Covert Investigation

Yan Zhao returned to the sect with steps that seemed weighed down by a thousand-pound burden. His body looked exceptionally exhausted, as though every step required the full strength of his entire being.

The Sect Leader had long been waiting anxiously at the entrance. When he saw Yan Zhao return safely, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally dropped like a stone.

"Yan Zhao, you're finally back!" The Sect Leader hurried forward and asked with concern, "Did this operation go smoothly?"

Yan Zhao forced out a faint smile and nodded. "I did not disgrace my mission. The Remnant Soul has been sealed."

The Sect Leader's brows drew together slightly. "But the Demon God will never let this rest. He will certainly make further moves. We must prepare our response in advance."

Yan Zhao's expression turned grave. Of course, he knew how formidable the Demon God was. Successfully sealing the Remnant Soul this time had already been a stroke of luck. Drawing a deep breath, he said, "Rest assured, Sect Leader. I will recover my strength as soon as possible to face any crisis that may come."

The Sect Leader patted Yan Zhao's shoulder. "Go into seclusion and recuperate first. Tell me if you need anything."

After thanking the Sect Leader, Yan Zhao turned and entered the sect's meditation chamber. Over the next several days, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to secluded cultivation, adjusting his condition.

After a period of quiet recuperation, Yan Zhao's body gradually regained some vitality. Just as he was preparing to leave seclusion, a disciple suddenly came to report that many bizarre and hair-raising incidents had appeared in the surrounding towns.

Yan Zhao's heart tightened. He immediately realized that this was very likely the Demon God's work in the shadows. He made a prompt decision to personally visit those towns and investigate, to find out exactly what had happened.

When Yan Zhao entered the town, he saw that the streets were utterly deserted. The marketplace, once bustling with people, had become strangely bleak and silent. Only the doors and windows of a few homes were tightly shut, and now and then, low sobs could be heard drifting from within. A sinister aura filled the air, oppressive and terrifying.

Yan Zhao frowned slightly as he thought to himself, What exactly happened in this town? Why are the townspeople so frightened and uneasy? He quickened his pace, determined to get to the bottom of it.

As he walked, Yan Zhao arrived before a narrow alley. It was deep and long, with walls on both sides rising high into the clouds and blocking out even the sunlight, making the entire alley dark and damp. Yan Zhao had only just stepped inside when a gust of chilling wind swept over him, and he could not help but shiver.

Before he could react, a group of shadows came hurtling in from all directions like phantoms. They moved with astonishing speed, like lightning, reaching Yan Zhao in the blink of an eye. Looking closely, Yan Zhao saw that these shadows were not physical entities, but condensed from an eerie force. Their bodies were transparent, and only their eyes glimmered red, revealing threads of icy malice.

Yan Zhao knew these shadows had come with ill intent. He immediately drew the sword at his waist, ready to meet them. Yet their power exceeded all imagination. Their attacks were as fierce as a gale and rainstorm. Though Yan Zhao resisted with all his might, he gradually found himself unable to hold them off.

Just as Yan Zhao began to struggle, a mysterious streak of sword light shot across the sky like a meteor, flying straight toward the shadows. Wherever the sword light passed, the shadows scattered one after another, as though swallowed by its brilliance.

Yan Zhao looked closely and saw a swordsman in white standing not far away. He held a Treasure Sword gleaming with cold light, a faint layer of Sword Qi coiling around its blade. The swordsman smiled slightly and said to Yan Zhao, "I know you are fighting the Demon God, so I came to lend you a hand."

Yan Zhao was overjoyed. With this mysterious swordsman's help, their odds against the Demon God had undoubtedly increased by several degrees. He quickly thanked the swordsman and asked about his origins. The swordsman merely smiled without answering, as though unwilling to reveal too much about his identity.