Luo Feng had been in Yulan City for quite some time. Although he had heard of low-level Primordial Life sneaking into the city and launching assassinations, he had yet to encounter one himself.
His thoughts were entirely focused on cultivation, and he hadn’t even applied for the ‘Elder Examination.’ To Luo Feng, becoming an Elder would divert his attention; he needed to concentrate solely on cultivation!
“Swish, swish, swish~~~”
Outside the Dan Tower Main Building, figures descended one after another, completely blocking the main entrance. This made the customers who came to purchase elixirs somewhat uneasy. One by one, they hurriedly moved away to avoid trouble.
“It’s the Insect Nest.”
“Cultivators from the Insect Nest! Looks like the Insect Nest and the Dan Tower are about to clash. We’d better stay out of this.”
Many customers quickly fled the scene.
Chaos erupted near the Dan Tower Main Building. The attendants and mid-to-high-level staff were apprehensive as they looked at the figures of the cultivators outside the building.
“What’s the Insect Nest doing here?”
“Since Luo Feng Divine Emperor joined our Dan Tower, we’ve been expanding our business for 1,500 eras! The Insect Nest hasn’t made a move, but now they suddenly show up?” The Dan Tower members were somewhat panicked and immediately reported upwards.
Soon, the news reached Changqing Building Owner and Luo Feng.
“Brother Luo Feng, members of the Insect Nest have mobilized on a large scale and surrounded the Dan Tower Main Building,” Changqing Building Owner transmitted. “However, under the regulations of Yulan City, they wouldn’t dare go too far. It’s probably a negotiation visit!”
“Let’s observe their intentions for now,” Luo Feng said with a hint of curiosity.
The Insect Nest’s leader had tolerated things for so long; had they finally run out of patience?
…
Dan Tower Main Building.
A towering, scale-armored man led a group of Insect Nest cultivators into the building. His cold gaze and prominent, thick-scaled tail made him stand out. As he walked into the Dan Tower, the vast space seemed to contort around him, making him its center.
The invisible pressure caused the Dan Tower members to tremble with fear.
“Elder Sa Luo, there’s no need to intimidate the juniors,” Changqing Building Owner appeared, and the building’s formation began operating naturally, suppressing the terrifying aura of the towering scale-armored man.
Elder Sa Luo, one of the seven top figures of the Insect Nest, was at the Elder level.
“Building Owner Changqing,” Elder Sa Luo said coldly. “I’m not here for you.”
“Oh?” Changqing Building Owner realized that the Insect Nest’s intentions differed from what he had initially thought.
“Bring out your Dan Tower’s ‘Gu Qingyuan Alchemist’!” Elder Sa Luo declared coldly.
“Gu Qingyuan?”
Changqing Building Owner frowned slightly but still gave an order, “Go and summon Gu Qingyuan to come here.”
“Understood.” A subordinate immediately left.
“Elder Sa Luo, Alchemist Gu Qingyuan is one of our seven High Level Alchemists in the Dan Tower. I hold him in high regard,” Changqing Building Owner said with a smile. “I’m curious how he has offended you?”
Elder Sa Luo cast a sidelong glance at Changqing Building Owner.
Changqing Building Owner relied on alchemy for resources, while Elder Sa Luo was a battle specialist who frequently hunted in the Dark Sacred Realm. Naturally, he didn’t think much of Changqing.
“You’ll understand soon enough,” Elder Sa Luo said indifferently.
Changqing Building Owner slightly furrowed his brows.
Both sides fell silent, their members not daring to make a sound.
Shortly after—
Alchemist Gu Qingyuan arrived.
Dressed humbly, the middle-aged man had the strength of a Mid-stage Divine Emperor Enlightened cultivator. His alchemy technique was unmatched; aside from Changqing Building Owner, he was the best among the Dan Tower’s seven High Level Alchemists.
“You’re here,” Gu Qingyuan said, glancing at Elder Sa Luo and his group.
