While speaking, He Kao had already thought of two things. First, many people, including Mr. Mi, might be speculating that Hidden Moth is actually Gu Chun.
Mr. Mi proposed to let his son join the Hidden Moth Sect and learn the Insect Concealment Skill as a way to probe.
On the other hand, Mr. Mi likely has great ambitions, or to put it more positively, he has grand aspirations. After enduring for years to break through to Tier Six cultivation and becoming a Grand Elder of the Supreme Council, he wants to achieve something new within the Xiao Alliance.
His "cooperation" with the Ancestral Hall should also be an attempt to leverage power against other forces within the Xiao Alliance.
This man not only has cultivation but also does not lack capability and cunning. Should he one day truly control the Supreme Council of the Xiao Alliance, there would be no fear of him being unworthy of his position. From the perspective of the Magic Sect, this outcome is also welcomed.
While contemplating, Mr. Mi used divine thought to ask: "Fellow Daoist Huo Qing, could you ask the Ancestral Hall about their attitude toward the Xiao Alliance?"
He Kao straightforwardly replied: "The Ancestral Hall has already issued a notice."
Mr. Mi shook his head: "That pertains to the handling of Xiao Alliance disciples, treating them the same as independent cultivators. What about the organization of Xiao Alliance itself? How can grievances be resolved?"
He Kao also shook his head and said: "The matter isn't as simple as the word 'grievance.'
The Xiao Alliance cultivated spies to backstab the Sect, infiltrated the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven attempting to seize the blessed land, and sent people to Qi Yuan to ambush two Elders from the Ancestral Hall, only to fail.
If their vile plan had succeeded, what would the situation be now? They cannot simply seek forgiveness from the other party after committing misdeeds without paying any price themselves.
The Magic Sect did not provoke the Xiao Alliance; it was the Xiao Alliance that plotted against the Magic Sect for wealth and life. The premise for friendly relations is for the Xiao Alliance to wholly change and remove the malicious elements!"
The meaning of these words is quite clear. He Kao was not aware of the age-old grievances between the Magic Sect and the Xiao Alliance, but regarding the significant conflicts he had personally experienced recently, the matter could not just end there.
Although the Master of Dan Hill and his apprentice have been executed, and Mei Guyu has slain the experts sent by the Xiao Alliance, there are still those behind the scenes who masterminded and participated, including members of the Xiao Alliance who planned and supported these actions, such as Fabre who escaped at that time.
No one can naively think that as long as the Xiao Alliance shows goodwill to the Magic Sect in the future, these matters can be glossed over without any recompense.
If you stop harming me, I will certainly welcome it, but that doesn't imply gratitude, nor does it mean that past events can be considered nonexistent.
Some matters must be settled. The Magic Sect merely chooses the most advantageous time and manner. While the Ancestral Hall seems to be doing nothing at the moment, it appears to be doing everything.
Mr. Mi was somewhat surprised, shifting his gaze away from his phone, specifically turning his head to look at He Kao. The content of He Kao's words was nothing special, representing the attitude of many Magic Sect disciples, but the surprising part was his tone.
He had just asked He Kao to inquire with the Ancestral Hall, yet He Kao directly provided a clear answer.
What does this explain? In He Kao's subconscious, at least on this issue, he himself can represent the attitude of the Ancestral Hall! Then his status and position in the Magic Sect should not be low, almost akin to an elder.
Mr. Mi tentatively asked again: "May I ask if this is your personal attitude, Fellow Daoist Huo Qing, or the Ancestral Hall's attitude?"
He Kao: "It is my personal attitude, but it should also be the Ancestral Hall's attitude. I can help you inquire with the Ancestral Hall, but you better not expect a different answer."
Mr. Mi slightly nodded and didn't continue on this topic, but instead asked: "May I consult you on another matter? There is a visiting scholar at this university named Jiaobide. Has he fallen into the hands of the Magic Sect?"
