At Rouran City, within Ashi Liren’s residence.
Soren had just received a secret letter delivered by flying falcon from Princess Zhiyan.
The text was written in the top, level cipher that Soren and Zhiyan had previously agreed upon, readable only by the two of them.
After reading the secret letter, Soren was shaken to his core.
He knew that this person Zuo Qiu might carry considerable weight, but he had never imagined it would be this heavy?
He was actually truly eight hundred years old, and the genuine progenitor of Daoism. Just several decades ago, he had even become the Imperial Tutor of the Yan Empire.
He was the first, and perhaps the only person to confirm that the Dragon Emperor had not died. The mission of his entire life was to search for and save the Dragon Emperor.
This person’s existence was indeed the highest secret of the entire world.
Moreover, he likely possessed the destructive power to overturn the rule of the Divine Dragon Temple.
Therefore, he died.
He was betrayed to the Divine Dragon Temple by the current ruler of the Yan Empire, and burned alive.
Zuo Qiu could be considered the saviour of the current Yan Emperor’s life, yet he was still betrayed.
Why he had chosen the Yan Emperor, Soren could guess.
His Majesty the Dragon Emperor had unified the human world and established the Yan, Dragon Empire.
And though the current Yan Empire had virtually no connection to the Yan, Dragon Empire of several thousand years ago, every generation of Yan Emperors had loudly proclaimed themselves inheritors of the national pulse of the Yan, Dragon Empire.
Therefore, Zuo Qiu sought out the Yan Empire hoping to borrow its power to carry out his great enterprise of searching for and saving the Dragon Emperor.
In his view, the people of the Yan Empire should have inherited the Dragon Emperor’s legacy, unifying the human kingdoms and suppressing the Divine Dragon Temple.
But he had never imagined that in the end, he would still be betrayed by the Yan Emperor.
Soren could even conclude that this Zuo Qiu could be called the foremost enemy of the Divine Dragon Temple for the past several hundred years.
…
Now the question arose. The true Zuo Qiu was already dead. Then who was this fake Zuo Qiu beside Ashima?
Soren closed his eyes to ponder.
Then quickly arrived at the answer!
This fake Zuo Qiu was either a person from the Divine Dragon Temple, or a successor of Zuo Qiu.
Why did he say this?
Because only the Divine Dragon Temple and the ruler of the Yan Empire knew that the true Zuo Qiu was dead.
After Zuo Qiu’s death, all his Daoist art materials fell into the hands of the Divine Dragon Temple.
And this fake Zuo Qiu beside Ashima was an extremely formidable character.
Firstly, Ashima’s Dragon Emperor relic castle was a treasure land he had discovered and personally designed and constructed.
The location of the Dragon Emperor relic was itself top secret. Either someone with extremely deep research into the Dragon Emperor would know of it, or only the Divine Dragon Temple would know.
Secondly, this relic castle was truly filled with the power of Daoist natural harmony.
After Soren entered, he also felt refreshed and invigorated. Even every breath of air made one feel light and floating.
Moreover, Ashima was a man in his sixties or seventies, yet appeared to be under forty, and his hair had completely turned black.
All of this was the achievement of the fake Zuo Qiu’s Daoist arts.
That is to say, this fake Zuo Qiu also possessed certain Daoist arts, and with no shallow attainment.
Then where did his Daoist arts come from?
Either from the Divine Dragon Temple, or he was a true successor of Zuo Qiu!
…
This fake Zuo Qiu had been lurking by Ashima’s side for many years. What was his purpose?
Even if he was a fake Zuo Qiu, he was still an extremely heavy, weight character. Only an extremely, extremely significant matter would cause him to lurk by Ashima’s side for several years.
Soren racked his brains but could not figure out why Ashima could possess such heavy weight?
Yes, he was the greatest vassal of the Nulang Kingdom, a dominant figure rarely seen among the human kingdoms these past few decades.
