Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 328: Not a Single Word of Lie

Shi Huagu possessed an arcane spell that allowed him to discern whether someone was speaking the truth. With this ability alone, he had ferreted out countless spies planted among his ranks by rival vice creed leaders. Though not infallible, this secret spell boasted an eighty to ninety percent accuracy in ascertaining the veracity of one’s words.

Activating it demanded tremendous power and focus; even Shi Huagu couldn’t sustain it indefinitely. Nevertheless, maintaining the spell throughout his conversation with Lu Yang was not a problem. Moreover, Shi Huagu was adept at reading microexpressions, especially those that gave away that someone was lying.

Due to these two reasons, almost no one could lie before him without being detected. This was precisely why the creed leader had sent him here. Before collaborating with the Heavenly Court Creed, we must first verify whether they truly are the Heavenly Court Creed.

A confident smile played upon Lu Yang’s lips. He sipped his tea and spoke in a somewhat boastful tone. “I wonder, do you know about the Heaven Mandate Immortal and the Qilin Immortal, Creed Leader Shi?”

“They’re the titles of two ancient immortals. Of course, I’ve heard of them.” The Nine-Netherworlds Creed owned numerous ancient texts documenting the immortal titles of the Four Ancient Immortals.

Lu Yang continued, “I heard that when people speak of a certain prodigy nowadays, they like to say that he has the makings of a youth immortal. All of you think that youth immortals are unbeatable, but let me tell you this: at the Golden Core Stage, my shifu once fought the Heaven Mandate Immortal and the Qilin Immortal simultaneously. Though both youth immortals unleashed their full arsenal, neither could defeat my shifu!

“At the Golden Core Stage, my shifu was known to be unbeatable!”

The pupils of the three Nine-Netherworlds Creed’s envoys contracted.

The description “makings of a youth immortal” was synonymous with being unbeatable among peers of the same level; they had already reached the pinnacle of their cultivation phase, with no room left for improvement. If two youth immortals clashed and insisted on determining a victor, they would inevitably have to exhaust every trump hard and the last dregs of their spirit energy. There was no other choice, since the gap between the two parties was infinitesimally small.

Yet, at the Golden Core Stage, Dou Heavenly Sovereign single-handedly defeated two youth immortals. What incredible talent this is! Absolutely overshadowing all immortals! No wonder Dou Heavenly Sovereign was the first to become an immortal in the ancient era!

Zhou Shan steadied himself. “Young Creed Leader Lu, have you heard of the ancient Final Dragon-Phoenix Battle?”

After a pensive pause, Lu Yang asked, “The Dragon-Phoenix Battle where they demonstrated ‘being reborn from fire?’”

“Nay. The prodigies from the Dragon and Phoenix Tribes clashed numerous times for the sake of becoming immortals. This series of battles is referred to as the Dragon-Phoenix Battles. The one you mentioned is the penultimate battle, but I’m talking about the final battle.”

Lu Yang smiled. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with modern nomenclature. Please elaborate.”

The mere mention of that battle could make Zhou Shan shudder. With the descriptions in the books alone, he could imagine the terror during that battle. “The ancient texts speak of two demon beasts in the ancient era, one dragon and one phoenix. Their cultivation was only half a step from an immortal’s, and they were formidable foes of the Qilin Immortal. After the Qilin Immortal ascended to an immortal, the battles between the dragon and phoenix did not cease.

“The final battle recorded erupted over an immortal fruit with unknown origins. Presumably, that immortal fruit harbored a heaven-shocking fortuitous opportunity, one that brooked no concession.

“To vie for this immortal fruit, an intense battle between the dragon and phoenix unfolded. As they released their frightening auras, heaven and earth dulled, space vibrated, and Dao patterns streaked across the sky. When their true flames collided, even the stars trembled.

“Those present were the Qilin Immortal, the Heaven Mandate Immortal, the Nine-Layers Immortal, and the Epoch Immortal. However, even these four immortals couldn’t halt the Dragon-Phoenix Battle!

“The Qilin immortal was the first to uphold justice. He didn’t side with any party and attempted an impartial mediation, but the dragon and phoenix refused to listen, even rebuking him so harshly that he backed off.

“In the end, the Dragon-Phoenix Battle concluded in a draw, and the final whereabouts of that immortal fruit remains a mystery!”

