Hidden moth

Chapter 97 The Ladder to Heaven is Hard to Stop My Heart

When the two seniors were about to leave, Yao Shaolan said politely, "I've already booked a private room at the nearby Black Bull Restaurant. Please finish your meal before you leave. We can still continue chatting while we eat."

What else is there to eat? There's nothing more to talk about! The two seniors immediately declined.

After getting up, Yu Shangzheng asked somewhat unwillingly, "Martial Brother Qian, in your opinion, are Yu Honglian and the others trapped somewhere?"

Qian Guran had actually hinted at Yu Honglian's situation earlier, saying, "Senior Lin Qingshuang came to Qiyuan specifically to find me in order to investigate the death of his disciple Lin Hualei, just like the two seniors came to me today."

But only Qian Guran understood this hint. Seeing Yu Shangzheng asking this, he felt a little reluctant and echoed, "Of course, this possibility cannot be ruled out. Perhaps there will be another chance encounter."

Someone fell off a cliff, survived, and even gained a great opportunity, emerging with incredible power. This story isn't just found in novels; similar legends exist in the art of magic since ancient times, with some ancestors recording such experiences.

Theoretically speaking, Zhao Huanzhen, Yu Honglian, and Peng Xian were simply out of contact. So Yu Shangzheng's lingering hope was completely understandable.

So even though Yu Shangzheng came today with the intention of questioning him, Qian certainly wouldn't hold it against him. Instead, he felt very sympathetic and tried his best to comfort him when he left.

Not only did they not eat, they also declined Yao Shaolan's offer to drive them and left the office building on their own. After confirming that they had left, Qian Guran breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously wiped his sweat.

There was one thing he didn't say, and he didn't have time to report it to the clan law hall. After waking up from the hospital, he finally advanced in cultivation yesterday. He is now a fourth-rank "yamen runner" of Wangqimen.

"Ya Yi" is just a nickname from ancient times, and it sounds far inferior to the third-level "Diplomat".

Warlocks from all schools of martial arts have similar nicknames after breaking through the fourth level, which sounds like a very ordinary identity in the world.

The intention is to remind these disciples of the art that they should not be complacent after becoming powerful, and they should not forget their roots. They are still ordinary people in the world.

But in fact, a fourth-level sorcerer can be called a monk. He can master various extraordinary methods and is qualified to practice many legendary mysterious arts. He is almost no longer an ordinary person.

After breaking through the fourth level of cultivation, he naturally became a high-level figure in the sect. According to tradition, fellow disciples of this branch would hold a celebration for him.

Even if Qian Gu did not want to hold a celebration, he had to report to the clan hall and go to the Wangqimen ancestral hall in person. A ceremony would be held in the hall symbolizing the ancestral master's transmission of the Dharma, and he would receive the precepts for the second time under the auspices of the elders.

The so-called second ordination means accepting the sect rules specifically for high-level cultivators like him. If the cultivation level has not broken through the fourth level, ordinary disciples are not even qualified to know them.

Based on this, he is qualified to receive the teachings of more advanced secret techniques. In return, he will receive more cultivation resources and assume more important responsibilities.

Although Qian had no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the sect, he had to go through this process. In the future, if there was anything in the Wangqi Sect that required the intervention of a high-level sorcerer, he would have to obey according to the sect's rules.

Qian hadn't said this just now, but he was being cautious. Otherwise, what would the other party do? He came here filled with grief and indignation, so why should he congratulate him specifically?
According to the tradition of the sect, such an event required congratulations. As elders of the sect, Yu and Wan had to bring gifts commensurate with their status when they arrived at such a time.

If you look at it that way, Qian has certainly been keeping a low profile today. Just like Yu Shangzheng's inner complaints, what's there to brag about being just a vice president of a branch? Old Qian hasn't mentioned anything truly worthy of boasting.

It was precisely because of his breakthrough to the fourth level that Qian Guran realized more clearly the powerful methods of high-level sorcerers. Although he disliked Wan Zhongle's personality, he had to admit that his cultivation was truly solid.

As for Yu Shangzheng, as far as Qian Guran knew, even if the fifth-level "jianghu man" of Xinpanmen had not practiced other secret arts, he naturally possessed a very powerful ability. He could clearly remember all the roads he had walked and the places he had visited.

A person's daily behavior naturally creates an extremely complex three-dimensional map, marking all his footprints. Combined with other secret methods, he can even mark all the people and objects he sees.

The Xinpan Sect's sorcerers possess high "combat power" and are skilled in stealth and tracking, making them extremely formidable. This is why, after the Yin Mo lineage became extinct, the responsibility for monitoring the actions of all disciples within the sect fell to the Xinpan Sect's geomancers.

