Chapter 262: Open and Aboveboard!

Facing Wei Bufan's question.

Kong Linsen's eyes, however, seemed to be shrouded in a layer of extremely gloomy frost:

"I also hope I am mistaken, but my Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil supernatural power tells me that True Monarch Huanglong has a major problem. Do you know of the supernatural power I speak of?"

Wei Bufan hesitated and said:

"The Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil has a Great Name in the Xiyanzhou; naturally, I have heard of it. This is the famous supernatural power of the senior Zhulong Heavenly Monarch. It is said to be able to peer into the Nine Netherworlds and invert yin and yang, being incomparably mysterious. Could it be that Envoy Kong has discovered something using this supernatural power?"

Kong Linsen said slowly:

"Since you have some understanding, that is even better. However, the world does not know that the Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil can observe all things, and even a cultivator's True Spirit has nowhere to hide. Today, I went to inspect the front-line positions with True Monarch Huanglong and utilized this supernatural power. Unexpectedly, I caught a glimpse that the True Spirit within True Monarch Huanglong's Nascent Soul was abnormal, floating and incomplete; it was simply not a complete True Spirit!"

Wei Bufan was horrified:

"What?"

The so-called True Spirit is a point of primordial spiritual light within a cultivator's soul. It is born innately and is inseparable from the soul, but for those with Great Supernatural Powers, even if the soul disintegrates, there is a chance to keep a point of True Spirit from being extinguished, thereby reincarnating.

Of course, this is something only a Return to Void Great Ability could possibly achieve. Wei Bufan's thoughts flashed like lightning, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Envoy Kong, City Lord Huanglong has had no abnormalities in Longshan Immortal City these years, nor has he experienced any heavy injuries, so how could his True Spirit be incomplete? Could it be..."

"You want to say, could it be that I saw it wrong?"

Kong Linsen said in a low voice:

"Although my Dongxuan True Pupil has not reached the level of my master, I would absolutely not see it wrong. At the Nascent Soul level, even fighting does not involve the level of the True Spirit. Since the True Spirit is incomplete, there are only two possibilities: either True Monarch Huanglong suffered a cultivation deviation, leading to damage to his True Spirit; or his Nascent Soul was refined by someone else, becoming an existence like a clone or a Second Yuan Ying!"

Even though he had been through great storms, Wei Bufan's face couldn't help but twitch wildly:

"Refining a Nascent Soul True Monarch into a clone? This, how is this possible? Such a thing can only be done by a Transformation to Divinity Heavenly Monarch, but there are only eleven Heavenly Monarchs in the Xiyanzhou, and every one of them is a person of high virtue and prestige; it is impossible..."

"You are wrong; there is more than just eleven Transformation to Divinity Heavenly Monarchs in the Xiyanzhou now."

Kong Linsen coldly interrupted:

"Have you forgotten that you once reported to the Immortal Alliance that ten years ago, during the Century Impact, there was a mysterious Heavenly Monarch who did not appear, yet unleashed a powerful thunder technique that injured even a fierce existence like Shi Mingkong?"

Wei Bufan's expression changed rapidly:

"That's right, there is indeed this person who has the ability to do so. When he helped out back then, we thought he was a Heavenly Monarch passing through from another continent and felt grateful. Now that I think about it, it is indeed extremely suspicious... But what is this person's intention in committing such an outrageous act?"

Kong Linsen said in a deep voice:

"Under the catastrophe, there is no lack of cultivators who secretly practice demonic or Evil Methods. This person might be of this type, not daring to experiment with Evil Methods in their own continent, so they ran to our Xiyanzhou to cause trouble.

I do not know if this person is still lurking in Longshan Immortal City. Such a situation is no longer something we at the Nascent Soul level can handle; we must..."

Before he finished speaking.

Suddenly, within the cave dwelling strictly protected by layers of arrays, the void rippled, and at the same time, a vast fluctuation that could not be described in words swept out, instantly suppressing the two of them.

Immediately, a figure unstained by the slightest worldly aura walked out from the void and chuckled:

"Not bad, not bad. As expected of an Immortal Alliance Patrol Domain Envoy. After so many years in Longshan Immortal City, even with a Transformation to Divinity present, you never noticed any abnormalities. You are the first to see through my clone supernatural power."

The moment this figure walked out of the void, Kong Linsen and Wei Bufan, these two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, were terrified and shocked. They never imagined that anyone could break into such an isolated and private place so silently, leaving them completely unaware.

Especially the latter, who felt as if struck by lightning after seeing the person clearly:

"It, it's you!?"

The person who arrived was naturally Lu Yuan.

At this moment, under the suppression of the tyrannical Body Immobilization supernatural power, the entire cave dwelling space seemed to be completely solidified. The two True Monarchs, like mosquitoes frozen in amber, had their souls and Dharma Power subjected to mountain-like pressure, with only their eyes filled with extreme horror.

Yet Lu Yuan looked at Kong Linsen with a hint of appreciation:

"Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil? This supernatural power is not bad."

