Chapter 1633: Stealthy Path (I)

Li Yan could sense the Yin energy, yet to his Divine Sense, the area still appeared to be a chaotic jumble of miasma and death energy. It was only through his internal and external resonance of the Five Elements that he could detect the tiny, drifting traces of Yin.

He observed the hollow for a long time, meticulously searching for any other clues until he found the faintest of trails.

‘For Yin energy to break through the surface, the source beneath must be exceptionally potent…’

Li Yan weighed his options. If they were to investigate, they would likely use techniques such as Earth Evasion or Water-Repelling arts. However, given the zombies’ heightened sensitivity to their environment, such movements would inevitably alert the Black Zombies or the White Zombie lurking below.

The safest course of action was to eliminate the undead first before conducting a thorough probe. Li Yan believed that if he used the full power of his “Stealthy Night Art,” even an ordinary Void Refining cultivator might not detect him. But that was in normal space; within the unique environment of the Dark Domain Swamp, his usual caution made him less certain.

He could sense the subtle shifts in the world’s laws through the Five Elements, but he couldn’t be sure how familiar these zombies were with the Dark Domain Swamp’s unique ‘rhythm.’

Soon, Li Yan sent a voice transmission to the captain. He had no intention of resolving this himself. He needed to get “injured,” and he needed that injury to be seen as a natural consequence of a brutal battle…

Eight days later, the squad returned to the military camp. All five who had remained were present; no more had fallen. However, Li Yan and another member were “severely injured.” Even after consuming healing pills, their combat power was reduced to thirty or forty percent of their peak.

Despite their state, everyone wore broad smiles. They had successfully completed their mission. The follow-up work would be handled by others; they only had to wait for their substantial rewards.

The compensation for this mission was enough to make even a Void Refining cultivator envious. Aside from ten high-grade spirit stones per person, they were allowed to request a specific pill or crafting material of their choice. This was a rare, personalized reward, and everyone asked for something they desperately needed.

As for Li Yan, he requested that his personalized reward be exchanged for spirit stones of equivalent value.

Within a military tent, Zhao Haiyang dismissed his subordinates. He held a voice transmission talisman in his hand, his expression contemplative.

‘That Li Yan… he survived again. He truly has a stubborn life. Severely injured, yet he refused to die…’

He sighed. It would be difficult to assign him another mission immediately. Li Yan had already undertaken several lethal assignments in a row, and Zhao Haiyang knew he couldn’t push too hard.

‘The brat probably suspects something by now. If he goes to the Military Discipline Department to raise a grievance and the Pure Yang Hall sends someone to investigate, it might lead back to me. I should slow down for a while…’

Zhao Haiyang considered his position. He had exhausted some of his political capital to repeatedly assign Li Yan to these missions, which was technically a violation of protocol. He had excuses—urgent tasks, Li Yan’s specialized skills, and so on—which worked for a time. The Moji Dao Sect sought to balance the various factions, but they allowed for flexibility in times of military necessity.

However, for now, he had to be careful. If Li Yan appealed to the Hall of Elders or the Military Discipline Department, his excuses would be scrutinized, potentially causing him significant trouble. Zhao Haiyang sat in his tent, and as he pictured Mu Guyue’s face, a surge of restless desire rose within him.

In this camp, he usually got the women he wanted. But this time, Mu Guyue had completely ignored the various benefits he had offered.

A month passed quickly. Since his return, Li Yan had remained in seclusion, ostensibly “recovering” from his wounds. Mu Guyue returned six weeks after Li Yan; she, too, appeared to be significantly injured. After spending an hour with Li Yan upon her return, she retreated to her own quarters to “heal” in seclusion.

Zhao Haiyang kept a close eye on them, noting that for the next two months, neither of them left their quarters or saw anyone else.

One day, a figure flew toward Li Yan’s residence. The man circled once before landing in front of the house. As the figure solidified, a middle-aged cultivator with a long beard appeared. He was one of the men who had been with Li Yan in the Dark Domain Swamp.

He triggered the restrictive barrier outside the house. A moment later, the barrier opened, and he stepped inside. Li Yan’s residence was a modest house, sparsely furnished with only a bed, a table, and a few chairs.

Li Yan stood by the table. Seeing the long-bearded man enter, he smiled and clasped his hands.

‘Daoist Zhang!’

The man returned the gesture, noting Li Yan’s pale complexion. ‘Daoist Li, it seems your injuries haven’t fully healed. I suppose I’ve come too early!’

‘It’s no major issue. Please, Daoist Zhang, take a seat!’

Li Yan motioned to a chair. The man sat down and got straight to the point. ‘Daoist Li, regarding the missions for Ghost Sound City… five have appeared in the last few months. Four required Void Refining cultivators, but one has just appeared today that we can accept…’

After a brief conversation, the man rose to depart. Before leaving, he looked at Li Yan and couldn’t help but offer a warning. ‘Daoist Li, although we are eligible for this mission, the danger is truly immense… Of course, if you weren’t injured, your strength would be more than enough. But as it stands… please, be careful!’

With those words, he turned and left.

In the room, Li Yan sat at the table, his eyes narrowing. The man’s visit was a key part of the plan he had set in motion. During their time in the Dark Domain Swamp, this man had nearly been disemboweled by a White Zombie. Li Yan had “risked his life” to save him, which resulted in his own “severe injuries.”

Li Yan’s physical wounds had looked terrifying, but no one knew how easily he could recover. The long-bearded man now owed Li Yan his life.

What no one knew was that the man’s brush with death hadn’t been an accident; Li Yan had subtly manipulated the White Zombie. He had specifically chosen to “save” this man after researching the backgrounds of his teammates. The man belonged to a second-rate sect that had a good relationship with the Pure Yang Hall.

Li Yan calculated every step. After saving the man, he had declined any material rewards, asking instead for a simple favor: to keep an eye out for any missions related to Ghost Sound City.

His excuse was that he needed “Brahma-Yin Grass,” a plant that thrived in ghost-rich environments and was supposedly necessary for his cultivation technique. While the grass could be found elsewhere, it was most abundant in the territories of the Mocha Palace. Ghost Sound City was the closest settlement where it could be purchased or gathered in the surrounding wilds.

This was the cover story Li Yan and Mu Guyue had devised. They knew Zhao Haiyang was likely spying on them. If they were seen frequenting the Mission Hall, it would raise suspicions. It was better to have someone else do the legwork.

Half a day later, in his own quarters, Zhao Haiyang’s sharp eyes fixed on a young man who had just entered. His voice was calm, yet it carried an underlying weight.

‘Oh? Li Yan and Mu Guyue accepted a mission together and left the camp? That was quite sudden.’

‘This is the mission they accepted, My Lord. Please, have a look.’ The young man, clad in green armor, presented a jade slip with a respectful bow.

Zhao Haiyang took the slip and scanned it, his brow furrowing instantly. ‘A personal mission issued by General Niu… to investigate the Red Gauze Path…’

The mission had been posted by General Niu, a high-ranking commander of the second defensive line. A female cultivator named Hong Luo Dao had killed General Niu’s eldest disciple, and the General had been searching for her ever since. Recent reports suggested she had been spotted near Ghost Sound City.