Chapter 692

The immortal sects were in an uproar, yet the grand mansion in Jianyang Prefecture remained as desolate as ever.

Shen Yi sat motionless in the courtyard, appearing as if lost in distant contemplation, but in truth he was exerting all his effort to conceal his aura—he had been aiding the five lords of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace in seizing that immortal seal since returning to Shenzhou.

Now, the smooth, luminous seal lay quietly within his ring.

Shen Yi retracted his spiritual perception and calmed his thoughts.

The matter in Hongze could finally be put to rest; according to Lady Qinghua's message, the Celestial Court's heavenly officials had arrived and, under established protocol, found the amassed evidence gathered long ago by the Eastern Dragon Palace utterly convincing—the entire process had been flawlessly smooth.

Lingyun Shiren had grown too accustomed to his role as a local emperor, too comfortable, and had not even considered the slightest concealment.

Since he had once attacked the Merit Immortal, this affair would inevitably implicate Elder Yu Chi's immortal sect; what followed next was the Celestial Court's concern, not Hongze's.

Since his transmigration, Shen Yi's sole desire had been to secure his place and life, free from fear of death.

From the moment he slew the Qingluan, he gave all these things to the people of Hongze—but never himself.

"…"

Those grudges had not vanished; they had merely shifted from Hongze to him, the master of Shenxu Shanfeng.

Neither Mount Tianwu nor Shenxu Laozu would ever let him go.

Shen Yi opened his eyes and gazed silently at the blue sky, then gave a helpless smile.

He might have been somewhat foolish in his cultivation, but he was no fool; what others could see, he could also perceive in part.

This world was on the brink of great chaos, and countless cultivators were stepping into the calamity.

He had been forced into this great calamity, yet felt utterly out of place among them.

First, he didn't even know what the conflict was truly about; second, others had sects backing them, while he had to guard against Shen Shan Laozu waking at any moment and swallowing his heavenly-given immortal pill.

Beyond internal troubles, external threats were equally grave.

As for Mount Tianwu, this lineage of the Immortal Sovereign would have to tread over Shen Mou's bones to rise again.

Besides that, the old saying holds: the first bird to fly gets shot.

Though the battle with the Qingluan was satisfying, it had been witnessed by too many; word would spread, and other immortal sects' prodigies seeking to rise would surely see him as a thorn in their side.

Then there was the Puti Sect…

Shen Yi pressed his lips together, and in his mind appeared the thousand-armed figure, and beneath it the black dog with its throat gripped tight.

If his guess was correct, then his ability to sit peacefully in this courtyard right now might well owe thanks to Master Zhikong's silence.

As for that group of celestial deities, Shen Yi now had some understanding of them.

They were indeed impartial, but they also had no stance—or rather, their very nature was the stance: favoring no one, they would almost certainly not involve themselves in this matter.

After weighing everything, it seemed the only one he could rely on now was the imperial court.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi turned his head to look behind him.

"How is your injury?" Ye Lan stepped forward slowly, asking with concern; she could not see the battle between the five lords and the seal's leopard spirit, and assumed this young master had sustained hidden wounds from fighting the Qingluan and was now exerting himself to recover.

"It's no longer an issue."

Shen Yi sighed inwardly and slowly withdrew his gaze.

Even when Ye Lan returned, she had specifically warned him: do everything possible to avoid revealing his identity as the "heavenly pill" of Shenxu Shan.

The reason was simple.

The Zhan Yao Si existed because the imperial court provided cultivators with precious resources unavailable elsewhere—that was their strength.

But now, a peak master so "highly regarded" by Shen Shan Laozu would, to any normal person, clearly have no lack of resources.

In this tense situation, every prodigy from the three sects was a looming threat to the court's future!

So the question arises:

Why did Shen Yi join the Zhan Yao Si?

Ye Lan had once been peak master of the Pill Peak, but her entire lineage was annihilated, she was ostracized by her peers, and even the Pill Peak left by her master was lost—her joining the Zhan Yao Si was perfectly reasonable.

But what of the "heavenly pill"?

A second-generation disciple of Shenxu Shan, personally endorsed by Shen Shan Laozu, with the entire mountain standing behind him, treated like a true heir—and this heavenly pill cultivator had proven himself worthy, fighting for his sect, slaying the Tianwu Qingluan in Hongze, earning great renown.

