Infiltrating the righteous path? Just another place to be a sycophant.

Although he was outwardly recuperating from his injuries, Li Podao acted as if nothing had happened, which both frightened and puzzled Zhao Mengyuan.

Could this be a final burst of energy before Master's death?

"Master, are you alright?" Zhao Mengyuan couldn't help but ask.

"What's wrong with me?" Li Podao put down his teacup and said calmly, "Don't worry, it's just a minor injury, nothing serious!"

"Master, I never imagined that my junior brother would be that kind of person!" Zhao Mengyuan felt a burning hatred when she thought of Lu An.

This junior brother was actually a traitor to the righteous path, who wanted to assassinate her master.

Now things are really messed up. Not only will the Heavenly Demon Sect not let him go, but the entire Demonic Path will also put a warrant for his arrest. No one will let him go.

"What kind of person is he?" Li Podao suddenly asked.

“He’s a traitor! Master, you were so good to him, and I genuinely considered him my junior brother, yet he…” Zhao Mengyuan said bitterly, as if her own father had been killed.

Her master truly treated her like his own daughter, but they had grown somewhat distant in recent years.

However, Lu An's betrayal also put her at ease for a while.

Faced with such a situation, Master would surely consider entrusting the Heavenly Demon Sect to her for inheritance, right?

Finally, her junior brother stopped arguing with her! She could finally hold her head high!

Although the Heavenly Demon Sect has suffered a major blow, as long as it develops steadily, anything is possible! It's only a matter of time before it recovers its strength!

"Mengyuan, you've been with me for decades, haven't you?" Li Podao didn't answer Zhao Mengyuan's question, but instead asked an unrelated one.

“It has been fifty or sixty years since I became your disciple,” Zhao Mengyuan replied after a moment’s thought.

If Lu An were here to hear this, he would be shocked.

Good heavens, this is supposed to be a senior sister? According to the standards of the original world, calling her a "housewife" wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Of course, she's still my senior in terms of seniority.

Do you think I misjudged my apprentice?

"Master, you have always had discerning eyes. Both Senior Brother Pinru and Senior Brother Ruzhi are first-rate geniuses, so you certainly haven't misjudged them," Zhao Mengyuan replied respectfully. "Of course, it's not Master's fault as well as Lu An; it's just that Lu An is too cunning..."

“You’re wrong, Mengyuan. I’ve never misjudged anyone.” Li Podao smiled. “Mengyuan, Lu An is a good disciple. Although he’s not as shrewd and capable as you, he’s very smart, courageous, and wise!”

"Master, what are you saying?" Zhao Mengyuan was a little confused. What exactly was her master talking about?

He actually spoke up for the traitor who assassinated him? What a joke!

Could it be that before Master was assassinated, Lu An hit him on the head with something?

That's pretty impressive. They actually managed to damage their master's brain, which is the brain of a powerful cultivator at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

"What I'm saying is already very clear, Mengyuan. You don't know the truth, but everything was actually arranged by me!"

"Was it all arranged by you, Master?" Zhao Mengyuan was a little confused. What exactly was Master talking about?

What did he arrange?

"Lu An's assassination attempt on me was actually arranged by me. Lu An didn't actually do anything, and he's not a traitor!" Li Podao sneered, as if he were explaining some grand plan.

"How could this be?! If that's the case, then Master, why did you do this?!"

"It all started after I took him as my true disciple..." Li Podao began to slowly recount his story with Lu An, explaining it in his own words as he went along.

Zhao Mengyuan listened attentively, becoming increasingly shocked as she listened.

"Therefore, Lu An is not a traitor; he sacrificed himself to become an undercover agent for the Righteous Alliance."

His own junior brother, whom the entire Heavenly Demon Sect considered a traitor, was actually deliberately acting and went to the Righteous Alliance as an undercover agent!?

"Master, why do you do this?! Why did you and my junior brother do this without telling me first?!"

Zhao Mengyuan was also a little annoyed. If this was true, why not discuss it with her instead of making the decision secretly between the two of them?

Could it be that she's not from Tianmo Peak?! Isn't she a true disciple of Li Podao, or Lu An's senior sister?

