Chapter 33: The Eastern Domain Places a Chess Piece

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Eastern Domain Places a Chess Piece

This was the first time Chu Fan had used the External-Attached Lion Seal Divine Techniques against an opponent, and their power far exceeded his expectations.

After taking the unknown pill, Yan Ji’s strength was likely already on par with the Golden Core Realm Middle Stage. Yet under the Lion Seal, he was utterly defenseless. He was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string, spewing blood endlessly in mid-air.

When Yan Ji landed, he was already unconscious. The lion’s roar had clearly damaged his consciousness.

Chu Fan wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. The moment his attack landed, he charged forward, thrusting his sword first into Yan Ji’s heart, then into his Dantian.

After confirming Yan Ji was truly dead, he quickly departed, flying off in the direction of Yunzhou City.

Not long after Chu Fan left, a figure completely hidden within a black cloak, their face obscured, landed next to Yan Ji’s corpse.

"Seeing as you still have some use, this eminence shall grant you another chance."

The cloaked figure spoke softly, their tone completely flat, as if they had just done something utterly mundane.

Then, with a wave of their hand, a black mist enveloped Yan Ji’s corpse. As the figure flew into the air, the ball of mist followed closely behind, soaring over mountains and ridges.

「Half an hour earlier.」

Outside the Lü Family residence, the sound of Lü Yingliang slamming the gate shut snapped the gawking commoners back to their senses. Some picked up whatever they could throw and hurled it into the Lü Family’s courtyard.

Loud curses accompanied the barrage.

At the direction of an old man, several strong young men lifted the "dead" Chen Qi’an and carried him toward the Chen Family estate.

When Chen Qi’an’s body was delivered to the Chen Family, the entire Yunzhou City was shaken.

The sounds of weeping from the Chen Family went without saying. The Lord Governor of the Inspector’s Mansion personally ordered the Prefecture Guard to surround the Lü Family residence and await further orders. Until the Inspector’s Mansion came up with a concrete plan, not so much as a fly was to leave the Lü Family compound.

Over at the Chen Family estate, Chen Qi’an’s mother had fainted from crying three times within half an hour.

Chen Guanglin, clutching a Long Spear, was in a towering rage. He was about to go make the Lü Family pay in blood for his son’s death when a group of Yunzhou City officials, who had rushed over to placate him, managed to stop him.

The Lord Governor declared righteously that he would absolutely see justice done for the Chen Family.

When Chu Fan returned to the Chen Family estate, the Lord Governor was still consoling Chen Guanglin.

Upon seeing Chu Fan, the officials of Yunzhou City all greeted him with clasped hands.

Chu Fan simply returned the gesture without a word. Finally, he spoke to Chen Guanglin, "Lord Chen, it was my failure for arriving a step too late. But rest assured, everyone from Red Blood Mansion has been dealt with. As for the Lü Family’s crime of colluding with a Cultivation Sect to harm the common people, your Yunzhou Prefecture can handle that as it sees fit. I will return to the Capital City soon to accept punishment from His Majesty."

When the officials of Yunzhou Prefecture heard that Chu Fan had actually killed people from Red Blood Mansion, they all cried out in alarm. The more timid among them began to tremble uncontrollably on the spot.

The common folk might not have known that the Lü Family had found a powerful backer, or that even the Young Sect Leader of Red Blood Mansion had come to Yunzhou City, but these officials were well aware.

After all, the Lü Family had been incredibly high-profile as of late.

This Imperial Guard had killed the Young Sect Leader of Red Blood Mansion and was now just going to leave and return to the Capital City. Wouldn’t they, the officials of Yunzhou City, be the ones left to suffer the consequences?

At this, Chen Guanglin said dejectedly, "Guard Fan, you are not to blame for this. It was my An’er who was too reckless. I will also submit a memorial to His Majesty explaining the full circumstances."

After he finished speaking, Chen Guanglin, using the excuse that it was inconvenient to entertain guests during a time of great mourning, saw the officials out and then closed his doors to all visitors.

Then, Chu Fan followed Chen Guanglin to the memorial hall. Under Chen Guanglin’s expectant gaze, Chu Fan tapped Chen Qi’an’s body a few times.

