Always on Someone's Mind

Star Residence Mansion. Seventh floor. Of the five Immortal Kings, one remained at the passage entrance, while the other four gathered together and stayed in a group. Escorting the remaining three hundred members of the Immortal race, they soon arrived at an estate resembling a small city. Indeed, there were estates on the seventh floor. They were rarely seen on the other levels. In truth, such structures had existed on the lower floors originally, but over time, some had been destroyed, while others had simply been dismantled and hauled away piece by piece. Only the seventh floor remained different. In the ancient era, this place was the dwelling of paramount figures—at the very least, general-tier powerhouses, and frequently those of marquis rank. As a result, the estates they constructed were extraordinarily formidable, and virtually no one had dared or managed to haul them away. Furthermore, with a dead spirit channel present on the seventh floor, no one dared to act rashly. ... Arriving before the estate gates, three large characters came into view. They were not written in the script of any living race, but inscribed as text of will. "Hall of Qiyun!" Someone murmured under their breath. Up ahead, the Immortal King who had previously claimed to have discovered this place—known as the Yueshi Immortal King—spoke in a measured tone. "Correct. This is the residence of Marquis Qiyun. Marquis Qiyun was a marquis of our Immortal race during the ancient era. In that bygone age, the hierarchy was distinct and strict. Across the myriad races of the heavens, there were the Emperor, Half-Emperors, Human Kings, Marquises, titled generals, and untitled generals... These comprised the high-tier experts of the ancient era. Below them were ordinary cultivators." "Half-Emperor..." Among the crowd of Immortals, Xuan Wuji was young, energetic, and powerful, making him somewhat less restrained than the others. Although his ancestor King Xuan had not come, the Yueshi Immortal King was a close friend of King Xuan. At this moment, Xuan Wuji sighed with emotion. "Half-Emperor... I have read ancient records stating that only the Human Emperor could truly be called an Emperor back then. No matter how mighty the experts of our race or other races were, they could only be termed Half-Emperors... 'Half-Emperor' feels rather ironic in hindsight. Today, the Half-Emperors endure, while the Human Emperor has long since passed, and the Human race no longer retains its former glory." The myriad races readily acknowledged humanity's dominion in ancient times. It was precisely because of that history that they would never allow the Human race to rule over the myriad races again. Standing nearby, the Yueshi Immortal King said coolly, "No race can flourish for eternity! Such was the fate of the Human race, and as for our Immortal race... who can say what the next tidal shift will bring? Therefore, you juniors must apply yourselves diligently! The present strength of the Immortal race was built on the foundation of our ancient forebears biding their time and enduring humiliation under heavy burdens! In the ancient era, Marquis Qiyun was also a Dao Integration expert of boundless might. Yet inside this so-called Star Residence Mansion, he was relegated to living in a secluded corner, forbidden from returning to the Immortal Realm..." A sneer laced his tone. "Did any of you truly think a dignified Dao Integration expert relished staying here? Above him were councilors, and above them sat the Human Emperor. Who would willingly remain in this wretched place, living like a prisoner? Yet ancient rules were unforgiving. To unify the heavens and suppress the experts of the various races, the Human Emperor dictated that once one reached Dao Integration, leaving Star Residence Mansion became virtually impossible without an official posting. Everyone had to reside here—even the Half-Emperors were effectively hostages! So when the great cataclysm descended, they all perished!" He shook his head, sighing deeply. "Only a handful of those stationed outside had the fortune to survive. Those inside Star Residence Mansion were practically wiped out to the last soul! Yet those people represented the very essence of the myriad realms, the paramount elite of the myriad races, all buried in that single calamity!" His voice brimmed with boundless emotion. So many legends, gone in an instant. The ancient era had met its end right there. Figures like Marquis Jiantian had survived because they held external duties, as