Chapter 431: Nine Yang Tyrant Blade!

As morning light finally dispersed the last wisps of poison mist above Dragon Poison Gorge, the Giant Spirit Sect's airship returned to Lingwu City, laden with victory and spoils, amid the reverent gazes of numerous martial artists.

The news of the battle at Dragon Poison Gorge—where two Heavenly Palace realm elders joined forces to obliterate a major Longlife Cult stronghold—spread like wings, swiftly reaching every corner.

For a time, the Giant Spirit Sect's prestige surged.

In streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns, people passionately discussed the earth-shattering battle, praising the Giant Spirit Sect's might and decisiveness.

Within Lingwu City, lanterns and decorations adorned every corner, radiating an air of celebration.

……

Chen Mu likewise tallied his gains from this campaign.

Internal Power Card, Qi Card, Skill Card, Power Card, Body Strengthening Card, Cultivation Card, True Qi Card……

Various cards, numerous in quantity.

But the best one came from the death of the Longlife Cult's "Venerable."

Skill Card!

A supreme technique: a peak-level sword art, "Nine Yang Tyrant Blade!"

It was hard to imagine a Heavenly Palace realm cultivator of a Mo Sect practicing a technique of pure yang and extreme hardness, let alone reaching the peak level.

Clearly, this "Venerable" had secretly cultivated it, his purpose unknown.

Now it had fallen into Chen Mu's hands.

After using the card, Chen Mu directly mastered the peak-level "Nine Yang Tyrant Blade!"

……

The following days passed in calm silence.

Chen Mu kept to seclusion, returning to the "Star Palace" to leverage the acceleration effect of the Wu Quxing Hall, deeply contemplating "Star Transformation," consolidating his Earth Altar realm's "Perceiving the Divine, Unbreakable" cultivation, steadily advancing toward the threshold of the Heavenly Palace realm.

On the other hand, he closely monitored developments through Tang Bin.

After celebrating victory, the Giant Spirit Sect did not lower its guard; instead, it intensified patrols across Lingwu City and surrounding key areas, especially scrutinizing unfamiliar faces and suspicious individuals.

Clearly, they understood that eliminating one of the Longlife Cult's key strongholds meant the enemy would not let this go unpunished.

……

The facts proved this true.

The battle at Dragon Poison Gorge inflicted losses on the Longlife Cult far exceeding surface appearances.

The stronghold was utterly eradicated, the stationed "Venerable" perished, and years of accumulated resources, secret experimental data, and a cohort of carefully nurtured core disciples were all lost.

This was not merely a severe setback to the Longlife Cult's Shannan Province strategy—it dealt a devastating blow to their deterrent power in this region.

The news, as if with wings, spread rapidly through the underground intelligence networks of both orthodox and demonic sects.

The Five Mo Sects shared common cause, yet secretly vied against each other.

Having suffered such a heavy blow, if the Longlife Cult could not retaliate with Lei Ting force, it would lose all prestige and potentially undermine its standing within the Mo Sect Alliance.

The target of retaliation was unquestionably the Giant Spirit Sect.

But how to retaliate required careful consideration.

Directly assaulting the Giant Spirit Sect's mountain stronghold, "Jushen Mountain"?

That would be like an egg striking a rock—the grand formation of one of the Seven Wu Zong's mountain gates could not be shaken by one or two Mo Sect branches.

Thus, the edge of retaliation must strike the Giant Spirit Sect's "soft underbelly."

Its vast affiliated forces, trade networks, peripheral disciples, and those important figures who moved among mortals and were relatively vulnerable.

The wind gradually grew grim and deadly.

Wulong Fucheng appeared to have restored its former order.

But Chen Mu, through the Zhenwu Office's intelligence channels and his own acute perception, sensed the hidden currents beneath the calm surface.

Prices within the city showed subtle fluctuations; several herbs used to brew antidote pills and miasma-expelling talismans had quietly risen in value.

