Chapter 801

The one approaching was none other than the leader of the Southern Daoist Sect, the Heavenly Master Zhang Jingxuan of the Southern Celestial Daoist Tradition!

He stood with his hands behind his back, an ancient sword strapped to his back, exuding the aura of a true master.

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader, upon seeing the two figures behind him, felt his scalp go numb.

To the right stood a burly old man clad in indigo ritual robes, a five-colored sash wrapped around his waist, his face carved like chiseled stone, eyes flashing with piercing light, his hair and beard bristling like spears, radiating overwhelming dominance.

To the left stood an ancient-looking Daoist, his hair and beard entirely white, dressed in the signature green cloud-patterned robe of the Maoshan Shangqing Sect, holding a fly-whisk, his aura ethereal; though aged, he stood like a mountain peak.

The Three Pure Ones’ bells at his waist rang, unsettling the Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader’s spirit.

“The leader of the Lushan Fa Jiao, the Firecloud Daoist!”

“Maoshan Shangqing Sect, Linglongzi…”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader sneered: “To have three of you come all at once—how honored I am.”

His words were bold, yet he dared not move.

The eldest among them, Linglongzi of the Maoshan Shangqing Sect, flicked his fly-whisk and spoke calmly: “Many years ago, your Ghost Opera Troupe ravaged the land, drawing the combined wrath of orthodox sects—I, young then, took part in that purge.”

“Regrettably, we failed to exterminate you completely, allowing you to rise from the ashes and bring calamity.”

“Hahahaha~”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader gave a bitter laugh and said coldly: “Back then, I too once held sincere intentions, seeking guidance from the immortal mountains and caverns—but you lot, clinging to your status as the orthodox Daoist line, looked down on us as Jianghupangmen , suppressing us at every turn, acting unjustly.”

“Had it not been for that, would I have become your enemy?”

“Enough. Since matters have come to this, let us settle it with our hands!”

Saying this, he moved to form a spell.

“Why the haste, friend?”

Zhang Jingxuan spoke calmly: “If we meant to kill you, would we waste words?”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“A deal.”

Zhang Jingxuan’s gaze held deeper meaning: “You’ve meddled in this affair mostly as someone else’s pawn. Our target is the hand behind the board. We wish to ask you a few questions—if you answer truthfully, you may leave today.”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader suddenly understood. “You’re looking for Zhao Changsheng?”

Zhang Jingxuan replied calmly: “This man seeks to destabilize Shenzhou. His multiple moves in Jiangnan must precede some grand scheme.”

“We wish to know: what exactly is his plan?”

The leader of the Lushan Fa Jiao spoke coldly beside him: “You must swear a heart oath—truthfully, no deception allowed!”

As he spoke, he gripped a special whip at his waist.

This whip was no ordinary weapon.

The Lushan Sect boasts many famed ritual tools, the most notable being the Dragon Horn Ritual Conch, said to carry messages to heaven.

But this whip is no less extraordinary—it is called Wu Ye, Ma She, and even revered as the True Lord of Ten Thousand Spirits and the Golden Whip Saint.

In terms of destructive power, it rivals any orthodox sect’s ritual lineage.

“Heaven’s supreme lord is the Jade Emperor; on earth, the monarch holds the highest honor. All ghosts and spirits revere them—but only Lushan holds dominion.”

Such words are not spoken lightly.

Meanwhile, Linglongzi of the Maoshan Shangqing Sect handed over a purple paper talisman.

This was the talisman used to swear a heart oath.

Unlike ordinary people, cultivators may fear no ghosts or gods—but they dread inner demons.

After all, one’s spiritual attainment is tied to the pavilions built within the dantian; should the inner demon respond to the oath, the pavilions collapse, and years of cultivation are destroyed in an instant.

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader’s eyelids trembled slightly; beneath his painted mask, no expression could be read.

Seeing escape was impossible, he finally sneered, took the talisman, recited the heart demon oath, and spoke:

“Fine. After this, Jianmu will no longer tolerate me. I might as well tell you.”