“Mengyuan, you don’t know this. If I told you, this matter would not be possible…” Li Podao looked inscrutable, as if he were telling Zhao Mengyuan that he was in the atmosphere.

"The Righteous Alliance's offensive was already fierce. If no one goes undercover, how will we know their next move? Your junior brother is a talent; he's a born undercover agent!"

"Master, why do you say such things about Junior Brother?" Zhao Mengyuan was a little dissatisfied. She still didn't like Li Podao praising Lu An like that in front of her.

“I have my own opinion, Mengyuan. Lu An went undercover, actually for your sake!” A sharp glint flashed in Li Podao’s eyes.

My good disciple, watch how your master helps you win over your senior sister!

"For me? Master, why do you say that?" Zhao Mengyuan's mind was a little blank, and she was very confused.

“Lu An knows that you have been busy with sect affairs and have made many contributions. He also knows that you are very dissatisfied with me for suddenly promoting him and personally guiding his cultivation, and therefore have some complaints,” Li Podao said slowly.

Zhao Mengyuan lowered her head instantly, never expecting that Li Podao had already seen through her little scheme.

"So your junior brother said that he will not compete with you for the position of sect leader, but will instead go undercover in the righteous path to understand its direction and pave the way for you to become the sect leader in the future!"

"Junior brother... wait, the position of sect leader!?" Zhao Mengyuan suddenly raised her head.

“Yes, Mengyuan, I have made up my mind. You will be the next sect leader after me!” Li Podao nodded slightly.

The master of empty promises, Li Podao, is back online!

Chapter Fifty-Three: Your junior brother is enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens!

"Master, is this true!?" Zhao Mengyuan was excited. She had actually been chosen as the sect leader?

"Of course, you won't become the sect leader immediately. I'm still here. It's just that you've been included in my list of key candidates!" Li Podao said slowly.

Zhao Mengyuan didn't hear it; only one sentence echoed in her mind.

You will be my next sect leader!

After decades of hard work, have I finally been chosen as the sect leader?

As expected, as long as you are outstanding, you can become the sect leader!

Zhao Mengyuan truly has the potential to become the first female sect leader of the entire Heavenly Demon Sect!

Li Podao looked at Zhao Mengyuan, who seemed to be daydreaming, and almost laughed.

This girl is really dreaming.

However, she is indeed qualified to be the sect leader. Although her strength has not yet reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, her cultivation has been delayed due to the affairs of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

All he needs to do is cultivate in seclusion, and breaking through to the Tribulation Transcending stage will be just around the corner.

It is said that Yu Wanqing, the vice leader of the Righteous Alliance, is about the same age as Zhao Mengyuan, but she has already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage.

The two should have similar talents, which only means that Yu Wanqing spent more time on cultivation.

"Mengyuan, all of this is thanks to your junior brother!"

Zhao Mengyuan was still confused, but she quickly remembered what Li Podao had just said.

"What do you mean, junior brother? You're not going to compete with me for the sect leader position?"

"He said that Senior Sister has fought so hard for the Heavenly Demon Sect and should not be buried in obscurity. He also advised me that Senior Sister should become the sect leader!" Seeing Zhao Mengyuan's attitude, Li Podao pressed his advantage and continued to persuade Lu An.

"Junior brother, is that really what you think?" Zhao Mengyuan was inexplicably moved after hearing this.

"Infiltrating the Righteous Alliance is extremely dangerous. For the sake of the Heavenly Demon Sect's future, my junior brother took the initiative to come to me and asked to infiltrate the Righteous Alliance. Do you know the painstaking efforts your junior brother made?" Li Podao said with a regretful tone, "For this, he did not hesitate to act and become a traitor to the demonic path, just so that our Heavenly Demon Sect could prosper!"

"If you were an undercover agent, why would you act out betraying the Heavenly Demon Sect and assassinating you?"

"Only in this way can he gain the trust of the Righteous Alliance and thus obtain better opportunities."

"Junior brother is so righteous, yet I am so petty... I really am..." Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengyuan felt extremely guilty.

