Chapter 168: Chapter 4: Suanni, Thousand-Faced Insect, Divine Pillar Mountain

A plaque hung in the great hall, bearing three large, sharp-looking characters—

Law Enforcement Hall!

Fang Cheng lowered his Escape Light and walked to the front of the hall. Just as he was about to speak, the hall’s doors opened silently. A woman sat cross-legged within, her gaze, sharp as a sword, falling upon him.

An alarm flared in Fang Cheng’s mind, as if he were being watched by a ferocious beast. His brow furrowed involuntarily, and he halted his steps, meeting her gaze.

The woman wore a simple black gauze robe. Her expression was aloof and cold, her fair cheeks devoid of emotion. Her long, elegant eyebrows slanted upward toward her temples, lending her an air of intense, murderous intent.

Only then did Fang Cheng realize that this woman was the very source of the Law Enforcement Hall’s oppressive aura.

"You are Fang Cheng?" the woman asked coolly.

With perfect composure, Fang Cheng gave a respectful salute and replied, "I am he. Might I be in the presence of the First Senior Sister?"

Cai Li nodded. "Come in and speak."

Fang Cheng walked calmly into the great hall. Cai Li pointed a finger, and a jade mat materialized at his feet.

As he sat cross-legged and observed this First Senior Sister—who was over a hundred years old—at close range, he sensed her abundant vitality and surging Magical Power, leaving him secretly astonished.

Cai Li said, "I was away from the sect on business some time ago and couldn’t return for your Life Talisman Ceremony. Allow me to present your congratulatory gift now."

As she spoke, she reached out and grasped the air. A streak of sharp, cutting sword light suddenly flashed into existence. It then continuously shrank and twisted in her fair, slender palm, finally transforming into a Magical Talisman that radiated spiritual light.

With a gentle push, the Magical Talisman floated before Fang Cheng. He accepted it with both hands and said, "Senior Sister is too kind."

The Magical Talisman was wreathed in Sword Qi, so sharp it was almost piercing. On its surface, profound and mystical light patterns flowed and flickered, constantly changing. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Cai Li’s tone was placid. "This talisman contains a single strike of my sword light, equivalent to one of my full-power attacks. In the future, when you are on sect business and encounter an opponent you cannot defeat, release it. Below the Life Soul Realm, there are few who can withstand this talisman."

Her calm tone held an undercurrent of domineering confidence.

Combining this with the rumors of Cai Li’s strength, Fang Cheng felt that his First Senior Sister was not exaggerating.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." After expressing his gratitude, Fang Cheng asked, "Senior Sister, for what reason did you summon this junior brother here today?"

Given the temperament Cai Li had displayed, he felt it was unlikely she had called him here simply to give him a late gift.

As expected, Cai Li took a wooden box from her storage pouch and said slowly, "The Law Enforcement Hall is currently in need of a Disciple on duty. Our venerable master recommended you to me. I wonder if you are willing to take on this responsibility?"

Within the Yinluo Sect, whether they were Inner Sect Disciples or True Disciples, all were required to contribute to the sect and undertake certain duties.

For example, Gao Chong had been on duty at Zhenyuan Hall, and the disciple who had first received Fang Cheng was on duty at the Ancestral Hall. These positions all required rotation every few years.

Demon Lion Peak had presided over the Law Enforcement Hall for many years, and they tended to select True Disciples from the Nine Peaks who were proficient in the Slaughter Technique to serve. The threshold was quite high.

Hearing Cai Li’s words, Fang Cheng smiled faintly. "Master likely wants me to come here to hone my Sword Technique. How could I miss such an opportunity?"

A flicker of gratification showed in Cai Li’s eyes. "Beneath me in the Law Enforcement Hall, there are six other True Disciples. Aside from your Third Senior Brother, the rest are all Outer Peak Cultivators. All six of them are currently occupied with important matters, so we can gather another day when everyone is present."

Fang Cheng nodded. His Third Senior Brother was a direct descendant of the Feng Family; he had met him during the ceremony.

Cai Li pushed the wooden box toward Fang Cheng. "From this day forward, when you are conducting business outside the sect, wear this mask and do not operate under your real name."

Fang Cheng opened the box and saw a ferocious and sinister Bronze Beast Mask inside, resembling the legendary Fierce Beast Suanni.

He picked up the mask and asked, "So my codename will be Suanni?"

Cai Li nodded. "As it happens, there is a matter that requires your attention right now."

"Please speak, Senior Sister." Fang Cheng put away the Bronze Beast Mask, his expression turning serious.

Cai Li said, "Over a decade ago, an Evil Cultivator murdered eleven of our sect’s disciples in succession. After being hunted by our hall, he fled the Abyssal Marsh and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since."

