Chapter 520

Chapter 520: Plotting Against the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect

Next, Elder Lan took Fang Lie to tour the Zhongli Family’s various sights. Only then did Fang Lie realize that though they dwelled among volcanic mountains in seemingly harsh terrain, the place held many marvels.

The calm Magma Lake brimmed with fiery lotuses whose fragrance greeted visitors from afar. These vivid blossoms thrived in molten rock, accompanied by firefish darting through the lava.

Moreover, the family possessed several Small Thousand Worlds – pocket realms with diverse environments beyond volcanic landscapes.

While renowned for their fire-element divine skills, the Zhongli clan’s vast lineage occasionally produced members with Five Elements spiritual roots better suited for cultivation in these alternate realms.

After four hours, Fang Lie had seen the family’s finest non-restricted areas. Though barred from core Secret Realms, the tour’s sheer scale demonstrated their regard for him – common visitors never received Thunder Tribulation Immortal escorts.

At noon, Elder Lan led Fang Lie to a Bamboo Forest Secret Realm. Deep within stood an elegant villa where hundreds prepared a feast, though only four would dine: Fang Lie, Elder Lan, Family Head Zhongli Yanting, and another Thunder Tribulation Immortal.

Zhongli Yanting treated Fang Lie as an equal, personally guiding him to the banquet with warm courtesies and constant toasts. Faced with such deference from a Thunder Tribulation Immortal, Fang Lie drank freely.

When wine cups emptied and dishes cooled, business commenced.

Yanting dismissed the three hundred attendants with a wave. As doors sealed behind the last servant, his manner turned grave. "By rights, the Thunder Sound Golden Bell should remain as ancestral heritage. Selling it makes one an unworthy descendant. Moreover, your feud with Great Thunder Sound Temple makes this transaction perilous."

Despite the stern words, Fang Lie detected room for negotiation.

"Yet you honor us by coming," Yanting continued. "We wish friendship. Thus we offer this chance: retrieve our lost Family Head token, the Ninth Dragons Flame Order, and the bell is yours. As the token’s merely an Eighth-rank treasure, we’d require Dragon Yang Spirit Herb liquid to balance the value."

"Sounds fair. Where’s the token?"

"Our previous patriarch fell to Ten-Thousand Gu Sect demons during travels. They surely took it. Our retrieval demands were refused – we’re longtime enemies." Yanting leaned forward. "But you who plundered Ghost Realm Sect’s vault could surely penetrate theirs?"

Fang Lie laughed heartily. "If it’s there, you’ll have it within a month!" Secretly he rejoiced – this aligned perfectly with existing plans. His new servant should have already infiltrated their defenses.

"Done!" Yanting exclaimed. "The bell is yours, and our eternal gratitude!"

"Keep the thanks – this is simple trade. Will 100 pounds of Spirit Liquid suffice?"

"More than enough! A toast to partnership!"

Their cups clashed. With business concluded, merriment resumed until all reveled in good spirits.

Two days later, Fang Lie departed incognito – only the three Thunder Tribulation Immortals knew the black-masked visitor’s identity.

Rather than returning to Mo Sect, he journeyed northwest for seven days to Divine Spider town. This Ten-Thousand Gu Sect border settlement sprawled across webs woven by an Eighth-rank arachnid demon.

This spider demon had existed for ten thousand years. Thousands of years ago, it was subdued by a master from the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect. Since environmental factors prevented relocation, they simply built a trading town here, employing both the demon and its lair as guardians.

When Fang Lie arrived, he witnessed a peculiar sight – an immense city spanning hundreds of miles beneath a sky-blanketing web. The entire settlement rested upon another web that merged with the earth, barely detectable beneath the soil.

This unique defense system consisted of dual celestial and terrestrial webs, forged by combining the divine spider’s silk with the sect’s special Formations into a large treasure weapon. Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals would meet certain death if provoking trouble here.

Fang Lie remained masked in black attire, his wings fully concealed to avoid recognition. Having gravely offended the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect, any exposure of his presence would summon formidable foes. Though unafraid of death, he needed to protect his mission through disguise.

After paying substantial entry fees at the city gate, Fang Lie began scouting large inns while exploring the streets. Upon inspecting the fourth establishment, he found his target – a "Lie" word shaped symbol carved on an inn’s marking pillar.

These marking pillars served cultivators seeking meetings in crowded cities. When Fang Lie had conquered Miao Xingfang of the Soul Split Sect during the Wanxing Sea arena battle, he’d forced her to surrender a soul fragment, binding her as his servant. After their Great War, he tasked her with infiltrating the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect to plant an object before going dormant.

Now planning to steal from the sect’s vault, Fang Lie needed insider information. The symbol confirmed Miao Xingfang’s prior arrival. He secured a premium room and waited.

At midnight, Fang Lie vibrated Miao Xingfang’s soul fragment in his consciousness sea. Soon came a knock revealing a Purple Palace-level middle-aged cultivator – utterly ordinary-looking. With privacy ensured by restrictions, Fang Lie revealed his true face.

The figure knelt: "Xingfang pays respects to her master!"

"Rise," Fang Lie said lightly. "Address me as Young Master henceforth, without ceremony." He entered the room followed by the rising servant.

Seated in the parlor, Fang Lie demanded: "The task?"

"Completed!" Miao Xingfang responded. "I possessed an obscure Wind Tribulation Immortal, delivered your treasure to the sect, then perished deliberately during sect missions against Righteous Cultivators. No suspicion remains."

"Good. Now describe the Secret Vault."

"The Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s Treasure Vault occupies a nine-layered valley rather than towers. Each layer corresponds to Ninth-Rank treasures, separated by Formations requiring great power to breach. Their Formations prove mediocre – even I could break the inner layers. But deadly gu insects infest every level. Unauthorized disciples get devoured instantly."

"My limit was the sixth layer with its Golden Light Gu. Neither I nor Fire Tribulation Immortals could survive there. Deeper layers grow increasingly perilous. Young Master must exercise extreme caution if entering."