had the Old Turtle. The rest—countless powerhouses—had been buried together. Where they had met their final moments, none could say. After all, not a single Invincible corpse had ever been discovered within Star Residence Mansion; practically none of the ancient Invincibles' remains were ever found. As the Yueshi Immortal King brought up these historical matters, King Xuanhe smiled beside him. "Enough. That is ancient history. Why dredge it up now?" Turning toward the crowd, King Xuanhe spoke in a flat voice. "The seventh floor is distinct from the lower floors; the danger here is vastly greater. Do not run about recklessly unless necessary. Of course, if you wish to seek death, hunt for treasures, or pursue your own opportunities, we will not stop you. Everyone possesses their own fortunes; perhaps surviving is your greatest fortune! Inside these estates, you are comparatively safe. Most of them still function, and Marquis Qiyun's estate is operational. Its grand formation remains intact; once activated, entry is only possible if someone inside opens the gates. Otherwise, an ordinary Eternal expert would find it difficult to breach... "That is the first matter you must remember! "Second, stay away from the area where the Nine-Leaved Heavenly Lotus is located! That region is perilous in the extreme. In particular, do not step foot into the estate where the lotus resides—that is King Gong's Mansion! Within King Gong's Mansion lies a dead spirit channel, and its rules are akin to those of the ancient cities..." King Xuanhe's expression grew solemn. "There, acts of slaughter can easily summon forth dead spirits! What is more, they might well be at the level of dead spirit rulers. Never intrude without authorization! "Third, do not enter any other estates. Even when searching for treasures, exercise extreme caution. In particular, if you mistakenly trespass into an estate that belonged to a non-Immortal race, death is almost certain! "Fourth, remember: do not attempt to enter the eighth floor. The entrance to the eighth floor is near King Gong's Mansion, not far from the dead spirit channel... Do not recklessly barge in. Or, if you believe you possess tremendous fortune and deem yourselves capable, you may go test your luck and court death. Under normal circumstances, one can only enter the eighth floor by returning to report on duty!" "..." Beside Su Yu, Taihe wore a puzzled expression. Speaking with deference, he asked, "My Lord, 'returning to report on duty'... What do you mean by that?" "The eighth floor was the seat of the Ancient Parliament! None may enter unless they are a councilor, a Human King, or a marquis! Of course, lacking those titles, one might enter under an alternate identity—anyone holding an official appointment returning to report on duty is permitted entry!" King Xuanhe explained indifferently, "Take Su Yu, for instance. Were he here, he might stand a chance of entering. He is the master of an ancient city, and a City Lord is a recognized official post! Currently, a few others on the seventh floor might also qualify. For instance, the Hunting Heaven Pavilion was historically under the jurisdiction of Marquis Jiantian; his subordinates, such as the Head of the Tian Division, might have been granted certain official posts and could potentially gain access... Yet even then, doing so is difficult today! With the ancient era long gone, entering offers no guarantee of ever coming back out!" Standing in the crowd, Su Yu felt a subtle jolt. *I can enter?* *Damn you, do you know I'm standing right here?* *Are you saying this intentionally for my ears?* *I'm not going in there, no way!* He dared not dwell on the thought, quickly quashing every stray ripple of emotion while committing the details to memory. Moreover, the boss behind the Hunting Heaven Pavilion was Marquis Jiantian—something Su Yu had not known until now. These revelations had only come to light after his departure, so he had remained in the dark. However, that estate on the seventh floor was actually named King Gong's Mansion! How bizarre! At first glance, the title sounded ordinary enough. Yet recalling that this area was the site of the sky-connecting aperture... King Gong? As in the *gong* of answering nature's call? Was this a king of the Human race? A Human King! Did this Human King even realize the implication? Human Kings were presumably conferred by the Human Emperor. The Human Emperor had designated this particular figure to suppress the dead spirit channel, suppressing the sky-connecting aperture... What a fitting title. Perhaps King Gong himself had never realized the true joke behind it. Was that pure malice? Su Yu felt a strange expression creeping over him. That was genuinely a wicked sense of humor—was this really how the Human Emperor conducted himself? Why did it feel so improper? Could this Human King have offended him back in the day? Just as these thoughts ran through his mind, King Xuanhe suddenly asked, "Ling Heng, what are you pondering?" Su Yu's heart gave a start. *I was only thinking! Holed up inside my own head!