The originally lifeless Chen Qi’an immediately woke up.

Only then did Chen Guanglin finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Guard Fan, your abilities are truly miraculous."

Chu Fan waved his hand dismissively. "This is just a simple trick to induce a state of suspended animation. It’s not worth mentioning. If a Cultivator were to get a closer look, they would surely see through the ruse."

"Guard Fan, when do I depart?" Chen Qi’an asked.

"At nightfall. To avoid retaliation from Red Blood Mansion once they learn what happened, I will take you directly to the foot of the mountain," Chu Fan said.

Afterward, the Chen Family replaced Chen Qi’an’s "body" in the memorial hall with the corpse of a death row inmate.

Chen Guanglin was the Commander of Yunzhou Prefecture, and his "deceased" son was a Golden Champion Scholar, so naturally, the funeral had to be a grand affair.

As for the Lü Family, after weighing the pros and cons, the Lord Governor merely sent soldiers to surround them. He didn’t dare to act rashly and could only send a report up the chain of command and await a reply from the Capital City.

After nightfall, Chu Fan and Chen Qi’an, now in different attire, quietly left Yunzhou City. Once outside the city, Chu Fan grabbed Chen Qi’an’s arm and flew on his sword, heading west.

After a grueling journey of four days and three nights, they arrived at West Spirit Mountain, one of the four great pillars of the Eastern Domain.

"This is as far as I can take you!"

After they landed, Chu Fan took two books and a sword from his Storage Ring and handed them to Chen Qi’an.

"Follow this mountain path straight ahead for about fifteen or sixteen li, and you’ll see an archway. There are bound to be Mountain Guard Disciples there. When you see them, just say what I told you to say, and they will definitely take you to the Sect. Once you meet the person you need to meet, you know what to say, right?"

"Guard Fan, rest assured. This concerns my entire Chen Family, and even the whole Celestial Qi Kingdom. How could I not give it my all?"

"Good. Then let us part ways here. I hope that when we meet again, Brother Chen, you will have become one of the geniuses of the Cultivation Realm."

With that, Chu Fan wasted no more time, immediately mounting his sword and departing.

The first move in the Eastern Domain had been made. For now, it might only serve as a minor annoyance to Red Blood Mansion, but Chu Fan was filled with anticipation for what the future might hold.

Chen Qi’an was, after all, a scholar. Although he gritted his teeth and persevered through the fifteen or sixteen li, he was clearly exhausted.

Just when he felt he couldn’t go on, he finally saw the sect gate archway Guard Fan had told him about.

On the archway’s plaque were inscribed the three large words "Celestial Spirit Realm," flanked by a pair of couplets.

Just looking at those three words, "Celestial Spirit Realm," he felt a sharp, murderous aura wash over him.

"Who goes there?"

Two young men in sky-blue robes, holding long swords, emerged from behind the archway, eyeing Chen Qi’an warily.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers. I have come at someone’s request to seek an audience with your sect’s Elder Liu Huaguang."

"Is Elder Liu someone that just anyone can meet? At whose request have you come? And what proof do you have?" one of the disciples asked sternly.

"The person who sent me only entrusted me with a single sentence, saying that Elder Liu would surely see me after hearing it," Chen Qi’an said.

"What sentence?"

"Three thousand years ago, the Midday Celestial Burning Technique and the Midnight Soul-Severing Sword were unrivaled in this world."

The disciple immediately barked, "What nonsense is this? Get out of West Spirit Mountain before I lose my temper."

"Senior Brother, I’ve heard that Zi Wu Gate is one of the Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain, and its disciples are all profound Outsider Experts. Are you truly going to send me away so arbitrarily, without even investigating my claim?"

After hearing this, the two disciples conferred for a moment. In the end, one of them returned to the Sect to make a report.

"Kid, if Elder Liu hears your message and still refuses to see you, you just wait and see how I’ll deal with you," the disciple threatened viciously.

He never expected that, a little over fifteen minutes later, the disciple who had gone up the mountain would return accompanied by Elder Liu’s own Direct Disciple.

The Mountain Guard Disciple who had remained behind was left utterly dumbfounded.