For two days after the chaos, Crossing Peak Stronghold remained under the highest level of martial law. Yi Yang did not go out, and the gates of his rented courtyard stayed tightly shut.
During that time, he wrapped the Shaman Kingdom martial artist's head in coarse cloth and handed it to Xu Min, along with the four Shaman Kingdom corpses the Pacification Guard had previously slain in the courtyard.
"Take this to the Heaven Patrol Office along with those four in the courtyard. Say our Pacification Guard killed them, exchange them for merit rewards, and distribute half among the men."
When Xu Min accepted the cloth bundle, he hefted it to gauge its weight. Without asking any questions, he nodded and left.
Yi Yang returned to his room, shut the door, and took a bottle of Profound Essence Pills from his Storage Ring to continue cultivating.
More than half a day later, Xu Min returned. He had never expected the head his lord entrusted to him to belong to a Shaman Kingdom martial artist at true astral realm completion. Judging from the man's tattoos and clothing, he had held considerable status in the Shaman Kingdom.
Yet his lord had casually given them half the rewards for this tremendous achievement.
Xu Min stood respectfully at the doorway and reported the results of the merit exchange. The number of spirit crystals received was close to Yi Yang's estimate.
Yi Yang nodded and was about to dismiss him when Xu Min hesitated, then spoke again.
"My lord, I heard quite a bit of news at the Heaven Patrol Office just now."
Yi Yang sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating. He raised his chin to signal him to continue.
"The hottest rumors in the city concern the battle between those important figures on the