Chapter 670: Sudden Change

Before his arrival, City Lord Liu had already inquired into the specific identities of the immortal sect disciples visiting Chunjiang City.

Among them, the most eye-catching was this young man named Lu Yang.

Under the tutelage of the Silent Daoist, he was the most celebrated character in the popular storytellers' repertoires, with a high probability of becoming the future Sect Master of the Seeking Dao Sect.

Yet, being the fourth disciple of the Silent Daoist, the probability of him speaking the unvarnished truth was a bit of a question mark.

Consequently, when Lu Yang claimed they had found clues of the demonic cult within Chunjiang City, City Lord Liu remained in a state of half-belief and half-doubt.

However, once Shi Chan offered his affirmation, the City Lord readily believed Lu Yang's words.

Shi Chan was a grand disciple of the Hanging Temple, a monk of pure and righteous lineage who would never utter a falsehood.

"Since that is the case, I must trouble Nephew Lu to continue investigating the cult's traces in our city; after all, this concerns the safety of our million citizens."

"If you three nephews have any requirements, please do not hesitate to ask, and I shall do my utmost to fulfill them."

Confirming that Lu Yang and his companions had truly discovered clues of the demonic cult in Chunjiang City—and that it involved four Nascent Soul cultivators—demanded the utmost seriousness.

Lu Yang understood perfectly.

"Three young heroes, who on earth are you..."

The sisters had never seen such a grand figure as a city lord, and they were nearly scared to death upon hearing of his arrival.

This Venerable One was someone he had seen during the Seeking Dao Sect's 120,000-year anniversary celebration; he was one of the Tribulation Transmutation patriarchs invited, a genuine, old-line powerhouse with whom a half-baked Tribulation cultivator like Lu Baqian could not hope to compare.

"Disciples of an immortal sect?!" the Poria sisters cried out, their beautiful eyes widening slightly.

Even if they were Nascent Soul cultivators, it shouldn't warrant the City Lord coming in person.

The trio of Lu Yang sent off City Lord Liu.

"A grand figure?"

Every word spoken by Senior Brother Lu was the truth and indeed did not constitute "deceitful speech," yet it always felt somewhat discordant with objective reality. Why was that?

Meng Jingzhou chimed in from the side, clenching his fist tightly as the light of justice flashed in his eyes: "Rest assured, City Lord Liu, with the three of us brothers here, the demonic cult shall not stir up any trouble!"

Returning to the second floor of the inn, they saw the Poria sisters cautiously poking their heads out.

Only then did they recall that although Lu Yang and the others had helped them many times, they still did not know their names.

"Has everyone left?"

If a major casualty occurred due to a single oversight, it was highly debatable whether he could even keep his position as City Lord.

Seeing this, City Lord Liu secretly lamented in his heart: "Truly, a brilliant youth!"

Shi Chan repeatedly recalled the words Lu Yang had spoken earlier.

"Venerable One of the Qi-Controlling Sect is to escort the members of the Night Pavilion to the Imperial City at noon today. The State Governor was worried about further complications, so he specifically invited Venerable One to handle the escort."

"Very well, since you three nephews still need to pursue the cult's clues, I shall not disturb you further. I must return to prepare for the arrival of the grand figure."

"Disciples of the immortal sect."

"City Lord Liu is far too polite," Lu Yang stated with righteous severity, looking as solemn as a general marching to the battlefield. "Eradicating demons and defending the Dao is our inherent duty; there is no need to speak of 'trouble'."

"They have all departed," Shi Chan replied.

"This poor monk’s Buddhist name is Shi Chan, and these two are my senior brothers, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou."

"The very Lu Heavenly Pride from 'The Legend of the Seeking Dao Sect: Lu Yang Chapter' who could challenge Soul Formation cultivators while only at the Foundation Establishment stage?!"

"The very Young Master Meng from 'The Legend of the Seeking Dao Sect: Meng Jingzhou Chapter' whose Dao heart is as iron, remaining unmoved even with a beauty in his lap?!"

