Chapter 1287: The Tianzun's Intelligence (Supplementary Update)

"Please forgive us, senior. We are not authorized to deal with information regarding ancient beings like Heavenly Venerates," Black Wuchang said.

Chen Mobai frowned slightly upon hearing this.

He had finally decided to do business with the Wuchang Sect, but unexpectedly, their first transaction was already proving difficult.

"Is there anyone in Eastern Continent who can make such decisions?" Chen Mobai asked, unwilling to waste the Wuchang Talisman he had used today.

"Please wait a moment, senior. We will report this to our superiors."

As Black Wuchang spoke, he extended his hand and clasped palms with White Wuchang beside him. Immediately, Chen Mobai felt the surrounding void twist, as if a strange power, operating through Dao rules he didn't comprehend, was being transmitted to a distant location.

"Is this the Wuchang Sect's legacy?"

Chen Mobai's face showed curiosity. Thanks to his mastery of the Void Dao, he could vaguely perceive that this was harnessing the power of the netherworld.

The living world and the netherworld were separated by void barriers, some thick and some thin.

These thin spots, by chance, could be breached, forming what were known as Yellow Springs Roads.

In the Eastern Barrens, perhaps due to the Heavenly Venerate's past presence, many of the void barriers between the living world and the netherworld were almost nonexistent.

For instance, the Primordial Ancestor, while exploring a Yellow Springs Road, encountered a powerful ghost cultivator. Although he narrowly escaped and sealed the path, he was still severely wounded and eventually passed away.

Considering the Wuchang Sect's name and their furtive operational style, Chen Mobai increasingly believed it was a ghost cultivation organization.

Just then, Black and White Wuchang separated their palms, and a dark fissure appeared in the void. They then plunged their hands into it as if it were a portal and forcefully tore it open.

Above the desolate mountain, a dark and profound opening emerged, from which emanated a chilling aura that Chen Mobai found very familiar.

Following this, a middle-aged cultivator stepped out. He wore a square hat, a red robe, and held a ceremonial tablet. His nose was flat, and his face was sunken. Though he appeared extremely ugly, he exuded an air of majesty.

Most importantly, the powerful aura he emitted made Chen Mobai feel a slight solemnity.

Without a doubt, this was a Soul Transformation cultivator.

"Greetings, Lord of Eastern Continent!"

As soon as the middle-aged cultivator appeared, Black and White Wuchang immediately knelt in a deep bow.

"I didn't expect it was Fellow Daoist Chen who activated the Wuchang Talisman. My name is Dong Tai, and I am honored to serve as the Lord of Eastern Continent for the Wuchang Sect, essentially the manager here." The middle-aged cultivator nodded, signaling Black and White Wuchang to rise, then smiled slightly and introduced himself to Chen Mobai.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Dong. I didn't realize your esteemed sect also had a Soul Transformation cultivator stationed in Eastern Continent. This means that Eastern Continent effectively has five great sacred lands." Chen Mobai nodded and responded politely. With a wave of his hand, a table, tea set, and other items appeared, ready to entertain his guest.

"Although my Wuchang Sect has some renown, we practice ghost cultivation, so we prefer to remain inconspicuous." Dong Tai did not stand on ceremony. He sat directly opposite Chen Mobai on the ground and explained his sect's heritage and origins.

Chen Mobai nodded in understanding after listening.

However, the moment Dong Tai appeared, Chen Mobai had already confirmed inwardly that he was a ghost cultivator.

This was because the divine ability that appeared out of thin air was almost identical to the Gates of the Underworld summoned by Venerate Ming.

Both involved movement between the yin and yang realms.

"May I ask what relationship your esteemed sect has with the Tongyou Demonic Sect?"

Chen Mobai, not standing on ceremony, directly posed the question.

"There's a connection," Dong Tai replied.

"As it happens, I have nothing pressing today. Perhaps Fellow Daoist could elaborate." Chen Mobai brewed a pot of Enlightenment Tea and poured a cup for the Wuchang Sect's Lord of Eastern Continent before him.

Dong Tai didn't hesitate. He took the cup and drank it in one gulp, then squinted his eyes for a moment before letting out a long breath.

"I've long heard that the Azure Emperor possesses an immortal tea tree left by a Heavenly Venerate, and that drinking from it grants enlightenment of the Great Dao. It truly lives up to its reputation."

