Chapter 1394: Chapter 9: Demon Country Vanished

Outside Great Ape Mountain, the wind and snow howled.

An extremely hidden cave dwelling lay deep in the mountains. At this moment, the wind and snow shattered, and a shadow as dark as ink shook off its cloak, shaking off the snow from its shoulders.

"Master, have you returned?"

The cave was lit by warm light.

Ye Ling knelt before the campfire, having waited for a long time.

After the Eclipse War ended.

Ye Ling was forced to separate from the Master.

But in her eyes, this was her true "home."

Thus, she said "returned."

"Yes."

Cui Zhen nodded calmly and said, "Have those tasks I entrusted to you been completed?"

"Most of the intelligence has been verified."

Ye Ling softly said, "Over at Heavenly Phoenix Palace, the new candidate for the throne has been decided...It should be announced to the public in a short while."

"It’s about to be announced then..."

Cui Zhen slightly frowned, "That little girl’s cultivation speed is faster than I imagined."

Regret arose in his heart.

If it weren’t for Xie Xuanyi.

On that trip north to Snow Lion Ridge, he should have directly made a move to eliminate the young throne.

It wasn’t out of fear.

But Cui Zhen knew Heavenly Phoenix Palace too well; the inheritance of this millennium-old Holy Land was truly profound. If Jiang Huang were to inherit the throne, she would become a dangerous figure not to be underestimated, potentially causing great harm to his plans in the future.

"Indeed, Jiang Huang’s cultivation speed is very fast."

"According to intelligence from the Dark Child over at Heavenly Phoenix Palace, she’s already passed the first three trials of the ’Sky Vault Inheritance,’ qualifying for Harmonization."

Ye Ling said, with a complex expression, "Next... the Great Palace Master might assist her in achieving Harmonization."

The era has changed.

The tide of Qi Fortune surges forth.

In the past, achieving Yang God was extremely difficult, but now, in this world, more than one person qualifies for Harmonization.

"Harmonization is not so easy."

Cui Zhen’s expression did not change upon hearing this.

He was not worried about the appearance of a second Harmonizer.

In this world, Qi Fortune is finite. After Xie Xuanyi successfully Harmonized, the difficulty for a second Harmonizer to ascend is enormous.

Of course...

Once a second Harmonizer successfully ascends.

Then the opportunity for his own Harmonization would become extremely slim, practically impossible.

Cui Zhen did not dwell on this issue for long. He posed another question: "Jiang Huang succeeding the throne makes sense; this seat has always been reserved for her. But it has only been a year, has Heavenly Phoenix Palace given up on searching for Xuan Jin?"

A year ago.

His Red Armor Avatar was about to successfully drive Cheng Er along with Xuan Jin out of the Demon Country.

But it happened during the life and death battle at Erosion Sun Swamp.

The Red Armor Avatar was forced to be recalled.

Such a chase often has only a single opportunity.

Just as Cui Zhen previously said to Xie Xuanyi...

The Demon Country is too vast.

If there were a cultivator with high enough realm and smart enough mind, determined to find a corner and just hide away.

Concealing their aura, not revealing Cause and Effect.

Even with the power of "Sky Vault" from Heavenly Phoenix Palace, finding them would be difficult.

"Xuan Jin is indeed missing, no one knows his whereabouts... He vanished together with ’Cheng Er’, like evaporation into thin air."

Ye Ling shook her head and said, "This matter does not require spying for intelligence. All of Heavenly Phoenix Palace knows that Chi Fu Dragon Lord has always been searching for Xuan Jin."

Xuan Jin is Chi Fu Dragon Lord’s "precious disciple."

This southward journey not only failed to achieve merit but instead caused great disaster.

Compared to Xuan Jin’s disappearance...

Cheng Er was just a minor issue.

"Many people now suspect that Xuan Jin and Cheng Er are dead."

Ye Ling’s expression was peculiar. After hesitating, she whispered, "Master, rumors have started to circulate within Heavenly Phoenix Palace that many people say Xuan Jin was killed by you."

