Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

What?!

You were struck by lightning while walking down the road?!

My heavens! What a massive opportunity!

Think about it. Why didn’t the lightning strike someone else? Why not me? Why did it have to strike *you*?

It means even the heavens see your extraordinary fortune and wanted to personally descend to temper your body!

You might just be the legendary Child of Destiny!

Your girlfriend of ten years cheated on you?!

Oh my god, what wonderful news!

Think about it! You spent ten years and got to see a woman’s true nature. You came out way ahead on that deal!

She helped you dodge the huge trap of marriage, and now you can start a new Chapter in your life and go find the next one!

If this isn’t a good thing, what is?

It’s like you’ve been given a whole new life!

This was a brand of optimism that even Xuanyuan couldn’t comprehend, yet it always managed to build a final line of defense in the hearts of those Outer Sect Disciples on the verge of mental collapse.

It was said that no matter how desperate these disciples were, after chatting with Li Chunfeng for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they would begin to question their very existence, only to be amazed to discover that their own trivial problems... were actually a good thing?

Thus, they would no longer be lost and would continue to dedicate themselves to the sect.

These two were the talents Xuanyuan had specially chosen for this operation.

As for the other ten?

Sorry, Xuanyuan couldn’t be bothered to remember the names of those wastes of space.

They were just a bunch of Outer Sect Disciples who followed Dong Changsheng around doing menial chores—what was the point in remembering them?

Although the Outer Sect Disciples were all useless, the reason he could remember Su Ling’er, Wang Xiedi, Dong Changsheng, and Li Chunfeng was simply because their personalities were far too distinct.

Even mixed in with a pile of wastes, they stood out like cranes among chickens.

As for those other unremarkable, mediocre talents who could be completely bamboozled by just a few words from Dong Changsheng and Li Chunfeng, he had no interest in giving them a second glance.

Xuanyuan recalled the speech he had given to the other two and then spoke.

"Come in, all of you."

The stone door to the secret chamber slowly opened, and Xuanyuan’s majestic voice drifted out.

Dong Changsheng and Li Chunfeng glanced at each other and entered first, with the ten disciples following close behind.

Xuanyuan ignored the terror on the faces of the ten ordinary Outer Sect Disciples. His gaze fell upon Dong Changsheng and Li Chunfeng.

He recalled the speech he had given Su Ling’er and Wang Xiedi and cleared his throat.

"You have all been part of my sect for several years. Are you aware of the Guixi Sect, which has established itself three hundred li to the east?"

"We disciples have indeed heard of it."

Xuanyuan nodded, his expression turning grave.

"I suspect they may very well be a lost Evil Cultivator lineage from ancient times, now reappearing in the mortal world!

Their Cultivation Techniques, their objectives—everything is a mystery. They are truly a sharp blade hanging over the heads of us on the righteous path!"

"Su Ling’er and Wang Xiedi were sent, one after the other, on my orders to investigate the truth.

However, there has been no word from Su Ling’er to this day, and as for Wang Xiedi...

Sigh... it seems he has already sunk into the decadent pleasures of that demonic sect, losing all ambition and forgetting his duty to our sect and the righteous path!"

The moment he spoke, the atmosphere in the secret chamber instantly grew even more oppressive.

Xuanyuan scanned the room, looking at these disciples who had been thoroughly brainwashed by Dong Changsheng’s philosophy of success, and continued:

"Your talent and aptitude are of the lowest grade. As bearers of Pseudo Spirit Roots, have you ever felt indignant?"

’We are!’

The single thought echoed through the minds of the crowd.

In their minds, the impassioned figure of Mr. Dong on the preaching stage instantly appeared, along with the blueprint for success he had painted.

’Has the Sect Leader seen our worth?’

’Do we finally have a chance to repay Qingxu Temple, to repay the Sect Leader, and to achieve a higher path to immortality?’

’Our efforts haven’t been in vain!’

