There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 198 A change of clothes is all it takes to take office

"If this matter can be accomplished, it will certainly be satisfying, but we must not act impulsively. We must be bold yet meticulous, plan carefully, and ensure that nothing goes wrong, lest we end up walking into a trap!"

With that thought in mind, Chen Qing went on to read the detailed contents of the jade slip.

He soon discovered that there were indeed places that could be used!
Because many of these earthly paradises were left behind by our predecessors, they cannot be used as easily as those refined magical treasures. They contain many secrets that even the leaders of various sects are not fully aware of.

The "Floating Capital Secret Realm," for example, was left behind by other immortals, making it even more difficult to explore and understand. It requires generations of sect disciples to slowly explore and study it, sometimes even at the cost of their lives!

In contrast, later records, separated by tens of thousands of years or even longer, often incorporated the discoveries and insights of disciples throughout history, thus providing a deeper understanding of the secret realm than people of that time.

Unfortunately, by this time, the celestial realms often no longer exist.

"But for me, this is just right! I have enough information to travel back in time and use it. The risks are enormous, but the benefits are immeasurable!"

With this thought in mind, Chen Qing scanned the subsequent contents of the jade slip and found detailed records of several major sect secret realms, including the "Tianxian Ancient Realm" of the Zhenglu Sect, the "Wanxiang Star Ruins" of the Tianji Alliance, and the "Zulong Secret Cave" of the Huanglong Sect. Even the hidden array eyes and taboos of several sects that were not known to outsiders were clearly listed.

"We need to find a way to make good use of this. In addition to finding a hidden entrance and exit, it would be best to have a method to conceal our identities and facilitate infiltration. Someone as professional as Liu Shuang'er should be quite good at this."

As he pondered and weighed the options, Yu Yin stood by his side, head bowed and eyes lowered.

After a while, estimating that the other person had read enough, Yu Yin said slowly, "Your Excellency, these records are from a long time ago, and the world has changed. Therefore, there are many errors or changes. They still need to be carefully examined. If you need more detailed inside information, or secrets of certain specific sects, I may try my best to explore them further."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing withdrew his divine sense and directly transmitted his thoughts to the seal: "Sometimes it is precisely in these errors that a glimmer of truth is hidden. You did well this time; it was I who had not thought things through properly before. From now on, there is no need to distinguish between those with or without owners, or those that are prominent and those that are hidden. Collect all the relevant records for me, no matter how detailed, of the grotto-heavens and secret realms that existed in the world during the mid-Mortal Immortal Dynasty, especially the foundations of giant sects such as Taiyi Dao Palace, Zhenglu Sect, Tianji Alliance, and Huanglong Sect."

He paused briefly, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "In addition, there is another matter. Could you find records about the traces and ruins of the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor? Of course, this is a separate question, and there will be a corresponding price to pay."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yin's spirits lifted, his heart gleaming with excitement, but he forced himself to suppress it and cupped his hands, saying, "It is my great fortune to serve you, sir! Leave the matter of the Taiyuan Ruins to me! As for the price..."

He paused slightly, but still said, "When I was reading ancient books, I came across a fragment of the sentence, 'The calamity of an era lies in the succession of Dao fruits; the wonder of the three lives is found in the true texts of Dao.' The words were vague, and I wonder if Your Excellency knows its true meaning?"

Ok?
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing knew something was wrong.

He had previously seen the Taiyi Dao Palace plotting something about the "Dao Fruit True Record" on the broken stele in this Remnant Scroll Pavilion, but he didn't understand it, so how could he answer this question?
Unexpectedly, just as he was thinking about it, Yu Yin said, "I know what the Dao Fruit means, but what is the meaning of the following sentence? I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me!"

Then tell me what you mean!