* Despite his surprise, Su Yu promptly bowed and answered respectfully, "My Lord, I was wondering: in the outside world, ancient stone sculptures stand guard over the ancient cities to prevent dead spirits from breaking out. Could there still be living beings stationed here? Could that ancient King Gong still be alive? Otherwise, death qi should have flooded the entire seventh floor long ago..." King Xuanhe chuckled. "That is true for the outside world, but this is Star Residence Mansion! This was the dwelling of countless ancient powerhouses; how could it be overrun by dead spirits? There are no living guards on this seventh floor. The channel is overseen by a divine armament. Its purpose is not strictly suppression, but rather preventing unruly dead spirits from making trouble. Only when the rules are violated does the divine armament mobilize to slay the offender!" "A divine armament!" The crowd gasped. A divine armament resided here? Divine armaments were vastly rarer than carriers. Across the entire myriad realms today, the only confirmed divine armament was the Heaven Hunting Ranking—and even that was damaged. There was a divine armament here? Why had the Invincibles never seized it? Nearby, the Yueshi Immortal King seemed to see right through their greed, remarking coldly, "Cast aside such thoughts! It acts as the rules' suppression over the channel. Who dares seize it? If it is taken and the dead spirit rulers are permitted to come and go as they please, even the strongest will perish! The rules themselves will administer punishment!" Xuan Wuji asked out of curiosity, "My Lord, what form does that divine armament take?" "A saber. An exceptionally formidable saber!" The Yueshi Immortal King said coolly, "It likely served as King Gong's personal weapon. In the ancient era, the combat prowess of these Human Kings was terrifically boundless. Though it may be unpleasant to hear, even the current emperors of our respective races would, in all likelihood, be no match for this King Gong!" Human Kings held status equal to the ancient Half-Emperors; for them to be stronger than the present-day Half-Emperors was entirely natural. The crowd broke into another round of awe. The ancient era truly commanded yearning. Countless powerhouses! Half-Emperors, Human Kings, Marquises, generals... As long as a figure held an official title, virtually none were weak; all were paramount figures. In the modern era, the descent of even a single Human King might completely overturn the heavens. "Enough talk. You will remain within this estate. Fortunes here have likely been exhausted after so many years of exploration, but nothing is absolute; you may search within as you see fit. Those who wish to venture outside may do so, but we have no time to serve as your protectors!" The Yueshi Immortal King added briskly, "You are all elites capable of discerning peril for yourselves. Excessive words serve no purpose. Perhaps some among you harbor private ambitions and even wish to contend for the Nine-Leaved Heavenly Lotus... We will not impede you! When it comes to fortune, strength is not always the deciding factor. Anything can happen!" At that moment, the other Immortal Kings chuckled as well. One of them looked at Xuan Wuji and a few others, saying, "Xuan Wuji, you prodigies possess flourishing destiny, so opportunities remain open to you. If you genuinely wish to seize treasures, it is not utterly hopeless! Naturally, if you do venture out to seize it... it is best to wait until the final day! Once the treasure is claimed, you can swiftly teleport away as the passage reopens. Exiting Star Residence Mansion with your elders waiting outside, you would stand a real chance..." The Immortal Kings were indifferent to whether these youths attempted to seize the treasure. If they lacked even that shred of ambition, seeking treasures would be pointless anyway. Hearing this, Xuan Wuji smiled. "My Lord jests. I harbor no designs on the Nine-Leaved Heavenly Lotus. However... I have