Chapter 203: Chapter 122: Wu Chuan: I’ve Risen, Only to Be Insta-Killed with a Glance
They managed to restrain themselves somewhat in front of Ji Qingyue, for the sake of appearances. But the moment they left the Flying Ship, a woman’s voice couldn’t help but ring out.
"Heehee, isn’t this Senior Sister Wen Ping of the Celestial Sound Sect? I recall your Celestial Sound Sect has always fancied itself a home of Saintesses. Why are you stooping to such clandestine dealings now?" Chu Lianmeng of the Spirit Illusion Sect chuckled, her tone dripping with undisguised ridicule. "Or perhaps, your sect has always been this filthy and chaotic—a veritable den of depravity!"
These words instantly enraged Wen Ping of the Celestial Sound Sect. The fact that the speaker was from their sworn enemy, the Spirit Illusion Sect, made her expression even more dangerous.
"Hmph! I’ve already told you, I admire Young Master Zhong Ming’s courage and wanted to ensure he had a fair fight against the Void Moon Sect. That’s why I delivered the intelligence—unlike you, who harbor malicious intentions!"
"Heehee..." Chu Lianmeng of the Spirit Illusion Sect only laughed more heartily at this. "You say we have other motives? We don’t deny that. The Spirit Illusion Sect has always been bold enough to own up to its actions."
"But your Celestial Sound Sect... tsk, tsk. You claim it’s for the sake of fairness, but if you truly believe it’s such a righteous act, why did you have to hide your faces and conceal your identities? Heh heh, just admit it. You’re nothing but a bunch of sanctimonious bitches, rotten to the core..."
The moment she said this, the aura around Wen Ping of the Celestial Sound Sect erupted. Chu Lianmeng, on the other side, showed no sign of backing down.
The two of them nearly came to blows before anyone even had the chance to challenge Zhong Ming.
In the end, however, both had their reservations. After exchanging a look, they turned and departed.
Of course, they didn’t forget to trade barbs as they left.
Wen Ping: "Let’s hope your strength is as sharp as your tongue."
Chu Lianmeng: "I should be the one saying that. I hope you haven’t put all your energy into your little plots and schemes."
...
After they had gone, Ji Qingyue immediately went to Zhong Ming and handed him all the intelligence on the Void Moon Sect.
After a quick look through the information, Zhong Ming learned that the Void Moon Sect’s Secret Technique was related to space, the moon, and Illusion Techniques.
When this Cultivation Technique was mastered, it could make the user like a flower in a mirror or the moon’s reflection in water—completely untouchable.
Their attacks were both real and illusory, perhaps not even existing on the same plane of existence, making them incredibly difficult to evade or block.
Of course, this was an ability only possessed by those at an incredibly High Realm, such as Golden Core or even Nascent Soul.
Before reaching that level, the most troublesome aspects of Void Moon Sect disciples were their semi-real Illusion Techniques and their elusive movements.
’No, it’s not just Illusion Techniques. Void Moon Sect disciples who become True Disciples also condense a Void Moon Mark, allowing them to connect with the moon across infinite distances. What’s more, their Illusion Techniques aren’t just for enemies; they can also use them for self-hypnosis, entering the Void Spirit Realm and causing their strength to skyrocket...’
After reading all this, Zhong Ming could only sigh. ’A Major Sect is a Major Sect for a reason.’ Their condescension toward disciples from smaller sects wasn’t entirely baseless.
’These are powerful abilities. If any other disciple from the Seven Profound Sect faced them, they probably wouldn’t even know how they lost.’
’Too bad for them, they’re facing me.’
At this thought, Zhong Ming closed his eyes to sense his Candlelight Heart Eye. After a few moments, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. ’Their Illusion Techniques are completely countered by my Candlelight Heart Eye. As for connecting with the moon, self-hypnosis, the Void Spirit Realm... It seems I’m about to acquire similar abilities myself.’
With this realization, Zhong Ming no longer felt a single shred of anxiety about the Void Moon Sect.
Still, it was rather telling that even now, the other sects weren’t uniting against him. Instead, they were busy trying to sabotage one another. The thought made Zhong Ming sigh.
"Those Major Sects... they really don’t see me as a threat at all!"
...
Zhong Ming’s self-deprecating comment was heartfelt, but it was also a perfect reflection of reality.
When Chu Lianmeng and Wen Ping returned to their respective sects’ Flying Ships and reported their encounter to their own True Disciples, the expressions of the True Disciples from both sects turned grim.
A thought even surfaced in the mind of Miaoyun of the Celestial Sound Sect.
"Senior Brother, Zhong Ming is arrogant and audacious. Do you think... we could use him as a pawn to probe the Spirit Illusion Sect?"
A pawn. A sharp blade to be pointed at other sects, but not strong enough to defeat a Major Sect. Good only for probing their strength. This was the Major Sects’ assessment of Zhong Ming.
"’Drag the Spirit Illusion Sect into this...’" Miaoyun’s proposal made the male True Disciple from the Celestial Sound Sect raise an eyebrow. Cradling a Flute Sword in his arms, he frowned in thought for a moment before nodding, and then shaking his head.
"If you had suggested this earlier, Zhong Ming could have indeed served as our pawn. Unfortunately, he has offended the Void Moon Sect far too deeply."
"And those recent rumors have backed the Void Moon Sect into a corner. I’m afraid Zhong Ming won’t last long enough for our plan to work."
Glancing toward the Void Moon Sect’s ship and sensing the heavy atmosphere there, Miaoyun nodded in disappointment.
"The Void Moon Sect is truly enraged. They’re about to get serious... Still, it’s not a total loss. At least we’ll get to see some of the Void Moon Sect’s true strength."
...
Just as Miaoyun and the others had predicted, once the rumors about their fear of battle began to circulate along the Crescent Lake Shore, spread by several instigators, the Void Moon Sect was forced to respond.
However, the first to challenge Zhong Ming were not members of the Void Moon Sect itself, but rather the Lower Sect Cultivators affiliated with them.
As he dispatched his subordinates, Zhu Junfeng was still placating Lin Kong:
