Futile Devices Scans

The situation of the Netherwind Realm was not very different from what Chen Yixin and Wenren Li had guessed. They had indeed evacuated. In fact, to erase any traces that might invite investigation, they had even destroyed the entrance, completely abandoning that realm.

As for what Zhu Yan had previously told Chen Yixin and Wenren Li, it was not entirely a lie. Everything that could be taken from the Netherwind Realm had been removed. Even the immortal veins buried underground had been excavated almost completely. Under such circumstances, how could the realm’s resources not be considered exhausted?

“Rise and speak,” Wenren Li said. With a slight lift of his hand, Zhu Yan was gently raised by divine power.

Zhu Yan nodded and continued his explanation. “Neither I nor the clan elders knew of Your Highness’s and Your Majesty’s circumstances. We withdrew from the Netherwind Realm in order to conceal ourselves more effectively.”

The entire Vermilion Bird clan lived within the Netherwind Realm. Once their enemies discovered them, the clan would face complete annihilation. After the evacuation, Zhu Yan dispersed the clan members and integrated them throughout the forces of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion. In the current chaos of the Upper Realm, this was the safest arrangement.

They had never forgotten their mission. Even the existence of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion was one of the preparations they had made for the future.

“Though I cannot be completely certain, beginning five hundred years ago, the Immortal Guards of the Nine Sovereigns Hall began searching everywhere for ancient clans hidden throughout the Upper Realm. Even Imperial Daughter Lan Xin personally came to the Myriad Immortals Pavilion to question me. That was what led me to make this decision.”

Whether the Nine Sovereigns Hall and Lan Xin were truly searching for the old Netherwind Realm forces could not be confirmed. But if they ever found them, the Vermilion Bird clan’s secret could be exposed. As the highly visible master of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, Zhu Yan would inevitably be implicated as well.

“The Nine Sovereigns Hall…” Chen Yixin frowned slightly. He had never heard of any force called the Nine Sovereigns Hall during his time in the Upper Realm. No—he had heard of it. It simply had not been a faction, but rather an abandoned residence.

“It’s him!” Chen Yixin narrowed his eyes, a trace of killing intent escaping.

Zhu Yan was puzzled about who the “him” Chen Yixin referred to was. After a brief hesitation, he explained based on the information he possessed.

“The master of the Nine Sovereigns Hall is the final victor of this era’s Half-Step Immortal Emperors War—Immortal Emperor Jiu Yu.”

He was the unquestionable dark horse of the Immortal Emperors War. From his first appearance in the world to his ascension as an Immortal Emperor, only one hundred years had passed. Such an achievement was unprecedented throughout history. No one in the Upper Realm had been able to oppose him; all had been swept aside in crushing defeat.

The Nine Sovereigns Hall had not existed for long, but its master was a genuine Immortal Emperor. Furthermore, he was hailed as the most talented Immortal Emperor in existence, one whose future potential was limitless. Countless people had flocked to support and follow him.

The power he had gathered over several centuries was still insufficient to challenge the older Immortal Emperors, yet even the established Immortal Lords were already far beneath him.

Zhu Yan did not dare underestimate the power of the Nine Sovereigns Hall. The reason he had never advanced his cultivation to the Half-Step Immortal Emperor realm was precisely because he feared this Immortal Emperor Jiu Yu. According to all the intelligence he had gathered, not a single Half-Step Immortal Emperor who had fought Jiu Yu had survived. He was even more ruthless than Chen Yixin had been in the past.

Zhu Yan dared not fight him. He also feared that Jiu Yu might one day find an excuse to challenge him. If Zhu Yan died, the Myriad Immortals Pavilion would likely become Jiu Yu’s property. More importantly, Zhu Yan carried the secret of the surviving Vermilion Bird clan behind him.

Throughout the Upper Realm, Zhu Yan was known for his thick skin and smooth methods. The one ability others truly praised was his Void Escape Art, an ancient technique. Yet as the sole pure-blooded Vermilion Bird of his generation, the divine abilities he possessed extended far beyond that alone.

Over the years, Zhu Yan had truly exhausted himself for the sake of both the Vermilion Bird clan and the Myriad Immortals Pavilion.

After Zhu Yan finished explaining everything he knew about Jiu Yu, Chen Yixin and Wenren Li became even more certain that Jiu Yu was the Otherworldly Demon puppet that had occupied part of Wenren Li’s severed-wood remains.

“The Nine Sovereigns Hall was the palace where A-Li once held councils and met with the gods. He actually dares to use that name!” Even now, whenever Chen Yixin mentioned Jiu Yu, he could not help grinding his teeth. Over the past thousand years, that man had surely done plenty of desecration with Wenren Li’s remains.