Several small caravans affiliated with the Giant Spirit Sect's enterprises suffered repeated harassment and raids by unknown forces within a hundred li of the city—though losses were minor, the intent was clearly one of probing and provocation.

Moreover, several Giant Spirit Sect peripheral disciples active around Wulong Fucheng had vanished mysteriously, neither seen alive nor found dead.

These were merely the prelude.

As a Patrol Envoy, Chen Mu could have remained at headquarters, consolidating intelligence and leaving these "minor matters" to subordinates.

But a secret report from Tang Bin caught his attention.

"My lord, our mole in the Chengxi black market, 'Ghost Fan Tower,' has reported that recently someone has been buying large quantities of 'Rotting Marrow Grass,' 'Soul Sand,' and… 'Blood Kin's Heartblood.'"

Tang Bin's tone was solemn, "The first two are materials for crafting potent poisons and dark weapons—though regulated, they still circulate in the black market."

"But 'Blood Kin's Heartblood' must be refined from the heartblood of someone with a specific bloodline connection—extremely sinister and exceedingly rare."

Chen Mu set down the Juan Sect documents detailing Mo Sect movements across regions, his eyes growing cold.

"Have you traced the source or buyer?"

"The buyer was extremely cautious, using multiple intermediaries—our mole only traced it to a faceless, lame old servant who appeared, then vanished in the Yongfeng Fang area of northern city."

"Yongfeng Fang is a den of mixed elements with massive population turnover; deep investigation requires time and risks alerting the target."

Tang Bin paused, then added, "Also, at nearly the same time, the office received a joint investigation request from the Giant Spirit Sect."

"One of their senior inner sect stewards, surnamed Zhao, had his family residence in Wulong Fucheng—yesterday, a servant there died suddenly, his corpse in a bizarre state: all bodily blood drained, yet a crimson mark like cinnabar remained on his chest."

"The Giant Spirit Sect suspects Mo Sect involvement, but cannot openly search the city themselves, so they've requested the Zhenwu Office's assistance."

"Zhao steward?" Chen Mu's mind stirred, "His family lives in Yongfeng Fang?"

"Exactly!"

Tang Bin nodded, "The Zhao family is a minor local clan of Wulong Fucheng; their mansion sits in the southeast corner of Yongfeng Fang."

The clues seemed to be subtly linking together.

Purchasing dark materials—especially those requiring "Blood Kin's Heartblood"—and the mysterious death of a Giant Spirit Sect inner steward's family member, both point to Yongfeng Fang.

This is no coincidence.

"Where is Executive Zhao himself?"

"According to information from the Giant Spirit Sect, Executive Zhao was ordered a month ago to escort a batch of the sect's purchased Elder Chi Yan copper to Lingwu City, and is expected to return to Wulong Prefecture within these few days to handle some family affairs."

Chen Mu lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

Elder Chi Yan copper is a vital material for forging fire-affinity spiritual weapons and constructing certain arrays, and it is extremely valuable.

Although the escort route is classified, it is by no means impossible to trace.

If the Longlife Cult's retaliation is not merely aimed at the Giant Spirit Sect's assets and peripheral disciples, but seeks to go further—to strike at its core internal forces, or even seize critical resources…

"Keep watching the Zhao family in Yongfeng Alley, and do not let go of the clues involving that lame old servant."

"Also, find a way to obtain the detailed route and schedule of Executive Zhao's current escort mission—secretly."

Chen Mu instructed, "Notify everyone: any reports regarding anomalies involving Giant Spirit Sect personnel or supplies must be elevated to the highest priority and reported directly to me."

"Yes!"

Chen Mu vaguely felt that a net was being cast against the Giant Spirit Sect…

…

Three days later, at dusk.

The Zhao family estate in Yongfeng Alley suddenly caught fire—the flames erupted swiftly and unnaturally, glowing a sickly green and emitting a pungent, foul stench!