Chapter 669: I Want to Go See Tianzhou!

Izheng Shrine sits in the central part of the Ying Kingdom's main island, backed by verdant mountains and facing a broad plain.

The entire shrine is built against the mountain; layers upon layers of vermilion torii rise along the stone steps all the way to the summit, like a gate to the heavens.

Here the guards are extremely strict, Ying Kingdom self‑defense police in black uniforms posting a guard every three steps and a sentry every five steps, swords at their waists, eyes sharp and vigilant.

They are elite troops directly dispatched by the Imperial Family, each having undergone rigorous martial arts training; wherever they go, they are treated as honored guests.

But outside the main hall's gate they have no right to enter, forced to stand upright between the colonnades, eyes level, like lifeless statues.

The interior of the main hall is very spacious, the floor covered with dark solid‑wood planks, polished smooth and shiny by countless footsteps.

Light seeps in through the high window slits, casting slender beams across the floor.

The air is filled with an old sandalwood scent, mingled with the distinctive aroma of ink on paper and ancient wood, causing one to unconsciously tighten their breath.

At this moment, within the great hall, eighteen elders kneel on straw mats arranged in a semicircle, leaving the center vacant where a disheveled figure kneels.

Chi Tian Yi Lang hunches his shoulders, lowers his head; his kimono is torn in several places, his face dirty and sullen, a far cry from the arrogant warrior he was a few days ago at the Tianzhou Martial Arena.

He kneels there, hands resting on his knees, fingertips trembling slightly, daring not to lift his head to look at those around him.

The main hall is so quiet that only the occasional wind outside the window and the crisp chime of a wind bell under the wooden eaves can be heard.

The Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court, seated at the highest spot, slowly opens his half‑closed eyes, his gaze landing on Chi Tian Yi Lang.

His features are slender and gentle, his voice neither loud nor soft, like a breeze drifting through a long corridor.

"Alright, Chi, tell everyone what happened in Tianzhou."

Chi Tian Yi Lang opens his mouth, but before he can speak, a cold, sinister voice cuts in from the side, interrupting his words.

"Wait a moment, Chi."

The speaker is the elder seated third to the right of the Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court.

His frame is gaunt, his back severely hunched as if pressed by something for years, yet his eyes shine terrifyingly, like two hidden embers deep beneath the water.

He stares at Chi Tian Yi Lang, his gaze carrying a chilling scrutiny and warning, his voice hoarse and low, like sandpaper rubbing metal.

"I would like to ask, where is our Shinto Munenryu's Zhongcun, and why didn't he return with you?"

Grand High Priest of Danhai River.

He ranks fourth among the eight Great Divine Domain High Priests, guarding the Ying Kingdom's largest freshwater lake and all inland waterways.

He also holds a more feared title: Elder of Shinto Munenryu.

The younger brother of Half-step Martial Ancestor Sword Saint Zhongcun Jiben.

Chi Tian Yi Lang's body jolts, his forehead striking the floor heavily, producing a dull thud.

His voice trembles with an almost crying tone.

"It is my inadequacy… I failed to protect Zhongcun! Zhongcun… the Divine fell!"

With those words, the air in the main hall seemed to be sucked out in an instant.

The Grand High Priest of Danhai River sprang to his feet, eyes blazing with anger, a terrifying aura exploding from his body like a startled beast roaring.

The aura bears the pressure of a Half-step Martial Ancestor, like an invisible mountain bearing down in the hall, pinning Chi Tian Yi Lang to the ground, his whole body trembling, unable even to utter a plea for mercy.

At the moment the pressure was about to spiral out of control, the Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court lightly raised his hand.

He moves gently, like an old man brushing dust from his sleeve, yet the intangible pressure dissipates by more than half the instant he lifts his hand, the raging aura seemingly suppressed, returning to calm.

"Let Chi finish speaking."

His voice remains neither loud nor soft, carrying a composed reassurance.

