Chapter 39

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Chapter 39: The Conspiracy Emerges Again

The four token lords could no longer remain seated, as if fire burned beneath them. They longed to rush out and capture Fang Lie, demanding he hand over the Puppets That Dies in Place.

Each Puppet That Dies in Place represented an extra life! Even those who died from old age could revive and live five hundred more years!

The thought of such heaven-defying treasures being wasted by a mere Qi Sea realm cultivator made the four token lords so heartbroken they could weep!

Huo Wufang tugged his beard, frowning. "Are we mistaken? What even are these puppets? Their worth matches Eighth-rank Treasures—things even we can’t obtain! How does he have them? And possibly multiple? This is beyond belief!"

"You lack knowledge," Mo Qianxun, Clan Leader, sighed. "As leader, I once read our ascended ancestors’ journals. Beyond cultivation advice, they described wonders of their era."

"In the ancestors’ time, rare treasures flourished. Materials for Puppets That Dies in Place weren’t scarce. Back then, even Wind Tribulation Immortals possessed two or three each!" Mo Qianxun shook his head. "If the Cycle of Fire truly holds ancestral treasures, dozens—maybe hundreds—of these puppets might exist!"

"Damn!" The token lords nearly cursed aloud.

Dozens? Hundreds? This equaled the Mo Sect’s entire accumulated resources over millennia!

If distributed, each could gain extra lives—what glory that would bring!

Zhou Zhengqing slammed his fist. "No! The Cycle’s treasures belong to all Mo Sect disciples! That brat Fang Lie can’t hoard them!"

"Exactly!" Immortal Zi Xu nodded gravely. "Such treasures wasted on a Qi Sea realm youth!"

*Ahem.* Even upright Huo Wufang coughed. "We’d compensate him fairly, of course."

"Yes! Compensation!" Immortal Zi Xu and Zhou Zhengqing chorused.

By sect rules, disciples kept their fortuitous gains unless properly compensated. Though others might ignore this, Fang Lie’s stubbornness forced the lords to obey protocol.

Mo Qianxun chuckled bitterly. "Easier said! Each puppet’s value rivals cities. Could we afford so many? Remember—Fang Lie’s no ordinary disciple. As candidate Benevolence Token Lord, he’s untouchable. If angered, he’ll ignore us outright!"

"Bah!" Immortal Zi Xu waved a hand. "He’s just a clueless Qi Sea brat. We could trick him."

"Trick the future Benevolence Token Lord?" Mo Qianxun raised an eyebrow. "Try it. I’ll gladly watch."

"Er…" Immortal Zi Xu paled. Against others, he’d bribe or threaten. But Fang Lie? The youth had rejected the Yuan family’s Eighth-rank Great Heaven Fierce Fire Formation as blood money! Had it been him, Immortal Zi Xu would’ve forgiven even his family’s murderers for such treasure.

Facing this inflexible fool, Immortal Zi Xu sighed. "Never mind. I won’t risk his wrath."

"Wise," Mo Qianxun said. "Fang Lie knows these puppets cheat death. Would you surrender yours?"

"Use sect rules to seize them!" Zhou Zhengqing growled.

"With the Benevolence Token, he manipulates rules better than us!" Mo Qianxun retorted. "His status stripped our privileges. Push him, and you’ll share Lei Zhengfeng’s fate. As for me?" He spread his hands. "I need no puppet yet. Count me out."

"Curse it!" Zhou Zhengqing roared. "Must we watch that whelp squander our treasures?!"

"Anyway, there’s nothing I can do!" Mo Qianxun said calmly. "If any of you have ideas, act on your own. I’ll just turn a blind eye! But any Puppets That Die in Place collected must be shared with the sect!"

After speaking, Mo Qianxun’s shadow faded away.

"Truly our leader," Huo Wufang said with a bitter laugh. "Reaps rewards without lifting a finger—admirable!" He vanished too.

"Then let’s each rely on our own skills!" Immortal Zi Xu smiled faintly before disappearing.

"Hmph!" Zhou Zhengqing sneered coldly after the others had gone, his face icy. "What’s so difficult? Puppets That Die in Place only work after death. So imprison Fang Lie, torture him endlessly—just keep him alive. With countless ancient methods, that brat won’t hold out!"

"But caution is needed. My position’s too exposed. If I act directly, the Benevolence Token might notice. Best to use pawns again, like last time." Zhou Zhengqing’s eyes narrowed slyly. "But who…?"

His shadow dissolved as his voice trailed off.

After leaving the Ancestral Hall, Fang Lie returned to Gentle Breeze Tower. Retrieving his stored items, he lingered, pondering: "The Shadow Heart-Questioning Dagger’s valuable, but there’s only one. How split it among five cultivators—me and my siblings?"

"Plus, my situation’s precarious. With so many enemies, assassination could claim me anytime. Then everything I carry would be lost." He grimaced inwardly. "Like they say: worst fate is breathing air with empty pockets."

Resolved, Fang Lei wandered the tower’s first floor.

Expanded by formations, the vast space hosted shops run by resourceful scoundrels. His treasure storage was here, alongside numerous vendors.

Once too poor to enter this merchant quarter, Fang Lie now strode into the largest establishment: Baibao Zhai.

Rumored to have powerful backers outside the Eight-Hundred-Generation Families, Baibao Zhai belonged to a sprawling network spanning the cultivation world. They traded with righteous sects and top ten demonic sects alike, a neutral colossus bridging enemies.

Through them, rival factions obtained each other’s rare materials—an unspoken arrangement permitting Baibao Zhai’s existence.

Their strength lay in strict neutrality and credit standing. They dealt fairly, avoided sect politics, never bullied weaklings. Such principles fueled their growth.

For Fang Lie, only this shop would risk business. Others under Eight-Hundred-Generation Families’ control would eject him instantly.

Entering Baibao Zhai, Fang Lie encountered a delicate sixteen-year-old girl.

Before he spoke, she recognized him, shrieked, and fled.

The ear-splitting scream startled even bold Fang Lie. Cold sweat dripped as he thought, "Do I look monstrous? Why the ghost-treatment?"

The girl returned with a white-bearded elder—a Golden Pool Master, lightning flickering in his palm. His kindly face now glared distrustfully.

"Shopkeeper," Fang Lie hurriedly said, "I swear I did nothing improper!"

"Hm?" The shopkeeper glanced at his trembling disciple. "Explain."

"I…I thought he came to murder us!" the girl stammered, face red.

Ten thousand curses stampeded through Fang Lie’s mind.

"I’m no mad killer!" he protested. "No quarrel with you! Just here to trade—since when is shopping a death threat?!"