He Kao simply replied: "This person will not appear again."
Mr. Mi: "I understand."
He Kao: "Since you have asked me so much, may I also inquire about something? Your trip to the Eastern Country is not just to send your child to school and visit relatives, right? The Supreme Council of the Xiao Alliance should have tasked you with other affairs. Is it convenient to disclose?"
Mr. Mi: "It's not inconvenient. On the surface, it's confidential, but actually, all high-level members of the Xiao Alliance know. Even if I don't say it, you surely have other channels to find out.
The operations of the Xiao Alliance in the Eastern Country failed, and many were dug out by the Magic Sect. I am here to clean up the mess, responsible for Eastern Country affairs, and to rebuild the organizational system…"
Although the Magic Sect may have other channels to find out, Mr. Mi personally confirming it is considered a significant piece of intelligence.
He Kao did not press Mr. Mi to provide a complete list of all Xiao Alliance members lurking in the Eastern Country, knowing it's impossible for the other party to provide.
He merely smiled knowingly and said: "Though it's a secret, actually many high-level members know it. It seems that some people in the Supreme Council have set you up to handle this matter, perhaps intending to use a borrowed knife to kill."
Whose knife to borrow, who to kill? Everyone is smart, so there's no need to make it explicit. Mr. Mi didn't take up this line, lowering his head to silently browse his phone again.
After a while of silence, He Kao finally brought up the main topic: "When do you plan to take the Pure Yang Pill, Mr. Mi? Let me know in advance, so I can inform you of the specific location."
Mr. Mi: "Oh, is the location designated by you?"
He Kao nodded: "Yes, because it requires setting up the Tai Chi Yin Yang Array and considering factors of confidentiality and safety, it can only be at the location I specify."
At the last meeting, He Kao had brought both the Pure Yang Pill and the Peony, intending to hand them over to Mr. Mi in person. However, Mr. Mi did not accept them, still leaving them in He Kao's custody.
This time when they met, He Kao didn't even bother to bring the elixir, much less intended to give anything to Mr. Mi. It's likely he'll only hand it over when it's time to take the pills.
Mr. Mi: "I'd like to ask you for a favor, to pass a message to the Ancestral Hall. Among those two Pure Yang Pills, one is meant for the patron of the Hidden Moth Sect.
If Hu Henry is fortunate enough to be accepted into the Hidden Moth Sect, then I'd like the patron to take him along for pill consumption. If that's not possible, as long as the Ancestral Hall helps in some way, then I'd like them to appoint an expert to accompany him in taking the pill."
He's quite willing to invest, implying he wants to gift that Pure Yang Pill to the contemporary Hidden Moth, and asks the current Hidden Moth to take Hu Henry along for the ceremony.
In his mind, the Hidden Moth is most likely Gu Chun.
He Kao didn't reject this goodwill, as he was just the messenger at that moment, but curiously asked, "These two Pure Yang Pills, you could have taken them with your children. Why give the opportunity to someone else?"
Mr. Mi smiled slightly: "One must give to receive, and besides, the Pure Yang Pill is just an embellishment to me; I can take it or leave it. No one has successfully refined the Pure Yang Pill for nearly a century, yet there are still so many experts around, aren't there?"
He Kao: "I must remind you of one thing. If an expert is to take the pill with Hu Henry, the prerequisite is that Hu Henry must trust them completely. If there's even the slightest doubt or hesitation, the ritual cannot succeed.
Using the Tai Chi Yin Yang Array and being aided by Peony for the pill-taking is essentially a ritual. With strangers or those newly acquainted, it's difficult to build such a trust relationship."
"Fellow Daoist Huo Qing seems so experienced; it looks like you've taken the Pure Yang Pill before." Mr. Mi probed He Kao, seeing no reaction, and then continued, "Thank you for the reminder!
I'll give you a token to pass on to the Ancestral Hall. Once Henry sees it, he'll know it's my arrangement, and I'll inform him in advance.