His Huanglong clone was connected to his heart and mind, so he had also sensed Kong Linsen's abnormality while at the front line.

The Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil supernatural power has a great reputation in the Xiyanzhou's cultivation world, and Lu Yuan's Huanglong clone was refined when he had just stepped into the mid-stage of Refining Qi into Spirit. Looking at it now, it naturally had many shortcomings, so he had reason to believe the other party's abnormality was because they had detected the anomaly on the clone.

And sure enough, he had personally invaded the cave dwelling with the Flying Body Tracing supernatural power to verify this judgment.

"Trans, forma, tion, Heavenly, Monarch..."

Clearly feeling the pressure of Divine Sense like a vast ocean and a ten-thousand-foot divine mountain, Kong Linsen recalled that this person seemed to be in the welcoming queue when he first arrived at Longshan Immortal City. His teeth chattered, and he said with extreme anger, difficulty, and disbelief:

"Who, exactly, are you? Why possess True Monarch Huanglong, and what is your intention?"

"A dignified Transformation to Divinity Heavenly Monarch actually hiding your head and showing your tail, harming Immortal Alliance cultivators! With such evil conduct, are you not afraid of attracting the encirclement of all the Heavenly Monarchs of the Immortal Alliance!"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly:

"You are probably mistaken. The reason True Monarch Huanglong ended up in this state is all his own doing. As for Immortal Alliance cultivators discovering it... I am afraid they will not have that chance."

Having said that, he opened his hand, and Kong Linsen's immobile body automatically flew out and fell under his palm.

But just as Lu Yuan intended to activate the Nightmare Prayer supernatural power to rewrite and erase his memory, a ripple suddenly rose in his heart and mind, causing him to stop his actions.

That was a certain perception and feedback from the Sprouting supernatural power.

And at this moment, Kong Linsen, who could not move, also scolded sternly as if a great disaster were imminent:

"What do you want to do? In my sea of consciousness, there is a Lingxiao Spirit Protecting Talisman refined by my master. If you dare to possess me, it will immediately trigger this talisman and let my master know!"

"Do not even think about imprisoning us or killing us to silence us. I don't know how many people in the Immortal Alliance know I came to Longshan Immortal City. Once I go missing, it will inevitably lead to the investigation and extermination by my master and the Immortal Alliance. You will surely face a great disaster!"

"Interesting."

Lu Yuan did not care about the other party's threats and said to himself:

"Since that is the case, let me first meet your master, Zhulong Heavenly Monarch."

Having said that, he pressed down with one hand and suddenly activated the Nightmare Prayer supernatural power. A vast Divine Sense surged into Kong Linsen's Nascent Soul sea of consciousness.

At this moment, the other party's sea of consciousness surged violently, filled with intense horror and even fear. But just as Lu Yuan's Divine Sense was about to break through into the sea of consciousness, a huge, golden, and profound Talisman flew out from the depths of the sea of consciousness. Like a god, it strictly protected the other party's sea of consciousness, while also faintly emitting an extremely majestic voice:

"Who dares to harm my disciple!"

This voice clearly came from the so-called Zhulong Heavenly Monarch, and it was also a wisp of Divine Sense left by the other party in the Lingxiao Spirit Protecting Talisman, intending to intimidate enemies at a critical moment.

But now that Lu Yuan had advanced to the late stage of Refining Qi into Spirit, the Nightmare Prayer supernatural power was incredibly powerful. A mere rootless talisman naturally could not stop it, so within just two or three breaths, the tyrannical supernatural power and Divine Sense force annihilated this talisman like a tsunami.

With the only defense broken, Kong Linsen's sea of consciousness could be said to be wide open. As long as Lu Yuan continued to use the Nightmare Prayer supernatural power, he could subtly rewrite his memory and apply a Thought Imprint, using him for his own purposes.

However, he did not do so; instead, after breaking that protective Talisman, he dispelled his Supernatural Power and withdrew his vast Divine Sense.

Having no idea what had happened, only feeling that the Lingxiao Spirit Protecting Talisman had been broken and his sea of consciousness was violently shaking, Kong Linsen was filled with both shock and anger. Enduring the intense pain, he hissed with difficulty:

"You, what did you do to me!?"

Lu Yuan smiled slightly:

"Do not panic, I did nothing at all. Did you not say that the so-called Lingxiao Spirit Protecting Talisman was refined by your master, Zhulong Heavenly Monarch, and that he would know immediately if it were broken? Since that is the case, I shall wait here in Longshan Immortal City for him to arrive."

Repeatedly confirming that his sea of consciousness did not seem to have been placed under any restrictions or tampered with, Kong Linsen, who had been filled with shock and anger just a second ago, was now left only with suspicion:

"What do you mean by this?"

Lu Yuan, however, could not be bothered to say more: "When your master arrives, you will see for yourselves. Before that, the two of you stay here honestly. Of course, I allow you to send a message to your master to report the situation here."

Having said this, with a wave of his sleeve, he dispelled the Body Immobilization Supernatural Power, allowing the physical bodies and Dharma Power of the two to return to normal.