heard that King Gong's Mansion contains numerous other treasures. If I could secure a few carriers, this trip to the seventh floor would not be in vain." "As you please!" The Invincibles said no more. The Yueshi Immortal King opened the grand gates, revealing the massive estate before them. "Go on inside! To exit, simply open the gate as you please. To enter... one can only gain access if someone inside opens the way. You are all of the Immortal race; I hope that in this place, you stand united against outsiders. Do not emulate the humans—infighting runs rampantly among them, and our race... is hardly much better!" The Yueshi Immortal King added coldly, "However, our race still possesses an Emperor! At the very least, outside our borders, I expect everyone to act with one heart! Treasures are plentiful and the territory is vast; if you wish to fight over spoils, do so outside! That our Immortal race has flourished to this day rests upon this principle: keep internal strife indoors, and face external foes together!" "Rest assured, My Lord!" The crowd bowed, daring not utter extraneous words. A moment later, the group filed inside. The four Invincibles glanced over them, and none remained behind. Soon, the four vanished from the entrance; they had their own affairs to attend to and had no leisure to babysit these youths. ... With the Invincibles gone, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The massive gates were promptly shut. As the gates closed, a translucent grand formation shimmered into view overhead. A ninth-stage Sun Moon expert vaulted into the air, reaching out to touch the barrier. He sighed in admiration. "It is still functioning! Ancient grand formations are truly formidable. Without Invincible might, breaching it would be virtually impossible. Even an Invincible would require time—more than enough for our race's Invincibles to come to our aid!" They had indeed found a splendid refuge! Now that the Invincibles had departed, the others began to separate, each gravitating toward their own circles and factions, as they belonged to different Immortal King territories. The Immortal race possessed numerous Invincibles and governed many territories. The three hundred-odd individuals gathered here quickly divided into fifty or sixty different camps. Su Yu observed his surroundings carefully, his face wearing a mask of marvel. To outsiders, he appeared awed by the grandeur of Marquis Qiyun's estate, but inwardly, Su Yu was marveling at the sheer numbers. Three hundred and twelve people! A full sixty-two were in the Sun Moon Realm—sixteen at the seventh stage or higher, and forty-six in the early-to-mid stages! Below the Sun Moon Realm, there were roughly two hundred and fifty. If he slaughtered them all, wouldn't his Immortal race page be instantly filled out from the Lingyun Realm all the way through the Sun Moon Realm? After all, nearly everyone who had survived to this point was at least in the Lingyun Realm. Su Yu was filled with endless longing. *This... I really want to pull off something huge!* Unfortunately, he dared not act rashly. There were too many of them, including numerous experts—sixteen high-stage Sun Moons alone. He had not spotted any quasi-Invincibles, who were likely scouring the exterior for their own opportunities. Quasi-Invincibles were exceptionally powerful. On the seventh floor, they faced little immediate threat; as long as they steered clear of King Gong's Mansion, danger was minimal. As he mused, Taihe smiled from nearby. "Ling Heng, Pan Hu, come over here!" Several figures quickly followed. Su Yu did not delay either, adopting a respectful expression as he hurried after them. Before long, they walked along a broad white jade path toward one side of the grounds. After some distance, the smile on Taihe's face vanished, replaced by gravity. "His Highness briefed me just now. Because of evading He Tu, everyone had virtually no time to hunt for treasures, even abandoning an immensely powerful ancient Dragon Blood Tree. Nephew Ling Heng showed great initiative by harvesting a massive Heavenly Blood Lingzhi on the sixth floor, but such an item may not necessarily fetch a carrier. Everyone knows our urgent need... and others may not be willing to trade!" Su Yu assumed a solemn look. Indeed! *As for that ancient tree Dao Cheng abandoned, it's right in my pocket. Do you want it?* *If you do, should I give it to you?