Mortal: Starting with the Seven Mysterious Sects, I proved my Dao through sacrifice.

Murong Fan slowly walked down the stone steps of the Sutra Repository, each step extremely steady, and not a sound was made when his shoes touched the stone steps.

If an ordinary cultivator had just experienced a life-or-death struggle, they would surely be agitated and unable to calm down. But Murong Fan was different. He had a faint smile on his face, as if it were a gentle breeze. He put his hands behind his back, as if what he had just done with the "Sinful Buddha" on the ninth floor was not a thrilling gamble, but a normal contest that ended in a draw.

Murong Fan looked at the storage bag in his hand with excitement; this "Sinful Buddha" certainly had some wealth. After a moment of admiration, he carefully put it away, after all, he was very clear about the unspoken laws of human nature.

"Three hundred years of cultivation insights—what an immense amount of information! An ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't accumulate such profound spiritual experience even in a lifetime. And this understanding of the 'Black Buddha Devouring Heaven,' though a demonic art, is extremely useful, excellent nourishment for advancing the 'Asura King Body.' Not to mention these hundreds of high-grade spirit stones…tsk tsk, this deal, let alone in the Tiannan Yue Kingdom, even in the Great Jin Dynasty, is a windfall that would make any late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator envious!"

Murong Fan was overjoyed, but his outward disguise was impeccable. He squinted slightly, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun, while calculating how to maximize his windfall.

Just as he stepped out of the Sutra Repository by a hundred feet, the void rippled like water. A figure draped in a robe of countless golden threads appeared before him without warning, blocking his path.

It was Yuan Xiang, the abbot of the Leiyin Sect!

The compassionate smile on the face of the leader of one of the four great Buddhist sects of the Great Jin Dynasty had vanished, replaced by a deep, unfathomable scrutiny. His seemingly cloudy old eyes were fixed on Murong Fan, as if trying to see right through this young cultivator from Tiannan.

"Amitabha."

Yuan Xiang clasped his hands together, his voice low but carrying a soul-suppressing pressure. He said calmly, "Elder Murong, how have you been? Half an hour ago, I seemed to sense a fluctuation in the 'Demon-Suppressing Array' on the ninth floor of the Scripture Pavilion. I wonder if you saw anything... that you shouldn't have seen on the ninth floor?" Yuan Xiang began to probe.

Instead of directly asking Murong Fan what he had obtained, he preemptively used the unusual activity of the "Demon Suppression Array" to exert pressure. If Murong Fan felt guilty, a mere glance would be enough to fall into his trap. After all, the divine sense of a Nascent Soul cultivator was incredibly sharp; no subtle emotional fluctuation could escape his perception.

However, he still underestimated Murong Fan, who possessed the awakened "Altar of All Things," which could easily conceal his emotional fluctuations and aura changes.

Faced with Yuan Xiang's probing, Murong Fan not only did not back down, but instead raised his head and looked directly into the eyes of this late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. His eyes were clear and unwavering, without the slightest impurity or panic, only a weariness born of experience and a hint of barely concealed elation. He knew that the more composed he was at this moment, the more he needed to appear so that Yuan Xiang would believe him.

"Your Excellency, please understand!" Murong Fan took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly, as if still savoring the near-death experience. "This junior...this junior is unharmed. I not only escaped death but also gained some unexpected opportunities!"

Murong Fan suddenly lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, and presented the blank jade slip that had been prepared in advance with both hands—it was the "insights into enlightenment" that he had extracted from the Altar of All Things when he left the Scripture Pavilion.

"Abbot! That ninth level is indeed a treasure trove of our Buddhist sect! When I touched the general outline of the 'Immovable Wisdom King Body,' it actually resonated with the remnant soul of an ancient Buddha! The fluctuation just now was caused by the backlash from the 'Wisdom King's Wrath' contained within the general outline when my mind was agitated during my comprehension!"

