I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

Lin Che's expression remained unchanged as he listened to Yan Hongling's story, his gaze calmly fixed on the female cultivator beside her.

"Senior, this is Liu Fang, our team's physician. She is responsible for healing injuries and assisting in controlling the battlefield. She also knows some principles of elixirs," Yan Hongling introduced.

The female cultivator known as Liu Fang appeared to be nearly forty years old, but her face was well-maintained, gentle and pretty, with a reassuring and soft temperament between her brows and eyes.

She had seven or eight bulging medicine pouches of different colors hanging from her waist, and her body exuded a faint, bitter fragrance mixed with various herbs, giving the impression that she had spent many years with medicinal herbs.

After Yan Hongling finished her introduction, she took a slightly reserved half step forward, gave Lin Che a graceful bow, and said softly, "Junior Liu Fang greets Senior Lin."

From his appearance and demeanor to his mannerisms, there was almost no flaw to be found.

However, upon deeper investigation, a completely different story emerges beneath this perfect disguise!

The main cultivation technique circulating within the opponent's body was none other than the "Hundred Aspects Hidden Abyss Technique"!

Lin Che quickly retrieved relevant information from his memory.

This technique is unpredictable and secretive, adept at simulation, concealment, and infiltration. It is one of the signature skills that only core members of the Shadow Hall can learn!

Moreover, this person has also mastered three advanced disguise techniques.

Exquisite Bones (adjustable bone structure), Thousand Faces Illusionary Skin (creates completely different facial textures), Stealing Breath and Absorbing Rhythm Technique (imitates the target's spiritual energy fluctuations and soul rhythm).

The three secret techniques complement each other with the "Hundred Forms Hidden Abyss Technique".

It is enough to allow an undercover agent to perfectly disguise himself as another person in terms of appearance, physique, temperament, habits, and even the most subtle spiritual energy aura, making it virtually flawless.

My gut feeling was right! This seemingly ordinary Red Fox squad really has something going on!

However, his face remained calm, and even his eyes did not change much. He maintained the same gentle yet somewhat distant expression he had when dealing with other team members.

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded slightly, gesturing for Liu Fang to sit down. Then, as he had done before, he began to use the dragon-patterned jade pendant as cover to activate the Phoenix Blood True Fire to "remove the curse" from her.

Afterwards, he escorted the two to the door as usual, watched them leave, and remained calm.

Only after the two figures had completely disappeared from sight did Lin Che slowly turn around, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.

He returned to his quiet room, sat cross-legged, and began to sort through his discoveries of the day.

The Red Fox Squad has five core members, including Yan Hongling, most of whom have low to medium-grade spiritual root aptitude.

Their cultivation level is stuck at the late stage of Qi Refining, and they are between thirty-five and forty-five years old. They are a typical "veteran" group among independent cultivators.

Previously, when Liu Qingxue was still a rogue cultivator, she had heard of this team and commented that "their strength is among the top of the Qi Refining rogue cultivators, and there has been no news of them committing murder and robbing."

On the surface, this appears to be a normal, independent cultivation team that makes a living by hunting demons and has a good reputation.

However, if a member of the Shadow Hall had infiltrated their ranks, then the fact that this team appeared near the Lin family's residence and Yan Hongling "coincidentally" came to ask for help would be anything but a coincidence.

The other party's target was very likely themselves, or the Lin family, from the very beginning!

"Spirit Herb Valley... Azure-eyed Eagle..." Lin Che tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

If I had rashly gone to the location of the so-called "blue-eyed eagle" group after hearing the news, I might have fallen right into their trap.

He immediately decided to remain still and not to venture into any area where the enemy might have set up an ambush until he understood the reason.

Over the next few months, while diligently cultivating and handling clan affairs, Lin Che began a meticulous and covert observation.

Taking advantage of the other party's regular visits to treat the curse and report some information, he casually inquired about details about the team's past experiences, members' origins, and recent activities in a casual tone.

Occasionally, I would secretly follow them on one or two less-than-exploratory hunting trips to observe their teamwork and habits in actual combat.

More energy was focused on secretly monitoring the spy disguised as a doctor.

With his Absolute Concealment Divine Power and cultivation far surpassing his opponent's, Lin Che patiently observed every subtle movement of the opponent, like an invisible ghost.

