Chapter 435: The Patriarch

Yin Lenghui, while performing the secret sorcery, drew the curious and expectant gazes of everyone present, their eyes fixed and blinking infrequently, fearing they might miss the most profound and breathtaking details.

Suddenly, they saw Yin Lenghui’s expression drastically change. He staggered backward with a clatter, blood spurting from his nose and trickling from the corners of his eyes, his face extremely grotesque.

At the same time, the sound of the voodoo puppet shattering with a crack echoed in their ears.

Zuo Hanfeng had not suffered any spiritual harm but was simply too shocked to maintain the “Divine Wandering.” His opponent seized this opportunity to expel him and destroyed the puppet through backlash. However, his gaze remained slightly dazed as he instinctively looked toward Yin Lenghui, seeing the same shock and bewilderment. The indescribably mysterious sensation from just moments ago still lingered in his mind.

Is the sky round and the earth not square?

What they had just witnessed exceeded their common knowledge and their understanding of the world and its origins. The starscape was so vast, filled with countless worlds and countless suns, endless and deep, cold and dark. Compared to it, they were as small as dust particles.

Moreover, this vast stellar universe was not unique; there were countless others like it, separated by crystal walls, clustered around a central core.

At the very beginning, all of them had erupted from the same “point,” each evolving its own Taiji and dividing into Yin and Yang.

Zuo Hanfeng and Yin Lenghui exchanged glances, both feeling like frogs at the bottom of a well. This vast and wondrous phenomenon was something they had never even imagined before!

Whether true or not, without temporal sequence or spatial hierarchy, with beginning and end unified, and causality tracing back to the primordial “point,” it still shocked them deeply, making them feel the vastness of heaven and earth, the profundity of existence, and their own insignificance!

“If this is true…” both Zuo Hanfeng and Yin Lenghui simultaneously thought, how terrifying would the Primordial Daoist be? He could probably destroy the universe with a flip of his hand and create heaven and earth with a single glance!

Of course, they absolutely did not believe that their pursued enemy was the Primordial Daoist himself, for a mere breath from him would annihilate them all. However, his understanding of the Dao must be extraordinary, perhaps even mysteriously connected to the “Primordial Daoist,” such as inheriting his supreme martial arts.

Zuo Hanfeng lowered his head, gazing at the puppet fragments, his expression returning to normal, once again becoming deep and unfathomable.

“Now we’ve completely lost the trail…” Normally proud, Yin Lenghui would certainly not mention his own failure deliberately, but now, shaken in spirit, he blurted it out unconsciously.

“What?” Jiang Shenghong and the others exclaimed in shock. If the留守大人 himself had personally maintained the connection, how could the enemy still destroy the puppet and nullify Yin Lenghui’s witchcraft?

Was the opponent truly this powerful?

Meng Qi, who had been keeping his eyes lowered and his mind calm, opportunistically raised his head, feigning shock like everyone else.

Earlier, he had inverted the “Heaven-Transforming Earth-Shaking Great Art,” actively drawing Zuo Hanfeng and Yin Lenghui’s spirits into his Inner Sea of Consciousness. Using the Eight-Nine technique to simulate the aura of the Primordial Golden Scripture, he sat at the center, activating the great art to manifest his understanding of the term “Primordial,” along with knowledge of the multiverse, singularities, and the Big Bang from his previous life.

As a result, he successfully shocked Yin Lenghui and Zuo Hanfeng, causing their spirits to tremble and their minds to falter. He seized the opportunity to counterattack, expelling both and severing their connection, destroying the puppet.

As for how they interpreted what they had seen or whether they would develop greedy desires, none of that mattered. Resolving the immediate crisis was the priority. Moreover, their mission was to kill Zuo Hanfeng, and a confrontation was inevitable sooner or later. What was there to fear?

Besides, with the puppet destroyed, no matter their intentions, they first needed to locate him.