Murong Fan put on a full performance, even forcing a few beads of cold sweat onto his forehead (which he did using his spiritual power). His face flushed red and then turned pale, perfectly portraying a lucky person who had attained enlightenment. He knew in his heart that Yuan Xiang would not easily believe his words, and he had to use his acting skills to dispel his doubts.

Yuan Xiang frowned, his divine sense surging out like a tide, instantly sweeping over Murong Fan's body. He discovered that the demonic energy on Murong Fan's body was becoming increasingly faint, while the spiritual power within him was more condensed than before, faintly showing signs of reaching the peak of Core Formation and entering the Nascent Soul stage!

"This..." Yuan Xiang's heart was filled with shock and disbelief. He stared intently at Murong Fan, as if trying to see through his very soul. He thought to himself, "How could this kid have really comprehended even a part of the general principles of the 'Immovable King Body'? Could it be that he's had some extraordinary encounter? Or is he just putting on an act for me?"

Yuan Xiang had considered countless possibilities: Murong Fan had not succumbed to the pressure of the Sinful Buddha, had not been brainwashed, had not colluded with the Sinful Buddha, had not been killed by the Sinful Buddha, and had not returned empty-handed. But he had never imagined that this kid would actually rely on luck to comprehend a corner of the general principles of the "Immovable King Body," and even use this opportunity to improve his cultivation?

"Elder Murong," Yuan Xiang spoke slowly, his tone carrying a barely perceptible probing, "when you were comprehending the general principles of the 'Immovable King Body' on the ninth level, did you sense anything unusual? For example... did you hear any sounds, or see any illusions?"

Yuan Xiang's doubts grew stronger. What had happened on the ninth floor of the Scripture Pavilion was like a mortal sleeping in a snake pit, waking up not only unharmed but also finding the snake demon's inner core. He decided to continue testing Murong Fan.

Murong Fan's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Yuan Xiang was testing him. He composed himself, a look of confusion on his face. (The exciting chapter "Chapter 70: Secrets of the Sutra Repository: Outwitting Yuan Xiang, Winning a Fortune!" is now available online. Click to read!) As if recalling the scene: "Reporting to the Abbot, when I was meditating, I only felt a vast Buddhist power rushing towards me, as if I were in a golden ocean. My heart was filled only with reverence for the Dharma and a thirst for power; I heard no sound, nor did I see any illusions."

Murong Fan knew that Yuan Xiang would not easily believe him, and he had to use a more ingenious answer to dispel his doubts.

Yuan Xiang fell silent. The void behind him distorted slightly, a result of his uncontrolled spiritual energy caused by the fluctuations in his inner emotions.

Yuan Xiang nodded slightly, his eyes still sharp: "Oh? Then what is your understanding of the general principles of the *Immovable King Body*? This is the treasure of my Thunder Sound Sect, possessing boundless power, yet also containing immense danger." He pondered to himself: This kid's answer seems reasonable, but something feels off. Could it be that he really hasn't noticed anything unusual? Or is he deliberately hiding something?

The scrutiny on Yuan Xiang's face transformed into a relieved and benevolent expression. He reached out a hand to support Murong Fan, and a gentle Buddhist force lifted him up.

Murong Fan chuckled inwardly; he had long anticipated Yuan Xiang's question. He feigned sudden realization and said, "So that's how it is! At the time, I only sensed a powerful force within the general outline, but I didn't perceive any danger within it. Now that I think about it, my safe return is entirely due to the Abbot's protection!" He knew that Yuan Xiang wouldn't easily believe him, and he needed to use an even more sincere attitude to dispel his doubts.

"Excellent! Excellent! It seems that the ancient Buddha's choice of you is indeed for a profound reason and origin!" Yuan Xiang also knew that Murong Fan's words were half true and half false, but none of that mattered, because what he needed was a clever outsider cultivator whom he could control to act as his henchman so as to better manage the affairs of the Thunder Sound Sect. "Since Elder Murong not only comprehended the true words, but also appeased the array's core, then you are a great contributor to my Thunder Sound Sect."