Chen Mobai was somewhat surprised that Enlightenment Tea could affect a ghost cultivator, but considering Dong Tai was already at the Soul Transformation stage, he might have re-forged a physical body.

"The Tongyou (Penetrating the Netherworld), Qu Shen (Expelling Spirits), and She Hun (Seizing Souls) methods of the Eighteen Demonic Sects all originated from our Wuchang Sect. The earliest ghost cultivation methods in the Heavenly River Realm were passed down by us."

Dong Tai's words made Chen Mobai raise an eyebrow. This was essentially the demonic path among demonic paths.

Did Central Continent not intervene?

"In the past, the Ghost Mother had nine children. The youngest, Ming Luo, became the patriarch of our Wuchang Sect. He was still in the womb when the Ghost Mother and Water Mother contended for control of the Great Dao. When the Water Mother slew the Ghost Mother, she discovered our patriarch's existence and, feeling compassion, spared him."

"Afterward, the Water Mother personally took our patriarch under her wing, guiding and nurturing him. It was also under her guidance that Patriarch Ming Luo created the methods of ghost cultivation."

"Therefore, in terms of heritage, we belong to the lineage of the Water Mother Palace."

After hearing this, Chen Mobai understood why the Wuchang Sect was a sacred land: it had a powerful background, with its patriarch personally raised by the Water Mother.

However, the Water Mother killing the elder children but sparing the youngest did not quite align with local customs.

Shouldn't the entire family, old and young, be eradicated to prevent future troubles?

At this thought, Chen Mobai's heart seized. He realized his recent thoughts were becoming increasingly extreme.

The Water Mother, not dwelling on past enmity and raising her enemy's child, should clearly be praised.

It should be blamed on the Heavenly River Realm for not inheriting such positive traditions from the Water Mother; for many years, corrupt practices had prevailed, even somewhat contaminating him.

"Ahem, but over time, some degenerates inevitably emerge. Furthermore, the nature of ghost cultivation, which is neither life nor death, can cause many fellow disciples to lose their sanity and humanity over long periods. Thus, some ill-intentioned individuals began to fall into the demonic path. The patriarch of the Qu Shen Demonic Sect, for instance, was once a lord from our sect who succumbed to demonic influence."

"The origin of the She Hun Demonic Sect was also a bone jade unearthed by one of our sect's lords from the depths of the netherworld. However, it was unexpectedly found to contain a remnant soul of the Ghost Mother, ultimately triggering the greatest Ghost Mother calamity in Eastern Continent. Because of this incident, our sect has maintained as low a profile as possible in Eastern Continent, to avoid being held accountable by the Heavenly Emperor."

"As for the Tongyou Demonic Sect's origins, Fellow Daoist has likely heard of them..."

After Dong Tai finished speaking, Chen Mobai recalled some things he knew, and his expression changed slightly.

The two major calamities that led to the decline of the Eastern Land Imperial Court—one involving the Ghost Mother, and the other the Nine-Headed Great Sage—both seemed to involve vast conspiracies.

In any case, he certainly didn't believe that a major ghost cultivation sect like Wuchang Sect would be unaware of a remnant Ghost Mother soul within a bone jade.

However, since they claimed this, and the Heavenly Emperor hadn't pursued the matter, it was likely that the higher echelons had already reached a conclusion. He would provisionally accept it.

"I see. It was presumptuous of me; I didn't realize your esteemed sect inherited from the Water Mother." With these words, Chen Mobai effectively moved past the previous topic.

"Not at all, it's merely a connection to the Water Mother, similar to the Daode Sect. I heard from Black and White Wuchang that Fellow Daoist wishes to inquire about information regarding the Heavenly Venerate?" Dong Tai drank another cup of Enlightenment Tea. Feeling its nearly negligible effect, he sighed with slight regret but also remembered the reason for his visit.

"Indeed. As Fellow Daoist likely knows, my current achievements are entirely due to inheriting the Longevity Sect's legacy. The sudden disappearance of the Heavenly Venerate and the Longevity Sect overnight has always weighed heavily on my mind. Hearing that your esteemed sect possesses information on this matter, I requested a Wuchang Talisman to seek advice." Chen Mobai spoke with a serious expression, reiterating his request.

"Fellow Daoist should know that our fees are quite high, especially for information on great divine cultivators like the Heavenly Venerate." Dong Tai nodded. The implication of his words slightly pleased Chen Mobai, indicating that the Wuchang Sect indeed had knowledge about the Heavenly Venerate's situation.

