Chapter 113: The Truth Gradually Emerges to the Surface

Guo Quan left quietly.

Song Yue returned to the Administration Bureau and found Qian Qianxue.

"Qian, send an email to Sun Tong, saying that..."

Qian Qianxue nodded silently, indicating she understood. Soon, the message was sent to Sun Tong. At this point, Song Yue no longer trusted the exclusive communicators of the Administration Bureau. Even if Guo Quan believed he had been swayed by the promise of benefits, he would not entirely trust him. Using the Bureau's own equipment would likely lead to complications.

Shortly after, Sun Tong replied with an email containing a set of numbers, instructing him to use a third-party device to communicate. Song Yue did not choose anyone from his immediate circle; instead, he called Xiao Meng and had him deliver a device. Xiao Meng was not in Hangzhou, so he dispatched a trusted subordinate to bring it to Song Yue.

Using this device, Song Yue contacted Sun Tong and gave him an honest account of Guo Quan’s visit. Sun Tong did not show overt anger, though Song Yue could sense him deliberately suppressing it. While Song Yue did not know who Guo Quan was, Sun Tong knew exactly who he was.

"The information you provided is crucial! Song Yue, thank you for your trust."

Sun Tong’s tone was filled with emotion. He had anticipated that those people would use various means, but he hadn't expected them to be so bold, even resorting to the "openly building the walkway while secretly crossing the Chencang" strategy. If Song Yue had been even slightly less resolute, he might have been lured in. A backstab from within would have been devastating. Fortunately, the disciple chosen by the Master did not disappoint.

"Guo Quan is in the same camp as Peng Donglai and the others. Their urgency to seize the Hangzhou area isn't just about surface-level benefits; there must be a deeper reason!" Facing Song Yue's honesty, Sun Tong did not hold back his own suspicions. "It is very likely that a special secret realm, once controlled by the Sun family and now fallen into their hands, exists here in Hangzhou!"

"A 'special secret realm' contains true top-tier treasures—either high-level medicinal ingredients above the Core-Condensing stage, astonishingly valuable divine metals and rare ores, or perhaps even ancient underground palaces." Sun Tong explained that some ancient palaces contained peerless scriptures; once comprehended, they could allow one to leap across major cultivation realms.

"As far as I know, your path of martial cultivation has few shortcuts; it requires taking it one step at a time. But other paths, such as Primordial Spirit cultivation or the mastery of certain mystical arts, do have shortcuts. True peerless scriptures allow for sudden enlightenment and instant mastery, and they build such a solid foundation that you don't need to worry about instability from rapid growth."

Song Yue glanced at Qian Qianxue and Wen Rou beside him; they were also chosen by the Heavenly Monument. Qian Qianxue, in particular, had a monument just like his, with two extra characters and nine portals! However, their current levels were too low. If they could obtain such scriptures, they would both have a chance.

"So, what do you think I should do?" Song Yue asked. He was smart, but his experience was still lacking. The Master had often told him years ago: never claim to be an expert on things you haven't experienced.

"Agree to them, cooperate actively, and show appropriate signs of dislike toward me. You need to gauge the scale yourself; don't overact," Sun Tong cautioned.

Song Yue acknowledged this.

"Furthermore, remember one thing: never contact me frequently!" Sun Tong warned sternly. "Knowing this much is enough. I will handle the layout from here. If they dare to use such tactics, they must have other trump cards we don't yet understand. You must not expose yourself."

Song Yue, knowing Sun Tong was concerned for his safety, agreed.

"That's all for now. Just follow along with whatever they want to do, and as long as you don't get tricked, you'll be fine," Sun Tong said with a smile.

Knowing this information gave him time to calmly make his own arrangements. He wasn't particularly worried about Song Yue’s safety. First, Song Yue was a fierce fighter; second, despite his youth, he was clever—tricking him wouldn't be easy. Outsiders thought the Li family was brought down by the Master, but Sun Tong, a long-time friend of the Master, knew the root of the matter lay with Song Yue. His ability to bait the Li family for supplies and lull them into a false sense of security had laid the perfect trap.

