Chapter 22: Nether Cult Stronghold

When he received it, he examined it carefully, rubbing it several times before hastily ordering, “Ying’er, close the door. We won’t be entertaining guests tonight.”

The little girl obediently went over to shut the door, even sliding the latch into place.

Shen Tian watched this scene with mild surprise.

He was just about to ask when the old man suddenly bent at the waist toward him, speaking respectfully, “Wu Yong from the Wufan Branch of the Holy Cult’s Jade Capital City pays respects to the Emissary.”

Holy Cult?

Shen Tian was startled.

In this world, there were very few forces that dared to call themselves the Holy Cult — the most infamous among them being the Nether Cult.

Before the Great Qian Dynasty had even been founded, before the first emperor had established laws and abolished depraved rites, this cult had already been active across the land.

Its followers numbered in the countless, frequently holding sinister sacrificial ceremonies.

Even now, they still hid like poisonous maggots within the shadows, seeking to shake the foundations of the state.

If the Ancestor Spirit’s Nether Path of Beiyu was considered the righteous line of the witchcraft system, then the Nether Cult was its twisted offshoot — a path of heretical sorcery.

Though both shared the same origin, they were incompatible.

A torrent of thoughts surged through his mind. How could this jade token possibly be related to the Nether Cult? And how could it so easily connect him to the cult’s branch within the imperial capital?

Could this Celestial Secrets Hall appear allied with the True Martial Temple on the surface, but in truth be a Nether Cult stronghold in secret?

“Is the Emissary concerned that revealing our identities so casually may risk exposure? Since you have come bearing this jade token, you must surely be a trusted confidant of that esteemed lord. Otherwise, none could have obtained it from his hands,” the old man explained with a sycophantic smile, seemingly aware of Shen Tian’s doubts.

Those who could possess a Nether Token were all true high-ranking authorities within the Nether Cult.

Even setting aside identity, their status alone was something ordinary people could never imagine.

From what he knew, the true owner of this jade token was a great figure within the imperial capital — someone far beyond his reach.

Shen Tian remained expressionless, though his mind grew clear. He let out a faint “Oh,” before asking, “Then do you know why I have come?”

The old man’s eyes lit up. “Of course I do. The imperial capital has been calm for far too long — it’s finally time for the tides to stir again.”

“I have waited so very long for this day.”

Although Shen Tian did not fully understand, he nodded approvingly. “Indeed. I came to find you for the very matter the lord instructed.”

“Then does the Emissary know when the lord wishes us to release the rumors and expose that event from twenty years ago, to shake the entire imperial capital?”

The old man asked eagerly, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Shen Tian’s heart stirred — wasn’t this exactly what he had come for, to learn of his true parentage?

Suppressing his impatience, he pieced together the information he already had and said, “The time is now ripe—”

“There’s someone outside.”

Suddenly, the old man seemed to sense something. His brows furrowed.

From within the inner hall, a bronze bell resting on the counter quivered lightly, as if ripples of invisible energy spread outward, enveloping the entire Celestial Secrets Hall.

Moments later, a thin mist began to rise, surging up from beneath the courtyard and swiftly spreading all around.

It was the warning formation set up nearby — once someone approached, it would immediately give an alert.

In the past, it had mostly been used to dupe customers or prepare conversational scripts. But now the shop was closed — who would still linger outside in the courtyard?

“Heh… Since you’re here, don’t even think of leaving.”

The old man’s gaze turned cold and menacing.

The first formation was for detection, the second for entrapment — unless the intruder was a Fourth or Fifth Rank expert, escape was impossible.

Shen Tian froze, his expression darkening slightly. Had he been followed?

At the same moment, the little girl who had been yawning moments ago suddenly snapped her eyes open — within them flickered a faint dark-green light. Her delicate figure moved like a nimble cat as she leapt out the window.

Shen Tian was shocked.

He hadn’t expected this seemingly demure girl to be a hidden expert.

He hesitated no further, pushing aside the latch and stepping out of the inner room alongside the old man.

The night was deep and quiet beneath a sparse sky of stars and moonlight. In the distance, faint lanterns glimmered, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the night watchman’s gong.

The entire courtyard and its pavilion were shrouded in a thin, heavy mist, dense as fog, within which mysterious auras coiled and drifted, sending chills down one’s spine.

The delicate girl’s eyes glimmered like ghostfire as she searched for traces within the fog.

Shen Tian’s gaze swept the surroundings, intent on finding the intruder.

The mist thickened, and from the tall birch tree within the courtyard came a rustling sound.

Hidden amid the dense leaves, Wu Ruyue held her breath, her heart tightening.

