A Warning?

Cult Master Primordial had fled with Liu Wenyan. Su Yu and his group had once more melted into the shadows. *** Great Xia Prefecture. Ziyue City. A populous metropolis situated near the western reaches of the Great Xia Prefecture. Inside a spacious compound. This estate had originally been purchased by scouts of the All-Races Cult, though it now belonged to the Heaven Hunting Pavilion. It was neither too near nor too far from Nanyuan—a little over five hundred li away. At that moment, a crowd of powerful experts was grinning from ear to ear. Time to split the spoils! Having slain so many Sun Moons, their profits were staggering. All the blood essences, treasures, and valuables converted to three thousand Heaven Hunting points—the equivalent of three million human merit points! Was that a lot? Not extraordinarily so. Many of the belongings carried by their victims had been converted at discounted rates, and several foes had been blown to bits on the spot, leaving nothing behind. Even so, three thousand Heaven Hunting points was still an immense fortune! Divided evenly, each person walked away with roughly 150 points. This time, the platform took no commission. Because operations within the Human Realm were fraught with danger and Su Yu's group had barely utilized the pavilion's official logistics, the Heaven Hunting Pavilion had waived its cut upon the Eighth Elder's formal petition. Those who received the least still walked away with around a hundred points, while those who earned the most netted several hundred. Profound Light of Heaven and Earth was officially priced at twenty Heaven Hunting points, but when purchased internally by white masks, it generally went for twelve. Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid was listed around fifty points, but could typically be secured for thirty. In other words, the lowest earners had gained enough to purchase three or four drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid, while top earners walking away with seven or eight drops was entirely normal. Rarely could anyone earn so much in a single stroke! The profits were massive, the platform took no fee, and their own casualties were negligible. Even without an outside client posting a mission, everyone had reaped a fortune. Every face in the room was radiant with delight. Having finished collecting his share, Su Yu was just about to go into secluded cultivation when the Eighth Elder stepped inside and beckoned to him. Su Yu hurriedly rose and followed him out the door. *** A side hall adjacent to the main compound. The Third Elder, whom Su Yu had not seen in quite some time, was actually present. And he wasn't alone. Su Yu's heart tightened—alongside the Third Elder stood another figure! The Third Elder and the Eighth Elder were relatively easy to tell apart. The number of golden patterns on their masks designated their rank. This newcomer, however, casually wore an ordinary gray mask—the lowest grade of mask. Yet his posture was relaxed and poised. Inside the hall, this person sat comfortably, while both the Third Elder and the Eighth Elder remained standing. Su Yu was startled! An Invincible? Or perhaps another Law Enforcement Elder? "Minister, Xuan Jiu has arrived!" the Eighth Elder announced. Su Yu felt an even greater jolt of trepidation. It truly was an Invincible! Not daring to show the slightest disrespect, Su Yu suppressed his unease, bowed his head, and said in a deep voice, "Subordinate Xuan Jiu pays respects to the Minister!" Which division's minister? There were four ministers presiding over the Four Divisions. He had heard that the Minister of the Heaven Division almost never made an appearance, which meant this had to be one of the other three. The gray-masked minister let out a soft chuckle. "Xuan Jiu?" He seemed to size Su Yu up. "You've grown quite bold this time. The Heaven Hunting Pavilion has never engaged in open combat. When we kill, we assassinate! Both the East and West Towers have been cursing me to high heaven, complaining that my Four Divisions are encroaching on their territory and moonlighting as assassins!" Su Yu did not dare utter a word. The gray-masked minister laughed again. "Naturally, I cursed right back at them. It's their own incompetence! If the Four Divisions can gather intelligence, conduct business, earn money, and kill targets, then as things progress, the Two Towers and Two Pavilions might as well be disbanded and absorbed into my Four Divisions!" Su Yu kept his head lowered. Not knowing the temper or personality of this Invincible, he dared not speak out of turn. The Eighth Elder chimed in with a smile. "The Minister is jesting. We merely took advantage of the circumstances. Cult Master Primordial happened to be right there, so we seized the opportunity to eliminate several formidable foes to spare ourselves trouble later!" The gray-masked minister chuckled faintly. "I never said you did wrong. It's fine! If they're dead, they're