In the eyes of many, Song Yue was just a hot-headed kid relying on talent and a good mentor. But to Sun Tong, he was a young genius with immense potential and a keen mind.

After hanging up, Qian Qianxue, who had heard the entire conversation, frowned slightly. "Why would they dare to trust you so easily?"

"Care for an analysis, Teacher Qian?" Song Yue chuckled.

Qian Qianxue rolled her eyes and pondered for a long time before looking at him with her beautiful eyes. "They are courting you... half-truth and half-false? Their real goal, just like with the Li family back then, is that as long as you don't spoil their plans, they are satisfied?"

Song Yue gave her a thumbs up. "Well done, Qian!"

She glared at him. If she weren't currently unable to beat him, she would have taught him a lesson about not being so arrogant.

About a dozen days later, Xiao Qi, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly showed up. Early in the morning, Song Yue, who was practicing in the courtyard, opened the door and didn't even recognize him at first. Standing there was a handsome man in his late twenties, exuding an academic air, wearing glasses, a tailored suit, polished leather shoes, and hair so slickly greased not even a mosquito could land on it.

Seeing Song Yue, Xiao Qi flashed his familiar, lecherous grin. "It's me!"

Song Yue speechless, let him in, closed the door, and looked him up and down. "Are you sick? Dressing like this and ringing the doorbell at dawn—won't people find it strange?"

Xiao Qi didn't care. "So what? As long as nobody knows it's me!" He tried to push inside.

Song Yue stopped him. "If you have something to say, say it here."

Xiao Qi looked around suspiciously. "What? Is there a girl inside?"

Just as he said this, Qian Qianxue, who also rose early, pushed the door open. She didn't recognize Xiao Qi at first, but upon seeing the look in his eyes, she realized who it was and greeted him naturally: "Good morning."

Xiao Qi was stunned and waved back awkwardly. "Uh... morning."

Qian Qianxue glanced at Song Yue and walked back inside. Xiao Qi looked at Song Yue with admiration. "Brother, you're amazing! You got the daughter of the Qian family to move in with you?"

Song Yue glared at him. "Don't talk nonsense!"

Xiao Qi looked aggrieved. "How am I talking nonsense? You've already done it, and you're saying I'm talking nonsense?"

Song Yue looked at him. "Do you have business? If not, leave. I'm annoyed just looking at your outfit."

Xiao Qi immediately changed his tune, grinning. "I do, I do! Brother, I've been gone for a while. Do you know what I found?"

"A True Immortal's tomb?"

Xiao Qi's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

Song Yue looked dismissive. "Forget it, you'd call a dirt mound a True Immortal's tomb." He walked toward the inner courtyard to continue his practice.

Xiao Qi followed him eagerly, whispering mysteriously, "This time it's a big one! I'm telling you, that tomb is in the Hangzhou region, and it's inside a secret realm!" He looked around cautiously and lowered his voice. "That realm was previously controlled by the Li family. Because they couldn't develop it, it was left untouched. Since the Li family was wiped out, I snuck in, and—boy, oh boy—that tomb is flowing with immortal energy. It's incredible!"

Despite his lowered voice, his excitement was evident.

Song Yue looked at him. "You can enter that tomb?"

Xiao Qi replied sheepishly, "That's why I have you, right?"

Song Yue said, "You aren't the only one eyeing that tomb."

Xiao Qi was stunned. "How is that possible? I've been there the whole time, and there's no one else."

Song Yue didn't answer, his mind racing. The whole picture was forming. From the high-level officials at the Administration Bureau to Guo Quan's attempt to lure him, their true goal was likely the tomb Xiao Qi mentioned. Pushing him out of Hangzhou would be ideal, but if that failed, they would change tactics to win him over. As long as he agreed, they would have succeeded halfway.

