Departure

After the black-robed figure left, a familiar figure appeared.

It was Chi Chen.

Chi Chen seemed no different from how he had been five hundred years ago. The only change was that his eyes had grown ever deeper, like a boundless abyss containing countless depths of darkness.

"This day has finally come. It's time to report to the grand elder."

Chi Chen murmured to himself, then turned into a mass of shadows and sped toward the center of the Lu Clan.

"Cultivate the body, nurture the temperament."

In a secluded little courtyard, Lu Guangyao, the grand elder of the Lu Clan, was leisurely exercising, a gentle look on his face.

He was in a splendid mood.

Two of the Lu Clan's ancestors had awakened, and the clan would soon return to Central Province. Who wouldn't be happy?

"The clansmen must have been ready for a while now."

Lu Guangyao chuckled, as if he could already see the day the Lu Clan returned to Central Province and once again dominated the world.

Just then, a knock suddenly sounded at the gate.

Lu Guangyao looked toward the gate and said, "Come in."

The next moment, Chi Chen pushed the gate open and entered.

"Grand elder."

Chi Chen bowed respectfully to Lu Guangyao.

Lu Guangyao nodded slightly, his eyes full of appreciation as he looked at Chi Chen.

Ever since Chi Chen had joined the Lu Clan and become his subordinate, the establishment of the clan's intelligence organization had swiftly been put on the agenda, and it had begun to take shape.

He often remarked that he truly had a discerning eye, having spotted Chi Chen's talent at a glance.

"Chi Chen, what brings you to me?"

Lu Guangyao asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Chi Chen looked at Lu Guangyao. "Grand elder, our people have now infiltrated practically all of Qingzhou. We know just about everything that happens here."

"Even after we go to Central Province, our control over Qingzhou won't weaken by much."

Chi Chen was looking far ahead. He believed that, before long, the Lu Clan would surely have a use for this force.

Lu Guangyao nodded slightly at Chi Chen's arrangements. "You've done well. The Lu Clan does need to leave some contingencies in Qingzhou."

Seeing that Lu Guangyao approved of what he had done, Chi Chen breathed a small sigh of relief.

Although he held a pivotal position in the intelligence organization, he knew very well that all his authority had been given to him by the grand elder, Lu Guangyao.

A single word from Lu Guangyao could send him from heaven to hell.

Over the years, the Lu Clan's intelligence organization had indeed made many contributions to the clan.

Not only had it kept the Lu Clan informed about everything happening under heaven, it could also handle things that couldn't be brought into the light, such as assassinations and undercover work.

Many powerful experts and forces in the outside world hated the intelligence organization to the bone.

Fortunately, Chi Chen had concealed himself well, and most members of the organization kept a low profile. Even if outsiders wanted to target them, they had no idea where to begin.

After a moment's silence, Chi Chen said to Lu Guangyao, "Grand elder, the organization has grown to a certain size. It's time to give it a name."

A name.

That was right. The organization had existed for so long, yet it still didn't have a name.

Lu Guangyao looked at Chi Chen and chuckled. "Since you've brought it up, it seems you already have a suitable name in mind."

Hearing Lu Guangyao's words, Chi Chen smiled.

"How about the Shadow Division?"

"The Shadow Division?"

An organization born in darkness, living in the shadows day after day. Yes, it was quite fitting.

Lu Guangyao then agreed to the name.

The Shadow Division was officially established.

Chi Chen became the Shadow Division's leader in name, but in truth, the grand elder, Lu Guangyao, was the one who truly held power over it.

Elsewhere, unlike the relaxed grand elder, Lu Guangyao,

the other two elders were much busier. They weren't fortunate enough to have an outstanding subordinate like Chi Chen, so the two of them had to handle more matters personally.

Fortunately, the results were still impressive.

The clan's population had increased so significantly thanks to the second elder, Lu Mutong.

As for the third elder, Lu Chen, he had recently been busy building a martial arts platform specifically for the Lu Clan's younger generation to spar on.