dead. As for the other races demanding accountability... do they have proof? Just as Xuan Jiu said, pin it all on Cult Master Primordial. As for what that eighth-stage Sun Moon claimed... is it true just because he said so?" The silent Third Elder also chuckled. "The Minister is entirely right. They never caught us in the act!" The Four Divisions of the Heaven Hunting Pavilion were not above moonlighting as killers, provided they weren't caught—preferably doing so where no onlookers were around. With few witnesses, they could indulge a bit. In front of large crowds, the Four Divisions still cared about maintaining face. Seeing Su Yu remain silent, the Third Elder smiled and said, "Xuan Jiu, this is the Minister of the Yellow Division. Your assignment to the Human Realm came about largely thanks to the Minister's strong recommendation. Otherwise, as an ancient city resident, you would hardly have received such an opportunity, let alone been granted Heaven Yuan Qi to neutralize your death qi!" The Third Elder beamed. "Facts have proven the Minister's foresight. Xuan Jiu is indeed capable. Now our Heaven Hunting Pavilion's influence has expanded significantly, and we've eliminated a vast number of potential adversaries. At present, no race across the myriad domains has a better shot at the ruins than we do!" On his side, there were ten late-stage Sun Moon elders. Coupled with Su Yu's group, the strength deployed by the Heaven Hunting Pavilion on this occasion was terrifyingly potent. Over thirty Sun Moons, a substantial portion of them at the late stage, alongside two quasi-Invincibles. Now that the Minister's three-life embodiment had arrived in person, their strength was truly frightening. Even if an Invincible came, this three-life embodiment of the Minister could match them in battle. Of course, it was unclear which embodiment had arrived. In all likelihood, it was a future embodiment! Past embodiments rarely acted alone, as their strength was comparatively weak and most lacked true Invincible combat prowess. Minister of the Yellow Division! Su Yu's mind stirred, but he dared not let his thoughts wander, mindful that he was facing an Invincible—even if it might not be the true body. The gray-masked minister chuckled. "No need to flatter me. I only brought it up casually because I took note of Xuan Jiu's operations in Xinghong Ancient City, where he finalized massive transactions and elevated our pavilion's prestige." With that, he looked back at Su Yu and said with a faint smile, "Xuan Jiu, you did very well this time—decisive and resolute. Of course, you've stirred up a few minor troubles as well, but there is no need to fret over them. Trouble and profit always go hand in hand!" "The Minister honors me with his praise," Su Yu replied in a hushed, deferential tone, keeping his head bowed. "Subordinate acted somewhat rashly, courting many enemies for our pavilion." "All under heaven hustle and bustle for profit," the Minister of the Yellow Division said calmly. "When there is profit to be had, one needn't overthink things. As for offending people... all races have wanted to wipe us out for ages, not just one or two! Alas, they cannot accomplish it! They do not know our foundations, nor can they locate us. Moreover, they fear that if they kill you, people like us will retaliate by assassinating their Eternals..." After a few remarks, the Minister of the Yellow Division added with a calm smile, "None of that matters. What matters is securing the Civilization Tombstone! On this expedition, the Heaven Hunting Pavilion's primary objective is neither the bearer objects, nor the Heaven Yuan Qi, nor the Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid, nor any ancient inheritances. It is the Civilization Tombstone!" "As long as we secure the Civilization Tombstone... everything else is secondary!" Su Yu's heart tightened, while the Third and Eighth Elders hurriedly affirmed, "Rest assured, Minister! We will do everything in our power to seize it!" The Minister of the Yellow Division nodded slightly and said in a cool tone, "Under normal circumstances, the Heaven Hunting Pavilion does not contest ruins; at worst, we spend money to purchase what surfaces. This time, however, is different. There may be other bearer objects out there, but as for the Civilization Tombstone... there may only be this single one! Every race desires it, but we cannot permit them to have it! Even if we do not know its precise use, it does not matter—we must take it. If a true Emperor were to emerge among the myriad races, it would bring unimaginable disaster. Even our Heaven Hunting Pavilion might not ensure its own survival! Even if we cannot use it, we cannot allow anyone else to!" Su Yu and the elders nodded in understanding. Inwardly, Su Yu was deeply shaken. Did this relic truly pertain to achieving the Emperor realm? Could it be that miraculous? He dared not dwell on the thought, terrified that the Invincible before him might