Chapter 159: Pursuit
The green yin banner stood by the water’s edge, over twenty meters tall, swaying in the wind with strands of luminous gauze draping down.
Armored departed spirit yin soldiers, like a thousand troops gathered, crowded the grassy paths of Cloud Palace. Some held halberds standing in the lake reflected by distant lights, turning this small world into a eerie ghost domain.
Such a powerful high-grade magic tool was extremely rare, yet Li Weiyi casually produced it, earning admiration from both the young talents of Zhizhou and the martial cultivators secretly watching from various pavilions.
But the moment “Chen Wenwu” was uttered, it instantly stunned the entire scene.
A person’s name carries weight, like a tree’s shadow.
Sometimes, one person’s name alone is worth a fortune, enough to deter a thousand troops.
Without surprise, Chen Wenwu’s name held that much weight.
Not only could his combat power rival the previous generation’s strong practitioners, but the potential of his Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body also made him a figurehead-like existence, able to represent San Chen Palace across the world.
After a brief silence.
“Want to sell face? Your strength isn’t enough.” The voice was low and deep, but each word like a nail.
A distinguished black shadow appeared atop the six-story pavilion, shouldering a battle axe, face indistinct.
From afar, it seemed like he stood directly above Chen Wenwu, separated only by a layer of lapis lazuli tiles.
“So it’s him.”
Li Weiyi didn’t recognize Yin Nine, but recognized the axe on his shoulder.
The Yin Nine in the mind power mural was only thirteen, completely different from his current tall and sturdy physique.
At thirteen, he was already stunningly brilliant. Over ten years later, what surging and extraordinary energy now lay within this body?
An old man from Heaven Pavilion spoke: “Challenges within the lake array are none of our concern. But if the battle enters the twenty-eight pavilions and damages buildings, the compensation price will be tenfold. If casualties occur inside the pavilions, Heaven Pavilion will surely execute the offender.”
Chen Wenwu’s eyelids lifted, staring fixedly at the rooftop; his originally elegant and carefree demeanor now darkened like an impending storm.
Without doubt, this was no coincidence—the other party deliberately wanted to help the Jiu Li tribe.
Moreover, the hostility was intense.
“Boom!”
Chen Wenwu’s arm jerked upward, and the Zhige Sword flew from its sheath, turning into a beam of white rainbow light that pierced the rooftop.
The beam was brilliant and straight, shooting into the night sky.
Yin Nine smashed the incoming Zhige Sword away with one axe swing, sending it landing on another building dozens of feet away: “Chen Wenwu, dare to fight outside? I’m afraid if I kill you here, Heaven Pavilion will trouble me.”
Chen Wenwu saw the opponent’s strength was formidable but still at the Five Seas Realm level, so he remained calm and unafraid: “Fine! But who kills whom is still uncertain.”
He had no choice but to accept.
He represented not just himself, but also the face of San Chen Palace.
If it were Cang Li, he could retreat without anyone calling Chen Wenwu cowardly. But for an obscure person to provoke him like this, refusing the challenge would bring everlasting infamy.
“Swish!”
Chen Wenwu flew out the window, his Spirit Smoke Concealment Technique exquisitely profound; between shifts in form, smoke permeated the void, making it nearly impossible to see his true position.
Yin Nine moved like a ghostly phantom, leaping across the rooftops of building after building, quickly vanishing into the darkness.
Behind him, the smoke followed, not much slower in speed.
“So Ling’er young lady is the younger sister of Cang Li young tribe leader, my apologies for the disrespect!”
The group of young talents from Zhizhou approached again to pay respects, their gazes even more eager than before.
“It’s said that Cang Li young tribe leader in Li Zhou consecutively defeated Dragon Gate Successor Long Ting and that Heartless Golden Ape from Tian Ya Ridge in single combats; now all young talents of the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory bow their heads, with momentum to claim the top.”
“In the Southern Territory, only Zuo Qiu Gatehouse’s First Successor rivals Cang Li young tribe leader for number one!”
…
That young talent from Zhizhou who wanted to consult Li Weiyi on the art of living off a woman looked at him with full admiration, eager to pull him aside for a heart-to-heart late-night talk.
Qi Wangshu saw that Li Weiyi must have something extraordinary; both the war saber in his hand and the green yin banner were high-grade magic tools. With his own Fourth Stage of Five Seas Realm cultivation, he didn’t even have one high-grade magic tool.
He stepped forward and said: “This yin banner contains a thousand departed spirit soldiers—far too extraordinary, its value rivals the Hundred Character Scripture Magic Tool… Seems familiar, dare I ask Brother Chi, is this a family heirloom?”
Li Weiyi gazed at the damaged sixth-floor pavilion nearby, his thoughts elsewhere, casually replying: “This is something from Zuo Qiu Gatehouse. I… well, can consider it a gift from them!”
In Thirty-three Mile Mountain, Zuo Qiu Bai Ming and Zuo Qiu Lanlan hadn’t asked for it back, so Li Weiyi naturally took it as a gift.
To be precise, he had picked it up.
Hearing this, Qi Wangshu slapped his forehead in realization: “I remember now! This is the protective treasure of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse’s First Successor. Brother Chi, your experiences are no small matter—you’ve been concealing strength these past few days!”
“Not as impressive as you think, unrelated to Zuo Qiu Gatehouse’s First Successor. Actually, it was a gift from Brother Zuo Qiu Bai Ming.” Li Weiyi said.
Though Zuo Qiu Bai Ming’s cultivation wasn’t exceptionally high yet, his talent was remarkable, possessing the Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body, with potential to grow to Chen Wenwu’s level in the future.
