Chapter 346

Wang Yu didn't hesitate—he drew a deep breath, blew out sharply, and thrust his fingers downward in a hand seal.

"Whoosh."

A mist of golden haze shot from his mouth, followed by a furious gale that roared across the black fog below.

The once impenetrable black fog instantly scattered, and the ghostly shadows exposed beneath were swept away and erased by the golden lethal energy in the wind, as if encountering their mortal enemy.

The two Qianzhu Sect disciples who reappeared were stunned, and hastily looked upward.

The sickly-faced Daoist, without a moment's thought, hurled his bone banner and shook his sleeve—his body instantly turned into a burst of yellow light and plunged into the ground.

Seeing this, Wang Yu's eyes flashed with cold light; he altered his hand seal, and layers of pale silver spiritual runes suddenly materialized around his upper body, swelling outward like armor before instantly contracting and flashing back into his form.

His upper-body skin turned dark silver, and his body grew heavier than a thousand jin.

The next instant, Wang Yu plummeted toward the ground like a falling star.

"Boom."

Where the sickly-faced Daoist had vanished, the ground trembled violently, and a yellow mushroom cloud of dust erupted skyward.

The two Qianzhu Sect disciples stared, dumbfounded.

When the yellow dust cleared, a massive pit, several zhang deep, stood where the Daoist had been.

Wang Yu stood upright at the bottom of the pit, one hand gripping a Daoist who had been stunned unconscious.

"Take him back first, find someone to interrogate him. If I'm not mistaken, this man is Daoist Luoyue from the Four Evils of Lanshan—he was once a lone cultivator, active along the Wu-Yu border, and now he's joined the Black Soul Sect." Wang Yu flicked his wrist, tossing the Daoist at the feet of the two Qianzhu disciples, then stepped out of the pit and spoke calmly.

"Yes, Master Wang. We'll immediately contact the other senior brothers and interrogate him tonight—we'll make him talk." The two disciples replied respectfully.

One pulled a rope-like magical artifact from his sleeve and bound the Daoist tightly; the other withdrew a bundle of golden needles and swiftly pierced them into the Daoist's vital acupoints.

Then, after bowing to Wang Yu, they summoned a green bamboo boat, hoisted the bound Daoist onto it, and flew off without hesitation.

In an instant, the ruined pile of rocks was left with only Wang Yu alone.

He stood beside the pit for a long time, his face expressionless, his body utterly still.

After some time, Wang Yu's gaze shifted to the bone banner, discarded on the ground nearby, and said softly:

"Friend, how much longer will you hide here? Aren't you going to chase my two junior disciples?"

Moments passed in silence among the scattered rocks—no sound stirred.

Seeing this, Wang Yu chuckled and extended a hand toward the bone banner with a void grasp.

"Sssss."

White flames curled into view, then surged upward in a towering pillar.

"Boom."

The bone banner, which had lain motionless, suddenly leapt upward and landed neatly in the hands of a black-robed giant who had just materialized in midair.

"How did you find me? I used a second-rank concealment talisman—no one of the same realm should be able to detect me." The black-robed man, with a gleaming bald head, a fearsome face, and prominent grotesque tattoos on both cheeks, glared at Wang Yu.

"If a single second-rank concealment talisman let you roam freely in Jingzhou, our four sects would've fled long ago—what need would we have for conflict?" Wang Yu studied the black-robed man, his expression unchanged.

With his terrifying spiritual sense, even the second-rank concealment could not hide the man's aura—it shone like a beacon in the dark.

"Hmph, sharp-tongued. Your face is unfamiliar—you must be a recent Foundation Establishment cultivator. I am Cheng Qianjun of the White Bone Hall, Black Soul Sect. Who is your master in the Sunset Sect?" The black-robed giant replied coldly.

"Wang Yu, Xuanwu Mountain, Four Symbols Sect." Wang Yu replied, expression unaltered.

"Four Symbols Sect? Who are you trying to fool? Everyone knows the Sunset Sect's Crimson Sun Divine Art… Wang Yu? That name sounds familiar." The black-robed man froze, then erupted in anger, but immediately hesitated.

"You've heard my name?" Wang Yu, seeing his reaction, showed a flicker of curiosity.

He had, since his Foundation Establishment, only slain Jiao Sanchi of the Demon Luo Sect—and for years had trained relentlessly in the Sunset Sect and Four Symbols Sect, avoiding all other demonic cultivators.

But the next moment, something unexpected happened.

The black-robed giant's face darkened instantly; his bone banner exploded, spewing countless streams of black qi that twisted into dense black chains, forming a net that engulfed Wang Yu.

Simultaneously, the ground beneath Wang Yu's feet turned into loose sand, causing his heavy body to sink downward.

The black-robed giant transformed into a cloud of black mist and shot skyward.

Amidst the swirling mist, a massive bone bird appeared beneath his feet; with a single flap of its wings, it flew away into the distance.

"Wang Yu, I've heard Zhu Wuyan mention your name several times. Next time we meet, I'll properly test your strength."

From afar, the black-robed giant's voice faded in and out.

Moments later, a thunderous "Boom!" echoed.

Several thick pillars of white flame burst from the black mist, shattering the chains into fragments.

Wang Yu stood with his hands behind his back, stepping atop a wave of white fire as he soared skyward, glancing toward the distance.

The Black Soul Sect cultivator named Cheng Qianjun had vanished completely.

Wang Yu's lips twitched slightly—he had no intention of chasing further. After a brief thought, he turned and flew toward Jingzhou City, but he etched the name "Cheng Qianjun" into his memory.

One month later.

A rumor spread like wind across the entire Great Ming Prefecture.

The Demon Luo Sect's Heavenly Demon Sovereign had emerged from seclusion, unleashing earth-shattering demonic power, and demanded that the Wu Kingdom cede the "Great Ming Prefecture" and "Tianhe Prefecture" to the Demon Luo Sect—or face a full-scale demonic invasion led by all demonic sects.

The news ignited panic in Great Ming Prefecture—numerous lone cultivators were terrified, and all four sects simultaneously sent flying messages, ordering every disciple, regardless of rank, to return to their sects immediately.

Wang Yu, on assignment in Jingzhou, was included in this order.

When Wang Yu, burdened with heavy thoughts, returned to Tianzhu Mountain and had not yet reached his cave, he received an unexpected message talisman.

"Brother Wang, come to my cave—I have urgent news to tell you." Wang Yu stared at the hoarse voice flickering in the flame, his face showing surprise.