discern something amiss. The Minister of the Yellow Division continued, "I did not come to assist you in the ruins. My purpose is to deter certain figures—to block formidable experts! The ruins themselves will still require your efforts to contest! Were I to intervene directly, the entire nature of the affair would change!" The Third Elder hastily said, "Please rest assured, Minister. We have already made thorough preparations and arrangements." "Rest assured?" the Minister of the Yellow Division remarked coldly. "I cannot. No arrangement or plan is ever foolproof! Moreover, far more experts have arrived this time than you imagine or have observed! Furthermore, this is the Xia family's territory. Do not assume that merely because King Daxia and Xia Longwu are absent, the Xia family is helpless! The Xia family clearly intends to draw out the human traitor who reached the Invincible Realm... More and more people are beginning to realize this!" The Minister of the Yellow Division sighed. "If that person truly appears... he will almost certainly covet the Civilization Tombstone as well." Su Yu had been holding his tongue, but now he spoke up. Remaining utterly silent would be inconsistent with his persona and standing. He cautiously asked, "Minister, I have a few doubts." "Speak." "First, why would an Invincible of the human race choose to betray his kind?" "Second, since you oversee the Yellow Division, which handles intelligence, do you still not know this person's identity?" "Third, this person must be colluding with certain powerful races among the myriad domains. The participants back then included the Tianyuan race, the god race, and the demon race... Which race did this traitor defect to?" Su Yu figured that the traitor's identity was known not just to himself, but likely to several top experts among the myriad races as well. Otherwise, how could they dare cooperate? Of course, it was also possible they didn't know; covert cooperation didn't strictly require revealing one's face. At these words, the two elders grew intrigued. The Eighth Elder chimed in, "Indeed, Minister. Having reached the Invincible Realm, could it be that this person believed the human race was doomed and hopeless, driving him to betrayal?" Advancing further was virtually impossible. None of the myriad races possessed the means to help an Invincible advance. Relying on themselves, even the Demon Emperor and his peers remained mere Half-Emperors. The Minister of the Yellow Division chuckled. "Ever since news broke that the humans harbored a traitor among their Invincibles, experts from every race have been discussing and speculating on this question. As for who it is... naturally, I do not know for certain. The Heaven Hunting Pavilion has not yet penetrated that deep. But there could be many reasons for betrayal." "Just as the Eighth Elder said, perhaps he believed the human race had no future. Perhaps he caught a glimpse of the future, saw something, and was influenced by his future embodiment—or perhaps his future embodiment was a traitor to begin with..." Sensing his explanation was growing overly convoluted, he smiled and clarified, "In other words, in the future he witnessed, his future self was a traitor, and that vision influenced him until he ultimately chose betrayal." "Or perhaps his kin or family needed to attain the Dao and required certain supreme treasures that the myriad races provided in exchange for his allegiance." "Or perhaps he attained the Dao within a small realm, and that realm came under threat of destruction, prompting him to defect out of self-preservation." "There are numerous possibilities. Or, more simply, he might be a descendant of the gods or demons. In that case, betrayal would hardly be surprising." ... Su Yu was taken aback. "A descendant of gods or demons?" The Minister of the Yellow Division laughed. "It is quite possible. Over four hundred years ago, when the passage to the Human Realm opened and the myriad races entered, certain powerhouses formed relations with human women or men, siring offspring... While exceptionally difficult, it was not impossible." Su Yu said nothing, though he recalled having fallen under similar suspicion himself. Back in the Yuanqi Secret Realm, Elders Nie and Huang had wondered whether Su Yu was a descendant of the Mountain-Breaking Ox! All because he absorbed Mountain-Breaking Ox blood essence at such an absurd speed! The Minister of the Yellow Division smiled. "Over four hundred years ago... Come to think of it, nearly a century elapsed before the prefectures were established. Growing up during that chaotic era, no one would have scrutinized anyone's lineage. If such an individual went on to attain the Dao after the prefectures were founded, virtually no one would know whether he possessed god or demon blood. It is entirely plausible." Su Yu froze for a moment, unable to resist asking, "Could there really be a descendant of other races among the human Invincibles?" "It