The first thing that Wu Guang had noticed after arriving at the main plaza of the Sect was that several changes had happened. First, the rule for carrying weapons was canceled, and so most of the disciples walked around with their respective weapons. There were also a far less amount of idle people, well, in fact, there was a lot less than usual. And from this smaller number, practically no one chatted or spent time around idly, but rushed towards their destinations at full speed. Seemingly the rule about using only normal speed in the sect was also temporarily canceled.
He had not heard the Fang brothers utter a single word in any of his interactions with them, and so he did not ask them anything, deciding to find out everything from Elder Mo. Who he was supposed to meet right after exiting training.
As expected, Elder Mo was present in the Arts Hall, and again was in the same thinking pose while overlooking a weiqi board.
"Wu Guang greets Elder Mo" After entering, he greeted right away.
"Mmm... Congratulations on your breakthroughs, how are you feeling?"
"Everything is under control, but I have decided to not push over the limits and stabilize at this level"
"Indeed, that is good. After all, breaking into the Soul realm will be an arduous task, no need to make it even harder by straining your body"
After a bit of small talk, Elder Mo answered a few of Wu Guang's questions about the current situation. It turned out that the Eagle Kingdom had started openly preparing an army, and albeit there was no official declaration of where it would go... Everyone who had at least some connections already knew. This agitated the entire island, and so lately there have been a lot of small incidents. The fact that there were a few agents of the Black Eagles running around and provoking more did not help. In such a situation, every power and City on the island allowed affiliated cultivators to be armed, and even to capture and interrogate suspicious people. Although there would be no such people inside the Sect, at least in the open, the Council decided to allow the disciples and elders to be armed. After all, most of them were constantly dispatched on priority missions.
"Priority missions?" Wu Guang asked after hearing the term
"Indeed. We need to prepare for the invasion. So all resource and peace-keeping missions were made a priority. Not only is the Sect giving out extra contribution points, but even a few restricted items were added to the Store and Martial Library. All the Sect trainings and lessons were made free as well"
"I see. Is that the reason for the sudden increase of people inside the 'Earthfire' zone?"
"Yes. The top ten of the Elite board as well the top 5 from the High Inner Board were allowed to enter it unconditionally"
It seemed that the Sect was doing everything it could to augment its fighting power.
Afterward, the discussion turned towards Wu Guang's itinerary for tomorrow. The current day was to be spent resting, as he had not slept or eaten for four weeks. And even if the pills replenished and kept him active, he had still accumulated a lot of both physical and physiological stress, especially as Wu Guang had been training in the core cave.
The route remained as previously discussed, with Wu Guang first going to the 'Earth Cry Ridge' and then via the Coastal Road to the Qiu family territory. Elder Mo also updated him on the duel. The venue had been changed to an open arena outside the city proper, as the Qiu family had closed down their gates in preparation for the invasion. Or at least so they said. The time of the duel was also set to begin at the Dog hour. Which meant at sunset.
This would give an advantage to Wang Yong, as the Shadow technique set of their sect had an advantage during dusk and night. Still, there was nothing to be done as they had agreed for them to set up the time, while Wu Guang set up the date.
Elder Mo had also sent a few people to investigate Wang Yong, and so found that the latter had not achieved a breakthrough and remained on the 8th level of the Spirit realm. Even so, the Wang family was very sure of their victory, as they had invited a lot of prominent guests. This meant that they had either prepared a trump card or expected Wu Guang to never arrive. For the latter, Elder Mo did not worry at all, as for the former... well, it would be up to Wu Guang.
"Do not worry Elder Mo, I will definitively win" Wu Guang decided to go along with Elder Mo and reassured the latter of his victory. In any case, he wasn't worried at all about any trump cards that Wang Yong would use. They were now of the same cultivation, and so Wu Guang was sure of being capable to match him without recurring to any of his hidden abilities. He was sure to win fair and square.
"You fought with people two and three levels superior to yours without any problems. Just your victory over the 'Black and White Evil' is enough for me to be sure that you will manage. Elder Mo was well informed as all this information was reported to him by Elder Di, Zhen Gan, and Wu Guang himself.
A few moments later, the real talk started. Wu Guang had expected that Elder Mo met with him right away not because he wanted to simply update him. And he was correct, albeit even he did not expect what he would be told next.
"To say the truth, you are here now because I need to ask you to complete something for the Sect. This is part of the main task that we have asked you to bear"
"Understood, please tell what this Wu Guang has to do" Hearing Elder Mo mention the main task of the key towards the pocket realm, Wu Guang instantly asked.
"I will be blunt then.., You need to completely provoke the 'Leaf Shadow Sect' during your duel. We do not care how you do it, but it has to be done" As Wu Guang did not ask anything, Elder Mo continued
"And then you will disappear"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Disappear?"
