Chapter 344: The Myriad States of Life in an Instant

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: The Myriad States of Life in an Instant

The man who stopped the two Void Realm experts was Zerkar, Patriarch of the Hanmo Clan and Jisierk’s grandfather.

"Patriarch, we failed in our duties. Please punish us!" the two Void Realm experts said, admitting their failure to Zerkar upon their return.

Zerkar waved his hand. "It’s not your fault. The man was simply too cunning."

He then looked to the injured Void Realm Martial Artist and asked, "Could you tell who he was from his techniques?"

The Void Realm expert shook his head. "I’ve never seen the Sword Techniques he used before. Furthermore, his True Qi was incredibly fierce and domineering. It definitely doesn’t come from an ordinary Cultivation Technique."

After a moment of deep thought, Zerkar said, "You two are to guard this courtyard well. You must ensure Jisierk’s safety. This assassin can only have been sent by Moqish."

"Moqish?" one of the Void Realm Martial Artists asked in disbelief. "Patriarch, Moqish is vengeful over the smallest slight, but would he really dare to so brazenly send an assassin to our Hanmo Mansion?"

"For an ordinary grudge, he wouldn’t go this far. But he already suffered a great loss of face. Plus, if Jisierk dies, he’ll have a chance to win over that Sandalwood Flower of the Lindi Clan," Zerkar sneered.

Of course, Jisierk, who was in his room, heard their entire conversation.

The woman beside him had just warned him to be wary of Moqish. ’To think he’d actually dare to send an assassin after me, and even kill a dozen of my Hanmo Clan guards.’

This feud was now set in stone.

...

After leaving Hanmo Mansion, Chu Fan returned directly to Lindi Mansion. He retracted his Spiritual Body, disguised the Celestial Dragon Armor to look like gauze bandages, and lay on his bed, contemplating the night’s events.

...

Over at Cage Mansion, Moqish, who had lost a great deal of face, was furious. But just as Jisierk had surmised, though petty, he was not stupid. On the contrary, he was rather clever.

Otherwise, with a personality like his, how could he possibly be groomed by the Patriarch as the next heir?

At that moment, he was taking out his pent-up frustration on a woman.

He was completely unaware that a great net was already closing in around him.

...

Deep within an unnamed mountain range in the Southern Domain, in what appeared to be a dense jungle, a man in a long robe walked up to a giant tree. He pulled a dark iron plaque from within his robes and took a single step forward.

The air before him rippled, and in the next moment, his figure vanished.

The man had entered a massive array. Unfolding before him was a sprawling cluster of buildings built into the mountainside.

He hurried toward one of the larger structures.

"Why are you back?"

Two guards at a courtyard gate saw the man and asked in surprise.

The man replied, "News has come from the Eastern Domain, so I rushed back without delay. Is the Saint Heir available?"

"The Saint Heir is in seclusion, breaking through to the Void Realm. We expect him to emerge today," one of the guards said.

"Then I’ll go inside and wait for the Saint Heir to emerge from his seclusion."

Without waiting for the guards’ permission, the man walked straight into the courtyard. He navigated its winding paths before stopping in front of a rockery to wait.

The man waited from morning until dusk, and from dusk until dawn. After four full days and three nights, the rockery finally slid aside, and the person he was waiting for emerged from within.

The man who emerged was indeed the Saint Heir.

If Chu Fan saw this person, his jaw would surely drop to the ground in shock.

This person was none other than the Young Master of Red Blood Mansion, Yan Ji, whom he had killed once before.

"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Saint Heir."

The man hurried to offer his respects.

Yan Ji indeed felt refreshed and invigorated. ’After all, I’m not even forty, yet I’ve already stepped into the Void Realm. Is there anyone else in this world as talented as I am? I’ve searched my memories and scoured the historical records, and I can say with certainty that there is absolutely no one. I am the first in all of history.’

"Yin Chu, why are you here? Is there news from the Eastern Domain?" Yan Ji asked upon seeing the man.

"Yes, Saint Heir. News has indeed come from the Eastern Domain. Two pieces of news, in fact."

"Spit it out!" Yan Ji ordered.

Compared to seven years ago, Yan Ji’s aggressive edge was far more pronounced. A vicious glint perpetually flickered in his eyes.

Yin Chu didn’t even dare to meet his gaze.

"According to information uncovered by Pavilion Master Wen Chan of Chaoyin Pavilion, the one who acted on Three Mountains Island was very likely the Earth Immortal who guards the Eastern Domain."

"An Earth Immortal?" Yan Ji exclaimed.

He had only ever heard of Earth Immortals. They were cultivators who had failed their Tribulation Crossing, but their power was only a half-step shy of godhood.

"Is there any proof?"

"Someone investigated Three Mountains Island. Our people died in a single night, with no signs of a struggle. There were no traces of poison on the bodies, either. To silently kill so many people overnight... not even someone at the Saint Realm could likely accomplish that."

’To think we angered an Earth Immortal into action... It seems my plans for the Eastern Domain will require careful reconsideration,’ Yan Ji muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing.

"You said there were two matters. What is the second one?"

"Ten days ago, the Northern Domain suddenly launched an eastern expedition. They split their forces into four armies and launched a surprise attack on four towns in the Eastern Domain. Although the Eastern Domain Great Xia Kingdom was prepared, the Northern Domain deployed a large number of Cultivation Experts, inflicting heavy casualties on the Great Xia Army and the Eastern Domain’s Cultivators. Then, a single person appeared and turned the tide by himself. He annihilated the Northern Domain’s expeditionary force, and fewer than twenty percent managed to escape."

"Oh? And who was this person who appeared?"

"After saving the four towns, the person vanished without a trace. We can’t find a single shred of information on them. Therefore, I suspect that person is very likely the same Earth Immortal who took action on Three Mountains Island."

’An Earth Immortal again? Earth Immortals haven’t shown themselves in a millennium, and now one appears and makes such a ruckus? Are they really just content to guard their domains?’ Yan Ji muttered quietly to himself.

Yin Chu stood to the side, not daring to speak, his head lowered.

"Notify our people in the Eastern Domain to closely monitor any and all activity there. I still have a blood feud with the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm! That debt, no matter how long it takes, will be repaid." As Yan Ji spoke, a boundless killing intent flared in his eyes.

"You may withdraw for now. Call Wei Guangchen in."

Yin Chu withdrew. A moment later, a scrawny, middle-aged man hurried into the room.

"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Saint Heir."

"Enough. Let me ask you: did anything happen in the Hall while I was in seclusion?"

Wei Guangchen shook his head. "Everything has been business as usual. However, I did hear that Saintess Ran Ji left with her people several days ago. I made some inquiries, and it seems she went to the Northern Domain, acting on the Hall Master’s orders."

"You’re saying Ran Ji went to the Northern Domain? Did you find out her purpose?"

"Since she was acting on the Hall Master’s orders, I didn’t dare investigate," Wei Guangchen said, his head bowed.

"What about the Southern Domain?"

"The other Holy Sons and Saintesses are proceeding with their work in the Southern Domain as planned. There have been some conflicts, but nothing that violates the rules set by the Hall Master."

"Now that I’m out of seclusion, I will personally lead you to give them some real competition," Yan Ji declared, his fighting spirit soaring.

"Saint Heir, should I arrange for someone to clean the blood and bodies from the seclusion chamber?" Wei Guangchen asked.

The stench of blood wafting from the rockery passage was overwhelmingly strong. Just by standing there for a few moments, Wei Guangchen already felt nauseated.