is certainly possible!" the Minister of the Yellow Division replied with a faint smile. "Perhaps he believed his other half of blood was nobler and mightier than his human blood, making his defection to the myriad races understandable. It is even quite possible that his father or mother sought him out and persuaded him!" Bloodline! Su Yu's mind churned. He wanted to probe further, but held back. While Su Yu hesitated, the Eighth Elder had no such reservations and asked, "Minister, after the prefectures were established, the number of humans who attained the Dao should be fixed and recorded, right?" The Minister of the Yellow Division smiled. "Naturally. Attaining the Dao is known across all the heavens! Unless, of course, it occurs within a sealed ruin. From what we know, eleven individuals attained the Dao after the founding of the prefectures. Thirty-six had founded them initially, but King Dawei, King Dawu, King Daqi, and King Dachen have all fallen. Additionally, several Eternals who attained the Dao after the founding have also perished—such as King Dazhou's younger brother, Lesser King Zhou, and King Pinghai, who attained the Dao three hundred years ago and fell shortly thereafter..." "Of those who attained the Dao later, nine survived. Combined with the thirty-two surviving founders, that makes forty-one known human Eternals." "Among those nine later survivors, four attained the Dao in small realms, two within the Human Realm, and three across the All-Heavens Battlefield..." Only at this moment did Su Yu finally grasp the precise breakdown of the human race's top echelon. There were forty-one confirmed living Invincibles. Thirty-two were the founding masters of the prefectures, all of whom had attained the Dao in the Human Realm, while four among the later group had done so in small realms. The Third Elder hesitated before asking, "Does that mean the traitor must be one of those nine?" "Hard to say," the Minister of the Yellow Division chuckled. "Anything is possible. Who can guarantee that none of the founding Invincibles would betray mankind? Of course, the probability is lower for those who attained the Dao in the Human Realm. If the Human Realm were truly destroyed, the thirty-four powerhouses who attained the Dao here would suffer severe backlash. But the traitor never claimed he intended to destroy the Human Realm, did he?" The others shook their heads. Put that way, it was indeed impossible to judge. The Minister of the Yellow Division smiled. "In truth, that fellow won't be able to hide much longer! Whomever Chen Yong killed, whomever Director Ji investigated... all of these clues are steadily narrowing down the suspects. He is running out of places to hide, which is precisely why the Xia family is attempting to lure him out this time." As the head of an intelligence organization, the Minister of the Yellow Division naturally had a firm grasp of the situation. He chuckled. "Barring any surprises, the target has likely been narrowed down to three to five individuals. In fact, I have a rough idea of who it is! Naturally, I cannot be entirely certain yet. However, once the multiple divine character faction produces a formidable expert who genuinely succeeds in attaining the Dao—or even if he merely reaches the ninth stage of the Sun Moon Realm, where his strategic value might exceed that of an ordinary Invincible—the hearts of all human Invincibles will tilt toward him. When that happens... the traitor will truly have nowhere left to hide!" The Third Elder chimed in, "Are you referring to Liu Wenyan?" "Precisely!" the Minister of the Yellow Division nodded. "It is him. Once he steps into the Sun Moon Realm, he may rapidly reach the ninth stage. Between an imminent multiple divine character Invincible and a traitorous Invincible... the human race will weigh their options and make a choice! Therefore, this is the traitor's sole opportunity: wipe out Ye Batian's lineage once and for all, wash his hands of it, and demonstrate to humanity that his grudge against Ye Batian's faction was purely personal... If he does that, figures like King Daqin might still choose to let him off." Su Yu asked softly, "Then does that mean the traitor is certain to appear this time? What is the Great Xia Prefecture relying on? Is luring him out all there is to it? Could their trump card be Cult Master Primordial, who might be Nan Wujiang?" "Otherwise, even if the multiple divine character faction is slaughtered and the traitor is drawn out, he might not necessarily die, right?" "Nan Wujiang..." the Minister of the Yellow Division mused. "It's possible, though it might not be him. The Xia family must have prepared for many years. In my view, they certainly possess a method to contend with an Invincible. Otherwise, baiting the enemy out would be nothing short of suicide. Either Nan Wujiang is strong enough to battle an Invincible, or the Xia family possesses another Invincible-level combatant..." Su Yu was well