message charm!” Chen said warmly. Seeing that Bai Yu looked reluctant to take it, he quickly added, “You might not know, this isn’t an ordinary one. It’s a heaven-grade transmission charm issued by the Tianshi Hall itself! Rumor says it’s based on a secret art created by the new High Master of Qingyang Sect. It can transmit messages between multiple people at once — very convenient!”

“Multiple people?” Bai Yu frowned.

…Wasn’t that just the group chat charm the girl had invented a while ago? He’d drawn dozens himself! Why give him one?

Before he could ask, the other three Heavenly Masters gasped.

“Wait — did you say this is the same type the Hall uses for Dao Lectures?”

“Exactly!” Chen nodded proudly.

The three of them grew visibly excited, eyes lighting up with barely restrained greed.

“But I thought only five-flower-ranked Masters could receive one?”

“Yes,” Chen said, chuckling. “Our sect doesn’t have many disciples, so the Hall sent us a few extra. I figured, since you saved our lives, this talisman would be a token of gratitude. Perhaps it’s even a fateful opportunity.”

“What kind of opportunity?” Bai Yu muttered, now thoroughly confused as the others looked on with envy.

“You mean… you haven’t heard of the Grand Dao Lecture Selection?” Chen asked.

“The what now?” Bai Yu blinked.

Patiently, Chen explained, “A while ago, the Tianshi Hall announced that the High Master of Qingyang Sect — said to be acting under the will of the Ancestor himself — will soon open a Great Dao Lecture to teach advanced techniques, even long-lost arts, to revitalize the Celestial Order. Every sect’s disciples have been invited to listen.”

“The Ancestor?” Bai Yu glanced suspiciously behind him at two familiar figures. Since when did the Ancestor issue decrees without telling me?

Chen continued, “But of course, there are far too many disciples in the realm, and travel is dangerous these days. It’s impossible for everyone to attend in person. To avoid delaying demon-slaying duties, the Hall distributed these communication charms to all sects. Only five-flower Masters and above can receive one. There’ll be about four hundred participants listening to the High Master’s lecture simultaneously.”

“Four hundred…” Bai Yu blinked, realization dawning. Wait. Wasn’t that just the second training class Yun Jiao opened to collect tuition money?

When did that turn into a grand, sacred Dao Lecture?

He turned to look at Yun Jiao.

She looked just as dumbfounded.

“I thought you might be a one-flower Master too, so I wanted to gift this to you,” Chen said, glancing at Yun Jiao apologetically. Because she hadn’t been wearing her Dao robes these days, they assumed she was merely a talented but unregistered healer disciple. As for the cold man beside her — no one dared to ask. So, in the end, Chen gave it to the old man instead.

Bai Yu, still dazed, fiddled with the charm — and accidentally activated it. Instantly, a chaotic chorus of unfamiliar voices filled the air:

“Breaking news! The lecture starts in three days — apparently the test papers are due tomorrow!”

“So soon?! My master just gave me the questions — I haven’t even started!”

“Those papers are to gauge our level, obviously. That’s why there are three sets!”

“Ugh, they’re impossible! Aren’t we supposed to be learning lost techniques? Why are all the questions on formations?”

“What?! They’re about formations? I thought it was talismans! I didn’t even read the instructions!”

“I heard the Hall’s got a formation guidebook that helps.”

“Don’t bother! I’ve been reading it for two days — only solved one question!”

“Stay strong, brothers! If none of us can solve them, surely the Master won’t be mad! Hahahaha!”

“Truly wise words!”

“…By the way, my sect’s got one extra heaven-grade message charm left — one hundred taels, first come first served!”

“What?! You’ve got a spare? Wait — I’ll buy it!”

“My junior brother needs one too! Two hundred taels!”

“Two hundred fifty!”

“Three hundred!”

“Four hundred!”

As the prices soared higher and higher—

Yun Jiao: “……”

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and snapped the charm in half, cutting off the connection. Then she turned on her heel and stomped toward the city gates, her steps echoing like thunder.

“W-wait, girl, where are you going?” Bai Yu called after her.

Her voice came back sharp and cold:

“Home. To raise the prices!”

Cheating on exams she could tolerate.

But scalpers? SCALPERS?!

And they hadn’t even offered her a cut!

Absolutely unacceptable!

(End of Chapter)