News of Jin Wu and his men's bedraggled retreat spread through Greenstone Valley like cold water dropped into boiling oil, instantly setting the place in an uproar. How many years had it been since the authority of a Sacred Emperor Palace Inspector had faced such naked defiance? Every cultivator watched from the shadows, waiting for Inspector Jin's thunderous wrath.
On the top floor of the Many Treasures Pavilion, the atmosphere was so heavy it almost seemed to drip water.
Jin Sheng's expression was dark, his knuckles whitening slightly from how tightly he clenched his hands. On the jade desk before him lay the extremely limited information just delivered about Ye Chen and his companions—nothing beyond their activities since checking into the Guests Return inn. Their origins and backgrounds were a complete blank.
"A pure aura, unfathomable depths, powerful followers, an arrogant attitude..." Jin Sheng turned these words over, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. "They're certainly not cultivators native to the Primordial World! Could they... really be those 'foreign entities'?"
As an Inspector of the Sacred Emperor Palace, he held great rank and authority, and was himself a formidable Spirit Transformation Late Stage cultivator. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? His subordinates had been driven away like flies, tarnishing the Sacred Emperor Palace's reputation along with his own.
"My lord, if this wretch's insolence goes unpunished, what will remain of our Sacred Emperor Palace's authority?" Jin Wu knelt on one knee, resentment and lingering fear still etched across his face. "Please allow this subordinate to gather our men and deploy the Golden Light Immortal-Slaying Formation. We will surely capture and slay him!"
"Capture and slay him?" Jin Sheng gave him an icy look. "You couldn't even see how he attacked before you came scurrying back. What makes you think you can capture and slay him?"
Jin Wu was struck speechless, his face flushing red.
Jin Sheng rose and walked to the window, looking toward the Guests Return inn. His divine sense spread cautiously toward it once more, like invisible tendrils. This time, he was not merely probing. He gathered nearly eighty percent of his oppressive pressure and slowly pressed it down on the little courtyard like an invisible mountain!
He would personally weigh his opponent and see just how much he amounted to!
How terrifying was the pressure of a Spirit Transformation Late Stage cultivator? Though Jin Sheng restrained it and directed it chiefly at the courtyard, the wisps of aura that escaped still made the hearts of every cultivator in Greenstone Valley sink. It felt like the suffocating stillness before a storm. Their expressions changed as they looked toward the Many Treasures Pavilion in alarm.
"Here it comes." In the courtyard, Emperor Xuanwu raised his eyes slightly toward the Many Treasures Pavilion.
Ye Chen was browsing a jade slip recording strange tales and curiosities of the Primordial World. Sensing the pressure surging toward him like a tide, he did not even raise his eyelids, merely waving a hand casually.
An invisible aura, more concentrated and more restrained, yet seemingly containing the birth and death of the universe and the source of all paths, quietly spread like a spring breeze brushing over water.
There was no earth-shattering collision, no roar of exploding energy.
The instant Jin Sheng's mountain-heavy pressure touched that "spring breeze," it dissolved like ice and snow, silently breaking apart and vanishing! Even the space around the courtyard became exceptionally "clean" and "stable," as though it formed a world of its own, sealed off from all outside interference.
"What?!" Inside the Many Treasures Pavilion, Jin Sheng's expression changed drastically. He abruptly retreated half a step, his eyes filled with incredulous horror!
His pressure had been neutralized with such effortless ease? It had not even stirred a single ripple?
Just how exquisitely refined was his opponent's control over power? This was certainly beyond the capabilities of the Spirit Transformation stage! Could he... be an old monster in the Void Insight realm?!
The moment this thought arose, a chill shot from the soles of Jin Sheng's feet straight to the crown of his head!
The Void Insight realm! Such a being stood on the same level as the Sacred Emperor Palace's Attendant elders! Even across the entire Primordial World, these supreme powerhouses could be counted on one's fingers! Why would one suddenly appear in the Blood-Baleful Wasteland?
All his earlier anger and murderous intent were instantly doused, replaced by deep wariness and careful calculation.
If his opponent truly was a Void Insight powerhouse, he was certainly not someone a mere Inspector could lightly offend. Powerful though the Sacred Emperor Palace was, it would not forge a mortal feud with a Void Insight powerhouse without cause. Moreover, if that pure, transcendent aura truly came from beyond this world... the implications behind it grew more terrifying the longer he considered them!
Jin Sheng's expression shifted repeatedly. At last, he took a deep breath and forcibly subdued the turmoil in his heart.
"Pass down my orders. Without my permission, no one is to provoke the people at the Guests Return inn again!" he instructed Jin Wu in a low voice, his tone more grave than ever before.
Though puzzled, Jin Wu did not dare ask further questions after seeing Jin Sheng's solemn expression. He promptly accepted the order and left.