How could such a person suddenly choose to serve the imperial court and oppose the Sanxian Sect?

Who would believe it? Shen Yi himself didn't believe it.

Of course, Old Man Yan might be trustworthy—but what if this General Zhenan fell, or the situation slipped beyond his control?

Could anyone else in the court be trusted?

The only forces capable of disturbing heaven and earth were the three sects and the divine dynasty.

Shen Yi now found himself in this awkward position: seemingly connected to everyone, yet truly relying on no one.

"Then I must rely on myself."

He sighed inwardly, slowly rising, when Lady Qinghua's voice echoed in his mind.

"My lord, why not simply leave the Zhan Yao Si?"

Now as an immortal general, she could see more, and could offer her lord a few suggestions.

If no one could be relied upon, better to withdraw first, observe the changes, and avoid being dragged into the turmoil.

With an immortal general as an informant above, Shenxu Shan as cover below, and his own overwhelming power of fourth-rank, simply preserving himself should not be difficult.

"…"

Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, unexpectedly recalling when the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva descended upon Xishan, how Old Man Yan had arrived grievously wounded, yet still managed to clap his shoulder and smile, saying, "I've got you covered."

Lady Qinghua quickly sensed her lord's meaning and changed her tone: "Or perhaps there is another way."

With your supreme divine bearing, your thoughts must far surpass mine—how else could you have transformed from a golden carp into a dragon and earned the title of Taixu Danhuang?

"Stir up the muddy waters."

Shen Yi replied slowly with his spiritual mind.

Though all these identities are awkward now, if used wisely, they may yet become many layers of protection.

"How does the law work?" Lady Qinghua asked curiously.

"How would I know?" Shen Yi silently rolled his eyes. Did she really think he was the Divine Calculator? Now, he could only take one step at a time.

"Lady Qinghua understands!" She quickly fell silent. Heavenly will is unknowable; how could a mere little demon like herself dare to speculate on her master's thoughts? If she spoke and caused disaster, ten thousand deaths would not atone for it.

"First, bring me the corpses of those great demons."

Shen Yi also felt somewhat guilty toward General Wushan. He couldn't leave the Divine Court once and dump all these tasks on one person.

At the very least, he should reshape a few fifth-rank tree demons to help guard the Three Prefectures—it would make future work easier.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Just as Shen Yi severed his connection with Lady Qinghua and turned around, he saw a bulky figure step into the courtyard.

General Wushan walked in, one hand clutching the Juan Sect, the other holding a transmission jade tablet, his expression numb. Because Shen Yi had been concealing his aura, he hadn't expected to see both of them when he looked up.

The fat man paused, his face neither angry nor pleased—only a cold sneer: "I thought who it was. So you two actually remember to come back? Not even a message. Those who don't know might think you eloped."

"..."

Ye Lan frowned and explained: "Nanyang's cultivation went awry—he's still in meditation. It wasn't intentional."

Hearing this, General Wushan's steps slowed slightly. He fell silent for several breaths, then sighed and turned to Shen Yi: "Sorry. I'm just a foul-mouthed man—no ill intent."

As he spoke, his face paled slightly as he absently rubbed his chest: "Lately, there's been a lot to handle, but nothing major—just rogue demons and scattered cultivators causing trouble. Occasionally a bigger one pops up, but I've mostly dealt with them. Don't worry. Cultivation comes first. Once you've recovered, take over as soon as you can."

The hidden wound left by the Luo Han's Golden Light during our clash near the Demon Suppression Tower—due to constant busyness, I never had time to rest, and it's only worsened. I can't fully suppress it anymore; my strength is now at less than four-tenths.

Yan Lao is still in seclusion.

Fortunately, the two of you have finally returned.

Otherwise, continuing like this might damage my Dao cultivation.

"Huh."

Hearing General Wushan's apology, Ye Lan exhaled slightly and stole a glance at Shen Yi. She knew her young uncle wasn't as gentle as he appeared—he'd strike without warning, and once he did, few survived.

Such ferocity was rare in the world.

In the past, it didn't matter—General Wushan, as a fourth-rank Taiyi Zhenxian, still towered over Shen Yi.

