Xiao Fei successfully obtained the Nine-Curved Golden Lotus, feeling a great sense of relief.
Among the cultivators he had encountered, Black Wind Old Demon was the most difficult to kill. Xiao Fei had killed him twice, but each time the demon escaped using a body-replacement puppet.
Xiao Fei had always envied such life-saving skills and wished to refine a hundred or eighty such puppets for himself.
Then, when someone struck him with a blade, he could simply let them sever his neck. He could die wantonly once or twice, or seven or eight times a day, finding new ways to court death without actually dying.
Unfortunately, such beautiful wishes could only remain as thoughts. He hadn't found all the necessary materials, so he couldn't even refine one.
Even if he could refine one, using it would require paying a price each time. His dream of dying in various ways was destined to remain unfulfilled.
After putting away the Nine-Curved Golden Lotus, Xiao Fei bowed and thanked them again.
"Thank you, Old Ancestor, for your bounty! Do you have any further instructions?"
"This Palace indeed intends to entrust you with an important mission."
Ancestor Shangguan smiled and nodded. She appreciated people like Xiao Fei who knew how to act.
"The cultivation world is vast. On this Eastern Continent alone, where we are located, there are dozens of kingdoms.
The Qi Kingdom in the east, the Qin Kingdom in the north, and the Chu Kingdom in the south are all extremely powerful nations, far beyond what Eagle Mountain Kingdom can compare to.
If even one top expert from these powerful nations were to act, they would be enough to destroy the entire Eagle Mountain Kingdom."
Xiao Fei's eyes lit up. Was he being sent to the major kingdoms to request reinforcements?
This seemed like a pleasant task. Given his character and status, it shouldn't be his turn.
"Does the Old Ancestor want this disciple to be an envoy to these major kingdoms?"
Both Old Ancestors smiled slightly and shook their heads. Ancestor Shangguan continued,
"No! But it is related to this matter.
These powerful nations' experts are usually aloof and detached from worldly affairs, paying no heed to the life-and-death struggles of our smaller kingdoms.
However, there are exceptions. If anyone commits an act that violates their taboos, these powerful nations will show no mercy.
For example, colluding with extraterrestrial demons is something that the human race on the entire Eastern Continent cannot tolerate.
As long as we can prove that Eagle Mountain Kingdom has committed such an act, we don't even need irrefutable evidence. Merely making people suspect is enough."
"Does the Old Ancestor want this disciple to enter Eagle Mountain Kingdom again to find evidence of this nature?"
With the conversation reaching this point, Xiao Fei had a general idea of his mission.
"Precisely! This matter is tailor-made for you!"
Both Old Ancestors nodded, displaying expressions of great satisfaction.
"You lived in Eagle Mountain Kingdom for decades and are familiar with the situation there.
Normal people who go to Eagle Mountain Kingdom cannot adapt to its cruel survival environment and will appear out of place.
The result will either be death at the hands of rogue cultivators or losing their original intentions, ultimately becoming rogue cultivators themselves."
Throughout the countless years, rogue cultivators from Eagle Mountain Kingdom had often infiltrated neighboring righteous sects, causing chaos.
However, when neighboring righteous sects attempted to send spies into Eagle Mountain Kingdom, they would often die en route. Those who survived would quickly defect, and in the end, they would sell a lot of intelligence to the rogue cultivators.
Compared to the world of rogue cultivators in Eagle Mountain Kingdom, these righteous cultivators were as delicate as pampered flowers in a greenhouse.
Even the most brutal and inhumane treasure-hunting cultivators from righteous nations, when faced with their counterparts from Eagle Mountain Kingdom, were like a curvaceous beauty performing a set of excited street brawls.
Thus, the spies sent by neighboring righteous sects to Eagle Mountain Kingdom over the years were like dogs chasing after meat buns – they went and never returned.
Only a small number of cultivators with the best disposition could undertake such a mission.
