Chapter 274 - 272: Mixing In
Bei Tianya frowned slightly after hearing Chen Yuan’s plan. After a moment of thought, he said, "It’s feasible, but a bit risky.
"Have you thought about what would happen if you were exposed? Forget about the Alliance Leader, Guan Tianming, taking action—could you even withstand the other two Vice Alliance Leaders?"
Chen Yuan shook his head. "Of course I couldn’t. But what plan is ever a hundred percent foolproof?
"Infiltrating them might seem dangerous, but as long as I conceal myself well and don’t let anyone recognize me, there shouldn’t be a problem.
"After all, in terms of Realm, I’m just an ’unremarkable’ Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist.
"Most of the Sun-piercing Alliance’s Grandmasters, as well as the two Divine Platform Realm Vice Alliance Leaders, are busy stabilizing the Sun-piercing Sword. The ones responsible for guarding these captured Martial Artists are just ordinary Primordial Pill Realm Grandmasters.
"I certainly can’t handle a Divine Platform Realm Grandmaster, but as for ordinary Primordial Pill Realm Grandmasters, I’m confident I won’t have any issues."
Bei Tianya slapped his forehead. He’d almost forgotten that Chen Yuan himself was in the Condensing Truth Realm; he didn’t even need to conceal his aura.
It was just that Chen Yuan’s previous performance had been so astonishing that Bei Tianya had subconsciously started to see him as a Primordial Pill Realm existence.
As long as Chen Yuan didn’t make a move, who could possibly guess his combat strength was so formidable?
After a moment’s thought, Bei Tianya nodded. "It’s good that you’re confident, but that’s not enough."
With that, Bei Tianya took out two items and handed them to Chen Yuan.
One was a strange insect, about the size of a human face. It resembled a butterfly, was entirely flesh-colored, and had two fleshy wings.
The other was a palm-sized Array Plate that was incredibly heavy, weighing at least a hundred catties.
"This is a Face-Changing Gu and the Array Plate for the Cyan Dragon Shadow Killing Array, which I created with an Array Master from the Thousand Mechanisms Hall.
"Disguise Techniques are ultimately external. A single mistake can easily expose the illusion.
"The Face-Changing Gu, however, is a Blood and Flesh Gu Insect. It merges directly into your flesh and blood, making it nearly impossible to detect.
"However, once the Face-Changing Gu pierces your flesh, it only has a lifespan of ten days. So, after you infiltrate the Sun-piercing Alliance, you must make your move within ten days.
"As for this Cyan Dragon Shadow Killing Array, you can use it to break the Sun-piercing Alliance’s array.
"To be honest, none of the Seven Alliances of the World have a particularly strong foundation. The Sun-piercing Alliance’s Sect Protection Array was built by Array Masters they hired at great expense, and its quality is quite average.
"But to be safe, you should still break their Sect Protection Array. Once it’s down, the situation in the Sun-piercing Alliance will inevitably descend into chaos, which will make things safer for you."
Taking the two items, Chen Yuan cupped his fists. "Thank you, Mr. Bei."
Only then did Chen Yuan truly appreciate the feeling of having a powerful backer.
’The Ming Sect’s resources are truly substantial. They can just hand out two treasures like this.’
"When will Master Wan of Dubhe Hall and Master Liu of Kaiyang Hall arrive?"
Bei Tianya replied, "The two of them happen to be in the northern provinces. Hall Masters of their level can communicate via an array using a Secret Treasure from the Thousand Mechanisms Hall. I’ve sent them the message now; they will certainly arrive within three days."
Chen Yuan nodded, unconcerned about their speed.
Divine Platform Realm Martial Artists could already borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth. Flying was no problem for them.
If they traveled at full speed, covering a thousand li a day and crossing an entire province was perfectly normal.
With things settled on Bei Tianya’s end, Chen Yuan agreed on a signal with him and then headed straight for the territory of the Sun-piercing Alliance.
The Sun-piercing Alliance was already frantically capturing Independent Martial Artists within its own territory. Chen Yuan needed to get ’captured,’ but he couldn’t make it too obvious.
Otherwise, with all the other Martial Artists fleeing, it would be far too suspicious for him to be heading straight into the Sun-piercing Alliance’s domain.
So, Chen Yuan chose an inconspicuous little town called Li Family Town, located on the border between the Murong Family’s and the Sun-piercing Alliance’s territories.
Given the Sun-piercing Alliance’s recent frenzy, they would definitely risk coming to a border area like this to capture people.
Before entering the town, Chen Yuan put on the Face-Changing Gu.
The thing looked a bit disgusting. After he placed it on his face, countless tiny spikes immediately emerged from the Gu Insect’s body and pierced into Chen Yuan’s skin, causing their flesh to merge.
Gradually, the Gu Insect seemed to melt, spreading evenly across Chen Yuan’s face.
With a thought from Chen Yuan, his face transformed into an ’unremarkable’ one.
At the same time, Chen Yuan deliberately suppressed his Condensing Truth Realm down to that of an ordinary person, but intentionally let a little of his aura leak out, making his concealment technique seem extremely crude and clumsy.
He found a random inn in town to stay for the night. The next morning, Chen Yuan was strolling down the street when, around noon, a large group of men suddenly swarmed into the small town.
There were at least a hundred of them, and their leader was a middle-aged man who was a Grandmaster with Primordial Pill Realm Early Stage Cultivation.
Upon entering Li Family Town, the man waved his hand with a blank expression. "Seize them!"
