North City of Vast City, Wind Inn.
Bang!
Bang!
All the windows on the third floor suddenly closed, startling a maid passing below.
She looked up, saw the source of the frightening sound, and quickly buried her head, hastening her steps away from that building.
Because it was the residence of experts outside Heaven and Earth Lake!
Living there were figures that even the entire Hundred Sects Alliance revered, and these little maids dared not disturb them; if anything abnormal happened, theyâd choose to stay far away.
Besides, serving such figures wouldnât be their turn anyway.
After the maids hurried away, the sound of people rushing upstairs came from inside the building.
About dozens hurried between the first and second floors, heading to the third.
"Chief Commander, are you alright?" A middle-aged man from the Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression pressed his face to the door, asking.
Inside the room, He Nianâs shaky voice echoed.
"Get me some pails of water... and bring in all the healing celestial materials and treasures..."
During the battle, the desire to fight could suppress the pain; now that the battle was over, the pain surged like a tide.
"Quick!"
A guard quickly ran downstairs to fetch water.
The others hurriedly rummaged through their storage rings for healing celestial materials and treasures, gathering a bunch to hand over to someone to deliver inside.
The person delivering the celestial materials and treasures came out with a pale face, shook his head repeatedly in response to inquiries, went downstairs, found an empty corner, and dared to whisper what he had seen.
"The Chief Commanderâs injuries are severe, all visible places on his body are torn open, and in some areas, the exposed white bones can be seen."
Upon hearing his concise remark, the guards next to him gasped, exchanging glances with disbelief written on their faces.
"How could the Chief Commander be injured like this?"
"Did he encounter an Earth Unrestricted Expert?"
This isnât Heaven-Gazing Gorgeâs battlefield; who could injure He Nian, who has weathered half a lifetime, like this?
Thoughts fresh & keen, everyoneâs mind converged on the recent events.
Wasnât Long Ye also wounded by a mysterious strongman?
Could it be the same mysterious strongman who injured Long Ye appearing again?
What luck, to encounter the Chief Commander!
"Is this still Heaven and Earth Lake?"
"I think this is more dangerous. Even in past battles following the Chief Commander, Iâve never seen such a formidable enemy."
"Who is this mysterious strongman? Being so powerful, why would he remain in a place like Heaven and Earth Lake? He could wound Long Ye and severely injure the Chief Commander; thereâs hardly a few people even in Heaven-Gazing Gorge."
During the discussion, a man in white armor suddenly rushed in from outside the inn, hurrying upstairs.
The guards, still in conjecture, glanced sideways, then showed surprise.
"Why did the Spectacular Bird come?"
"In He Mansion, the Spectacular Bird only sends urgent messages to the Chief Commander; there must be a big event!"
Everyone hurried after him.
"Spectacular Bird, the Chief Commander is unavailable right now, deliver the message to me directly," a guard shouted from afar.
The man in white armor did not glance down but continued to He Nianâs aura, shouting, "Lord He Nian, urgent message from He Mansion."
Bang!
The previously closed third-floor door burst open.
Just cleaned up a bit, He Nian hurriedly stepped out, looking at the white-armored man and asked, "Whatâs the matter?"
The white-armored man was stunned at He Nianâs battered state, words stopped from the urgent message at hand.
"Sir, how is it youâre so severely injured?"
"Speak quickly!" He Nian scolded angrily.
"It has been confirmed why Long Ye rushed to Heaven and Earth Lake."
He Nianâs brow quivered, and his heart twisted anxiously, asking, "What is it?"
The white-armored man waved his hand, and a voice-blocking film appeared around them, "The true aim of this trip was the inheritance of the Lake Demon Race. When the Demon Emperor of the Lake Demon Race was near death, pursued by our mansion experts, Long Ye saved him. The Demon Emperor revealed to Long Ye, the inheritance site holds the chance for a spirit body surpassing perfection. Long Ye spent months investigating and confirmed the Demon Emperorâs words. The order from above is, no matter the cost, prevent Long Ye from obtaining that opportunity, even if itâs taken by Prince Longyangâs men."
"Surpassing the Realm of Perfection!" He Nian bitterly smiled repeatedly inside; this might not be the breakthrough to Earth Unrestricted, yet itâs far more precious.
However, right now, he canât stop Long Ye.
He doesnât even have the qualifications to appear before Long Ye.
The news from above came a bit late!
If only a day earlier, he wouldnât have been cornered by Long Ye, avoiding these wounds.
"What can I do now?" He Nian sighed again, "Iâm lucky to be standing here hearing you, Spectacular Bird, where you came from, go back."
He Nian exited the barrier created by the Spectacular Bird, half raised his arm, waving.
The Spectacular Bird urgently said, "Sir, the intention is clear. Preventing Long Ye, even at the cost of your life. If Long Family succeeds, and it aids more than one spirit bodyâs breakthrough, it could further aid Earth Unrestricted Expertâs advancement; inevitably, He Mansion would stand at a disadvantage in future contentions. This concerns He Mansionâs future!"
"Powerless, summon someone else. Once some strength returns, Iâve to leave quickly under the night." The Return Nest Map set the nest point inside the Vast City, what if Long Ye comes for blood...
The Spectacular Bird stopped He Nian abruptly, firmly stating: "Sir, no further assistance from He Mansion, only you here can complete this task. If He Mansion sends, Long Family would equally send, such escalation fears irreversibility. The silent struggle between He Mansion & Long Family is possible, but open contest just profits the third party!
"What exactly could I do?" He Nian spread both hands.
He indeed wishes to stop Long Ye.
But can he in his current state?
The Spectacular Bird fell silent.
It knows He Nianâs status.
This degree of injury, to fully recover, even with top-quality celestial materials and spiritual cuisine, itâd need half a month at least.
The Spectacular Bird hurriedly proposed, "Sir, this city isnât small, massive procurement of celestial materials and treasures might still succeed!"
"Too late... previously, Long Ye already bought all healing celestial materials in Vast City. Now acquiring a couple would be lucky."
"This..."
The Spectacular Bird fell silent again.
He Nian helplessly shook his head, intending to let the Spectacular Bird go where it should.
He must regain some strength to leave Vast City at night.
This place is no longer for staying.
Long Ye might come knocking!
At this moment, the Spectacular Bird suddenly turned firm, "Sir, the order is life-threatening, at any cost!"