Chapter 610: The Husky in the Wolf Pack

The next day, Qi Jinghuan saw the three people in the private room—Young Master Yulong and two strangers—and he smiled sincerely.

Excellent, we now have three more members; the great cause of overthrowing the sword cultivators has gained a bit more strength.

Little by little accumulates into much; grains of sand form a tower; a single spark can start a prairie fire.

There was no ritual of breaking fingers or pressing a soldering iron clip onto fingertips to burn them; just by exchanging names, Qi Jinghuan, on behalf of the Sword-Slaying Alliance, formally welcomed Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Wuneng, and Ao Yulie as new members.

"Isn't there any oath or special magical artifact to guarantee loyalty?" Ao Yulie asked.

This initiation is too hasty, isn't it?

In this cultivation world, aside from swords, there are very few magical treasures or artifacts.

First, clothing—cultivators' garments count as magical artifacts; second, a few lodging houses are magical treasures.

Oh, sword sheaths are not few, but they also belong to the sword category.

The rest can basically be done without.

For travel, flying shuttles or boats are unnecessary; a sword is enough.

Cultivators' standard spatial storage bags do not exist.

Sword cultivators possess nothing but a single sword—what would they need a storage bag for?

As for pills and such, they are also rare—only a few detoxifying pills and body-tempering medicinal herbs.

Blacksmith shops, Hidden Sword Pavilions, and Famous Sword Halls, however, are everywhere.

To be honest, Ao Yulie suspects that if it weren't for the presence of not a few female cultivators, a group of sword cultivators might just skin some demon beasts and wrap themselves in the hides.

Or perhaps they would have to learn needlework and refine magical robes?

Sword cultivators don't have so many miscellaneous things; non-sword cultivators should probably have something else, right?

This is exactly what Ao Yulie wondered.

"No," Qi Jinghuan shook his head, "and you don't need to either. Would you betray me and go outside to tell others I'm not a sword cultivator?"

"No," Ao Yulie said.

Killing you would be vastly simpler for us.

"Then it's settled—we are natural allies, fellow travelers, sharing honor and disgrace together." Qi Jinghuan said.

"Wouldn't even a single traitor appear?" Ao Yulie said.

Qi Jinghuan fell silent for a moment: "It's not that there are absolutely none, but the fate of traitors..."

He shook his head, smirked coldly, and continued: "Far more brutal than you imagine; sword cultivators would never spare non-sword cultivators. Moreover, in their eyes, we are merely worms and rats in gutters; all acts of surrender and betrayal are worthless to them."

"Most importantly, you will certainly not betray me after I teach you the foundation of establishing oneself."

"Oh?" Ao Yulie became curious—what is the foundation of establishing oneself?

"Only after mastering this method can you truly disguise yourselves as sword cultivators and avoid detection by the vast majority of cultivators." Qi Jinghuan extended his hand, and true essence gathered at his fingertips, then slowly condensed into the shape of a sword blade.

Compared to a true sword essence, it is somewhat inferior—like the difference between a rusty sword and a perfectly maintained one.

Yet without doubt, this is sword essence; no matter how you look at it, even an ordinary cultivator who observed it their whole life would struggle to discern the difference.

Anyway, Tang Luo can't tell the difference—it's all foam; is there really a distinction?

Zhu Bajie, Ao Yulie, and even the Heavenly Hound actually noticed a few clues.

This is merely imitation, but the imitation is very good.

Yet just this alone seems somewhat insufficient.

When cultivation is low, one can still say one's own ability is simply poor, so the sword essence isn't up to par—it's merely the weakest among peers.

If there are heaven's chosen who are the strongest at the same level, then aren't we allowed to be the weakest? This is discrimination!

But when cultivation is high? The sword essence remains as fragile as rusted iron—this is hard to justify.

It's like being in first grade of elementary school, slow at addition and subtraction above ten—still acceptable, but if you're still calculating slowly in high school, agonizingly slow, are you one of those college monks who lie around all day?

There must be a problem.

"Just this kind of disguise seems insufficient, doesn't it?" Ao Yulie said.

Qi Jinghuan nodded in approval, having not misjudged the person—he is steady and calm, and so are his two companions.

"Just this much is enough for low cultivation; it suffices for you. As for higher methods..." Qi Jinghuan said, and the counterfeit sword essence at his fingertips suddenly changed, with "flames" rising and covering it, turning into a crimson sword blade—this is the sword intent of fire!

"We can also imitate sword intent this way; thus, we can basically say it's foolproof."

I say "basically" because there will always be stronger beings who can see through it; normally they can't, but in combat they still can.

However, such strong beings are rare, and the chances of encountering them are even slimmer.

"I will teach you the basic method, but the advanced one will only be passed on after you prove your worth—and you don't need it now." Qi Jinghuan said.

Generally speaking, only after reaching the Golden Core stage do cultivators slowly develop sword intent; a few geniuses may cultivate it even before Golden Core.

Tang Luo and his three companions are disguising themselves as Foundation Establishment cultivators, so they currently have no need for higher methods.

Without going elsewhere, teaching them here makes Qi Jinghuan even happier, as all three have shown considerable talent.

Young Master Yulong Ao Yulie and Zhu Wuneng can almost be said to have learned it on the spot.

As for Tang Xuanzang, he is a bit slower, but judging by his progress, he should master it within three to five days at most.

Give them another one or two months, and they can be said to have completely mastered this method; in the vast majority of cases, they need not worry about exposure.