The moment his voice fell, his men immediately began to recklessly and indiscriminately capture Martial Artists.
Seeing this, Chen Yuan frowned slightly.
From the intelligence he had gathered, he only knew that the Sun-piercing Alliance was capturing Independent Martial Artists on a massive scale—and not just Independent Martial Artists, but even Martial Artists from smaller factions were within their scope.
The Sun-piercing Alliance’s excuse was that someone was plotting to subvert them, so they had to cast a wide net and identify the culprit based on their Cultivation Technique.
’But seeing it today, that excuse is just ridiculous.’
’Their methods are so simple and crude. How is this supposed to be a search for someone? They’re not even trying to distinguish between people; they’re just rounding up every Martial Artist they can find.’
’But why is the Sun-piercing Alliance doing this?’
Chen Yuan couldn’t help but recall the methods of the Red Lotus Saintess back in the Heaven Returning Pavilion.
’Could it be that they also want to collect a large amount of Qi Blood?’
𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
’But that’s not right. The Martial Artists captured by the Sun-piercing Alliance are all still alive. After being taken to the Alliance, they have to go to the trouble of supervising them and providing them with food and drink. If they wanted to collect Qi Blood, they should be killing them one by one as they’re captured.’
’Besides, the Sun-piercing Alliance is going to the trouble of interrogating them about their Cultivation Techniques one by one, as if they’re really trying to deduce the identity of the person plotting to subvert the alliance from their techniques.’
By now, the men were getting close. Chen Yuan didn’t have time to think further and quickened his pace, heading into a small alley.
Just then, the leading Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster seemed to sense something. He leaped out, instantly landing in front of Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan’s expression changed instantly. He stammered, "Sir, what is the meaning of this? This humble one is just an ordinary citizen of this town. I haven’t done anything to offend you, sir."
The Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster sneered, pointing his Long Sword at Chen Yuan. "Quite the act. An ordinary citizen? What ordinary citizen has Qi Blood as strong as yours?
"Trying to escape to the Murong Family’s territory? A good idea, but you were too slow!
"You should know what my Sun-piercing Alliance is doing. Surrender obediently and come back with me. Once your name is cleared, you will naturally be released.
"If you dare to resist, you will be killed on the spot!"
Chen Yuan quickly begged for mercy. "Spare my life, sir! I am willing to cooperate!"
The Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Put him in shackles. Take him back to Sun-piercing Valley."
Recently, half of You Province had been in a state of panic. Everyone knew what the Sun-piercing Alliance was up to.
In short, if you didn’t resist, you would only be captured and taken back to the Sun-piercing Alliance.
It was only if you resisted that you would be killed. Therefore, many Martial Artists surrendered immediately upon being targeted by the Sun-piercing Alliance, making Chen Yuan’s choice seem natural.
A few Martial Artists from the Sun-piercing Alliance came over and put shackles on Chen Yuan’s hands and feet.
The shackles were forged from a special alloy. Chen Yuan estimated that it was the same material used for Profound Soldiers.
It was nearly impossible for an ordinary Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist to shatter a Profound Soldier, so the shackles were indeed capable of restraining them.
Of course, Chen Yuan was not among them; he was someone who could shatter a Profound Soldier with his bare hands.
After being shackled, Chen Yuan wasn’t mistreated. He was put on a horse and, swept along by the Sun-piercing Alliance members, they raided a few more small towns, captured some more Independent Martial Artists, and were then all sent to Sun-piercing Valley together.
The Sun-piercing Alliance’s headquarters, Sun-piercing Valley, was nominally a valley, but it was actually located on a mountain.
It was as if the entire mountain had been split open, forming a valley halfway up its slope, and the Sun-piercing Alliance’s headquarters was located within this valley.
The location was easy to defend but hard to attack. There was only one road leading up the mountain from the front, while the rear was completely blocked by the mountain. If an attacker were to actually break through, they would essentially be a turtle in a jar.
After being brought there, Chen Yuan and the other captured Martial Artists were first taken to an underground secret chamber. They began to interrogate them one by one about their names and origins, and also demanded that they write down their Cultivation Techniques and hand them over.
A Cultivation Technique was of utmost importance to any Martial Artist. It was the foundation of their heritage; how could they so easily hand it over to outsiders?
Thus, some Martial Artists clearly resisted, but what greeted them was a merciless beating from the Sun-piercing Alliance. They were truly beaten half to death.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly. ’Judging by the Sun-piercing Alliance’s behavior, what they want should be the Cultivation Techniques.’
’But the problem is, most of the people they’ve captured are Independent Martial Artists. What good Cultivation Techniques could they possibly have?’
’Most of them are trashy Yellow Level Techniques, a small portion are Profound Level Techniques, and only a tiny minority possess Earth Level Techniques.’
’Why is the Sun-piercing Alliance acting like a scrap collector, taking any piece of trash they can find?’
When it was Chen Yuan’s turn, his interrogator was an old man with Condensing Truth Realm Cultivation. He eyed Chen Yuan coldly and asked, "Where are you from? What sect or school do you belong to?"
"Zhang Qian, an Independent Martial Artist from Huanglong Prefecture in You Province. I have no sect or school. I’ve always been extremely respectful toward the Sun-piercing Alliance and have never shown any defiance."
Chen Yuan answered cautiously.
The old man scribbled a few notes and said impatiently, "Write down all your Cultivation Techniques. Don’t hide anything, or you’ll regret it when we find out!"
With that, the old man gave Chen Yuan a brush and paper to write down his Cultivation Technique, then immediately moved on to interrogate the next person.