Chapter 142 - 171: Vast Fist Intent, the Mountain a Ferocious Beast! Devouring the Evil Fiends
The leader, the Seventh Sequence, radiated an even more potent killing intent, his expression grim.
The killing intent radiating from him was so palpable it seemed to have taken physical form, startling the purple fir blossoms.
They fluttered down in a cascade!
"Just who are you?"
"When did you get here?"
"And how much did you hear?"
The Seventh Sequence’s gaze was fixed on the young man before him, his expression ugly.
As one of the world’s top assassins, he had somehow allowed a living person to blend in with their squad.
Worst of all, this person had been chatting with them for ages and had gone completely unnoticed!
For an assassin, this was an absolute disgrace!
If word of this ever got out, the Evil Spirit Pavilion’s reputation would be utterly destroyed...
Faced with the group’s menacing tone and the waves of heaven-shaking killing intent, the young man showed no sign of fear, instead speaking cheerfully.
"I’m just a passerby. I happened to be walking by and saw you all gathered together, deep in conversation!"
"I figured since I was already here, I might as well satisfy my curiosity and listen in."
"I got so engrossed that I couldn’t help but ask a question or two."
"Weren’t we all getting along just fine a moment ago?"
The Seventh Sequence’s expression grew even uglier. He shot out his right hand, a crimson spiral of energy swirling between his knuckles, and roared.
"You’re courting death!"
Before his voice had even faded, he lunged, clawing viciously at the young man!
But the young man just flicked his sleeve, and the Seventh Sequence’s attack instantly vanished without a trace.
Immediately after, an endless golden light poured from the young man’s body, quickly blotting out the sky!
The Seventh Sequence and his men stared wide-eyed, as if they were witnessing the most terrifying sight in the world.
Before they could even utter a cry of alarm, they went completely still.
...
「An incense stick’s time later.」
"We’re here!"
The Prime Minister’s Mansion convoy slowly came to a stop at Dongchan Mountain.
Everyone in the carriages disembarked.
Chancellor Chen stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at Dongchan Mountain with a trace of worry in his eyes.
His expression turned grave.
"The journey here was uneventful. Those people from the Evil Spirit Pavilion must be lying in ambush on the mountain..."
"Are you still going up the mountain, Chancellor?"
Beside him, Wang Feng, who was disguised as a personal guard, asked in a low voice.
Chancellor Chen hesitated for a moment, but his expression quickly turned resolute. "We go," he said in a deep voice.
"As expected of the nation’s Prime Minister. You have great courage, Chancellor Chen!"
Wang Feng nodded in admiration and added, "Rest assured, Chancellor. I will ensure your safety!"
"I, too, will do my utmost to protect you and your family, Chancellor!"
Tao Dian, who was dressed as an old servant standing nearby, chimed in as well.
Chancellor Chen nodded. He then glanced back in the direction of his female family members, a complex look in his eyes.
Without further hesitation, he started up the mountain.
Most of the entourage from the Prime Minister’s Mansion were unaware of the danger. They admired the mountain scenery and flowers along the way, their cheerful chatter creating a lively atmosphere.
Before long, the group reached the summit of Dongchan Mountain.
Here stood several hundred-year-old Purple Fir Wood trees, their flowers blooming in thick, fragrant clusters.
Beneath the Purple Fir Wood trees stood a temple, quiet and elegant.
Enshrined within the temple was Chancellor Chen’s first wife.
Normally, a few servants would be here to keep the place clean.
Logically, given the noise their party made coming up the mountain, these servants should have come out to greet them.
That they were nowhere to be seen was to be expected.
They must have fallen victim to the Evil Spirit Pavilion!
Chancellor Chen looked at the quiet little temple, thinking, ’The assassins from the Evil Spirit Pavilion are probably hiding inside.’
’They could burst out at any moment and put a sword through my head!’
Even for someone who had weathered countless storms, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of fear when truly facing a life-and-death crisis.
In his eyes, the small temple looked like a peerless Fierce Beast with its bloody maw wide open, waiting for him to walk right into its trap.
