Cultivating Immortality :I Obtained The Villain's Ascension Code-Chapter 76: One Gaze to Unravel All

Back in the Divine Spirit Hall, black incense still curled lazily in the air, and the oppressive gloom of the chamber had not faded.

The obsidian table, carved from the petrified ribs of the ancient beast beneath Evil Dragon City, stood unchanged. Around it, the same familiar faces were seated—seven representatives of the Evil Alliance.

But Mie Lin’s seat was no longer empty.

In her place now sat Gu Rong, robed in icy white, her silver hair bound neatly behind her shoulders.

The expressions of those present were guarded, though none spoke carelessly.

The only newcomer was Han Zhao of the Soul Refining Sect—still clad in his travel-worn robe, his expression tightly restrained.

"The matter has concluded. Sect Master Li Fang... is dead."

A hush fell across the table.

Han Yu of the Bone Forging Sect was the first to speak. "Dead, you say? And the other three?"

"Alive," Han Zhao replied immediately. "All three sect masters survived. The battle was decisive—Li Fang’s techniques were fearsome, but in the end, their combined strength was enough."

Lady Yao Qing of the Crimson Lotus Cult sipped her tea with an unreadable expression. "So he was killed... by the three of them together?"

Han Zhao nodded once. "Yes, Senior."

Daoist Hei Ming of the Evil Ghost Sect tapped his bony fingers on the table. "Where is the body?"

Han Zhao hesitated briefly before replying, "The body was destroyed in the final clash. His Nascent Soul self-detonated at the end—there was nothing left."

Jing Shan of the Soul Refining Sect narrowed his eyes. "Convenient."

"It’s the truth," Han Zhao said hurriedly. "The battlefield was already unstable, and Li Fang was determined to die on his own terms. No trace remained."

Gu Rong finally spoke. "And where are the three sect masters now? They did not return with you."

Han Zhao clasped his fists. "On our return, we encountered a righteous cultivator—late-stage Nascent Soul Realm. He was tracking our movements. The three sect masters gave chase to prevent any report from leaking back to the Righteous Alliance."

"Late-stage Nascent Soul? Alone?"

"Could be a scout from the Azure Dragon Sect..."

"Or bait."

Gu Rong’s eyes remained fixed on Han Zhao. "Who was the righteous cultivator?"

"I... I do not know, Senior," Han Zhao said, lowering his head. "He was unfamiliar. Wore plain robes and used no sect insignia. But his aura was definitely of the late-stage realm."

Mo Nian of Spirit Corpse Valley sneered faintly. "And you were sent back alone while three sect masters dealt with one righteous rat?"

"They were concerned about delaying the report," Han Zhao said, shaking his head. "They feared if the Alliance was left in the dark too long, it might breed unrest."

Daoist Hei Ming gave a dry cough but said nothing. Jing Shan’s gaze lingered on Han Zhao for a while before he finally spoke.

"Regardless, Li Fang is dead. That is the core matter."

Gu Rong leaned back slightly with a thoughtful expression. "Dead or not, this ends the Shadowclaw Sect’s claim to Founding status. With their last pillar gone, they have no one above the Nascent Soul Realm."

A few heads nodded silently.

Jing Shan folded his hands together. "The Triumvirate Seal must be re-anchored. We’ll need to begin preparations to withdraw Shadowclaw’s authority from the central formation."

"Agreed," said Lady Yao Qing with a faint smile. "We must ensure stability within Evil Dragon City."

Gu Rong’s gaze fell once more upon Han Zhao.

"You’ve done your duty. For now... rest. Should any details come to mind—anything at all—you will report directly to me."

Han Zhao bowed deeply. "Yes, Senior Gu."

As he turned to leave, he kept his face steady. But deep within, sweat had already soaked through his inner robe. His heart pounded like a war drum, though none could see it.

Only when he stepped beyond the great obsidian doors did he finally allow his breath to escape.

"Li Fang... I hope you know what you’re doing."

---

Within the Divine Spirit Hall, conversation turned more casual after Han Zhao’s departure.

Daoist Hei Ming chuckled darkly. "So that’s that, then. Mie Lin really thought she could bluff her way through. That whole display—her cultivation, her pressure—it was all smoke and mirrors."

Jing Shan snorted coldly. "She stalled, exaggerated, dragged out an old name like Li Fang’s to buy time. In the end? Just blustering nonsense. Truly pathetic."

Lady Yao Qing swirled her tea with a trace of mockery on her face. "I must admit, she put on quite the performance. Shadowclaw must be desperate to rely on that kind of bluff."