aware of the real situation, but kept his mouth firmly shut! "Then the traitor should be able to guess that as well, Minister. Would he still dare show himself?" The Minister of the Yellow Division smiled. "Hard to say. He might take a gamble. If he doesn't, he has no chance left! If he gambles and succeeds, he rids himself of endless future troubles." After chatting for a while, the Minister of the Yellow Division moved past the topic and smiled. "Xuan Jiu, how has your body been lately? You haven't been tormented by death qi, have you?" "Thank you for your support, Minister. With Heaven Yuan Qi sustaining me, the effects are manageable." "That is good!" He nodded slightly. "The pavilion's elders all have their respective assignments going forward. Your task is to command the remaining white masks and continue creating advantages for the Heaven Hunting Pavilion. Among those below the rank of elder, you are highly trusted and dependable." "Thank you for your high regard, Minister!" Su Yu offered his thanks. Yes, I am extraordinarily dependable! The Minister of the Yellow Division smiled again. "Furthermore, don't let your personal calculations go too far. For instance... sparing Liu Wenyan this time. The pavilion's stance remains that he should be killed. You, my friend, must not be too clever for your own good." Su Yu was thoroughly shaken! The Eighth Elder could not help but interject, "Minister, Xuan Jiu only did that to ensure our safe withdrawal..." The Minister of the Yellow Division raised a hand slightly and smiled. "I never said he handled it poorly. I understand his motive in sparing Liu Wenyan. He wants Su Yu to know that he protected his teacher once, hoping Su Yu will do him a favor and sever his death qi channel. Am I right?" Su Yu was stunned! Holy crap! That works! Overjoyed inwardly, Su Yu dared not let it show. He hastily said, "Minister... I... I knew I couldn't hide it from your esteemed gaze! I did harbor that intention. In truth, I didn't want to act against the multiple divine character faction—at least, not by my own hand... If I want to break free, I need Su Yu to show mercy. Otherwise, as long as he controls the city, it will be immensely difficult for me to shed my status as an ancient city resident..." "However, heaven and earth bear witness that I was merely riding the momentum; I never compromised the pavilion's interests! We spared Liu Wenyan this time because Cult Master Primordial was nearby. If we had killed him... not to mention we might not have succeeded anyway, since Liu Wenyan never detonated Ye Batian's divine character, leading me to believe he still had cards up his sleeve." The Minister of the Yellow Division said indifferently, "I never said you were wrong, but some things depend on luck! As for Su Yu, you can consider this a favor rendered by saving Liu Wenyan once. Earlier, you also led a team to escort Hong Tan and the others. If Su Yu is one to remember past favors, he'll naturally grant you that courtesy!" Only then did the Third and Eighth Elders realize what was happening! Damn! They had nearly been duped by this kid! Indeed, his repeated shielding of the multiple divine character faction wasn't necessarily out of public duty—he had personal motives as well. Why protect the multiple divine character faction? Now they understood! It was all for Su Yu! Severing the death qi channel would cause the dead spirit that had converted Xuan Jiu to manifest, and that dead spirit would have to be slain. Yet the overlord of Xinghong Ancient City was Su Yu. Without Su Yu's consent, you couldn't kill a damn thing! You wouldn't even be able to enter the city! The Eighth Elder couldn't help but remark, "Xuan Jiu, you crafty rascal... You should have just been upfront! I really didn't consider that angle before. If Liu Wenyan had been killed, you truly wouldn't have stood a chance!" Su Yu replied helplessly, "That is why others can kill members of the multiple divine character faction, but I cannot. If I did, and word reached Su Yu, I would ultimately still have to return to the ancient city!" The two elders sighed in sympathy. They had nearly forgotten that this fellow was still an ancient city resident. The Third Elder laughed. "Seeing how lively you've been lately, I completely forgot about that. It seems the dead spirit that converted you is likely only at the Shanhai Realm, so slaying it won't be difficult! Tell you what: if any missions arise to eliminate the multiple divine character faction, you don't have to participate. We aren't lacking a single Sun Moon's combat power at the moment. Don't worry about it." Granting a convenient favor cost them nothing. Meanwhile, Su Yu was inwardly laughing his head off. Talk about handing me the perfect excuse on a silver platter! Now I have an ironclad justification to never lift a finger against the multiple divine character faction—and even protect them if needed. The reason is simple: I have to curry favor with Su Yu! I