* Taihe took a deep breath. "Therefore, we must find a carrier! The Dao King is my master, His Highness's grandfather, and the pillar supporting us all. If Master cannot restore his three bodies, we will be hard-pressed to handle the troubles that follow!" He continued, "We cannot simply wait inside the marquis's estate for a carrier to fall from the sky. That is impossible! We must venture out to search for treasures, explore perilous zones, and seize a carrier! This is our duty! After much thought, I believe we must split up: His Highness and I will form one team, while Pan Hu and Ling Heng will form the other. Moving in two directions, His Highness and I will head to King Gong's Mansion. That area is fraught with peril, but His Highness is blessed by fortune and I possess sufficient strength, so we will be relatively safe. The two of you can search other areas." Su Yu put on a troubled look. "Senior Martial Uncle, King Gong's Mansion is far too dangerous! For... for us, it matters little, but His Highness..." Dao Cheng spoke in a solemn voice. "Senior Brother, rest assured! He is my grandfather, so... I must go! I must also trouble you two senior brothers to take risks alongside us. Once outside, everywhere is treacherous. There are dozens of Invincibles on the seventh floor, to say nothing of quasi-Invincibles and Sun Moons..." With utmost sincerity, he added, "Senior Brothers, should you encounter mortal peril, you may withdraw at any time. I, Dao Cheng, will never utter a single word of blame! My only hope is that we can secure a carrier this time, ensuring that the Dao King Immortal Territory remains as solid as a mountain!" "We will do our utmost!" Su Yu and Pan Hu responded with gravity. Dao Cheng offered further reminders. "If you two head out, I have a few words of caution. First, if you encounter Invincibles or quasi-Invincibles, fleeing goes without saying! Second, do not provoke Moduona, Zhan Wushuang, or their peers. They possess great fortune and immense strength, and they may stumble upon treasures, but you two must not let greed cloud your judgment. Do not try to rob them, even if they are alone." Pan Hu frowned slightly. "Your Highness, they... can battle early Sun Moons, but they should be no match for a seventh-stage Sun Moon like me, right?" "It is not merely a question of combat power," Dao Cheng explained. "Moduona in particular has been targeted by the Demon Emperor, who may intend to claim him as his future body. The Demon Emperor could not possibly have left him without contingencies. Moduona headed straight for the seventh floor this time, perhaps aiming for the Nine-Leaved Heavenly Lotus or seeking a way to sever the Demon Emperor's hold... We have no need to fight them to the death." "Understood!" Su Yu nodded solemnly. *Don't worry, I won't fight them to the death. Not a chance.* Dao Cheng smiled and continued, "Second, avoid provoking the Human race as much as possible. Although the Immortal Emperor issued an order, you two must remember that this is Star Residence Mansion—humanity's ancestral domain. No one can predict what might unfold, and antagonizing humans brings no benefit. Do not emulate the others who slaughter humans on sight. The Human race has suffered the fewest casualties this time, which suggests hidden depths. We must not be careless!" Pan Hu and Su Yu nodded in agreement. Dao Cheng continued, "Third..." Dao Cheng paused in silence for a moment before speaking. "I suspect—and this is merely a suspicion—that Su Yu may have sneaked into Star Residence Mansion. You two must exercise extreme vigilance! Even if you encounter fellow Immortals, do not let down your guard. Furthermore, avoid traveling with unfamiliar acquaintances, and the two of you must remain together at all times. Do not separate rashly." Su Yu suddenly let out a startled chuckle. "Your Highness, aren't you... being a bit too jumpy?" He could not help laughing. "How could that be possible? Everyone saw him back at the ancient city, and even the stone sculpture manifested back then... Your Highness, you... ahem, I don't mean any offense... It's just that Your Highness overestimates Su Yu far too much." Taihe also frowned slightly. "Your Highness, vigilance is commendable, but excessive dread and overestimating Su Yu is not beneficial!" Dao Cheng sighed. He had known they would react this way. Even so, he persisted, "This is merely my deduction. When Gu Zhu died, I felt a crisis looming. Intense though it was, it felt distinctly different from encountering a dead spirit ruler! In fact... it was remarkably similar to the feeling I experienced when casting divinations back in the ancient city. Soon after, Gu