"Fei Yu, Bu Yu, could I trouble you two to make another trip? We need to resolve this Nether Gate matter as soon as possible. I just invited your master and a few other Daoist sect masters over. The timing lines up perfectly for you to meet them." Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan exchanged a glance. They then nodded without hesitation. Liu Yunzhi stepped forward. "Captain Chi Ling, please assign me a task too." "Then please accompany Fei Yu and Bu Yu on this mission." "Alright!" Liu Yunzhi replied. Getting to talk directly to the Special Investigation Unit captain visibly energized him. Chi Ling smiled politely at Xi Lian but did not initiate a direct conversation. She turned around and returned to Shen Sui'an and his daughter. After a few words of courtesy, she began finalizing the next steps. "We bear no ill will, Sect Master Shen," Chi Ling said, "but if there's anything we can do to help persuade the elders in your sect more quickly, please don't hesitate to let us know." Her offer clearly carried a deeper meaning. During this unusual period, the Special Investigation Unit could resort to unusual measures. The Nether Gate had suddenly appeared, and cultivators could now enter the Nether Realm. Up until now, things had not seemed too tense. However, the emergence of the Hidden Earth Sect had changed everything. They possessed a method to unseal ghost soldiers, and Shen Sui'an had confirmed that various threats were hidden within the Nether Realm. The situation was far from peaceful. Tension had already begun to rise. While talking to Shen Sui'an, Chi Ling had relayed the matter to the Special Warfare Unit and the research institute. In response, the warfare unit had swiftly begun increasing troop deployments in the Mount Pingdu area just minutes ago. "No, I'm fine. As the sect master, I still hold enough authority to be heard," Shen Sui'an said. "Can you give me the address to that website? I just tried to access it, but it didn't seem to load." "That site is only accessible to righteous cultivators. Each officially recognized cultivator is given a unique code, and only after receiving an invite can they log in to the site," Chi Ling explained with a smile. "I will assign a team specifically to handle your sect's affairs. Naturally, they will provide you with access. You may also contact me directly." "Very well. I will be counting on you with this in the future, Captain Chi Ling." Shen Sui'an smiled warmly, once again exuding the air of a good-natured businessman. The two shook hands and stood up. Chi Ling took her leave, and two young members of the Special Investigation Unit then came over, each holding a folder. "Senior Sister, let's go over and say hello," Wang Sheng whispered. Xi Lian rolled her eyes, clearly reluctant, but she still followed behind Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan. Wang Sheng gestured for Mu Wanxuan to walk slightly ahead. The two cupped their fists in greeting to Shen Sui'an. Shen Sui'an dared not be rude. He stood up to return the greeting and chirped, "Thank you for showing me your incredible techniques, Daoist Master Fei Yu. You are truly unmatched, and you stand out among the younger generation. You truly deserve to be ranked first on the Earthly Rankings. If just one or two of my sect's unworthy disciples possessed even thirty percent of your skill, I could retire with peace of mind." Next to him, Shen Qianlin blinked and whispered, "First on the Earthly Rankings? Junior Brother, you're that strong?" Wang Sheng shrugged, showing that he didn't see it as something to brag about. Liu Yunzhi added, "Fairy Bu Yu now ranks twelfth on the Heavenly Rankings. She is at the Golden Core Realm, but even when she was still at the Illusory Core Realm, she could already hold her own against Golden Core Realm cultivators." Mu Wanxuan smiled shyly, a little embarrassed. "Not really…" Shock spread across Shen Qianlin's delicate face. Shen Sui'an also couldn't help sighing, remarking on how the younger generation had surpassed the old. Wang Sheng's cultivation speed had already caught up with most second-generation Daoist masters in the Daoist sects. Moreover, with help from the immortal light, Mu Wanxuan had managed to catch up to the realm of most elite Daoist elders. Among the younger generation, a few could still match Wang Sheng in terms of cultivation. However, Mu Wanxuan had already reached a level that others could only look up to. Shen Sui'an had to return to the clan to make preparations. Shen Qianlin, however, would stay to guide the "exchange group" that the Special Investigation Unit would arrange. No one dared take things lightly. The Nether Gate was still on the surface, and the female immortal who could go berserk at any moment was still missing. The earlier the Hidden Earth Sect's rare artifacts could be brought in, the better the official response to any changes in the Nether Realm. From this point forward, Chi Ling would no longer be directly involved. As the investigation unit's captain, she could not afford to spend too much time on one matter. She had to return promptly to headquarters. Whenever anomalies occurred in the Nether Gate, the Special Investigation Unit would be responsible for dispatching Daoist sect experts. The workload was heavy. Now that the sect master of the Hidden Earth Sect had been convinced and made his stance clear about cooperating with the authorities, there was little need for Chi Ling to join the visit to the sect. With Qing Yanzi and several Daoist elders overseeing the meeting with the descendants of immortals, her presence would make little difference. Wang Sheng felt that he and Liu Yunzhi were just going through the motions. Mu Wanxuan was now ranked twelfth on the Heavenly Rankings. That alone made her a high-level expert among the righteous cultivators. If things escalated, Xi Lian wouldn't have to step in. His master and senior sister could handle the Hidden Earth Sect on their own. Shen Qianlin often complained that the people in her sect were too arrogant. That made it highly likely that they would issue one of those age-old challenges for a sparring match