nearly forgot myself that I'm an ancient city resident! Technically, Xuan Jiu is Su Yu's subordinate! This meant he wouldn't need to rack his brains for excuses whenever he shielded Liu Wenyan and the others in the future. The reason was simplicity itself: protecting them is protecting my own future. Su Yu stole a glance at the Minister of the Yellow Division, feeling a prick of suspicion. This person... had provided him with the ideal alibi. Could he... suspect something? At this point, the Minister of the Yellow Division said nothing more on the matter, concluding indifferently, "It is entirely normal for everyone to have their own little calculations and selfish motives! The Third and Eighth Elders wish to seize bearer objects, regarding the tombstone as secondary—I understand this fully! However, remember: the Heaven Hunting Pavilion is your foundation! The pavilion's interests come above all else. Without the pavilion, lone wanderers never meet good ends! So long as you do not disrupt the grand design, we will not be unreasonable. Do you understand?" "Understood!" the three answered in unison. Their hearts tightened. Beneath their masks, cold sweat broke out across the faces of both the Third and Eighth Elders. Evidently, the Minister had struck their exact thoughts. The Civilization Tombstone? It was of virtually no use to them! Their goal was simple: bearer objects. There would be at least two in the ruins, which meant one for each of them. With that, they would no longer need to worry about attaining the Dao; a single object was enough to bear one embodiment, and both were already quasi-Invincibles. While others set their sights on the Civilization Tombstone, these two were after the bearer objects. In truth, many quasi-Invincibles shared that exact mindset. After all, notions of becoming an Emperor were far too remote for them. Now, the Minister of the Yellow Division had personally arrived, likely having seen through these inclinations, to establish his authority and deliver a timely warning to Su Yu not to cross the line. Protecting the multiple divine character faction was acceptable, provided it did not hinder the Heaven Hunting Pavilion from seizing the Civilization Tombstone. Su Yu felt equally helpless! Exhausting! He had actually been pondering a scenario: if he offered to hand the Civilization Tombstone directly to the Heaven Hunting Pavilion, could the pavilion deploy six Invincibles to help him slay the traitor and aid Xia Longwu in attaining the Dao? If they could... he would gladly give it away! The Civilization Tombstone was important and seemingly precious, but Su Yu didn't particularly care. As for severing the legacy of the multiple divine character faction—if it was cut, so be it. Where there's life, there's hope! Unfortunately, he dared not speak a word of it. With plans having reached this stage, blowing his cover now would make him an utter fool. The Heaven Hunting Pavilion was hardly a benevolent entity either. ... Having received their reprimand, the three saw the Minister of the Yellow Division depart shortly thereafter. Once he was gone, a shared sense of relief washed over them. Vaguely, an added layer of camaraderie formed among them. Misery loved company! Su Yu smiled and asked, "Are both elders primarily aiming for bearer objects?" Having spent considerable time with him, the Eighth Elder was no longer as aloof as he had been initially. He sighed and replied, "At our stage, what else would we seek? Bearer objects are exceedingly rare. For the Third Elder and me to each secure a chance at one, we exhausted years of savings and accumulated merit. This opportunity was scarce; several elders in the Law Enforcement Division coveted it, but we managed to secure it!" "If we miss this chance, it might take centuries or millennia before we can amass enough merit and wealth to exchange for a bearer object and attempt to attain the Dao." Thus, from the very beginning, that had been their goal! The Minister of the Yellow Division had merely laid it bare. Su Yu nodded in understanding and sighed. "Subordinate merely wishes to survive as well. Still, the Minister is right. The ideal outcome would be for us to sweep all the treasures from the ruins while lending a hand to the multiple divine character faction along the way. That would allow me to negotiate with Su Yu... Even if I cannot sever the channel inside the ruins, I can strive to visit the Star Residence Mansion next time and sever it there. Perhaps there won't even be a need to arrange for outside help; having Su Yu slay that dead spirit directly would be far more appropriate!" Su Yu let out a self-deprecating sigh. "My petty schemes must look laughable to your honors." The Third Elder chuckled. "Nonsense. Among all living beings, who doesn't harbor selfish desires? If you, Xuan Jiu, claimed you would gladly throw your life away purely for the pavilion's mission, we would genuinely have to wonder what you were truly after! Such