But whether in the eyes of the Divine Dragon Temple or in the eyes of a successor of Zuo Qiu, Ashima could not be considered an extraordinary figure.
Soren fell into deep thought.
If he were a successor of Zuo Qiu, then his purpose would be only one, to inherit his master’s legacy, to search for and save the Dragon Emperor.
But could Ashima bear such a mission? Completely unlike!
After failing in the Yan Empire, a successor of Zuo Qiu should have sought out the Eastern Li Kingdom.
The successive kings of Eastern Li had always been very cold towards the Divine Dragon Temple, and the power of the Divine Dragon Temple on Eastern Li territory was very weak.
Moreover, the ancestor of the Eastern Li King had once been a trusted confidant of the Dragon Emperor. What was he doing seeking out Ashima?
Then, if this fake Zuo Qiu was a person from the Divine Dragon Temple, what was his purpose in lurking by Ashima’s side?
The only thing Soren could think of was Ashiluo’s use of demon blood, which was undoubtedly anti, Divine Dragon faith, anti, Divine Dragon power.
This was a grave crime, even a heaven, defying crime, sufficient to mobilise the Divine Dragon Temple’s Tribunal.
But this was not enough to cause the Divine Dragon Temple to specifically dispatch someone to lurk by Ashima’s side for several years.
What was this fake Zuo Qiu’s purpose?
Soren could not figure it out despite endless pondering, but without doubt this fake Zuo Qiu, whether a successor of Zuo Qiu or a Divine Dragon Temple mole, was certainly involved in a heaven, defying matter.
In Rouran City, there was a heaven, shaking scheme, and Soren seemed to have inadvertently stumbled into this heaven, shaking scheme.
…
At this moment, suddenly a female warrior entered and handed Soren a letter, saying, “Sir, a letter for you.”
Soren was startled? A letter for him?
Soren took the letter and opened it. It read, “Please come to the Fragrant Tower for a gathering, to discuss matters concerning the elimination of Ashiluo. You may bring any expert, but do not bring Ashi Liren.”
This letter bore no signature, and Soren completely did not recognise the handwriting upon it.
Firstly, what came to his mind was, was this a conspiracy, a trap?
Of course, even if it were a trap, as long as Ashiluo was not present, Soren feared no expert.
Among the Gao faction’s forces in Rouran City, there were more than five Dragon Warriors alone, all obeying Soren’s sole command.
As long as the opponent was not a heaven, defying expert on Ashiluo’s level, Soren truly feared no trap.
And crucially, Ashiluo had already left Rouran City. At this moment, he was likely already in the Nulang Kingdom’s Luanyang City, awaiting the beginning of Tu Liyang and Tu Lingduo’s wedding!
After brief preparations, Soren released a black flying falcon, with no secret letter.
This flying falcon flew directly to the Gao faction’s secret base in Rouran City, the Tianhai Pavilion.
Very quickly, the Tianhai Pavilion immediately sent someone to meet Soren at the entrance of Liren Residence.
“Send people to investigate the Fragrant Tower, see if there are any traps, or especially powerful experts present.” Soren said, “Then, mobilise all Dragon Warrior, level and above experts from Tianhai Pavilion to the entrance of Liren Residence. In a moment, I may go out to the Fragrant Tower.”
“Yes.” The contact person disguised as a book seller immediately departed on his orders.
Barely half an hour later, five Dragon Warrior, level experts were wandering the street before the entrance of Ashi Liren’s residence.
Then, that contact person arrived panting, holding a book and knocking on the gate of Ashi Liren’s residence.
“Sir, there are no ambushes at the Fragrant Tower.” this contact person disguised as a book seller said.
A quarter hour later, Soren strolled leisurely, walking alone onto the street towards the Fragrant Tower.
And the five Dragon Warrior, level and above experts sent by Gao Yin, hidden among the crowd, protected Soren in their midst.
…
The Fragrant Tower was a very small tavern, with poor business, considered a tavern of no standing.
