Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3160: Change In Plans

Seeing the state of the sect, even Grand Elder Huo, whose centuries of experience had weathered his judgment, appeared unsettled.

His expression betrayed a rare uncertainty. "From everything I know of the Hidden Cave Sect, this is... an absurdity. Their disciples have always been shadow-walkers, the kind who keep to the dark and strike when least expected. For them to walk openly like this, to live without secrecy, feels impossible."

It was not only the sight of calm that troubled them, but the sheer normalcy of it.

The sect’s aura did not carry the nefarious and unsettling energy that always clung to the Ephemera Sect, nor the suffocating madness of the Drowned Crescent Cult. The Hidden Cave Sect disciples here gave off the impression of ordinary cultivators, their qi stable and balanced.

They did not resemble assassins or betrayers but rather diligent, if relaxed, practitioners.

The sight planted seeds of doubt among the intruders. A few even exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain.

Was this truly the lair of their enemy? Had they perhaps made a mistake in their coordinates?

But the truth was undeniable. The sigil emblazoned on the disciples’ robes was unmistakable. Each carried the symbol of the cave with its stone curtain, the mark of the Hidden Cave Sect that could not be confused for any other.

Lin Mu remained silent for a long while, his sharp gaze sweeping across the structures, the disciples, and the rhythm of their lives. He sensed no deception in what he saw. This was indeed the heart of the Hidden Cave Sect. Yet the contradiction gnawed at him, urging him to dig deeper.𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Still more baffling was the fact that, despite their large presence, they had not been discovered.

A hundred immortals gathered in one place would normally create a disturbance impossible to miss, yet here they stood, unnoticed.

Lin Mu quickly reasoned why.

The inner surface of the sphere was riddled with countless tunnels and openings, hundreds upon hundreds of holes carved into the walls. Their group had chosen one such opening, and in the bustle of daily life, no one thought to check every shadow, every entry point. Especially not within what they considered their most secure sanctuary.

Daoist Chu shook his head with a quiet chuckle. "It seems their arrogance has dulled their vigilance. Who would expect enemies to be peering through their own gates?"

Yet even with this advantage, hesitation gnawed at the group. Their original plan had been to strike swiftly, ambushing the Hidden Cave Sect before they could organize a defense. But now, staring at this seemingly ordinary city, the idea of rushing in felt... wrong.

It was Lin Mu who finally broke the silence.

His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it that drew every ear. "I do not believe we should act so hastily. There is something strange here, something that does not match what we know of them. If we strike now, we may miss what lies beneath the surface."

High Elder Yan Dao turned to him, his brows slightly raised. "Then what do you suggest?"

Lin Mu’s eyes never left the sight of the city below. "I want to infiltrate them. To see with my own eyes what they are truly like in their daily lives. To understand their strength, their preparation, their real faces. If this is a trap, then we must uncover it before it springs. If it is not, then perhaps there is a deeper truth to why they live in such a way."

The suggestion drew murmurs among the gathered immortals. A few looked uneasy, their faces creased with concern. Altering the plan at this stage was no small matter. They had prepared for an ambush, for open combat, not for a covert investigation.

Elyon frowned, his lupine ears twitching faintly. "You would risk exposing yourself by walking among them? If they recognize you..."

Lin Mu nodded slowly. "That is why I will not go as myself. I have the means to alter my appearance. I will walk openly, blending among them, while another moves unseen in the shadows. Together, we will learn what we must." His gaze shifted, fixing firmly on Elyon. "And you, Elyon, will be the one to walk unseen. Your mastery of stealth exceeds most, and in this environment, your skills will serve us well."

Elyon blinked, surprised at being chosen, but then straightened with a faint smile. "If that is your wish, I will accompany you. They will not know I am there."

Some among the group voiced their worry. "Changing plans now could risk the mission. If you are discovered, the Hidden Cave Sect will know of our presence before we are ready to strike."

But before the concern could swell into dissent, Grand Elder Huo raised a hand.

His expression was solemn, yet his voice carried conviction. "We have placed our trust in Lin Mu from the beginning. He has not led us astray. If he believes infiltration is necessary, then we will grant him this chance."

Daoist Chu chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Well, if anyone can walk into the den of demons and return alive, it is him."

Lin Mu inclined his head in acknowledgment.

He then took a steadying breath, focusing his energy as he prepared the talisman that would mask his true features.

’With the lack of alertness they have, perhaps they might not even consider such a basic illusory talisman might be used here.’ Lin Mu thought to himself, as he slapped on a Hundred Illusory Disguise Talisman.

The Talisman was relatively common and while hard to make, could easily be bought. But the reason why few actually used it for anything sensitive was the fact that it could be detected easily as long as one used Immortal Sense to probe the other person.

Most cultivators were on guard for things like this, but with the level on ’freeness’ the Hidden Cave Sect had shown, Lin Mu reckoned they probably won’t even bother to check.