Chen Qing muttered to himself, but naturally he couldn't express it. The key issue was that he really didn't know how to respond to it for the moment. If he didn't do it right, he would reveal his secrets, and in the future, let alone cooperate, he might even be schemed against by this person!
Even this statement itself is a calculation!
"It seems that when I enter the dream again, I will have to ask someone how the people of the Immortal Dynasty interpret this sentence. It would be best to collect several versions before responding to Yu Yin!"

Upon realizing this, he pondered for a moment before saying, "This question involves too much, and you know too little. Knowing it now will not only be of no benefit but will also bring you trouble. It is not too late to ask me this question when the time is right."

To avoid being questioned, Chen Qing deliberately created some unpleasant and unhappy emotional fluctuations when transmitting the message.

Yu Yin felt a chill run down his spine, and his probing thoughts vanished instantly, replaced by deep awe. He quickly bowed his head and said, "It was my rudeness! I will follow your teachings!"

Chen Qing then said, "Since I haven't answered your question, we can discuss the reward for the Taiyuan Ruins when I visit again. In the meantime, please give me the list of secret realms."

Yu Yin dared not say anything more and immediately acted accordingly. His spiritual light surged again, resonating with the endless records. Soon, another jade slip containing information about the secret realm fell into the hands of the strongman slave.

Chen Qing swept the contents with his divine sense, without reading them carefully, and imprinted them in his mind as if swallowing a date whole. Then he felt that the strongman's spirit was beginning to weaken and exhaust, and knew that the medium's spiritual power was also about to reach its limit. So he withdrew his divine sense and left the place.

Once Chen Qing's thoughts subsided, the spirit in Li Shinu's eyes completely died, returning him to his lifeless state.

Yu Yin maintained a respectful posture until he straightened up, looking at the strongman slave with awe and contemplation in his eyes: "Every word of this hidden being is full of hidden meaning!"

He pondered and analyzed, and the more he thought about it, the more unfathomable the other person seemed.

"He won't answer my second question. Firstly, he sensed my probing intentions, and secondly, it was a test. So I must do what he asked me to do well in order to uncover more secrets!"

On the other side, after gathering his thoughts, Chen Qing felt the spiritual energy surging within his body. In his dantian, a blurry golden core was absorbing spiritual energy. With just a thought, it could immediately condense into a full form!

"Although the resources are all ready, the Dream Nine Revolutions are not yet finalized, and the Dao Foundation is not yet complete. Forming the Golden Core at this time would only leave regrets! I should wait until I have settled all the affairs of the Immortal Dynasty and the Golden Core in my Dream is complete before triggering the transformation of my physical body, taking one step to complete the Nine Revolutions, and making up for the regrets of the previous seven revolutions. That is the right thing to do!"

His mind raced, and he had already clearly planned out the next steps.

"We have already obtained the secrets of the immortal realms of the major sects. The next step is to find a wonderful method to hide and even create a false foundation. As the deputy commander of the Demon-Slaying Guard, Liu Shuang'er has been dealing with demons and evil spirits for many years. She is an expert in the ways of infiltration, disguise, and discerning changes. It is a good opportunity to learn from her."

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard a soft, sweet "meow" sound beside him.

Chen Qing turned his head and saw the Shadow Leopard-Lin, who claimed to be the guardian beast of Taiyi, squatting to the side, staring at him with a melancholy gaze.

With a sudden thought, he reached out and picked up the little black cat, asking with a smile, "Since you are a guardian beast of Taiyi, do you know the mysteries of the Taiyi Immortal Realm?"

The black cat's fur bristled, and it nodded hastily: "Master, you are wise! Our Taiyi Dao Palace has two fundamental secret realms! One is the Fudu Secret Realm, which is where the Void Profound Female Gate is nurtured, and it is related to the foundation of our lineage! It was specially searched and refined back then! The other place is called the Silent Extinction Sea, which is said to contain the remains of several Dharma Aspect True Monarchs, and it is the strongest foundation of the palace!"

"Oh?" Chen Qing's gaze narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected that the biggest question that had been bothering him would be solved at this moment.

