Page 146

After entering the city, Chen Qing did not bring Ghost Doll or Murong Yunji, only Wei Gongcheng.

Chen Qing knew that as long as he brought either of the two, the hiding Second Elder Shen in Lyuzhou City would not show up.

Possessing the power of the Ghost King Arm, Second Elder Shen could blend into techniques to the greatest extent in a spectral state.

After possessing Old Jiu’s body and combining two techniques, with his original form being in a spectral state, he was a force to be reckoned with as a magician.

Few in this world could hope to defeat him.

However, he had his drawbacks. Such a specter that possessed human bodies was extremely fearful of those with vigorous vitality.

Both Murong Yunji and Ghost Doll were the ones he feared the most now.

That’s why he dared to attack the magicians of the Imperial Court but never dared to lay a hand on Chen Qing, because here lay the very people who could truly threaten him.

The two wandered for not too long before the missing Ninth Elder Shen appeared, as if out of thin air.

Chen Qing looked at him, and he at Chen Qing.

The martial arts competition of Lyuzhou was not yet over, and people were still crowding around to watch the late-night battles at various locations.

With the streets bustling with people, it was not appropriate to talk out in the open, so Chen Qing took the lead and entered an abandoned tavern.

After some hesitation, the other party eventually followed Chen Qing inside.

Although specters in a spectral state feared people with vigorous vitality, they had one advantage: those with strong vital energy couldn’t track him.

In his eyes, whether it was Ghost Doll or Murong Yunji, they were like little suns.

He could see them from miles away. It was impossible for them to hide.

Chen Qing had nothing on him that posed a threat, in theory.

"Second Elder Shen is a man of courage who made such a bold decision the second day after establishing power in the Lyuzhou Hell Ruler," said Chen Qing, "Why does he seem so timid today?"

"Lord Chen need not flatter me like that.

.." The shadow in black removed his hood, revealing a pale face devoid of any blood.

It was the face of the long-lost Ninth Elder Shen.

Yet Wei Gongcheng could see that the person within this body was not Ninth Elder Shen.

The real Ninth Elder Shen was hovering near his own flesh, following fearfully but unable to leave, bound tightly by a black chain, unable to escape even slightly.

At that moment, Wei Gongcheng understood why they had been unable to find Second Elder Shen’s specter nor Ninth Master’s...

"Lord Chen’s skills are too miraculous, truly something Shen has only seen once in his life. Being extra cautious in front of someone like you is only reasonable!"

"Ah, Second Elder Shen, you’re too kind. I dare not accept such praise..." Chen Qing replied with a chuckle, bowing his hands and finding a seat.

The tavern had long been abandoned, with the tables and chairs covered in dust. Chen Qing used the Wind Element power of Old Wolf to sweep them clean with a gentle brush, and in an instant, the furniture was clear of dust. Second Elder Shen watched this, pursing his lips slightly.

The dust drifted away gently under the force of the wind, displaying a finesse akin to that of a top wind sorcerer.

Chen Qing, being so young, should not have such refined techniques, but not only did he have them, but he also activated his spiritual power with agility, without the preparatory movements common to magicians, more like an innate talent carried by demons.

Shen Yiyun remained alert inside, yet on the surface, he was nonchalant and directly took a seat across from Chen Qing.

"Did Second Elder Shen decide to take over Ninth Master’s body on the spur of the moment?" Chen Qing asked with a smile.

Shen Yiyun didn’t bother to hide it and nodded slightly, "Lord Chen has astonishing methods, forcefully cutting off the Path of Yin and Yang of Lyuzhou, allowing the specters of Lyuzhou to stay in the world of the living. At that moment, I sensed an opportunity given by heaven!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing looked at the cowering specter of Ninth Elder Shen behind him and laughed, "So, Second Elder Shen had his eyes on Ninth Master for a long time?"

"What do you think?" Second Elder Shen replied coldly, "Old Ancestor Shen sensed something was wrong back then and poured all resources into cultivating Ninth as a countermeasure for those monsters lurking in the shadows. Which of those monsters wouldn’t want to get their hands on Ninth? If it weren’t for the unwavering vigilance of my brothers, do you think he could have survived this long? "

Ninth Elder Shen’s eyes went dull upon hearing this. He had been without a mother since birth, and everyone looked at him as if he were a monster because rumour had it that he was descended from worms.

Yet his legitimate brothers never shunned him, treated him like kin, and cared for him deeply. So when his second brother suddenly attacked him that day, it was something he never expected.

Chen Qing nodded and smiled, "Second Elder Shen speaks the truth. Ninth Master was born to counter those monsters. But no one dared to act rashly, nor expose themselves. The Shen Family members who were not possessed risked staying in Nanyang, clearly hoping to uncover the secret of Old Ancestor Shen’s Dragon Transformation from those monsters, right? "

"Lord Chen seems to know everything," Second Elder Shen replied coldly, "You really are very different."

"Second Elder flatters me," Chen Qing continued, "Ninth Master was almost at the Super First Rank, so the monsters couldn’t wait any longer. Although they had found suitable bodies to reside in, they didn’t have retainers and were not sure they could defeat you.

Therefore, someone could not hold back and deliberately exposed their whereabouts, summoning the Nine Heavens Mirror and initiating a new cycle of massacres, all to swiftly regain their strength.

Sixth Master Shen sensed something wrong early on and sent you to provoke the Lyuzhou Magistrate as a pretense, when in fact, he wanted to take Ninth Master to the Capital City to lay low. "

"But you chose to take over Ninth Master’s body!"

"This is not my fault." Shen Yiyun laughed, "I have never seen such an enchanting fog formation before, with the instantaneous power to seal off Jiangnan which was beyond my expectations.

