Light Fortress

"Senior... Is it you?!"

Zhong Fan stood frozen in place, then suddenly realized.

The last arrow shot by Wutuo was definitely beyond the A-level sealing device!

In such an emergency, those capable of using spiritual power to forcibly manipulate themselves to dodge... There are very few in the East Continent!

But the "Evil Ghost Senior" encountered in the Ice Sea Ruins must be one of them!

"So..."

Gu Shen did not immediately respond.

He put Zhong Fan’s "Evil Ghost Mask" on his own face and asked, "Tonight’s assassination was not part of Changye’s arranged plan, but your private action?"

"...Yes."

Zhong Fan gritted his teeth, struggling to say, "I kept this matter hidden from Lord Nanfeng."

"Gu Nanfeng came to the West Continent as well?"

"Because of the two continents’ agreement... Transcendents above the Titled Level need special permission to cross continents. Lord Nanfeng was delayed for a few days, but he should be arriving at the West Continent today."

At this point, Zhong Fan was somewhat puzzled, looking at the evil ghost before him.

The reason for forging this mask.

Was because of that battle in the Ice Sea, which was truly mesmerizing.

He would remember the scene of "Evil Ghost Senior" live tearing apart the Giant Deer Turtle, both at the Titled Level, for his entire life. The forging of the mask was largely due to reverence.

If the action in the Ice Sea was just a chance occurrence.

Then meeting here in Light City was definitely not a coincidence.

Zhong Fan did not believe this "Evil Ghost Senior" just happened to pass by... To be able to speak his own identity, as well as Lord Nanfeng’s name, it was apparent this senior was from the East Continent!

But why couldn’t he guess the other’s identity at all?

Such immense strength, yet appearing so young, how could he remain nameless?

"I originally planned, after this matter ended, to immediately escape from the West Continent."

Zhong Fan whispered, "If I can live, then I will live, if not... Killing Wutuo isn’t a loss."

Now calmed down, Zhong Fan felt he was truly foolish.

Because he couldn’t control his anger, he fell into the enemy’s trap.

"Don’t do this kind of thing anymore."

Gu Shen calmly said, "Living is the only way to have a chance for revenge."

"..."

Zhong Fan remained silent, just as he was about to speak, he began to cough violently again, the blood hole in his shoulder tearing with the cough.

He groaned, forehead dripping cold sweat.

"Killing Wutuo isn’t that simple."

Gu Shen squatted, one hand pressed on the blood hole, he said slowly, "That arrow wasn’t aimed at you... This arrow could shoot down a stronger Titled Level, even surviving it will leave you with ’Light Aura’, followed by the Holy Judge’s relentless pursuit. Running to the ends of the earth won’t help."

The Vitality Fire gushed out.

Zhong Fan looked at the Evil Ghost Senior bewildered: "What do you mean?"

Gu Shen said, "What comes next might hurt, bear with it."

In the darkness, light fire swirled into a wind, enveloping the two.

Where Gu Shen’s five fingers pressed.

The Vitality Fire poured out completely, seemingly burning the flesh, but in fact, a large amount of "vitality" was being injected.

Zhong Fan’s pupils contracted instantly, a piercing soul-tearing sensation transmitted from the shoulder area.

He gritted his teeth tightly, not uttering a sound.

Quite stubborn, Gu Shen looked at this young junior, chuckled softly, "If it hurts, you can shout."

Zhong Fan shook his head, signaling with his eyes to continue.

Gu Shen’s fingers embedded into the flesh, the overwhelming Blazing Fire Spirit also swept into Zhong Fan’s body.

The blood in this young shell was filled with the light gold lines of arrows from the [Red Phoenix Crossbow], in the spiritual vision, Zhong Fan seemed to have turned into a "puppet on strings", his veins flowing not with his own blood, but with the lines from Light City!

That arrow pierced through the moment and left a unique mark of Light City within his body!

This method Gu Shen knew very well; after killing Meng Xiao years ago, he went into seclusion at Central City Xuankong Mountain, studying the various pursuit methods of Light City.

Now, the mark on Zhong Fan would be very difficult to completely remove... Once the light gold line pierced the flesh, it split into hundreds and thousands of strands, unless each strand was picked out completely, the line would continue to regenerate, and when slightly manipulated, it would respond to the mark.

That arrow was very venomous.

But unfortunately, it encountered Gu Shen.

Gu Shen reminded one last time: "Bear with it."

His Blazing Fire expanded rapidly, Zhong Fan’s whole body tensed suddenly, an unprecedented pain pierced straight through Heavenly Spirit.

Gu Shen acted extremely fast.

In the next moment, he had already clenched his five fingers, pulling like lifting a large net, extracting countless threads of light silk from the wound in Zhong Fan’s shoulder.

"Wow!"

However strong Zhong Fan’s endurance was, he couldn’t hold back at this moment.

He sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood.

He collapsed to the ground, watching the Evil Ghost Senior’s five fingers envelop the threads in flames.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—"

With a wave, the Blazing Fire burned, and in an instant, the light silk turned to smoke, dissipating completely!

"Thank you, Senior... for saving my life."

In such a moment, Zhong Fan still remembered to perform the ancient rites of Changye.

