Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 843 - 356: Playing Both Sides, the Ultimate Opportunist (Part 2)

When the foe dashed past him, Ning Qi promptly unleashed the Five Elements Prison technique, completely trapping the individual.

This cultivator lacked any chance to respond, falling perfectly into Ning Qi's ambush.

Ning Qi seized him and escaped at top speed.

He refrained from slaying the foe right away, knowing these Unity Realm powerhouses held deep insights into the Vast Realm, which sparked Ning Qi's keen interest.

At the same time, Ning Qi watched the Vast Realm's energy dispersing across the entire area.

Evidently, the Vast Realm Will remained unaware of his presence; the withered leaf Exotic Treasure truly masked all traces of his deeds.

Yet, the Mountain and Sea Realm Will had cautioned that the leaf's concealment spanned only three yards around him.

Should Ning Qi's actions stir chaos beyond that limit, the Vast Realm Will would inevitably sense it.

Ten yards proved ample for now, yet Ning Qi pondered if the Mountain and Sea Realm Will possessed superior leaves.

Should such exist, he would spare no effort to claim them.

These leaves offered immense value, shielding him from detection by both realms and ensuring total freedom of movement.

Ning Qi hauled the Unity Realm cultivator to a hidden spot.

Inside the Five Elements Prison hovered a plain-faced male cultivator.

Trapped like cornered game, he poured every ounce of strength against the pillars gleaming with Five Elements Divine Light, yet failed to budge them even slightly.

Noticing Ning Qi halt, he shot a fierce glare and demanded, "Who are you from the Mountain and Sea Realm?"

Ning Qi's face grew grim, his gaze locking onto the man.

Within his eyes swirled a riot of hues, like the most mesmerizing spiritual portals in existence, brimming with captivating illusions.

The instant their eyes connected, the cultivator appeared utterly entranced, his mind laid bare.

Ning Qi barked icily, "Prisoner, state your name and origins!"

"I'm Hao Dongyang, Elder of the Tiandu Immortal Sect in the Ten Thousand Mountain Spirit Domain."

Ning Qi pressed, "Have you met the Saint Ancestor?"

Hao Dongyang answered, "The Saint Ancestor wields unmatched might; few Unity Realm cultivators behold him, but I count myself fortunate."

Ning Qi's eyes gleamed brightly.

"What ties bind the Saint Ancestor to the Vast Realm Will?"

"The Vast Realm Will serves as the Saint Ancestor's disciple, named Zhili by him, to uphold order and propriety for all Vast Realm beings."

Hearing this revelation stunned Ning Qi.

He never imagined the Saint Ancestor and Vast Realm Will shared a master-disciple bond. No surprise then, that his prior encounter with the Vast Realm Will exuded such righteousness—clearly shaped by its teacher.

Ning Qi let out a chuckle.

The connections between each realm's Will and its paramount cultivator proved fascinating indeed.

The Saint Ancestor mentored the Vast Realm Will like a true master, unlike the strained ties between the Mountain Ancestor, Sea Ancestor, and Mountain and Sea Realm Will.

In relational harmony, the Saint Ancestor and Vast Realm Will seemed closest.

Yet in raw power, superiority remained unclear.

Ning Qi fired off more queries, then obliterated Hao Dongyang's fleshly form.

Preserving only the Primordial Spirit, he executed a soul search and stowed it in his Storage Space.

With potential Soul Lamps in play, keeping the Primordial Spirit intact avoided alerting the Vast Realm.

Ning Qi opted for soul search to confirm Hao Dongyang's words rang true.

Once resolved, a sly smile curved Ning Qi's lips, igniting a fresh scheme.

Abruptly, Ning Qi shifted into Hao Dongyang's exact likeness.

Fully armed with Hao Dongyang's knowledge and a chunk of his life imprint, Ning Qi now embodied the true Hao Dongyang.

Posing as Hao Dongyang, Ning Qi scouted the Northeast Realm before returning to central ground.

"Dongyang, spot anything odd?"

A relief patrol cultivator, seated cross-legged, queried as he approached.