"Recently, an Inner Sect Disciple in Divine Pillar Mountain Immortal City stumbled upon his trail and reported it to our hall using a Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Incense. The man has now changed his name and identity and has become an Honored Guest Elder for some Cultivation Family in Divine Pillar Mountain. Go and bring back his head to settle the old debt."

With that, she handed Fang Cheng a jade slip containing information on the Evil Cultivator. Cai Li then gave him the contact method for the Inner Sect Disciple in Divine Pillar Mountain Immortal City.

Fang Cheng accepted the task. After a few more words of idle chat with Cai Li, he took his leave.

...

After leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Fang Cheng summoned his Tier Two Flying Boat and flew directly off Yinluo Island, heading south.

Divine Pillar Mountain was located south of the Abyssal Marsh; one had to pass over the Southern Mang Mountains to reach it.

Fang Cheng sat inside the Flying Boat, using Spirit Stones to power the Jade Boat as it tore through the sky. He dedicated only a fraction of his attention to piloting it.

He released all seven of his Vajra Gu, which hid themselves on the Flying Boat to act as his Guardians.

He, meanwhile, carefully read through the jade slip detailing the Evil Cultivator.

The Flying Boat traveled at a high altitude, tens of thousands of feet above the Southern Mang Mountains below, avoiding any disturbances from demonic birds, fierce beasts, and the Demon Race. The journey was quiet and smooth.

The Evil Cultivator had a nickname: "Thousand-Faced Insect." In his early years, relying on his incredibly fast Escape Light and an unrivaled Disguise Technique, he had run rampant throughout Yun Country, preying on countless women.

This man relied on a Dual Cultivation Secret Method, draining victims everywhere he went, and had actually managed to cultivate all the way to the Life Talisman Realm!

The Thousand-Faced Insect was inherently lustful and debauched. After reaching the Life Talisman Realm, he became quite famous among Loose Cultivators, and there was no shortage of women willing to share his bed.

But he was addicted to the thrill of the illicit, deeply feeling that a legitimate partner could never compare to the excitement of a stolen affair.

So, he established a Cave Mansion in the Southern Mang Mountains and would often transform into a handsome man to seduce beautiful female cultivators from both the Human and Demon Races, bringing them back to his cave for his debauched pleasure.

He claimed to dislike using force, preferring to appear as a handsome youth. Coupled with his profound cultivation and extraordinary bearing, the female cultivators of both races who met him believed it to be a serendipitous fated encounter and would willingly couple with him.

Sometimes, when the dao companions or lovers of these female cultivators came looking for them, he wouldn’t kill them immediately. Instead, he would capture them and, right before their eyes, take his full pleasure with the woman before finally delivering the killing blow, all for his own perverse satisfaction.

Among these victims were Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and even True Disciples of the Yinluo Sect!

Over time, the Thousand-Faced Insect’s deeds could no longer be covered up, incurring the wrath of the four great families and the Yinluo Sect’s upper echelon. The Law Enforcement Hall mobilized in force, but he had received an early warning from a certain female Disciple of the Yinluo Sect and managed to escape.

From then on, the Thousand-Faced Insect seemed to vanish from the world. The Law Enforcement Hall concluded he had likely fled to another country and subsequently dropped the matter.

Not long ago, an Inner Sect Disciple was on business in Divine Pillar Mountain Immortal City when she unexpectedly encountered the Thousand-Faced Insect. It was because of her special Cultivation Technique, combined with the fact that someone in her family had been one of his victims and she had studied him deeply, that she was able to recognize him at a glance.

After observing him in secret several more times, she became even more certain of her judgment and used a Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Incense to report back to the sect.

And so, the matter landed in the hands of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Fang Cheng’s task in coming to Divine Pillar Mountain Immortal City was simply to find that Inner Sect Disciple and have her identify the Thousand-Faced Insect.

Divine Pillar Mountain was the largest gathering place for Cultivation Families and Loose Cultivators in Yun Country.

The strength and foundations of its top few families were in no way inferior to the four great families of the Abyssal Marsh—the Wang, Ye, Dong, and Feng.

Divine Pillar Immortal City was built by a coalition of these families. It was a hub for trade, exceedingly prosperous, and could be called a sacred land for commerce among all the families and Loose Cultivators of Yun Country.

The Lord of the Immortal City was a neutral Loose Cultivator whose cultivation had reached the Peak of the Life Talisman Realm. He also possessed a Third-tier Magical Artifact and was known as the number one master of Divine Pillar Mountain.

This City Lord was smooth and diplomatic, with a wide network of acquaintances, and was highly respected. He had been in charge of the Immortal City for nearly two hundred years.

Under his management, the Immortal City had grown ever more prosperous.

Fang Cheng’s Flying Boat crossed the sky above the Southern Mang Mountains. After traveling for another day, he saw in the distance a colossal mountain that stood between heaven and earth like a pillar holding up the sky.

The vast and magnificent landscape seemed to shrink in the shadow of this majestic peak.

...