Seven days later, late at night.
Beneath the heavy snow, the sky over Qinggang County was so black that not a glimmer of starlight showed.
Goose-feather snowflakes came crashing down from that thick darkness, borne by howling winds, wrapping the entire county town in a boundless expanse of white.
Yi Yang stood before a window on the inn's top floor. He had opened it only a crack, but bone-piercing wind poured through, making his robes snap and flutter. His powerful body was naturally unaffected by such wind and snow, but the common people were not so fortunate.
He did not look at the heavy snowfall. His gaze pierced through the wind and snow, settling on the dark town.
His divine sense at the "illusion-breaking" stage spread silently like an invisible net, enveloping almost half the town.
Within his perception, weak, scattered auras emerged from shanties, dilapidated houses, and spaces beneath bridges all across town, flowing like countless tiny streams toward the same destination.
The Land God Temple, in the west of town.
Drifting in with the wind and snow was a faint smell of blood. It was more than ten times stronger than seven days earlier, strong enough to reach even the inn in the center of town.
Yi Yang withdrew his divine sense and murmured:
"It's coming."
He turned around. Xu Min and ten elite Pacification Guards were already fully dressed and waiting in the room, their faces grim with killing intent.
"Everyone, change your clothes."
Yi Yang pointed to a pile of ragged clothes in the corner. He had sent Xu Min to buy them from beggars around town over the past few days. They stank, but they would make convincing disguises.
"Sir, are we..." Xu Min started to ask something.
Yi Yang waved a hand, cutting him