Chapter 588 - Shard of Divine (II) (Patreon)

Cui Tai lit up the pipe, inhaling the fumes of the aul grass, letting the scorching sensation wash through her. Her gaze was frozen on the looming behemoth pressed against the edge of a cliff, Heavenly Sword Sect.

Though there were just about sixty or so high-grade arrays and formations obfuscating the whole thing, she could rather easily see through it all, her gaze landing upon the namesake of the sect, that massive sword-shaped tower standing in the center of the whole place.

There was once a time, quite some years ago, where she walked upon those arched gates with hopes and dreams of joining the place. Back then, it was not yet considered a Holy Land, but merely an upstart sect with some potential. Even so, she was rejected--quite cruelly at that.

She'd forgotten it for the most part as it was merely a small blip in her lengthy life, but when she got contacted not two months ago by Three and asked if she would be willing to be the vanguard of the operation... the old pettiness came crawling back and she agreed.

Being here now, however, she had started regretting it slightly. Heavenly Sword Sect, though rather inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, still boasted deep history and defenses that were no joke. Not to mention that old crone that hadn't left this place in centuries.

Even if Cui Tai was confident in ultimately being able to kill her, it would not be easy or quick, and the lot she was assigned... she hardly had much confidence. After all, she was the only Sage present--everyone else was of the lesser ranks, with the second strongest being barely at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm.

He'd be able to cover of the Sect Master, but beyond that... it was pathetic.

There would be help, at least, coming from within, though she was not informed who that help was.

All the same, she grunted, rubbing the bridge of her nose as her coat of silver hair fell roughly over her shoulders.

At the very least, she mused, the goal was not conquest; amidst the confusion and rage and destruction, the goal was a simple thievery. With the Order's failure inside the Hidden Realm back on the mountains, there was no room for her to fail, too. If she did... best case scenario, she'd wind up like that decrepit old thing that died without fanfare on the shores of some lake.

More likely, she'd be purged, her being taken and gifted to another.

"O' Great Sage, you have called for me?" a youthful voice sprung her attention back to the small hillside they were on, just outside the local village.

The youth who spoke was a boy whose name she couldn't bother remembering; he was quite handsome, and she was tempted to have him keep her company for the night, but thought better of it as his role was simply too important.

He was the thief. The one who was to grab and run.

"Did you memorize everything?" she asked.

"O' Great Sage, this lowly one has committed every single detail to memory," he bowed deeply and spoke with reverence that she more so tolerated rather than enjoyed at this point. "I am to keep to the shadows and avoid combat at all cost. I will thusly be informed of either who had won the Shard at the auction, or where it's presently if it remained unbought. Once I locate the item, I am to use Lightning you so graciously curated for me and kill anyone contesting for it. The moment the item is in my hands, I am to send a signal to Great Sage and immediately rip the Teleportation Talisman. After the fact, I am to rush to our underground hideout in the Grove of the Heavens, where I shall wait for precisely twelve hours. In case no one else appears, I am to activate the Teleportation Array and leave on my own."

"Good," she nodded. He laid it out so easily that one would be tempted to think it was to be a simple little robbery. If only the world truly was that simple. "Know that obtaining that item is more important than anything else. Including your life."

"Yes, Great Sage! Even if I must die, I shall obtain it no matter what!"

"Very well. You're dismissed."

The boy left, prompting her to look back over at the sect yet again. Despite everything seemingly in place... she had a rather bad premonition. These past few years, quite a few of their plans--even if they were mostly minor--had been thwarted by somebody.

Not too long ago, Sage of Dread himself informed them that somebody had destroyed one of his Avatars in this realm, and did so without allowing the soul within to retreat. As such, they had no idea who it was, just that there was somebody capable of killing that old, shrewd thing and not being found out.

Maybe it was just her paranoia... but she truly, deeply, wholeheartedly regretted taking on this mission.

**

The swarm was truly unending, Hou Tu thought.

He'd stepped into the line full three days ago, and was just now allowed the entry into the outer reaches of the sect--the 'city' that acted as a buffer more so than anything else.

Once inside, the dreary crowd that had gathered at the arched entrance over the natural land bridge had cleared up considerably--paved streets weaved between brick-and-stone constructions, and though there were quite a few people walking, he wasn't being actively suffocated.

What made it even easier was the sheer abundance of Qi--even in the city and outside of the 'sect' itself, the Qi-Gathering array was still working. Though he wanted to take a few minutes and meditate, he couldn't; he'd promised Wu Meng to meet her as soon as he entered.

Shuffling past the existing crowds, he saw countless shops lining the central district, each sporting a signboard more exaggerated than the last. Finally, after nearly fifteen minutes of walking, he came across the Low-Bear Inn. It was a four-story building, towering over the nearby two tailor and seamstress shops (how those two differed, Hou Tu did not know).

The main hall of the inn was truly grand and full, with satin-covered furniture resting in every which direction. He took a moment to look past the glamour and spotted her sitting in the far-off corner. Though she donned a hood covering her face, he'd never mistake her Qi signature after having adventured with her for so many years.

There was one oddity, however--she was not alone. Seated next to her was a woman he didn't recognize, and a rather powerful one as he couldn't make out her realm despite having broken through into the Demigod Realm himself recently.

"Ah, hello, Brother Tu," Wu Meng greeted him rather merrily and slightly undid her hood, smiling somewhat apologetically.

"Hello, Sister Meng," he greeted back with a bow, though eyed the woman next to her all the same. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but did have a rather... prominent air about her. "I didn't know you were with someone."

"Ah, yes, apologies. Let me introduce you: this is my Senior Sister, Jin Hua. We met here by accident and she asked if she could accompany us to the auction. I hope you don't mind, Brother Tu."

"Of course not, Sister Meng," he said, putting on a smile. "Forgive my rudeness, Senior Sister Hua. This Junior greets you."

"No worries," the woman said, smiling somewhat strangely. "I should be apologizing for putting myself between two such adorable Juniors. Alas, circumstances are cruel, little Junior. I hope, for both our sake's, you will understand."