"Alright, stop talking, I’m afraid you might drop dead."

Gu Shen squatted down and said calmly, "If you really want to thank me, do me a favor."

...

...

"Lord Yao, we have pursued far beyond Light City. We clearly could have caught up long ago, why let the target keep escaping?"

A small cloud ship skimmed through the low sky.

Yao Jin opened his eyes and glanced out the window.

A night had passed.

The guy who had been shot was moving slower and slower, but ultimately, it was no different from what he expected... He fled from the southern suburbs of Light City and finally fled east, which was an attempt to escape far away after a failed strike.

The final coordinates stopped at "Gent City Port."

And coincidentally...

The young master of the Changye Gu Family, Gu Nanfeng, arrived at Gent City Port early this morning. In Yao Jin’s understanding, there was never any such thing as a coincidence in this world.

The reason he allowed the target to flee was to wait for the moment when these two clues converged.

"It’s done."

Yao Jin took the hot towel handed to him by the Holy Judge, gently wiped his face, and said softly, "Below is Gent... let’s meet that mysterious ’backstage person,’ hoping he is still alive."

The cloud ship landed.

Amidst the escort of a group of Holy Judges, Yao Jin went directly to the location of the Gu Family Envoy. This time, the delegation from the Gu Family’s westward journey was quite grand and had a legitimate cause.

Gu Nanfeng’s relationship with Light City was complicated and intertwined.

Gu Nanfeng’s master Rust Bone had cultivated in Light City for a long time and even sparred with Gu Changzhi when they were young. Back then, they were rather good friends.

It was because of this connection.

Gu Nanfeng was able to meet and connect with the Light Goddess.

This time the Gu Family Envoy’s westward journey was to witness the trial ceremony of the Light Fire and also for the Young Master to see his old friends from the past.

It was perfectly reasonable and legitimate.

The Gu Family’s giant ship docked at Gent Port at dawn, and the "Night Watchman" stood guard all night, pulling up a long warning line. Now, just as the daybreak came, Yao Jin, bringing the Holy Judges, wanted to approach, but they were stopped from afar.

"Light Temple, Holy Judge."

Yao Jin sat in a wheelchair, and after having someone reveal his identity, he patiently waited, not in any hurry.

Before long, a voice rang out from a distance.

"Just landed in Gent, and the Holy Judges are here to greet?"

The speaker stood at the bow of the ship, with an iron hand resting on the railing.

Yao Jin smiled and said, "Mr. Luo Yu, I’ve long admired your name."

He knew the archives of the East Continent well, knowing the names of countless officers large and small of the five great families from the nine districts, and the unremarkable fat man before him was precisely Gu Nanfeng’s right-hand man and a person highly likely to take over the Changye Command Center in the future.

"The young master said, after traveling all night, he wants to rest for a while."

Luo Yu, not bothering with pleasantries, directly issued an expulsion order: "You can leave."

"I apologize... Although I’m responsible for receiving the grand ceremony, this visit is not for that matter."

Yao Jin said softly, "By the order of the temple to investigate a case, a serious criminal escaped from Light City last night... I’m here to investigate and capture the criminal."

"Oh?"

Luo Yu said expressionlessly, "Are you suspecting that the criminal is from the Gu Family Envoy? Do you know we just arrived here and have remained docked, with no one leaving even half a step?"

"Mr. Luo Yu, you’re taking it too seriously."

Yao Jin shook his head, "The Gu Family Envoy is an honored guest of Light City, having come with gifts, how could they possibly associate with such filthy and vile individuals? I am merely worried... that such a criminal would infiltrate the envoy and negatively impact the Gu Family."

Luo Yu’s eyes turned grim: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"The Holy Judges would neither wrong the good nor wrongly kill the bad."

Yao Jin said sincerely, "Last night the temple left a trace on the criminal, seeing him fleeing all the way to here, that is why we’re here to arrest him... I hope Lord Luo Yu doesn’t make it difficult for me. If I lead people inside for the arrest, it won’t take long to finish."

Luo Yu stared coldly at the young man in the wheelchair, "What if I don’t allow it?"

Yao Jin sighed softly.

He raised his hand.

The shadow of the cloud ship hovered and pressed down, casting a vast shadow over where the Gu Family Envoy was docked.

An invisible pressure enveloped half the harbor.

"I’m fulfilling my orders to make the arrest. Today’s matter must be dealt with, no matter who tries to stop it... If the Gu Family insists on blocking, there’s nothing I can do."

The sickly man in the wheelchair lifted his head and smiled warmly, "But after all, this is the West Continent... Lord Luo Yu, have you thought it through, are you certain you want to oppose the temple?"

"..."

Luo Yu remained leaning on the railing.

The Holy Judges and the Night Watchman refused to yield, and the scene stiffened to a halt.

At this moment, a figure slowly emerged. Standing tall and dignified, with a grace like jade, a black cloak fluttering against the sea breeze, and a wooden sword by his waist.

Members of the Gu Family bowed their heads in unison.

Gu Nanfeng held his sword with one hand, standing at the bow of the giant ship, at the highest point.

He looked down upon the Holy Judges and Yao Jin, asking softly, "What great might... is this how the West Continent treats its guests?"