Chapter 443: A Way Out

Gazing at the inscriptions carved on the bronze bell in his hand, Chen Yan activated the Hidden Immortal Art, completely concealing the aura of this immortal artifact in his grasp.

He wanted to observe the process of this bronze bell, derived through the Great Derivation Art and the Hidden Immortal Art, gradually collapsing.

Then, he slowly lifted his head.

“How long are you going to keep watching from over there?”

Chen Yan’s words were directed at the wall beside him, where, aside from himself, there was no one else present.

“Meow~”

The tabby cat perched on the wall froze slightly.

Then, in the next instant, as if startled awake, it panickedly looked around its surroundings.

“Hah!”

Following that, the tabby cat hissed at the empty air, then quickly scurried along the wall to escape.

The tabby cat’s behavior afterward was what a real cat would actually do.

Chen Yan turned around and slowly walked toward the exit of Kang Mansion’s courtyard.

Just as he reached the entrance, he saw a panting young girl appear at the gates of Kang Mansion.

“Greetings, Senior Chen.”

Zhou Jinyun respectfully bowed with cupped hands.

“Your little trick was quite amusing. Turning into a cat—is that also one of Weaving Dreams Tower’s illusion arts?”

Chen Yan asked.

“…Forgive me, Senior, I cannot reveal that.”

After a few moments of silence, Zhou Jinyun said.

“No matter. As I said before, I still have to give Mirage Palace some face.”

Chen Yan said calmly and lightly.

“…”

Zhou Jinyun remained silent.

Did this person really need to give Mirage Palace any face?

She had just witnessed with her own eyes how he used the world’s spiritual energy to instantly forge an immortal artifact.

Even Ascending to Immortality cultivators, let alone the only being in Chenping Continent who had surpassed that realm—Immortal Venerable Fusheng—might not be able to pull off such a feat, right?

How had Chenping Continent, without any fanfare, suddenly produced such a supreme expert?

How many secrets were there still in this world that she didn’t know about?

This chief disciple of Weaving Dreams Tower from Mirage Palace had already begun to sink into deep self-doubt.

She no longer bothered with how this great senior, who wore a youthful face, had recognized her identity.

Because everything he did had completely exceeded her understanding.

“Impressive skills. That Grand Elder Jing didn’t even notice you.”

Chen Yan said flatly.

A Unity realm cultivator’s spiritual sense was strong enough to completely cover the entire Jiangdu Prefecture, and Zhou Jinyun was right inside the city.

Yet Jing Bai hadn’t noticed Zhou Jinyun’s presence at all.

No, even Chen Yan himself had overlooked her.

It wasn’t until Chen Yan casually glanced at the tabby cat in the corner, sensed something off, and suddenly remembered Zhou Jinyun—

That was when his spiritual sense finally caught her presence within Jiangdu Prefecture.

Of course, he wasn’t going to say that.

Chen Yan’s demeanor in front of Zhou Jinyun made it seem as if everything was completely under his control.

Not like he was making things up as he went along.

Because he had to project that sense of “composure” befitting a senior.

Only then could he pry more information out of this young girl before him.

Right now, Zhou Jinyun was about the same age as when Youyou had been taken away by Gu Jing.

Only, compared to Youyou, this young girl in front of him was clearly smarter and more cautious.

“It’s a little trinket gifted to me by Imperial Law Elder Shang. It can minimize my presence to the greatest extent.”

Zhou Jinyun said candidly.

Shang Ao, the Supreme Imperial Law Elder of Mirage Palace.

He was also from Weaving Dreams Tower, currently the most skilled upper three realms great power in illusion arts at Mirage Palace, at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm.

Zhou Jinyun was telling the truth.

She felt that, when facing this unfathomably deep great senior before her, it was better to be more honest.

Except for certain questions she absolutely couldn’t answer.

Like topics related to Mirage Palace’s secret illusion arts.

Chen Yan nodded. He didn’t continue on that topic, choosing instead to get down to business:

“Tell me about that Grand Elder Jing just now. Do you know him?”

Hearing this, Zhou Jinyun’s expression turned somewhat complicated, and she nodded:

“I’ve heard of Grand Elder Jing’s name and deeds before, but I’ve never seen him in person… He originally came from Return-Into-Emptiness Pavilion and once served as its Dignity Elder. But he didn’t hold that position for long before stepping down to become an Offering Elder. Later, after breaking through to the Unity realm, he went to the Supreme Martial Pacification Court.”

“Do you think he’s an enemy or an ally?”

Chen Yan asked calmly.

“Senior, are you asking in relation to yourself, or to me?”

Zhou Jinyun said.

“To you.”

“An enemy.”

Zhou Jinyun’s answer came without any hesitation.

“Do you think he’s connected to Shen Chuan’s faction?”

Chen Yan asked.

“Grand Elder Jing came from Return-Into-Emptiness Pavilion, served as its Dignity Elder, and then remained as an Offering Elder for a long time. Shen Chuan could be considered Grand Elder Jing’s junior.”

Zhou Jinyun analyzed:

“Given that Elder Zheng is already implicated with Shen Chuan, Grand Elder Jing’s appearance in Jiangdu Prefecture only pushes him further into the spotlight… From the very beginning, I believed that behind Pavilion Master Shen, there had to be an even greater puppet master.”

“So you think the puppet master is this Grand Elder Jing?”

Chen Yan pressed.

“…No.”

Zhou Jinyun denied it.

She felt that what lay behind all these events might be even more terrifying than she could imagine.

It definitely wouldn’t stop at involving just one Grand Elder.

Perhaps there was even the hand of some Supreme Authority behind it…

She didn’t dare think about it.

Chen Yan nodded.

This future Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace was indeed smart enough. Not to mention himself at fourteen—even he, after experiencing several previous cycles of reincarnation, couldn’t compare to Zhou Jinyun before him.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

Chen Yan said.

Right now, she couldn’t return to Mirage Palace at all.

Because aside from a very few Grand Elders, no one in Mirage Palace knew of her existence.

Not to mention, she now seemed to have stumbled onto some clues.

Whether it was Kang Zongdan or Grand Elder Jing’s appearance—

Both were very useful leads.

But…

“I don’t know.”

Zhou Jinyun shook her head.

She truly didn’t know what to do.

Because the waters behind this ran far too deep, far beyond what a Martial Spring realm cultivator like her could handle.

“Regardless, you need to leave this place of trouble first.”

Chen Yan said calmly:

“If nothing unexpected happens, Kang Zongdan will be transferred to Moxu Mountain by Jing Bai.”

He lifted his gaze slightly and glanced at Zhou Jinyun.

Kang Zongdan was very important to Grand Elder Jing.

Zhou Jinyun thought to herself.

Not just to Grand Elder Jing, but probably to the person behind this Grand Elder of the Supreme Martial Pacification Court as well.

“Let’s not talk about this for now. I need to go check on Little Su first.”

Chen Yan said:

“Do you want to come along?”