“Did you think hiding in the Dan Tower would keep you safe?” Elder Sa Luo’s eyes filled with killing intent. “You truly have guts! In Yulan City, you dared to assassinate two of my mid-stage Divine Emperor Enlightened subordinates. According to the city’s regulations, killing cultivators within its borders means you deserve death!”
“Do you have evidence?” Gu Qingyuan calmly asked.
Rage flickered in Elder Sa Luo’s eyes.
Of course, he lacked evidence!
The Insect Nest had paid a heavy price to deduce that the culprit was Gu Qingyuan!
“Two Mid-stage Divine Emperors?” Changqing Building Owner said in surprise. “In Yulan City, without disturbing the city’s defense systems, it’s nearly impossible to silently kill such powerful individuals… even at the Elder level.”
“He used poison,” Elder Sa Luo explained. “I asked two friends for assistance to investigate past time-space traces and causality, confirming the poison was his doing.”
“Why would I poison two of your Insect Nest members for no reason?” Gu Qingyuan questioned doubtfully.
“Your sole disciple was killed during a raid,” Elder Sa Luo gazed at Gu Qingyuan. “You suspected my two subordinates were responsible.”
“Indeed,”
Gu Qingyuan nodded and sighed. “My only disciple was killed. He worked carefully to accumulate resources through Artifact Refining Skills within the city. But he was still targeted! Just for purchasing a treasure, he was ambushed and killed while returning to his cave mansion. Before he died, he transmitted a message to me, revealing the two culprits. They were members of your Insect Nest.”
“A deathbed transmission?” Elder Sa Luo scoffed. “It could very well have been other raiders in disguise! In Yulan City, disguise techniques are endless. Determining the culprits requires sufficient evidence.”
Gu Qingyuan stared at Elder Sa Luo. “My disciple was weak, and I am merely an ordinary alchemist. I lack the ability to poison two mid-stage Divine Emperor Enlightened individuals. You also said that identifying culprits in Yulan City demands conclusive evidence.”
Elder Sa Luo glared at the alchemist.
He knew full well that Gu Qingyuan was the murderer.
“So, the Insect Nest made an error?” Elder Sa Luo asked. “Gu Qingyuan, come with me. Cooperate with the investigation and prove your innocence! Take him away!”
“On what grounds?”
“Without evidence, why take him?”
Other Dan Tower alchemists voiced their anger.
“Elder Sa Luo!” Changqing Building Owner interjected, “You intend to forcibly take Gu Qingyuan without evidence?
“Because I’m an Elder!” Elder Sa Luo shot a cold glance at Changqing Building Owner and displayed a time-space projection. “With evidence of past time-space showing Gu Qingyuan in close proximity to the deceased, coupled with causality traces, I suspect him as the culprit. I also have Elder De You’s issued decree. Does that give me the right to take him for investigation?”
Elder Sa Luo was enraged.
Two key subordinates had been poisoned within the city—what leader could endure such a loss?
“We can’t let them take Brother Gu.”
“If he’s taken, he’s as good as dead.”
“Once taken away, whether he’s the culprit or not will be decided entirely by them.”
Other alchemists spoke up in succession; Gu Qingyuan was well-respected among the Dan Tower alchemists.
“You aim to stop me? I have evidence of suspicion, I have Elder De You’s decree, and I personally came as an Elder to apprehend a suspect. You plan to obstruct me?” Elder Sa Luo looked at Changqing Building Owner.
Changqing Building Owner knew that if he intervened, he would lack justification.
Under reasonable suspicion, Elder Sa Luo indeed had the authority to forcibly act and take the suspect.
“And you lot…” Elder Sa Luo’s gaze swept across the furious alchemists. “I’m speaking with the Building Owner; how dare you interrupt? Record every single one of their names!”
“Understood,” his subordinates replied promptly, eyeing the alchemists one by one.
