Volume Two—The Map of the Nine Provinces Revealed, Entering the Spirit Ruins Sect Chapter 148: The Cui Clan’s Purpose

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Before long, Cui Hao, a powerful member of the Cui clan, hovered high above the square and cast a cold gaze downward.

“How dare you set your sights on the possessions of my Cui clan!”

With that, he struck toward the crowd with one palm. The terrifying force sent many people tumbling in panic.

“Haha… Now this is interesting.”

A figure shot up from among the crowd, escaping the force of Cui Hao’s palm. He was a short, thin middle-aged man, whose two tufts of goatee only added to his distinctive air.

“Gongsun Mu, the Divine Thief,” Cui Hao said coldly. “What are you trying to do? With your status, would you really take an interest in these treasures?”

“Heh heh… Since you, Cui Hao, have called them treasures, it would hardly suit my nature to leave empty-handed.”

Gongsun Mu showed not the slightest shame. He spoke as though his words were self-evident, displaying a truly remarkable thickness of skin.

Cui Hao snorted. Naturally, he did not believe such perfunctory excuses. He attacked Gongsun Mu directly.

“I don’t care what your purpose is, Gongsun Mu. But since you dared to make a move against my Cui clan, you’ll have to leave something behind.”

“Heh heh… You, Cui Hao? That might be rather difficult.”

Gongsun Mu swept through the air and spoke with disdain. His movements were so swift that Cui Hao could not even touch the hem of his robe.

Cui Hao’s face darkened, and the fury in his heart became even harder to suppress.

“Chaos Law Demonic Art!”

He struck out with one palm. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into threads of black light, attempting to bind Gongsun Mu within them.

But Gongsun Mu clearly knew how formidable the Cui clan’s Chaos Law Demonic Art was. He had no intention of meeting it head-on. Instead, he accelerated away, widening the distance between himself and Cui Hao.

Cui Hao’s expression grew even uglier. He stared coldly at Gongsun Mu and said in a low voice, “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Gongsun Mu laughed smugly. First, he tossed the two treasures back to Cui Hao, then said, “I want to join!”

Cui Hao frowned, but quickly composed himself.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Haha… Cui Hao, there’s no need to deceive me now. Unless you truly want me to announce the purpose of your several sects to the entire world?”

Gongsun Mu’s smile was sly.

Cui Hao’s expression sank. He had no idea whether Gongsun Mu was bluffing.

Gongsun Mu watched him smugly. Seeing that Cui Hao still hesitated, he suddenly shouted, “Cui Hao, listen carefully. It’s the Nine—”

Cui Hao’s expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly cut him off.

“What exactly do you know?”

“Everything worth knowing.”

Gongsun Mu smiled.

Just as Cui Hao was still considering the matter, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind, ordering him to bring Gongsun Mu over.

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Having received the order, Cui Hao drew a deep breath and steadied his emotions.

“In that case, Sir Gongsun, please come with me.”

Gongsun Mu smiled faintly.

“Then I apologize for the inconvenience.”

And so the matter ended, leaving everyone in the square utterly bewildered.

“What just happened? Was that the Divine Thief, Gongsun Mu?”

“Exactly. Could this treasure appraisal exhibition hosted by the Cui clan have another purpose? Are they plotting something?”

“They say Gongsun Mu never appears unless treasures are involved. Could it be that he and the Cui clan have discovered some great treasure?”

“So what if they have? Now that even Gongsun Mu has shown up, do you really think you’re qualified to get involved?”

“That’s true. Still, it certainly makes one curious.”

“Yes… What secret could there be?”

The crowd traded conjectures, and their discussion once again drove the excitement of the exhibition to its peak—though it had little to do with the event’s original purpose.

Chen Yu could not help frowning as he watched the direction in which Gongsun Mu and Cui Hao had departed. His heart was filled with doubts.

He had heard clearly that when Gongsun Mu uttered the word “Nine,” Cui Hao’s expression had changed dramatically. Chen Yu would never believe that there was no hidden secret behind it.

Based on the information he possessed, there were quite a few possibilities involving the word “Nine.”

Still, just as the others had said, this was the affair of cultivators of a far higher realm. With his strength, he had no way to take part. No matter how much he thought about it, it would accomplish nothing.

Chen Yu shook his head.

Looking at the cultivators filling the city, he could not help wondering: What sort of secret required the presence of so many cultivators to conceal it?

Chen Yu turned to leave, but suddenly halted. His mind churned like a storm-tossed sea, and a tempest rose within it.

“No… It shouldn’t be like this. If it truly is a secret, it ought to be carried out in secret. Why bother concealing it this way? Wouldn’t it be safer to move unseen? In other words, this matter isn’t over yet.”

The more he thought about it, the more plausible the possibility seemed.

Chen Yu had originally intended to leave, but now he decided to wait. He wanted to see what the Cui clan—or rather, all the sects of Huangzhou—were planning.

Sure enough, two days later, Cui Hao appeared once more on the high platform in the square.

“Everyone, please be quiet…”

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The square had been filled with excitement, but one by one, the people turned their attention toward Cui Hao, and the noise gradually subsided.

Chen Yu immediately opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Cui Hao.

It’s here, he thought.

“Senior Cui Hao, may I ask what instructions you have for us?” someone called out impatiently.

The exhibition hosted by the Cui clan had indeed benefited many cultivators greatly. Numerous people had obtained materials useful to their cultivation, and naturally they were deeply grateful to the Cui clan.

Cui Hao smiled faintly.

“I imagine everyone has gained quite a lot.”

“Haha…”

Amid the laughter and cheerful voices of the gathered cultivators, Cui Hao suddenly changed the subject.

“But that is not the true purpose behind my Cui clan’s rare treasure appraisal exhibition.”

The crowd was startled. Many immediately recalled Gongsun Mu’s actions two days earlier and began to harbor suspicions.

Someone promptly asked, “May I ask, Senior Cui Hao, what grand undertaking do you have in mind?”

“It is indeed a grand undertaking. Moreover, it is not merely a grand undertaking for my Cui clan. It is a grand undertaking for all of Huangzhou.”

The crowd grew even more astonished. No one dared even breathe loudly, all waiting for Cui Hao to continue.

“You should all have heard that our Nine Provinces are a sealed region. From time to time, certain sealed secret realms appear. As for the treasures within them, surely I need not say more.”

His words instantly aroused the excitement of the gathered cultivators.

“Senior, where is the secret realm? How can we enter it?”

Question after question came pouring forth.

“Quiet… Quiet…”

Cui Hao pressed down with one hand, clearly pleased by the cultivators’ reaction. He then continued, “There is no need to grow anxious. The secret realm has not yet reached the time when it can be opened. According to our estimates, at least five years remain.”

“What?”

Many felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over them. Yet even more stared with burning intensity, their fists clenched tightly as they fully understood what this meant.

Sure enough, Cui Hao continued, “Only cultivators of the Four Symbols Realm will be able to enter this secret realm. Therefore, make good use of these five years and cultivate diligently.”

At once, wave after wave of excited roars erupted throughout the square.

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