Hidden Moth-Chapter 580 - 332: North Wind, Returning Goose, and South Voice

Li Xiuyuan: "Kid, is there anything else you want to ask?"

He Kao: "May I ask, what's the matter with Grandmaster Qi?"

Li Xiuyuan hesitated to speak, evidently not wanting to touch on this topic, but ultimately sent a divine thought, introducing the previous Sect Leader of the Alchemy Sect, Qi Nansheng, and his entanglements with the Xiao Alliance and Magic Sect—

Things weren't actually that complicated. Qi Nansheng was born in Nanyang, his parents were Eastern Country merchants. When he was sixteen or seventeen, he met his master and began studying techniques.

Qi Nansheng had extraordinary talent and became a Tier Three Yin Yang School practitioner in Alchemy Cauldron Skill before the age of twenty. When his cultivation realm reached Tier Three Perfection, his master revealed much to him.

His master originally came from the Xiao Alliance, which has a history of nearly a thousand years, as an unknown organization of technique inheritance.

His master also told him that after he breaks through to high-tier cultivation, he would sense the Grotto Heaven Summon and accordingly gave him a mission to infiltrate the Magic Sect.

As for the Magic Sect, it is also an organization of technique inheritance, but unlike the Xiao Alliance, it is corrupt, closed-off, evil, backward, and has occupied the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, a long-standing inheritance of all sorcerers.

The founding ancestor of the Xiao Alliance a thousand years ago left after breaking with this evil faction. Failing to reclaim the Sect Grotto Heaven and overturn the evil Magic Sect has remained the Xiao Alliance's regret.

At that time, Qi Nansheng knew nothing about this and had no way to verify it, but emotionally, he naturally stood with the Xiao Alliance.

Shortly after, he followed his parents back to the Eastern Country. After breaking through Tier Four Cultivation, he returned to the Alchemy Sect, accepting Secondary Inheritance as directed by the Grotto Heaven Summon.

The Magic Sect certainly investigated his past conduct, but Qi Nansheng's record was immaculate.

He indeed had never committed any crimes, with a cultivation history as simple as that of many independent cultivators, and what he said upon returning to the sect was the truth... only some things were left unsaid.

Qi Nansheng's undercover identity was top-secret, with contact only through a single line with his master, and no interaction with other Xiao Alliance members. The mission his master entrusted was to collect as much secret technique inheritance and internal intelligence from the Magic Sect.

The Xiao Alliance certainly possessed Alchemy Cauldron Skill inheritance, but within the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven remained Divine Control Thought left by the founding ancestor, along with technique research achievements of past and present masters, which the Xiao Alliance sought to master.

Additionally, magical artifacts, elixirs, including relevant alchemy formulas and artifact techniques, various resources, and their distribution, as well as disciple information from the Magic Sect, all represented intelligence the Xiao Alliance needed to gather.

These tasks had to be completed inconspicuously. After a successful infiltration, any special instructions from the Xiao Alliance could prompt him to undertake additional missions.

According to his master's original plan, he was not meant to remain in the Magic Sect indefinitely; upon using the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven and various resources to break through Tier Five Cultivation, he was to find an opportunity to return to the Xiao Alliance.

Yet Qi Nansheng truly excelled and was highly favored by elders. Once he broke through Tier Five Cultivation, he was unexpectedly appointed as Steward of the Alchemy Sect.

Recognizing the circumstances, Xiao Alliance's top echelon changed tactics, instructing his master to tell him to remain undercover, preparing to play a larger role and execute even more significant missions in the future.

In hindsight, this might have been a major misstep by Xiao Alliance.

By then, Qi Nansheng was no longer the ignorant beginner he once was. During his years back in the Magic Sect, he realized the sect wasn't the malevolent organization Xiao Alliance portrayed it as.

With an increasing rank within the sect, especially after becoming Steward, he accessed more information, gaining comprehensive insight into historical events a thousand years back — chiefly through his daily experiences.

As Steward managing sect affairs, wouldn't he know exactly what he was doing every day?

According to Xiao Alliance propaganda, the existence of the Magic Sect was the greatest threat to the Xiao Alliance. However, in Qi Nansheng's era, the Magic Sect's main concern was its own inheritance and development, decidedly disinterested in the Xiao Alliance.

Conversely, it was the Xiao Alliance that continually infiltrated the Magic Sect through various means, stealing technique resources and intelligence, acting more like a parasite or even a vampire, aspiring to overturn the Magic Sect and seize its Grotto Heaven.

Intent on harming others whilst perceiving potential countermoves from its adversary as threats — this was the Xiao Alliance's logic.

Despite realizing this, Qi Nansheng remained bound, his undercover identity a sword hanging above him, with Xiao Alliance's control inevitable. Besides, emotionally, he felt conflicted, having endured his master's benevolence.

Later, Qi Nansheng seized an opportunity to privately consult his master face-to-face, expressing his inner turmoil. After a prolonged silence, his master simply said — seek peace of mind, do not betray the sect!

After his return to the Magic Sect, opportunities for contact with his master were scarce, and this was their final encounter.

His master's words, however, seemed vague: not to betray the sect, but which was truly Qi Nansheng's faction? The Xiao Alliance? Qi Nansheng knew only his master within the Xiao Alliance, yet he inexplicably became an undercover agent for the Magic Sect.

The Magic Sect was equally his sect, so much so that strictly speaking, compared to the Xiao Alliance, it deserved to be regarded as his true sect.

Later, Qi Nansheng broke through to Tier Six Cultivation; by Magic Sect tradition, he could participate in Ancestral Hall discussions, enjoy Elder treatment, and succession to sect leadership was a logical step. But at the time, the Alchemy Sect's Sect Leader, Lu Wenxuan, hadn't passed the position to him.

