Chapter 158 - 156: Rainy Night, Saber, Umbrella
Yongchuan Prefecture, on the border of Qing and Ping Provinces.
Rain fell in a dense sheet, and the night was as dark as ink.
Wearing the Nether King Mask and holding an oil-paper umbrella in his left hand, Chen Yuan walked along the deserted main street with the Celestial Blade hanging from his waist. Rain pattered against the umbrella’s surface, kicking up tiny splashes.
Halfway there, he paused. As if suddenly remembering something, he stowed the Celestial Blade in his Qiankun Bag and replaced it with the Black Flame Sword.
’A new alias calls for new gear, of course.’
Yongchuan Prefecture was situated on the border between Qing and Ping Provinces, closer to the Ping side. Shangguan Yun hadn’t set an ambush here; the Shangguan Family’s men were all patrolling the border near Qing Province.
Chen Yuan had come here first to trigger the appearance of a secret realm from the original storyline ahead of schedule.
Buried on Dragon Ridge Mountain, not far from Yongchuan Prefecture, was the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower—a trial ground belonging to the Palace of Myriad Phenomena, a top-tier major sect from ancient times.
The Palace of Myriad Phenomena was a paramount major sect of the Human Race during the era of Ancient Divine Demons. They had delved deep into the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demon Three Vein Skills, mastering and integrating them to create cultivation techniques of extreme power.
At its zenith, its might was so great that it even overshadowed the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demon Three Veins. It was rumored that its most powerful experts had even achieved the earth-shattering feat of slaying a Divine Demon—though, of course, this was only a legend.
No one knew the location of the Palace of Myriad Phenomena’s ruins; it wasn’t even mentioned in the original storyline.
The Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower on Dragon Ridge Mountain was a trial ground the Palace of Myriad Phenomena had prepared for its disciples. Anyone who could pass through the Ninefold Tower would receive the rewards within.
At its peak, the Palace of Myriad Phenomena had many such trial grounds, but most were abandoned after being conquered.
The trial ground on Dragon Ridge Mountain, however, was a rarity: a secret realm that had been buried before anyone had ever attempted its trials.
In the original storyline, this secret realm wasn’t discovered and opened for several more years. What Chen Yuan intended to do now was open it ahead of time.
And the key to opening this realm lay with the Wang Family of the Celestial Far Escort Agency, right here in Yongchuan Prefecture.
The ancestors of the Wang Family had been servants to the Palace of Myriad Phenomena, responsible for guarding the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower and welcoming the sect’s disciples who came for the trials.
But for some unknown reason, the Palace of Myriad Phenomena suddenly vanished, and no more disciples ever came.
As ages passed and the world itself changed, even the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower became buried deep underground.
’The Wang Family’s role is actually quite similar to the Qiu Family’s.’
However, the Wang ancestors were merely ordinary servants; they didn’t even possess any of the Palace of Myriad Phenomena’s Cultivation Techniques.
Furthermore, as servants, a restriction had been placed within the Wang family bloodline. This allowed their blood to open the outer perimeter of the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower, but prevented them from ever entering it.
Other Martial Artists without this restriction could enter the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower, but if anyone from the Wang Family tried to enter, the bloodline restriction would instantly activate and annihilate them.
This was a measure put in place by the Palace of Myriad Phenomena to prevent their own guardians from stealing the treasures. It was a cruel method, but a very effective one.
Therefore, even if the Wang ancestors had entertained such thoughts, they never dared to act on any designs they had for the Myriad Phenomena Ninefold Tower.
Over countless millennia of hardship, the Wang Family endured many trials and were nearly wiped out on several occasions.
Although they had survived to the present day, they had long since forgotten the identity and origins of their ancestors. Forced to make a living, they took up the trade of escorting goods, establishing the Celestial Far Escort Agency.
The Wang Family residence. The downpour was torrential.