The Floating Capital Secret Realm is indeed connected to the fake sect!

And that desolate sea…

"The remains of the True Lord of Dharma Image? What use are they?"

The black cat wagged its tail smugly: "Master, you are unaware of this. A True Monarch who has condensed his Natal Dharma Image possesses a Dharma Image that is nearly indestructible. Even if his true soul dissipates, it remains hidden within his remains. When activated by secret methods, its power surpasses that of magic treasures! Furthermore, it can be covered with Dao patterns, as if it carries a Nascent Soul Dao Field with it! In the past, when the Primordial Immortal Emperor dismissed the Hundred Sects, he used ten Nascent Soul Dharma Images to sweep across the Eight Desolations, and none dared to disobey!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine, and the slight restlessness that arose from learning about the secret realm was instantly suppressed.

"The foundation of this great sect is indeed unfathomable! If Taiyi is like this, the other sects are probably no less so. We must plan our infiltration carefully to avoid making any mistakes!" He calmed his mind and then inquired in detail about the various aspects of Taiyi Dao Palace, including its personnel composition and the characteristics of its techniques.

Black Cat initially claimed that his knowledge was limited and passed down from his ancestors, but once he started talking, he became very eloquent, knowing everything from sect rules and conflicts between different factions to taboos in secret realms and the quirks of famous sect leaders and elders throughout history.

After hearing this, Chen Qing felt that if he changed into a Taiyi robe, he could go directly to the sect's affairs office.

Seeing Chen Qing's keen interest in the past affairs of the Dao Palace, the black cat's eyes flashed with satisfaction. It concluded by emphasizing, "Master, although the Dao Palace has disintegrated, the sect leader's token, the 'Taiyi Edict,' still exists. It's said to be connected to key items of several other sects. Once you have the time to retrieve it, you can rally the remaining members and restore the glory of Taiyi in no time!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing frowned and immediately extinguished its illusions: "I am the sect leader of the Hidden Star Sect of Mingxia Mountain! Even if we obtain the token and gather the remaining lineages, they will be under my Hidden Star Sect, with the Taiyi Branch as an auxiliary lineage!"

"What?!" The black cat was struck dumb, its fur standing on end. It screamed in shock, especially upon hearing the words "Hidden Star Sect": "No! Absolutely not! Sect Leader, please reconsider! Your sect's name is ominous! Those murderers of the Hidden Star Sect have a deep-seated hatred for my Taiyi Sect! How can we submit to them?!"

Chen Qing's heart stirred, realizing that there was a lot of information in those words, but he did not ask immediately. Instead, he casually stuffed the golden monkey into its arms, then pushed open the door and went straight to find Liu Shuang'er.

Liu Shuang'er has been very busy lately. The aftermath of the upheaval at the Blackwater City ruins has not yet subsided, and various forces are vying for control. Although she has managed to maintain control of the situation with the help of Chen Qing, it has been exhausting. However, upon hearing that Chen Qing was coming to visit, she still managed to spare a moment to meet him.

Upon meeting, she smiled sweetly, her tone carrying a hint of self-satisfaction: "Mr. Chen, you've come at the perfect time. I've secured a wonderful position for you, one that will greatly benefit your cultivation!" Then, she changed the subject, "However, you'll likely encounter several geniuses along the way, so you'll need to prepare in advance..."

Chen Qing's mind was elsewhere at the moment. After listening to a couple of sentences, he interrupted, saying, "We can discuss the cushy job later. Besides, I prefer quiet cultivation to any cushy job. The reason I came to you today is to ask if the Demon Slayer Guard has any methods for infiltration, concealment, and altering one's foundation. I wonder if you could teach me those methods. I would also appreciate it in return."

Liu Shuang'er's eyes flashed with surprise: "You want to learn the art of infiltration? What is your intention?" She looked Chen Qing up and down, as if trying to find out what was going on.