Zhu was slain. I questioned the survivors, and they stated that they felt no eruption of blood essence or other supreme power. That makes no sense; Gu Zhu surely carried Invincible-grade treasures, blood essence, or Heaven armaments. Had he met a dead spirit, it would have been impossible for him not to deploy them. Dead spirits do not kill in such a manner; they rely primarily on crushing their prey with death qi..." He elaborated at length. "Therefore, I suspect someone else slaughtered them and pinned the blame on He Tu! He Tu has likely ascended, but he would not necessarily single out people to butcher. As for the claims that they encountered a dead spirit wielding the He Tu Book... I harbor doubts about that as well!" Dao Cheng stated with gravity, "The three of you are my most trusted confidants, the paramount pillars of our Dao King Territory, and the hope for my grandfather's recovery. I would not raise these concerns without reason!" Su Yu wore a conflicted expression. "Could it... truly be Su Yu? Well, even if it is that beast, his disguise techniques are extraordinarily formidable. How could we possibly see through them?" "That is precisely why I want the two of you to act together, never leaving each other's side," Dao Cheng said earnestly. "Leave him no opening to exploit!" Su Yu nodded. Pan Hu chimed in, "It is natural for Your Highness to be cautious. However... Ling Heng and I know each other inside and out. Even if he tried to impersonate either of us, he could never deceive us!" Pan Hu grinned. "Your Highness, set your mind at ease. At worst, we can use secret passphrases. Even if he can extract blood essence and search memories, he could only retrieve core memories. Could he possibly know every trivial detail?" With that, he turned toward Su Yu with a grin. "Ling Heng, during the last tide, we met at the Dao King's residence. Do you remember what I told you back then?" Su Yu froze for a moment. After a pause, his face fell into a helpless grimace. "This... Senior Brother Pan Hu, you really are... Sigh. I remember. Back then, Master was still alive. You told my master that Ling Heng lacked talent and had only reached the third stage of the Sun Moon Realm. Master scolded you for a bit, and you gifted me a drop of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid to smooth things over. Did you really need to bring that up again?" Pan Hu burst into hearty laughter. "Look at that! Hardly anyone knows about that incident, right? A trifling matter that only Ling Heng himself would remember! So rest assured, Your Highness. If we encounter anyone we don't know intimately, we won't travel with them rashly!" Su Yu said helplessly, "Yes, Your Highness. We know what to do; you need not worry excessively." Dao Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. He exchanged a glance with Pan Hu, who smiled and gave a barely perceptible nod. This had indeed been a covert test; Dao Cheng had harbored genuine suspicion and anxiety. Coupled with the fact that Su Yu had appeared late and few Immortals had seen him earlier, Dao Cheng had tested him once more. Even though Dao Cheng felt he might be overthinking and spooking himself over Su Yu, he had still conducted the test. Meanwhile, Su Yu felt immense exasperation. *Damn it!* *Is impersonating someone this difficult nowadays?* *They're actually using secret passphrases!* *And you, Dao Cheng—your dog nose is sharper than a hound's! Probing me multiple times was bad enough, but how on earth did your mind leap straight to suspecting I'd arrived?* *He Tu is out there killing people; what does that have to do with me, Su Yu?!* *Slandering me out of nowhere is outrageous!* Having verified Su Yu's identity once more, Dao Cheng said no more. "Then Martial Uncle and I shall proceed to King Gong's Mansion. Take care, Senior Brothers!" "Take care, Your Highness!" "..." After exchanging farewells, the two swiftly took their leave. Once they were gone, Pan Hu smiled. "His Highness is somewhat overly suspicious. Ling Heng, don't take it to heart." Su Yu sighed. "I understand. Ever since Her Highness Jiu Xuan was killed and my master perished, he has been this way. Overly paranoid, constantly feeling as though Su Yu is lurking nearby. Senior Brother, do you think Su Yu really came this time? Personally, I don't buy it! If Su Yu were here, could he possibly refrain from making a ruckus?" Pan Hu laughed. "His Highness was merely speaking offhand. Did you see Senior Martial Uncle Taihe taking it seriously? Just play along and don't worry about it! Besides, there are dozens of Invincibles here. Even if Su Yu came, what waves could he possibly stir up?" Su Yu nodded with a chuckle. "Exactly! Enough of this; badmouthing His Highness behind his back might get us caught! Still, being cautious isn't a bad thing. That bastard Su Yu... It's no wonder His Highness resents him. I despise him too. Sigh, if not for him, my master wouldn't have died, Lord Dao King wouldn't have been injured, and none of this mess would have happened!" Pan Hu nodded, gnashing his teeth. *Su Yu deserved death!