"Alright, it's your turn!"

A soft whisper, like a call from the abyss.

The surrounding wind grew colder. The black-robed grandmaster slowly turned his head, looking at the figure in the void with disbelief in his eyes.

How could he… be so strong!

Without even needing to lift a finger, he instantly annihilated five Tongxuan Realm experts!

Could it be the divine sense of a Huayang Realm powerhouse?

But the aura emanating from him was clearly that of a Dan Realm master.

A servile smile squeezed onto his face as he lowered his voice,

"This woman is yours, sir. I only hope we can keep to our own sides and not interfere with each other."

"Do you think that's possible?"

Chen Yuan looked down at him indifferently, then stepped down from the void, as if there were steps supporting him. In just a short moment,

he was in front of the black-robed man.

Each step seemed to fall on his heart. A sound like war drums echoed in the void, and a surge of qi and blood filled the black-robed grandmaster's body.

He lowered his head, a flash of cold light in his eyes. Then, with a wave of his black robe, countless needle-like objects shot out with a roar.

Storm of Pear Blossoms! (Bào Yǔ Lí Huā Zhēn)

This was one of the Tang Clan's most famous hidden weapons in Shu Prefecture. Depending on the material, some could even threaten Dan Realm grandmasters. They were coated with the Tang Clan's secret poison,

which could even corrode a martial artist's body-protecting Qi.

But this could only deal with ordinary Dan Realm grandmasters. Was Chen Yuan an ordinary person?

Of course not.

He was a powerhouse capable of fighting a Tiandan Realm expert!

The countless silver needles instantly froze in the void. Under the black-robed grandmaster's shocked gaze, Chen Yuan slowly raised his right arm and delivered a punch.

"Boom!!!"

The terrifying force of the punch exploded in the void, emitting a violent roar.

All the silver needles were instantly annihilated.

Just as the black-robed grandmaster was about to use other methods, Chen Yuan flashed past him, leaving only an afterimage. When he reappeared, he was already behind him, as if he had teleported.

A fair hand grabbed the black-robed grandmaster's neck, and a massive force crashed down on his body, shattering every bone in his body.

The illusory core (Xu Dan) within his dantian was slowly being extinguished.

Overwhelming!

In front of Chen Yuan, this Xu Dan Realm black-robed grandmaster was like an ant. In just a short moment, he had lost all his power. And Chen Yuan,

from beginning to end, had only moved his fist once!

"What are you people? Tell me, and I'll give you a quick death."

The mask on the black-robed grandmaster's face shattered with a 'bang', revealing an ugly face covered in scars. He grinned and said,

"No need. I'd like to see what kind of torture you can inflict on me."

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he had encountered such a request. Of course, he would…

satisfy him!

The black-robed man's clothes instantly shattered, and sharp strands of Qi landed on his wrinkled skin. Then… pieces of flesh as thin as cicada wings fell like snowflakes.

The ugly man's grin deepened, but he didn't scream once from beginning to end.

In just a short moment, the man was shaved down to a bloody skeleton, exposing trembling blood vessels and meridians. He grinned hideously and said,

"Heh heh heh, is that all?"

Chen Yuan glanced at him and nodded slightly,

"Alright, you're a tough one."

He was unwilling to speak even in such pain, so other methods would probably be useless.

'Snap'

Chen Yuan snapped the ugly man's neck.

Then, like a firework, he exploded into a cloud of blood mist!

A streak of azure light quickly surged into Chen Yuan's body. Deep within his consciousness, the Destiny Altar slowly rotated. After a moment, a new guidance for opportunity surged into his mind.

"At noon on the fourteenth of the first month, Immortal Essence (Yun Xian Zhi) is hidden in Dujiangyan. Greed blinds the eyes, seizing spiritual objects, turning into nourishment to condense the Sacred Pool!"

"Sacred Pool?"

"Dujiangyan?"

"The fourteenth of the first month?"

Chen Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed. He could only understand what the Sacred Pool was from the words themselves. It must be an extraordinary treasure. As for Dujiangyan…

Chen Yuan had already learned a lot from Ouyang Zhi, so it wasn't unfamiliar. It was about what he had expected. He had a faint premonition

that he might cause some trouble in this Jiangdu Prefecture.

Now it seemed that it was indeed so.