At that point, Zhu Yan finally understood why Chen Yixin was so angry. However, whether Jiu Yu had chosen the name “Nine Sovereigns Hall” by coincidence or deliberately was not difficult to guess. Even the name Jiu Yu revealed the extent of his ambitions.

“You were right to avoid him. What Immortal Emperor? He’s nothing more than an Otherworldly Demon concealing his Void Origin beneath the aura of A-Li’s remains. Those Half-Step Immortal Emperors he killed have probably all become his nourishment.”

The term “Otherworldly Demon” was already familiar throughout the Upper Realm. Hearing Chen Yixin say this, Zhu Yan reviewed all the intelligence he possessed and immediately sucked in a cold breath. Those olive branches the Nine Sovereigns Hall had extended to him several times had really been death warrants.

Although Chen Yixin’s tone was filled with disdain, inwardly he did not dare underestimate Jiu Yu in the slightest. What Nan Gong and Dong Fang had done was equivalent to throwing a malignant tumor directly into a rabbit warren. Jiu Yu had already grown far beyond what he once was.

Wenren Li lightly tapped his fingers on the table and looked toward Zhu Yan.

“Go and bring me all information regarding Jiu Yu’s movements over the recent period.”

“Yes.” Zhu Yan nodded. After giving them another respectful bow, he withdrew from the room.

“A-Li, have you decided to make a move now?”

Chen Yixin could vaguely understand Wenren Li’s intentions. In truth, it was the wiser choice. Jiu Yu’s method of growth was far too rapid. The longer they delayed, the greater the chance of an uncontrollable development occurring. It was better to deal with him sooner rather than later.

Wenren Li rubbed the pad of his thumb over Chen Yixin’s slightly furrowed brow. “Let’s first see whether it’s along the way.”

Their greatest purpose in coming to the Upper Realm was still to search for the remnant souls of Qing Ruo and Lin Yu. The situation involving the Otherworldly Demon puppet had changed, but not enough to become a major obstacle for them.

Chen Yixin fell silent for a moment before nodding. In truth, given the cultivation realms he and Wenren Li had now reached, they could easily act separately. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he still could not stop worrying about Wenren Li. The thought circled briefly through his mind before he dismissed it.

“Even if it’s not along the way, we can make a special trip back when we return.”

A disgusting creature like that absolutely could not be allowed to continue existing. As he spoke, Chen Yixin carefully studied Wenren Li’s face for a moment before stretching out his arms and throwing himself into Wenren Li’s embrace. Just thinking about that fellow made him feel irritated all over again.

Wenren Li stroked Chen Yixin’s hair and directly sent a voice transmission to Zhu Yan, instructing him to arrange accommodations and, at the same time, summon several nearby elders of the Netherwind Tribe who could arrive quickly.

“What a coincidence…” Chen Yixin said after reading the jade slip, handing it to Wenren Li.

The coincidence was that the two authority staffs they had received when registering earlier would transport them to the Imperial Capital, which happened to be where the Nine Sovereigns Hall was located. Furthermore, based on the intelligence Zhu Yan had provided, Jiu Yu would very likely be traveling to the Void Heaven Battlefield together with them.

“According to Your Highness’s and Your Majesty’s analysis, his purpose for going to the Void Heaven Battlefield is hardly simple.”

Other immortals went to the Void Heaven Battlefield to exterminate Otherworldly Demons. Jiu Yu was most likely finding the restrictions of the Upper Realm too limiting and intended to continue hunting and growing stronger on the battlefield.

Zhu Yan paused, then bowed to Chen Yixin and Wenren Li before disappearing from the hall. Not long afterward, he reappeared.

“This is an appointment decree sent to me by the Nine Sovereigns Hall. It seems he has no intention of letting me go.”

Had Chen Yixin and Wenren Li not appeared, he truly would have been troubled. He could not defeat Jiu Yu, nor could he flee. If he sought protection from another Immortal Emperor, he would likely have to surrender the Myriad Immortals Pavilion that he had spent so much effort building.

Chen Yixin extended a hand, and Zhu Yan respectfully presented the decree.

“He must have already seen through your true form and set his sights on your divine source,” Chen Yixin said. “Even though you haven’t reached the Half-Step Immortal Emperor realm, the divine source of a Vermilion Bird divine beast is still far superior to that of most other races. That’s why he’s targeting you.”

“If A-Li and I hadn’t come, what were you planning to do?” Chen Yixin asked.

