An Immense Achievement

Teruno Sect.

As the three black incense sticks went out, most of the black mist that had enveloped the mountains dissipated.

The remaining black energy sank into the mountain path, becoming "ownerless".

They slid down the stone steps, and when they encountered any living creature, they would burrow into the seams of its clothing. The soldiers at the foot of the mountain dared not advance rashly, and could only use cinnabar thread to encircle them section by section, and then nail them to death with yin-suppressing nails.

The ancestral hall at the mountaintop was also very busy.

Due to the damage to the mountain gate formation, the three ancestral lamps inside the hall burned very weakly.

The disciples with minor injuries sat against the wall, while the seriously injured were laid flat on the ground. The only good news was that no one died.

The pain in Lu Guang's chest throbbed wildly through his nerves, and he felt dizzy, but he knew even more clearly that he couldn't give up now.

The apparent crisis has subsided, but for Teruno-mune, the Ishigaki River at the foot of the mountain is another problem.

"metropolitan."

A deacon, his hands wrapped in burlap, squatted beside the broken bricks. "What should we do with this?"

After Nie Chenzhou's remains disintegrated, black ash covered the ground, and a black token was pressed down in the ash.

The ghost's face was facing upwards, half of which had been chipped off by bricks, yet it still looked terrifying.

Lu Guang glanced at it a few times: "Put it in a copper basin and seal it with black dog blood."

The steward responded and was about to call for someone when footsteps suddenly came from the old corridor behind the mountain.

"Da da da".

Each step was a soft thud on the cracked stone slab.

Soon, a figure in gray emerged from the corner of the corridor.

Lu Guang hurriedly stepped forward: "Senior."

Just as he was about to kneel down, a surge of vital energy appeared beneath his knees, steadily supporting his body.

Lu Guang could only lower his head and say, "This junior is incompetent. That ghost cultivator only left behind a corpse here; his true body was hidden outside. I was unable to keep him."

"It's alright, it's already been resolved," Shen Gui said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Guang couldn't hide his joy. Since the senior said it was resolved, then it really was resolved. There was no need to be anxious and on guard against thieves for a thousand days.

Shen Gui didn't mention whether Nie Chenzhou was dead or alive again, and put his hand on Lu Guang's shoulder.

Lu Guang felt a coolness in his chest and the pain dissipated. The wound that had split open was not completely healed, but it stopped bleeding. The chaotic ghost energy in his body was also suppressed back into the depths of his meridians.

"Don't make a move for seven days." Shen Gui withdrew his hand.

Lu Guang smiled bitterly: "The mountain gate has collapsed like this, and we can't find anyone to take action."

He wiped the blood from his mouth.

"Senior, this time it was Teruno Mune who caused you trouble."

"I asked you to keep the Ghost Face Token."

Shen Gui looked at the token on the ground, which had lost its purity, and said, "Preserve the ashes of the remains well, and don't disturb the incense pit at the foot of the mountain."

"Are you going to hand these over to the imperial court, senior?"

"It's for you."

After saying this, Shen Gui went on to mention three more place names.

These place names were all given to Nie Chenzhou beforehand, recording the important strongholds of the Ghost Clan in the Yan Kingdom.

One location was outside Beiyang Prefecture, where messages were sent and received through the Xuanma Company.

There is a place hidden in Lin'an Prefecture where black incense raw materials are stored in a large cellar.

There was another group mixed in with the caravans at the border.

Shen Gui clearly stated his name, the secret code, and the cultivation level of the hidden agent.

The more Lu Guang listened, the straighter his back became.

After Shen Gui finished speaking, he immediately asked, "Can we still find anything in these places now?"

"able."

"Thank you, senior!"

Lu Guang clenched his fists excitedly.

Senior Shen has explained it so clearly, how could Lu Guang still not understand?

After this incident, Teruno Munechika will only turn misfortune into blessing, and a blessing of immense magnitude.

Without these three pieces of information, things would have developed into this: Zhaoye Sect secretly possessed the Ghost Mask Token, leading the Northern Tripod Ghost Cultivator into the territory.

Regardless of whether the matter ultimately succeeds or not, the imperial court likes to find a scapegoat, and Teruno Mō is definitely the most suitable one.

If investigated layer by layer, a single charge of "treason" could wipe out Zhaoyezong from his name, and Lu Guang might even be thrown into a death row with no chance of ever coming out.

As for Shi Qijiang... that old man is lucky he didn't kick someone when they're down, how could he possibly speak up for them?

But now, things are different.

The black ash from the remains can be used to verify the identity of a ghost cultivator.

The three incense pits prove that the Zhaoye Sect was set up by someone who was an enemy, not a friend.

Then, by following the trail of those three hidden stakeouts, they were able to apprehend people and obtain confessions.

When this case is written into the memorial to the emperor, it will no longer be attributed to Lu Guang for bringing the ghost into the country.

Instead, after receiving the ghost order, Zhaoye Zong turned the tables and deliberately lured out the ghost cultivators from Beichezhou.

It was sect leader Lu Guang who refused to surrender and led the entire sect to defend the mountain gate to the death.

It was Zhaoye Zong who left someone in the prefectural city in advance to report the news and help the government locate the Ghost Clan's spies within the Yan Kingdom.

Once the crime was overturned, it became a merit, and Shi Qijiang was also credited.

The soldiers of the prefecture broke through the formation, the formation masters cleared the mountains, and the Beiyang Prefecture sealed off the city and evacuated the people—they could write about anything.

Officials like achievements and love to hear good news like this.

As long as the name of this prefect is placed at the beginning of the memorial, not only will he no longer suppress Zhaoye Zong, but he will also have to help handle the case perfectly.

Shi Qijiang must also want this credit.

The imperial court needs clues about the ghost clan.

Shi Qijiang wanted official recognition.

Teruno Munechika needed a way to survive.

Everyone keeps their own accounts, so no one loses out.

Lu Guang gripped the roster, his knuckles slowly tightening.

If the mountain gate can stand firm, if the great formation is damaged, it can request repair materials from the state government, and if the injured disciples can receive a pension.

If the imperial court issues another commendation document, it will be much easier for Zhaoye Sect to recruit disciples and vouch for the demon race in the future.

This is not just about solving the current problem, but rather about paving the way for the future of the Teruno sect.

Thinking of this, Lu Guang was about to kneel down.

"No need for formalities, you deserve it." Shen Gui raised his hand to stop him.

Lu Guang didn't insist any further; he wasn't one to fuss over trivial matters.

The debt is settled, and the favor is recorded. If Shen Gui ever needs Zhao Yezong's help in the future, he will repay him with his life.

Lu Guang stuffed the roster into his sleeve, trying to lighten the mood, and asked, "That little demon Zhaoyue didn't offend you, senior, did she?"

Shen Gui paused for a moment, then said, "It talks even more than before, babbling on and on about everything."

Lu Guang was stunned, unable to tell whether it was a compliment or a disdain.

He was pondering how to respond when he suddenly noticed that Senior Shen's lips curled up slightly.

It was very slight, and it was gone in the blink of an eye.

But Lu Guang saw it clearly and murmured to himself, "Senior Shen smiled?"