"Please state your price, Fellow Daoist, so I can see if I can afford it." However, his habit of frugality from a young age made Chen Mobai accustomed to asking prices beforehand, to avoid embarrassment if he couldn't pay.

"The Heavenly Venerate's records in our sect are classified as Tier 7. Therefore, information about him requires an exchange of equivalent Tier 7 knowledge, which could be a Tier 7 inheritance cultivation method, or information about another Tier 7 existence unknown to our sect."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai's eyes widened involuntarily.

He thought to himself, *Has the Wuchang Sect gone mad?*

Tier 7 knowledge was extremely rare in Eastern Continent. For example, the One-Yuan Dao Palace only possessed the "Primordial Golden Cauldron." As for other sects like the Daode Sect or the Nine Heavens Demonic Extermination Sect, Chen Mobai wasn't sure if they had such knowledge in the Heavenly River Realm. According to local custom, one would likely only obtain Tier 7 knowledge after reaching the Void Refinement stage and ascending.

"Fellow Daoist, no one in the Heavenly River Realm could possibly afford such a price," Chen Mobai said. Even someone from an immortal sect background like Chen Mobai was somewhat shocked by the Wuchang Sect's demand.

"There are indeed those who are willing to pay," Dong Tai revealed. "After Fellow Daoist became famous for bringing back the Qiju Beast's corpse from the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, more than one client has purchased information about the Heavenly Venerate from us."

Who else besides the Grand Void Immortal? The Vast Qi Immortal? Or the Lord of the Central Demonic Path?

These names flashed through Chen Mobai's mind. He thought these individuals were truly willing to pay such a high price.

Even for them, Tier 7 knowledge wasn't a resource to be casually exchanged for information.

"Can I pay with physical items?" Although Chen Mobai wasn't particularly attached to the Primordial Golden Cauldron, it was, after all, left by True Monarch One-Yuan. It was acceptable for it to be passed down within a lineage like the Five Elements Sect, but if he gave it to the Wuchang Sect, it would be awkward to face his nominal patriarch after ascending in the future.

"Fellow Daoist, the requirements for Tier 7 knowledge are quite broad. As for physical items, even if we lowered the standard to Tier 6 magic artifacts, I doubt Fellow Daoist would be willing, though we would accept." Dong Tai's words were a deterrent, making Chen Mobai feel that the Wuchang Sect didn't know what was good for them.

"I meant Tier 6 materials." Chen Mobai had obtained six Pure Serenity Bamboos from Western Continent in the past. Over the years, Qing Nü had used them to fully comprehend the Black Emperor Abyssal Sutra, and they had since returned to his possession.

He could reluctantly exchange the Heavenly Venerate's records for these, but asking him to trade his Primordial Yang Sword or Primordial Bell would be utterly insane.

"Fellow Daoist, as I just mentioned, information about the Heavenly Venerate is classified as Tier 7 in our sect. As for Tier 6 materials, unless they are Yin-attributed items like Tier 6 Soul Nurturing Wood, which are extremely useful to ghost cultivators, or even Tier 6 magic artifacts whose attributes don't align with our needs, we would not be interested."

Dong Tai's words clearly indicated refusal.

"It seems then that this transaction cannot be concluded."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai decided not to produce the six Pure Serenity Bamboos. He shook his head regretfully, preparing to rise and depart.

"It seems Fellow Daoist believes that information about the Heavenly Venerate is not worth exchanging for Tier 7 knowledge."

Dong Tai understood Chen Mobai's intention as soon as he saw him prepare to stand.

"That's right. Moreover, Tier 7 knowledge involves the most fundamental inheritance of my sect. Please forgive me, but I cannot offer it simply for information whose authenticity cannot be verified." Chen Mobai nodded, stating the most crucial point.

The Wuchang Sect's reputation was not yet worth Chen Mobai gambling such a valuable item on.

"In that case, I shall offer Fellow Daoist a segment of the records for free." Dong Tai was very keen to make this transaction happen, believing that Chen Mobai, as the Heavenly Venerate's successor, had no reason not to buy this information.

He intended to reveal a little first, confident that Chen Mobai would take the bait.

"Please proceed, Fellow Daoist." As expected, Chen Mobai sat back down and poured tea once more.

"Because the living world and the netherworld are incomplete and reincarnation is imperfect, after the Heavenly Venerate took that step toward Dao Integration, he entered a peculiar state of neither life nor death..."