Chapter 317: Chapter Eight: Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace

Luo Feng didn’t hide it, sending a message: “My observation technique recently achieved a breakthrough—I can now perceive a cultivator’s soul and determine whether it’s been controlled.”

“You can tell at a glance?” The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace was both shocked and delighted.

Low-level Hunsourced beings hiding within cities is a problem all thirty-five cities of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm face; most cities cannot detect them at all. They can only infer their presence through faint traces and divine divination.

“For cultivators outside, with no array masking them, I can see through over ninety percent at a glance. But if they’re concealed by powerful secret techniques or potent treasures, I must examine them up close, one-on-one.”

“If a cultivator hides inside a cave dwelling protected by an array, I can’t see through it,” Luo Feng replied.

His “Imitation of Annihilation Eye” was still a counterfeit technique, with many limitations in observation.

“That’s already extremely impressive.”

The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace was overjoyed. “Even in the Dark Sacred Realm, the ability to instantly discern whether a soul is controlled is something only a handful of experts can achieve. Even in my prime, I lacked such an observation method.”

“In the entire Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, there are perhaps only one or two who can match your ability,” the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace said happily. “With you here, Yulan City will be far more secure.”

With such a powerful figure stationed in a city, the difficulty of low-level Hunsourced beings launching attacks rises sharply. They must strike immediately upon infiltration; prolonged concealment increases the risk of detection.

“Luo Feng, I want you to thoroughly inspect the entire city,” said the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace. “First, check those moving about in public. Then I’ll announce a citywide directive to shut down cave dwelling arrays in batches, and you’ll inspect each one in turn.”

Since the cave dwellings are rented, Yulan City naturally controls their arrays.

Of course, if a cultivator has set up their own array, Yulan City cannot remove it—they must shut it down themselves.

Shutting down the city’s cave dwelling arrays in coordinated batches, uniformly and systematically, ensures no one dares oppose it.

“I’m certain there are several low-level Hunsourced beings hiding in the city, but I’ve only detected extremely faint traces,” the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace said, deeply concerned. “A full-scale screening would make us far safer.”

“Without proper authority, no one will obey,” Luo Feng sent a message. “If I’m to oversee the entire city’s screening, I need the position of ‘Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace.’”

“Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace?” The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace hesitated.

The Patrol Heaven Palace is the barracks housing all patrol and guard units in the city.

It has one Chief Commander and two Deputy Commanders.

The sole Chief Commander… is currently held by the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion. It was he who personally screened the tens of thousands of cultivators recently arrested to confirm they weren’t possessed.

The Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion possesses extraordinary mental techniques—he can detect every possessor in close, one-on-one examinations.

“The Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace’s main duty is screening for hidden low-level Hunsourced beings,” Luo Feng sent. “Since you’re asking me to do this—and likely will need me to continue doing it—I should be granted the corresponding position.”

The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace understood.

Asking Luo Feng to screen the city wasn’t a one-time request.

It would be a recurring, periodic task.

“Fine!” the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace sent. “I assign you the position of Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace! You may now proceed to the Patrol Heaven Palace and take over from the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion.”

Luo Feng gave a slight nod.

Each time hidden low-level Hunsourced beings are discovered, associated cultivators are arrested for screening—sometimes thousands, sometimes tens of thousands! Batch after batch are taken in; though nearly all emerge alive, they’re stripped of every treasure they own.

This systematic plundering is even harsher than the raids of the three major looting factions!

“The Lord of Wei Yang is unfit to govern Yulan City,” Luo Feng thought. His current strength isn’t superior—he and the others are on the same level. But once his Dao of Creation and Annihilation advances another tier, his power will utterly dominate the entire city. Then, acting will become far easier.

Huh—

Luo Feng turned and flew toward the Patrol Heaven Palace at the heart of Yulan City.

The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace sat inside his cave dwelling, his aura weakened.

“Wei Yang, Gai Tao,” the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace directly contacted his two companions.

Huh! Huh!

Two spectral figures appeared beside him—the spectral forms of the Lord of Wei Yang and the Lord of Gai Tao.

“Brother Yuanxiang,” the Lord of Wei Yang smiled politely. In his prime, the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace had mastered two and a half Hunsourced-level Dao paths—in the Dark Sacred Realm, he was a figure of great influence. His many allies were all peers; his network was unimaginable.

As long as the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace lived, the Lord of Wei Yang would give him face.

“Brother Yuanxiang, why the sudden call?” asked the Lord of Gai Tao.

“I’ve decided to assign the position of Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace to Luo Feng,” said the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace.

“Oh?” The Lord of Gai Tao smiled slightly. “I’ve heard rumors—Yulan City recently had a rising expert named Luo Feng.”

“No.”

The Lord of Wei Yang objected. “The Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace is a position of immense consequence, tied to the city’s safety. It requires screening cultivators for possession—a task of extreme difficulty! The Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion has handled it well for years.”

“But Luo Feng can do it better,” said the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace. “Today, he captured fifteen split forms of the Mind-Deluding Worm—because he has a secret technique that lets him determine possession at a glance, from a distance.”

“Impossible?”

The Lord of Wei Yang and the Lord of Gai Tao were both startled.

Such a powerful observation technique?

“If he has such a technique, he could scan the entire city in less than a day,” the Lord of Wei Yang frowned. “Why make him Commander?”

