Chapter 998

The blazing sun in the sky burned for several more breaths before its blinding white faded to bright yellow, then to red, and finally slowly turned into rolling thick smoke that rose high into the air like a ten-thousand-zhang mushroom.

Ji State returned to darkness, yet billions of commoners had witnessed the sun rising at midnight—shocked beyond words, yet inexplicably exhilarated.

At this moment, the people suffered terribly; they all longed for demons to descend from heaven, and any celestial anomaly was hope.

The King of Ji stood before the steps, watching the great sun slowly fade in the sky, utterly forgetting the bitter cold, and that he had rushed out barefoot, his feet now numb from the icy stone steps.

He even forgot to issue an edict ordering the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to explain the celestial omen.

At the Ji State Observatory, the aged Director of the Bureau, disheveled and unsteady, hurried up to the highest platform—only to find the night-duty star official lying dead, his body still warm.

The old Director did not touch the corpse, but walked a full circle around the observatory, realizing the star official had apparently discovered something, attempted to divine the heavenly fate, and died in the attempt.

Da Tang, imperial capital.

It was said Emperor Jing was startled multiple times that night, barely sleeping at all—every time he closed his eyes, nightmares came.

The Regent’s Mansion was no less restless; the Prince of Jin of Da Tang read by lamplight until dawn. The mansion’s rules were strict: if the Regent did not sleep, half the household staff had to remain on duty—and many of them saw a faint white glow in the distance.

…

Wei Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, slowly descending back to his original spot. The county government office had vanished entirely; those uninvolved within had been instantly transported elsewhere, yet he himself felt nothing.

Wei Yuan felt his posture was perfect—the last lingering glow of the aerial sun illuminated his facial contours just right.

After landing, he still stood with hands behind his back, gazing upward, waiting for an impossible variable, then slowly withdrew his gaze—perfect.

After displaying utter calm and composure, Wei Yuan’s Dao heart became crystal clear.

With the killing calamity passed, Wei Yuan felt he had come back to life.

But at the time, the arrow was already on the string; Wei Yuan had planned countless times, and the moment fate aligned, he triggered his counterattack without needing to think. Now, in retrospect, he realized several inexplicable details.

Wei Yuan stepped close to the wealthy merchant, swept his spiritual sense around to confirm no one was eavesdropping, then lowered his voice: “You’re the Master of Jiang Gong, aren’t you? I’d like to ask you something. Why didn’t that Six Miao just dodge the heavenly sun?”

“Didn’t you use the great karmic chain of resentment and fortune to lock him down?” The wealthy merchant was also stunned.

Wei Yuan whispered: “Lock down an Immortal? I, your junior, have no such ability.”

“Then there’s another hidden hand!”

“Wasn’t it you who did it?”

The wealthy merchant narrowed his small eyes: “I’m nearly drained, my oil nearly spent—still bleeding from several wounds! I’ve bled for hours, and no one cares to ask.”

Only then did Wei Yuan notice the wealthy merchant’s clothes were also stained with blood.

Wei Yuan frantically searched for medicine, but found everything on him was for his Dharma Body—useless for healing an Immortal. At that moment, the Master of Jiang Gong grabbed Wei Yuan’s arm: “Forget it—don’t bother with this. Let’s go now!”

Wei Yuan had not a single drop of fortune left—he was, by far, the most unworthy Fortune-Selected in history. Hearing the wealthy merchant’s words, he trembled: “More enemies?”

“What enemies? Six Miao is dead—where are there any enemies left? Let’s go loot the corpse!”

Only then did Wei Yuan understand. He had watched Six Miao’s corpse dragged into the Void Abyss—the abyss that filled him with dread and kept him from approaching. Now he saw: places an Immortal could enter and exit freely were precisely the places Wei Yuan dared not go.

But before the two could move, a young cultivator entered through the courtyard gate, carrying a boy’s corpse in his hands. He tossed it carelessly to Wei Yuan: “If you two waited until you remembered, there’d be nothing left. I’ve made preparations on the other side of the Abyss—laid some bait to make them think Six Miao’s remains are still sinking. It’ll delay them a little, but not long. Come with me.”

The Master of Jiang Gong asked: “Where to?”

The young cultivator glared: “Six Miao’s cave mansion! Master Bai, you’re rich beyond measure—we lowly Immortals survive by scavenging trash.”

The wealthy merchant immediately said: “Let’s go, quickly! I’m injured, my mind’s not clear!”

He took two steps forward, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at the young cultivator. The young cultivator stood motionless.

Seeing the Master of Jiang Gong halt, the young cultivator spoke slowly: “May I ask—how severe are your injuries?”

Bai Kaishui casually pulled out a red jade signet ring, deliberately letting the young cultivator see it clearly, then slipped it onto his left thumb, smiling: “Injuries are indeed serious—but Jiang Gong’s lineage is ancient; our ancestors left behind countless treasures. Just one of them is enough for me to survive.”

The young cultivator’s killing intent vanished; he smiled: “Then let’s go get rich together?”

The Master of Jiang Gong swept his sleeve: “Let’s go!”

The two Immortals vanished from their spot. Wei Yuan dragged Six Miao’s corpse, unsure where to put it. As for Six Miao’s cave mansion—he had never cared about it.

Wealth is but external; Wei Yuan now cared nothing for money. After all, unless it was ancestral Immortal artifacts, few Immortals could rival Wei Yuan, who owned the Azure Void.