Zhu Honggong said with an aggrieved expression, “Promise me first! You have to let me go, and you can’t kill me!”
Yan Guichen smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Our congregation believes in the Unholy One, and you’ve comprehended the Unholy One’s cultivation technique. In a way, we’re the same kind of people, and we shouldn’t kill people of the same kind. This is one of the rules of our congregation.”
Zhu Honggong nodded before he said, “The classic is with my friend.”
“Friend?” Yan Guichen asked with a slight frown, “Where’s your friend now?”
“My friend is a wandering expert who lives in seclusion all year round! I can bring you to him,” Zhu Honggong said.
Yan Gui Chen asked, “You work for the temple. Do you really know wandering experts?”
“Of course! I like making friends,” Zhu Honggong said with a smile, “Untie me.”
Yan Guichen waved his hand, and his two men untied the ropes around and undid the energy seals on Zhu Honggong’s body.
After gaining his freedom, Zhu Honggong sat up and patted his chest as he said, “I’m the Holy Protector of the yellow lotus domain’s Great Qing!” Then, he made a thumbs-up sign before he continued to say, “I know many heroes and experts, and my friend is one of them!”
In fact, the members of the Nihilist Congregation did not pay attention to the affairs of the outside world unless they were related to the Unholy One. Their goal was to study the Unholy One, after all. Hence, they only vaguely know about the commanders’ competition and the reappearance of the Great Void Seeds. Moreover, rumors about Tu Wei battling with the Unholy One were rife, so all their attention was focused on searching Dunzang in the past for traces of the Unholy One.
At this moment, Cult Leader Zhou pulled Yan Guichen to the side and said in a hushed voice, “I still think we should inform the Unholy One.”
Yan Guichen said, “There’s no rush. I always feel that the matter is very strange. If the Unholy One has truly returned, Ming Xin would be the first to jump out. However, there’s no movement from Ming Xin at all. Don’t you think it’s strange?”
The duo was stunned. They had forgotten about this.
Yan Guichen continued to say, “Moreover, the four mountains at Grand Mystic Mountain have disappeared. There are traces of a fierce battle there. I keep feeling that someone’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, but I haven’t found any clues.”
Cult Leader Zhou’s heart skipped a beat. “You’re saying someone’s pretending to be the Unholy One?”
“We can’t rule out this possibility,” Yan Guichen said, “Back then, the Unholy Gods had many students, followers, and believers. We’re not the only ones who know him. It’d be easy for any of them to imitate him.”
Cult Leaders Zhou and Chu remained silent. They recalled Lu Zhou’s words and actions in the hall and the scene with the Heavenly Dao Flag. Indeed, there was something strange that they could not put their fingers on.
Yan Guichen continued to say, “Brothers, I’m not questioning your judgment. It’s possible that he’s really the Unholy One. However, the Sacred Temple is very powerful. If we act rashly, we’ll definitely suffer a loss.”
Cult Leaders Zhou and Chu thought about it and found that Yan Guichen had a point.
With that, Yan Guichen returned to Zhu Honggong’s side and said, “Lead the way.”
Yan Guichen’s men packed up before they left the hall.
Yan Guichen brought five capable men and boarded a flying chariot, flying past the ancient walls.
…
Outside the ancient ruins.
The sun shone brightly on the ancient towering trees.
A flying chariot flew out from the ancient ruins and streaked across the sky.
Yan Guichen stood next to the helm and said with a smile, “Little brother, your talent is not bad. You’re a Dao Saint, right? Do you want to join the Nihilist Congregation?”
Zhu Honggong said helplessly, “Everyone yearns to join the Sacred Temple, and I’m no different.”
“You’re quite honest,” Yan Guichen said, “The Sacred Temple has really brainwashed a lot of people. Everyone thinks it’s the best place in the world.”
Zhu Honggong asked, “Isn’t it though?”
Yan Guichen scoffed and said, “My as*! In the past, the best place in the world was not the sh*tty Sacred Temple. It was Grand Mystic Mountain.”
“Grand Mystic Mountain?”
“You’re young so it’s normal that you don’t know it. Moreover, it’s also a taboo in the Great Void. I won’t say too much to avoid harming you,” Yan Guichen said as he looked down on the mountains and land.
Zhu Honggong nodded before he pointed at the distant sky, “The destination is Winter Spring Valley.”
“Your friend sure knows how to enjoy himself. The Winder Spring Valley is very peaceful because it’s uninhabited,” Yan Guichen said.
“He’s always like solitude.”
Then, the flying chariot suddenly picked up speed and flew off like a shooting star.
…
After an unknown amount of time, the flying chariot appeared south of Winter Spring Valley.
“It’s just up ahead,” Zhu Honggong said.
Yan Guichen nodded and waved his hand. “Descend.”
“Understood.”
The person manning the helm began to slowly lower the flying chariot’s altitude.
They landed in a quiet forest, and a small and unique house could be seen in the forest.
“Here?” Yan Guichen asked skeptically.
Zhu Honggong asked, “Doesn’t it look like the dwelling of a wandering expert?”
In a vast place like the Great Void, it was not surprising that there were recluses and wandering experts.
Yan Guichen and his men flew out of the flying chariot and landed in front of the small house.
Creak!
The door swung open on its own accord.
Yan Guichen looked around and saw the runes in his surroundings and sensed the swirling Primal Qi in the air. Then, he said, “Your friend is very skilled with formations.”
“He’s always like studying all kinds of things,” Zhu Honggong said.
As soon as Zhu Honggong’s voice fell, a voice rang from the inside of the small house.
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Please come in for a chat.”
“Oh?” Yan Guichen frowned.
Yan Guichen felt that his plan and even Zhu Honggong’s life or death were under his control. However, he suddenly felt that as soon as he stepped foot into the small house, he would lose control over them.