The Lord of Yuanxiang Palace chuckled. “He said that if he’s to do this labor, he demands one thing—the position of Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace.”

“Too greedy!” the Lord of Wei Yang snapped.

Yulan City frequently discovers hidden beings; repeated screenings have generated terrifying cumulative income. Though the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion handles the screenings, the largest share of the profits flows to the Lord of Wei Yang.

If Luo Feng takes this position, the Lord of Wei Yang loses a steady stream of income.

“He claims to be skilled in observation—but is he truly?” the Lord of Wei Yang countered. “Finding fifteen Mind-Deluding Worm split forms might be due to special circumstances.”

“The safety of Yulan City comes first,” said the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace. “If his screening ability is superior, let him hold the position. If he’s merely a fraud, we can remove him later.”

“I have no objection,” said the Lord of Gai Tao.

“Then it’s settled,” said the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace.

The Lord of Wei Yang seethed.

Though the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace never sought power or profit, when he made a decision, no one could stop him.

After all, he was the city’s founder—the highest authority.

…

The Lord of Wei Yang sat in his meditation chamber, his face dark. He had anticipated Luo Feng might pose a threat—even imagined a future where a fourth Lord, “Lord Luo Feng,” would emerge. But the threat came too fast.

“How long has he been in Yulan City? Already seizing the Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace?” The Lord of Wei Yang was furious.

Most elders merely held their titles, managing their own defense systems and collecting fixed incomes—that was all.

The Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace was the true “high-profit” position! Even the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace had never claimed it, leaving it to the Lord of Wei Yang’s faction.

“Wan Ying,” the Lord of Wei Yang sent a direct message.

“My Lord,” a middle-aged man’s spectral form appeared beside him.

“You’ve been stripped of your position as Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace,” said the Lord of Wei Yang.

“What?” The Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion was stunned. This position brought enormous income—every cultivator dragged into the Patrol Heaven Palace was stripped bare before being released.

“It was the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace’s decision. I can’t stop him,” the Lord of Wei Yang shook his head.

“Who’s the new Commander?” the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion pressed.

“That Luo Feng,” said the Lord of Wei Yang.

“Him?” The Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion frowned. “He already outshone the Hive when he crushed it—he’s clearly not one to settle for mediocrity. And now he’s seized my position? My Lord, are we just letting him take it?”

“I can’t sway the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace,” said the Lord of Wei Yang. “Invite Luo Feng to my cave dwelling—I’ll speak with him myself. If he voluntarily gives up the position, even the Lord of Yuanxiang Palace can’t object.”

“Understood,” said the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion.

Such a steady, massive income stream—neither the Lord of Wei Yang nor the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion wished to relinquish it.

…

In the heart of Yulan City: the Patrol Heaven Palace.

Here stood the barracks for countless patrol and guard units, as well as the prison for detained prisoners.

“Huh.” “Huh.” “Huh.” Patrol squads flew in, escorting large groups of cultivators toward the Patrol Heaven Palace—all suspected of contact with hidden beings.

The cultivators were helpless, resigned to their fate, blaming only their bad luck.

“Once inside the Patrol Heaven Palace, they’ll be stripped of everything,” the cultivators thought, powerless, each dragged in and locked away separately.

Huh!

Luo Feng now flew toward the Patrol Heaven Palace.

“Brother Luo Feng,” a middle-aged man approached with his subordinates—the usual form of the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion.

“Wan Ying,” Luo Feng looked at him, his heart filled with revulsion. Such men were scum among cultivators; in Luo Feng’s nature, they deserved to be wiped out entirely.

“I’ve received orders to hand over the position to you, Brother Luo Feng,” the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion said, noticing Luo Feng’s unfriendly demeanor but ignoring it, smiling. “The Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace is a position of great weight. You’ll need to devote serious attention to it.”

“I know,” Luo Feng replied.

“There’s one more important matter,” the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion smiled. “The Lord of Wei Yang asked me to invite you to his cave dwelling for a meeting. Shall we go now?”

“The Lord of Wei Yang wants to see me?” Luo Feng’s mind stirred.

The Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace was clearly a prized asset to the Lord of Wei Yang’s faction. He must be reluctant to let me take it?

To them, it was meat. To Luo Feng, he had no intention of exploiting tens of thousands of cultivators.

“I’ve just assumed office—I’m swamped with duties. Tens of thousands of cultivators still need screening,” Luo Feng said. “Once I’ve finished my duties, I’ll pay a visit to the Lord of Wei Yang.”

“Luo Feng,” the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion stepped forward, blocking his path. “You’re making the Lord of Wei Yang wait?”

“Get out of my way!”

Luo Feng’s eyes turned cold. “This is the Patrol Heaven Palace. Are you challenging me—the new Commander of the Patrol Heaven Palace—here?”

Nearby patrol squads were stunned, but regardless, they would stand by the new Commander.

“Fine. Very fine,” the Master of Ten Thousand Shadows Pavilion smiled. “I’ll relay everything you’ve said to the Lord of Wei Yang.” With that, his figure blurred and vanished.

Luo Feng sneered, then flew toward the main gate of the Patrol Heaven Palace.

The guards at the main gate had been waiting. As Luo Feng approached, they all bowed respectfully: “Commander!”

(End of Chapter)