Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

(Author’s Note: Due to an oversight, today’s six scheduled Chapters will now be nine!)

Family?

That word. To Su Ling’er, now trapped in this den of demons, it felt so distant, yet so warm.

Her thoughts drifted to a city nestled under the protection of the Celestial Furnace Sect.

Anhe City.

Within the city was the Su Mansion.

Though not one of the city’s great clans, they were still well-off and prosperous.

Her father ran several shops, and her mother was gentle and virtuous. Every winter, their family would set up a stall at the city gates to distribute porridge to the poor.

She also had a younger brother and several younger sisters who were still learning to talk.

Her family were all mortals, with no hidden Cultivation bloodline, let alone any long-lost relatives.

...

It all began with a common storybook, where she first caught a glimpse of the world of Immortals.

Sword Control to ride the wind, slaying monsters and vanquishing demons.

The grace of the Immortals described in the book, their righteous quest to protect the common people, planted a seed in her young heart.

She wanted to pursue Cultivation.

She wanted to become a Sword Immortal, just like the ones in the stories.

And her family, naturally, was supportive.

If their family could produce an Immortal, with an Immortal sect for a patron, it would undoubtedly be a great honor and a form of security for a mortal family.

However, a cruel reality dealt her a heavy blow.

Her younger brother and sisters had No Spiritual Root; they were completely mortal.

But she, Su Ling’er, had a... Four-Element Pseudo Spirit Root.

She could cultivate, but it was as if the heavens were playing a cruel joke on her.

In the eyes of true Cultivators, a Pseudo Spirit Root was no different from being a mortal—or perhaps even worse.

Her path on the Dao was bleak, with no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment. No matter how many resources were invested, it would be a fruitless endeavor.

She couldn’t enter a major sect, only some third-rate minor one, and even then, only as the lowliest of outer disciples.

In reality, that meant being a handyman disciple, doing drudgery she had never touched back home and enduring scorn and injustice.

But she refused to accept it.

The seed of the immortal path had already taken root and sprouted in her heart. How could the three words ’Pseudo Spirit Root’ be enough to sever it?

She insisted on cultivating.

In the end, her parents couldn’t change her mind and spent a fortune to send her to Qingxu Temple, a subordinate of the Celestial Furnace Sect.

Su Ling’er forcefully suppressed the longing she felt for her family.

’It’s been years since I’ve seen them. I wonder if Mom and Dad are well?’

’Has my little brother gotten taller?’

’And my sisters... do they even remember they have a big sister like me?’

’Will I... ever have the chance to go back and see them?’

But she knew better than anyone that her family was entirely mortal. It was absolutely impossible for her, Su Ling’er, to have any long-lost Cultivator relatives.

’Then... what kind of trick is this fiend playing now?’

’Why would he fabricate a "relative" out of thin air?’

’Does he think the previous torture wasn’t enough? Is he trying to shake my resolve this way—giving me false hope, only to cruelly crush it for his own amusement?’

’Or is this so-called "relative" simply a new trap?’

’A puppet under their control?’

’Or... have they investigated my background and already made a move against my family in Anhe City?!’

In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through her mind, each one more chilling than the last.

"Senior Brother,"

"I... I don’t know... I don’t believe my family has any lost relatives. Where... where is this coming from?"

Seeing his little junior sister’s expression, Lin Qingfeng understood.

’It seems my explanation wasn’t direct enough. She hasn’t grasped it yet.’

"Junior Sister, you’re missing the point."

"You are thinking of family by blood. What I am talking about is family by ’Dao lineage’! They are your fated ’believers’!"

Su Ling’er: "?"

’Believers? Family by Dao lineage?’

’Is this some new demonic sect jargon?’

"I believe I’ve told you before about a sect called the Dawa Sect."

Lin Qingfeng continued to explain,

"The cultivation path of this sect’s members is quite peculiar. They do not seek the self, nor do they pursue eternal life. Instead, through extreme sacrifice and humility, they comprehend the state of ’selflessness’ and seek the Dao of ’being needed’."

"Speaking of which, you’ve met one of them already. That... old Daoist I drove away when you first joined."

’The Dawa Sect again?!’

Su Ling’er’s hackles rose instantly.

’That crazy old Daoist who tried to claim kinship the moment we met!’

’That bizarre sect that Senior Brother accused of "tarnishing our sect’s reputation"!’

’What does that demonic sect have to do with me?’

’And what does it have to do with my family?’

’Also, hmm, why do you people keep insisting you’re the head of the righteous orthodox sects?’

’Do you look anything like a righteous orthodox sect?’

’Going on and on about being the head of the righteous sects... How about you get rid of the blood sacrifices and endless enslavement first, and *then* you can go around boasting about how righteous you are, okay?’

’The environment is the only thing that looks like an Immortal Realm, but just having a nice setting and spouting a few pretty words doesn’t make your sect righteous!!!’

’And what’s this about "not seeking the self, nor pursuing eternal life"?’

’Isn’t that the whole point of Cultivation?’

’Wait!’

’Family...’

’That old Daoist who tried to claim kinship right away.’

’Could it be...’

Su Ling’er hurriedly sought confirmation.

"Senior Brother, are you saying... the Dawa Sect wants to claim kinship?"

"Precisely."

"I have already contacted a fellow Daoist from the Dawa Sect. Today is the day you claim kinship with them."

"I even praised you as the perfect incarnation of the ’Holy Mother Dao Embryo’! You have no idea how happy they were to hear that!"

"Today is the day you accept their worship and ascend to your divine pedestal!"

As he spoke, he took a Memory Stone from his storage pouch. Its brilliant glow indicated it was of extraordinary quality.

"This is a Top-Grade Memory Stone. It can project scenes and transmit voices between two locations in real-time."

Lin Qingfeng held the Memory Stone out to Su Ling’er.

"In a moment, I will activate this stone. When I do, you just need to face it and recite the lines I’ve prepared for you. Remember, your emotions must be sincere, and your expression must be perfect. Understand?"

"This is the highest-level ’Blessing’ ceremony in their ’Path of Sincere Offering.’ Our sect’s reputation is on the line, so watch your expression!"

Su Ling’er looked at the Memory Stone, then back at her senior brother’s deadly serious face. The feeling of absurdity welled up inside her, reaching its peak.

’Is this how you claim kinship?’

’Is this how you bestow a blessing?’

’And what the hell is a Holy Mother Dao Embryo?’

’When did I ever get a constitution like that?!’

But right now, she had no room to refuse.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Su Ling’er could only respond with deference.

’But...’

’Will they really not mind?’

’Is everyone in that sect really like this, from top to bottom?’

’Even the Sect Leader?’

She took the script from her senior brother. On it were the lines she was supposed to say.

In the next instant, Su Ling’er’s pupils contracted violently.

She looked up, staring at Lin Qingfeng as if he were a madman.

"Senior Brother... are you sure the contents of this script aren’t a declaration of war on their sect?"