Mimicking Hao Dongyang's tone, Ning Qi responded, "Wu Shu, all clear so far, but stay sharp."

Wu Shu burst into laughter.

"Dongyang, you're too cautious. Realm Venerable said the nearby Three Domains remain unconquered—no threats here."

Ning Qi replied gravely, "Better vigilant than caught off guard."

Wu Shu rose, "Fine, report to Elder Li for supplies. I'll take over."

Ning Qi nodded, pocketing the goods effortlessly.

Cunning truly paid off.

He eyed the central area, where a white-haired, bearded elder meditated.

The elder seemed utterly at ease, but Ning Qi detected a fearsome aura pulsing from him, belying his calm facade.

Ning Qi approached the elder.

"Elder Li."

Li Tianrong's eyes fluttered open, fixing on Hao Dongyang.

"Your supplies."

A barrage of items burst from Li Tianrong's Storage Ring.

Ning Qi caught them with outstretched hands.

Examination revealed a fresh cultivator robe, Pills, Spirit Stones, and a Top-grade Spiritual Treasure—purely battle-ready gear. The Vast Realm proved lavish indeed.

"Thanks, Elder Li. Dongyang takes his leave."

Li Tianrong shut his eyes once more. "Dismissed."

Blending as Hao Dongyang among Unity Realm experts, Ning Qi noted countless lower-realm cultivators scattered through the domain.

All stood poised for combat, mirroring the Mountain and Sea Realm's Southwest Realm forces, bracing for the looming war.

The sight drew a soft sigh from Ning Qi.

True cultivators clashed for their Spirit Realms, but untold numbers would fall, gaining little in return.

Much like mortal wars, where peasants' sons bled while schemers reaped rewards unseen.

Still, they charged ahead without grudge.

Once battle dawned, words meant nothing.

The board stood ready—could pawns ever flee its brutal games?

On fields of strife, only survival or doom awaited!

As Ning Qi wove through the throng, even chatting with Hao Dongyang's recalled acquaintances, none sniffed out his disguise.

The casual roam soon bored him.

He settled in quiet thought, plotting ahead.

Though tasked by the Mountain and Sea Realm Will to slay Vast Realm Unity Realm foes, Ning Qi felt no drive.

He held assassination prowess, with lavish rewards promised.

Yet those prizes no longer tempted him.

He craved escalating cross-realm strife, drawing in Unity Realm peaks, perhaps even Mountain Ancestor, Sea Ancestor, and Saint Ancestor.

That would unlock paths beyond realms, letting him play the shadows for both sides!

"Why not leak intel to both factions covertly?"

The thought struck; Ning Qi pivoted toward the Vast Realm.

"Could I slip into the Vast Realm proper? Scouting it early might yield bigger prizes."

Still, fleeing the war domain back home demanded hefty merits.

Nearly half a day passed before Ning Qi swapped with Wu Shu for patrol.

Both at early Unity Realm, such duties suited them perfectly.

Ning Qi mulled abandoning the domain.

Suddenly, a majestic will descended.

"The Realm Venerable!"

A spectral form materialized by Elder Li.

All rushed to bow deeply, their awe surpassing Mountain and Sea Realm cultivators' deference to their own Will!

Ning Qi mimicked them, eyeing the Vast Realm Will's plans.

He sped back, closing in.

The Vast Realm Will's apparition scanned the group, voice gentle:

"By Saint Ancestor's command, this Venerable aids in breaching the North Spirit Realm's Boundary Wall. We seize it first."

A voice piped up instantly.

"Realm Venerable, North Spirit Realm unconquered—can we Unity Realm enter?"

The Vast Realm Will explained, "Mountain and Sea Realm holds three domains, we two. Outer five of eight stabilize the rest."

"To match them, we press on. Mid-period Unity Realm stays back—pick early-stage only."

Ning Qi jolted in surprise.

As he eyed escape, they pushed early Unity Realm into cross-domain fray.

The Vast Realm grew pressed!

To him, though, it spelled opportunity, not setback.