Chapter 846: Hunting Each Other

Chen Yan entered the residence prepared for him by Qiming Village.

The adobe walls were mottled and shedding, and the curled edges of the tattered white paper pasted over them had turned yellow.

The roof leaked light, and the wooden beams were withered, black, and hollowed out by woodworms.

Mu Yanwan followed him in, and seeing the extremely crude house, her brows furrowed:

"This Peng Linjun has such audacity, to actually prepare such a crude house for the Venerable One."

Having said this, Mu Yanwan prepared to go out immediately to reason with Peng Linjun.

Chen Yan waved his hand:

"No need."

As the Array Pivot Envoy, Chen Yan should have been guiding everyone in Qiming Village to prepare for the Minor Tide at the first opportunity.

It was only natural for Peng Linjun to feel dissatisfied when he saw Chen Yan not participating in the work at the first opportunity, but instead entering the house to rest.

Having studied the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array for a long time, Chen Yan was no longer as he had been at the beginning.

Entering the village-level Jing Tu again, Chen Yan could clearly sense the array connection between the village-level Jing Tu and the town-level Jing Tu.

Even across the Sea of Malice, once the divine array within the town-level Jing Tu was activated.

As long as the Array Pivot Envoy was within a village-level Jing Tu and cast the auxiliary array of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array, they could draw a portion of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array's power into the village-level Jing Tu where they were located.

Moreover, by relying on this invisible array traction.

All the Pure Lands were actually constantly migrating in a certain direction.

This even included the settlements where the Penalizers were located.

Chen Yan sighed in his heart.

The Master of Arrays is truly remarkable.

To have actually relied solely on the strength of one person to protect the entire race of Blood-Tainted Humans in the Evil Realm.

The other party's strength might even surpass Lord Chen.

This person might truly be the number one person of the human race in the current era.

As a fellow Master of Martial Dao, Chen Yan actually felt a sense of mutual appreciation for that Master of Arrays whom he had never met.

Once Chen Yan had thoroughly studied the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array and ascended to the Eighth Rank within the Evil Realm.

It would also be time to go and meet this Master of Arrays.

Relying on the 【Eternal Calamity Reversing Blood】 to continuously provide energy and opportunities, Chen Yan's cultivation had already been rebuilt to the early stage of the Creation Realm.

The first layer of the True Martial Dao, the personal universe, had already achieved reincarnation.

And Chen Yan's mastery of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array had also reached the D-grade of the Sun-Illumination level.

This progress could not be called anything but fast.

This was precisely why Chen Yan had never studied the eighteen auxiliary arrays of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array.

Because, there was no need.

Relying on Chen Yan's level of mastery of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array, he could directly draw out the power of the 【Annihilation】 Grand Array located in Luo Town without the need for auxiliary arrays.

Therefore, there was no need for Peng Linjun and the others to be so busy.

But Chen Yan could not be bothered to explain, because explaining would only waste more time.

Now, the awakening of the Ancient God in one hundred days, as spoken of by Lord Ji, had become a sharp sword hanging over Chen Yan's head, making him afraid to waste even a single second.

"By the way, about the matter of the Realm Fruits." Chen Yan spoke up.

Mu Yanwan choked, and hurriedly said:

"Yin Baiyi from the Renowned Bookstore has already made the deal with me, but he keeps delaying it.

He set the transaction time for after the Minor Tide.

At that time, he will bring one thousand Realm Fruits."

Chen Yan's eyes were as calm as an ancient well:

"If there are any problems, just notify me directly."

His meaning was very clear; if Yin Baiyi was not honest, Chen Yan would take action directly.

Mu Yanwan hurriedly bowed, then retreated from the room.

Outside the room.

Peng Linjun, an Array Pulse Soldier who had come from White Town, had been waiting for a long time; seeing Mu Yanwan, he hurriedly said:

"Lord Array Pivot Envoy..."

"The actions of the Array Pivot Envoy do not require you to speak more," Mu Yanwan said.

Peng Linjun's breathing faltered, and his voice turned half a degree colder:

"Now that the Minor Tide is imminent, what could be more important than the Minor Tide?"

Mu Yanwan looked at Peng Linjun's urgent tone, her expression softened slightly, and she whispered:

"I cannot say anything else, but there is one thing I can guarantee: Venerable Chen Yan is powerful and can keep Qiming Village safe."

After Mu Yanwan finished speaking, Peng Linjun's expression did not improve; instead, he said in a low voice:

"But I heard from those Array Attendants who came from Luo Town that Chen Yan only recently joined the Divine Array Hall of Luo Town.

