Chapter 65: Live Streaming Undercover! Capturing Them As the Plot Unfolds!
Under the vigilant observation of Grand Diviner Fu Xuan and countless Luofu players, Little Gui Zi continued advancing through the quest "[Venom Brews, Immortality Looms]" with great care.
Qing Zhu provided intelligence: "Amidst the chaos, someone near the Exalting Sanctum is trying to sway outlanders. You should investigate there. Months ago, I sent an undercover agent who made progress but has since gone missing—likely exposed."
"As a newcomer and an outlander yourself, I trust you with this task," Qing Zhu concluded.
In the live stream, Guinaifen nodded thoughtfully before calling out, "Shangshang, quick, come here!"
"We're going undercover to infiltrate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus!" she exclaimed. "Time to put your cloud rider training to use. Give us some ideas!"
Sushang entered the camera frame, her expression serious at the mention of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus on Luofu. Gripping her controller like a Void Sword, her gaze hardened with determination.
Soon, they encountered a peculiar figure lurking outside the Exalting Sanctum.
"Esteemed guest from afar, please wait. Do you yearn for eternal life?" the stranger asked.
[No.][Yes.][I yearn for power!]
After brief consideration, Sushang chose the third option.
Addressing the camera, she explained, "Expressing a direct desire for immortality often raises suspicion. We need to appear naive newcomers!"
The stranger paused, then exclaimed, "I understand now! You mean to say that you do indeed yearn for eternal life, right?! After all, living forever is a form of power itself!"
[No, I only yearn for pure power!]
"I'm at my wit's end with you, sis."
"Haha, what a peculiar person you are. I'll tell it to you straight — to outworlders I offer the chance of immortality... but perhaps someone like you would be better off joining the Antimatter Legion."
"Before attaining absolute power, wouldn't you also wish to live forever?"
The stranger grew agitated.
"The Xianzhou doesn't care one bit about the well-being of short-life species! They stubbornly blockade the glorious path to immortality."
"My name is Green Hibiscus," she continued. "I came to Exalting Sanctum in hopes of a fated encounter with one such as yourself — one who is also on the road to immortality."
"What do you say? How about we find a more suitable spot to talk about all this?"
Step one of going undercover—Success!
Sushang discreetly flashed a victory sign with her fingers, while Guinaifen gave a thumbs-up gesture.
Following Green Hibiscus, they arrived at an elegantly furnished courtyard. Apart from Green Hibiscus, several other members were present, including a Cloud Knight.
Green Hibiscus began, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a sower, secretly trained by the Medicine King. It wasn't safe to reveal my identity earlier in Exalting Sanctum, but now I can confidently share this with you."
"The 'Disciples of Sanctus Medicus' is an organization dedicated to the teachings of the Benevolent Medicine King. As followers, we refer to ourselves as 'sowers.'"
"To attain the secret of eternal life, one must become a sower. However, becoming a sower requires passing certain minor trials."
"Please bear with us... As the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus grow stronger, we have attracted the attention of those bow-wielding cultists. Without such caution, the consequences would be dire."
As a Cloud Knight, Sushang naturally inquired about the presence of another knight immediately.
"No need to worry about this Cloud Knight. He, like you, is undergoing his own trial."
"'All who seek shall surely find.' The Benevolent Medicine King's heart is vast and compassionate; he does not easily dismiss anyone's wishes. Consequently, our initiation trials for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are not overly challenging."
"All that's required is to copy this booklet, 'The Thousand Hands of the Benevolent Medicine King: Salvation,' five hundred times. This demonstrates your sincerity to your fellow brothers and sisters, allowing you to become a sower."
"Huh?"
"That's the test to join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
"It seems so simple! Could I also seek eternal life this way?"
"Hey, watch your words—that's risky talk!"
"Good sir, please accompany me to the Realm-Keeping Commission."
"What?!"
"Copy it five hundred times?!"
Sushang's eyes widened.
She never anticipated that this undercover mission would be so challenging!
And what was the content of this scripture?
"[ At one moment, the Benevolent Medicine King, with myriad hands filled with compassion, traversed through realms accompanied by ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine sowers. They gathered beneath Rahu, where he imparted teachings. ]"
While she recognized most of the words, their combined meaning made absolutely no sense to her!
"At least this is within a game; if it were real life, I definitely couldn't complete it..."
[Your index finger feels slightly sore, and your shoulders are beginning to ache... But this is only the first iteration. Four hundred and ninety-nine more await you.]
This internal monologue perfectly mirrored Sushang's true predicament!
The immersion in this game was simply too intense!
Determined, she decided to give it a try—could she truly accomplish the feat of copying the text five hundred times within the game?
[Lowering your head, you tune out everything around you and quietly continue transcribing. The pain in your arm intensifies, but eventually, you finish the second iteration.]
["Yaowang Caihuai, Tree of Foundation thrives. Sowers unite, ascending to bliss." As you begin copying this phrase for the third time, it starts resonating within your heart.]
[The pain in your arm and fingers has subsided. Perhaps you've grown accustomed to it, or maybe they have simply gone numb. You smoothly complete the fourth iteration.]
[While copying for the fifth time, the cloud rider beside you can no longer contain his curiosity and quietly moves closer.]
"Stop copying! Stop already! Are you addicted to this?! Let me finish copying for you, and you keep watch!"
Upon hearing these words, Sushang keenly realized:
This cloud knight is not ordinary!
He isn't a traitor but rather, like herself, an undercover agent!
"All right, all right, finally finished copying... I recognize you now, you're a Trailblazer! A distinguished guest of General Jing Yuan!"
"I'm a cloud knight from the Exalting Sanctum's garrison. Noticing that 'Green Hibiscus' was acting suspiciously and spreading heretical ideas, I decided to infiltrate," he explains.
"I didn't expect to be suspected right from the start... It took immense effort just to convince them I genuinely wanted to join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus..."
"Let's make a deal: After you help me finish copying this scripture, you must cover for me while I go to the Seat of Divine Foresight to report our findings..."
By now, Green Hibiscus had secured the entrance.
Sushang understood that undercover missions carried inherent risks; one must commit fully to the path chosen. She had no intention of leaving prematurely.
She handed the completed scriptures, copied with the cloud knight's assistance, to Green Hibiscus.
This was merely the first step of the initiation trial.
"Don't worry, the second step is very straightforward and will conclude swiftly."
"Our principle within the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus is simple: we do not employ those we doubt, nor do we doubt those we employ. Therefore..."
"You two shall duel here. The survivor will officially become a sower."
With these words, the atmosphere instantly shifted!
"I was starting to waver, but these damned sowers truly aren't any good!"
"Poor Cloud Knight brother got dealt a rough hand."
"Woah! This courtyard looks so familiar! It's just like the one below my house! Let me open the curtains to show you guys!"
"Any updates from the scene?"
"What happened? Did you see any Disciples of Sanctus Medicus? Remember to take a photo."
After about half a minute, this streamer indeed uploaded a picture.
It was identical to the courtyard within the game!
However, with the gate tightly shut, it was impossible to discern any activity inside from outside.
[Bailu's Little Feet Smell?] chimed in again, "Can't see inside the courtyard, but I spotted numerous Cloud Knights hiding behind the star ferries parked downstairs!"
"How thrilling!"
"Investigate further! Keep reporting!"