He would also establish a ranking for it.

Everyone who made the ranking would receive exceptionally generous rewards.

More importantly, those who made the ranking would gain supreme glory.

Many young members of the Lu Clan longed for it when they heard the news. How could their youthful blood not boil?

Defeat everyone in the younger generation and become the Lu Clan's most outstanding prodigy!

For now, however, the matter had to be put on hold. The entire Lu Clan was moving, and the move to Central Province was the most pressing priority.

As for Lu Fan, the reincarnation of a Saint, he had stepped away from the center of the Lu Clan's power after the clan gradually regained some vitality.

After all, he wasn't truly a member of the Lu Clan.

But Lu Qingshan didn't slaughter the donkey once it had finished turning the millstone. Instead, he made full use of Lu Fan's value.

Lu Qingshan established a clan academy and appointed Lu Fan as its elder.

Lu Fan understood the authority that came with the position and was deeply moved. He devoted nearly all his attention to the clan academy.

In a short time, the Lu Clan's educational resources went from nothing to expanding rapidly.

A few days later.

Most of the many forces in Qingzhou, great and small, had received word that the Lu Clan was about to leave.

As they reflected on the news, they couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief.

The Lu Clan was so overbearing that it left them unable to catch their breath. In the Lu Clan's eyes, they were like children who hadn't grown up, and whenever it wished, the clan could teach them a lesson.

Thus, over the years, after experiencing the Lu Clan's might, Qingzhou's major forces had behaved themselves, and large-scale conflicts had become rare.

And now, the Lu Clan was finally leaving.

Some fairly sizable forces were already beginning to stir.

But they didn't know that although the Lu Clan was leaving, Qing Zhe and Qing Xu had stayed behind with some of its experts.

In the near future, Qingzhou would surely be unified once more.

Qiyun Mountain, Central Province.

The towering peak rose into the clouds like a sharp sword, as if it meant to pierce the heavens. It was majestic and magnificent.

Among the mountain forests, gentle breezes blew as soft sunlight filtered through the thick clouds and fell upon moss-covered rocks.

A figure in tattered clothes appeared on the mountain, walking with labored steps.

The middle-aged man's face was pale, but his eyes held a trace of pleasant surprise.

"Though I'm gravely injured, I obtained a rare treasure. More importantly, this place is remote and its Spiritual Qi is thin. Ordinary cultivators probably won't come here, making it the perfect place to go into seclusion and heal."

A smooth crystal ball appeared out of thin air in his hand. Through its surface, a faint but unmistakable yellow light could be seen within.

Looking at the crystal ball in his hand, the middle-aged man could no longer suppress his smile. Then he burst into hearty laughter.

"I was right. What's sealed inside must be the Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven, one of the nine legendary grotto-heavens. Once I've fully mastered it, given enough time, I'll surely become a ninth-grade alchemist!"

The Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven was a natural secret realm of the Dao of Alchemy, and its benefits for cultivating that Dao were heaven-defying.

Yet the Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven had almost never been seen by the world, and even historical records contained only a few brief mentions of it.

Obtaining the Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven was an immense stroke of fortune for him, and he had risked his life to obtain it by sheer luck.

After all, he was an expert at the Peak of the Saint Realm. In this age when Saint Kings did not show themselves, who could threaten his life?

Yet now, he had nearly perished.

That showed just how great the danger had been.

As a Rogue Cultivator, Yu An knew how difficult it had been to reach this point. Even so, he would never give up any opportunity to grow stronger.

This time, he had truly seized one.

As long as he stayed here and obediently healed in seclusion, taking the opportunity to master the Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven, the day he emerged would surely be the day his name shook the world!

Clutching the Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven in his hand, Yu An looked haggard, but his eyes shone with a longing for a bright future.

But just then, a sudden change occurred.

A terrifying presence suddenly descended and, without warning, pinned him firmly in place.