Chapter 344: The Eighth Elder

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

Lu Yang speculated that if Peach Blossom Leaf were to join the Nine Nether Sect, the Sect Leader would likely elevate her to the status of a saintess or even directly make her the Sect Leader.

This method of making money is much faster than Qin Haoran’s loans; calling it a profit with no capital investment would not be an exaggeration.

With no need for investment, there’s no worry about losses.

There’s no need to hire actors, nor to shoot scenes dozens of times. Illusions can be created freely, and the special effects are as real as reality.

In battle, if you fall victim to an illusion and die within it, your death is real. The illusion’s effects are more real than reality itself.

There’s also no need to worry about the storyline. The daily happenings in the cultivation world can serve as material, and with slight adaptation, they could easily become movies. If the plot is too long, it could be turned into a series.

For instance, Master’s storytelling of The Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect could be adapted into a film.

“This is a good thing, but there are still areas that need improvement.”

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yang pointed out the shortcomings in Peach Blossom Leaf’s use of illusions.

“You’ve realized that relying solely on combat isn’t enough to attract people, and adding a brief storyline was a good idea, but it’s still not sufficient.”

“To create a compelling story, it needs to leave the audience feeling exhilarated, with a lingering impression. It should have foreshadowing and twists.”

“Hmm, hmm.” Peach Blossom Leaf nodded repeatedly. As expected of her senior brother, his mind worked faster than hers, and he could think so far ahead even with just a brief introduction.

“For now, the plot is secondary. The main issue is how to cast the illusion.”

Peach Blossom Leaf was puzzled and didn’t understand what he meant: “I can cast illusions myself.”

Lu Yang shook his head: “Of course, you can cast them, but you can’t possibly go everywhere casting illusions. You’d be exhausted.”

“You mentioned wanting to make money from this. To earn money, you need to promote it, and to promote it, you need a more convenient way to cast illusions.”

“For example, through talismans.”

“If I remember correctly, talismans are the most common medium for carrying illusions.”

Peach Blossom Leaf lowered her head, thinking about whom she could ask for help: “When it comes to talismans… the Sect Leader is skilled in swordsmanship, the First Elder specializes in dream crafting, the Second Elder is an expert in formations, the Third Elder focuses on body refinement, the Fourth Elder is proficient in Confucianism, the Fifth Elder is a master of artifact refining, my master excels in Immortal Physiques, the Seventh Elder is an alchemy expert, and the Eighth Elder is good at deception.”

“It seems none of the elders specialize in this. Should we ask the senior brothers and sisters for help?”

Lu Yang paused for a moment before hesitantly saying, “…Is it possible that, besides deception, the Eighth Elder also specializes in talismans?”

Although there were rumors that when Daoist Non-Speaker first came up the mountain, it was the Eighth Elder who raised him, laying the foundation for his later crooked development.

Although, nine hundred years ago, the Eighth Elder deceived the Nine Nether Sect to the point of bankrupting their treasury, driving the previous Sect Leader to suicide.

Although the Eighth Elder sold Meng Jingzhou the exam papers from twenty years ago.

Although the Fifth Elder adamantly refused to let the talisman practitioner Qin Yanyan study talismans under the Eighth Elder, fearing she’d be led astray.

One cannot deny that the Eighth Elder is indeed a master of talismans.

“We should consult the Eighth Elder, but to be safe, it would be wise to bring the Sixth Elder along,” Lu Yang cautiously suggested, and Peach Blossom Leaf agreed.

…

At the top of Dust-Free Peak, the breathtakingly beautiful Sixth Elder sat cross-legged, surrounded by a vacuum-like area created by the Flawless Immortal Physique.

She tried her best to minimize the range of her Immortal Physique, realizing that the smaller the effective range, the stronger the repelling effect. The optimal state was to let the field of the Flawless Immortal Physique adhere to the surface of her body, forming a thin layer, making her impervious to any attack.