As for the fourteenth of the first month, it was very close. Counting today, there were only two days left. It was a bit tight. He had left the capital on the first day of the first month.

Traveling along the way, including some delays in Tangshan,

he had arrived just in time.

While Chen Yuan was pondering what kind of help this opportunity would give him, Shangguan Hong had already approached. Her eyes sparkled with a strange light as she cupped her hands and said in a deep voice,

"This little sister thanks Brother Chen for his help!"

Chen Yuan returned to his senses, looked at her, and chuckled,

"I heard that we two have a marriage agreement. When will we get married?"

Hearing this, Shangguan Hong's originally calm and heroic face visibly turned red, all the way to her earlobes.

"Brother Chen, don't misunderstand. I… I just now… was just…"

"Just joking, Chen knows that Miss Shangguan was threatening them." Chen Yuan continued.

"Brother Chen is right."

Shangguan Hong breathed a sigh of relief, her heart slightly relaxed, but for some reason, a hint of disappointment welled up in her heart, but she didn't show it.

"How did Miss Shangguan get tricked into coming here by these people?" Chen Yuan asked, changing the subject.

Shangguan Hong said with some shame,

"I was careless for a moment. I…"

In her narration, Chen Yuan understood the process. These people had been targeting her for a long time for some reason, and had been planning for months,

luring her here step by step.

Originally, she had several attendants with her, but they had all fallen in the pursuit.

And the identities of these people were still a mystery. The only clue was that the Dan Realm grandmaster had used the Storm of Pear Blossoms earlier. This weapon was relatively rare.

It was generally used by experts from the Tang Clan in Shu Prefecture, but it wasn't impossible for outsiders to have it.

It could only be said that it might be related to the Tang Clan.

After some investigation, the two didn't gain much. Apart from the Dan Realm grandmaster, the other Tongxuan Realm martial artists were more like death soldiers. Even their cultivation had been raised through demonic secret techniques.

But thinking that Shu Prefecture was adjacent to Blood Prefecture, it was very normal for some demonic cultivators to appear here. They could only investigate slowly. Shangguan Hong had indeed sent a message earlier,

and it was estimated that it wouldn't be long before the experts from the Shangguan family arrived.

During the conversation, Chen Yuan inquired about Shangguan Yu's affairs. Overall, since he had formed his Dan, his status in the Shangguan clan had risen sharply.

Now he was gradually beginning to take over the family's power.

When he broke through to the Tiandan or Huayang Realm, the position of patriarch of the Shangguan clan would be taken over by him, and his father would retire behind the scenes. As a symbol of his growth,

the Shangguan clan had already begun to look for a wife for him.

Either a direct descendant of a prestigious family, or the daughter of a sect leader from some Jianghu force.

For such aristocratic families, appearance was secondary, and they could always take concubines later. What they really valued was being well-matched in social status.

Chen Yuan asked her when she would get married.

She said she would wait for the right person, or she would pursue the martial path for the rest of her life.

Chen Yuan looked at her and nodded slightly, saying that she had courage and ambition, and that she would surely become a powerful figure in the Jianghu, not inferior to men.

But Shangguan Hong didn't seem to want to say much about this topic, and began to ask about what had happened since their separation in the Martial Emperor City in the East Sea last time. Chen Yuan didn't hide anything and answered everything.

"Then where is Brother Chen planning to go?"

Shangguan Hong asked again.

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and said softly,

"Jiangdu Prefecture."

"Could it be that you were invited by Tang Xianzhuo, the master of the Tang Clan, to attend the three-year memorial ceremony for his deceased wife?" Shangguan Hong couldn't help but say.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Yuan was stunned. What was this three-year memorial ceremony?

"Brother Chen doesn't know?"

"I don't know. I'm not acquainted with this Tang Clan master. Why would I be invited by him?"

"Oh, then I misunderstood."

"What's the deal with this three-year memorial ceremony?" Chen Yuan couldn't help but ask.

He only knew that after a person died, especially an elderly person, in addition to the immediate memorial ceremony, there was also a one-year memorial ceremony and a three-year memorial ceremony, but usually only relatives attended such events.

Why was this Tang Clan master so special?