And..."

Peng Linjun narrowed his eyes:

"There is a rumor that the malice within Venerable Chen Yan's body has long since seeped into his marrow, and he has never even shown anyone outside that he can cast auxiliary arrays."

Mu Yanwan frowned and looked at Peng Linjun:

"That is just nonsense from others."

Peng Linjun was speechless for a moment, but after giving Mu Yanwan a deep look, he left directly.

Soon, Array Pulse Soldiers from White Town arrived to inquire about the details from Peng Linjun.

Peng Linjun glanced toward the mud house where Chen Yan was located and said in a deep voice:

"We must prepare for a battle to the death."

As his voice fell, the Array Pulse Soldier's face turned cold in an instant, almost erupting.

Peng Linjun said in a deep voice:

"You cannot blame Chen Yan; how long has he been in the Divine Array Hall?

He certainly did not want to come here; he was forced by Xu Zhifan.

The true culprit is the Array Master of Luo Town, Xu Zhifan, who, in order to preserve Luo Town, abandoned the village-level Jing Tu under his jurisdiction, treating human lives like grass—he deserves to die!"

A murderous look appeared in Peng Linjun's eyes, but he still let out a long sigh:

"However, now is not the time to talk about this, even though we are only Array Pulse Soldiers.

But as long as we work together, we can also manifest an auxiliary array to protect Qiming Village."

His voice was impassioned, and beside him, that Array Pulse Soldier already had tears in his eyes, gripping Peng Linjun's arm:

"Disaster is before us, but I, Liang Feng, will surely stay by Brother Peng's side!"

Peng Linjun was somewhat moved, and tears also began to shimmer in his eyes.

………………

Deep within the Sea of Malice.

The Sea of Malice surged with viscous, turbid waves, each wave crest wrapped in a twisted collective of evil.

Yin Baiyi, the owner of the Well-Known Bookstore, and another person rode a leaf-boat.

They sailed to a small island in the sea and stopped.

If one looked closely, this small island was only about ten square meters in size.

What was even more chilling was that this ten-square-meter island was built from countless eyeballs, large and small.

Countless eyeballs were piled together, their irises glowing with a dark red like bloodstains, each dead, silent pupil staring fixedly at the pitch-black deep space.

When Yin Baiyi and the person behind him stepped onto the island, their feet collided with the eyeballs.

Instantly, viscous black liquid seeped out from between the rotting-flesh-like textures, and the ground emitted a faint, creaking moan.

Yin Baiyi walked all the way to the very center, knelt down, and muttered to himself:

"Great Fanni, we search for your name in rotting ancient books!

When your whispers shatter the earth, we will crawl at your feet.

Let your divine power cast our flesh and souls into vessels to serve you."

His demeanor was pious to the extreme, and then he waved one hand, and corpses of the human race, covered in filthy blood and with eyes still wide open in death, were piled onto the small island like trash.

After placing these corpses, Yin Baiyi pointed a single finger into the void, painting with Qi and blood.

In the painting, Chen Yan's appearance emerged.

Immediately, before the Qi and blood on this painting could dissipate, Yin Baiyi and the person behind him boarded the leaf-boat and left the island.

Far from the island, the look of awe in Yin Baiyi's eyes gradually faded.

"Is the Great Master too concerned about that Chen Yan?" said the person behind Yin Baiyi.

The person speaking was Lin Yi, the Second Master of Black Wind Hall.

Previously, it was he who led the Law Enforcers of Black Wind Hall to intercept Xu Zhifan and the other nine Array Pivot Envoys.

And Yin Baiyi, the owner of the Knowing Fate Bookstore, was none other than the Great Master of Black Wind Hall.

Yin Baiyi revealed a smile:

"That Chen Yan is a variable after all; it is enough to deal with him as soon as possible.

Now that I have invited an Ancient Divine Beast to take action, how can Chen Yan not die?"

To invite an Ancient Divine Beast to act, Yin Baiyi only needed to offer the corpses of the filthy-blooded human race to the Ancient Divine Beast and then place Chen Yan's portrait on top.

As for what happened afterward, the Ancient Divine Beast would handle it itself.

This was the way the Law Enforcers and the Ancient Divine Beast had always communicated.

Yin Baiyi revealed a smile, standing with his hands behind his back:

"Within the three eastern towns of Zhiyang Prefecture, Dust Town has long been taken by us, White Town has the weakest strength and is not worth worrying about, and Luo Town's strength is now greatly reduced; the time to take it is now."