After a period of covert investigation, Lin Che made a preliminary judgment.

The other four members of the team, including the team leader Yan Hongling, are most likely without any problems. They seem to be just ordinary rogue cultivators troubled by the curse and seeking help, and they probably know nothing about Liu Fang's true identity.

The core of the problem still lies with Liu Fang.

During a seemingly casual conversation with Yan Hongling, Lin Che noticed a detail.

It was Liu Fang who first discovered the news that "there is a small group of Azure-eyed Eagles near Lingcao Valley".

And it was she who first suggested that "the Lin family, which is also a beast-taming family, might have a way to break the curse, so why not give it a try!"

Too many "coincidences" point to the same person, which is by no means accidental.

Clearly, this spy was using the Red Fox Squad as a cover and springboard, gradually leading the clues to the Lin family and luring himself into the trap.

Besides confirming this point, Lin Che's biggest gain from months of covert surveillance was finally figuring out the patterns and channels through which this undercover agent communicated with his superiors.

Following the clues, they located their contact point within Chuyang City—

A seemingly ordinary shop called "Baicaotang" specializes in selling various low-level spiritual herbs and elixirs.

……

Lin Che's feelings were quite complicated as he faced his former employer, the Demon Palace of Rebellion.

But there was one thing he was absolutely clear about.

With the Lin family's current strength, it is far from enough to confront this behemoth head-on.

Now that their own family has been targeted by their spies, whether this is part of the Demon Palace's grand plan or a chance occurrence, it signifies a huge potential risk.

Even though he had discovered Liu Fang's identity as a spy, Lin Che couldn't simply eliminate her like he had dealt with the spy from the Zhou family.

This spy had a clear objective: killing him would definitely draw close attention to the Lin family.

Moreover, killing is never the best way to solve problems.

Lin Che looked at Liu Fang, who was receiving treatment with her eyes closed.

During what seemed like a casual chat, the other person once again inadvertently brought up the whereabouts of the group of flying beasts in Spirit Herb Valley, their tone even carrying a hint of urging.

It's been more than five months.

The Lin family's complete silence on Lingcao Valley clearly made the undercover agent on his mission somewhat impatient.

Today, she happened to be the only one who came, so the timing was perfect.

With a slight thought, Lin Che quietly increased the output of the Phoenix Blood True Fire.

The gentle warmth suddenly turned scorching, precisely burning the remaining black lines of the curse in the other's meridians, and bringing even more intense pain.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, forming a meaningful arc:

"What, are you all in such a hurry... to lure me to the Valley of Spirit Herbs?"

Liu Fang's originally gentle and calm face instantly froze, and her usually lowered and docile eyes suddenly opened, flashing a trace of panic.

She immediately realized that her recent frequent hints had been too hasty and had already aroused the other party's suspicion!

What alarmed her even more was that the burning sensation in her meridians suddenly intensified, as if it was about to ignite her spiritual power and even her soul!

Her feigned composure crumbled instantly, replaced by terror: "Senior, please calm down! Senior, spare my life!"

"Junior...Junior only thought that the demon beast clan might be useful to the Lin family, I had no other intentions, I just wanted to repay the Lin family's kindness..."

The smile on Lin Che's face gradually faded, replaced by an icy chill, his gaze piercing her like a sharp sword: "Repayment? Ha... Do you think that after all my years of cultivation, I can't even see through this simple trap?"

"A trap? Senior, I'm innocent! I really don't know what you're talking about!" Liu Fang's face turned pale, and she denied it outright, but her eyes flickered involuntarily.

Seeing that she wouldn't shed a tear until she saw the coffin, Lin Che slowly shook his head, no longer beating around the bush, and directly tore off the last layer of pretense.

"I wonder if you're finding it easy to cultivate the 'Hundred Forms Hidden Abyss Technique' from the Shadow Hall? And how are you getting used to using the Exquisite Bone, Thousand Faces Illusion Skin, and Breath Stealing and Rhythm Absorption Technique?"

Liu Fang was struck dumb, her whole body trembled violently, all color drained from her face, and her eyes were filled with disbelief and horror.