At this time, the sun was about to set. The tavern was empty and desolate, its business extremely bleak.
Of more than a dozen tables, there was only one guest, a hunched old man.
This old man’s gaze was cloudy, his body bent, appearing somewhat down on his luck.
Soren wondered, was this the person who had invited him?
“Mr. Yan Ziyu, it has been a while.” This old man stood up and greeted Soren.
Soren’s heart skipped a beat. Could this be an old acquaintance of Yan Ziyu’s?
Then would he not have exposed a flaw?
Soren walked over and sat down before this hunched old man.
“Mr. Yan, it has been more than ten years since we last met, has it not?” That hunched old man said, hurriedly pouring wine for Soren, his eyes filled with the joy of reuniting with a kindred spirit.
Soren could not help but feel anxious to the point of burning.
Because he did not know whether this old man before him truly knew Yan Ziyu, or was merely a tester sent by Ashiluo.
Therefore, for the moment, any reaction he made would be inappropriate.
And the Demon Star instinctively shot out a trace of Dragon Qi mark, striking this hunched old man’s body, then bouncing back. The Demon Star captured the information of this rebounding Dragon Qi mark and analysed it.
Then, within Soren’s mind rang the Demon Star’s voice of extreme astonishment, saying, “Master, the person before you is Zuo Qiu! That Zuo Qiu beside Ashima.”
Soren was completely stunned!
The person before him was actually Zuo Qiu? Or rather the fake Zuo Qiu. Why would he invite Soren to meet?
Humans might err, but the Demon Star absolutely would not err.
Every person was a unique energy body. When the Demon Star shot out a stream of Dragon Qi mark to strike a human body, part was absorbed and part dispersed, so the rebounding energy aura was different for each person.
And if the rebounding energy information was the same, that proved the two people were the same.
At this moment, the energy aura captured by the Demon Star was identical to what was captured from Zuo Qiu that night.
This fake Zuo Qiu, whether a successor of Zuo Qiu or a person from the Divine Dragon Temple, was a major figure, one bearing a heaven, defying mission.
He had actually left Ashima’s relic castle to meet with Soren?
Why was this?
…
After several days of travel!
Fang Qingshu led the nameless adjudicators, along with several hundred Temple warriors, in a grand and mighty procession arriving at the borders of Tianshui City.
The last time, Fang Qingshu had brought adjudicators to capture Soren and take him to the Tribunal, resulting in an unprecedented defeat.
Not only did Soren emerge from the Tribunal completely unscathed, but all the adjudicators who participated in the trial were executed. And he, Fang Qingshu, as the young master of the Hidden Continent, was actually confined for several months.
Moreover, the High Priest of the Zhi Capital Divine Dragon Temple had also issued a statement that from now on, no one was to use the Divine Dragon Temple against Soren.
For Fang Qingshu, this was a completely humiliating disgrace.
What nonsense about a reincarnation of a High Priest? He cared not a whit. The losses he had suffered at Soren’s hands, he would certainly recover.
And what stimulated Fang Qingshu the most was that Princess Zhiyan had actually become Soren’s fiancee.
He, Fang Qingshu, had always regarded Zhiyan as his forbidden treasure, yet now she had been sullied by Soren.
On this point alone, Fang Qingshu and Soren were already locked in a fight to the death.
But the High Priest had issued an explicit order that no one was to mobilise the Tribunal against Soren, so Fang Qingshu could only temporarily bide his time, waiting for opportunity.
And he had never imagined that opportunity would come so quickly. Prince Zhili had sent an absolutely precious piece of information.
Yan Nail possessed evil energy, any injury she received could heal immediately, and she was impervious to all poisons. Moreover, this evil energy was given by Soren.
Fang Qingshu was overjoyed, bringing an unprecedentedly massive formation rushing towards Tianshui City to capture Yan Nail.
Even if he could not touch Soren, he would cripple his beloved woman. And once it truly involved demonic power, even if Soren was a so, called reincarnator, he would certainly die.
