Chapter 697: Chapter 696: The Master of Shadow Slaughter Venerable
Jiangbei County, the provincial capital of Wu’an City.
After leaving the Shennongjia area, Yang Fei and Hu Lizhong hurried to the upscale residential community where Hu Lizhong’s family lived in Wu’an City at the highest speed.
There was nothing unusual inside the community; residents were going about their lives as usual. After entering the community, Yang Fei and Hu Lizhong quietly observed for a while but didn’t spot anyone keeping watch near Old Hu’s home.
After unlocking the keypad lock, the two men flashed into the room.
The spacious apartment was empty.
However, by the arrangement of the room and the state of food storage in the kitchen freezer, it could be deduced that someone had been living in the home recently.
"The people must have been transported away," Hu Lizhong said in a depressed tone.
Yang Fei was also angry but felt even more helpless.
In such a sudden emergency, with calamity arising from within, if the enemy targeted family members and relatives, there was no way for one’s own side to prepare against it.
Upon entering the urban area, both of them had borrowed others’ phones to call the outside world. Hu Lizhong tried contacting his wife and children, but their phones were unreachable.
Yang Fei called Qin Yanyang and, finding her phone turned off, understood that she had already fled Jiangbei. Like him and Old Hu, she had destroyed her original phone and SIM card to prevent being tracked.
To avoid phone tracing, Yang Fei held back from calling anyone else.
Everything would wait until they had left Jiangbei.
"Don’t worry, if the enemy was well-prepared, then your family isn’t the only one controlled. They are temporarily safe. What we need to do is ensure our own safety and then figure out a way to rescue them," Yang Fei consoled.
Hu Lizhong nodded silently, quickly adjusting his emotions.
Although he was worried about his family, he understood that being anxious at this time was of no use.
Several of Yang Fei’s family members had also lost contact. In such an extreme situation, the more anxious one became, the more likely they were to make mistakes. As Yang Fei said, as long as they were alive, their controlled family members could be kept safe; otherwise, even if the enemy was merciful and didn’t harm those relatives, they might still be charged with various nonsense crimes and have their freedoms restricted.
"Where do we go next?" Hu Lizhong asked.
Yang Fei pondered for a moment and said, "To the Zhu family."
Hu Lizhong felt a surge of emotion and looked at Yang Fei, "Are you sure the Zhu family is safe?"
Yang Fei replied, "It’s precisely because we don’t know that we need to go take a look."
Hu Lizhong silently nodded.
Everyone knew of the relationship between Zhu Tianshou and Yang Fei. It could be said that the Zhu family’s ability to stand back up had a great deal to do with Yang Fei.
Now with the drastic change in the situation, the Zhu family might also have been implicated. It remained to be seen what choice Zhu Tianshou would make.
It was appropriate for Yang Fei to check on the Zhu family at this time.
If the Zhu family had been implicated, he might be able to help them if there was an opportunity. If they made another choice, then Yang Fei would be prepared, to prevent being backstabbed in the future.
...
Within the Hidden Sect Small World, Northern Continent Wulong County.
Occupying nearly one-sixth of the fertile lands of the Hidden Sect World, Northern Continent Wulong County had almost become the private domain of the Zhuge family for the past two hundred years.
Before the Taoist sect was divided, the Zhuge family was one of the foremost aristocratic families among the Eight Great Forces.
It was recorded that when the Hidden Sect Plane World was established, an ancestor of the Zhuge family played a crucial role, and their family’s research on Array Formation Talisman Tao far exceeded that of other forces.
In the world where Cultivation was increasingly declining, the Zhuge family, by virtue of their unique methods in Formations and Rune Tao, both their overall combat strength and the combat strength of individuals within the same Realm, subtly surpassed others. Hence, the Zhuge family held a high status within the Hidden Sect.
The Zhuge family was located in the Wolong Ridge Mountain Range, where, according to legend, the entire mountain range was covered by a great Array. Here lay a formation which, apart from the original Taoist Heavenly Mechanism Array, was the foremost in defense—the Mountain Protection Array.