There was a hidden aspect in this.

In fact, Lu Wenxuan sought him out immediately, expressing hopes that he would assume sect leadership. Qi Nansheng ultimately confessed his undercover identity, ready to accept the punishment he deserved.

Unexpectedly, Lu Wenxuan glanced at him and said, "Does the Magic Sect have a rule that sorcerers from Xiao Alliance cannot be sect leaders?"

Qi Nansheng was bewildered because the Magic Sect indeed had no such rule, and he sheepishly replied, "But when I initially returned to the Magic Sect, I didn't disclose the actual situation."

Lu Wenxuan smiled, "Aren't you confessing now? Although it's a bit late, it's still timely. Taking a master and learning the technique back then was not something you could choose, nor was it your fault.

But you didn't tell the truth when you returned to the sect. You should be punished for that. How about this: you are forbidden to teach for three years. Do you think that's appropriate?"

The so-called prohibition meant sealing one's cultivation and also not receiving any support or guidance in cultivation resources and techniques, much like a three-year imprisonment in the secular world.

Then Lu Wenxuan added another sentence that left him a bit dumbfounded: "But this three-year prohibition will not be immediate. It will be enforced after you step down from the position of Sect Leader."

These three years of prohibition were to be served after Qi Nansheng took on the role of Sect Leader and stepped down, essentially a suspension with no set end.

Qi Nansheng bowed and said, "Actually, you need not rush. Why not wait for the younger talents of the sect?"

After saying this, Lu Wenxuan did not insist further and simply said, "I can wait, but if I cannot wait, it will be your responsibility.

The Ancestral Hall does not require you to betray or harm Xiao Alliance, but you must swear never to betray the Magic Sect!"

Qi Nansheng took the oath immediately.

Later on, he finally became the Sect Leader of the Alchemy Sect, and things were fine until Mei Guyu became a Tier Six Alchemist. But he suddenly became somewhat senile.

At such an advanced age, he indulged in wine and women, was mocked and ridiculed by the Wild Phoenix, resigned from the Sect Leader position, and went to Taibai Mountain for seclusion, taking his "trusted disciple" Yu Pingzhou with him.

After arriving at Taibai Mountain, he scarcely appeared for several years because he was serving his prohibition. Shortly after the penalty period ended, he began secluded cultivation to refine Pure Yang Pills...

After hearing all this, He Kao was equally puzzled, unable to speak for quite some time. Li Xiuyuan smiled and asked, "Young man, is there anything you don't understand?"

He Kao scratched the back of his head and said, "Let me think this through. There's a question: the Ancestral Hall won't force Qi Nansheng to betray or harm the Xiao Alliance, yet he must swear not to betray the Magic Sect.

So what if the Xiao Alliance attacks the Magic Sect or gives him a command? What should he do then?"

Li Xiuyuan did not answer directly but looked at He Kao with interest and said, "You will listen to me, won't you?"

He Kao: "Of course!"

Li Xiuyuan: "But if I order you to harm the innocent, will you obey?"

He Kao: "Such an order is unreasonable, and I cannot comply!" After thinking for a moment, he added, "The Magic Sect's rules don't state that elders can give such orders, nor do they say disciples must obey them."

Li Xiuyuan then asked, "What if I harmed the innocent myself, what would you do?"

He Kao: "I would certainly try to stop you! Even if I couldn't, harming the innocent is wrong; I wouldn't agree even if it's you, sir."

Li Xiuyuan clapped his hands and said, "Well, there you go; you're quite sensible! The Magic Sect is only an organization for technique transmission, not a secret agency."

This statement was still infused with Divine Thought -

Even if the Xiao Alliance wanted to give instructions to Qi Nansheng, they'd need a way to contact him. If anyone claimed to be from the Xiao Alliance and started bossing Qi Nansheng around, it would be suicidal. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Moreover, before Qi Nansheng became Sect Leader, his master had already passed away, and so had his parents. He never married nor had children, so there was nothing for others to leverage.

More importantly, with his master's passing, the single line of communication between him and Xiao Alliance was severed. Qi Nansheng's identity was now top-secret, known only to the core leadership of Xiao Alliance.

Even if they could contact him and give orders, Qi Nansheng would still have to be willing to listen.

If Elder Li ordered He Kao to commit crimes, He Kao wouldn't listen either; the Magic Sect has no such rule. If the Xiao Alliance had such stipulations, it would simply be wrong and need amending!

Even He Kao understood this, let alone Qi Nansheng?

As for He Kao's question - what if Xiao Alliance made a move against the Magic Sect, what would Qi Nansheng do?

This requires understanding a logical point: Zhang San not betraying or harming Li Si only means he won't intentionally infringe upon Li Si's interests, but if Li Si goes to Zhang San's house and causes trouble, Zhang San's retaliation isn't considered betraying or harming Li Si.

That is the reasoning, but in fact, when the Ancestral Hall made arrangements to counter Xiao Alliance, they did not involve Qi Nansheng.

Later, Xiao Alliance activated another secret agent, Yu Pingzhou, and managed to reconnect with Qi Nansheng. Yu Pingzhou was given just one task, to act as the liaison between Qi Nansheng and Xiao Alliance at critical moments.

Yu Pingzhou also took on the role of Steward at the Alchemy Sect.

Such a person would naturally not be easily exposed; on the contrary, he behaved more obediently and performed well, coupled with decent cultivation and enthusiasm for sect affairs, assuming the Steward position seemed natural.

Yet, before Yu Pingzhou could fulfill his role, Qi Nansheng stepped down suddenly, taking him along.

**