Zuo Hanfeng slowed his breathing, glanced at everyone, and calmly said, “Everyone, go. Continue the citywide search. Be sure to find Du Huaishang and the others from before.”

“Yes, Lord Regent.” Jiang Shenghong bowed first.

After a moment’s thought, Zuo Hanfeng added, “Ji Tao has performed poorly. He will no longer be in charge of intelligence. He will exchange duties with Wencheng and serve under Master Yin’s command.”

Two consecutive failures had worsened Zuo Hanfeng’s impression of Ji Tao and raised doubts about Jiang Shenghong’s capabilities.

Wencheng was primarily responsible for patrolling and guarding the outer mansion, a position with relatively low benefits. However, Meng Qi wasn’t particularly bothered by this. Instead, he felt that he had taken one step closer to assassinating Zuo Hanfeng. At this moment, he displayed the same disappointment and grievance as Jiang Shenghong.

As they left the meeting hall, Meng Qi heard both Zuo Hanfeng and Yin Lenghui softly sigh: “Primordial…”

…

This world seemed to have no legend of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable? Pondering, Meng Qi followed Jiang Shenghong out, making an excuse to transfer Jiang Zhiwei and others from the intelligence unit to the personal guards, placing them under his command.

Wencheng naturally had no objection to his request. He had been worried that Ji Tao, with years of influence in the intelligence unit, had many loyal subordinates who might sideline him. Now, an opportunity had unexpectedly presented itself, and Ji Tao had even willingly stepped down!

That night, stars dotted the sky, but the moon was absent. Meng Qi, walking with Jiang Zhiwei whose upper lip bore a fake mustache, inspected the patrol units throughout the mansion. Meanwhile, Qi Zhengyan, Ruan Yushu, and Zhao Heng rested in his courtyard, avoiding unnecessary movement to prevent revealing any clues.

“These next few days, I will personally take turns patrolling with each of you, getting familiarized as soon as possible…” Meng Qi mimicked Ji Tao’s mannerisms, leaving unsaid the final part: “to find the assassination opportunity.”

Jiang Zhiwei gazed at the stars, lost in thought. Upon hearing Meng Qi’s words, she softly responded with a “Mm.”

Frowning slightly, Meng Qi transmitted his voice secretly: “Something on your mind?”

Lately, she had seemed troubled. Had she encountered something she couldn’t resolve?

Jiang Zhiwei bit her lip, about to speak, when her expression suddenly turned serious. Her eyes regained their sharpness as she pulled Meng Qi behind a nearby rock formation, signaling him to hide his aura.

Meng Qi circulated his arcane technique, his aura becoming faint yet present. His mind, like a mirror, clearly outlined every surrounding detail with perfect clarity.

After a few breaths, a graceful figure emerged from the garden, stealthily making her way toward the edge of the Liushou Mansion.

“Lan Die?” Meng Qi recognized the figure. She was one of Yin Lenghui’s subordinates, another Yiren.

“Yin Lenghui is also here…” Jiang Zhiwei transmitted secretly.

Meng Qi was momentarily stunned but dared not intensify his perception, fearing detection by Yin Lenghui. As Lan Die passed the rockery, he discovered a faint shadow beside her—none other than Yin Lenghui himself!

Moving swiftly, the two reached the wall in an instant, glanced left and right, then pressed their palms against it, soaring upward and leaping over the mansion wall.

Where were they going? Numerous questions arose in Meng Qi’s mind, but he quickly made a decision, transmitting secretly: “Let’s follow!”

After all, Ji Tao and Yin Lenghui were not on good terms. If he discovered Yin’s suspicious movements, he would surely secretly tail him to find incriminating evidence, which was only natural.

Jiang Zhiwei nodded silently. After waiting briefly, she and Meng Qi leaped over the wall, following the faint traces left by Lan Die.