She had taken every precaution to conceal her presence, yet she had still been discovered. Her brows furrowed, and she was about to step out.

“‘The Three-Spirit Nether Entrapment Formation’? To think that the famed Celestial Secrets Hall of the imperial capital is actually a Nether Cult stronghold.”

A voice rang out. Then, from within the mist, a vague silhouette slowly emerged from behind the rockery, shrouded in thick fog, its form indistinct.

The voice was hoarse and tinged with age, impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman.

The old man’s heart thudded violently as he stared at the figure, every nerve on edge.

For the other to recognize the formation at a single glance — that was alarming.

Wu Ruyue, still hidden in the dark, was also taken aback.

Even she hadn’t realized someone else had been following in the shadows — and without her noticing.

At that instant, she could have sworn the figure’s eyes flicked toward her direction when it appeared.

“So this place is a Nether Cult stronghold? Why would Shen Tian come here? Could he truly be an infiltrator of the Ancestor Spirit’s Nether Path?”

Wu Ruyue’s heart trembled, her brows knitting tightly.

Seeing it with her own eyes, she found it difficult to accept.

“Who are you, coming here in the dead of night? For what purpose?”

The old man stared at the figure emerging from the mist, his voice cold.

This place was one of the Nether Cult’s secret bases — known to almost no one.

If exposed, the Chilin Guards and Immortal Inspection Bureau would descend in no time, leaving them no chance to escape.

“I bear no ill will.”

That same hoarse, aged voice spoke again, calm and steady.

As the words fell, the air rippled faintly — black mist coiled and twisted like venomous serpents, entwining upon themselves until they formed three terrifying skulls brimming with Yin energy.

Each skull’s hollow eyes gleamed with eerie light, exuding murderous cold — almost alive.

Behind the figure loomed a vague, towering mountain, shrouded in a haze of demonic energy.

The old man’s vigilance spiked. His pupils contracted sharply, a chill running down his spine as he blurted out instinctively, “People of the Primordial Demon Sect? We of the Nether Cult have never interfered with one another. Coming here in the dead of night — you’ve overstepped.”

“What boundary is there to overstep?” the hoarse voice replied. “Whatever the Nether Cult is plotting, why not share it with me? Wouldn’t it be far more amusing if we were to throw the Great Qian’s imperial capital into utter chaos together?”

The old man’s vigilance eased slightly.

A smile appeared on his face as he said, “You should have said so earlier, my friend. There was no need for such tension. Our Holy Cult is indeed plotting a world-shaking event — when the time comes, it will surely cause a great earthquake throughout the capital…”

Just as he was about to elaborate, the smile on his face suddenly froze over.

“Ying’er, do it.”

At the same time, the green-eyed girl launched herself forward like an arrow loosed from its string — perfectly synchronized.

The blurred figure seemed to have anticipated this.

With a flick of the wrist, a jade-green spiritual umbrella appeared, humming softly as radiant light rippled outward, forming a barrier that blocked their attack.

The old man began chanting under his breath, ancient incantations echoing faintly between his lips.

Then, a terrifying azure-blue true flame bloomed in his palms — like a dim sun of the underworld, it flared higher and higher, devouring the surrounding spiritual energy and rapidly expanding until it shrouded the entire space.

“Let’s talk this through — no need to draw blades or shed blood…”

The shadowy figure sighed, clearly unwilling to escalate the situation.

With a graceful twist of the wrist, the jade-green umbrella spun, sending a torrent of blazing radiance cutting directly toward the formation’s core.

At the same time, a moth-like insect emerged from the other palm, its wings fluttering and scattering a faint bioluminescent glow mixed with an exotic fragrance that blended into the air.

“Not good! Hold your breath and shut off your five senses — it’s Heart-Seizing Poison!”

The old man, clearly familiar with the technique, blanched and dared not strike again.

This poison could infiltrate one’s organs through the breath, and the more one circulated spiritual energy, the faster it spread.

Shen Tian hadn’t intended to interfere.

The commotion just now had already made him fear attracting the attention of the patrols and night watchmen — he was already thinking about how to retreat, and at this moment he hurriedly held his breath.

Wu Ruyue, perched atop the tree canopy, also quickly suppressed her breathing.

While everyone hesitated, the blurred figure had already located the formation’s core and swung the umbrella down, destroying it completely.

As the fog gradually dispersed, the courtyard’s scenery became clear once more.

Seeing this, Shen Tian wasted no time — his figure shot out of the courtyard like an arrow.

“Ying’er, destroy everything important. Before the night watch arrives, burn the courtyard to the ground!”

Though the old man’s heart ached, he had no choice.

