NOVPUB
Chapter 515: Chapter 511 Intelligence
Hai Feng City.
City Lord Lei Xuanyu and City Lord Wu Yan had not yet returned.
On one hand...
They had only just jointly reported yesterday, branding Gu Jinlai as a Demonic Cultist, solving a significant threat, and needed to celebrate.
On the other hand...
The Holy Dynasty would inevitably dispatch a Void Immortal Envoy to personally capture Gu Jinlai. Being the first to receive such envoy would certainly leave a good impression.
Of course, there was an even more crucial point.
The Demon Emperor Dragon Tears had only given them one day.
Should the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor suddenly decide to turn against them first, wouldn’t they be trapped like animals in Hai Feng City?
Therefore, staying in Hai Feng City for a day or two, until the situation became clearer, was the foolproof method before returning to their respective cities.
...
At this moment, a night banquet was being held in the main hall of the City Lord Mansion. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Elegantly moving dancing girls were performing, and on either side, over twenty piano girls were plucking at the strings.
In addition, numerous young attendants and maids, like butterflies threading through flowers, moved back and forth in the hall, presenting meticulously prepared delicacies and drinks.
The hosts of the banquet, naturally, were the three city lords—Si Xinghui, Lei Xuanyu, and Wu Yan—along with some of their trusted subordinates.
The atmosphere in the hall was lively, filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
"Thanks to the painstaking efforts of the three City Lords, a tremendous disaster has been averted. All three are saviors of Hai Feng City, Liuhuo City, and Purple Thunder City. Let me toast you all for your significant contributions during this demonic surge,"
At this moment, Li Shengyang, the commander of the City Guard Army of Hai Feng City, said, raising his glass in praise towards Si Xinghui and the others at the front.
"Thanks to City Lord Si for directly contacting the Taiao Cave Heaven behind you, allowing the Venerable Daoist Si Xuanyuan of the Taiao Cave Heaven to step forward, directly informing the Holy Master about this matter. This allowed the Holy Master to issue the capture order for Gu Jinlai, this conspirator with the Demonic Cultists, so swiftly, averting this great disaster. We should toast City Lord Si first,"
Wu Yan immediately turned his glass towards Si Xinghui.
The city lords of the Inner Ring Twelve Cities often have direct ties to the Six Great Cave Heavens.
Si Xinghui’s family name, Si, belongs to the rulers of the Taiao Cave Heaven.
The holder of the Divine Weapon—Taixuan Star Palace’s Supreme Void Immortal—is the Patriarch Si Wuya of the Si family.
"It’s also thanks to City Lord Wu and City Lord Lei who timely shared this information with me, enabling me to react swiftly. Otherwise, once Gu Jinlai’s Demonic Cultist plan succeeded, imagine letting Dragon Tears Demon Emperor’s demonic surge sweep into Wind and Rain City, Liuhuo City, Purple Thunder City; countless people would be separated from their families, having their homes destroyed and lives lost. Especially, this matter could have damaged the reputation of the Holy Dynasty, affecting its stable rule and laying the groundwork for these Demonic Cultists to split the dynasty in the future,"
Si Xinghui also raised his glass.
"This Gu Jinlai, in order to destabilize our Holy Dynasty, did not hesitate to provoke a major battle between our four cities and the devils, breaking the hard-earned balance and tacit agreement between the two sides. Truly, his heart deserves condemnation!"
Lei Xuanyu said sternly.
"These Demonic Cultists do not understand the hard-won peace; they would rather see us and the devils fighting bloodily. They wish for chaos within the Holy Dynasty. Only then can they seize the opportunity to rise up, divide the regions, and achieve their schemes. If our Holy Dynasty remains unmoved, not falling for their tricks, once they reveal themselves, they will immediately face the top powerhouses of the Holy Dynasty, and even the Divine Weapon wielders of the Imperial Family will strike them with thunderous force,"
Said Si Xinghui, smiling: "Just like now, this Gu Jinlai thought he was thorough, wielding the moral high ground that humans must fiercely contend with the devils to incite this demonic wave. He aimed to throw Hai Feng City, Liuhuo City, Wind and Rain City, Purple Thunder City, and Dragon Tears Valley into utter chaos for his own gain. But as long as we maintain stability, refusing to become disorganized, his evil schemes are no more than the foolish acts of a clown."
Everyone nodded in deep agreement.
"The one who has come this time, it must be Venerable Daoist Si Xuanyuan, right? With the Venerable Daoist’s involvement, Gu Jinlai will soon pay the price for his foolish acts against the Holy Dynasty,"
Wu Yan said, smiling.
"It is Venerable Daoist Si taking action; he is a famously powerful Void Immortal of our Taiao Cave Heaven. Having overcome the Heavenly Tribulation and mastered the Great Dao for over thirty years, he has delved deeply into the Void Immortal Stage. Although he has not cultivated Great Divine Powers, he has diligently mastered two Top Divine Powers, capable in both offense and defense, ranking him among the strong, even among Void Immortals. Particularly, the Attack Divine Power he wields—the Splitting Origin Flash—has achieved Perfect Divine Power; even the Demon Emperor does not dare to withstand it directly."
Said Si Xinghui, laughing.
"Hiss! A Perfect Top Divine Power!?"
Wu Yan and Lei Xuanyu couldn’t help but gasp.
The World Building ranks Devas, Saints, and Void Immortals on the Sanjiu Ascension List, but this list primarily serves to differentiate between Devas, Martial Kings, Saints, Martial Saints.
