"What's this, Brother Wei? After over a hundred years in this place, you've grown so attached you can't bear to leave?" The scholar's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Can't bear to leave? I wouldn't say that. But after so many years, one naturally develops some attachment. After all, we're not trees — who can remain entirely without feeling? Besides, back then Elder Yun of the Falling Cloud Sect treated me as though I were his own son. He not only taught me a lifetime's worth of cultivation techniques and divine abilities, but also saved my life on several critical occasions. He even overruled everyone and nearly let me take charge of the Falling Cloud Sect's power. Such kindness — I, Wei, cannot turn a blind eye. This Spirit Eye Tree, I will not allow you two fellow Daoists to take it away." The long-haired elder's voice echoed through the light barrier, his expression utterly flat.
"Good, good! So you really mean to become a genuine elder of the Falling Cloud Sect. But don't forget — the moment we reveal your true identity, do you honestly think a spy from the Heavenly Fiend Sect can continue living so freely here?" The burly man that Du Dong had transformed into laughed through his fury, his voice dripping with menace.
"I don't need you to remind me. I'm perfectly well aware. Why do you suppose I've been half-confined to this holy ground, unable to return freely to the Falling Cloud Sect? I'd long aroused the suspicions of my two grand-uncles — it was only the lack of concrete evidence that kept them from forcibly stripping me of my authority within the sect and locking me away in this tiny corner. Of course, I too have received great kindness from the Heavenly Fiend Sect, and the Sect Leader's token Fellow Daoist Du showed me earlier is genuine. So while I cannot let you remove the Spirit Tree, I can share some of the Spirit Marrow Liquid with you. That should serve as repayment for the Heavenly Fiend Sect's past kindness." The long-haired elder spoke again with extraordinary calm.
"What? You'll only give us the Spirit Marrow Liquid? I—"
"Fine. The Spirit Marrow Liquid will do. As long as we get the liquid, we're not truly hung up on the Spirit Eye Tree. After all, our Demonic Path and the Heavenly Dao Alliance possess countless heavenly treasures. Even without something as rare as the Spirit Eye Tree, Spirit Eye Springs and Spirit Eye Stones can still be found in fair number."
Just as the scholar was about to say more, Du Dong's expression suddenly eased and he agreed readily.
The scholar was momentarily stunned. But after glancing sidelong at Du Dong and considering for a moment, he held his tongue.
After all, his orders were to obey the young master of the Thousand Illusions Sect in all things. Though he couldn't fathom when the Righteous Path Alliance had grown so cozy with the six Demonic Sects, it cost him nothing to watch how the other party handled this matter.
"Since both fellow Daoists agree, I'll throw the bottled Spirit Marrow Liquid out through the restrictions right now. A word of warning — if either of you attempts a sneak attack the instant I temporarily lower the barriers, don't blame me for showing no mercy." The long-haired cultivator's voice was ice-cold.
"Heh heh! Rest assured, we won't do anything so foolish. The Profound Heaven Immortal Vine is what matters — this Spirit Tree is secondary." Du Dong's expression didn't change as he made his guarantee.
The long-haired elder nodded, reached into his storage pouch, and produced a small white bottle.
"You two, prepare to—"
"Prepare for what? Are you about to hand over the supreme treasures of our three sects to the enemy?"
Before the long-haired elder could finish, a flash of red light burst forth. Over a dozen pale sword threads shot out from beneath him, binding the unwary elder so tightly he couldn't move a single muscle.
Simultaneously, yellow light flickered at the cave's stone entrance. Elder Fu and his companions appeared there with grim expressions, completely blocking Du Dong and the scholar's escape route.
The scholar and Du Dong's faces changed drastically at the sight.
At that moment, behind the restrained long-haired elder, the figure of the boy surnamed Lan materialized.
"Good. Very good. We old fossils have long known that both the Righteous and Demonic paths planted numerous spies within our three sects. We've had our suspicions about each of you as well, but without hard evidence, we couldn't bring ourselves to strike down and purge our own. After all, you're all Core Formation cultivators — killing the wrong person would be a devastating loss for the sect. But now that you've revealed yourselves of your own accord, I no longer need to tell one from another." The boy gazed at the two of them, his small face icy cold.
"Lan, how can you be here? What about outside..."
The cultivator surnamed Bai stammered in disbelief, his face a mask of utter shock. Du Dong, though his face had gone green, forced a smile and spoke.
"Did you really think that Old Freak Fen and the Golden Mirror Scholar alone could keep us fully occupied? They should already be pinned down by a force led by two fellow Daoists of the Falling Cloud Sect. The sounds of the attack outside — I had people fabricate those deliberately. Otherwise, how would you have obediently made your move? This way, I can deal the Righteous and Demonic interlopers a sharp blow in one strike, making them think twice about provoking our Heavenly Dao Alliance again, while also carrying out a thorough purge of the spies within our sects." The boy showed not the slightest intention of concealing anything, his voice flat and matter-of-fact.
"What? Our grand-uncles aren't outside?" The scholar, who had been barely holding himself together, finally let panic show on his face.
"Fellow Apprentice Bai, you... you really are a spy for the Righteous Path Alliance?" The young woman in white stared at her dual-cultivation partner, unable to keep the tremor from her voice. Not a trace of color remained in her face.
Hearing the young woman's question, the panic on the scholar's face momentarily vanished, replaced by a bitter smile. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came.