The little Vermilion Bird standing before him was clearly clever and vigilant. As an Immortal Lord, Zhu Yan had maneuvered freely throughout the immortal world. Even Immortal Emperors regarded him highly, and his reputation among immortals was excellent.

“The Vermilion Bird and Phoenix share the same origin. If Your Highness and His Majesty had not come, I would have sought help from Emperor Fengyuan.”

After considering every possibility, that was the safest choice. As fellow ancient divine birds, Emperor Fengyuan would not mistreat him, nor would he be likely to grow suspicious.

Of course, nothing in this world was absolute. Still, Emperor Fengyuan was far less reliable than Chen Yixin and Wenren Li arriving with the red feather in hand.

“Fengyuan… he probably wouldn’t help you very much.”

The current Emperor Fengyuan was no longer the same old phoenix who had once hidden him away. Having chosen neutrality, he would never allow the trouble caused by the Nine Sovereigns Hall to implicate the Phoenix Divine Clan. His so-called neutrality was practically no different from being an accomplice.

As he spoke, Chen Yixin rose to his feet and began circling Zhu Yan. Suddenly, he stopped and beckoned toward Wenren Li. The red feather flew into his palm. He gently covered it, and after only two breaths, the aura surrounding him changed completely.

Even Wenren Li raised his brows slightly in surprise. No matter how carefully he examined it, he could detect no flaws. By borrowing the red feather, Chen Yixin had transformed his innate icy aura so perfectly that even Nan Gong and Dong Fang might be deceived.

Yet the transformation was not finished.

His meticulously tied hair loosened and cascaded down. Three ice-blue feathers emerged upon his forehead before gradually turning crimson. His black hair transformed into blazing red.

Lowering his gaze, he glanced at his clothing. His blue shark-silk robe vanished, replaced by brilliant red robes.

At the same time, his features changed subtly. He appeared several years younger, like a youthful Immortal Lord who had only recently entered the world. Finally, he added a silver mask to his face, lending him both youthful charm and an air of mystery.

Returning to his seat beside Wenren Li, he lifted his chin and looked at Zhu Yan.

“Zhu Yan, from today onward, A-Li is the master behind the Myriad Immortals Pavilion. As for me… I am the Young Master.”

For Wenren Li to play the role of the Immortal Emperor backing the Myriad Immortals Pavilion was far more convincing than the mysterious figure Zhu Yan had fabricated in the past. Such a person naturally could not appear casually. As for Chen Yixin’s role as the Young Master, that was another matter entirely.

Zhu Yan nodded, already understanding Chen Yixin’s arrangement.

If Jiu Yu intended to target him, then upon discovering a “Young Master” beside him whose divine source was even purer, he would certainly not let him go. At that point, it would be their turn to set the trap.

After Zhu Yan departed to discreetly leak the information, Chen Yixin immediately climbed onto Wenren Li’s lap. His hand rubbed circles against Wenren Li’s chest as he muttered, “Anyway, it’s not the first time A-Li has played the elder for me…”

If anyone was truly at a disadvantage here, it was him.

“A-Rong, safety comes first. Your well-being outweighs everything else.”

If Chen Yixin intended to lure Jiu Yu into a trap, Wenren Li could not reveal himself directly. Otherwise, the connection between himself and his severed-wood remains would make it easy for Jiu Yu to discover his identity.

As for openly confronting Jiu Yu and eliminating him, Wenren Li estimated a seventy percent chance of success. But doing so would expose both himself and Chen Yixin. Once that happened, Dong Fang and Nan Gong would undoubtedly appear, reducing that seventy percent chance to perhaps thirty percent, while also creating countless complications afterward.

Therefore, although he worried, Wenren Li ultimately accepted Chen Yixin’s plan.

“I know,” Chen Yixin replied. Tilting up his chin, he pressed a kiss to Wenren Li’s lips. “I’m the Young Master, but I’m also A-Li’s man.”

Originally, he had considered disguising himself as an eight- or nine-year-old child—someone who looked easier to deceive. But after thinking of Wenren Li, he had silently made himself a little older. At least this way Wenren Li would not be unable to bring himself to kiss him.

“My elder brother’s red feather shares the same origin as my aura. That’s the only reason I can use it for this disguise.”

As he spoke, Chen Yixin moved closer and gently rubbed his cheek against Wenren Li’s. The red feather had once again stirred his longing for Qing Ruo.

Without a word, Wenren Li wrapped both arms around him and pulled him completely into his embrace. His fingers gently stroked through Chen Yixin’s hair. Though he said nothing, the silent comfort was worth more than any words.

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