NOVPUBSuch an imposing entity commands considerable respect even from the Eastern Glory Divine System.
As core members of the sect, the true disciples who cultivate the top-tier Divine Skills within the grotto heavens have the potential to ascend to the Spirit Refining True Being and even higher realms in the future, making them the reserve candidates for the sect’s upper echelons.
Most of the city lords in these remote areas cultivate inferior techniques; their status and cultivational strength are far inferior to the true disciple of the grotto heavens before them.
The complexion of the Luoyu City Lord turned green and white as the disciple from the Jinhua Dongyuan Heavens twirled the Jinyang Precious Mirror in his hand, releasing one of the city lords at the Divinity Transformation Realm from the repressive effects of the city protecting array formation.
"The information you provided is very valuable. After the matter here is concluded, the sect’s Foreign Affairs Palace will bestow a reward upon you,"
The city lord at the Divinity Transformation Realm showed a surprised delight, "Thank you, Jiang Yan, for the true transmission!"
Jiang Yan waved his hand dismissively and then turned his gaze to the Luoyu City Lord.
"This place now belongs to me. You don’t have any objections, do you?"
The Luoyu City Lord’s face flushed red; he had already notified the Huayu Mountain God. If the Mountain God found out after reaching Luoyu City that the Time Exotic Treasure had been taken away by a true disciple of the grotto heavens, he would certainly be punished.
However, with the city protecting array formation unable to suppress the opponent and inferior in strength to the true disciple of the grotto heavens, he found himself in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat. Nonetheless, he braced himself to speak:
"This Time Exotic Treasure has already been defined by the Huayu Mountain God as a sacred item for the great Eastern Glory Divine Festival. If True Disciple Jiang takes it away, I’m afraid it might displease the Eastern Glory Divine Monarch."
Jiang Yan’s lips curled slightly, showing no concern for the words of the Luoyu City Lord.
Indeed, he dared not provoke the Eastern Glory Divine Monarch, but the Jinhua Dongyuan Heavens would not consider the Divine Monarch’s displeasure.
The Time Exotic Treasure was priceless beyond imagination, and bringing it back to the sect—even if it meant offending the Eastern Glory Divine Monarch—was of no consequence.
While everyone watched, Jiang Yan approached the courtyard, about to step inside, but in the next moment, he paused slightly.
In his arms, the Treasure-Seeking Mouse was trembling violently, as if there was something within that quiet courtyard that terrified it.
Jiang Yan was shocked; the Treasure-Seeking Mouse in his arms possessed the bloodline of the fifth-ranked auspicious mice from the Upper World, able to discern good and bad, right and wrong.
This was a precious Spirit Beast specially sent by the sect to trace exotic treasures, and its status within the sect was not much lower than that of a true disciple like him.
Such a treasured beast was now in tremendous fear of something within the courtyard, which filled Jiang Yan with caution, making him hesitate about whether to enter.
Just then, the powerful will of a nascent sun suddenly enveloped the entirety of Luoyu City, followed by the descent of a deity, surrounded by curling incense, setting foot into Luoyu City upon the void.
Jiang Yan was taken aback, immediately realizing that the Huayu Mountain God, known as the lord of Huayu County, had arrived.
Instinctively, he reached for a valuable communication talisman in his bosom; using it would ensure a Spirit Refining True Being from the sect arrived within the time it took an incense stick to burn, which was the foundation of his confidence.
A Spirit Refining True Being from the grotto heavens sacred ground, imbued with the fortune of the sect, would trigger an anomaly in the Mortal Path Array when nearing a city shrouded by the Great Yin Human Path.
It was to conceal their tracks that Jinhua Dongyuan Heavens had dispatched Jiang Yan to Luoyu City.
However, as the thought of the terrifying danger within the courtyard flashed across Jiang Yan’s mind, he immediately put his thoughts aside and took advantage of the Huayu Mountain God’s oppressive presence to move out of the range of the courtyard.
"Jinhua Dongyuan Heavens, you’ve crossed the line!"
The Huayu Mountain God looked down upon Jiang Yan with an air of superiority, his words coldly delivered.
Aside from Jiang Yan, the Mountain God paid no heed to anyone else present.
Jiang Yan glared resentfully at the Huayu Mountain God and, seeming somewhat unwilling, said:
"I hadn’t expected you to arrive so quickly. This time, your Eastern Glory Divine System wins."
After speaking, he voluntarily moved back and watched everything with a cold eye.
The retreat of the grotto heavens true disciple brought a slight smile to the Huayu Mountain God’s face.
True disciples are the foundation of a sect; the Mountain God could not possibly kill a true disciple before Jiang Yan made a move. Jiang Yan’s voluntary retreat was naturally a welcome development.
