Chapter 185: Four Paths Forward

"However, I am not completely useless; the third point requires me." The Imperial Elder Ancestor rarely smiled with narrowed eyes.

Everyone harbored doubts, yet no one spoke up to ask.

The Imperial Elder Ancestor had no choice but to ask and answer himself, "Give me three months, and I can make Chen Yi He into an existence capable of opposing the third person."

How is that possible!!

Chen Yi He was so shocked he retreated seven or eight steps backward.

The others were even more shocked than Chen Yi He; they could not imagine that Chen Yi He, merely a Fourth Heaven expert, could reach the accomplished level of the Seventh Heaven—pulling up seedlings to help them grow is also impossible!

"Three conditions paired with three methods—I haven't taken too much advantage from you, have I?" the Imperial Elder Ancestor asked the crowd.

"Although that's the case, this..." Yan Shan Hai found himself embarrassed; even someone as knowledgeable as he truly felt it was unbelievable.

"Chen Yi He, are you willing? Follow me into seclusion for three months, and upon emerging you will instantly achieve great accomplishment!" the Imperial Elder Ancestor asked Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He's heart was in a panic; he really wanted to turn around and flee at once, but he knew he could not escape the Imperial Elder Ancestor's palm.

But this might be the only chance to defeat the Heavenly Dao Trio!

The Imperial Elder Ancestor did not mention the Palace Master of the Five Absolutes Palace. Because everyone's strength differs greatly from the Palace Master's, it is impossible to deduce her exact corpse. She is likely at the Fifth Heaven, possibly the Sixth Heaven; at this stage, even the Seventh Heaven is not impossible.

"Yi He, what do you say? If his words are true." Yan Shan Hai asked Chen Yi He.

Regarding what the Imperial Elder Ancestor said, he was also half-believing, half-doubting.

"Since he said all that, let's give it a try." Chen Yi He gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and agreed—after all, it's all a death sentence anyway, so why not give it a shot! His biggest worry was that the Imperial Elder Ancestor had a scheme against him; he always felt everything was suspicious.

However, now the arrow is on the bowstring and must be released.

"In three days, I will wait for you here." The Imperial Elder Ancestor said this and then vanished like a ghost.

"Why does he need your blood and true qi?" Yan Shan Hai asked Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He shook his head and replied, "I don't know either." He faintly felt that everyone's gazes toward him were not quite right, yet he dared not raise an objection.

"I just think you, kid, are peculiar; looks like that old thing took a liking to you right away!" The Ximo Sword Demon patted Chen Yi He's shoulder, sizing him up as if measuring the weight of prey.

Chen Yi He felt unnatural being stared at, so he quickly changed the subject, asking, "What should we do next?"

"We will split into four routes." Yan Shan Hai told everyone, "First, one route leads to death—namely, you, Chen Yi He, must follow the Imperial Elder Ancestor; the remaining three routes need to be allocated by us others."

"How should we allocate?" Hu Bao asked, "Besides, aren't we facing just three people?"

"Don't forget that Dongfang Wuji and Zhang Huayu together are needed to deal with one!" Luo Qing Kui reminded Hu Bao impatiently, "Having Dongfang Wuji and Zhang Huayu cooperate is sheer fantasy! I feel this is actually the most difficult."

"Quite right; if it weren't for their two fighting each other, the three Heavenly Dao individuals could never have escaped!" Hu Bao, thinking of this, became furious.

"One route to find Shangguan Yunyi, one to find Dongfang Wuji, one to find Zhang Huayu." Yan Shan Hai said.

"The strength of these three individuals far surpasses ours; even with three months to find them, it's still difficult." Luo Qing Kui sighed.

"Indeed, a Seventh Heaven expert wanting to hide and avoid detection is truly too easy, too simple."

"Actually, Dongfang Wuji is the easiest to find; he must be in the Dong Hai." Yan Shan Hai said confidently.

"Why?"

"He is currently severely injured; only the seawater of Dong Hai can stabilize his condition. Although he is a Seventh Heaven expert, the injury comes from other experts of the same level, so his wound is hard to heal quickly. We only need to go to the Dong Hai shore to find him, and we will surely succeed." Yan Shan Hai's inference was as sure as could be; "Which few people are willing to go?"

"Dongfang Wuji, Dongfang Giant Demon—who dares provoke him? To provoke is to die; he is so lawless and unruly, who could persuade him?"

"Namo Amitabha, good, good; the Buddha said, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' Let this poor monk go." Master Leshi volunteered, and in the face of danger he revealed his true Buddhist nature.

Everyone cast admiring glances at him.

"I'll accompany you." Shang Rong Shi Tai said.

"We have nine people left; three per route is just right—count me in." Hong Liang also wanted to go along.

"Good!" Chen Yi He exclaimed in approval; although his own path had been sealed off, seeing his teammates so capable still filled his heart with relief.

"Then who will go find Zhang Huayu?" Duan Sheng asked.

"Zhang Huayu needs no thought; he must be hiding in one of the many garrisons of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, just like Dongfang Wuji, he is also severely injured and at this stage must heal his wounds."

"But three hundred thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards—what a concept; even dragging them could exhaust them to death!"

"I'll go." Facing the most difficult task, the mainstay Yan Shan Hai must bear the burden.

"Me too." Hu Bao said.

"Then I'll join as well." Ling Xiao Shang—whatever he does, he remains calm; even in this urgent situation he appears unflustered.

"Hahaha! Good! Let's all give it our all!" Yan Shan Hai laughed loudly.

"Let's guess—will Dongfang Wuji be settled first, or Zhang Huayu?" Hu Bao asked.

"Hahaha! Just fear that neither of them gets settled!" The Ximo Sword Demon laughed loudly.

"But that Sword King Shangguan Yunyi is hard to find; he wanders the world without a fixed abode, and in the martial world only his legend remains—where could we possibly find him?" Shang Rong Shi Tai asked worriedly.

"Hahaha! This point will require us two to step forward." Duan Sheng laughed loudly, pointing at the Ximo Sword Demon and asking, "Isn't that right? Sword Demon?"

"What you say makes perfect sense! We are both swordsmen, so we have the deepest mutual understanding!" The Ximo Sword Demon gave Duan Sheng a thumbs up, then told everyone, "Indeed, we can find Shangguan Yunyi."

"That would be best! I'll leave it to you—how about that?" Yan Shan Hai clapped his hands in approval.

"Me too!" Luo Qing Kui raised his hand, indicating he had not yet been assigned.

"Me and the Sword Demon are enough; you follow Sect Leader Yan. I think Zhang Huayu is the harder opponent, while Dongfang Wuji, though hateful, is not deep‑minded—unlike Zhang Huayu, whose mind is like the sea! Truly frightening are people like that..." Duan Sheng said to Luo Qing Kui.

Luo Qing Kui felt it made sense, and nodded with a measure of conviction.

Everything has been allocated, three months time.