My Professions Have Too Much Personality - Chapter 297 - 182: Qing Cang Arrives, Fleecing the Deceitful God’s Power

“That was fast…”

Su Chen was startled when he noticed his body’s condition, but his surprise quickly turned to contemplation. ’There are so many benefits to pleasing the Great Venerable.’

’But for now, it seems the only way is to defeat a recognized person. I wonder if obtaining the second requirement is what made him a little more active.’

’Are there other ways to please him?’

As he thought about it, Su Chen felt a sense of unease. ’This doesn’t seem all that different from how those Believers try to please the Deceitful Gods.’

’No, that’s not right. The Great Venerable is the Great Venerable, and the Deceitful Gods are the Deceitful Gods.’ Su Chen shook his head and glanced at his panel, but there was no reaction.

’Still, I could learn from their experience. I wonder what the Great Venerable likes?’

He didn’t know much about the Great Venerable, but the same might not be true for Yuan Capital. Once Wu Chenpei returned, Chong Jingtian and the others were sure to make a move. He should be able to learn a lot then.

As he mulled this over, he didn’t waste any time. This favor only lasted for three months, so he had to make the most of it.

Once Old Xia finished preparing the Deceitful God’s Power, he would be called.

…

On the front lines, where the Faceless Ghost Followers clashed with Ying Feng’s forces, the battlefield was already unrecognizable. It was a hellscape of crisscrossing ravines so deep they seemed bottomless.

Shattered weapons and twisted metal wreckage littered the scorched earth. Embers still smoldered in several deep craters, sending up wisps of black smoke.

The remnants of torn-apart fortifications were half-buried in the mud, and broken blades jutted from the ground at odd angles. In the center of the battlefield, a massive chasm split their position in two, its edges spiderwebbed with fine cracks.

Deep in the chasm, the faint afterglow of unextinguished Energy was visible, casting an eerie fluorescent light. The wreckage of destroyed machinery was scattered everywhere. Their metal shells were riddled with holes melted by energy weapons, and some still burst with short-circuiting sparks.

In the distance, an utterly enormous Faceless Divine Statue seemed to be looking down upon the land.

On its shoulder, the Faceless Sacrificial Chief suddenly looked up. Two streams of bloody tears flowed down his face, and his body trembled faintly. He let out a long sigh. “The Divine Son has been annihilated.”

“What?” The several High Priests gathered around him exclaimed in shock. “The vast majority of Ying Feng’s forces are tied down by us here! How could the Divine Son have…?”

“I don’t know why…” The Sacrificial Chief shook his head. Though surprised, he could accept it. Ying Feng was not an easy opponent; otherwise, they would have succeeded long ago.

“The Divine Son’s plan has failed. It’s time to retreat. Go and prepare for the Holy Banquet.” He shook his head as the two streams of bloody tears dried on his cheeks.

With the Divine Son annihilated, the Sacrificial Chief was now the supreme Ruler. The High Priests had no objections.

“They’re retreating… The Faceless Ghosts are retreating…”

In Ying Feng’s encampment on the other side of the battlefield, an observer was the first to notice the giant Divine Statue gradually disappearing into the mist.

The news was quickly reported to high command. Chong Jingtian, filled with shock and doubt, went outside the camp himself. He saw that the Divine Statue was indeed retreating and confirmed with the elders in several nearby encampments that it was a full withdrawal.

“Be careful. The Faceless Ghost Followers are adept at using trickery,” Wu Chenpei reminded him from his side.

Chong Jingtian agreed wholeheartedly and issued an order, “Observe them carefully. Do not let your guard down.”

Even with three other elders present, Chong Jingtian was the most skilled at commanding large-scale battlefield movements, so everyone followed his orders.

By mid-afternoon, reports from all fronts confirmed that the Faceless Ghost Followers were retreating.

Chong Jingtian’s suspicion grew until he received an urgent message from Ying Feng.

“They used the Secret Pattern Technique. What could be so urgent…” Chong Jingtian muttered as he watched Jiang Shu Mo hurry over and hand him a metal plate. It resembled a Holy Word Stone and was covered in dense symbols.

This was a method of communication they had developed by modeling it after the Holy Word Stone. It could only be deciphered using a Secret Technique known exclusively to the elders of Ying Feng.

After delivering it, Jiang Shu Mo tactfully took his leave.

Chong Jingtian reached into his Storage Space, took out a crystal, and placed it on the metal plate. The coded script immediately transformed into lines of text.

His eyelid twitched as he scanned the message.

“Xia Hanshi!” he hissed. ’I should have known. That guy definitely had a scheme for staying behind.’

Although he had his suspicions, he hadn’t expected Xia Hanshi to be so decisive. Even though the outcome was favorable, the surprise of it all left him feeling a bit unsettled.

“What was the message from Ying Feng?”

Wu Chenpei walked in without any hesitation, a privilege Chong Jingtian had granted him as a sign of respect and trust.

“Oh…” Chong Jingtian looked up with a smile and put away the crystal. The symbols on the metal plate in his hand flickered. “It was the Faceless Divine Son. He infiltrated Ying Feng, but Shi Yunzhou and Xia Hanshi discovered him. He’s already been eliminated.”

“Hmm?” A flash of surprise crossed Wu Chenpei’s eyes. “So it was a ploy to lure the tiger from the mountain. What was the Faceless Divine Son’s purpose for infiltrating Ying Feng?”

“I don’t know the specific reason,” Chong Jingtian said, shaking his head.

“Hmm…” Wu Chenpei looked thoughtful and couldn’t help but ask, “Did he cause any damage to Ying Feng?”

Chong Jingtian smiled. “Not at all. He was discovered while he was still in a latent phase.”

Wu Chenpei was faintly disappointed. “Ying Feng is as experienced as ever. No wonder the Faceless Followers are retreating. With their plan foiled, there’s no point in making more meaningless sacrifices.”

“In that case, can we return to Ying Feng?”

Chong Jingtian’s expression was calm. “Yes. Once we’ve confirmed that the Faceless Ghost Followers have well and truly withdrawn, we will head back.”

Normally, he would have wanted to give chase, but right now, there were more important matters awaiting their return.

Wu Chenpei let out a breath, his expression calm and unruffled. With the Faceless Ghost situation handled, he could finally head to the ruins.

Chong Jingtian gave Wu Chenpei a deep look. ’I’m the only elder here at this encampment right now. It’s safer to wait until we return to Ying Feng, where the five of us can act together.’