Having returned to normal, Kong Linsen and Wei Bufan suddenly retreated rapidly, standing shoulder to shoulder as if facing a great enemy, their faces pale as if they were confronting some peerless old demon.

The opponent was clearly at the level of a Transformation Deity Heavenly Monarch, and the two of them were by no means a match for him; under the opponent's bizarre Supernatural Power, it was even harder to find a chance to escape. Kong Linsen immediately took out a unique Jade Talisman to begin sending a message, while Wei Bufan endured his trepidation and said:

"May I ask how to address you? If I remember correctly, nearly twenty years ago, you used the identity of a rogue cultivator in Longshan Immortal City to feign a breakthrough to the Jiedan Late Stage, then enticed the Immortal City Lord Huanglong to recruit you, thereby staying on in a logical manner. You were so calculating; could it be that you had your eyes on Immortal City Lord Huanglong since then and had the intention to possess him?"

Lu Yuan glanced at him indifferently:

"That Huanglong was refined into a Cloning by me is his own fault. I joined Longshan Immortal City originally to slay the Corpse Demon and refine my lightning Supernatural Power, but True Monarch Huanglong coveted my Supernatural Power and lurked nearby when I entered the Yin Corpse Mountain Range alone. You tell me, is he wronged?"

Kong Linsen, who had a close relationship with True Monarch Huanglong, had already finished sending the message and said bitterly:

"This is all your one-sided story; who knows if it is true or false? In any case, True Monarch Huanglong is a pillar of our Immortal Alliance. To end up in such a state, I fear you will not be able to account for this!"

Lu Yuan was smiling yet not smiling:

"Whether it is true or false, and whether I can account for it, you will know very soon."

Having said this, he sat cross-legged in the void and waited quietly.

Kong Linsen and Wei Bufan, who were like fish on a chopping block, had their hearts filled with questions and urgency, but they dared not act rashly and could only wait alongside him.

During this time, Wei Bufan could not hold back and secretly sent a voice transmission:

"Fellow Daoist Kong, about how long will your master take to get here?"

Although he suspected that their Divine Sense transmission might not be hidden from the opponent, Kong Linsen still answered truthfully:

"My master is over two hundred thousand miles away from here and needs to pass through several Immortal City teleportation arrays; it will take at least over an hour in total."

Wei Bufan's expression was grave: "An hour... Looking at this person's intent, he does not seem to care about his actions being exposed, and is even specifically waiting here for Zhulong Heavenly Monarch to arrive. What exactly is his goal, and what does he rely on?"

Kong Linsen's expression was cold; he did not answer.

What Wei Bufan could think of, he could naturally think of as well; he now had the same questions in his heart.

Zhulong Heavenly Monarch was at the Transformation Deity Mid-Stage, ranking in the upper-middle tier among the Heavenly Monarchs of the Immortal Alliance. Although he was not as strong as Transformation Deity Late-Stage existences like Douzhan Heavenly Monarch, he was far superior to Transformation Deity Early-Stage Heavenly Monarchs like Lingjian Heavenly Monarch and Zhuhuo Tianjun.

Especially his top-tier Supernatural Power, the Dongxuan Sun and Moon True Pupil, which to a certain extent could even rival a Transformation Deity Late-Stage cultivator. Where did the opponent get the confidence to face him head-on?

Not to mention that when he sent the message, he had clearly stated the situation; Zhulong Heavenly Monarch would likely notify other nearby Heavenly Monarchs to come together. By then, at least two or three Heavenly Monarchs would arrive, and even a top-tier Transformation Deity Late-Stage Heavenly Monarch might not be able to handle such a situation.

However.

Although the situation was bizarre, the more arrogant the enemy was, the more favorable it was for their side.

Kong Linsen stopped thinking about it, and with these thoughts flashing through his mind, he waited alongside Wei Bufan.

And after a full hour and a half.

Suddenly, in the sky outside the array, a wave of overwhelmingly powerful Divine Sense and pressure swept in like a tsunami, giving the feeling of the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting, stars falling; the sky and earth for a hundred miles around trembled because of it!

And accompanying this vast Divine Sense fluctuation was an aged and furious voice:

"Where is the thief!"

This grand, majestic voice was like Heaven itself in a rage, shaking most of Longshan Immortal City until it rattled. Thousands of cultivators, both great and small, in the Immortal City were instantly terrified:

"This, what is this voice?"

"Such terrifying Divine Sense fluctuation, could it be a Transformation Deity Heavenly Monarch of the Immortal Alliance?"

"Where is the thief... what does this mean? Who is the thief referring to?"

"Quick, go notify the Immortal City Lord and report this situation!"

And at this moment when the whole city was shaken, Kong Linsen and Wei Bufan, who had been waiting in the array with growing anxiety, suddenly showed joy and turned their gazes toward Lu Yuan, as if wanting to say something.

"Is his Divine Sense already here while he is still a thousand miles away?"

At the same time, Lu Yuan could not help but chuckle softly and rose abruptly:

"Then, let me meet this Zhulong Heavenly Monarch."