Chapter 172: Departure, Wanted! Kill Order!
“Don’t kill me! I really know I was wrong.” The once awe-inspiring First Elder knelt before you, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
“If you kill me, you will definitely alert the Ancestor!”
You knew the First Elder was not lying. For a figure as transcendent as the First Elder within the sect, once murdered, everyone from the Ancestor down to the disciples would almost all become aware of it.
Though you were not afraid, you also did not want to invite trouble out of nowhere.
“Hand over your soul blood and swear an oath. From now on, you will obey my commands!”
“Understand?”
“Yes, yes, yes. This humble one will follow Fellow Daoist Ye in all things from now on!”
With the soul blood in hand, the First Elder’s life was now within a single thought of yours.
“Speak. How is the sect doing now? Are you confident in taking that Sect Master position?”
“That Hongye, the Vice Sect Master, broke through to the Fusion realm before me. I’m afraid it will be somewhat difficult.” The First Elder’s face was full of worry.
“Oh? Is that so? Then you plan to give up?”
“Give up? No! I have already contacted several Fusion realm powerhouses. I plan to ambush and kill Hongye!” The First Elder’s face was full of malice.
You nodded. You did not want to interfere in this matter. If the First Elder won, it would be of immense benefit to you.
But if he lost, there would not be much loss to you either. After all, you had not invested anything.
Moreover, you had killed so many Wilderness Clan cultivators in the Secret Realm. You worried you would be targeted by the various major forces because of it, and had already prepared to flee.
“I have matters to attend to and must go out. As for matters within the sect, handle them yourself.” You left behind a single declaration, and your figure vanished.
You traveled west the entire way, and soon arrived at the Imperial City of the Purple Firmament Immortal Dynasty.
“You actually broke through to the Return-to-Void realm, kid. Not bad!” After several decades without meeting, Nangong Li praised you upon seeing you again.
“Just luck. By the way, Senior Brother, where is Xuanyuan Yue?” You had arrived at the residence, but did not see Xuanyuan Yue.
“Oh, her. She left ten years ago.”
“What?” You frowned and pondered for a moment, then asked, “Why did she leave?”
“That I don’t know. She didn’t tell me either.” Nangong Li waved his hand, then casually took out a token and returned it to you.
“Thank you, Senior Brother, for looking after me all these years. Tomorrow at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Junior Brother is treating!” You accepted the token and cupped your fists toward Nangong Li.
“Haha, good. Then I won’t hold back!”
You took your leave from Nangong Li and returned to your own residence, then set up a Concealment Grand Formation to prevent others from spying.
A thread of Primordial Spirit power flowed into the token. Instantly, an illusory figure appeared before your eyes.
“Brother Ye, by the time you read this, my departure was truly a helpless move. My identity has likely been exposed. To protect myself, I had no choice but to leave first.”
“Rest assured, Brother. With the life-preserving means Royal Father left me, I have more than enough to protect myself.”
“There is no need to come looking for me. Once I learn of Brother’s return, I will come find you myself.”
“Within the token is a bottle of my blood, enough for Brother to open the Jade Seal space once.”
“Cultivate in peace. Do not worry.”
“Tsk. When she’s serious, she actually seems quite like a princess.” You looked at the illusory figure of Xuanyuan Yue and remarked.
You put away the token and the bottle of Xuanyuan Yue’s blood. After learning that Xuanyuan Yue was safe, you felt at ease.
If something had happened to Xuanyuan Yue, your cultivation would likely have been hard-pressed to advance any further!
The next day, Nangong Li came rushing over in a panic, shouting, “Disaster! Junior Brother, come out quickly!”
“What’s wrong? What happened, Senior Brother?” You pushed open the door and looked at the flustered Nangong Li, asking.
“Don’t call me Senior Brother. I can’t bear it!” Nangong Li hurriedly declined, then took out a wanted notice.
“Ah, just look for yourself!”
You saw that on the wanted notice was赫然 your own portrait!
It read: “All forces under the Purple Firmament Immortal Dynasty are to pursue and kill this person with full force. Whoever succeeds, the royal family will grant you one request!”
“Pursue and kill me?” You were stunned for a moment. Was the royal family really not even going to pretend anymore?
“Though I don’t know what happened, you should leave now while you still can!”
“Leave the Imperial City, get far away from the Purple Firmament Immortal Dynasty. Preserving your life is what matters!”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!” You cupped your fists and bowed to Nangong Li. Just for the fact that he had not informed the royal family, but instead came to warn you, he deserved this bow.
“No need to thank me. Just hurry and leave. I’m still waiting to sell you out and make some money!” Nangong Li waved his hand.
The veins on your forehead nearly burst. Careless. I thanked him too early!
“Catch.” Nangong Li tossed you a token. “Take my token and leave quickly!”
The moment you left, Nangong Li behind you began shouting, “Quick, someone come! Ye Fan is here!”
You arrived at the Imperial City gates, your appearance already completely renewed. With the Concealment Jade Pendant as well, unless a Great Vehicle stage cultivator descended in person, basically no one could discover your true appearance.
Today the line to leave the city was especially long. To avoid exposure, you had no choice but to line up obediently.
“Seal the city gates! No one is allowed in or out!” Just as it was about to be your turn, a group of cultivators suddenly appeared and blocked all of you.
“What’s going on? Why won’t they let us out?”
“Exactly. On what grounds won’t they let us out!”
“Chi!” A early-stage Return-to-Void cultivator was directly run through and killed by a spear.
“The Imperial Dragon Guard is handling matters. Anyone who dares resist will be killed without mercy!” The leading Imperial Dragon Guard captain burst forth with the cultivation of a peak Return-to-Void realm cultivator, holding up a token as he shouted sternly.
“Even the Imperial Dragon Guard has been mobilized. What major event has happened?”
“That’s the Emperor’s personal guard!”
“Sigh. Looks like we won’t be leaving anytime soon.”
“Look, the Princess is here!”
You turned to look, and sure enough, you saw Princess Anle!
Is all of this your doing? You stared at Princess Anle for a moment, then shifted your gaze away, thinking to yourself.
Your figure gradually disappeared into the crowd. Since you could not leave, you no longer wanted to leave.
The most dangerous place is often the safest place. You found an inn within the Imperial City and settled down at ease.
You did not believe that to deal with a small Return-to-Void cultivator like you, the Purple Firmament Immortal Dynasty would actually send out a Great Vehicle stage cultivator.
If they truly did, then there would be no need for you to flee. You would simply meet death calmly!
Seven days later, the search yielded no results, and the Imperial City gates opened once more.
……