Chen Qing lied without changing his expression: "It's necessary for cultivation. I want to understand the myriad aspects of the Dao and temper my Dao heart."

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Liu Shuang'er did not delve into it. After a moment's thought, she said, "There are indeed such secret techniques in the Demon-Slaying Guard. They were summarized by our predecessors in their struggle against demons and monsters. They are very exquisite and are not forbidden techniques. It is fine to pass them on to you. However... they are a bit special to practice."

"How special?"

"This method is not something that can be learned on paper. It requires the transmission of spiritual thought and the circulation of qi and blood to truly understand its meaning." Liu Shuang'er said with a slight smile, then waved her hand to close the door. "Relax your mind."

Chen Qing did as instructed.

The next moment, Liu Shuang'er raised a slender white finger and pointed it at Chen Qing's brow.

As soon as his fingertips touched it, Chen Qing felt a surge of intense heat. To be on the safe side, he had the Taiyin Yin Spirit, which was responding, come forward to receive it, so that it could be cut off in time if anything changed.

Instantly, countless secret techniques and profound mysteries concerning disguise, concealment of breath, simulation of qi, and even temporary alteration of cultivation attributes emerged! Furthermore, various practical experiences in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, infiltration and retreat were absorbed into my mind.

These are all the essence that has been summarized and accumulated throughout history!
At the same time, Liu Shuang'er's blood and qi circulated throughout her body, with crimson energy flowing like silk threads. Through the intertwining of her fingertips, she transmitted and verified the subtle points of the secret technique that required personal experience.

An hour later, the transfer of power was completed.

Chen Qing closed his eyes and concentrated. The Tathagata Talisman shone brightly as he digested what he had learned. He felt that this method was extremely profound and far exceeded his expectations. If he could use it skillfully, it would be of great use.

Liu Shuang'er was slightly out of breath, and sweat was visible on her forehead.

She glanced at Chen Qing, who was immersed in his enlightenment, and said in a low voice, "This method is called 'Hundred Forms and Thousand Illusions'. Practice it well. If you have any questions, you can ask me again, and I will teach you the method again."

Chen Qing opened his eyes, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Liu. This method has been of great help to me, and I have almost fully comprehended it."

Liu Shuang'er was taken aback upon hearing this.

Chen Qing then said, "I am grateful for your kindness. If there is anything I can do to help you, please feel free to ask. If you need anything else, you can also tell me. However, as you know, I cannot afford anything too valuable. I can only do manual labor."

After listening, Liu Shuang'er said after a long while, "Alright, I need your help soon."

"Just have someone come and call me when the time comes." Upon hearing this, Chen Qing felt relieved, but because he was still preoccupied with the events of his dream, he quickly took his leave.

Watching his departing figure, Liu Shuang'er sighed: "He really only thinks about cultivation!"

A celestial dynasty in a dream.

It was still in that small courtyard with a somber atmosphere.

Outside Chen Qing's secluded room.

Ao Yu paced back and forth irritably.

Princess Hongling's expression was solemn as she held a jade talisman, asking questions back and forth, but she received no response.

Qiao kept going in and out, but there was still no improvement.

"If all else fails, I will return to the East Sea and ask my father to open the Dragon Transformation Pool. At worst, I will lose a hundred years of cultivation..." Ao Yu roared, and golden light burst forth from his dragon eyes.

“It’s no use,” Princess Hongling interrupted him. “If the Dragon Palace dares to defy the imperial decree, the next one to arrive won’t be the Imperial Edict Supervisor, but the warships of the Sky Patrol Division.”

Ao Yu was both angry and anxious: "In the past, I liked to use my power to intimidate people, but now the tables have turned!"

"Squeak-"

The door to the side room suddenly opened, and Chen Qing slowly stepped out.

"You all need not trouble yourselves any further." He looked at everyone and smiled, "I already have a way to break this deadlock."

(End of this chapter)