While the Human Immortal Stage has theoretical grounds, so far, no one has truly achieved it. Also, due to the variability in strength caused by Divine Weapons and other foundations, the Void Immortal Stage is usually not highly regarded with its nine ranks. Most people classify them using seven levels: ordinary, high-level, top-level, peak, nation-stabilizing, Great Divine Ability User, and Supreme.
Having Perfectly mastered a Top Attack Divine Power proves that Si Xuanyuan has reached the top among Void Immortals in terms of maximum attack power.
"Although the Demon Emperor Dragon Tears’ cultivated demonic body is powerful, it’s at best the level of a high-level Void Immortal. With the Venerable Daoist’s Perfectly mastered Top Divine Power... even the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor holds no advantage against him,"
Wu Yan said.
"Correct, the Holy Master sending the Venerable Daoist to capture him is also a strategy to intimidate the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor with his power, letting them know that our Human Clan handing over Gu Jinlai is not because we are afraid of them,"
Si Xinghui gave a slight nod.
At that moment, seated behind Wu Yan, the Deva Wu Shu seemed to have received some news. His expression changed slightly, and he quickly transmitted through Divine Thought, "Uncle...we just received news that Gu Jinlai, leading the elite of Wind and Rain City, has crushed the Devil Tide!"
Just as Wu Yan was about to continue praising Si Xinghui, he was startled and couldn’t help but exclaim, "What!?"
His loss of composure immediately drew the gazes of Si Xinghui and Lei Xuanyu.
"City Lord Wu, is there something the matter?"
Si Xinghui directly asked.
"The Devil Tide..."
Wu Yan immediately turned to Wu Shu, asking, "What exactly happened? You said the Devil Tide has been crushed? By the elite of Wind and Rain City led by Gu Jinlai?"
"Gu Jinlai crushed the Devil Tide? How is that possible!?"
Lei Xuanyu also seemed somewhat astonished, staring unblinkingly at Wu Shu.
Seeing that the gazes of all three City Lords were on him, Wu Shu dared not delay or hide anything, and quickly said, "I too just received the message from the front. This morning, Gu Jinlai led the elite to ambush the Devils. A few hours later, he returned to Wind and Rain City and announced that the Devil Tide had been crushed. Our intelligence operatives immediately investigated in detail... According to their investigation and report..."
The Deva swallowed hard, only then speaking in a raw voice, "That Gu Jinlai... unleashed a force no less than a Great Divine Power, destroying the Devil Tide with overwhelming force. The Dragon Tears Demon Emperor, the Demon Emperors and Demon Kings surrounding the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor, and nearly a million Devils, almost none survived; all perished."
"Great Divine Power!?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Gu Jinlai is just a Martial Saint; even if he was a Void Immortal who transferred to become a Martial Saint, how could he possibly unleash Great Divine Power? Where did this news come from that doesn’t even consider basic common sense?"
Wu Yan, Si Xinghui, and Lei Xuanyu, the three City Lords, spoke almost simultaneously, unhesitatingly dismissing the news.
"But... the news from the intelligence operatives is indeed so..."
Wu Shu said, his eyes filled with shock.
"What kind of intelligence is this?"
Lei Xuanyu suddenly stood up, exclaiming sharply, "This is a devilish rumor meant to sow discord in our ranks! Those who spread such demonic rumors should all be executed!"
But Si Xinghui did not speak; instead, he just glanced at a Saint behind him.
This Saint took out a Communication Jade Token, apparently inquiring about something.
After a moment, he too turned pale, shock emerging in his eyes.
"What did they say?"
Si Xinghui immediately asked.
"Our intelligence operatives also received this news, and... it’s even more exaggerated than what City Lord Wu Yan reported. The message claims... that only Gu Jinlai alone flattened the Devil Tide and massacred a million Devils... This message, as well as Martial Saints unleashing Great Divine Power is too unbelievable. Without credible evidence, they dared not report, and investigations are still ongoing..."
The Saint said.
"One person!? The Devil Tide was crushed by him alone!?"
Si Xinghui’s eyes widened, his scalp tingling, and his thoughts nearly freezing.
"How is that possible... Gu Jinlai alone, how could he possibly crush the Devil Tide raised by the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor? That’s a Demon Emperor, dozens of Demon Emperors, and hundreds of Demon Kings! Even a top-level Void Immortal, or even a Peak Void Immortal, would be trapped and die if they were alone, how could he, Gu Jinlai..."
Wu Yan’s mind was shaken; his lips trembling, his words somewhat indistinct.
"A Martial Saint... how could he be so powerful!?"
Lei Xuanyu, as if all strength had been drawn out of him, collapsed back into his seat.
Si Xinghui waved his hand, and the dancing girls and maids in the room quickly withdrew.
The atmosphere in the room also turned solemn as these individuals left, a stark shift from the earlier liveliness.
After a while, Si Xinghui spoke again, "A Martial Saint... it’s impossible for him to have mastered Great Divine Power."
He spoke decisively.
After a while, he added with some cautious speculation, "What do you think... could it be that this Gu Jinlai... might not be a Void Immortal who transferred to become a Martial Saint, but is... a True Immortal!?"
"A True Immortal!?"
Wu Yan and Lei Xuanyu were deeply shaken.
"Yes."
Si Xinghui nodded firmly, "A True Immortal whose body was destroyed, who obtained a new flesh body through means like reincarnation or body seizing, aiming to quickly regain combat power, possibly interpreting the way of a Martial Saint!?"