“I don’t know the exact target, but their plan is singular: disrupt Shenzhou and shatter the incense offerings of the Great Xuan Dynasty.”

“First, they aim to destabilize Jiangnan—this is the heartland of tax grain and numerous ports; once chaos erupts, Japanese pirates and red-haired barbarians will strike. As for what comes next, only Zhao Changsheng and his kind know.”

“Disrupt Jiangnan…”

Zhang Jingxuan’s eyes grew cold. “Let’s see if they have the strength.”

He raised his hand slightly. “Friend, please.”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader grunted and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Zhang Jingxuan suddenly spoke: “I shall now take charge of Jiangnan. If I hear word of you again, I will hunt you down—even if you flee to heaven or sea!”

The Ghost Opera Troupe’s leader cast a dismissive glance, stepped hard, and vanished with a hiss, dissolving into black smoke.

After his departure, the three fell silent.

“Zhang friend, what do you think?” demanded the fiery-tempered Firecloud Daoist of the Lushan Fa Jiao.

“This matter is not simple.”

Zhang Jingxuan mused: “Before coming here, I gathered intelligence. The origins of the Jianmu organization trace back to Xu Fu’s eastern voyage during the Qin dynasty. For a thousand years, it has appeared and vanished intermittently—its shadow lingers behind the Mahayana Sect, the Maitreya Sect, and the Song Dynasty’s Ghost Sect, always acting covertly.”

“Yet now, it openly seeks to destabilize Shenzhou, at any cost. When examined closely, it ties to only one thing…”

Linglongzi of the Maoshan Shangqing Sect blurted out: “Human Dao reform!”

“Precisely.”

Zhang Jingxuan’s gaze grew grave as he looked up at the dark, rain-soaked night:

“They each possess a copy of the ‘Precious Declaration of the Earth Official’s Pardon’—and behind them, there may be another…”

Firecloud Daoist of the Lushan Fa Jiao growled: “It’s infuriating that the court sits idle now, indifferent to the people’s suffering!”

Linglongzi of the Shangqing Sect replied calmly: “The current Son of Heaven favors balance. He sent a minor battalion commander to handle affairs in Jinling merely to test whether imperial decrees reach the provinces. Those two noble families have grown too comfortable, believing their control over Jinling’s bureaucracy grants them safety—they see no danger.”

“Now, with one death, His Majesty has awakened his killing intent.”

He mused further: “This emperor is difficult to deal with. Whether Daoist sects or noble families, all tread carefully. His balancing tactics have caused much unrest—but I’ve heard he is unwell, having fainted several times, and the Crown Prince is closely allied with the Open-Sea Faction…”

“No!”

Before he finished, Zhang Jingxuan’s eyes sharpened, his tone solemn: “Since ancient times, serving the sovereign is like serving a tiger—and an old tiger grows even more suspicious. The Crown Prince is now in Minzhou reorganizing the imperial fleet, recovering precious relics—perhaps this, too, is a test.”

“If the Jiangmen Daoist sect and the noble families fully assist him, more turmoil will follow.”

“I’ve already advised sending word to have the Crown Prince summon the Twelve Zodiac Guardians—they are the most suitable.”

“Indeed.”

Firecloud Daoist of the Lushan Fa Jiao nodded: “Those brats are ruthless. Whether Zhao Changsheng or others of Jianmu, all have suffered heavy losses at their hands. Interesting.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Zhang Jingxuan turned his gaze toward Jinling City: “The key now is ensuring the Dragon Offering Rite proceeds smoothly. We shall proceed to Taihu Lake to exterminate the Witch of Lei Yin, reclaim the Yangzhou Cauldron, and transport it to the capital.”

“Transport it to the capital?”

Firecloud Daoist frowned: “This artifact is of immense consequence—it should be cast into the earth veins for maximum stability. What if it damages Jiangnan’s fengshui…?”

“It is a statement of intent.”