They dared not get too close. Yin Lenghui was powerful and highly cultivated. Even a distant gaze might be detected. Fortunately, Lan Die was slightly weaker. Although she had erased most traces, some residual energy remained, which Jiang Zhiwei, with her Xijian Pavilion secret techniques, could easily track.

After several twists and turns, they arrived at the City God Temple. At night, no one came to burn incense or offer sacrifices, making it extremely deserted.

Looking around, Meng Qi pulled Jiang Zhiwei and signaled her to climb the nearby tree with him.

Using the tree canopy for cover and observing from above, the two quickly spotted Yin Lenghui and Lan Die standing in a weedy courtyard near the City God Temple, facing a young man in wide robes and flowing sleeves.

The man had delicate features, his eyes tightly shut, exuding an unusual aura.

Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei didn’t dare to stare too long, their gazes quickly shifting to the steps below as they strained their ears to listen.

“Master, today I encountered something strange,” Yin Lenghui recounted the “Primordial” incident in full detail.

“Master?” Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei exchanged glances, surprised. They hadn’t expected Yin Lenghui’s secret sect leader to have also arrived in Daning.

Yet, observing his aura, he didn’t seem like an Outer Scenery cultivator?

After listening to Yin Lenghui’s account, the closed-eyed man pondered: “The ‘Primordial Daoist’… I have never heard of him before…”

“Please, Master, consult the Old Ancestor,” Yin Lenghui’s tone was filled with anticipation.

“Old Ancestor?” Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei grew even more astonished. This sect was becoming increasingly mysterious.

“Very well!” The blindfolded master did not refuse, seemingly also eager to uncover the truth.

With that, he stepped forward in a strange gait, his posture twisted and frenzied. For some reason, three words immediately surfaced in Meng Qi’s mind:

“Shamanistic Ritual!”

After a mysterious and eerie ceremony, the refined young man sat cross-legged, slowly opening his eyes.

Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei secretly glanced, instantly captivated by those eyes, unable to look away.

These were eyes as deep as the void, bottomless and emotionless. Suddenly, the void cracked open, revealing a vast land.

On this land were mountains and rivers, steep and treacherous, unsuitable for building cities or roads, exuding a faintly wild and untamed aura.

One mountain grew larger and larger, entirely covered with insects and savage beasts, sending chills down one’s spine.

The perspective passed over the mountain, revealing a red ocean, seemingly formed from countless rivers of blood.

In the center of this blood ocean floated a blood-colored lotus platform, upon which sat a dark shadow, emanating an aura of world-destroying power.

Yin Lenghui and Lan Die both lowered their heads respectfully: “Disciples greet the Old Ancestor.”

The master’s lips moved slightly, seemingly reporting the previous events to the Old Ancestor.

Soon, a cold, deep voice emerged from the master’s mouth: “There’s no need to be surprised by spiritual techniques or the inheritance of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.”

“Primordial Heavenly Venerable?” Yin Lenghui was about to ask more, but the master had already closed his eyes. The boundless blood ocean and the world-destroying aura instantly vanished, allowing Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei to finally avert their gazes.

“You will know what you need to know when the time comes,” the master said indifferently.

Yin Lenghui inhaled deeply, calming his previous shock.

“Du Huaishang has not yet been found, delaying the Old Ancestor’s reincarnation and descent. Please do not blame me, Master,” he apologized.

Reincarnation and descent… Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei felt they had just overheard something momentous…

“No worries, he cannot escape from Daning…” The master comforted him briefly, signaling Yin Lenghui to return and continue courting Zuo Hanfeng.

As Yin Lenghui was about to leave with Lan Die, he suddenly saw her clinging tightly to the master, entwining with him. He inwardly cursed them as a shameless couple and returned to the mansion first.

After Yin Lenghui had gone far, Lan Die suddenly straightened up and murmured, “Primordial Golden Scripture, the Hun Tian Bao Jian… The opponent might be…”

Suddenly, the master interrupted her: “If the two of you have watched enough, come out.”