Wang Yuanlie, Chief of the Celestial Far Escort Agency and Patriarch of the Wang Family, stood under the eaves of a covered walkway. His gaze pierced the heavy curtain of rain, his brow deeply furrowed with worry.
"Father, it’s late. You should go in and rest."
Wang Yuanlie’s son, Wang Zizhen, approached and said in a low voice.
"The Li Cang Sect is pressing us so hard. How could I possibly have the heart to sleep?"
Wang Yuanlie sighed, the worry on his face deepening.
The escort business was never an easy one.
Last month, Wang Yuanlie had accepted a Secret Dart mission from a mysterious client for a hefty price, tasking him with transporting an item to Qing Province.
He never imagined the item in question was a Spiritual Jade containing an Earth Level Technique.
And that Spiritual Jade was the very treasure that the Li Cang Sect, a major sect in Yongchuan Prefecture, had been fighting its rivals for.
The Li Cang Sect had never imagined that their rivals would dare to use a Secret Dart to smuggle the Spiritual Jade out of Yongchuan Prefecture, resulting in their loss of an Earth Level Technique.
The Celestial Far Escort Agency thus became the scapegoat. The Li Cang Sect had already sent word, demanding the Wang Family hand over the technique within seven days or face the consequences.
"The Li Cang Sect has gone too far!"
A look of anger flashed across Wang Zizhen’s face. "They got tricked, and now they’re taking it out on our Celestial Far Escort Agency.
"We were hired for a Secret Dart. How are we supposed to know what was inside?
"If we inspected the contents, could it still be called a Secret Dart? This is completely unreasonable!"
"Reason? In the Jianghu, you don’t reason with your mouth. You reason with blades and fists."
Wang Yuanlie gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "My Wang Family’s ancestors came from an illustrious line; we are a great clan with a legacy stretching back millennia.
"But while the Eight Great Noble Families have legacies of unmatched power spanning those same millennia, the Wang Family is bullied by all and sundry. We’ve fallen further and further with each passing generation.
"If you have no strength, you’ll be bullied. What can be done about it?
"Today, I sent someone to the Li Cang Sect to try and mediate, but they couldn’t even get past the main gate. We just don’t have enough influence.
"Zizhen, tomorrow, I want you to take the family’s savings, convert them to gold bars, and make a trip to the Hong Family Castle five hundred miles away.
"The Fortress Lord there, Hong Yuanqing, is an expert from a military background. He built his entire Hong Family Dock Fortress to be impervious to fire and flood, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. He is a powerful figure in this region.
"I’ve handled an escort job for the Hong Family Castle before, so you could say we’re acquainted.
"Take the gold bars and see if you can persuade Hong Yuanqing to intervene and mediate on our behalf."
Just as Wang Zizhen nodded, a cold sneer cut through the rainy night.
"Don’t waste your energy. It wouldn’t matter even if your Celestial Far Escort Agency brought the Heavenly King’s Father himself!"
As the voice faded, a dozen figures in straw raincoats, brandishing weapons, suddenly leaped over the courtyard wall.
The leader, a man in his early forties with a Cultivation at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm, was Huang Zhen, a Steward of the Li Cang Sect.
Wang Yuanlie’s expression changed instantly. "Steward Huang, didn’t we agree to seven days? It’s only been two!"
Huang Zhen replied leisurely, "Because I’ve changed my mind."
"You people are outrageous!"
Wang Zizhen’s face flushed with anger. "This has nothing to do with the Celestial Far Escort Agency! Even if you slaughtered all of us, the Secret Dart has already been delivered. Why do you insist on hounding us?"
"Because I need someone to be held accountable."
Huang Zhen said slowly, "The Sect Leader ordered me to find the Spiritual Jade, but I overlooked you escorts.
"Now that the Spiritual Jade is lost, someone has to take the blame. If you don’t die, are you suggesting I should?
"If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for being so unlucky. You’ll take any job and accept any payment!"
Only then did Wang Yuanlie and his son understand. No wonder the Li Cang Sect was so relentless. No wonder their attempts at mediation were met with utter dismissal.