The Grand High Priest of Danhai River stands there, his chest heaving violently twice, glaring fiercely at Chi Tian Yi Lang, then slowly sits back down.

His gaze still resembles two red‑hot iron tongs, yet the pressure has subsided considerably.

Chi Tian Yi Lang exhales, then begins to recount the events that occurred in Tianzhou in a halting manner.

From the moment he arrived at the Tianzhou Martial Arena with Song Ben and Zhongcun, to Lu Fangzhou being defeated, a mysterious woman achieving a Battlefield Breakthrough and killing Song Ben, to Lu Zhanlian achieving a higher‑level Wolf‑slashing sword technique in battle and slaying Zhongcun, to his own defeat and escape after confronting Qiao Zhenyu…

He narrates in great detail, even describing each combat exchange clearly and precisely.

The main hall remains silent for a long while.

After the Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court finishes listening, he remains silent for a moment, then asks.

"You say Qiao Zhenyu suddenly grew stronger? While you had him fully suppressed, his power suddenly surged, eventually even shattering your Heavenly Absolute Seal Method?"

Chi Tian Yi Lang nods forcefully, his voice tinged with an uncontainable grievance.

"Yes, sir! I, as a person of integrity, guarantee that Qiao Zhenyu was originally completely suppressed by my Heavenly Absolute Seal Method; I had already found a gap in his defense, and only a dozen more moves would finish him. Yet at that moment, his power suddenly became seemingly endless. Those fists grew heavier and heavier, each collision making me feel the recoil force in my palm increase."

His brows knit tightly, as if straining to recall every detail.

"I do not know what that power is, but it is certainly not Qiao Zhenyu's own. He is only a Heavenly Person Mid-stage; even burning his qi and blood could not sustain that state for so long. My knowledge of Tianzhou Martial Arts is thorough; I have long uncovered Qiao Zhenyu's background, and he simply lacks the ability to grow stronger the longer he fights."

The Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court tilts his head slightly, a hint of uncertainty.

"Did you not see anyone acting behind the scenes from start to finish?"

Chi Tian Yi Lang shakes his head, his tone carrying an almost resentful helplessness.

"I was fully focused on dealing with Qiao Zhenyu the whole time, but I can confirm that there was absolutely no third party intervening on the Arena. My perception constantly covered the entire Arena; any external true‑qi disturbance would have been detected."

"But sir, I always felt something was off. From the start of that contest, I sensed something abnormal. Zhongcun's death, Song Ben's death, Qiao Zhenyu's counterattack… all seemed ill‑logical. It was as if something unseen was steering everything toward Tianzhou's advantage."

He hesitates briefly, then finally voices his thought.

"I suspect that something unusual may exist over in Tianzhou, but my abilities are limited, so I cannot determine exactly what it is. If such a presence truly exists, it is normal that my perception cannot capture it."

After saying that, he lowers his head again.

The main hall falls silent once more, the gazes of the eighteen high priests intersecting silently in the air.

The Grand High Priest of Danhai River speaks in a low voice.

"This is not the reason you caused the future head of Shinto Munenryu to fall!"

The Grand High Priest of Wei Yuan Imperial Court lifts his eyelids, his gaze lingering on Chi Tian Yi Lang for a moment, without further questioning.

"Alright, you may go down and rest first."

Chi Tian Yi Lang, as if granted a pardon, bumped his forehead against the floor again, then hunched his back and left the main hall, leaving eighteen elders kneeling on cushions.

Wei Yuan, standing before the throne, watched Chi Tian Yi Lang's disappearing silhouette at the doorway, fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Someone over in Tianzhou must have discovered our plot… what a pity, to seize the Tianzhou Martial Arts' Qi Yun for a Hundred years, this time our effort fell short by a single basket. Do any of you have a good plan?"

The lord of Danhai Jin spoke directly.

"Your Majesty, I wish to go to Tianzhou and take a look…"