He rushed back inside to issue orders — the stronghold he had maintained for years had now been exposed and could no longer be kept.

Amid the chaos, Wu Ruyue, still hidden in the canopy, finally exhaled softly, suppressed her aura, and quickly retreated.

Before long, the clattering of armored soldiers echoed from outside Wufan Market, shattering the night’s silence. A powerful voice rang out, “Zhou Yang, Centurion of the Chilin Guards, is here! Who dares cause trouble in this place?”

Instantly, shouts and confusion erupted all around.

Meanwhile, inside the Celestial Secrets Hall, the old man and the green-eyed girl hastily packed their belongings, destroyed incriminating evidence, and escaped through a secret tunnel.

Moments later, a burst of flame exploded from the roof beams, and thick smoke rolled upward as the entire place was consumed by fire.

……

“What a pity — that disguised true heir was slippery as an eel. He escaped before I could catch him.”

Back in her tranquil courtyard, Fu Yuying answered her maid Chu Xiuer’s inquiry with a shake of her head, brushing away the faint mist that veiled her face.

Tonight had been the perfect opportunity to capture the so-called true heir, Shen Tian.

But that old shopkeeper from the Celestial Secrets Hall had acted ruthlessly, destroying the entire stronghold without hesitation.

Such a commotion naturally drew the attention of both the night watch and the Chilin Guards.

Even though Fu Yuying was confident in her own strength, she still dared not act recklessly within the Great Qian’s imperial capital — she could only watch as Shen Tian escaped into the distance.

“Elder Sister, why would that true heir be consorting with people from the Nether Cult?” Chu Xiuer asked curiously.

“I don’t understand it either.”

“This incident tonight — the Nether Cult will likely blame it on the Primordial Demon Sect.”

Fu Yuying raised a slender hand and massaged her brow, puzzled by many of the details.

Soon, however, her tone lightened.

Of course, she hadn’t actually used any true technique from the Primordial Demon Sect — merely a Phantom Heart Gu illusion to deceive the others.

And one more thing — if she wasn’t mistaken, the woman hidden deep within the tree canopy earlier had been none other than the famed Martial Champion Wu Ruyue of the imperial capital.

She had been tailing Shen Tian all along?

“Xiuer, find an opportunity tomorrow to see if you can make contact with Shen Yanzhou.”

After a moment’s thought, Fu Yuying decided that cooperation between her and Shen Yanzhou might still be possible.

……

At dawn, Shen Yanzhou rose early.

After a brief wash, he skipped breakfast and first went to pay respects to Yu Chenyu.

Though he knew this routine would hardly win much favor, once such gestures became a habit, Yu Chenyu would also grow accustomed to his presence.

And once she grew used to having him around, even if something unexpected happened later — say, the Demon Suppression King returned to the capital with Shen Tian — Yu Chenyu would likely still stand on his side.

Shen Yanzhou always thought in the long term.

“Stay. Join me for breakfast.”

Just as he was about to leave the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, Yu Chenyu, lounging lazily on her soft couch, glanced at him and gestured for him to stay.

“Yes, Mother.”

Shen Yanzhou’s face carried his usual gentle, obedient smile as he pulled up a stool to sit opposite her.

See? Progress.

Previously, Yu Chenyu would never have invited him to share breakfast.

She gave him a light glance and nodded, increasingly satisfied with his composure and manners.

Truly, she thought, he was worthy of being raised by her own hand — the more she looked, the more pleasing he seemed.

Soon, a maid entered carrying the morning meal, setting it upon a lacquered table: silver-thread bird’s nest soup, roasted duck, slow-braised vegetable porridge, white steamed buns, and a few sweet preserves.

Compared to other noble residences that laid out extravagant feasts, the meals of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion were quite modest.

For an expert like Yu Chenyu, who had long since transcended the need for mortal sustenance, eating was merely to satisfy the palate.

Shen Yanzhou, however, was unreserved — having no cultivation, and having stayed up late the previous night after achieving Minor Accomplishment in the Selfless Sword Heart, he was truly hungry.

Watching Shen Yanzhou wolf down buns and porridge, Yu Chenyu’s gaze softened inexplicably.

Gracefully straightening her posture, she lifted the bowl of bird’s nest soup, sipping slowly from her spoon. “How did you learn that your father intends to form a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence?”

This news had already spread throughout the capital yesterday, so naturally she had heard as well.

The elders of the household had come to ask if it was she who had told Shen Yanzhou — but in truth, even she hadn’t known that the Demon Suppression King had secretly discussed such a matter with the Divine Martial Marquis.

When questioned, she had simply brushed them off with a few casual words.

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