"Yes. You will leave the arena after the fight, to never arrive back at the Sect"
"..."
"It will be a perfect cover for you to take care of the mission, as well give the Sect a bit of leeway during the discussions that will take part in a few days"
"You mean the three powers have decided to invoke the alliance between the powers and cities?"
"Indeed"
"I understand. But, Elder Mo, if I may ask... What I am supposed to do?"
"Your guides will explain to you when it's time. But assume that it will take you a few weeks to complete the mission. So use today to pack up everything you could need. I know that this is sudden, but you will understand the reasons. So, disciple Wu Guang, do you accept the mission bestowed upon you by the Sect?"
"Yes, I accept and will do my utmost to complete it" Wu Guang did not know what he was supposed to do but seeing the serious Elder Mo and that it was related to the matter with the key, he had no other choice. In any case, if things went sour or he was being used in some kind of scheme, Wu Guang had complete faith in his abilities to escape. Being allowed to prepare for a long time outside, he also obtained the chance to stock up with what he would need in case of the need to break up ties arose.
"Good. Before you leave, there are two small matters I have to inform you"
"..."
"You have been in seclusion for almost a month, and now you will be leaving for some time, so I took the liberty to organize a dinner for you and your friends at the Blue Crane today. They will gather there at sunset, so go and spend some time with them. Everything will be covered by the Sect, so don't be modest"
"Thank you"
"No need. As for the other matter, spend tonight on your property. Your escorts will meet you there early tomorrow, and you will begin moving"
"Understood" Albeit this last matter was a bit fishy, Wu Guang supposed that Elder Mo was worried about the 'Leaf Shadow Sect' sending people to monitor him. And to flush them out, his stay outside could work.
"Then you are dismissed"
"Elder Mo, before I take my leave, I would like to request something"
"I already know what you will ask for. Don't worry, if the situation turns dangerous before you return, I guarantee that your two girls will be protected"
"Thank you, then I will take my leave"
________________________________________________________________________
Wu Guang spent all the time before the dinner on two things. First, he bought and packed everything he could need. Considering his storage ring and the practically unlimited points he had, he went overboard. Not only did he buy a pill bottle of every possible pill and a few other medicines but also a full month of supplies. He did not know where he would be going, but supplies and survival items were always useful.
With his current status, he could even buy restricted items like stealth talismans and other treasures, but as he could do everything that they did and more with his power, he simply did not see the need. What he did search for were treasures capable of storing qi, to power up arrays. There were not much in the Sect's inventory and they were only a bit better than the ones he had bought before. Still, he bought all of them, after all, the more he had, the longer he could make an array function.
As for the second thing, it was to try and brainstorm his current situation. He did not know how it happened as normally even the most powerful geniuses would not be allowed to get so much information, but it happened. The fact that he was being such an important task as freeing the Headmaster and rest was also unbelievable, after all, he already knew that there were enough candidates in the Sect itself. Taking just the enforcers, he had seen a pair of Soul realm cultivators far younger than 20 already...
So why he was the one chosen? He did not buy the explanation about them searching for someone not connected to the Sect. If your core isn't trusted, then who else could you trust?
In any case, it was a given that he was chosen and that he was being given a lot of information. Plus his status and practically doting attitude from all the Council members was also a given.
So for now, he could only do his part. As for the real reason, he would find it out eventually... And if he did not like it, then he would reveal that he is no pawn by far.
Leaving that train of thought aside, what mostly bothered Wu Guang was the fact that neither Elder Mo nor the other Council members that he had interacted with were worried about the invasion. It seemed like they were sure of their safety.
How could that be? Even if the Headmaster, the elders, and disciples trapped in the Pocket realm were liberated, what would it change? At max, there would be a pair of Sage realm cultivators, while the Eagle Kingdom even from the open information had at least 10 peak Sage realm cultivators in their military alone. Hopefully, he would find out something about this during this mysterious mission, one that even he wasn't told anything about.
When the appointed time grew near, Wu Guang exited the Sect's grounds and moved towards Blue Tree City. The place that Elder Mo mentioned, Blue Crane, was the same restaurant near the City's manor he had visited before. And so, he found his way without trouble.
As soon as he informed the steward at the entrance of his identity, he was led towards the garden hidden behind the restaurant building. In this garden, there was a luxuriously decorated pavillion. The tables inside were covered with refreshments and aperitifs, but Wu Guang's eyes were not on them, but on the people that were present. Elder Mo did say that everyone who he called a friend would be present, and it was indeed so. Li Xia, Lan Yanzhi, and his three teammates were a given. But there was also Lang Juan, Duqi, and even Xiao Feng!
"Everyone, I'm sorry to be late" Entering the pavillion, Wu Guang greeted while smiling towards everyone.