Chapter 1414: 1382: The Huge Anomaly of the Loose Cultivator

Chapter 1414: Chapter 1382: The Huge Anomaly of the Loose Cultivator

Many placations, warnings, tax collections, and sorting out the situation in the lower domain.

The Immortal Artifact Sect Envoy cleaned up any factor threatening the Immortal Sects’ rule in an orderly manner.

At this point, amidst much intelligence, a mountain wild loose cultivator caught their attention.

“Unusual.”

“This loose cultivator holds great secrets.”

Cai Shan Venerable said to Duofu True Venerable’s avatar beside him: “Even with a fortuitous encounter, a loose cultivator shouldn’t have that many Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures. Even if he did have such treasures, he would exchange them for elixirs, cultivation methods, secret techniques—these essential things.”

“Rather than just swapping for raw material Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures.”

“This exceeds common sense.”

Tax collection and trade sales are the two legs that support the Immortal Sects’ rule. There is a crucial link between them, and no real gap exists.

What occurs within the Heavenly Work Tower cannot be hidden from the Tribute Envoy of the Immortal Sects.

“Should we clean up this factor then?”

“Brother Cai Shan, let me be clear, neither I nor the Heavenly Work Tower will get involved. Also, we must ensure he returns to his lair upon completing the transaction; at least a hundred years should pass before taking action, and in emergency situations, it must be fifty years.”

Duofu True Venerable laughed gently: “Unless it’s a crime like betraying the Human Race or colluding with the Demon Race, the reputation of the Heavenly Work Tower cannot be affected.”

“I understand.”

Cai Shan Venerable waved a hand: “Though it’s unusual, there’s no evidence. A fortuitous encounter in an ancient cultivator’s cave, fatally wounding and Refining Nothingness, or obtaining some chance and cultivating some secret technique… all these are possible.”

Evidence.

Yes, evidence.

In the cultivation world, where the strong prey on the weak and respect is given to the powerful, he needs evidence.

Because Cai Shan Venerable does not represent himself, but the Immortal Artifact Sect.

He must find evidence to slaughter the lower domain’s Refining Nothingness.

Otherwise, if this door opens, and the Immortal Sects’ envoy arbitrarily kills the lower domain’s Refining Nothingness, it may incite widespread panic among the True Sect and Taoist Sect, potentially leading to a large-scale rebellion, turning toward other Immortal Sects.

Once or twice it’s nothing, but if it happens dozens, hundreds of times, such consequences are bound to appear.

Therefore, this door cannot be opened.

Those in the position of the Immortal Sect’s Refining Void True Venerable as Tribute Envoy, while representing the Immortal Sects’ majesty and holding lofty status, are also restricted by rules and cannot act recklessly, which ironically makes life less free compared to usual.

Of course, in usual times, without the Tribute Envoy position, and without various exclusive treasures and summons, his strength would significantly decrease.

Many people who initially respected him would not extend much face.

Provoking too many people might lead to being easily surrounded and killed.

“Sleepless Puppet,”

Cai Shan Venerable pondered.

Boom!

He harshly tapped his toe on the ground, creating a deep fissure from which emerged a faceless white armor puppet, kneeling on one knee.

“Elevate the surveillance level of Mud Swamp Demon City and Mud Swamp True Venerable to grade A.”

“Yes, Ten Domains True Sect Tribute Envoy, sir.”

The voice of the white armor puppet showed no emotion: “Sir, please note that Sleepless Puppets in the Thunder Flame Domain are limited; previously, they have been closely monitoring two Great True Sects. Executing your command will lower the surveillance level of the two Great True Sects to grade B+.”

“Do you confirm?”

“If confirmed, please affix your Tribute Envoy seal.”

The white armor puppet produced a spiritual contract emblazoned with the emblem of the Immortal Artifact Sect, a bronze ring containing countless Dao Yun, surrounded by infinite rules.

This emblem appeared after the downfall of the Spirit Treasure Realm Immortal Sect of the previous era, marking the birth of the Immortal Artifact Sect.

“Confirmed.”