Unexpectedly, Lu An's betrayal of the Heavenly Demon Sect was just an act, a performance to infiltrate the Righteous Alliance.

"You must understand your junior brother!" Li Podao said earnestly.

So Zhao Mengyuan silently shed a tear of guilt.

Junior brother, are you really that good to me?

Li Podao looked at Zhao Mengyuan, who was shedding tears, and sighed with sorrow.

This girl is so easy to fool.

If she succeeds in breaking through the path to enlightenment, it could be considered as facilitating a marriage.

"Master, what exactly happened to Vice Sect Master Li in the Extreme Valley...?"

"Ah, that was an accident..." Rihado couldn't help but feel troubled.

She never expected to encounter the Ancient Thunder Dragon in this remote valley.

She had no recollection of any Ancient Thunder Dragons in the Extreme Valley, or even their territory.

Back then, our ancestor conquered all the land around the Heavenly Demon Sect, leaving no one behind.

This demonic dragon is so rampant!? Could it be that the demon race has begun to cause trouble?!

“Because of that incident, nearly half of our Heavenly Demon Sect disciples were killed or injured on that trip…” Zhao Mengyuan said in a low voice, “Now that we are going to recover, we will probably have to recruit a lot of new disciples.”

"What about recruiting disciples?"

"I've already arranged for the remaining elders to do it. Also, news of that matter has spread, and the Righteous Alliance has begun to press forward step by step. Several of our strongholds have also been eliminated." Zhao Mengyuan began her daily report.

"It seems the Righteous Alliance does indeed have spies among us. They haven't even said anything yet, but they've already started making this move." Li Podao pondered for a while, then decided to stop thinking about it.

This is too much of a brain drain. Let's leave it to Zhao Mengyuan. That's how a hands-off manager does it.

If you don't use your brain, you won't have so many worries.

"Mengyuan, you are fully responsible for this matter, understand?"

"This... Master, I still..."

"You'll have to do it yourself sooner or later; you're going to take over as sect leader!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengyuan suddenly felt a surge of excitement.

My master has finally recognized me!

"Master, thank you for your guidance... I will definitely..."

“Hey, don’t thank me. I will gradually let you take over most of the sect’s affairs in the future.” Li Podao suddenly changed the subject: “But after you finish this matter, you should pay attention to your cultivation and break through to the Tribulation Transcending stage as soon as possible. Yu Wanqing has already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage.”

"That woman, Yu Wanqing, has already reached the Tribulation Transcending Stage?" A sense of crisis suddenly rose in Zhao Mengyuan's heart.

That woman and she had always been mortal enemies. Unexpectedly, she had already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage and she still didn't know!

"It's said that she also took a secret medicine, making her cultivation level unstable and inflated, but she's already the vice leader of the Righteous Path Alliance." Li Podao said in a deep voice, "We, the Demonic Path, must also form a great alliance to resist the Righteous Path Alliance!"

"What kind of major alliance is it?"

"It's the Demon Alliance. Ugh, what a lousy name. Why can't it be called Sweet Home?"

"Master, what are you saying...?"

"nothing……"

Li Podao changed the subject, saying, "Speaking of Mengyuan, do you still have the love letter Lu An gave you?"

“Those love letters… if it weren’t for Master, how would you know…” Zhao Mengyuan turned around and saw that Li Podao was holding the love letters in his hand.

Those were the love letters she had thrown away before, how did they end up in Master's hands!?

No, it looks like it was copied using something!

"What a wonderful poem! Your junior brother has such poetic talent, why don't you consider becoming his Daoist partner?"

"Master, what nonsense are you talking about?!" Zhao Mengyuan's face flushed red instantly.

"Look at these poems, how beautiful they are!" Li Podao began to recite: "My loyal heart and deepest feelings, I grieve for you, but you do not know."

"Master, please don't recite it!"

"At first sight, one is delighted; after spending time together, one's heart still flutters."

"No, Master, that's about right..."

"The mountain has trees, but the trees have no branches; I love you, but you do not know..." How wonderful it is to hear this!

Zhao Mengyuan got up and prepared to leave.

"Hey, Mengyuan, what else? Look how much your junior brother loves you! All these poems were written for you!"