"I don't know much about the other details. I only heard that this Tang Clan master, Tang Xianzhuo, is holding a very grand three-year memorial ceremony, inviting many Jianghu comrades,

including experts on the Wind and Cloud Rankings and grandmasters from Jiangdu Prefecture and the surrounding areas. It can be considered a grand event in Shu Prefecture. Many people are going. I thought Brother Chen was also going for this matter."

"Three-year memorial ceremony, a grand event in Shu Prefecture?"

Chen Yuan slowly shook his head. If it were another joyous occasion, it would be fine, but this kind of event was really a bit unique.

This Tang Clan master really loved his wife…

"My brother said that this is just a gimmick. In reality, the Tang Clan should be expanding its sphere of influence. After thinking about it, I think it's probably the same.

After all, this Tang Clan master has a good reputation in Shu Prefecture, and his strength is amazing. I'm afraid he's not willing to be confined to a corner of Jiangdu."

Shangguan Hong explained.

This also matched Chen Yuan's guess. A three-year memorial ceremony wasn't worth all the trouble. The deeper reason was probably this.

"Will Brother Shangguan also go?"

"If there are no accidents, he should go. He's starting to take over the family's power now and will definitely take this opportunity to make friends with some of the experts in Shu Prefecture,

especially the experts on the Wind and Cloud Rankings."

"Hmm…"

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and was about to say something when a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He asked calmly,

"Is the three-year memorial ceremony held by this Tang Clan master within his mountain gate?"

"No."

"Then where is it?"

"Min River Estuary, Dujiangyan. I heard that this Tang Clan master's deceased wife loved this place the most, so…"

"Indeed!!!"

Chen Yuan's eyes lit up instantly.

He had guessed it just now, and now it seemed that it was indeed so. Perhaps… the opportunity guided by the Destiny Altar was related to this Tang Clan.

He wondered what the so-called Sacred Pool was for.

"Is the time the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes, Brother Chen said he didn't know?"

Shangguan Hong laughed.

"I guessed it."

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice.

After chatting for a while, Chen Yuan learned about the story of this Tang Clan master and his deceased wife from Shangguan Hong's mouth. It was indeed very touching.

He didn't know if it was true.

After waiting for a long time, Chen Yuan suddenly stood up, as if sensing something, and said,

"The people from the Shangguan family must have arrived. Then Chen will leave first."

"Okay."

Although she wanted to keep him for a while longer, she couldn't bring herself to say such words.

"Also, Miss Shangguan, it's best not to reveal too much about Chen?"

"Don't worry. Since Brother Chen doesn't want to reveal his whereabouts, this little sister will naturally not say much."

"Hmm… I'm leaving."

Chen Yuan smiled at her.

"Okay, then we'll meet again in the future?" Shangguan Hong cupped her hands solemnly.

"Okay, we'll meet again in the future."

Chen Yuan nodded, then his figure flashed and disappeared into the dense forest.

Looking in the direction where Chen Yuan disappeared, Shangguan Hong's face showed a smile. She stood in place for a moment, until the Shangguan family's expert arrived before returning to her senses.

……

……

After parting with Shangguan Hong, Chen Yuan's speed suddenly increased. Before the sky darkened, he arrived in the Jiangdu Prefecture area, and then found an inn in a county town to stay.

He carefully considered it and decided to first take the opportunity this time, and then go to find the person who helped him cover up his heavenly secrets. He didn't know if it was his parents or his uncle…

In fact, the closer Chen Yuan got, the more inexplicably uneasy he felt. This feeling was very ethereal, but it was definitely there.

However, he chose to face it calmly.

Of course, he had to, because it concerned his cultivation. If he didn't face it, it would gradually evolve into his inner demon and affect his cultivation.

The Tongxuan Realm's Heavenly Palace cultivation required understanding the intention of the heart, and the Dan Realm's Tiandan cultivation required understanding the intention of heaven and earth. This came from a strong martial heart.

If he had the opportunity to not face it, but was afraid of getting entangled with some enemies, then… it would have a huge impact on his courageous martial heart.

Otherwise, did he really deliberately create trouble for himself?

He hated trouble the most. If not, how could he have come to Shu Prefecture specifically?

He rested in the county town for one night, and only started on the road again the next day. The rest was very simple, because Jiangdu Prefecture City was not far away.

In less than an hour, he entered the prefecture city.

According to his careful observation, there were indeed many martial artists who came to participate in the three-year memorial ceremony. Although the cultivation of those he saw was not high, it could be seen from this that the Tang Clan had a strong appeal.