Mo Nian smirked. "Even if he was powerful, so what? One Half-Step Tribulation cultivator changes nothing. The days of their dominance are over."

A few others chuckled in agreement, the tension in the hall slowly easing.

Gu Rong tapped her fingers once against the armrest of her seat, drawing the attention of the table.

"I thank you all on behalf of the Bone Forging Sect. The cooperation from your sects has been most helpful. Shadowclaw’s illusions would’ve continued far longer if not for your presence."

Jing Shan laughed loudly. "We’re simply acting in the Alliance’s best interest."

Han Yu raised a brow. "Now that the seat’s open, what do we do with them? Inform the Shadowclaw Sect directly?"

Mo Nian gave a cold laugh. "Won’t that spark a proper grudge? They’re proud, even if they’re weak now."

Gu Rong’s gaze turned sharp.

"Of course not."

"We don’t inform them," she continued smoothly. "That would only fracture the Alliance further. A wounded beast still has fangs—and we still need them."

Wu Tong frowned slightly. "Need them? For what?"

Gu Rong answered calmly. "Information."

She tapped the table once. "You may not know, but nearly ninety percent of the Evil Alliance’s intelligence—coded reports, spiritual tracking sigils, informant networks, and even assassination targets—come from the Shadowclaw Sect."

A few elders stiffened.

"Shadowclaw has always controlled the Eastern Shadows Division," she said. "Their spy network spans across the Violet Sea World—from the border marshes to the righteous heartlands. We may mock their strength, but the truth is—we cannot afford to lose them."

The elders looked at each other, more subdued now.

Jing Shan frowned slightly. "Then... do we still allow them to attend the Evil Gathering?"

"Certainly," Gu Rong said without hesitation. "In fact, we may even let them win the Nascent Soul Duel."

Her words fell like a dropped stone.

The hall went quiet.

Lady Yao Qing blinked, lowering her teacup. "Let them... win?"

Even Han Yu’s brow twitched. "Why would we do that?"

Gu Rong’s gaze swept the table, calm and collected.

"Because despite their decline, the Shadowclaw Sect is still one of the pillars of the Evil Alliance. Our current foundation was built on their blood and shadow."

"Cripple them too fast, and we’ll find ourselves blind and deaf in half the Violet Sea World."

Jing Shan furrowed his brow, thoughtful now. "So we keep them... as a useful limb."

Gu Rong’s smile was faint. "Exactly. We let them bleed in the shadows while the rest of us bask in the sun."

Wu Tong exhaled slowly. "Then the Nascent Soul Duel..."

"Is just a performance," she said calmly. "Let them win it. Give the people something to cheer for—a last flicker of glory to distract from their fading relevance."

---

Far away from the schemes brewing within the Divine Spirit Hall, deep in the southern reaches of the Violet Sea World, dark clouds hung low over the peaks of the Thousand Poisons Hall.

Just outside the sect’s main mountain gate, without sound or warning, a figure appeared.

Clad in plain gray robes, his presence was unassuming—almost forgettable. Yet not even the formation at the foot of the mountain stirred to respond to his arrival.

He stood still for a long moment.

Then, slowly, his eyes began to change.

A strange light flickered within them—one white as snow, the other dark as ink.

Yin-Yang Origin Eyes.

In the next breath, layers of spiritual patterns unfolded before him—veins of formation lines, glowing script embedded deep within the stone, and rotating cores hidden in the mountain’s heart.

He examined it for a while, then murmured to himself:

"...Fifth-Rank, Netherworld Prison Formation."

"A common formation in ancient sects of the poisonous path... but not to be underestimated."

His gaze swept across the invisible net of spiritual threads that crisscrossed the mountain range like a massive cage.

"Ten linked poison nodes, three soul-devouring vents, and a blood-gate anchor in the southern valley... well constructed. It won’t stop a Divine Transformation cultivator, but for anyone below that, even a late-stage Heavenly Tribulation expert would be trapped here."

A few breaths later, the Yin-Yang Origin Eyes disappeared.

"But even the most refined array... is still only a cage..."

He closed his eyes for a moment. A faint ripple spread out from between his brows, allowing his divine sense to sweep across the entire mountain in the blink of an eye.

Within that instant, everything became clear.

From the tiniest spiritual plants in the valley to the pulsing core of the formation buried deep beneath the main peak—nothing could hide from his gaze.

"...As expected."

"Only two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators guarding the inner halls. The rest... a scattered mix of Core Formation and Foundation Establishment disciples. Not even worth my spiritual energy."