It wasn’t the Li Cang Sect that wanted to destroy the Celestial Far Escort Agency; it was this steward, Huang Zhen, who needed a scapegoat!
True Qi erupted from Wang Yuanlie’s body as he stepped in front of Wang Zizhen and roared, "I’ll hold them off! Run!"
But his Cultivation was only at the Qi Casting Realm, while Huang Zhen was at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm. Even the other Li Cang Sect disciples present were at the Qi Casting Realm.
"A mantis trying to stop a chariot. You don’t know your own limits!"
A disdainful smile crossed Huang Zhen’s face.
Just then, the main gate of the Celestial Far Escort Agency was suddenly pushed open.
"Excuse me, is this the Celestial Far Escort Agency?"
Through the rainy night, Chen Yuan stepped inside, holding his umbrella and glancing around as if he were the only one there.
His face was hidden beneath the umbrella, and the aura around him was suppressed to its absolute limit. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary man who had come to the agency to discuss business.
A bitter smile touched Wang Yuanlie’s lips.
’To think that someone would still show up to talk business, even as the Celestial Far Escort Agency is on the brink of ruin.’
"Young man, you should go. As of today, the Celestial Far Escort Agency is no more. Please find another agency."
’This young man seems a bit simple. He has no situational awareness at all. To see a situation like this and not leave immediately, but instead stand here asking questions...’
’His Wang Family was facing certain death today, but he didn’t want to drag anyone else into it.’
Huang Zhen’s brow furrowed as he snorted, "Get out!"
Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Yuanlie and nodded. "Then this must be the Celestial Far Escort Agency. I’m in the right place."
"Didn’t you hear me? I told you to get out! Are you deaf?"
Seeing Chen Yuan ignore him, a murderous glint flashed in Huang Zhen’s eyes. "You suicidal fool! Kill him and throw him out! Don’t delay our business!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Chen Yuan tossed his oil-paper umbrella aside, revealing the Nether King Mask he wore.
’He didn’t actually need the umbrella, but carrying one on a rainy day just felt appropriate. So, he had casually bought one.’
But now, seeing that slightly crude Nether King Mask, an inexplicable chill suddenly shot through Huang Zhen’s heart.
In the next instant, his eyes widened in terror.
He had just realized that although the man before him emanated no aura whatsoever, the raindrops falling from the sky seemed to hit an invisible barrier about an inch from his body. They slid off it with impossible smoothness, leaving him completely untouched by the rain.
’Normally,’ he thought, ’not even a Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist would be so extravagant as to constantly project their True Qi just to ward off the rain.’
’Even if a Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist was willing to waste the True Qi, achieving this would require an ultimate level of control over one’s Inner Strength.
’When most Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artists tried it, their projected True Qi would fluctuate in size and intensity, causing the rain to splatter and spray chaotically.
’It wouldn’t be a perfectly stable and smooth True Qi Barrier like this man’s, one without the slightest visible ripple.
’What level of control would that require?’
Huang Zhen swallowed hard. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt a wave of heat.
’The autumn rain is chilling, so why do I feel hot?’
Huang Zhen looked down at his hands and saw they were engulfed in blazing Celestial Fire. In a mere instant, the flesh on his hands was incinerated, leaving nothing but scorched bone.
Before he could even scream, his entire body instantly disintegrated into ash!
The eyes of the surrounding Li Cang Sect Martial Artists filled with absolute terror.
They stared at Chen Yuan as if he were a demon that had just crawled out of Purgatory.
The next moment, they turned to flee, but a thin line of fire had already coiled around each of them, unnoticed until now.
The cold rain could not extinguish the fiery thread. Though it seemed like only a faint spark, it instantly flared up like a wildfire, incinerating each of the Li Cang Sect Martial Artists into a pile of ash.
The menacing members of the Li Cang Sect were now nothing but piles of ash on the ground. The pouring rain washed them together, carrying the slurry into the gutters.