The alchemists paled and grew uneasy.
“Gu Qingyuan, rest assured. I’ll meet with Elder De You to ensure you receive fair treatment,” Changqing Building Owner stated.
“Thank you, Building Owner! Sorry to trouble you!” Gu Qingyuan bowed respectfully, remaining calm despite having prepared for the worst.
“Building Owner, you give him too much credit.”
A black-haired, black-clad man appeared.
“Hmm?”
Both sides turned their attention to Luo Feng, whose arrival caused Elder Sa Luo’s expression to change slightly. He didn’t care much for Changqing Building Owner, but Luo Feng Divine Emperor’s reputation soared after toppling Elder Tian He.
“Boom—”
As Luo Feng emerged, an invisible and terrifying aura swept outwards. Elder Sa Luo’s expression shifted as he stood unmoved, his scale armor glowing faintly as he resisted the force. But his subordinate Insect Nest cultivators couldn’t withstand it; they were swept off their feet and flung outside by the overwhelming pressure.
“How dare the Insect Nest act presumptuously in my domain?” Luo Feng fixed his gaze on Elder Sa Luo. “You must be Elder Sa Luo.”
Elder Sa Luo growled in anger, “Luo Feng! I have suspicion evidence, an Elder De You decree—”
“The Insect Nest’s trash, daring to pursue a culprit?” Luo Feng sneered. “Do you even know what your nest is infamous for?”
Elder Sa Luo’s face darkened.
At the Elder level, city rules generally required adherence, and direct combat within the city was highly discouraged.
“You—” Elder Sa Luo exclaimed in fury. “You’ve gone too far!”
“Listen carefully!” Luo Feng’s voice was cold as he addressed Elder Sa Luo, his words reaching the ears of the Insect Nest cultivators outside. “My Dan Tower strictly adheres to regulations. Without conclusive evidence, no one has the authority to take away our cultivators. Not you, not even the Insect Nest Master!”
“You dare disrespect the Insect Nest Master?” Elder Sa Luo asked, staring at Luo Feng.
The Insect Nest Master was a formidable power on par with the three Hall Masters, far above the average Elder level.
“Yes, I don’t consider him worth my regard.”
Luo Feng returned Elder Sa Luo’s gaze. “You may convey my exact words to him. I, Luo Feng, will await him at any time!”
Changqing Building Owner stood stunned, looking at Luo Feng as if he were mad. So audacious! Changqing prided himself on maintaining good relations with various factions in Yulan City; he would never dare behave this brazenly.
The gathered cultivators from both sides were also taken aback.
“Luo Feng Divine Emperor?” Gu Qingyuan appeared incredulous. He had already prepared for the worst, even purchasing a ‘Substitute Death’ treasure.
Luo Feng’s words shocked everyone present, brazenly humiliating the Insect Nest Master without reservation.
“Fine then! I’ll certainly relay your message exactly as you wish to the Insect Nest Master!” Elder Sa Luo sneered, turning to leave.
“Buzz.”
The Life and Death Array activated, enveloping the Dan Tower complex in terrifying waves. Elder Sa Luo found himself trapped, unable to escape or dismantle the formation. He even sensed his own life force weakening and realized he couldn’t recover.
The change in circumstances made Elder Sa Luo’s expression shift to one of horror.
“What are you doing? In the city, are you planning to attack?” Elder Sa Luo glared at Luo Feng in a mix of anger and alarm.
“You came to my tower acting arrogant and now wish to leave? Such convenience isn’t allowed here. Leave one billion Primordial Crystals as reparations—or stay awhile longer at my Dan Tower,” Luo Feng said with a calm firmness.
Both sides of cultivators were stunned into silence, unwilling to get further involved.
Elder Sa Luo was caught between panic and rage, calling for assistance from the Insect Nest Master.
——
Thank you to the new Alliance Hierarch, ‘Fog and Stars,’ for your generous support!