The Mountain God also had a rough understanding of what had transpired in Luoyu City and the details of the culprit who stole the Time Exotic Treasure.
Stepping forward, a dharma image of the Sun God with the brilliance of the rising sun extended a massive palm towards the courtyard.
The huge palm covered half the city district, and the courtyard seemed like an insignificant speck of dust. The dharma image’s hand flipped over, reaching to grasp the courtyard.
Yet, in the next moment, the Mountain God’s confident expression froze.
The Sun God Dharma Image’s giant hand passed effortlessly through the courtyard, unable to touch the compound at all.
"How could this be?"
A Godlight of Evil-Destruction fell towards the courtyard but still easily penetrated it.
Whether it was Divine Skills or Spells, none could enter the courtyard.
"What in the world is this?"
Shock appeared on the face of the Huayu Mountain God. The courtyard was right there; whether through Divine Sense detection or sight, one could perceive the existence of the courtyard, yet it was always untouchable. This immediately sparked a sense of dread.
His gaze turned to the Luoyu City Lord and the Huayu Mountain God demanded,
"Is he really just in the Qi Refining Realm?"
"Reporting to Lord Mountain God, whether from his use of Primordial Elemental Qi to travel or the traces of him killing other cultivators, all are methods of the Qi training stage," the Luoyu City Lord said, already panicked. If he messed up on such critical information, his great merits could very possibly become grave faults.
Thoughts raced through his head, and with a flash of realization in his eyes, the Luoyu City Lord hastily said,
"It’s a time exotic treasure! It must be that time exotic treasure that has caused what we see here."
"That exotic treasure, born from the chaotic streams of time and space, is primarily based on temporal abilities, but a part of its spatial characteristics is completely normal."
"That despicable thief must have stolen the Time Exotic Treasure and, after barely refining a part of it, established this kind of space barrier," he continued.
The Luoyu City Lord’s words were logical and garnered agreement from most present, even the countenance of the Huayu Mountain God eased slightly.
Only Jiang Yan, sensing the trembling fear of the Treasure-Seeking Mouse, secretly denied it in his heart,
"Absolutely impossible!"
Having grasped the issue at hand, the Huayu Mountain God felt thoughts surge and then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, gritted his teeth and pulled out a talisman.
"A Class 6 Void Breaking Talisman, your Eastern Glory Divine System really doesn’t do things by halves!"
Jiang Yan was surprised as he looked at the talisman, knowing that in the Primal Chaos Realm, few were capable of drawing Void Breaking Talismans of this level, most of which came from the Maoshan Blessed Land, known as the First Blessed Land.
A Class 6 Void Breaking Talisman could be used to tear through the barriers of minor worlds, its value nearly equivalent to a low-grade spirit treasure.
Bearing the pain of the loss, the Huayu Mountain God activated the talisman, and the next moment, vast swathes of space around the courtyard began to collapse, revealing a Formation barrier engraved in space.
Despite the sophisticated spatial techniques, against the Class 6 Void Breaking Talisman, they were completely useless; the spatial Formation was thoroughly torn apart, revealing the courtyard within.
At that moment, the Huayu Mountain God immediately sensed the aura inside the courtyard.
He couldn’t see through the opponent’s cultivation level, but with no sign of a Sun God Dharma Image, it had to be a cultivator below the Spirit Refining Stage.
With a trace of anger over the consumption of the Class 6 Void Breaking Talisman, the Huayu Mountain God commanded his Sun God Dharma Image to bring down a mighty hand once again.
"Shameless thief, die!"
Everything within the courtyard seemed to completely collapse, and the Dharma Image’s giant hand almost landed in front of Shen Yuan.
Next moment, time seemed to freeze as Shen Yuan, immersed in his cultivation, slowly opened his eyes.
Heavenly General - Rebounding Wind Returning Fire!
Time began to reverse, and the Dharma Image’s hand, which had almost reached him, visibly withdrew back outside the courtyard.
Pieces of collapsed buildings rose from the ruins, destroyed houses began to be restored, even the space torn by the Class 6 Void Breaking Talisman healed at this moment.
Everything appeared to have returned to the initial starting point, leaving the Huayu Mountain God’s face filled with shock as he watched the scene unfold.
"Ho..."
No sooner had the word begun to escape his mouth, a beam of white light suddenly burst forth in the heavens and earth, followed by the spectacle of the swift passage of day and night.
The grand Sun God Dharma Image was easily split by a sword light, the body of the divine figure shattering inch by inch.
Standing nearby, Jiang Yan stared blankly at the sword, recalling the scene he witnessed three years prior that now resurfaced in his mind, and a name involuntarily slipped out,
"Falling Clouds Taoist!"
