506: Chapter 505 Emerging Truth 2 506: Chapter 505 Emerging Truth 2 Purple Sun Temple, the largest, most crowded, most popular, and most grounded Daoist temple in Jianye City.
The Daoist of Purple Sun was an elder of the Qi Sect who had undergone Nascent Transformation and was still alive; this elder had an approachable personality, enjoyed mingling in the mortal world, and had a passion for observing natural phenomena, adhering to the principle that all teachings should be universal.
Thus, his temple had no off-limits areas—it was accessible to all, with no regard for one’s level of cultivation or Daoist lineage, just like those ordinary temples frequented by people without any cultivation.
Consequently, it had become the favorite spot for the common people of Jianye, not only featuring elegant halls and high palaces but also small vendors.
Over time, it had surprisingly turned into a well-known market for loose cultivators, filled with all sorts of miscellaneous items, with no one overseeing the chaos, because the Daoist of Purple Sun enjoyed such an atmosphere.
The square in front of the main hall was the liveliest spot, with its vast space being most suitable for setting up stalls; there were also thirty-six huge bronze incense furnaces for offering incense.
Of course, the most proper way to offer incense would be to enter the main hall, but the place was so overcrowded that, fearing a stampede, they decided to set up incense offerings in the square, which mixed vendors with incense furnaces in a wonderfully chaotic scene.
Among hundreds of roaming stalls, a senior and a young loose cultivator were also handling their wares, comprised of items of mixed value and dubious quality.
In this market, if you bought well, it was your good luck, and if you sold poorly, it was just your bad luck—that was the essence of itinerant trading.
They had been setting up their stall here for a long time, previously coming every ten days or half a month, but for the past two months, they had been blending in daily.
This was characteristic of itinerant traders who obviously had no reason to come if they ran out of stock, but if they managed to acquire some questionable items, they naturally wanted to sell them quickly, and Purple Sun Temple was teeming with such traders.
They just cheated a novice, selling an item at an unbelievably high price, but as business quieted down, neither of them seemed very pleased.
The young man was crouching, packing up his items, but his thoughts communicated something entirely different,
“Yan Lao, just now Xiao Liu informed us that there was a battle at Six-Ear Palace, possibly involving that person.
We’re still trying to figure out the details, but do you think we’ll soon receive the news?”
Yan Lao picked up the teapot and filled his cup, his expression calm, “Xiao Wu, why the rush!
And that Xiao Liu, always all fire and flurry, believing everything he hears; you must remember, in our line of work, the most important thing is to remain calm in critical situations.
We cannot lose our composure, especially when others are hoping we’ll make a mistake during the chaos.
What should be done will be determined by those above us; our job is simply to listen for the news.”
These two individuals were spies from the Shan Sect stationed in Jianye City, and they held significant roles; they were responsible for conveying messages between Sikong Mansion and the Jianye network.
For these underground informants, maintaining communication was the most crucial part of their system.
The exposure of Xu Shanren, and the people from Sikong Mansion who came to rescue him also being trapped, were not unfamiliar pieces of information to them; in fact, the entire underground network of the Shan Sect in Jianye had ceased operations.
Everyone was extremely anxious, unsure whether to stay or go.
Their task was to receive the latest instructions from Sikong Mansion, right here.
Xiao Wu was dissatisfied, “All this dithering could lead to a major incident any moment!
I’ve always said that it would be better if our people were in charge of the assassination, or at least assisted indirectly.
But the higher-ups just won’t let us get involved…
They only trust the people from Sikong Mansion, but what good is his exceptional strength if he’s unfamiliar with Jianye?”
Yan Lao glared at him, “Nonsense!
The upper echelons forbidding us from taking action is to preserve our strength.
If the network we’ve painstakingly built over decades was destroyed, who could bear such responsibility?
You must trust Sikong Mansion; they certainly have a better plan.
Our greatest aid is to receive the message and pass it on.”
He glanced around, “Stop complaining and keep an eye on those incense furnaces; make sure we don’t miss anything.”
Xiao Wu pouted, “Don’t worry, I’m on it!
This morning, two hundred thirty-seven worshippers offered incense; two hundred and nine of them offered just at Single Furnace Incense, the rest at Double Furnace Incense, and not a single one at Triple Furnace Incense…”
Yan Lao nodded slightly; despite his youth, Xiao Wu’s caution and meticulous nature were exceptional, making him naturally suited for this line of work.
His only flaw was his tendency to complain.
Single Furnace Incense is used by most visitors at the Purple Sun Temple, which involves placing incense sticks in just one of the incense furnaces; Double Furnace Incense involves placing incense sticks in two of these furnaces, only the most devout Daoists would do this.
As for placing incense in three or even more furnaces, that was almost unheard of.
The two continued to cry their wares while nonchalantly watching the incense furnaces.
According to their agreement, the information would be conveyed by the placement of the incense sticks.
How many incense sticks?
In which incense furnace?
Each variation represented a different meaning, a different command; such exchanges ensured their absolute safety.
With thousands of people in and out of the square, who would notice anything unusual?
As it approached noon, the crowd thinned slightly; ordinary mortals were looking for places to fill their bellies, but there were still continuously people placing incense.
Xiao Wu picked up a cloth and pretended to wipe things down, but he was feeling a bit excited.
“Yan Lao, someone has placed the second incense stick in the designated incense furnace.”
Yan Lao remained expressionless, “I saw.
Don’t rush; it might just be a coincidence.
We have encountered this a few times over these two months…”
There were thirty-six incense furnaces in the square, and according to their arrangement, placing incense in six specified furnaces would count as a complete signal.
The probability of this happening by chance was next to none.
Placing the incense only verified the authenticity of a messenger.
For more detailed information, they needed to observe what the person did next.
If the person left after placing the incense, it was a sign to the Jianye spy network to swiftly evacuate; if the person stayed, it meant the danger was cleared, no need to worry.
Simple, yet very effective, even a Great Cultivator undergoing Nascent Transformation wouldn’t guess the trickery between them.
Under their subtle observation, the stranger slowly walked toward the third designated incense furnace.
Xiao Wu nervously swallowed, “Yan Lao, it must be him; it’s impossible for someone to correctly select the incense furnaces three times in a row!”
Yan Lao continued to sip his tea, though anxious inside, his face showed no sign, “Six incense furnaces, not one less, the order impeccable.”
Just as Xiao Wu speculated, their rules were indeed excessive; choosing three out of thirty-six in the same sequence, misjudgment was virtually impossible.
The requirement to place incense six times was to ensure safety, albeit somewhat redundant.
Quickly, the stranger had placed the incense in five furnaces and walked directly to the sixth without hesitation, forcing even the cautious and rigid Yan Lao to admit,
Let’s see what he does next?”
Under their watchful eyes, the stranger slowly finished placing the incense in the sixth furnace, then looked around for a bit, found a spot, and took out a cloth from his Treasure Gourd and spread it on the ground, pouring out a mess from his gourd!
He sat down cross-legged and actually began setting up a stall?