Being trapped in Lyuzhou, I could not just sit around and wait to die.

Besides, the opportunity you provided was too good to pass up! "

Chen Qing nodded, showing understanding.

With the establishment of the Hell Ruler, the Path of Yin and Yang could no longer forcefully draw specters from Lyuzhou into the underworld, granting Second Elder Shen an enormous margin to maneuver.

Shen Yiyun’s Technique was the Ghost King Arm.

In a spectral state, his Technique’s power was actually the strongest. It’s just that people did not dare let their souls leave their bodies easily for fear that once sucked into the Path of Yin and Yang, there would be no returning.

Chen Qing established the Lyuzhou Hell Ruler, giving Shen Yiyun this condition!

"Did Second Master find Ninth Master’s whereabouts first?"

Shen Yiyun nodded, "Mr. Heiyun has dealt with me more than once or twice.

The moment he made a move, I knew it was him.

With Zi Yue present, I naturally did not dare to rashly save Old Jiu, and with Old Jiu poisoned by a corpse toxin, turning into a monster was only a matter of time.

Murong Yunji was intent on leaving the Shen Family and had no real desire to help me, so I was quite helpless at the time. "

"So, Second Master chose to commit suicide and secretly possess Ninth Master’s body using his spectral state!"

"I still owe much to Lord Chen," said Shen Yiyun with a chuckle. "If you hadn’t drawn Zi Yue away, I could only have continued to hide. If too much time passed, I might have been discovered. With Zi Yue’s capabilities, it would have been extremely difficult for me to escape.

Lord Chen, you are very skilled, managing to control the ancient Azure Dragon Barrier and trap Zi Yue. Truly a brilliant move!"

"How could that compare to you, Second Master?

" Chen Qing said with a smile. "Now that you’re in a spectral state, you can wield the Ghost King Arm Technique without any reservations and possess Ninth Master’s body.

Should you gain control over the creatures in the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, who in this world could rival you, Second Master? "

At these words, Shen Yiyun stared intensely at Chen Qing for a long time.

He didn’t like this feeling, as if the other party had stripped him bare, knowing everything about him crystal clear!

The Ghost King Arm was scarce in intelligence within the Spellcraft Realm; even the Yin Yang Academy had little to no records of it.

The Shen Family siblings didn’t know either that its use was restricted.

Living people could not use the Ghost King Arm frequently; each use required a living person’s sacrifice.

Moreover, even if it was powered by human sacrifice, using the Ghost King Arm would still cause the user to transform into a ghoul.

Therefore, although he had a prominent reputation in the Shen Family, he seldom took action!

Being in a spectral state, he thought he could freely wield the Ghost King Arm as a hidden trump card, yet the opponent knew about it from the start.

That wasn’t all; the opponent also knew crystal clear about his intentions to control Old Jiu and his plans for the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, as if they had been observing him from the very beginning.

"Since Lord Chen holds me in such high regard, do you have any plans for cooperation?" asked Shen Yiyun with a smile.

"Of course!" Chen Qing replied with a smile. "Second Master has great plans and holds such strong cards in his hands. If I don’t work with you, with whom else should I cooperate?"

"Really?" Shen Yiyun narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the other man closely. Since the other party knew about the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley and the monsters’ significance along with Old Jiu’s existence, it was clear that his current opportunities were well understood.

Logically, he indeed seemed highly sought after.

However, for some reason, he always felt that he wasn’t particularly valued in the other’s eyes, as if what he held in his hands wasn’t so important after all.

"How does Lord Chen wish to cooperate?" Pushing down his doubts, Second Master decided to take one step at a time.

"Second Master must be able to sense that Third Master Shen is nearby, right?"

Shen Yiyun nodded, "Old Ba is also here. When I saw Wang Ye leave the port, I knew it had to be either Old San or Old Qi who would come!"

"Second Master is quite accurate in judging his brothers," Chen Qing said with a smile. "Then, does Second Master wish to meet those brothers?"

Shen Yiyun shook his head, "Old San’s ideals are different from mine; he’s a bit like Old Da, too idealistic. The moment he learns I’ve made a move on Old Jiu, he’ll sever ties with me!"

"With your current power, are you afraid of Third Master?"

"I am not afraid of Old San, but Old Ba is different.

.." Shen Yiyun frowned. "The Old Ancestor didn’t leave us with nothing before he died.

He left Old Liu an ancient Formation that could trap all of us brothers, and he bequeathed Old Ba an ancient Technique.

With his quick wit, in just a few years Old Ba mastered the Technique left by the Old Ancestor.

We have all seen what he can do. Frankly, if we talk about head-on battle strength, even Old Da at his prime was no match for the current Old Ba, who could be considered on par with Liu Yu! "

"Eighth Master... Origin Sorcery?" Chen Qing said with a smile.

"Its attributes are neutral, yet it can utilize the most fundamental Yin and Yang forces in the world, pure and unadulterated. Second Master is being modest; nowadays, even if the Duke of Song were here, he might not be a match. It’s normal for you to be cautious! "

"That’s why I advise you not to let that friend of yours, Little Qiao, enter," Shen Yiyun said ominously.

"I know you could certainly find a way to bring them from the Path of Yin and Yang to Lyuzhou, but you need to consider the consequences carefully. Old San is a radical person, and Old Ba is the strongest Magician in the Shen Family. You can’t handle the consequences of letting them in. "

"It can’t be helped..." Chen Qing shook his head. "I have a commitment with someone; within three days, I must deliver Third Elder Shen over, otherwise, all my arrangements in Jiangnan will turn to dust!"

Shen Yiyun: "!!"