Yuan Xiang, observing Murong Fan's demeanor, still harbored some doubts. He thought to himself: This kid's answer seems reasonable, but something feels off. Could he really have had some extraordinary encounter? Or is he deliberately putting on an act for me?

After pondering for a moment, Yuan Xiang asked again, "Elder Murong, you have only been in my Leiyin Sect for a short time, yet you have gained the favor of the Ancient Buddha and comprehended a corner of the general principles of the 'Immovable King Body.' Do you know why?"

Yuan Xiang abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming more solemn than ever before.

Murong Fan knew that Yuan Xiang wouldn't easily believe him, and he needed to use an even more humble attitude to dispel his doubts. He quickly knelt down and respectfully said, "This junior is foolish and doesn't know the reason. This junior only knows that it is an honor for this junior to be able to enter the Thunder Sound Sect for cultivation. This junior will definitely cultivate diligently and live up to the expectations of the abbot and the ancient Buddha!"

Seeing Murong Fan's respectful demeanor, Yuan Xiang's doubts gradually dissipated. He nodded and said, "Pass on my decree!"

"Effective immediately, Elder Murong Fan is promoted to 'Outer Sect Elder' of our Thunder Sound Sect, and is granted permanent residency in the 'Thunder Listening Courtyard,' with his monthly stipend doubled. He may freely read the first ten floors of the Scripture Pavilion!"

Upon hearing this, the lurking observers all gasped in shock.

The tenth floor of the Scripture Pavilion? That's a forbidden area that only powerful figures in the Thunder Sound Sect, those at the early or mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, can enter! And the Primordial Prime Minister just bestowed it upon an outsider!

But this was no simple reward; it was clearly a disguised form of favoritism—a promotion in name only, but in reality, a form of house arrest and surveillance. While seemingly enjoying great favor, every move was under the sect leader's watchful eye, leaving him nowhere to hide.

But Murong Fan seemed flattered, his face flushed, and he was so excited that he stammered, "This...this junior is unworthy of such kindness...I will never forget the Abbot's favor! I will definitely serve the Thunder Sound Sect with my life!"

Seeing Murong Fan's earnest and sincere demeanor, Yuan Xiang's doubts gradually faded. In his view, someone who could be moved and bought off by such a small benefit was nothing more than an ordinary person. Such a person had flaws, greed, and ambition, which actually showed that he was a smart person. Yuan Xiang always liked to deal with smart people! Even if such a person had some opportunities, he couldn't cause any great trouble.

"Elder Murong," Yuan Xiang took out a bottle of jade liquor from his sleeve and handed it over, his tone becoming low and mysterious, "There is one more thing. Since you have already come into contact with the 'array eye' on the ninth floor, you must have felt that resentment. This is the sect's specially made 'Purifying Spirit Wine.' Every seven days, take a pot to the ninth floor to appease the 'fierce energy' there. Remember, do not talk much to that 'fierce energy,' just put down the wine and leave."

Murong Fan accepted the jade bottle, a smirk playing on his lips. Soothe the resentment? This old fox clearly just wants me as a mouthpiece, a mere "human battery"! Regularly sending in wine to nourish the suppressed sinful Buddha, keeping the grand formation running. Murong Fan knew that Yuan Xiang wouldn't let him off easily; he had to be even more cautious in dealing with his test.

"This junior obeys!" Murong Fan respectfully put the jade bottle into his robes, placing it directly on top of the storage bag filled with "stolen goods".

"Go." Yuan Xiang waved his hand, his figure gradually fading away. "A victory banquet has been prepared for you at Ting Lei Courtyard. Tonight, Lei Yin Sect will host a banquet just for you."

Murong Fan bowed deeply, and only straightened up slowly after Yuan Xiang's aura had completely disappeared into the sky.

At that moment, the last rays of the setting sun fell directly on his face.