Of course, Jin Qian didn't want them to meet Huang Xiaopang, nor did he want them to go find He Kao.

The two masters of the art sect left the Qiyuan Tengxin Building. After Wan Zhongle walked a long way with his crutches, he used a secret technique to gather his voice and asked, "Brother Yu, how reliable do you think it is for Elder Jiang to accept a secret disciple?"

Yu Shangzheng: "That's completely untrue. It's just borrowing the ladder from heaven! Every word spoken by the disciples of Wangqimen has a secret. They are taking advantage and pretending to be good people. It seems that the rumors are true. Qian is indeed on good terms with He Kao.

He was the first to steal and replace things, and he took the biggest advantage. When he saw that the situation was not good, he took the initiative to use Lin Qingshuang to set up the trap, ran out and pretended to be a good person in exchange for forgiveness and trust..."

The so-called borrowing the ladder from heaven is an application of the ladder technique. In addition, there are various game techniques, none of which have anything to do with the secret method, they are just pure martial arts methods.

Disciples of various schools of art will learn something more or less. When they encounter various things in the world, they often cannot rely solely on the secret skills.

The disciples of Xingshen Sect are the best at these things, followed by Wangqi Sect. Yu Shangzheng and Wan Zhongle, as high-level disciples of the sect, how could they not understand!
Wan Zhongle: "Since there is no chance, we might as well just pretend it didn't happen."

Yu Shangzheng shook his head and said, "It's useless. This is the most troublesome part of the Heavenly Ladder Technique. Even if it's just Qian Guran's guess, he has already told us, and there are people present."

What did this mean? Qian Guran told the two that he suspected He Kao might be Elder Jiang's secret disciple. Regardless of whether this was true or not, if they continued to target He Kao, they would be disrespecting Elder Jiang.

It doesn't matter whether it's true or not, it's attitude that matters.

For example, there is a rumor about a businessman who is the son-in-law of a certain important person. However, it is difficult to dispel this rumor, and there is no need to do so, because the important person does not have a daughter.

Later, the rumors escalated, with some claiming he was the nephew-in-law of the prominent figure, and others claiming he married the prominent figure's illegitimate daughter... With things like this, it was impossible to verify the facts with the parties involved. Unless the prominent figure himself gave the green light, anyone who took the initiative to target the businessman would likely offend him.

The logic is very strange and simple. Even if that big shot has nothing to do with that businessman, everyone is spreading the news... Why do you still deliberately target him? Do you have any opinion about me?
Of course, playing this way is a bit risky because it is easy to anger the big shot, so the person who makes or spreads the rumor cannot be the businessman himself.

The same logic could be applied to He Kao and Jiang Daozhen. Qian Guran's Heavenly Ladder Technique employed this very same tactic. Unfortunately, no one could confront Elder Jiang about the matter of being a secret disciple. Otherwise, how could it even be called a secret?
Wan Zhongle changed his tone and said, "Two of my direct disciples are missing, and now your son Honglian has also lost contact. If they have been killed, this hatred is irreconcilable! No one can stop you from tracking down Honglian's whereabouts, even if you say it to the sky."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shangzheng's expression changed: "To find Hong Lian, we must first find Yin Mo, but the clan law hall has confirmed that He Kao is not Yin Mo."

Wan Zhongle: "But he is the only clue at the moment! Hong Lian originally came for He Kao, thinking that He Kao was Yin Mo. This action alarmed the real Yin Mo, and Yin Mo's attack was both revenge and a protest."

Yu Shangzheng: "The clan law hall has released detailed information about Yin Mo, and Yin Mo's things cannot be taken. They also sent an invitation to Yin Mo, hoping to restore the Yin Mo sect from a thousand years ago."

Wan Zhongle: "It is said that the information about the Hidden Moth was provided by Elder Jiang Daozhen. If Elder Jiang knew so much, why didn't he tell us earlier? If he had asked the Sect Law Hall to disclose it earlier, Hong Lian wouldn't have encountered such a thing, and perhaps he wouldn't have come to Qiyuan!"

These words really touched Yu Shangzheng's heart, and he was silent for a moment.

Wan Zhongle continued, "Our purpose is not to seize the Hidden Moth's belongings. We are only looking for the Hidden Moth to find the whereabouts of Hong Lian and others."

Yu Shangzheng: "Do we really have to start with the exam? Mr. Qian has already dug a trap for us today."

Wan Zhongle: "You and I are too conspicuous. But Qian Guran only told you and me. We would never leak such things. No one else heard it!"

