Chapter 501 - 253: Flaying Punishment (Part 2)

As Liou Yuan willed it, the Cloud Mist Robe enveloping his body began to emit an aura that did not belong to him.

It was an aura of evil, a fierce aura that comes only after killing countless people.

Under the influence of the Cloud Mist Robe, even the color of Liou Yuan’s purple-gold pupils was obscured, turning into the deep red of blood.

He was now mimicking the aura of Yanying Temple from the Outer Sect Disciplinary Hall.

Apart from appearance, even his aura and gaze were identical.

"Hey, interesting!" Liou Yuan chuckled, pondered briefly, and willed again.

The evil aura disappeared, replaced by a heart-chilling coldness like an eternal glacier.

This time he mimicked the aura of his older brother Liou Zhen.

Due to the absence of the Cold Wilderness Sword Intent, Liou Yuan could only mimic his usual aura.

But that was enough; with the influence of the Cloud Concealment Skill, a touch of indifference crept into his gaze.

After completing this, Liou Yuan gently patted the Cloud Mist Robe that covered his skin.

The Cloud Mist Robe hid its form.

Thus, Liou Yuan had successfully cultivated the Cloud Mist Concealment Skill to Small Success.

This is the difference between cultivators in the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Realms; not only in strength but also in comprehension, the Foundation Establishment Realm is ten times superior to the Qi Cultivation Realm.

A spell that usually takes a year or even several years to reach Small Success could now reach Small Success in less than a month.

On the third day of Liou Yuan achieving Small Success in the Cloud Mist Concealment Skill, nearing the fifth day before departure.

Ya Miaoyun, who previously asked Liou Yuan to set up arrays, suddenly visited him, saying his array was so effective that several Pill Masters in the Inner Sect wanted him to redo their arrays.

Each was offering a price of one hundred and twenty merit points.

Liou Yuan, seeing the money, was genuinely eager and truly realized how sought-after a Foundation Establishment Array Master was in this world.

While others risked their lives to perform tasks and earn merit points, he only needed to work diligently for a while to earn substantial merit points.

But considering his imminent departure to Linlang Domain, he feared he would not have enough time to set up even one array.

He could only refuse Ya Miaoyun, citing his need for seclusion.

Of course, he also promised to help the Pill Masters set up arrays once he returned.

However, even Liou Yuan didn’t know when he would return.

The mission in Linlang Domain seemed unlikely to be completed quickly.

It could take three to five years, or even seven or eight, ten years was a possibility.

On the third day before departure.

Elder Ya Kuan from the Disciplinary Hall found Liou Yuan again, informing him to head to the Criminal Investigation Department.

Even Ya Kuan didn’t mention who was looking for him, likely not knowing himself and just following orders.

After all, the plan to infiltrate Linlang Domain was personally led by Sect Leader Xuanyi, and probably aside from Liou Yuan and the other three and Xuanyi himself, no one in the Inner Sect was aware.

Criminal Investigation Department dungeon.

Seven iron pillars rose in the confined space, extending countless chains from them, suppressing dozens of Foundation Establishment criminals apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Department under the pillars.

When Liou Yuan arrived at the dungeon, Wei Miaomeng and Lao Xiuyuan were already there.

He was the last to arrive.

After the three greeted each other, Liou Yuan asked Lao Xiuyuan and Wei Miaomeng why they were summoned there.

"We don’t know, just like you, we also received orders to come here." Wei Miaomeng seemed a bit nervous, having been anxious ever since receiving the Sect Leader’s order to infiltrate Linlang Domain.

Being summoned to the familiar dungeon near departure only heightened her tensions.

Liou Yuan nodded, since nobody knew, they figured they could only patiently wait.

In moments, a distortion appeared atop the seven iron pillars.

An elegant crane stepped gracefully out of the void, its plumage as white as snow with brilliant, blood-red eyes.

At the sight of the crane, a shock thudded in Liou Yuan’s heart; he promptly bowed along with Lao Xiuyuan toward the crane’s emergence.

"Greetings to the Hall Master!"

The Hall Master of the Disciplinary Hall, Heling, also Xuanyi’s artifact spirit.

This artifact spirit had an eccentric temperament, neither wholly good nor evil, and Liou Yuan felt more apprehensive of it than even Sect Leader Xuanyi.

Sect Leader Xuanyi’s actions might have been unpredictable, but he at least maintained a leader’s grace.

This Heling was genuinely known to lay hands on sect disciples, having harshly handled Liou Le Yao in life.

Not only was Liou Yuan wary of it, Lao Xiuyuan showed a similar apprehension when looking at Heling.

Wei Miaomeng dared not even glance at the crane.

"Stop bowing, it’s dull!" Heling sneered at the expressions of the three.

Then it vanished in place, reappearing right before them.

"What’s the Hall Master doing here, why isn’t the Sect Leader here?" Liou Yuan stole a glance at Heling, his gaze searching the dungeon without spotting Xuanyi.

Sensing Liou Yuan’s actions, Heling straightened its feathers with its beak and explained, "Your Sect Leader is busy with myriad affairs and won’t be coming today."

"The matters ahead will be handled by me, which is sufficient."

As he spoke, Liou Yuan saw Heling turning its head, watching the base of one of the seven pillars.

There were seven Foundation Establishment criminals bound there.

The highest cultivation among them was at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, chains pierced through his collarbone, pinning his entire body to the pillar.