Chapter 256: Chapter 255: Collecting a Debt

As Yi Tianyun and the others returned, the situation in Julong City was quickly relayed to the Netherworld Empire. A man with a grim expression paced back and forth in the main hall. Below him, several people kept their heads bowed, not daring to meet the man’s gaze, their foreheads beaded with cold sweat.

"Two ministers are dead, and even the imperial palace in Julong City was burned to the ground... and you can’t find a single clue?" The man stopped, turning to look at them with an icy gaze.

"Reporting to Lord Yue... we, we really can’t find anything. The imperial palace was burned to ashes. The fire wasn’t ordinary; it incinerated everything, leaving nothing to investigate." The minister wiped away his cold sweat and added, "But we’ll find out what happened as soon as we can!"

"’As soon as you can?’" Lord Yue stared at him coldly. "I don’t want ’as soon as you can.’ I want answers by tomorrow!"

He unleashed his terrifying aura, pressing down on them fiercely. The immense pressure of a Void Spirit Stage expert made their legs buckle, and they dropped to their knees.

"We... we suspect it was the Celestial Dragon Empire... Only they would be so bold, and only they have so many experts." The minister scrambled to blame their mortal enemy, the Celestial Dragon Empire. After a moment’s thought, he added, "It could also be the Spirit Race. They’ve been causing the most trouble lately. Maybe they saw us recruiting so many factions and decided to strike."

He quickly thought of another adversary to blame, but surprisingly, the Celestial Extreme Mansion never crossed his mind.

Yi Tianyun had killed all the guards who saw them, and their escape route was well-hidden, so almost no one had noticed them. Since the minister couldn’t find any leads, he could only shift the blame to the Celestial Dragon Empire or the Spirit Race.

"’Yes, it’s very likely one of them. I suspect it’s the Spirit Race!’" Lord Yue’s eyes filled with killing intent. "’Prepare for the harvest. It won’t be long now. Forget the Spirit Race—even the declining Celestial Dragon Empire will be crushed under the heel of our Netherworld Empire!’"

A powerful aura radiated outward, sweeping across the area and sending numerous objects flying. To create such a terrifying effect with his aura alone... he was truly worthy of being a Void Spirit Stage expert.

...

Yi Tianyun swiftly led them back to the Celestial Extreme Mansion, slipping in unnoticed. Even most of the mansion’s disciples were unaware of their return. Secrecy was paramount for the time being. ’For me, every day I can stall for is a victory,’ Yi Tianyun thought. ’As long as my cultivation keeps improving, I won’t have to fear even an Empire!’

’If a slightly stronger Cultivator shows up, I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle them so easily.’ Yi Tianyun frowned. Lin Hao had been quite powerful, especially when he went all out; that attack had pushed Yi Tianyun to use nearly his full strength. ’If my opponent had been a level or two stronger, the outcome would have been grim.’

’If an expert at the Void Spirit Stage were to appear... I can’t even imagine how terrifying their Combat Power would be. They could probably have a Combat Power of five or six million, or even more, without lifting a finger.’

After he returned, the situation at the Celestial Extreme Mansion was unchanged. The Shadow Guard who had planned to cause trouble had been eliminated by him, so naturally, the mansion was peaceful.

When Yi Tianyun and his group explained everything, the others were utterly shaken. The part about him summoning a Black Dragon to annihilate a group of Core Transformation Stage experts, in particular, left them shocked beyond belief.

"So, Mansion Master Yi, were you the one who rescued Yang Xixue and the others back then?" the Great Elder asked.

"’That’s right. I was the one who saved them,’ Yi Tianyun replied without hesitation. It wasn’t a big secret.

"’But how come Yang Xixue didn’t recognize you?’ He Qianhan asked, finding it strange. ’You spent so much time at the Celestial Pattern Pavilion. It’s odd she wouldn’t know who you are.’"

"’Because this is the face she recognizes.’ Yi Tianyun swiped a hand across his face, and a different visage appeared before them. The crowd was once again stunned, finding the transformation absolutely astonishing.

"’Such an exquisite mask! With this, you could go anywhere without fear of being recognized!’ they exclaimed in shock, finally understanding one of the mysteries surrounding him.

"’I was always puzzled about how our Celestial Extreme Mansion came to be friends with such a powerful expert,’ the former Mansion Master said with a smile. ’So it was you, the successor to the Profound Celestial Spirit King. That makes you a true friend indeed. It seems giving you the position of Mansion Master was absolutely the right decision.’"

"’The situation is just more critical now. They’re unlikely to find anything for the time being, but we can’t rule out future developments. For that reason, our group cannot appear in public for now,’ Yi Tianyun said gravely. ’For the time being, Mansion Master Li will manage the mansion’s affairs. Just carry on as before, without any major changes.’"

"’I’m no longer the Mansion Master. With my cultivation gone, I don’t even qualify as an elder,’ Li Xinliang said with a smile. ’Just call me Steward Li. I’m more than satisfied just to be able to help manage things around here.’"

There was no despair in his eyes. Even if his cultivation was gone, he was still alive. Better yet, he could walk again.

"’Alright. I plan to head back for a bit, so I’ll leave things here to you,’ Yi Tianyun said with a nod.

Just as he was about to leave, a steward rushed in, panicking. "People from the Divine Rune Mansion are here to make trouble! They brought a large group with them!"

"’Divine Rune Mansion?’ Yi Tianyun frowned. He had been about to say that with Nan Fengyun dead, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Divine Rune Mansion for a while. ’I never expected that even with their Young Master dead, this group of losers would show up at our door.’

After a moment’s thought, he said, "Alright. Take me outside. I’ll go have a look."

The steward stared at him, stunned. He didn’t recognize Yi Tianyun at all. Since Yi Tianyun was wearing the Hundred-Change Mask, of course the steward wouldn’t know him.

"’Take him outside. He’ll be the one to decide everything,’ Li Xinliang said, gesturing with his hand, offering no further explanation.

The steward nodded and led Yi Tianyun outside. Before they even stepped through the doors, a voice roared from outside, "You trash from the Celestial Extreme Mansion! You dared to kill our Young Master! If you don’t give us an explanation, we, the Divine Rune Mansion, will raze you to the ground!"

"’The Divine Rune Mansion will raze the Celestial Extreme Mansion to the ground?’ Yang Yu, who had appeared at the front sometime earlier, sneered at them. ’If you’ve got the guts, then try it! We’ll see who’s afraid of who! And you lot,’ he snarled, turning to others, ’you traitors! You betrayed our sect and now you stand with the Divine Rune Mansion!’"

"’Yang Yu, I suggest you get the hell out of the way. Otherwise, you won’t even know what hit you!’ one of the traitors on the opposing side sneered, looking insufferably arrogant as he stood with the Divine Rune Mansion members.

"’You!’ Yang Yu’s face flushed with anger. Just as he was about to retort, a hand landed on his shoulder, stopping him.

"’Hey, who are you? Your face is unfamiliar,’ Yang Yu said, looking at Yi Tianyun curiously.

"’It’s nothing. I just came to have a look,’ Yi Tianyun said. He glanced over and spotted a familiar face in the crowd—it was Li Huan. Yi Tianyun had previously beaten him severely, and now here he was, carried in on a stretcher to settle the score. He was clearly trying to put on a show and redeem himself.

In addition, other traitors from the Celestial Pattern Pavilion were there as well, including Feng Yulong. They all stared over with looks of utter contempt.