Yu Shangzheng understood Wan Zhongle's intention. He was suggesting sending someone else to keep an eye on He Kao so they could uncover Yin Mo's identity. Deacon Wan still hadn't given up, but on second thought, he wasn't likely to give up.

They can send out their disciples, incite the sorcerers who still have ideas about the Hidden Moth, or even instruct ordinary people who have nothing to do with the sorcery sect.

Private detective work like this doesn't necessarily require the use of magic, and perhaps ordinary people are better at doing it.

Now that everyone knows that things belonging to Yin Mo cannot be taken away, why do some people still cling to Yin Mo? One reason is like Yu Shangzheng's situation, because of a family grudge.

There was another possibility, which Wan Zhongle didn't reveal, but he might have been thinking along the same lines. While the things belonging to the Yin Moth could not be taken away, the Yin Moth itself could be controlled. As long as one controlled the Yin Moth, they would have mastered its power.

If Gu Yunteng were still alive, he would definitely sigh that everyone had the same idea.

This is what Gu Yunteng did back then. After discovering Zhou Du's identity as Yin'e, this secret became a threat to make Zhou Du do things for him.

If he did so, there might be two consequences: one is that Yin Mo would kill him and silence him, the other is that he could control Yin Mo. Wan Zhongle was confident that with his means, as long as he knew Yin Mo's identity, he could hold him hostage.

Yu Shangzheng remained silent for a long time, his mind wandering. Finally, he sighed and said, "Since Junior Brother Wan has your own ideas, then go ahead and do it. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said just now."

This sounds like a refusal to participate, but from another perspective, if Yu Shangzheng also wanted to do this, he probably wouldn't want to let Wan Zhongle know, so as to avoid giving the other party any evidence.

Wan Zhongle smiled and said, "Just pretend I didn't say anything just now. No matter what, Brother Yu will do as he pleases."

Yu Shangzheng changed the subject and said, "Deacon Wan's leg hasn't fully healed yet, so I'll help you. You can't use magic recently, but the ban can't stop others from using secret techniques to help you heal. I'll help you with the treatment over the next two days."

Wan Zhongle: "Thank you so much, Senior Brother Yu! To be honest, it was also my fellow disciples who treated my injuries, otherwise I wouldn't be able to walk around so soon. But having a master like Senior Brother Yu to help is something I've been looking forward to!

I believe your cultivation will soon reach the sixth level, and you will then be among the elders of the clan law hall."

Yu Shangzheng shook his head with dignity and said, "Elder of the Zongfa Hall, each sect only has one person on duty, and his status is equivalent to that of seven sect leaders... Even at that time, with my cultivation and prestige, I am far from being able to compare with Senior Brother Gu Chun!
On the other hand, Elder Ye Fenghuang of the Guanshen Sect has a temper and demeanor that many people have long disliked. I vaguely heard that your Senior Uncle Qi Nansheng of the Danding Sect was driven away by Elder Ye... Are you still in touch with Senior Uncle Qi?"

Wan Zhongle sighed and said, "Master Qi was the one who took the best care of me in the sect. Later, he had a disagreement with Elder Ye and left the sect in anger.

Over the years, he has devoted himself to cultivation, not caring about worldly affairs. I think his cultivation may have broken through to the seventh-level Great Pharmacist. He has been in contact with me frequently. If it weren't for his inconvenience in walking, I would have wanted to visit him recently."

The Uncle Master Qi Nansheng they mentioned was a senior of Danding Sect, a sixth-rank pharmacist, and also an elder of the Zongfa Hall. However, he left the Zongfa Hall five years ago, reportedly because of a conflict with Ye Fenghuang.

Rumor has it that he provoked Wild Phoenix first, and then Wild Phoenix came to his door and scolded him, and scolded him away. Elder Ye is indeed not easy to mess with, but can't you just avoid him?

Wan Zhongle said this to flatter himself. Because in the past few years, he was the one who took the initiative to send messages to Uncle Qi during the holidays and would often find opportunities to visit him and give him gifts, but Qi Nansheng had never taken the initiative to contact him.

Yu Shangzheng glanced at his leg and said, "I suggest you go visit him right now, in this state, because your injury was caused by Elder Ye..."

Yu Shangzheng helped Wan Zhongle walk away. At this time, He Kao was also called upstairs by Mr. Qian, saying that he had work to report.

Arriving at the vice president's office, Lao Qian greeted him with a smile, handed him a cup of tea, and sat down with him on the sofa. He began by asking with concern, "Xiao Kao, have you been getting along well with President E lately?"

**
(End of this chapter)