Chapter 471: Is the Lord of Yin Valley a Eunuch?

"That's why it's worth three thousand taels."

Chen Mu pulled out a small jade vial from his robe and placed it on the stall. "Inside is 'Bone-Eroding Incense'—colorless, odorless, penetrates the skin on contact; if no antidote is taken within three days, the tendons and bones turn soft as mud—I'm giving it to you."

The old man stared at the vial, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Three thousand taels of gold, plus a vial of poison capable of rendering an Innate Realm cultivator powerless.

He could not refuse this deal.

"How do you spread it?" he asked.

"The Outer Disciples of the Dual Pole Sect often come to the black market to sell materials. Let it slip from their lips."

Chen Mu said, "Remember, make it sound like idle chatter, like drunken babble, like an accidental slip— the more casual, the more believable."

The old man fell silent for a moment, then tucked away the money pouch and the jade vial. "Three days. By then, the Hanbei Circuit will hear this phrase."

Chen Mu nodded and vanished into the shadow of the sewer.

…

Rumors spread like plague.

On the first day, it was only "accidentally" overheard when a few Dual Pole Sect outer disciples were drinking.

On the second day, it was already whispered among three or five minor sects.

On the third day—every teahouse, tavern, martial arts hall, even brothel across the Hanbei Circuit buzzed with hushed talk.

"Did you hear? Li Yuan's cultivation went wrong—he's impotent…"

"No wonder he never touches women—he's a eunuch."

"The Lord of Yin Valley is a eunuch? Hah! What a hilarious joke!"

"Shh—lower your voice! Do you want to die?!"

But no one would actually speak softly.

Because this phrase was too poisonous, too devastating, too easy to remember.

Who is Li Yuan?

Lord of Yin Valley, a Heaven Palace Realm powerhouse, one of the greatest dark martial figures in Hanbei.

Such a man should tower above all, majestic as Rushan.

But now, the mountain has collapsed.

Not because of strength, not because of strategy, but because—he "is not a man."

Cultivators may not fear death, but they fear mockery.

Especially mockery targeting their most primal dignity.

…

Yin Valley.

The great hall was icy and chilling; its walls of black ice reflected a faint blue flame.

Li Yuan sat upon the ice-jade throne, clutching a transmission jade token. From within it came the trembling report of the valley's steward.

"L-Lord… everyone outside is saying… that you… that you suffered a cultivation deviation, your primordial yang scattered, you can't… can't perform…"

"Crack!"

The jade token was crushed in his grip.

Ice shards mixed with jade dust trickled softly from between his fingers.

He slowly lifted his head. His eyes held no rage—only a dead, icy stillness. Beneath that stillness churned a fury ready to erupt.

"Who… is… spreading it?"

Three words, each drawn out, voice rasping like a demon scraping bone.

The steward kneeling before him trembled violently, his head nearly pressed to the ground. "I-I don't know… it first leaked from black markets across the land, but the source… the source can't be traced…"

"Can't be traced?"

Li Yuan rose slowly.

With every step he took, the cold in the hall thickened.

Fine black ice crystals began forming on the floor—the sign of Yin Yin True Qi spiraling out of control.

"Then go find it."

He stopped before the steward, looking down, towering over him.

"All disciples, all stewards, all elders—leave the valley. Search every black market, every tavern, every place where words are spoken in the thirteen prefectures of Hanbei."

"Find one, kill one."

"Find a group, slaughter the group."

"I will make the world know—"

Li Yuan's voice rose sharply, like an ice blade scraping the hall's rafters, "Whoever insults me, Li Yuan, shall be exterminated to the ninth kin!!"

"Y-Yes, Lord!!"

The steward scrambled out of the hall on his hands and knees.

Inside the hall.

As the steward departed, Li Yuan's fury and killing intent vanished instantly, replaced by calm.

He murmured to himself.

"Let this master see… who you truly are…"

…

That day, the Yin Valley bell rang nine times—the highest-level summons.