There was just one thing Song Yue didn't quite understand. The Administration Bureau was full of talented people. It was inevitable that some would be blinded by greed. But if there really was an "Immortal Tomb" in that realm, could these human cultivators even enter and obtain the opportunities within? Xiao Qi might be a professional, but he wouldn't dare approach a tomb of that level easily. One slip-up, and he’d be erased before even finding the entrance. It wasn't a training ground or a palace; it was a tomb! And powerful beings didn't like their resting places disturbed.

"Say something! What's the situation?" Xiao Qi was clearly panicking.

"Since the Li family knew about it long ago but never touched it, that proves its level," Song Yue told him. "Just because they didn't touch it doesn't mean they didn't try. They likely failed many times and were unwilling to let outsiders know, so they left it there."

"You're right," Xiao Qi nodded. "But you said I'm not the only one who has their eyes on it. Who else?"

"The Administration Bureau," Song Yue said.

"What?" Xiao Qi's eyes widened. He had never imagined the Bureau would be interested in such things. He slapped his forehead. "I forgot—who wouldn't be tempted by the heritage left by predecessors?" He looked at Song Yue. "But the way you're talking... it seems?"

Song Yue nodded. "Before they react, let's go take a look."

Xiao Qi's eyes lit up. "Just a look?"

"If there's an opportunity, we take it," Song Yue said.

Xiao Qi immediately became excited. With someone like Song Yue, who possessed such great destiny, he felt a surge of confidence.

Song Yue performed the Heavenly Venerate Mental Technique and summoned the Red Bird. It flew back, but seeing the stranger, it stayed silent. Song Yue went back inside, gave instructions to Qian Qianxue and Wen Rou, then returned and spoke to the Red Bird via telepathy. He opened a portal with the Yuxu Heavenly Monument and beckoned to Xiao Qi. "Come."

Xiao Qi was bewildered. "You have a teleportation array in your house?"

"Basic operation," Song Yue replied.

Xiao Qi: "..."

Entering the portal, Song Yue shrunk the monument to the size of a needle and slipped inside. The Red Bird hid the needle in its feathers and flew out through the dense tree cover of the residential complex.

Inside the monument space, Xiao Qi stared blankly at the lush "herb garden" and the "seafood" piled in the corner. "What is this place? Did we just enter your storage space through a teleportation array?"

Song Yue looked at him with a mysterious and dismissive expression, saying nothing. Xiao Qi was going crazy.

...

Meanwhile, in a high-rise building outside the complex, two figures stood by the window, watching the direction of Song Yue's home. One of them was Guo Quan, who had snuck into an apartment bought by a subordinate years ago. Though Song Yue had agreed to cooperate, Guo Quan remained uneasy.

The stakes were too high. Even someone of his status had to act as a "scout," watching every link. That fool Sun Tong thought they were just fighting over a branch manager position—how shallow! They didn't care about a mere branch manager position; they were after the secret realm containing the tomb that had once belonged to the Sun family.

Now that the Sun family was destroyed, it was a heaven-sent opportunity. The three parties involved were determined to seize all the opportunities within that tomb! Which human cultivator didn't dream of becoming an immortal? With the chance right before them, they had to be cautious.

Beside him stood a black-haired man with a hulking frame and a fierce-looking beard. It was Constantine, from the West—the third-in-command of the Three-Dragon Organization. If an outsider saw him here with Guo Quan, they would be shocked.

"Was that person going to find Song Yue?" Constantine asked in fluent Chinese.

"His movements were suspicious, but he shouldn't have anything to do with Song Yue. That complex is high-end; he was probably going to someone else's place," Guo Quan said, his eyes locked on the target.

"True, after all, this is your territory," Constantine smiled.

Guo Quan didn't respond. He didn't like this Western practitioner, but he had been summoned by the big figures behind them. He didn't know why, and he didn't care to ask. As long as he got his share, nothing else mattered.