a person is either a saint or scheming for something vastly greater!" Su Yu offered a self-conscious laugh. "Unfortunately, after the Minister's words... I wouldn't dare abuse my position for private gain again." "Don't worry about it!" the Eighth Elder chuckled. "A minor matter! The Minister doesn't truly mind. If he did, he wouldn't have let it rest after a gentle reminder!" Su Yu nodded. Yet deep down, a flicker of dread lingered. What was the deal with this Minister of the Yellow Division? His assignment to the Human Realm had been specifically ordered by him. This time, after Su Yu let Liu Wenyan go, the Minister had come to warn him, yet had simultaneously handed him the perfect excuse. Could this person... know who I really am? No, that doesn't make sense! If Elder Xuanjia was human, then the Minister of the Xuan Division might know something. But the Yellow Division had nothing to do with the Xuan Division! Xuanjia didn't report to the Yellow Division! Su Yu felt a headache coming on, unable to figure it out. Regardless, he had to exercise extreme caution; confronting these Invincibles terrified him to his core. Fortunately, his divine characters had grown stronger and his power had increased. Since the Minister of the Yellow Division hadn't probed him closely, he shouldn't have noticed anything. King Daming was immensely formidable, yet even when he grabbed Su Yu back then, he hadn't detected a thing. The Minister of the Yellow Division had merely sent a three-life embodiment, so he likely wouldn't spot any anomalies either. After reassuring himself, Su Yu gritted his teeth. No, my strength is still too low! Tonight, I will complete my sixty-first cast. I must lie low for the next few days and finish the sixty-second cast as quickly as possible. Once the sixty-second cast was complete, his aperture strength would surpass 660,000. Activating his Yang aperture would provide another boost, complemented by the enhancement of his divine characters and the impending transformation of the saber qi within his 144 apertures. His total power might reach the force of 800,000 apertures. A force of 300,000 apertures was typical for an ordinary first-stage Sun Moon, roughly 500,000 for a second-stage, and at most 800,000 for a third-stage. In other words, once Su Yu completed his sixty-second cast in a few days, going all out would allow him to battle an ordinary, non-god-or-demon third-stage Sun Moon. With a physical body tempered to that extent, devouring the blood essence of a sixth-stage Sun Moon should pose no problem. When the major clash erupted, he could at least pass for a pseudo-sixth-stage Sun Moon, couldn't he? "Once Teacher Liu arrives in Nanyuan..." Su Yu made up his mind: time for seclusion! Over the coming days, he wouldn't stir up any major commotions. If he kept going, the myriad races would assemble to hunt him down. Wiping out over twenty Sun Moons this time was no small affair. *** While Su Yu was receiving his reprimand and preparing for seclusion... Out in a desolate wasteland. Ye Hongyan coughed, looked at the back of Cult Master Primordial, and asked hesitantly, "Are you truly Nan Wujiang?" She shielded Liu Wenyan behind her, her posture brimming with uncertainty and vigilance. "I am not," Cult Master Primordial replied indifferently. "It was merely a frame-up orchestrated by the Heaven Hunting Pavilion and Lan Tian." "Not him? Then why did you rescue us?" Cult Master Primordial said coolly, "Entrusted by another." "By whom?" "In time, you will know!" With those words, Cult Master Primordial vanished on the spot, his voice drifting back: "Liu Wenyan, take care of yourself. Too many people want you dead. As for Director Ji, I am taking him with me. It is better that you do not know what he uncovered, lest you make a misjudgment." "Who on earth are you..." Liu Wenyan called out, but the figure had already vanished without a trace. Ye Hongyan glanced around and shook her head. "He's gone! This entire ordeal has been utterly bizarre. First, the Heaven Hunting Pavilion slaughtered those bastards, and then Cult Master Primordial stepped in to rescue you. Wenyan, your luck... is truly invincible!" This incident had been perilous in the extreme—so dangerous that Ye Hongyan had prepared to self-detonate to take her enemies down with her! Dozens of Sun Moons, along with two quasi-Invincibles. Yet... they had survived unscathed, while those Sun Moons had nearly been wiped out entirely! Liu Wenyan was equally baffled. He murmured helplessly, "Did the Heaven Hunting Pavilion... truly accept Su Yu's commission?" Su Yu had certainly spared no expense! Five hundred drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid—even if he sold himself, he wouldn't fetch that kind of price! Ye Hongyan sighed wistfully. "Taking in that disciple of yours was worth every bit!" Liu Wenyan nodded. Well, since the full picture remained unclear for now, there was no point dwelling on it. Back to Nanyuan first!