Chapter 2331

The chief of Chief Du Yun passed through Aunt Zeng, calling in two people in succession: "He will be in charge of intelligence work on Mouguo."

"He will handle intelligence on Cangyan."

"From now on, you will liaise with them, but always remember the enemy is strong, and..." The smoke and mist in the shrine suddenly twisted. Chief Du Yun's chief made a listening gesture, then suddenly said, "... There are ears on the wall. Grab him!"

He pointed to the guard standing by the door a zhang away.

Two palace attendants stepped forward and seized him without a word.

The guard looked bewildered, shouting his innocence.

But Chief Du Yun's chief had Aunt Zeng raise the eternal lamp to shine in his eyes.

When the bright light hit, something flashed across the guard's eye membrane.

"Take him away, pull it out."

After saying these few words, Chief Du Yun's chief was utterly exhausted, unable to continue speaking. Aunt Zeng quickly fed him medicine and then adjusted his qi and cleared his meridians.

After fifty breaths, Chief Du Yun's chief recovered somewhat, and a palace attendant entered carrying a tray:

"Chief, there is this thing in his eyes!"

On the tray, a small white porcelain bowl held a tiny worm, resembling a grain worm, white and minute, stained with blood, still wriggling.

Land Yongyan glanced at it: "This is an eye mite."

Chief Du Yun's chief said sternly: "Well done, impressive skill, reaching even here."

Land Yongyan: "I will send someone to investigate."

"It won't be found." Chief Du Yun's chief shook his head. "Those infected with eye mites feel nothing themselves, merely becoming others' ears and eyes."

Eye mites transmit everything the host sees and hears to their master.

This is a profound divine ability, letting spies not even know they have become spies.

The fact that the other side dares to use eye mites here shows they are certain the Heavenly Palace cannot trace the vine to the melon, nor investigate to uncover themselves.

"You've just taken office, and they're already giving you a hard time." Chief Du Yun's chief looked at Land Yongyan, his voice weak but his words teasing, "Our opponents are not only from abroad."

Who placed this eye mite? The scope of suspicion is vast, not limited to Mouguo and Cangyan.

"Yes." Land Yongyan said in a deep voice, "They warned us well. But no one can play tricks under the eyes of the Heavenly Gods!"

Such a minute method as the eye mite—ordinary people wouldn't notice it, and even immortals might not—yet it cannot escape the omniscience and omnipotence of the Heavenly Gods!

Those people are so arrogant, daring to tamper with the secret chamber where the Heavenly Gods focus their attention!

That earlier twist of smoke and mist was the Heavenly Gods informing Chief Du Yun's chief.

Chief Du Yun's chief waved his hand: "All of you, leave."

The idle people in the inner chamber were driven out; only Chief Du Yun's chief, Land Yongyan, and Aunt Zeng and other attendants remained.

Aunt Zeng wished to attend closely to Chief Du Yun's chief, but could not leave.

Chief Du Yun's chief then gave several more secrets, which Land Yongyan heard with some emotion, silently memorizing them.

"There is one more matter, also entrusted to us by the Holy Void Venerable as a top priority." Chief Du Yun's chief said slowly, "It is too important; it can only be passed orally, not left in writing, lest it leak. Listen well——"

This was likely a final burst of clarity before death; he spoke several sentences clearly.

The more Land Yongyan listened, the heavier his expression became.

This, indeed, is the most crucial and highly valued secret among the gods!

After finishing, Chief Du Yun's chief, as if having completed his most important task, grew faint again: "Have you... heard clearly?"

"Perfectly clear." Land Yongyan repeated it once, and indeed not a word was missed.

Chief Du Yun's chief wanted to nod, but had no strength: "You must remember, remember... upon taking this position, consider everything thrice before acting, only then can the Heavenly Palace endure."

Land Yongyan softly replied, "Yes."

Chief Du Yun's chief looked at him, his gaze complex.

Having governed the Heavenly Palace for over a hundred years, striving tirelessly between Lingxu City and the gods, exhausting his efforts to achieve a peaceful end. As Chief Du Yun's chief, it is not merely a matter of bowing low to the gods.

Yet the past hundred years of history pale in comparison to the changes of the last ten years, and the future will be even more tumultuous. The next leader of the Heavenly Palace ought to be wiser than he. Alas, though the Heavenly Palace and Bekka abound in talent, search as they may, they still feel lacking. Know that he originally disliked Bai Ziqi, yet these two candidates are still inferior to Bai Ziqi.

The throne of supreme power in the mortal realm, once seated, is also the supreme difficulty in the mortal realm.

To sit securely and well requires not only strategy, but not only luck either.

Helplessly, Land Yongyan was ultimately appointed by the Holy Void Venerable, not by his own designation.

In fact, there has always been an excellent candidate, far surpassing Bai Ziqi of old, but the Heavenly Palace and the gods will absolutely not consider him. To become Chief Du Yun's chief, the first basic quality must be loyalty.

Well, as he nears the end, what is the point of thinking about these things?

Over the past hundred-plus years, he has seen how many extraordinarily talented people came and went? Even the steady National Preceptor of Qingyang, who sat calmly at the Fishing Terrace as if never to capsize, silently died in a foreign land.

The gods in heaven, too, have fallen one after another.

Now, finally, it is his turn.

The world changes too swiftly; thereafter, even if heaven collapses and earth splits, he will not see it.

Also good—from now on, tranquility.

With his last glance, he swept over Aunt Zeng, as if he had something to say to this loyal old servant.

Alas!

Aunt Zeng, eyes red, gripped his hand: "What do you want?"

She did not wait for Chief Du Yun's chief's next command, for his gaze had fixed.

His time had run out.

"See off the old chief!" Land Yongyan bowed deeply to him, all the attendants kneeling in unison. Aunt Zeng's tears streamed down her face, yet she dared not cry aloud.

Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, a thread of red smoke issued from the old chief's mouth and nose, slowly drifting into the shrine, never to be seen again.

"The old chief has been received by the gods and entered the Divine Kingdom." Land Yongyan let out a long breath, turned toward the shrine, and knelt devoutly.

"The new Chief Du Yun Chief, Land Yongyan, pays respects to the Venerable! From now on, I would die ten thousand times without hesitation for the Venerable!"

These two sentences were resonant and powerful, their echoes lingering in the secret chamber.

The formal handover between the old and new Cloud Capital Envoys was actually this simple; all elaborate rituals were mere formalities, with only the gods' gaze and attestation being truly important.

A wisp of pale smoke flew out from the divine shrine, circling around Lu Yongyan several times.

Though the secret chamber appeared silent and still, in truth the divine words in Lu Yongyan's ears rang as loudly as a great bell and lute!

He listened with rapt attention.

Divine edicts were usually conveyed to the old Envoy, who then delegated them downward.

To communicate so smoothly and unobstructedly with the heavenly gods was a first for him!

This was the exclusive privilege of the Cloud Capital Envoy!

After the heavenly god ceased speaking, he respectfully replied: "I shall obey the holy edict!"

He climbed up from the ground, and Former Aunt came over to support him.

Lu Yongyan looked at her and sighed: "After so many years serving the old Envoy, Former Aunt, you have also worked hard."

Former Aunt's tear tracks were not yet dry: "This is my duty."