* He glanced around. Others were beginning to depart as well. Before long, Pan Hu said, "Come, let's head out too. We've gained virtually nothing this time—none of the good treasures! We came all this way for nothing! While the Invincibles are occupied with He Tu and we avoid King Gong's Mansion, the danger is minimal. Let's find some fine treasures. Not only does Lord Dao King need them, but you and I require resources for cultivation as well." Su Yu smiled and nodded, stepping out alongside Pan Hu. ... Once outside the gate, Su Yu scanned the surroundings and sent a voice transmission: *Senior Brother, searching for treasures is nowhere near as fast as seizing them. Let's find a few targets from the minor or ancient races, kill them, and take their loot! As long as we avoid the major races, trouble will be minimal. Even if someone spots us killing them, it won't matter much.* Pan Hu grinned, transmitting back: *My thoughts exactly! I've already set my sights on a few fellows who seem to have reaped substantial harvests! Quite a few members of the ancient and minor races survived this time—several hundred of them! Slaying them will yield a considerable haul of treasures. Right now, plenty of people share our idea! We must be quick, lest others beat us to the punch!* Su Yu nodded with a smile. *Still... we should exercise caution. Let's first ascertain the exact number and races of the Invincibles and quasi-Invincibles here. That way, we can proceed without mishap. If we kill someone whose ancestor happens to be on this floor, we'd be digging our own graves.* *That makes sense!* Pan Hu chuckled. *Come, I'll take you to meet someone. I have an old friend in the Hunting Heaven Pavilion who entered this time! He possesses abundant intelligence and made thorough preparations. Having ascended to the seventh floor early, he should know everything! If we bring him along, the three of us together...* *About that...* Su Yu appeared hesitant. Pan Hu laughed. *Rest assured, I've known this fellow for years, and our friendship has always been solid. He's also a seventh-stage Sun Moon. With him and me, we could hold our own even against an eighth- or ninth-stage expert!* Su Yu nodded. *If Senior Brother vouches for him, then of course there's no issue! Speaking of the Hunting Heaven Pavilion, I do know that the Head of the Tian Division entered in person. His strength is terrifically immense. Having a Daoist friend from the Hunting Heaven Pavilion around will certainly put our minds at ease.* *Indeed! Take heart!* Chatting and laughing, the two soon headed toward the direction the Hunting Heaven Pavilion group had retreated earlier. The Hunting Heaven Pavilion had sent relatively few people, yet their losses had been severe; Su Yu had shown them zero mercy, slaughtering every one he had encountered without exception. ... Before long, through whatever means Pan Hu utilized, the three met before a dilapidated ancient structure. A Faceless Elder stood before them! Seeing Su Yu, he showed no surprise, speaking in greeting, "Tian Ding pays respects to Daoist Friend Ling Heng!" "Greetings, Elder Tian Ding!" Su Yu returned the courtesy politely. Pan Hu smiled. "Old Ding, you know Ling Heng, so I'll skip the pleasantries. Give me a copy of the intelligence on this place. I need the roster of Invincibles and quasi-Invincibles." Tian Ding gave a faint smile. "I guessed as much. I only recently received this roster myself—personally distributed by the Division Head! Its value is by no means trivial..." "Brothers of many years, and you still want to charge me?" "Even biological brothers keep clear accounts!" "..." The two bantered for a moment, clearly on very familiar terms. Soon, Tian Ding dropped the matter of payment, retrieving a roster and handing it to them. Su Yu quickly scanned the contents. Inwardly, he was astounded! The Hunting Heaven Pavilion's intelligence apparatus was truly impressive. The recorded details far exceeded what the general populace possessed. *Five Immortal Kings from the Immortal race, five God Kings from the God race, and... seven Demon Kings from the Demon race, six operating openly while the Blood Fire Demon King sneaked in covertly in disguise!