Among the flourishing young generation of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, he was one with “steady top ten, contending for top five” aptitude.
Qi Wangshu’s attitude toward Li Weiyi shifted again, his gaze much warmer; he clasped fists and smiled: “For him to gift a high-grade magic tool, Brother Chi and Young Master Bai Ming must be like brothers. Turns out we’re all on the same side. When we reach the prefectural city, I’ll introduce my brother to you—he’s the number one of Qi Family’s young generation, top three in Zhizhou.”
Li Weiyi sensed movement on the nearby sixth-floor pavilion, someone quickly descending. He hurriedly said to Qi Wangshu: “Alright, in the prefectural city, I’ll have Ling’er introduce her brother to you for bonding. But Brother Qi, right now I have a favor to ask.”
Qi Wangshu was overjoyed: “Brother Chi, speak freely.”
“Please have Brother Qi take everyone and help Ling’er keep an eye on that Chen Lian. I have important business and must leave for a bit. Just wondering if Brother Qi is willing to wade into this muddy water?” Li Weiyi said.
Qi Wangshu patted his chest resounding: “What kind of matter is this? My Qi Family has a Longevity Realm old ancestor, backed by Zuo Qiu Gatehouse—mere San Chen Palace isn’t in our eyes. With Old Qi here, Brother Chi needn’t worry; go quickly.”
Anyway, in Heaven Pavilion, as long as they didn’t leave Cloud Palace, there was no life danger; Qi Wangshu naturally didn’t mind doing Li Weiyi a favor.
This was Zuo Qiu Bai Ming’s sworn brother!
“Quickly interrogate him.” Li Weiyi walked to Li Ling’s side and whispered.
Li Ling said: “What’s the situation?”
“I’m not clear yet either. Don’t leave Heaven Pavilion; we’ll talk when I return.”
Li Weiyi strode quickly toward outside Cloud Palace, shedding his brocade robe outer layer en route to reveal the night-walking clothes beneath.
His body swiftly turned invisible, traceless.
Yin Nine had deliberately lured Chen Wenwu away—otherwise, challenging directly in the lake would suffice!
After Chen Wenwu left, the others in that sixth-floor pavilion quickly departed, surely for some reason.
Li Weiyi waited outside Cloud Palace.
Moments later, three figures hurriedly emerged from the nearby pavilion—all young martial cultivators in their twenties, somewhat familiar; probably seen at some event in Li Zhou.
Among them, one had an extremely distinctive appearance, nearly two meters tall, body like cast silver: the Silver Pure Immortal Body. He led the way, clad in black metal clothes, features stern and resolute.
The Silver Pure Immortal Body was quite rare, one of the few in Li Zhou.
Li Weiyi’s mind quickly recalled a person: San Chen Palace’s young generation Number Two, Chen Xun.
This was a figure far more formidable than Chen Lian!
As he passed Li Weiyi, the space seemed to distort, air ripples spreading in all directions.
Li Weiyi inwardly exclaimed close call—luckily a pillar blocked right in front, perfectly stopping the spreading air ripples. Otherwise, Chen Xun would surely detect his invisible form through the anomaly.
Behind the three were two massive Deformed Humanoid Race Five Seas Realm experts, both with green skin and strange appearances. They carried a huge black metal box, bound with chains and sealed with runes.
The box top had ventilation holes chiseled in.
The five exuded full vigor and spirit, eyes gleaming inwardly, each with their aura—clearly all had cultivated battle intent.
After leaving Heaven Pavilion, they boarded three exotic beast carriages and sped away.
The black metal box was placed on the middle carriage, with experts guarding the front and rear vehicles.
Li Weiyi knew Chen Xun’s prowess—a top young talent of an entire prefecture; the others were no mediocrities either. Thus, he was extremely cautious, staying invisible amid the crowd, tracking from ten zhang behind, pondering: “How strange—their demeanor shows they value that black metal box greatly. If it’s so important, wouldn’t staying in Heaven Pavilion be safer?”
“I get it! Yin Nine’s appearance must have made them think some unspeakable secret was exposed, so they’re hastily transferring it.”
“Could Juze City have somewhere safer than Heaven Pavilion?”
During Li Weiyi’s tracking, someone in the front carriage kept observing the rear and using battle intent perception, extremely vigilant.
In the last carriage.
Sui Sect’s second clan Sheng Clan’s young generation First Expert Sheng Qingyan held a palm-sized mirror, her light eyelashes fluttering as she said: “Brother Xun, no need to be so tense, right? That Li Ling and the surnamed Chi are just inexperienced youngsters—how could they track us? Their minds aren’t mature yet. Brother Wenwu is too overly cautious, insisting we transfer immediately to Jing Yue Zhai.”
Chen Xun’s entire body was silver, including his pupils; he stared intently at passersby outside the window, nerves always taut, solemnly saying: “This matter absolutely cannot be exposed; caution will never lead us astray.”
Sheng Qingyan put away the silver mirror; her figure voluptuous, bosom prominent, jade fingers stroking Chen Xun’s chest, her tone flirtatious: “Should’ve let me handle rescuing Chen Lian—in case it gets exposed there…”
Chen Xun’s temperament steady, gaze pure: “Li Ling is no longer that little girl trailing behind Cang Li; if her golden greatsword has enough runes, with our cultivations, we’d have to temporarily avoid its edge—no need to invite trouble over Chen Lian. Chen Lian… he should understand the gravity… lighter… you this seductive woman just crave excitement… what time is it now…”
Peering in from the window, Sheng Qingyan was already invisible.
Strands of magic energy began permeating the carriage.