Chancellor Chen took a deep breath and, feigning composure, stepped inside.
Yet, even after Chancellor Chen finished paying respects to his late wife and had walked back out of the temple, there was still no sign of the assassination!
Now, it wasn’t just Chancellor Chen; even Tao Dian and the others, who were primed and ready for a fight, sensed that something was amiss.
"Send men to search the area!"
Chancellor Chen ordered decisively.
A moment later, a Guard came to report.
"Reporting, Lord Chancellor! We found the five bodies of the servants in a hidden spot behind the temple. There’s nothing else out of the ordinary!"
"Huh?"
Now even Wang Feng was puzzled.
"Could it be that these assassins from the Evil Spirit Pavilion plan to attack us on our way back down?"
"No, that’s not right! Why would they kill the servants? Wouldn’t that just alert us to their presence?"
"It’s a clear sign they’ve already been on Dongchan Mountain!"
Chancellor Chen couldn’t figure it out either. His brow furrowed as he asked Wang Feng, "Mr. Wang, should we head back now?"
"No rush!"
Wang Feng thought for a moment, then took a smooth, warm Jade Brush from his robes. It looked as if it were carved from the finest jade.
He channeled the True Qi in his body and tossed the Jade Brush into the air.
"Let’s see what exactly happened here."
After he spoke, the Jade Brush began to rapidly sketch in the air before them.
A series of lifelike images appeared one after another!
In the images...
The first thing to appear was the small temple on Dongchan Mountain.
In the image were the purple firs, with dozens of people gathered beneath them.
Each of them had a cold demeanor, their eyes brimming with savage killing intent.
The Martial Arts Cultivation of every single person was at least at the Extraordinary realm, and a good number had even reached the Innate realm.
The middle-aged man in the lead had an unremarkable appearance and was addressed by the others as Lord Seventh Sequence.
"The Evil Spirit Pavilion’s Seventh Sequence!"
Chancellor Chen, watching from the side, blurted out the moment he saw the man, "This must be the seventh-ranked sequence assassin of the Evil Spirit Pavilion!"
Wang Feng nodded as well, and the group continued watching.
The Jade Brush Wang Feng had used was truly profound. It not only replayed the events that had taken place but also flawlessly revealed the expressions and faces of the people within the image. Even their conversation could be heard with perfect clarity!
In the image, hearing the members of the Evil Spirit Pavilion mention terms like "assassination," "Divine Platform Great Venerable," and "Daoist Palace Great Power" made Chancellor Chen’s face pale.
Even Tao Dian and Wang Feng’s expressions turned grave.
The seventh-ranked assassin of the Evil Spirit Pavilion had hunted a Divine Platform Great Venerable, and the number one assassin had even hunted a Daoist Palace Great Power!
Regardless of how it was accomplished, if it was true, possessing such capabilities was enough to make anyone wary.
Thinking about it now, their earlier vows of protection seemed a bit arrogant.
’If this Seventh Sequence were to strike from the shadows, it’s not certain he could kill us, but in the ensuing chaos, could we guarantee Chancellor Chen’s safety... that would be hard to say.’
As they were lost in thought, the image suddenly shifted!
One figure stood out from the crowd. Then, large, golden-tinged splotches of ink spread like ripples across the image, obscuring everyone’s faces!
Immediately after, Chancellor Chen, Tao Dian, and Wang Feng witnessed an utterly astounding scene!
RUMBLE—
In the image, the entirety of Dongchan Mountain!
...was suddenly ripped in two with bare hands!
The entire mountain looked like a primordial beast suddenly opening its massive maw!
An impossibly terrifying chasm split the ground!
The group from the Evil Spirit Pavilion didn’t even have time to scream before they plummeted into the unfathomable abyss!
Then, the chasm slammed shut.
It closed without a seam!
No sign that it had ever been torn apart remained.
Following that.
A vast Fist Intent, one that seemed to transcend time itself, erupted from the golden-lit ground and struck the very heavens!
Then it vanished in a flash!