It was indeed worthy of being one of the strongest first-class forces under the top forces.

After wandering around for a circle and confirming some things, Chen Yuan left the city again and came to the well-known Dujiangyan. This place was indeed a bit spectacular.

He had to admire the means of the former Chu great scholar, who turned a flood that ravaged the people into the blessing of the people of Jiangdu Prefecture. With the diversion of this place,

it could definitely irrigate thousands of acres of fertile land.

He had previously heard that there was a drought in Shu Prefecture. Now it seemed that it had not affected this place too much.

There were many people watching Dujiangyan in this place, and Chen Yuan was just one of them. After watching for a long time, he was about to leave when suddenly several figures flew from afar.

Chen Yuan took a closer look, his brows slightly raised. It was actually Shangguan Yu.

The other party seemed to have discovered him as well, and went straight to him, finally stopping ten feet in front of him, and cupping his hands suspiciously,

"Could it be… Brother Chen?"

Although he had confirmed with Shangguan Hong yesterday that Chen Yuan had changed his appearance, he was still a little unsure at this moment and could only ask first.

Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. He had originally wanted to hide his figure, but as a result… he was still recognized by his 'good brother' Shangguan Yu. Immediately, he had to nod and cup his hands,

"Brother Shangguan, it's been a long time."

"It's really Brother Chen!"

Shangguan Yu's eyes lit up instantly.

"Brother Shangguan, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Several men beside him said.

Shangguan Yu was a little hesitant when he heard this, because he still remembered what Shangguan Hong had said before, saying that Chen Yuan did not want to reveal his identity, and he had only blurted it out just now and couldn't help it.

Thinking that he had recovered from his injuries and arrived safely in Jiangdu Prefecture, and that he would definitely take action tomorrow, so he couldn't hide his identity at all, Chen Yuan stopped hiding, tore off the human skin mask on his face, and chuckled,

"I am Chen Yuan from Qing Prefecture, greetings to fellow Daoists."

In fact, his identity was only initially hidden. If any expert wanted to investigate, starting from the time he left the capital, it would not be difficult to find out.

He had seen many people in Tangshan, and even if he had issued a gag order, it was estimated that it would be leaked.

However, with Moro senior protecting him, even if the true sovereign came, he would have the confidence to survive, at most, he would just recuperate for a while.

Moreover, even if he disguised himself, these people could probably see the human skin mask on his face. After weighing it, he felt that it was not necessary.

"Could it be Demon Blade Chen Yuan?"

The few people were stunned for a moment and asked with solemn expressions.

"Exactly."

Seeing Chen Yuan's affirmative answer, the faces of several people were more or less solemn.

"So it's Brother Chen in person, I'm sorry for not recognizing you sooner."

"I heard that Brother Shangguan and Brother Chen are close friends, and today I am finally able to see Brother Chen's true face thanks to Brother Shangguan."

These people were very polite and did not neglect him at all.

Because Chen Yuan was not an ordinary court official.

If he was just a court official with a small reputation, they would not be willing to associate with him. The Jianghu and the court were originally opposite sides, but Chen Yuan was different.

He was not only the first on the previous Hidden Dragon List, but he had also won glory for the Central Plains martial artists in the capital before, shattering the Dongying Japanese slaves' plot, which was worthy of their respect.

"May I know the names of the fellow Daoists?"

Since the other party was polite, Chen Yuan would naturally not be rude.

"I am Song Kuangdao, the master of the Mad Saber Sect!" (Kuang Dao Men)

"I am Cao Xiu, the master of the Chaotic Sword Sect!" (Luan Jian Zong)

"I am…"

The few people introduced their origins one by one, except for the last young man with a long bow on his back who was not in a hurry to speak. However, Chen Yuan did not underestimate him at all.

Because among these people, including Shangguan Yu, the only one who made him feel a little dangerous was him.

Shangguan Yu looked at each other and introduced,

"Brother Chen, this is the current patriarch of the Liu family in Shu Prefecture, Liu Zhenzong."

"Could it be Liu Zhenzong, the Four Symbols Divine Arrow (Si Xiang Shen Jian), who is thirty-second on the Wind and Cloud List?" Chen Yuan's face showed a solemn look.

"Exactly!"