But cultivators with good dispositions were all promising talents. Those with distant connections couldn't guarantee their loyalty, while those with close connections were somewhat reluctant to part with.
Xiao Fei mused to himself that he was no longer considered a normal person.
"As remuneration for this mission, I can give you a Golden Core Pill."
Ancestor Shangguan spoke, and a jade box appeared in her hand. She opened the lid, revealing a golden pill within.
This was the renowned Golden Core Pill.
Countless Foundation Establishment cultivators were driven to madness by it, willing to fight each other until their heads bled, and many even lost their lives for it.
However, although the Golden Core Pill was excellent, Xiao Fei personally disliked it.
The "Primordial Five Elements Technique" he cultivated required him to refine specialized pills for both Foundation Establishment and Golden Core formation.
Otherwise, with his five-spirit root, where each spirit root had only a twenty-point aptitude, the possibility of breaking through to the Golden Core stage using an ordinary Golden Core Pill was extremely low.
Yet, one dared not refuse a gift from an elder. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was inconvenient to refuse a Golden Core Pill.
Moreover, with this pill in hand, he could also trade it with others for things he needed.
Xiao Fei put on an excited expression, accepted the jade box, and stored it in his personal storage pouch.
Next, Ancestor Shangguan gave Xiao Fei a jade slip, which contained the details of the mission and some specific operational tips.
It even contained a secret art for altering one's appearance, allowing one to change their looks at will, conceal their cultivation, and suppress their aura.
"In addition to a Golden Core Pill, I will reward you with 500,000 sect contribution points, which you can use to exchange for any sect items.
Do you have any other requests? Or any unfinished wishes?"
The two Old Ancestors truly attached great importance to this matter, showering him with treasures one after another, almost overwhelming him.
"Thank you, Old Ancestors, for your bounty! This disciple has no special requests, but manpower is a bit insufficient. Can Senior Uncle Zhu Yu accompany me on this trip?"
Zhu Yu was already a Golden Core expert. Bringing along the effeminate Zhu Yu would at least provide an extra layer of security.
Most importantly, he found Zhu Yu annoying. Why did this guy manage to thrive in the sect solely based on his looks?
Now that he had the opportunity, it was the perfect time to drag Zhu Yu down with him and let him experience the customs and traditions of Eagle Mountain Kingdom.
With Zhu Yu's face, if he were captured by some perverted rogue cultivator and abused, Xiao Fei certainly wouldn't save him. He would just watch from the sidelines.
He might even send a few pills to the rogue cultivator to spice things up.
Ancestor Shangguan gave Xiao Fei a meaningful look. How many of the high-ranking cultivators in the Danxin Sect didn't know that Zhu Yu was her person? This brat actually dared to make such a request.
However, since Xiao Fei was needed for the mission now, she really couldn't say anything.
"Very well! I will have Zhu Yu accompany you then."
Thus, Xiao Fei's return to Eagle Mountain Kingdom was settled.
"May I ask, Old Ancestor, what if there is no such evidence in Eagle Mountain Kingdom?"
"Heh heh… Where there's a will, there's a way. If there's evidence, we'll find it. If there's no evidence, we can create it ourselves, and then find it!"
Xiao Fei roughly understood the intentions of the two Old Ancestors.
As he was about to leave the palace, Ancestor Peng mentioned Xiao Fei's flying fish and asked Xiao Fei to release it for him to see.
Xiao Fei immediately released the flying fish, letting it hover in front of him.
Ancestor Peng and Ancestor Shangguan circled the flying fish several times.
"Your flying fish should be an ancient variant. Its bloodline seems to have inherited the blood of a Kun."
"This fish is still in its juvenile stage. Raise it well when you return, and its future achievements will be immeasurable."
Ancestor Peng advised Xiao Fei for a long time. In short, if this naturally spiritual creature was raised well, it could carry him to his destination in the future.
It was just a pity that a spirit beast could only recognize one master. Once a spirit beast had recognized a master, it was useless for anyone else to try and snatch it.