Chapter 707 - 380: Black Tuo Source Power, World Slaughter Form Goes Berserk

"Yes!" Su Chen quickly replied. "I’ll definitely send someone over as soon as possible."

After saying that, Su Chen didn’t forget to demonstrate his own value to accumulate leverage for any potential setbacks in future contacts. "Additionally, I just received news that Chu Lingyuan left the Sect because the Royal Court seems to have some method to communicate with the Hanhai Emperor and the Ancient Kings of the other sects within the Flame Fire."

"Oh?" Black Tuo was quite surprised. "They can actually still communicate... As expected, these guys won’t be trapped to death so easily. You did well. Keep investigating..."

After finishing his chat with Old Hei, Su Chen happily exited the Nether Realm.

"Not bad, not bad," he thought. "Just sitting at home, and the takeout gets delivered right to my door."

With that thought, he sent another message to Bu Siqi, who had just left not long ago. The capable do more work; he discovered that Old Bu’s psychological endurance seemed much higher than Ming Lin’s.

"It will probably take a while to get here," Su Chen murmured, returning to the training room.

Copper Heart, the Punishment Hall. Currently, it was holding one of the Bronze Sect’s only two remaining Morning Star Tier experts.

In the deepest cell, Qin Yun sat cross-legged, bound in shackles. His gaunt, ghost-like face was expressionless, but his brows were tightly furrowed.

"To think the Prison King actually managed to wake up," he thought.

He couldn’t help but feel anxious. This was a completely unexpected situation. The things he had done inside the Flame Space had been covered up previously.

If they were exposed now, the other sects would never let him go. They would very likely force the Bronze Sect to hand him over.

However, before he was locked up, Chu Lingyuan had already set out, and Qing Cang hadn’t shown any abnormalities. It seemed the Prison King hadn’t revealed the matter yet.

But Qin Yun didn’t believe the other party would let him off so easily.

He knew perfectly well what the situation in the Flame Space was like. The Prison King had been trapped in there for so long—how much torture had he endured?

If he could swallow this grievance, he wouldn’t be a Morning Star of the Royal Court.

"I must leave the Bronze Sect as soon as possible... Residual Spirit..." His expression fluctuated. But what frustrated him the most was that Chu Lingyuan had left suddenly because of the Prison King’s awakening.

He had been tossed into the depths of the Punishment Hall by Qing Cang, without even a chance to pass a message to "Su Chen."

It was common knowledge that Su Chen and Qing Cang had a good relationship. If the Residual Spirit had put in a good word or two with Qing Cang regarding this matter, he might not have been thrown in here to become a true prisoner.

"Are they really going to force me to blow my own cover...?" he wondered.

Since it involved his life, Qin Yun remained very hesitant even now.

Right at this moment, footsteps echoed from outside. Qin Yun’s eyes flickered. It had been nearly five months since he was locked up, and very few people ever came to visit him.

As the footsteps drew closer, a plump, broad-shouldered fellow with a smiling face appeared before him.

"Venerable Qin Yun," the man said, bowing respectfully.

Qin Yun glanced at him. He was a complete stranger with no impression left on his memory. "Who are you?"

The man introduced himself with a chuckle. "I am Zou Wen, a subordinate of Giant Peak’s Chairman, He Chengying. I returned with the Chairman some time ago. It’s completely normal that you haven’t seen me before, Venerable."

As he spoke, his body emitted a strange ripple, faintly forming an invisible barrier around him and Qin Yun.

"He Chengying’s man?" Qin Yun’s eyes shifted slightly. Giant Peak’s Chairman, He Chengying, didn’t have any major family faction backing him, but he presided over a territory and possessed formidable strength.

Even at his peak, Qin Yun had tried his best to avoid friction with that guy.

"Does he have a message for me?" Qin Yun asked indifferently.

Zou Wen shook his head with a chuckle. "You could say that."

Could say that? Qin Yun’s expression changed slightly, but he listened as Zou Wen continued.

"I received news that the Prison King seems to want you dead, Venerable. The things you did in the Flame Space are etched in his memory to this day."

A sharp light flashed in Qin Yun’s eyes. "Whose man are you really?"

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Zou Wen’s eyes, seemingly astonished by Qin Yun’s astuteness. He shook his head. "You don’t need to care whose man I am—"

"Don’t need to care?" Qin Yun sneered, interrupting him. "In that case, I have no choice but to call for the guards. Harboring ulterior motives while lurking beside Giant Peak’s Chairman... I think you have a death wish."

Zou Wen’s expression stiffened. "What do you mean, Venerable? I don’t understand."

Qin Yun sneered. "You understand better than anyone. This news hasn’t spread yet, has it? Otherwise, how could a nobody like you come to pass me a message and instigate a Morning Star’s defection? Heh...

"If you really don’t understand, how about I call He Chengying over? The person behind you must have paid a considerable price to push you into this position."