All disciples, except those in seclusion or critically injured, poured out en masse.

The eighteen exits of the Yin Mountain Range poured forth a dense tide of people, like ants surging toward every corner of Hanbei Road.

They carried the "Wanted for Rumor" edicts issued by Li Li Yuan, stopping every person they met and searching every shop; any hint of suspicion led to capture and torture back in the valley.

This coincided with the "Crush the Mo Sect" edict taking effect.

The two edicts clashed head-on.

For a time, Hanbei Road grew even more chaotic, with warriors dying every day.

……

……

Chen Mu hired two beggars, giving each one tael of silver, and had them each deliver a letter.

One letter was sent to the location of the Chengxi Town Martial Office.

The other letter was sent to the secret base of the Sun-Moon Mo Sect in the east.

Chen Mu learned of the base through Gu Yanchao's memories; the latter had never revealed it.

The letter bore no signature, no seal—only a single line of small script.

"All disciples of Yin Valley have poured out; the valley is empty, its defenses less than thirty percent. Do not miss this chance."

The beggars knew nothing of the martial world or factions—they recognized only money.

Thus, before noon, the letters reached their intended destinations.

……

……

Hanbei Road, the Road Capital.

Hanbei Headquarters of the Town Martial Office.

Commander Qin Nanxian was a woman.

A very beautiful woman.

So beautiful that anyone who saw her first would forget her identity, her strength, her danger—until she drew her sword.

At this moment, Qin Nanxian sat in her study, staring at the anonymous letter that had passed through layer upon layer of couriers and finally reached her hands; her slender eyebrows lifted slightly.

She wore a black robe embroidered with gold, her long hair bound by a jade crown, her face cold as snow, yet her phoenix eyes sharp as blades.

"Yin Valley is empty…"

She murmured softly, her fingertip tracing lightly across the letter.

She had long received reports of Li Li Yuan's large-scale crackdown on rumor-mongers.

But she had not expected that, knowing the Dragon-Tiger Sword Sect had issued the "Crush the Mo Sect" edict, they would still send out every last disciple—

It was as if they had left their own mountain gate wide open for anyone to walk in.

"Commander." The deputy commander stood below the steps, speaking softly, "This letter's origin is unknown—it may be a trap."

"And if it is a trap?" Qin Nanxian lifted her gaze. "Li Li Yuan has slaughtered hundreds of our Town Martial Office disciples over the years. Today, they expose their own weakness—if I dare not strike, won't I be laughed at?"

She rose; her waist-slung sword hummed softly.

"Order: All officers of Silver Rank and above in every branch, assemble within half an hour. Target—Yin Valley."

"What of the Sun-Moon Mo Sect?"

"If Fu Canglong received this letter, he will act." Qin Nanxian's lips curled into a cold smile. "Perfect. Let's settle old and new accounts together."

……

……

Fu Canglong was an old man.

An extremely old man.

So old his wrinkles resembled cracked tree bark, so old that sitting there, he looked like a stone statue on the verge of crumbling.

But when he opened his eyes, the temperature in the great hall would plummet.

For within those eyes, there was no age—only a pure, centuries-deep bloodlust.

He, too, held an anonymous letter.

Its contents were identical to Qin Nanxian's.

"Hah…" Fu Canglong laughed, his voice dry as a broken bellows. "Li Li Yuan, Li Li Yuan—today is your day."

Below the dais, a black-robed Mo Sect emissary bowed: "Lord, this letter is suspicious—it may be a setup."

"And if it is a setup?"

Fu Canglong rose slowly, his bones cracking softly. "Yin Valley has always been at odds with us; over the years, they've killed many of our branch disciples. Today, they seek their own death—if I don't go to collect their corpses, how can I honor those fallen children?"

He extended his withered hand and grasped a blood-red longblade leaning beside his chair.

The blade's name: "Drinking Soul." Once drawn, it must drink a spirit.

"Order: All Blood Guards, follow me—level Yin Valley!"