Inside Lu Yang’s mental space, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy found this narrative style oddly familiar. “I remember it now! The Heaven Mandate Immortal liked talking in this manner, claiming that it could make immortals seem more impressive!”

It was Shi Huagu’s first time hearing the tale. From just a few words, he could sense how overwhelming the dragon’s and phoenix’s powers were. No wonder the Dragon and Phoenix tribes are still so powerful even today. Their foundations run truly deep.

He observed Lu Yang. Noticing that Lu Yang remained unfazed with a sliver of amusement in his eyes, shock coursed through Shi Huagu. Could it be that even a battle of such magnitude is nothing more than trivial in his eyes? Are disciples of immortals really this terrifying?

Lu Yang chuckled. “So that’s what the later generations called the Final Dragon-Phoenix Battle.”

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy had sent an immortal fruit to the Qilin Immortal’s wedding, saying that it was for the “most beautiful” person. When both the Dragon and Phoenix prodigies wanted to lay claim to the immortal fruit, the Qilin Immortal found himself in a quandary, yet he couldn’t openly intervene and stop them. Only after the other three immortals acted as mediators did the martial contest turn into a culinary competition, with the three immortals serving as judges.

However, what the Heaven Mandate Immortal and the others didn’t know was that the Dragon and Phoenix prodigies had learned their culinary skills from none other than the Everlasting Immortal Fairy herself...

“I know parts of the inside story. Truth be told, the whole affair stemmed from a casual move from my shifu.

“That time, the Qilin Immortal hosted a banquet, inviting many friends, including Transcendent Tribulation cultivators and the three other immortals. Due to certain reservations, however, he didn’t send an invitation to my shifu.

“Upon learning of this, my shifu did not take offense but requited hostility with magnanimity, randomly sending over a blessed immortal fruit. This immortal fruit that received my shifu’s benediction encompassed multifarious wondrous properties.

“Not much needs to be said for the four immortals; the immortal fruit didn’t warrant them to fight over it. Thus, the Dragon and Phoenix prodigies were the only two qualified to compete for it.

“This immortal fruit had significant implications, and even someone as strong as the Qilin Immortal dared not rashly arbitrate who deserved it the most. Therefore, those two prodigies could only battle it out, but ultimately, the Qilin Immortal was the host of the banquet. A martial contest wouldn’t be appropriate, so they changed it to a contest of true flame.”

Zhou Shan’s breath hitched. This was what I deliberately left out just now! The ancient texts state: After the Qilin Immortal withdrew, the Heaven Mandate Immortal, the Nine-Layers Immortal, and the Epoch Immortal stepped forth to uphold justice, proposing to resolve the matter with a duel of true flame.

I don’t know about the process of the true flame duel, but I do know that even the three immortals were injured during the duel!

A true flame duel! While it is common knowledge that the Final Dragon-Phoenix Battle ignited over an immortal fruit, hardly anyone knows that the format of the duel was a true flame showdown!

Zhou Shan had obtained a rare ancient text, and this was the information it recorded. The author is the Heaven Mandate Immortal himself, so the contents are definitely authentic and reliable!

Oblivious to what Zhou Shan was thinking, Lu Yang elaborated, “The evaluation criteria of the true flame contest included the degree of torment inflicted on living beings, the precision of control over true flame, and the proficiency with blades, among others.

“In the end, when three judges assessed the results of the true flame contest, they suffered a mental assault that left their mental conditions shaken.

“A single immortal fruit ultimately forced the Qilin Immortal to withdraw and dealt a severe blow to the three immortals’ mental conditions. What frightening schemes from the Dou Heavenly Sovereign!” Shi Huagu remarked, flabbergasted by Dou Heavenly Sovereign’s intricate schemes.

We must never ever become enemies with them!

Inside Lu Yang’s mental space, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s brow was slightly scrunched. I can’t help but feel that Shi Huagu is talking about me, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel like it. “Am I someone like that?”

Lu Yang seized the chance to say, “Immortal Fairy, your wisdom is as deep and unfathomable as the abyss. Mere mortals like Shi Huagu are so overwhelmed by your intelligence that they can't form coherent words!”

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy nodded in understanding. “That sounds right. After all, I’m very smart!”

In the real world, Zhou Shan transmitted an auditory message to Shi Huagu. “Your Excellency, with how knowledgeable the other party is about ancient secrets, they are undoubtedly from the ancient era!” freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Shi Huagu gave an almost imperceptible nod. “I share the same sentiment.”