Lu Yang: "..."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Though it was the truth, why did it sound so incredibly bizarre?

And why was the reaction from you two sisters so exaggerated?

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou rarely listened to storytellers, unaware that they were currently the most popular figures among the common people.

To promote Meng Jingzhou, Patriarch Jin had even fabricated and dramatized many stories for him, such as "The Holy Daughter Throws Herself into His Arms, Yet Young Master Meng Remains Unmoved."

"Young Master Meng accidentally ingested the poison of the Lustful Flood Dragon, yet endured the aphrodisiac through sheer willpower, an unprecedented feat."

"When Meng Jingzhou travels, a hundred ghosts retreat."

"If someone is plagued by ghosts in their dreams, guided by a master, they need only hang a portrait of Meng Jingzhou catching ghosts on the wall, and the dreams will be troubled no more."

"Meng Jingzhou eats three imps every day," and so forth.

After listening to his own legends, Meng Jingzhou’s face turned entirely black. What utter nonsense was this?

Within the spiritual space, the Immortal Fairy let out a soft exclamation of surprise and poked Lu Yang's back.

"Ask these two girls who they met today."

"Is something wrong?"

"Someone has left a dream imprint on them, and that person's cultivation is not low; it feels malicious."

Lu Yang was startled, knowing this did not sound like a good thing, and hurriedly asked.

"Did you two encounter any strange people or strange occurrences today?"

The Poria sisters were puzzled, wondering why Young Master Lu would suddenly ask such a thing.

"Come to think of it, on the way back from discussing business, a person did walk straight toward us, acting very mysterious, saying he would grant us a beautiful dream."

"What did that person look like?"

"Thin and tall, just like a bamboo pole."

...

"Venerable One, everyone is here."

City Lord Liu brought all the members of the Night Pavilion out from the dungeon, bound in shackles capable of sealing spiritual energy. These people were guarded day and night by several Body Integration cultivators to ensure not a single mishap would occur.

Venerable One nodded calmly, his gaze sweeping over Night Owl and the others, causing Night Owl’s scalp to tingle.

To have a Tribulation Transmutation cultivator escort them was truly thinking too highly of them.

City Lord Liu ordered his subordinates to load them into the cages and apply the sealing talismans.

Venerable One nodded: "Let us depart."

Suddenly, an ethereal and eerie voice drifted down from the sky, chillingly cold: "Hehe, taking away the people I've set my eyes on won't be that easy."

"Who goes there!"

Venerable One unleashed his divine sense, scanning every inch of the surrounding space.

A slender, pitch-black figure stepped out from the void, looking at Venerable One with a faint, mocking smile.

"A Tribulation cultivator of the Great Xia, stay right here."

Venerable One violently waved his hand, blowing City Lord Liu and the others away: "All of you, leave this place immediately!"

The opponent knew exactly who he was yet still dared to strike; they were clearly well-prepared!

"Leave?" The slender, dark figure sneered coldly as an invisible power enveloped the entire city.

"I would like to see which of you can leave this place."

An Honored One instantly grew alert, but a sudden blur crossed his vision, and before he could even react, the scenery before his eyes shifted.

It was still Chunjiang City, only all of its colors had grown dull and faded.

...

Outside the city, travelers about to enter Chunjiang City watched it vanish into thin air, leaving a massive crater in the ground, and stood rooted in dumbfounded shock.

...

"What kind of place is this!" An Honored One felt as though he were facing a mortal foe, not even understanding what had just transpired.

Whether it was City Lord Liu or the people of the Midnight Pavilion, everyone remained right here, having not moved an inch from their spots, yet everything and everyone in this place had grown as dim as if the color had been washed away.

A tall, slender, jet-black figure spread his arms wide: "Tribulation Transcendence stage of the Great Xia, welcome to my world, which I call the Void Realm."

Hearing the words "Void Realm," An Honored One recalled a fragment of historical truth and suddenly came to his senses, drawing his natal magic treasure: "The power of an embryonic Dao Fruit, you are a Demi-Immortal!"