Chapter 1814 911: Entering the Yin Ruins Again (Part 2)

But at the moment, these two prominent figures, who were supposed to stand at opposing positions, actually stood side by side under the Heavenly Altar. The atmosphere was not exactly harmonious, yet it lacked any scent of gunpowder, instead possessing a kind of unspoken tacit understanding.

"Confirmed,"

An elderly Daoist, responsible for observing astrology and earth vein fluctuations, rushed over and bowed to report to the crowd under the altar, "The convergence point of yin energy points to Yongding Gate! The entrance will fully manifest within a quarter of an hour!"

Upon hearing this, Heavenly Master Zhang slightly turned his head to look at the person beside him—Chen Yuanlu, Sect Leader of the Changxing Sect.

Chen Yuanlu had changed into a dark robe today and simply nodded calmly upon hearing the news.

Huo Yin didn't say a word. The green bricks under his feet silently cracked with fine lines as his entire body turned into a blurred shadow, tearing through the night toward the direction of Yongding Gate in South City at a speed difficult for the naked eye to detect, leaving only a low sonic boom from the rapidly displaced air lingering for a long time.

Once Huo Yin's figure disappeared, Heavenly Master Zhang Siyuan furrowed his brows and asked Chen Yuanlu, "Mr. Chen, that kid... is he not here yet?"

The "kid" he referred to was, of course, Li Yan.

Chen Yuanlu shook his head, his tone calm: "Entering the Nine Gates Yin Ruins requires the Yin God to leave the body. They chose to conduct the matter at the Five Dao General Temple in South City. I have sent someone to convey a message; they should be on their way."

Zhang Siyuan lightly "hummed" from his nose, "The Heavenly Altar, where Dragon Energy converges, maintains rituals and safeguards the Yin God's entry as the most stable and secure. Yet they still want to run to that wild shrine...? What, afraid we'll set a trap here to harm him?"

Chen Yuanlu's face showed a hint of helplessness, and he sighed slightly: "Heavenly Master understands well; nowadays, the waters in the Capital are utterly chaotic and unfathomable. Under the throne, blood has long been shed."

"That child has traveled a long and strange road, so being more cautious is only natural and understandable."

Zhang Siyuan listened, furrowing his brows even tighter but refraining from further reproach.

His gaze swept over the crowd standing inside and outside the Heavenly Altar, including court ministers, representatives of aristocracy, and cultivators from various factions. Behind these faces, their thoughts varied.

Just as Chen Yuanlu said, concerning that Nine-Five Venerable seat, not to mention a pugilistic world youth, even he, the Heavenly Master of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, would be cautious of what some "old friends" might be plotting in secret. Who could be entirely trusting?

He ultimately remained silent, casting his gaze back to the leaping flames of the giant cauldron, saying nothing more.

Outside Yongding Gate.

The atmosphere was even tenser than at the Heavenly Altar.

Upon receiving confirmed information, the elite forces originally spread across the other Eight Gates swiftly converged here.

Armored soldiers constructed several lines of defense on the perimeter, arrows strung, blades unsheathed, their cold gazes scanning every dark corner. Torches and sealed lanterns illuminated the vicinity of the city gate as bright as day.

The people of the Mystical Sect were busy in the inner circle.

On temporarily erected magic platforms, order flags stood tall, talisman papers fluttered.

Cultivators either burned incense in prayer or used finger techniques to arrange formations, spreading waves of invisible spiritual energy, interweaving into a net aimed at isolating possible external yin soul probes and interference.

At such times, if there were hostile mystic cultivators trying to use Yin God roaming techniques to spy or even disrupt, it would trigger alarms and face a head-on strike.

"Boom!"

A figure fell like a meteorite to the ground, stirring a circle of airwaves—it was Huo Yin.

Though the sound of his landing wasn't loud, it made the hearts of everyone present skip a beat.

"Greetings, Master Huo!"

Whether soldiers or officers, or cultivators from various factions, all bowed in unison, conveying genuine reverence.

Huo Yin just slightly nodded in response.

His gaze, sharp as electricity, swiftly scanned the site arrangement, and was about to inquire about Li Yan's whereabouts when he suddenly felt something, turned sharply to look at a dark street corner at the end of the long street.

Two figures were quickly approaching.

Ahead was a gigantic man, as sturdy as a mountain—Wu Ba.

His towering physique was slightly tilted as if guarding the person behind him.

The person behind was slimmer, holding high a Soul Summoning Banner.

The banner seemed to be made of some dark-colored fabric, glimmering under the torchlight, with intricate twisted talismans drawn on it using vermillion mixed with other materials.

Night wind blew past, making the banner tail sway slightly yet not fluttering.

The banner holder was Lv San.

At this moment, his face was solemn, both hands firmly stabilizing the banner pole.

Huo Yin's gaze instantly locked onto that Soul Summoning Banner.

With his martial arts cultivation and spiritual sense, he could clearly feel an extraordinarily pure and fierce yin energy condensed at the top of the banner pole. Not only was this yin energy solidified, but at its core, there was a faint trace of a disquieting thunderstorm echo.

No need to say more, the core of that yin energy was where Li Yan's out-of-body Yin God resided.

Wu Ba and Lv San quickly arrived nearby, facing Huo Yin, both feeling an intangible pressure.

Lv San hurriedly said as instructed beforehand: "Master Huo, Brother Li's Yin God is attached to the Soul Summoning Banner. Inside the Nine Gates Yin Ruins, the situation is complicated, the space chaotic; if a strong soul enters, it might easily disturb the yin-yang balance, leading to unpredictable changes. Brother Li's intention is for you venerable elders to hold guard outside, isolating external disturbances, without needing to personally risk yourselves."

These words were half-true.

Avoiding disturbance from strong souls was one reason; more importantly, Li Yan and the Five Dao General had other plans that couldn't be revealed to outsiders, especially these Mystic Sect Grandmasters.

Huo Yin took a deep look at that Soul Summoning Banner, seemingly able to see through the fabric into the contained Yin God.

He spoke no more, simply uttering a word: "Understood."

He then stepped aside, signaling for Lv San to proceed freely.

Regarding the numerous plans and schemes within the Mystical Sect, he, as a pure martial artist, had never been very interested nor inclined to delve deeply. But the old Emperor Xiao Qixuan had given him knowledge and mentorship, his only dying request being "protect Jing Heng's stability."