’It’s just as we thought! Everything Mr. Dong said was right! As long as we remain grateful, success is right around the corner!’

And the Sect Leader’s next words seemed to confirm their fantasies.

"Now, an opportunity lies before you."

"Infiltrate the Guixi Sect and become their disciples."

"By whatever means necessary, you are to uncover the truth of their Cultivation Technique, find evidence that they are Evil Cultivators, and report everything you learn to me!"

"After you succeed, not only will I make an exception and accept you as Inner Sect Disciples, but I will also personally perform Washing Marrow for you and reshape your aptitude for cultivation!

At that time, the future path to immortality will be well within your grasp!"

BOOM—!

The minds of the ten Outer Sect Disciples went blank, and their hearts began to pound wildly.

’After all these years of hard work, we’ve finally earned the Sect Leader’s attention!’

’We can finally serve the righteous path, repay Qingxu Temple, and contribute our meager strength!’

’The trial has finally arrived! We can take another step forward on the path to immortality!’

Their faces flushed with excitement, they accepted the order with a loud cry:

"We disciples are willing to go! We will not shrink from ten thousand deaths!!!"

Only Dong Changsheng had a flicker of melancholy in his eyes.

’It’s all thanks to the benefactor who enlightened me all those years ago, the one who roamed beyond the heavens and taught me the great dao of success!’

’Though he left quietly for reasons I don’t know... and I never even had a chance to properly repay his kindness!’

’Sigh!’

’Although my foundation was damaged, I was fortunate that the Sect Leader took me in.’

’Now I finally have a place to prove my worth and can do my utmost to repay the Sect Leader!’

Dong Changsheng gave Xuanyuan a deep bow, his voice firm and resounding:

"Sect Leader!

I wasted away for years in the Outer Sect. It was your magnanimity, Sect Leader, that gave me a place to stay and a platform to preach!

This kindness is something I carry in my heart at all times!

Today, you have shown me such trust again, entrusting me with this great responsibility. This is a kindness tantamount to giving me a new life!"

"I do not go for the sake of Washing Marrow or to have my aptitude reshaped!"

"I go only to repay the Sect Leader for the grace of recognizing my worth!"

"If this mission fails, I will leave my life behind in the Guixi Sect!"

"Brothers, you must remember! What the Sect Leader has granted us is the chance to change our destiny!"

"It is a ladder to the Great Dao!"

"If you don’t even dare to take this small risk, then what’s the point of talking about seeking immortality and the Dao? What’s the point of talking about repaying the sect’s kindness?!"

Watching this display of fierce loyalty, Xuanyuan felt a slight pang of regret. ’His success theory really is quite useful, after all.’

’What a pity.’

’Still, the theory isn’t hard to grasp. When the time comes, it’ll just be a matter of finding someone else to brainwash the Outer Sect Disciples.’

Li Chunfeng’s eyes, on the other hand, were shining.

’My path here was a dead end, and I was just worrying about my hopeless future. Has a new path just opened up?’

’The Sect Leader wants me to go undercover in another sect. Maybe I’ll find my own fated opportunity there!’

’This is a wonderful thing!’

Looking at these loyal and devoted disciples, Xuanyuan nodded in satisfaction.

’As expected of disciples influenced by Dong Changsheng and Li Chunfeng.’

"Since you have such resolve, I shall bestow upon you a magic treasure."

As he spoke, he took an item from his storage pouch—the Lingxi Inquiry Profound Mirror.

The main body of this magic treasure was a simple, palm-sized bronze mirror. Although its face was dim and mottled, it could still reflect a blurry silhouette.

The mirror’s surface was dotted with various Daoist patterns, its spiritual light contained within.

However, this magic treasure had long been shattered, its body covered in a spiderweb of cracks.

Xuanyuan put the main mirror away and took out eleven sharp, variously sized fragments, distributing them to Dong Changsheng and the ten Outer Sect Disciples.

This was...