* That detail alone sent a jolt of shock through Su Yu! The Blood Fire Demon King! By rank, he was a powerhouse nearing Dao Integration, and he had actually come! *Damn!* *With such audacity, isn't he afraid of perishing here?* Clearly, the Blood Fire Demon King was resolute in seizing the Nine-Leaved Heavenly Lotus, attaining the Half-Emperor realm, and doing battle with the Demon Emperor to claim mastery over the Demon Realm. While Su Yu was shaken, Pan Hu also sucked in a cold breath. "The Blood Fire Demon King came? This... if he dies here, the Blood Fire Demon race will be in massive trouble!" Tian Ding chuckled. "When I received the report, I was startled as well! The Blood Fire Demon race had already dispatched one Demon King, yet the Blood Fire Demon King came in person. That makes two Demon Kings from their clan, one being their clan leader... If he dies here, the Demon race will surely descend into utter turmoil!" *Four from the Human race...* Upon reading this, Su Yu paused once more. Looking closer, he confirmed it—no mistake! Four Human Invincibles, and that wasn't all. An appended note read: *King Daming may have secretly infiltrated; unconfirmed, investigation ongoing.* Su Yu was taken aback, blurting out, "King Daming of the Human race is here?" Tian Ding replied, "Unconfirmed! But there is suspicion. When an Invincible arrives, they inevitably appear on the seventh floor. A relatively obscure expert from the Daming Prefecture materialized directly on the seventh floor this time, raising suspicion." "Who?" Su Yu asked. *Do I know him?* *If I know him, I can judge whether it's truly King Daming.* "An Ying." *Oh, I know him.* Su Yu understood. A seventh-stage Sun Moon fellow who was indeed not particularly famous. Framed that way, it was entirely possible. Terrifying! Was King Daming not afraid of being wiped out in one fell swoop? Both he and his son had entered; if both perished, could Old Zhu hold the fort? Then again, Niu Baidao remained in the Daming Prefecture. If they fell, Old Niu could simply take charge. "King Daming wants to reach the Half-Emperor realm!" Pan Hu sighed. "Truly, these are all dangerous figures. We had best steer clear of the Human race; at the very least, they aren't opponents we can afford to provoke..." Tallying them up, the four major races accounted for twenty-two Invincibles. In addition, the Dragon race had sent two Invincibles, the Five Elements race one, the Nether race one, and the Hunting Heaven Pavilion one—bringing the count to twenty-seven. Beyond those, three more hailed from the Phoenix race, the Fate race, and the Tianyuan race. Exactly thirty Invincibles. However, among the quasi-Invincibles, several were annotated as possessing the strength to battle Invincibles: Kongkong of the Space Beast race, Jiu Yue of the Iron Eater race, Tun Tian of the Ancient Hou race, Chang He of the Fate race, Yun Chen of the Human race... *Huh?* Su Yu was surprised. *Yun Chen came?* He truly hadn't spotted him earlier. Had Yun Chen entered only after Su Yu stepped onto the special passage? Yun Chen... counted as Old Liu's backer, didn't he? He wondered what Liu Wenyan and the others thought about this. Lan Tian was not mentioned; clearly, Lan Tian had not been factored into the equation. There were quite a few quasi-Invincibles, likely seeking carriers or aiming to attain the Dao directly. Attaining the Dao here was comparatively safer... *like hell it was!* This place was perilously treacherous! A single misstep meant being eradicated entirely. The reason the Human race had previously refrained from attaining the Dao here was precisely the fear of being wiped out in one stroke. Su Yu scrutinized the dossier thoroughly, drawing in a sharp breath. There were quite a few powerhouses present. *All of them are rivals competing for my treasure!* *This will be tricky to handle.* Glancing out of the corner of his eye at Tian Ding and Pan Hu, he calculated whether he should first slaughter these two seventh-stage Sun Moons for some satisfaction. After a moment's consideration, he temporarily shelved the thought. *Better to hunt down others first!* *Once there's no one else left to kill, I'll consider inviting these two for a tour inside the book.* Seventh-stage Sun Moons... He had yet to kill any high-stage Sun Moons since entering this place.