to show off. Immortals were not born with supernatural powers, though. Perhaps they had slightly better aptitude and a few treasures that other immortals had left, but it had only been seven or eight years since primal qi had returned. Everyone had started around the same time. No one could suddenly soar to the top. Judging from Shen Sui'an's strength, the sect likely had no experts at the Heavenly Abode Realm. If the older generation could not compete, they would likely suggest a match among the younger generation. It was the more probable scenario. When it came to cultivation, aptitude, and insight, Mu Wanxuan had them all. In terms of looks, Liu Yunzhi was the most handsome man in the cultivation world. And as for swordsmanship, Wang Sheng had never yielded to anyone in his generation. Unless the Hidden Earth Sect had a peerless genius among their younger disciples, they were likely to end up losing all their confidence in cultivation after a match. Before leaving, Shen Sui'an used voice transmission to invite Wang Sheng to go relieve himself. Wang Sheng naturally followed. Once inside, Shen Sui'an shut the door and lit a cigarette. After a few puffs, he sighed. "I'm afraid the Hidden Earth Sect is about to make a fool of itself." "What makes you say that, Sect Master Shen?" Wang Sheng asked. "Are the elders in your sect prejudiced against the Daoist sects?" Smiling wryly, Shen Sui'an shook his head. "That's one of the reasons, but I shouldn't be telling you this. You are not one of us. As their sect master, I am to carry these matters alone." "The Nether Realm affects more than just your sect," Wang Sheng responded seriously. "The treasures of the Hidden Earth Sect are closely tied to it. This is no longer simply your clan's internal affair." "Young Man, you really taught me a lesson today." Shen Sui'an smiled. "You're an entire major realm below me, yet you disabled me with one move. I truly realized today that someone is always better. If not for that single move of yours, I might not have agreed to work with Captain Chi Ling and the investigation unit since we can't just reveal our sect's rare artifacts." "Actually…" Wang Sheng scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "That was just a trick. The silver-haired senior who always follows my senior sister…" A soft cough echoed in his mind. Wang Sheng immediately corrected, "That beautiful, intelligent, talented, and elegant young lady with silvery white hair is a fox who began cultivating sixteen hundred years ago. She used to follow the wise Buddhist Master Santong and the elegant Daoist Master Qinglin, who was the sect master of the Shu Mountains at the time. "Due to Daoist Master Qinglin's seal and various other reasons, she survived the lifespan severance and is now a genuine Ascension Realm cultivator. Anyway, that move earlier wasn't mine. That senior expert was the one who casually used a binding technique. I simply used her assistance to trick you. Please forgive me." Shen Sui'an froze, his mouth twitching as he absorbed what he had heard. Instead of getting angry, he gave Wang Sheng a thumbs-up. "Hah. You have a bright future ahead of you." Wang Sheng wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a bitter smile. "Enough about that. Let Qianlin take you to the sect. I'll do my best to settle the dissenting voices before you arrive." Shen Sui'an paused in thought, then said, "One more thing, slightly off topic." "What is it, Senior?" Shen Sui'an smiled. "I noticed that you and your senior sister seem to be close. That might be why my daughter has been quietly concerned about you but never voiced her feelings. I've never interfered in her personal life before, and I won't now. She can make her own judgment. I don't have much energy or time to worry about it. "Fei Yu, there is something I would like to ask of you. Because of some events in the past, my daughter has developed an aversion to cultivation. More than half the people in our clan have tried to persuade her, but she still chooses to live a quiet life." Wang Sheng replied, "Since Senior Sister made that choice, it should be respected." "Respect is one thing, but when I think about having to bury my own daughter someday, it feels like a thorn in my heart." Exhaling smoke to the side, Shen Sui'an looked at Wang Sheng. "I would like to ask you to help me persuade Qianlin. If she is willing to cultivate, I will provide her with the best techniques and resources." Wang Sheng gently shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't help with that. As her friend, I can only wish her well, not interfere in her choices. If you feel there's a barrier between you and her, it might be better to resolve that first. Only then will you be able to talk to her about cultivation." "Do you really want to see her live just sixty or seventy years and then…" Wang Sheng smiled wearily. "Senior, she is an adult. Every adult should have the right to choose their own path in life. I like cultivation. I pursue my own path and dream of becoming immortal. That's why I work hard, seek out opportunities, and walk the path of cultivation. "Senior Sister had a privileged environment since birth. But even after the resurgence of primal qi, she still chose not to cultivate. She reached that decision on her own, based on her own reasons. "Besides, if the issue you mentioned remains unresolved, even if she agrees to your advice and begins cultivation, she will make no progress. In cultivation, one must first cultivate virtue, then the mind, and finally techniques. Your realm is far above mine. I'm sure you understand that better than I do." Wang Sheng cupped his fists in a formal Daoist salute. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave." Shen Sui'an waved his hand with a long sigh. With a complex expression, he watched Wang Sheng leave with his sword case on his back. He then broke into a quiet laugh. "That kid ended up teaching me a lesson. I was planning to give him a few treasured artifacts, too. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?" Outside the restroom, Wang Sheng slipped slightly, then raised a hand and smacked his forehead.