Cai Shan Venerable did not hesitate, taking out a seal and stamping it: “I have served as Tribute Envoy for three thousand two hundred seventy-seven years. I have a premonition: the more solitary the loose cultivator, the greater their unusual factor may be, potentially causing greater disruptions.”

“In comparison, even Blood Lake Corpse Bone Mountain—it’s just Blood Puppet Elder Faction—though filled with feuds and intrigues, they know their limits and will not cause too severe damage.”

“Watch them first, after I’ve handled matters in the Golden Sea Domain, I’ll deal with this. By then, we’ll search the mountains and seas, and even find and inspect Mud Swamp.”

He sneered.

“If it’s truly a fortuitous encounter, I will personally apologize and compensate him, even if mistaken, it won’t affect the sect’s reputation.”

Naturally, if Mud Swamp True Venerable’s encounter is extraordinarily astounding beyond common sense, he’d gladly accept it, preventing treasures from dusting in the hands of humble loose cultivators.

“Haha, Brother Cai Shan truly knows propriety, now I’m not worried.”

Duofu True Venerable laughed.

He and this brother cooperated for thousands of years, occasionally having minor discord, but generally feeling ease.

“A job to be done.”

“Before the sect’s Heavenly Inquiry Inheritance arrives, I must clean the surrounding domains to avoid being deemed negligent by the inheritance…”

Cai Shan Venerable said solemnly.

“Sect Inheritance?! Is the rumor true?”

“Lei Yang Heavenly Sword Realm’s Inheritor Disciple is coming? Otherwise, the sect inheritance wouldn’t personally entertain.”

Duofu True Venerable thought of something, startled.

This Immortal Sect Inheritor Sword Cultivator notoriously seeks challenges and may pose life-threatening risks. Best to avoid beforehand.

“Yes,”

“Our sect inheritance doesn’t need to vow bloody battle promotion like sword cultivators, but battle is equally indispensable. Our sect inheritance has to know the strength of same-rank sword cultivators… Whether to fight is not forcibly demanded by the sect; it utterly depends on the Heavenly Inquiry Inheritance’s own will.”

…

Mud Swamp Demon City.

The avatar had returned to the formation core, carrying massive quantities of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures enough to drive ordinary Refining Nothingness mad, yet suffered no obstruction from Refining Nothingness-level forces en route.

Indeed, as Jiang Ding silently guarded the avatar, he sensed the approach of Refining Nothingness from Blood Lake Corpse Bone Mountain, but halfway, it quietly retreated without action, even though the opponent appeared fragile and powerless.

“Heavenly Work Tower maintains decent reputability.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

The worst-case scenario did not materialize.

Otherwise, he might need to reveal more power, slaying trailing True Sect Refining Nothingness while the Immortal Sect Envoy remained, inadvertently increasing risks and attracting more scrutiny from the Immortal Artifact Sect.

“The Immortal Artifact Sect exercises good control over its disciples; not behaving like bandits, arbitrarily killing for treasure.”

“They are a well-functioning powerful force; extremely dangerous and must not be underestimated.”

Jiang Ding increased vigilance in secret.

If the opposing order were chaotic, though appearing dangerous, it’d paradoxically be much safer.

Order signifies concentrated power, sustainable growth, far stronger than disorder.

Jiang Ding accepted the storage bag handed over by the avatar, inspected it dozens of times before slowly opening it, illuminating the entire palace with treasure light.

“Three hundred one pieces of Sixth Order Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures.”

“One third is mine, the rest languishing as procurement for Xianmen Sect, earning a bit of profit to cover deficits. Converted, I’m not only unbeaten, but made a little profit…”

Jiang Ding checked thoroughly, finding no anomalies.

“Enough for ten rounds of cultivation, one thousand years, then it will be depleted.”

“It’s still about seven to eight hundred years short.”

That’s already the limit.

Any more, and the Heavenly Work Tower’s reputability might not hold, at least based on the expectations from the Eight Great Immortal Sects. That is the limit; any more would forfeit restraint on the Tribute Envoy’s greed, ignoring Immortal Sect rules.

“Remaining shortfall, Blood Lake Corpse Bone Mountain…”

Jiang Ding murmured.