Of course, Yan Nail, this stunning beauty, was to be given to Zhili.
This was a transaction the two had already negotiated.
“Young Master Fang, ahead lies Tianshui City territory. Shall we send someone ahead to announce our arrival?” A Temple warrior stepped forward.
“No need. Charge directly in and capture Yan Nail.” Fang Qingshu said.
Then, at Fang Qingshu’s command, they were about to burst into Tianshui City territory.
Just at this moment, a griffin appeared in the sky behind them, upon which rode a priest of the Divine Dragon Temple.
“Fang Qingshu, you are to halt immediately. You may not enter Tianshui City territory.” The priest upon the griffin commanded.
Fang Qingshu and the others could not help but be startled.
Griffin beasts were extremely rare. The Zhi Capital Divine Dragon Temple possessed merely a few.
What important matter could this be, to actually dispatch a priest to deliver orders?
One must know that the Zhi Capital Divine Dragon Temple possessed merely one Holy Priest, four High Priests, and sixteen priests.
The griffin landed, but that priest did not dismount.
Fang Qingshu stepped forward and bowed, saying, “So it was Priest Dandan. May I ask what important matter requires you to come personally?”
That Priest Dandan said, “By holy decree, Fang Qingshu and all adjudicators are to immediately return to Zhi Capital. You may not enter Tianshui City territory, and may not capture the target Yan Nail.”
Fang Qingshu was startled, saying, “But, we are going to capture an anti, Divine Dragon faith, anti, Divine Dragon power demonic energy possessor. This is a heaven, defying matter. Please forgive me for being unable to comply.”
Priest Dandan said, “This is an order from the Holy Priest.”
Then, he produced a Divine Dragon gold medallion, upon which were carved seven golden dragons.
The Seven, Dragon Holy Gold Medallion. The entire Nulang Kingdom possessed only one, representing the highest power of the Nulang Kingdom Divine Dragon Temple, representing the Holy Priest.
Fang Qingshu said in astonishment, “I went to capture this demonic energy possessor, also personally approved by the Holy Priest. Now recalling me, why is this?”
Priest Dandan said coldly, “Do not ask what you should not ask.”
Fang Qingshu said, “This is a demonic energy possessor. Once let go, it would be a heaven, defying crime. Why is this?”
Priest Dandan said, “Do not ask what you should not ask.”
Fang Qingshu’s face turned cold, saying, “Without sufficient reason given, I can only say that a general in the field is not bound by the ruler’s orders.”
At this moment, Fang Qingshu completely displayed the arrogance and overbearingness of the Hidden Continent’s young master, intending to forcibly resist the orders of the Nulang Kingdom Divine Dragon Temple’s foremost leader.
Priest Dandan said, “At my level, it is insufficient to answer your question. Even the Holy Priest cannot answer your question, because he also does not know why!”
Fang Qingshu was completely stunned and trembling.
This meant that this order was not even given by the Holy Priest? But rather… a Sky Priest?
One of the highest leaders of the entire world’s Divine Dragon Temple?
This, this was why?
Let alone one Yan Nail, even one hundred Yan Nails plus one hundred Sorens would not be qualified to receive a personal pardon from a Sky Priest. Why was this?
Sky Priests completely concerned themselves with no matters whatsoever, unless it concerned the survival of the Divine Dragon Temple, or concerned the entirety of the human realm, would they intervene.
Priest Dandan said, “Please return to Zhi Capital immediately, and you may not reveal this capture operation to anyone. No one may know of it. Act as if nothing happened. Do you hear?”
Fang Qingshu trembled in his heart, bowing and saying, “Yes!”
With the power of his Hidden Continent, he would not be too fearful of a Holy Priest.
But a Sky Priest, leader of the world’s Divine Dragon Temple, even his father could not resist.
He vaguely sensed that something truly heaven, defying was happening, otherwise a Sky Priest would not come to the Nulang Kingdom!