"Ha..."

Upon hearing this, Cui Zhen simply laughed lightly.

Slinging mud on someone was something he had experienced too many times.

"It’s Chi Fu, that old thing, spreading rumors outside."

Cui Zhen indifferently said, "Xuan Jin’s reincarnation identity has not been exposed yet. If this precious disciple truly has met with misfortune, the blame would inevitably fall on me."

In truth.

He bore no hostility toward Xuan Jin.

Among the Nine Venerable of old, some chose "active betrayal," others chose "passive silence."

And some maintained cordial relations with him; their relationship wasn’t poor.

Jinli Great Venerable was such a person.

Whether Jinli and Mo Zhen’s relationship was relevant... No longer mattered...

No one knows what truly happened back then.

The intention behind Heavenly Phoenix Palace spreading this news is simple too.

Once Xuan Jin meets trouble, Chi Fu Dragon Lord could immediately release the existence background of "Xuan Jin" and place this blame onto Mo Zhen.

Since Mo Zhen already killed Sun Erosion.

Then killing Jinli also makes sense.

In this way, Heavenly Phoenix Palace could rightfully incite internal cultivator hatred towards Mo Zhen.

"But... this matter is indeed interesting..."

Cui Zhen squinted his eyes and smiled, asking, "Why do you think these two living people are perfectly fine but choose to hide?"

He and Xie Xuanyi were hiding to evade Heavenly Phoenix Palace’s pursuit.

Xuan Jin and Cheng Er had no such necessity.

His pursuit had ended.

Even with true killing intent, it would require careful consideration and caution.

In such times, hiding is less beneficial than openly returning to Heavenly Phoenix Palace.

As long as Xuan Jin sends a Communication Order, Heavenly Phoenix Palace would promptly dispatch people, carrying him back to the Holy Land with great honor.

"This matter... is indeed suspicious."

Ye Ling pondered for a moment, unable to derive a conclusion, and could only shake her head.

"Oh, right."

Cui Zhen suddenly remembered Xie Xuanyi’s prior inquiry: "The Dragon Clan Bloodline I asked you to investigate, is there any news?"

"Ao Ying?"

Ye Ling continued to shake her head, helplessly saying, "Master... This Dragon Clan Bloodline is even harder to investigate than Xuan Jin. I’ve searched through records for a long time. This demoness last appeared the event was three years ago. That year she stole the Secret Treasure ’Feng Mou’ from Prince Jiu of Chiling City, and since then, has vanished without a trace."

Compared to the famous Quasi-King Throne Xuan Jin.

Ao Ying is truly a nobody.

Three years ago... Ao Ying wasn’t even in Yin God Realm, just a Cave Heaven.

In Ye Ling’s view, tracing such a person is extraordinarily difficult.

"Is this person important? Could she be as rare an Ancient Species as the Pure-blooded Phoenix Descendant?"

Ye Ling observed Cui Zhen’s contemplative face and couldn’t help but ask.

"... Very important."

Cui Zhen squinted his eyes and slowly said, "For Xie Xuanyi to take notice, this demoness must be very important. She has no master sect, no backing, just a Loose Cultivator, wanting to escape Peacock Venerable’s pursuit wouldn’t be easy."

Ao Ying has hidden for three years.

For three whole years, as if evaporating, Chiling City, Five-Colored Ridge... No one in the entire Demon Country could find her, not even himself.

A character like this is not simple!

"Most likely killed?"

Ye Ling said with a bitter smile, "A Cave Heaven Cultivator wanting to survive wouldn’t dare stay in the inland Demon Country. To me, she likely escaped to a place truly unrefined, like the ’Ruins’ type of Life Forbidden Zone..."

"Hmm?"

This casual remark surprisingly provided Cui Zhen with a great reminder.

To evaporate from the Demon Country.

The best way is to leave this Demon Country.

...

...

(PS: Slight writer’s block and truly can’t persevere through the night. I’ll post this. Two thousand words still owing will be made up tomorrow.)