If he can let go of his doubts and trust the patron fully, then let him take the pill together. If he can't, then wait till he can, and I can't force this…"
He Kao realized that Mr. Mi "giving away" this Pure Yang Pill is not only to show goodwill towards the so-called Hidden Moth but also as a show of allegiance for his son. Once the pill-taking is successful, it at least proves Hu Henry has no ulterior motives.
Hu Henry's trust in the patron also signifies he himself is trustworthy, making this the most effective test, albeit a costly one.
The two had talked about enough, and before bidding farewell, He Kao tentatively asked, "Mr. Mi, coming here to the Eastern Country, if you hadn't already coordinated with the Ancestral Hall beforehand, your situation could be very dangerous.
Was anyone else sent by the Supreme Council to secretly monitor or spy on you?"
Mr. Mi maintained his composure and said, "I am not sure, but such a thing is certainly possible. If you discover anything, I hope you'll notify me. You already know my identity and how to contact me."
When He Kao rose from the bench, Mr. Mi sent a Divine Thought secretly, for indeed the most important things are often saved for last.
In the Divine Thought, Mr. Mi mentioned something regarding Wenges, a newly promoted elder of the Supreme Council of the Xiao Alliance.
Wenges is a Tier Five Heart Stealer practicing Spirit Awakening Skill, and he recently entered the Supreme Council as an elder under the endorsement of Hu Weidong.
Wenges also saw the latest announcement from the Ancestral Hall and sought confirmation of its authenticity from Hu Weidong, who gave him a definitive answer.
Wenges hopes that the Ancestral Hall, per the announcement's promise, will accept him back to the Magic Sect as an independent cultivator, grant a Secondary Inheritance, and provide insights into the cultivation essentials of past patriarchs as well as guidance from contemporary Xingshen Sect experts.
On the other hand, Wenges wants the matter to be discreet so he can continue to stay in the Xiao Alliance while maintaining his elder status in the Supreme Council.
In short, he wants the best of both worlds, which is quite a delicate request as it doesn't break any sect rules in the Magic Sect. In theory, it's possible for them to agree.
However, such gains are not so easily attained. Since Wenges made such a request, anyone could guess that the Magic Sect will certainly question—what reason is there to do this for him?
Or, to put it differently, if the Magic Sect really agreed, what could Wenges offer in return?
No matter if the Magic Sect agrees or what Wenges will do, it's beyond Hu Weidong's control. He only gave Wenges a hint and mentioned a name.
Recently, the Magic Sect uncovered quite a few undercover agents from the Xiao Alliance. As long as these people willingly disclose their identities and backgrounds, verify their past conduct, and are willing to swear loyalty to the Magic Sect, they aren't further punished.
In the eyes of the Xiao Alliance, these individuals are regarded as defectors. Among them is Tier Four Sorcerer Hobo Shang from the Heart Plate Sect. This is the name Hu Weidong gave Wenges, along with the means to contact him.
Hu Weidong didn't say anything else, but Wenges knew what it meant. If he wanted to test the waters, he could contact Hobo Shang to express his intentions, who would then pass it on to the Ancestral Hall.
As for the subsequent developments, they are no longer related to Hu Weidong. Even if exposed, it wouldn't be traced back to him...
He Kao was quite surprised but didn't pause in his steps, leaving calmly and discreetly.
It was just around five in the afternoon, the peak time for people on campus. Students were heading to the various cafeterias from the dorms, classrooms, libraries, and other places, while He Kao mingled in the crowd and departed.
Mr. Mi was still sitting on the bench, scrolling through his phone, when a blonde woman with a typical Western face came to sit next to him.
Foreign faces weren't rare at Qi Yuan University, and the newcomer was actually Julie, a tier five wanderer of the Lingxi Mystic Art lineage and an elder of the Supreme Council. She surprisingly appeared here as well.
**