But now? Even the Azure Phoenix was gone. She truly feared General Wushan's careless tongue might provoke trouble.

This elder may speak harshly, but his heart isn't evil. Even though he always tried to distance himself, when we left the Divine Court, didn't he still take charge of the Six Prefectures?

"..."

Shen Yi noticed General Wushan's change in expression, studied him briefly, and said nothing—only bowed: "The situation arose suddenly. Thank you, Elder. I know some alchemical arts; I'll prepare some pills and send them to you shortly."

Practicing the Grand Void Alchemy Path not only enhances my calamity power, but while refining my Jin Dan in the furnace, my alchemical skill is advancing rapidly.

"Good on you, kid."

General Wushan raised an eyebrow and finally spat in annoyance.

Of course, he had little hope for Shen Yi's pills. At his current realm, even if this boy was the head of the Immortal Sect's Alchemy Peak, he was far too young to possibly craft a usable fourth-rank immortal pill—the odds were vanishingly slim.

But at least this gesture meant his efforts weren't entirely in vain.

"I'm off."

General Wushan placed the jade tablet and Juan Sect on the table, then strode out of the courtyard without hesitation.

Managing nine prefectures alone? He'd been lucky nothing went wrong.

At that moment, a streak of light rushed into Shen Zhai. The Executioner Officer didn't even have time to bow to the other two titled Generals before landing beside General Wushan.

"My lord, something's happened in our own domain!"

"..."

General Wushan's expression darkened.

He was never impulsive. His focus on others' Six Prefectures—and his decision to station himself in Jianyang—was deliberate.

Whether in terms of the number of enemies he'd made or the strength of the titled Generals stationed locally.

If demonic forces wanted to strike Da Nanzhou, they shouldn't choose the Three Prefectures under his command—it would be inefficient and utterly illogical.

After all, though outsiders didn't know of the Zhan Yao Si, anyone bold enough to reach a level where even Executioners couldn't control them would surely know the imperial court had a Huangshan Daoist, a fourth-rank Taiyi Zhenxian, who cultivated in Jin Guang Prefecture.

"Look first."

The Executioner Officer pulled out a letter and handed it over.

General Wushan's gaze swept over the characters. His face grew darker until, at the end, an image had been left on the paper with immortal energy.

The instant he recognized the old monk's face, he clenched the letter tightly—he finally understood why they'd targeted Jin Guang Prefecture.

"Dare come back to die!"

General Wushan exhaled heavily, instantly ascending onto a blessed cloud and shooting out of Jianyang Prefecture.

After he left, the Executioner Officer turned back to the two in the courtyard, bowing with a look of helpless resignation.

"Your humble servant greets you, both Generals."

His expression hesitated; he pondered long before stepping to Shen Yi and whispering: "Forgive my boldness, but—when General Nanyang last went to the Demon Suppression Tower to subdue demons, did he truly exterminate them all?"

For someone of his rank to question a titled General.

Even though the Zhan Yao Si wasn't as rigidly hierarchical as the imperial court, such a thing was extremely rare—clear proof of his deep resentment.

"..." Ye Lan lifted her gaze in confusion. Was this connected to the Demon Suppression Tower?

"Yes." Shen Yi didn't hesitate—he nodded firmly.

He might pause for other matters, but when it came to demonic lifespans—if he said none remained, none did.

Seeing this, the Executioner Officer gritted his teeth: "Good."

He turned to leave, but Shen Yi softly called out: "Tell me exactly what happened."

The Executioner Officer clenched his fist, then sighed: "A few days ago, a great demon claimed to have escaped from the Demon Suppression Tower and, under the banner of vengeance against mortals, suddenly attacked Jin Guang Prefecture."

"The demon plague hasn't ended?" Ye Lan's hand rested on her sword hilt.

"It's even worse than that." The Demon-Slayer Officer waved his sleeve, conjuring a water screen in the air with immortal power: "You two may look for yourselves."

The water screen rippled, and a majestic prefecture city came into everyone's view.

"The surrounding counties were not damaged in the slightest. This horde of demons simply appeared out of thin air right outside Jin Guang Fucheng. I've never seen anything so bizarre in my entire life."

Along with the Demon-Slayer Officer's words, a vast horde of demons suddenly surged out within the water screen.