However, according to the records, no previous holder of the Flawless Immortal Physique had ever achieved this level of mastery.

She sensed someone approaching from a distance, opened her beautiful eyes, and saw Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf.

“What brings the two of you here?” she asked telepathically.

“Apologies for disturbing your cultivation, Master. It’s like this: I recently had some new ideas about illusions…” Peach Blossom Leaf explained in detail the discussion she had with Lu Yang.

“An interesting idea. With Old Eight’s level of skill in talismans, it shouldn’t be difficult to implement.” The Sixth Elder also recognized the commercial potential in Peach Blossom Leaf’s idea and felt a sense of pride.

Peach Blossom Leaf’s idea seemed far more lucrative than the Ninth Junior Brother’s “Big Or Small As You Wish (Localized Version).”

Look at that—this is the kind of outstanding disciple I’ve trained!

“Let’s go; I’ll take you to find him.” The Sixth Elder raised her hand, and a strange energy enveloped Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf, transporting them directly from the summit of Dust-Free Peak to the nearby summit of Rune Peak.

Rune Peak was the mountain overseen by the Eighth Elder.

As they landed, Lu Yang and Peach Blossom Leaf, visiting Rune Peak for the first time, noticed that the entire place was covered with runes. Even the leaves had rune markings on them, and the shapes formed by various plants subtly resembled talismans.

“Old Eight, come out. We need your help!” The Sixth Elder sent a telepathic message to the Eighth Elder.

“Senior Sister is looking for me?” The Eighth Elder emerged from his cave dwelling with a surprised expression. He rarely remembered the Sixth Elder asking for his help.

“Did someone out there have the audacity to deceive you, Senior Sister? Do you need me to trick them back? That might not be possible; I haven’t been out deceiving anyone for decades.”

Lu Yang thought to himself, “Eighth Elder, have you forgotten you tricked Meng Jingzhou just a year and a half ago?”

Peach Blossom Leaf, unaware of this incident, thought the Eighth Elder had genuinely reformed.

“But don’t worry, if anyone dares to deceive you, Senior Sister, I can send my disciples to trick them so badly they won’t even have their underwear left!”

“I’m not like the Ninth Junior Brother. I’ve been deceiving people for so many years and have never been caught!”

“My disciples are just as reliable. They won’t get caught by the authorities either!” The Eighth Elder patted his chest confidently, showing deep respect and loyalty to his senior sister, who had taken care of him a lot when they were younger.

Lu Yang was filled with admiration, realizing the Eighth Elder’s deception skills were so advanced that he’d never been caught—not even his master could compare to that!

After all, his master was notorious after landing the Minister of Justice in prison.

Optimistically speaking, his master probably still hasn’t been released.

Lu Yang had heard that since the Minister of Justice was imprisoned in The Great Yan County jail, the entire Ministry of Justice had moved their office there, and crime rates in The Great Yan County had dropped to unprecedented lows. Not a single crime had been reported.

Criminals weren’t foolish—who would dare commit a crime under the nose of the entire Ministry of Justice?

They weren’t Daoist Non-Speaker, after all.

But there was a price to pay. Lu Yang had heard from Meng Jingzhou that even the capital’s officials would make a point of visiting The Great Yan County jail whenever they took a leave of absence, just to see something novel.

They called it “showing concern for a colleague.”

And incidentally, they would suggest to the governor of The Great Yan County that Daoist Non-Speaker should be sentenced to death.

The Sixth Elder rolled her eyes at the Eighth Elder. After two thousand years of being senior and junior siblings, she knew exactly what kind of person he was.

“Yes, you’ve never been caught because you always turn yourself in, saying it’ll reduce your sentence.”

“And don’t think I don’t know why you never leave the sect. You’re just waiting for the statute of limitations to expire.”

The criminal law of the Great Xia Empire clearly states that once the statutory limitation period for prosecuting a crime has expired, the offender will no longer be subject to criminal liability.

(End of the chapter)