A hundred years ago, when the Taoist collapsed, the Heavenly Mechanism Array ceased to exist. Since then, the strongest Array in the Hidden Sect World was this great formation of the Zhuge family.
Outside Wolong Ridge, two men appeared at the entrance of the mountain gate.
One of them was Helian Zhan.
Next to Helian Zhan, an old man trailing a step behind showed a touch of respect in his expression and carefully asked, "Master, have you discerned anything unusual?"
While described as an old man, he appeared to be only in his fifties or sixties, which for the cultivators of the Hidden Sect World, could only be considered middle-aged.
If Yang Fei had been here, he would have been greatly surprised, for this man was the Shadow Slaughter Venerable he had once met and clashed with.
This significant figure, who had created the Shadow Organization in the secular world, now stood trembling by Helian Zhan’s side, looking cautious and apprehensive.
They had been here for several hours, with their master circling around Wolong Ridge, observing continuously. Now at the main gate, he revealed that familiar smile. The elder understood that the master had discovered something, which prompted his question.
"Well done, the problem indeed lies here," Helian Zhan said with a smile.
The elder immediately responded with humble agreement, "This subordinate is only carrying out orders; it is entirely due to the master’s divine foresight, having already determined that another passageway is inside Wolong Ridge."
Helian Zhan glanced at him and said with a smile, "Had your people not sent a message saying that several of the old fellows from the Zhuge family had disappeared, and many experts within their family have vanished, coupled with the celestial anomalies a few days ago, I wouldn’t have dared to be sure it was here. For this, you’ll be credited with a merit."
"Thank you, master," the elder exclaimed joyfully before asking, "What’s next? Should we publicize this matter and join forces with other powers to attack the Zhuge family and control this passageway?"
Upon hearing this, a gleam flashed in Helian Zhan’s eyes as he looked up at the majestic gate of the manor and chuckled, "Since the three brothers of Zhuge Cang aren’t here, the Nine Dragon Formation poses no threat to me. I presume they have gone to the secular world. Let us go have a look."
The elder’s expression changed, and he said nervously, "Master, the Nine Dragon Formation is said to be tremendously powerful; with just the two of us..."
"I alone am enough," Helian Zhan interrupted him and said with a smile, "The spatial tremors here a few days ago must have been detected by others. I believe they are on their way as well. We need to take the initiative to see what exactly has happened outside."
Having said that, he no longer concealed his movements and strode towards the grand and imposing gate of the Zhuge family estate.
No sooner had he appeared than several figures flashed out from both sides of the forest, guards tasked with protecting the gate of the Zhuge family.
"Who goes there? State your name," one of them shouted loudly.
The Shadow Slaughter Venerable, known as Dan Wuji, stepped forward first, snorting coldly, "Blind fools, not even recognizing my master. What use do you have for those eyes?"
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a cold light flashed. The guard screamed miserably on the spot, covering his eyes with his hands.
Blood oozed from those eyes, which were clearly blinded.
Helian Zhan frowned slightly, glancing at Dan Wuji and said tersely, "There was no need to inflict such cruel harm on these innocent men."
Dan Wuji, accustomed to cruelty, had acted instinctively, but upon hearing Helian Zhan’s words, he immediately stiffened, anxiously standing to the side and saying with fear, "Master, I beg your forgiveness; I realize my mistake."
Helian Zhan’s gaze slowly moved away from his face as he said, "Rein in your killing intent and lessen your malice."
"Yes."
While the two conversed, the other guards witnessed the sudden change and sprang into action.
Some drew their swords to intercept, while others emitted piercing whistles, sounding the alarm.
After scolding Dan Wuji, Helian Zhan raised his head to look forward and said calmly, "Stand aside. With the Zhuge Cang brothers absent, I, Helian Zhan, wish to enter the mountain, and no one can stop me."
His calm voice was not loud, but the words were imbued with formidable power and instantly spread throughout Zhuge Manor in Wolong Ridge.