Before the prefectural office could react and mobilize its soldiers, and the demon-slayers rushed out in haste, the towering city walls were forcibly shaken down by the demon horde. The terrified screams of the common folk never ceased.

"Even though General Wushan is not in the prefecture, as long as the Prefect mobilizes the imperial qi and the soldiers form their array, even if they can't clean up these great demons, at least holding out until the general returns would be no problem."

The Divine Dynasty certainly couldn't rely solely on Zhan Yao Si. Perhaps it lacks agility, but its own ability to face enemies head-on is likewise not something ordinary demons can contend with.

"But just then…"

A look of helplessness flashed through the Demon-Slayer Officer's eyes.

Within the water screen, a figure wielding a staff suddenly sprang up. First, right in front of the citizens of Jin Guang Prefecture, he swept the demons out of the city in a few quick moves, and then was swiftly swallowed by the demon horde.

Following closely, an old monk slowly walked to the collapsed section of the city wall.

He sat cross-legged, pressed his palms together, and his body instantly swelled. Soon he was like a mountain. He calmly closed his eyes, using his own flesh and blood as a new city wall.

This was originally a technique of the Luo Han Dharma Body.

But the dharma body manifested by this old monk did not blaze with ten thousand rays of golden light; it was that withered, emaciated frame, merely taller and more imposing.

The next moment, the demon horde surged forward, tearing the monk's robes to shreds, and with sharp fangs, ripped away his flesh and blood.

Like wild dogs fighting over scraps, in an instant they gnawed him down to a skeleton. On the ghastly white bones, tattered skin and rotting flesh fluttered gently like banners.

On the old monk's remaining half-face was written utter serenity, and the magnanimity of meeting death with composure.

"This old monk is powerless to subdue demons. I can only use this useless skin-bag to feed you all in place of my common folk. I beg you all to withdraw from here, and cease to trouble the mortal world."

"May Buddha be merciful…"

Along with a deep, resonant chant, his tightly pressed palms finally slowly opened, revealing the exquisite statue flickering with golden light within.

The statue's thousand arms unfurled, and the Bodhisattva calmly gazed down upon the mortal world.

Beneath those eyes, terror suddenly welled up in the demon horde's gaze, and they retreated like a receding tide.

Only the empty skeletal frame remained, standing like an indestructible city wall amid the collapsed ruins.

"A large group of Puti Sect followers suddenly appeared within Jin Guang Prefecture, praying on their behalf. If this is allowed to continue, within no more than three months, if one wishes to drive out the Puti Sect followers, I'm afraid the mortal world's imperial qi in Jin Guang Prefecture will collapse entirely!"

The Demon-Slayer Officer roughly scratched at his hair.

Any cultivator with a bit of sense, upon thinking it over, would know: if these were truly demons that had broken free, how could they possibly be so well-fed and content? If they already dared to invade the Divine Dynasty, would they be scared off by a mere little statue?

But now, before that wall of white bone, whatever the imperial court said was utterly powerless.

Even the previously announced matter of the Demon-Suppressing Tower has become a lie. If the demon horde was slain, then where did these demons come from?

"With his Great Vehicle Luo Han techniques, concealing the imperial qi and bringing a horde of demons in—what difficulty would that be?"

"Going to such elaborate lengths to put on such a grand show—don't you find it disgusting!"

Ye Lan stared fixedly at the water screen, suddenly feeling a sense of helplessness. With such methods, let alone Wushan, even if it were Old Master Yan Lanting, could he ignore the chatter of the world and forcibly drive this group of monks out, or even slaughter them all?

If Wushan had been in Jin Guang Prefecture at the time, it would have been simple—cut through the tangle with a swift blade, directly exterminate the demon horde, and he could have kicked this monk's stage crashing down.

But because of the two of them…

Ye Lan silently glanced at the youth beside her. According to Wushan's earlier division, the matter of Jin Guang Prefecture naturally had nothing to do with the two of them.

But based on her understanding of Uncle-Master Shen, the other party most likely could not bring themselves to do such a thing.

"…"

Shen Yi said nothing, merely casting his gaze toward Jin Guang Prefecture.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and said softly: "Keep an eye on this place for me. I'll go over and take a look."

(End of this chapter)