Unless they say "Amitabha Buddha" like Tang Luo did and self-detonate on the spot.

Then they blast the opponent to pieces.

"They have talent, are very steady—that's why I chose them." Qi Jinghuan looked at the three and thought silently.

After the three had practiced for a while, Qi Jinghuan said: "Alright, you now have two choices."

Tang Luo and his companions listened calmly.

"One, leave contact information; we'll part ways, and I'll find you when needed."

"Two, stay, and I'll give you a perilous path to ascend to heaven!"

"The dangerous path to heaven?"

"Yes. Once you step onto this road, you might die in some corner, or you might become a powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of this world!" Qi Jinghuan's tone grew impassioned again.

"Used a little trick." Zhu Bajie said amidst the gray mist.

"No wonder I felt this old brat made a lot of sense yesterday." Ao Yulie replied.

"What do you want us to do?" Tang Luo asked.

Qi Jinghuan smiled: "I'll send you into the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate!"

"..."

"Is this sending us to our deaths?" Ao Yulie maintained his basic persona as a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"If I wanted to send you to your deaths, why wouldn't I just make a move right now?" Qi Jinghuan smiled. "Old rules, you have one day to consider. Tomorrow at this time, we meet here again."

This B's acting deserves full marks.

"Aren't you afraid we'll run?" Ao Yulie asked.

Qi Jinghuan didn't speak, just turned his back to Tang Luo and the others, waved his hand, and left with great panache.

If one ignores the tracking spell he secretly left on Tang Luo and the others.

"Letting us into the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, could it be you want us to be spies?" Ao Yulie was quite interested.

Me, acting as a spy in a xianxia world, sounds interesting just hearing it.

"Definitely. Could it be you want us to go die?" Zhu Bajie said, "It's just that the benefits don't seem that great."

This is speaking from the standpoint of a non-sword cultivator.

For Tang Luo and the others, there are definitely benefits.

Just thinking about how to low-key investigate the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, didn't expect someone would deliver a pillow right to us.

"Maybe it's some cultivation method, some sword-type divine abilities, spells, those aren't impossible to cultivate either." Ao Yulie guessed, "Or maybe some powerful flying sword?"

As one of the seven strongest sects, the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate is definitely a place countless people would break their heads trying to enter.

For non-sword cultivators, it's a matter of seeking wealth in danger.

It lies not only in the possible benefits gained in the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, but more in the Exterminate Sword Alliance.

The Exterminate Sword Alliance has grasped quite a few profound divine abilities, spells, and even cultivation methods.

As long as one's guts are big enough, a spy can obtain double the joy.

"These non-sword cultivators, looks like they've sent some people into the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate." Zhu Bajie said.

"Other sects probably have them too. Still saying non-sword cultivators are rare, rare, they've all run into your house, tsk." Ao Yulie expressed that sword cultivators are hopeless.

"Being a spy, a bit nostalgic." Tang Luo said.

Ao Yulie was puzzled: "Master, when have you ever been a spy? You just pretended to be a pig."

Pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, something Tang Luo excels at.

Otherwise he couldn't lure out monsters.

"I've always muddled through the Mountains and Seas Realm with the mindset of 'I'm a husky in a wolf pack'." Tang Luo said.

Zhu Bajie nodded, feeling Tang Luo's words made a lot of sense.

Thinking carefully about Tang Luo's situation back then—

I'm a transmigrator, I transmigrated into Tang Sanzang, Tang Sanzang's past life was Golden Cicada, the Buddha's disciple, the designated scripture fetcher, now I have to replace Tang Sanzang to fetch scriptures.

Then, am I screwed?

Am I a husky in a wolf pack?

Don't look at Tang Luo being fierce as a tiger during the Journey to the West period, never cowering once, that's because compared to the Buddha, those monsters don't amount to shit!

The number one old schemer in the Three Realms, pits people to death without paying with his life, all kinds of conspiracy theories, in dark-themed plots, the sinister villain images added up could circle the earth three times.

Tang Luo appears steady as an old dog, but inside he's actually quite panicked; the more panicked, the more ruthless he gets, the more fierce.

On how a husky survives in a wolf pack, of course turning oneself into a wolf is the safest.

But this time it's different.

Although it's also being a spy, Tang Luo is a wolf in sheep's clothing among a flock of sheep, seemingly panicked to death on the surface, actually steady as an old dog inside.

"This spy gig, I'm taking it, none of you fight me for it!" Tang Luo waved his hand grandly.

Same experience, different feeling.

Very good, Tang Luo expresses he likes it very much.

"Guess all three of us will go." Ao Yulie said.

"Definitely splitting up, otherwise too conspicuous, especially you." Zhu Bajie pointed at Ao Yulie who attracts bees and butterflies.

Ao Yulie has a bit of minor fame; wanting to enter the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, it'll mostly still need maneuvering.

"Starting the spy gig tomorrow, decided just like that happily." Tang Luo said, "Right, Bajie, you teach the method to Chijing Daoren and them."

"Okay." Zhu Bajie nodded.

Both are cultivators, learning the method is no problem.

Odin is the miserable one, different power system, no way to even disguise himself.

But that's not within Tang Luo and the others' scope of concern anymore; maybe he'll get lucky and run into members of the X Sword Alliance.

Anyway, unite all forces that can be united, as long as they're non-sword cultivators it works.

Who knows, among the various X Sword Alliances, there might even be existences of the Yao race.