Jin Sheng stood alone by the window, gazing toward the courtyard with a complicated look. He knew this matter had already exceeded his ability to handle and had to be reported as soon as possible. At the same time, however, he had become intensely curious about Ye Chen and his companions' purpose.
Just as Jin Sheng sank into thought, an announcement came from outside the courtyard: "The valley lord, Old Man Greenstone, requests an audience."
Jin Sheng collected himself and resumed his imposing demeanor. "Show him in."
Old Man Greenstone entered the quiet chamber, his expression even more respectful than before, with a trace of barely perceptible unease. Although he had been unable to clearly sense the entire brief, silent contest of pressure, that instant of stillness and the sudden change in Jin Sheng's expression had told him that Young Master Ye was probably even more terrifying than he had imagined.
"Inspector Jin." Old Man Greenstone bowed in greeting.
"What brings you back, Valley Lord Greenstone?" Jin Sheng asked indifferently.
Old Man Greenstone hesitated, then steeled himself and said, "I have come to offer Inspector Jin some explanation regarding the earlier conflict. Though Young Master Ye at the Guests Return inn has mysterious origins, judging by his conduct, he is not an unreasonable brute. Yesterday's conflict might... might have been no more than a misunderstanding."
He had come to play peacemaker, terrified that the two sides would fight in Greenstone Valley and destroy the foundation he had painstakingly built in a single stroke.
Jin Sheng glanced at him and sneered inwardly. This old fox certainly knew how to trim his sails to the wind. Still, he did indeed need a way to step down gracefully now.
"I have my own considerations." Jin Sheng waved a hand, his tone softening slightly. "Since you are here, Valley Lord, there is something I wish to ask you. How much do you know about the Demon-Burying Abyss?"
"The Demon-Burying Abyss?" Old Man Greenstone was taken aback, not expecting Jin Sheng to bring it up so suddenly. "Inspector, the Demon-Burying Abyss lies deep within Black Wind Mountain. It is an ancient place of utmost peril, with baleful energy surging into the heavens. It is said that a great demon comparable to a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator once perished there. Its lingering resentment formed a forbidden domain. Ordinary cultivators suffer disturbances to their minds merely by stepping into its fringes, and those who venture deeper never return. Even the people of the Blood Skull Stronghold only dare gather some yin-baleful materials around its outskirts."
"A Tribulation Transcendence demon..." Jin Sheng's eyes flickered slightly. Traces of the spatial fluctuations detected by the Heavenwatch Office seemed to linger in the direction of Black Wind Mountain. Could they be connected to this Demon-Burying Abyss? Or had that mysterious group come for the abyss as well?
He felt that the waters of the Blood-Baleful Wasteland were growing deeper and deeper.
In the courtyard of the Guests Return inn.
Ye Chen set down the jade slip and smiled at Emperor Xuanwu. "It seems Inspector Jin is a clever man."
Emperor Xuanwu nodded. "Anyone who reaches Spirit Transformation Late Stage and wields authority over a region cannot truly be a fool. He has probably guessed at this old servant's presence and no longer dares act rashly."
"That's just as well. It saves us some trouble." Ye Chen stood up. "Make preparations. We'll leave Greenstone Valley tomorrow."
"Young master, where are we going? Straight to the Demon-Burying Abyss on Black Wind Mountain?" Shi Meng asked excitedly.
"No." Ye Chen shook his head, a calculating gleam flashing through his eyes. "We'll go to the Blood Skull Stronghold first."
"The Blood Skull Stronghold?" Everyone was taken aback.
"Yes," Ye Chen explained. "The Demon-Burying Abyss lies within the Blood Skull Stronghold's territory. With the situation unclear, plunging straight in would not be wise. The Blood Skull Stronghold has entrenched itself here for years, so they certainly know more about the abyss than outsiders do. Besides, isn't their chief in seclusion, attempting to reach Spirit Transformation Peak?"
A meaningful smile curved his lips. "We'll go 'help' him along, and while we're there... borrow his territory and manpower."
Everyone immediately understood Ye Chen's plan. He intended to seize the magpie's nest like a cuckoo, turning the Blood Skull Stronghold into their first foothold in the Primordial World!
"Heh heh, I like that! Those bloodsucking bastards have been rubbing me the wrong way for ages!" Shi Meng rubbed his fists and flexed his hands.
A sharp gleam flashed through Ye Yun's and Mo Yu's eyes as well. They clearly approved of the plan.
Just as Ye Chen and his companions were discussing the details of their operation, another sound came from outside the courtyard.
Mo Yu appeared silently beside Ye Chen and said quietly, "Young master, Old Man Greenstone has come alone. He's outside the courtyard requesting an audience."
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Emperor Xuanwu.
"Show him in."
Before you continue