She opened her mouth, wanting to make a final defense, but when she met Lin Che's deep, calm eyes that seemed to see through everything, all her words of sophistry got stuck in her throat.

The other party even mentioned her main cultivation technique and the secret art of disguise. To deny it would only be to humiliate herself.

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and her fingers, hanging at her sides, trembled slightly in an extremely subtle way.

That's a technique unique to the Shadow Hall, which can activate an emergency communication talisman hidden in the sleeve to send an alarm to the stronghold!

Sitting opposite her, Lin Che had already taken in the slightest fluctuations of spiritual energy around her with his divine sense. How could such a small movement escape his notice?

However, he did not stop her, nor did he even lift his eyelids. He just watched quietly as she finished delivering the message, and a faint, ambiguous smile even returned to the corners of his mouth.

Only after the barely perceptible glint of light at the other person's fingertips had completely vanished did Lin Che speak slowly, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm: "Finished delivering the message? Now, what else do you want to say?"

"You...!" Liu Fang suddenly looked up, staring intently at Lin Che, her shock turning into utter fear and bewilderment.

He clearly saw through it, so why didn't he stop it? What exactly is he trying to do?

Lin Che said no more. With a thought, an invisible array power quietly spread out.

The runes engraved on the walls of the reception room glowed slightly, and a thin but resilient cloud-like spiritual light quickly enveloped and isolated the entire room.

Having chosen to confront the situation, he naturally wouldn't be presumptuous, and had already quietly activated the soundproofing and protective arrays to block divine sense detection.

Seeing the last glimmer of hope in the other person's eyes completely vanish, Lin Che's smile disappeared, and his expression became extremely serious.

He no longer held back, and with a thought, the power of the Phoenix Blood True Fire that had been seeping into Liu Fang's meridians suddenly surged!

"ah--!!!"

This burning directly scorched her spiritual power and soul!

That is a spiritual pain that is far more intense and direct than physical pain!

Even though Liu Fang had received training and her will was far more resilient than that of ordinary cultivators, she couldn't help but let out a shrill scream. She curled up on the ground, trembling violently, with veins bulging on her forehead and her face contorted.

Lin Che's voice, cold and clear, reached her ears: "I'll ask you one last time, do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

The terrifying pain of having one's soul scorched by flames is enough to destroy most people's psychological defenses.

Liu Fang was not a completely brainwashed, fearless assassin; she was a cultivator with flesh and blood, desires, and fears.

At this moment, the fear of death and the attachment to the path ahead outweighed loyalty to the organization.

"I want to live... I want to live! Senior, spare me! Let me go!" She struggled, touching her head to the ground, begging for mercy in a hoarse voice.

Lin Che, who had been closely watching her reaction, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that the other party was a stubborn person who had been completely tamed and would rather die than submit, which would be very difficult to deal with.

The current outcome is exactly what he hoped to see.

Lin Che slowly withdrew the power of the Phoenix Blood True Fire.

"I can spare your life," Lin Che said, looking down at Liu Fang, who was lying on the ground, panting heavily and in a daze.

His tone left no room for argument: "But there is one condition: from this day forward, you must serve me."

From now on, you must truthfully and immediately relay to me any movements or plans your organization may make within the territory of Chuyang City.

Liu Fang, who was kneeling on the ground, trembled again.

She understood; they wanted her to be a double agent!

She knew better than anyone the consequences of betraying the Shadow Hall; it would be a torment worse than death.

Just as she was struggling internally and fear was spreading, Lin Che's voice rang out again.

"As long as you do your job well, the Lin family can provide you with the Foundation Establishment Pills you need for Foundation Establishment in the future."

After you reach Foundation Establishment, I will be able to supply you with the resources you need for cultivation each month, ensuring a smooth path for your cultivation, far exceeding what you currently receive in the Shadow Hall.

After coercion comes enticement.

This promise was an irresistible temptation for a spy stuck in the late stage of Qi Refining, with a bleak future and probably just a marginal pawn within the organization.

Foundation Establishment Pills! A stable cultivation resource!

This was enough to make her take the risk.

Although this investment is somewhat heavy for the Lin family at present.

However, if this can be used to plant a spy next to the behemoth that is the Demon Palace of Rebellion and obtain intelligence on its movements, its strategic value is far greater than a few spirit stones.