Although Chen Qing ignored him, Yao Feng still reported seriously, "Our branch is just an extremely small fraction of the Jiguang Sect."
"When it was handed over to me, I only had four masks."
"One of them is the silver mask I am wearing now, and I have three bronze masks in my possession."
"May I ask Senior, how should I select new members for these remaining three bronze masks?"
Does that mean there are still five bronze masks scattered out there?
Chen Qing actually wasn't very interested in this matter. Are you the petty cult leader, or am I?
Of course, it would be best if they were somewhat wealthy.
However, Chen Qing didn't voice this; it would be beneath him.
"Just be casual about it, manage it as you see fit," Chen Qing left with such an indifferent comment.
Instantly, Yao Feng felt an immense pressure. Having no specific demands was the most difficult.
What if the new members he picked were not to Senior Taichu's satisfaction? That would be awkward.
It seems Senior Taichu has high standards for selecting new members. Time to think of a plan.
"Once I have a suitable candidate, I will report to Senior."
Chen Qing did not give a definite response, nor did he make any gesture of intent, just sitting quietly.
Yao Feng sat there nervously, not speaking again. It appeared he had shared all the news he had.
Chen Qing thought that Murong Lang would be the next to speak, but surprisingly, it was Hu Yao who spoke up.
"I heard from a friend that the Yin Yang Sect operating in the West Desert captured an abnormal person."
Murong Lang was clearly very curious. "What kind of abnormal person?"
Hu Yao said, "It is said to be a Bug Spirit Body."
Yao Feng asked, "Is it that Bug Spirit Body that can attract bugs to come closer?"
Hu Yao said, "It should be. I heard that the Yin Yang Sect is now very active, probably enslaving this abnormal person to catch a large number of wild Bugs."
Chen Qing felt a jolt in his heart. There's such a constitution as the Bug Spirit Body?
Can it really attract surrounding Bugs?
Indeed extraordinary!
What a pity that it's been exposed due to weak strength and can only become a tool for the cult.
A skilled warrior does not always display great achievements.
Keeping oneself hidden is of utmost importance.
Without strength, any great ability could only end up benefiting others.
Murong Lang suggested, "Then you better not travel too far for the time being."
Hu Yao nodded, "Of course, I will be careful."
Murong Lang looked at Yao Feng, "Fellow Daoist Yao Feng, any news about the place you were tasked to investigate?"
Yao Feng said, "The place you described, filled with thunder and never-ending, is very much like a place beyond this world, not within it."
"Of course, it could also be due to the extremely distant journey."
"By the way, was the wooden house I suggested last time of any use?"
Murong Lang said, "There's a certain effect, but unfortunately not so useful for the birth of infants."
Yao Feng asked, "Haven't you tried to have several great Cultivators stay in the formation to resist the thunder, taking turns when they can't endure anymore?"
Murong Lang said, "That's how it was done in the past, unfortunately, a scholar fell, leading to a gap, and now it is the era of the gap."
Yao Feng said, "The True Monarch you believe in may have already fallen or could be gravely injured and in slumber."
"With the information you've provided so far, I can't really tell."
Murong Lang closed his folding fan, "Thank you."
After a while, seeing that no one else had anything to discuss, Chen Qing said, "Then today's gathering is over."
Red Lotus and Scholar stood up, "Senior Taichu, see you on the first day of the lunar month."
Seeing that Yao Feng had not left, Chen Qing asked, "Do you have anything else?"
Yao Feng hurriedly rose to his feet, bowed deeply, and then said, "Senior Taichu, until we meet on the first day of the lunar month."
On the vast Cloud Platform, once again only Chen Qing remained.
It seems it's necessary to be even more careful from now on.
When time permits, I must learn about the great institutions of the Da Yan imperial court, the Immortal Court, the Heavenly Master Mansion, and the Yin Yang Sect, and understand the true scale of their influence.
Da Yan.
Ye City.
Yao Feng rose beside a beauty, reached out to check her breath, even and serene, evidently she was sound asleep.
Securing his silver-white mask, he examined the windows and doors he had arranged with the beauty's hair.
After making sure no one had come by, he took out ten inferior Spirit Stones from his bosom and placed them on the table, then left the Spring Breeze Building.
The cool breeze of the night was refreshing as he walked, draped in a White Tiger robe, a feathered cap upon his head, and the Thunder Blade hanging at his waist.
Passersby on the street couldn't help but steal glance upon seeing him, hastily avoiding him as if he were the plague.
The Conglong Guard are known as the fierce tigers of Da Yan, permitted to kill on the streets, in charge of criminal justice, feared by all.
After walking just two streets, Yao Feng, with a piece of rice cake in hand, felt someone approaching; he glanced sideways and saw it was one of his subordinates.
The person whispered into his ear, "Sir, the Dock Master has summoned you."
Yao Feng put down his rice cake under the shocked gaze of the vendor, helped himself to some sweet bean powder, and took two large bites.
"Let's go."
His subordinate had just taken a few steps when Yao Feng turned his head and said, "Settle the bill."
The subordinate hastily took out a few Copper Coins from his bosom and threw them on the vendor's stand.
In the eyes of all his subordinates, Yao Feng is a very serious person, always stern and commanding without anger.
Yao Feng then said contentedly, "That's more like it. Otherwise, if I dared to eat today without paying, those cultivating bastards would dare to accuse me of killing without cause on the streets tomorrow."
After returning to his own office and concealing the Ghost Mask, he headed out again.
Walking through the long streets and as the night deepened, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the roads.
At the end of the street was a vast Spirit Workshop.
Covering an area of three square miles, it stood like a small mountain in the very center of Ye City.
Arriving at the gate of the Spirit Workshop, Yao Feng signaled his followers to wait aside and bowed, "Subordinate Xu Yaofeng, here to pay respects to the Dock Master."
Soon, two young men in Daoist robes came forward, removed the Thunder Blade from his waist, and searched his body.
After making sure he wasn't carrying any weapons, they blindfolded him with a piece of black cloth embroidered with ancient runes.
Xu Yaofeng suddenly felt his senses slow down, a result of the Binding Spirit Cloth, which inhibits the senses and spiritual awareness.
In fact, removing the Thunder Blade did not significantly affect his strength.
But Xu Yaofeng understood, this was a warning.
Or rather, it was a sense of ritual.
Feeling a distinct touch by his hand, he grasped what seemed to be a rope, although his senses were too inhibited to make it out clearly.
Following the guidance of whatever was in his hand, he walked for a quarter-hour, not knowing exactly how many turns, inclines, and declines he traversed.
When the Binding Spirit Cloth was removed from his eyes, he found himself standing in a spacious hall.
Glancing around the room, apart from a White Tiger screen, there was nothing else.
On each side of the walls, one side depicted the Tiger Roar Mountain Forest Map and the other the Fierce Tiger Descending Mountain Painting.
Xu Yaofeng swept his cape aside, kneeled on one knee, "Subordinate Xu Yaofeng greets the Dock Master!"
From behind the White Tiger screen a middle-aged man's voice sounded, "The Heavenly Master Mansion isn't too satisfied with the current state of the war."
"The blood isn't thick enough."
"The land is still not fertile enough."
"Among the three commanders of the Conglong Guard, you are the most meticulous in your work."
"Go and deploy another spiritual item Bug."
An attendant walked out from a room beside the great hall, head bowed, carrying a jade jar to Xu Yaofeng's presence.
Xu Yaofeng took it solemnly and indifferently, "Your subordinate will surely fulfill the mission!"