It was difficult for Deceitful Gods to plant agents within the sects and the Royal Court, but the various human factions had planted no small number of spies among each other.

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Zou Wen’s forehead. For those higher-ups, a few simple sentences were enough to detect something fishy; they didn’t need any more evidence.

Qin Yun smiled faintly. "Speak. Whose man are you, and what do you want?"

Zou Wen’s throat bobbed. This was completely different from what he had expected. Seeing that Qin Yun was really about to call out, he hurriedly said, "V-Venerable, wait! I... I am from the Royal Court."

"From the Royal Court?" Surprise flashed briefly in Qin Yun’s eyes. If the Prison King exposed the matter and the Five Great Sects applied joint pressure, he didn’t believe Qing Cang or Chu Lingyuan would fight to the death to protect him. They would definitely hand him over.

In that case, why would the Royal Court contact him so covertly? Unless... the Royal Court didn’t actually want him dead.

"What message does the Prison King have for me?" Qin Yun asked directly.

Zou Wen’s heart skipped a beat. To make Qin Yun fall into their trap, they had prepared a very detailed plan, which involved unsettling Qin Yun with this news before slowly revealing their true intentions.

But the current situation was truly beyond his expectations. He had no choice but to say, "The Prison King simply wants to ask: do you want to live or die?"

Qin Yun remained noncommittal. "Continue."

"If you want to die, then there’s nothing more to say. If you want to live, there is one way," Zou Wen said, bracing himself.

"Soon, after the helmsmen of the Five Great Sects finish their dialogue with the Ancient Kings in the Flame Fire, the Prison King will challenge Chu Lingyuan, using your matter to pressure him.

"At that time, three Morning Stars—the Rebellious God King, the Peng King, and the Profound Turtle—will already be on their way to blockade the Bronze Sect."

"Chu Lingyuan won’t fight to the death to protect me. What exactly are you trying to do?" Qin Yun asked in a deep voice.

Zou Wen took a deep breath and spat out a name: "Su Chen."

Qin Yun instantly understood. He was merely a pretext. Whether Chu Lingyuan protected him or killed him didn’t matter. The ultimate goal had never been him.

"To think the Royal Court is still fixated on Su Chen..." The corners of Qin Yun’s mouth curled up. That was simply... wonderful.

It truly was a light at the end of the tunnel. Since the Residual Spirit had broken his promise, it couldn’t blame him for turning his back on it.

Zou Wen said, "When the time comes, we will need you to coordinate with us from the inside."

"Look at the state of me. How am I supposed to coordinate with you?" Qin Yun rattled his chains.

Zou Wen explained, "The crisis of the Flame Fire within the Bronze Sect has yet to be entirely eradicated, so it cannot provide power to the Copper Heart. It can only be maintained by relying on the power left behind by the Bronze Ancient King. Furthermore, the three Morning Stars are bringing the deep foundations of the Royal Court with them.

"The Prison King will use what you did in the Flame Space as an excuse to stall the other sects. Under such dire circumstances, Qing Cang won’t just leave a combat asset like you sitting here."

"Heh..." Qin Yun suddenly laughed. They didn’t understand Qing Cang at all.

Qin Yun’s hideous smile made Zou Wen somewhat alarmed. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Qin Yun’s expression suddenly turn fierce.

In an instant, the barrier enveloping them was pierced through, and Qin Yun shouted in a deep voice, "Where is Wu Feng?"

Zou Wen’s expression changed drastically. Within a single breath, the Punishment Hall Master, Wu Feng, appeared before them.

Qin Yun raised his hand and pointed at Zou Wen. CLINK, CLANK! His chains rattled loudly. "This person is a spy from the Royal Court! He came here intending to instigate my defection, plotting against the Star Seed, Su Chen!"

Zou Wen’s face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale.

Wu Feng’s expression turned freezing cold. Filled with both suspicion and murderous intent, his hand was already clamping down on Zou Wen’s shoulder.

Immobilized, Zou Wen trembled as he asked, "W-What exactly are you trying to do?"

Zou Wen couldn’t fathom why Qin Yun would suddenly expose his identity.

"Nothing much..." Qin Yun lowered his eyes. "The Bronze Sect is the place that birthed and raised me. My wife is buried here. My sons... my grandsons... are all buried here. How could I possibly watch you overthrow my Sect!"

"Chu Lingyuan has sent word. He has already communicated with the Ancient Kings. The Prison King wasn’t lying; the Ancient Kings have agreed on a schedule—a ritual every three months to report on the current situation."

In the training room, the Elemental Power swirling around Su Chen gradually receded. He looked at the message Qing Cang had sent. This matter concerned his plans, so he had naturally asked Old Qing to inform him the moment there was news.

"It’s finally been verified."

Su Chen let out a long sigh of relief and closed the virtual screen with a pinch. With this, he could also proceed to the next step: the Moonlight Treasure Bone...