"It is just a pity." Yin Baiyi shook his head slightly:

"Actually, I am more curious about what that Chen Yan wants so many Realm Fruits for, but unfortunately, there is no way to know."

…………

Luo Town.

Array Master Hall.

Inside the main hall, Xu Zhifan sat on the tree-patterned black iron seat at the head, his gaze coldly watching the black-clothed man standing with his hands hanging down inside the hall.

"Your Black Wind Hall has great audacity, daring to send people directly into my Luo Town."

The black-clothed man's mouth curled into a cold sneer:

"Then you can make a move against me now."

He spread his arms and looked at Xu Zhifan in such a provocative manner.

The murderous intent in the depths of Xu Zhifan's eyes flashed by, and the next moment he spoke coldly:

"You may leave; I, Xu Zhifan, will absolutely never join your Black Wind Hall."

The black-clothed man laughed out loud:

"I suppose you, Xu Zhifan, have some backbone, but you should also look at what you have done.

Of the sixteen Array Pivot Envoys of Luo Town, you have toyed six of them to death, Jiang Guanxin is missing, and Wen Jianjian is also bedridden with a serious illness."

"Once the Minor Tide passes, how many of those four Array Pivot Envoys you sent to guard the village-level Jing Tu will still be alive?"

Xu Zhifan's jawline was pulled tight, his cheeks bulging, and the veins on his temples throbbed as he glared at the man in black:

"Has Chen Town long since defected to your Black Wind Hall?"

He clenched his fists; for a long time, the stronghold-level Law Enforcers under Black Wind Hall's jurisdiction had been targeting Luo Town and Bai Town.

Yet Chen Town remained safe and sound.

This was also the reason why, when Luo Town suffered heavy losses, Xu Zhifan only sought reinforcements from Bai Town, which originally had the weakest strength.

The man in black sneered:

"What do you think?"

Xu Zhifan narrowed his eyes, a sense of desolation rising in his heart.

Luo Town had already suffered heavy losses, and who would have thought that Wen Jianjian would also run into trouble, falling ill and unable to rise.

And Chen Yan and the other three Array Pivot Envoys he had sent to guard the village-level Jing Tu had been abandoned by him long ago, essentially facing nine deaths and no life.

The vast Luo Town had fallen to this state in such a short time.

Thinking of the change in Ma Zhiyao's attitude before leaving, Xu Zhifan felt even more disheartened.

The man in black seemed to notice the change in Xu Zhifan's expression and smiled:

"There is only one chance; you, Xu Zhifan, should be a person who understands the situation."

The great hall fell into sudden silence.

Xu Zhifan fell into a long silence.

…………

Time passed slowly.

Five days went by.

The time until the arrival of the Minor Tide grew shorter and shorter.

Inside the room.

Chen Yan slowly opened his eyes, which flickered with cold light.

Deep within his consciousness, a blood-red eye appeared.

It was an eyeball evolved from countless tentacles coalesced together.

It stared at Chen Yan just like that, the iris of the eyeball glowing with a dark green fluorescence, the pupil a deep black vortex.

The familiar feeling became clearer and clearer.

Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast.

This gaze had been hidden before, but now it was becoming increasingly obvious, looking at Chen Yan as if he were prey, carrying a sense of mockery.

Apart from this Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast, the auras of over a dozen remaining Seventh-rank Ancient God Beasts flickered in and out of existence.

Chen Yan frowned; he had been targeted by an Ancient God Beast.

It struck as an Eighth-rank right from the start.

Why?

Although the Law Enforcers had been hunting down those who possessed the Power of Will, Chen Yan had never revealed the Power of Will to the outside world.

Chen Yan recalled, finding a person deep within his hazy memories.

Yin Baiyi.

This person was an Eighth-rank, and when he met Chen Yan, that emotion was very strange.

Perhaps, the problem lay with this person.

With the arrival of the Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast, Chen Yan did not feel a sense of urgency.

After all, there was only one.

Although Chen Yan's current strength was only at the early stage of the Creation Realm, his path of Will had already entered the third stage, the Breaking Realm.

Dealing with one Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast could be considered easy.

Chen Yan was even worried that if he did too much, he would cause this Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast to flee.

Chen Yan was quite curious about the Ancient God Beasts within the Evil Realm, as he had never truly encountered one before.

At this moment, Chen Yan actually felt a thrill like fishing, fearing that one extra movement would scare away this Eighth-rank Ancient God Beast.