I Can Merge Techniques

Chapter 393: Chapter 143: Mysterious Shadow of the Stone Forest, Afflicted by a Blood Curse; The Zhang Family of Qing Province Conspires, Burial Immortal Valley Stirs Up Turmoil

The composure on Zhang Chengyuan’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep, unshakable anxiety.

He sighed softly and said, "Patriarch, the Demon Suppression Bureau is clearly watching us now. We’ll have to be doubly careful from now on."

Zhang Yanzong suddenly let out a low laugh, a sound as strange as dry leaves scraping across stone. "A mere Demon Suppression Guard? He’s completely worthless. I could crush him with a flick of my finger."

He paused, his gaze turning colder. "What annoys me are those old fools in the family. Even now, they can’t see the writing on the wall. They have no idea that the very heavens are about to change..."

"Patriarch, you mean...?" Zhang Chengyuan’s expression flickered.

"The Demon Suppression Bureau just wants to use this young Demon Suppression Guard as bait to lure us out."

Zhang Yanzong slowly rose and began to pace around the secret chamber. His black robes swept across the floor, stirring a faint whisper of air. "If we really make a move, we’ll be falling right into their trap." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Killing a Spirit Awakening Realm Demon Suppression Guard brings no benefit. It would only get us dirty."

He stopped pacing and stared at the patterns of the array on the floor, his tone laced with viciousness. "That waste, Zhang Yunpeng, on the other hand... he botched things completely. He couldn’t even find the ’key.’ He deserves to die!"

"The Lord Guardian might not blame the Divine Sacrifice Envoy, but there’s no guarantee he won’t take his anger out on us!"

Zhang Chengyuan sighed softly, his brow deeply furrowed. "Actually, you can’t blame him entirely. Even the Divine Sacrifice Envoy, Lord Lingkong Jade, lost a clone, forfeited his life-bound Ancient Treasure, and was nearly killed by the Demon Suppression Envoy, Yue Mankong..."

"It’s been quiet for over two years. Who could have predicted that Yue Mankong would secretly infiltrate Dragon Ridge Mountain?"

"The key..."

Zhang Yanzong narrowed his eyes, a cold, sharp light glinting from between his lids. "Our Moon Worship Sect didn’t find it in Cyan Yang Ancient City, and the Demon Suppression Bureau didn’t get it either. So who in the world ended up with the key?"

"All we can do now is take it one step at a time." Zhang Chengyuan shook his head, his voice filled with resignation. "The Martial Saints can’t even protect themselves, and the great cataclysm is now unstoppable! Our Moon Worship Sect carries the mandate of heaven. We are destined to be the masters of this turbulent world!"

"No matter who holds the key, when Burial Immortal Valley opens, they will surely appear."

Zhang Yanzong nodded slowly, tapping a finger in the air. "The Guardian has sent a message. He wants us to spread the news about Burial Immortal Valley to draw that person out."

"But..." Zhang Chengyuan’s face clouded with worry. "That person was able to silently infiltrate the array where the key was hidden and take it. They’re clearly a descendant of the one who stole the key all those years ago. It stands to reason they would already know about Burial Immortal Valley..."

"Is there really a need to spread the news?"

"If word gets out, all the major powers and experts in Qing Province, even the Demon Suppression Bureau, will have their eyes on Burial Immortal Valley. When that time comes..."

But Zhang Yanzong waved a hand, cutting him off, his tone still unhurried. "It doesn’t matter if they know. They’ll be watching for treasures in Burial Immortal Valley. We, on the other hand..."

A strange light flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a cold smirk. "Let’s not even mention that there are no treasures in Burial Immortal Valley for them to snatch. Even if there were, we’d let them take them—so long as they live long enough to do so."

"The more sacrificial offerings we send over, the better. It’s the perfect chance to weaken the great sects and Noble Families of Qing Province."

He walked over to Zhang Chengyuan and patted his shoulder. "As they wane, we will wax. Then, our Zhang Family of Qing Province will naturally stand above all others."

The two men looked at each other and smiled. The candlelight flickered across their faces, but their smiles were colder than the grim wind in a cavern.

From the depths of the secret chamber’s shadows, a faint, rustling sound could be heard, as if something was squirming and whispering, quietly awaiting a bloody sacrificial rite.

...

In the council hall of the Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau, it was so quiet that only the crackling of candle flames could be heard.

Demon Suppression Envoy Leng Qingqiu sat at the head seat, her gaze falling upon the three subordinates before her without a word.

She wore a fitted, dark martial uniform that accentuated her upright posture, with a dark gold-patterned cloak draped over her shoulders. The golden threads at the cloak’s edge swayed gently with her breathing. Though she appeared to be no older than thirty-three or thirty-four, there was a natural authority in the opening and closing of her elegant eyes that prevented anyone from meeting her gaze directly.

"Why hasn’t the Demon Suppression Guard from Cyan Yang Ancient City arrived yet? It’s been so long."

Leng Qingqiu’s voice was calm and steady, yet it made the three Demon Suppression Captains standing before her simultaneously straighten their backs and soften their breathing.

Demon Suppression Captain Zhao Lie was the first to speak, cupping his fists. "Reporting to you, Ma’am. Based on his travel schedule, he should have arrived in Qing Province three days ago. It is unknown why he has not yet appeared."

"I expect he ran into trouble while trying to eliminate the bandit, Heaven-Flipping Saber."

"Heaven-Flipping Saber..." The Demon Suppression Captain on the right, Chen Guanhai, frowned slightly, his tone full of doubt. "That bandit is said to be at the Divine Power Realm. For Lord Yue Mankong to send a Demon Suppression Guard in the early Spirit Awakening Realm to eliminate him... wasn’t that a bit too reckless?"

The Demon Suppression Captain in the last seat, Li Mubai, said, "That Demon Suppression Guard, Chu Fan, is quite remarkable. Although he’s only in the early Spirit Awakening Realm, he’s highly regarded by Lord Yue Mankong. He rendered great service in the battle at Cyan Yang Ancient City and even foiled a plot by the Moon Worship Sect."

"But no matter how remarkable an early Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator is, he’s still in the Spirit Awakening Realm."

"Even if he had heaven-defying abilities, it would be difficult for him to defeat a Divine Power Realm expert. This assignment is far too risky."

"Indeed," Demon Suppression Captain Zhao Lie said. "I really don’t understand why Lord Yue Mankong would give him such a mission."

"Ding Jian and Lin Yue were also in Cyan Yang Ancient City at the time. He should have at least sent one of them with him."

"If he dies in the Yunlong Mountain Range, what will become of the Demon Suppression Bureau’s reputation?" freewēbnoveℓ.com

Leng Qingqiu lightly tapped her fingertips on the armrest of her chair, creating a soft TAP, TAP sound that instantly silenced the discussion.

"That man, Yue Mankong, always thinks three steps ahead. He loves to scheme from the shadows."