Light Fortress

The wind sweeps the broken waves, the sand grains rustle.

"Elder Mu, there’s no need to send me any further, I’ve reached as far as I need to go."

Wutuo smiled as he spoke to the white-robed old man before him.

He and Yao Jin had known each other since childhood. At that time, both were merely shadows of the temple, chosen by the Great Elder and then sent under the tutelage of Holy Judgment Elder Mu Xin.

Despite being called "Elder," Mu Xin actually held no real position or status in the temple; he had no seat at the main table and could only teach some young seedlings within the Holy Judge Army.

"Yao Jin instructed me to ensure your safe arrival at ’West Sea Crossing.’

Mu Xin spoke softly, "In the past few days, stay hidden in your house and wait for the storm to pass. It’s said that Gu Nanfeng’s Envoy has already docked, and will soon ascend the city... The matter of your betrayal of the East Continent, even if Changye doesn’t bring it to light, won’t be easily swallowed. Leaving the city last night was already very risky."

"How can one flush out an assassin from the East Continent without paying a price?"

Wutuo smiled, "It was worth leaving the city last night; the assassin trying to kill me must have been captured by Yao Jin."

"Regardless, I’ll be guarding West Sea Crossing these few days."

Mu Xin said, "Until Yao Jin returns to ensure your safety and you can regain your ’temple identity.’"

"Then I’ll rely on you, Elder."

Wutuo instinctively bowed, then realized it was Changye’s etiquette, his gaze flickered with complexity. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"No problem."

Mu Xin smiled as he left.

West Sea Crossing is the sanctuary Yao Jin prepared for Wutuo, where the Holy Judges controlled the westernmost coastline of the West Continent, dividing it into hundreds of zones. The security here is strict; without temple permission, no one can venture out to sea.

Wutuo returned to his residence, and was stunned upon opening the door.

Was it just his illusion?

This world’s silence was indescribable...

The giant tree in the courtyard cast a shadow, and under this shadow, at some point, a figure had appeared.

"Returned?"

The person lay on a chair, seemingly dozing, then lazily opened his mouth, voice filled with amusement.

"Who are you?!"

Wutuo’s expression changed drastically; within his range of spiritual perception, this person simply did not exist.

He instinctively wanted to retreat, but a green radiant rune rose up, enveloping the entire courtyard!

"The West Continent Temple set up ’West Sea Crossing’ to grasp ’power.’ Near the Sea of Origin, rich in resources, but there is one flaw... it isn’t within the Divine Domain’s coverage."

The man on the deck chair slowly sat up and stretched: "So the temple deployed heavy troops, sending numerous Holy Judges to guard the West Sea’s coastline, perhaps I should have thought long ago you’d be hidden here."

Wutuo looked at the man in the shadows, his gaze as if he had seen a ghost!

That Evil Ghost Mask... the familiar Evil Ghost Mask, had appeared again!

The person who tried to assassinate him last night had worn this mask, he could not be mistaken!

After the failed assassination attempt, he had shot the person with an arrow, the person should be heavily injured by now, captured by Yao Jin!

How could it be like this?

"No, you’re not him..."

In just an instant, Wutuo understood a lot; this evil ghost in front of him was definitely not the one who attempted last night’s assassination. This guy’s spiritual aura was countless times stronger!

"Shall we make a deal?"

Gu Shen sat upright, seriously looking at the betrayer before him, "If you’re willing to answer a question for me, I can let you go with more peace... less pain."

"???"

Wutuo stared hard at Gu Shen.

He wanted to see through the face behind the Evil Ghost Mask, but the more he looked, the more horrified he felt.

Since believing in the Light.

He’d never felt so absurd, so eerie... the eyes behind the mask were like an abyss, and just one more glance seemed to annihilate his entire Soul!

An indescribable terror spread within his heart.

"You fled before the Donglai family was exposed. Even if Yao Jin had immense skill, it shouldn’t have been possible to foresee the ’Number One Dark Line’ leak."

Gu Shen lightly asked, "I’m very curious how he managed to ’see the future’?"

"..."

Wutuo didn’t answer, his forehead continually dripped with cold sweat.

At this moment, his mind was occupied with thoughts of how to escape next.

From the moment he opened the door, he felt something was wrong, and upon careful thought, he realized he made a grave error.

That was underestimating the East Continent...

After working for the Judgement Institute for so long, he believed himself privy to most of the high-level secrets of the East Continent, but never did he imagine there was such a powerful Transcendent hidden within, whom he had never met or heard of.

Some people can be identified at a glance as unbeatable.

The evil ghost before him was such a person.

"Not ready to answer?"

Gu Shen sighed lightly, stood up, and extended an arm, his fingers spread open in the void.

Clang clang clang clang!

Clear sounds like scales brushing in the void erupted; countless iron scales passed before Gu Shen’s palm, eventually condensing into a plain three-foot iron sword.

At this moment, Wutuo swept aside all cluttered thoughts.

He made up his mind, bit the tip of his tongue abruptly, forcing himself to focus.

Boom!

Wutuo suddenly raised his arm.

[Red Phoenix Crossbow] shot out a golden ray in the air!

Having rested for a night, his spiritual power had recovered greatly; this arrow he released without reservation, a ferociously fierce golden arrow directly aimed at Gu Shen’s brow!

A soft laugh, "Ha."

Gu Shen held the Iron Throne Sword, and with a backhand swing, made a plain and simple cut, sword light splashed like a blacksmith forging, for a moment silver light filled the courtyard!

Directly shattering the "shooting assault" from this pseudo-S-level sealing artifact!

Even as a replica, this temple’s imitation of the [Red Phoenix Crossbow] maintained incredibly strong lethality.

But... after all, this is just a sealing item, the true power it can wield still depends on the strength of its master.

With Wutuo’s spiritual power, this [Red Phoenix Crossbow] can at most kill a fourth rank, but for a strong figure like Gu Shen who dominates Titled Domain, this arrow is far from enough!

[Red Phoenix Crossbow] is strong.

But Gu Shen... is stronger!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

For a moment, Wutuo’s complexion turned from pale to flushed, after shooting an arrow at Gu Shen, he immediately turned and pressed his hand against the green rune-covered wall. From the very start, he never intended to confront this evil ghost, this arrow was just to buy time, even if only for a brief second, it represents hope of escape.

He gave it his all, using all his might.

In an instant, violent impact pierced through the wall, breaking open a gap in the courtyard’s protective barrier.

At that moment, Wutuo broke free, he dashed out a hundred meters, shouting towards Mu Xin and the distant figure of the Holy Judge.

"Elder Mu! Save me!"

At this moment, he seemed to have seen hope.

But...

Mu Xin and the Holy Judge’s shadows drifted further away across the West Sea Crossing, without a pause.

Wutuo was stunned.

The next moment, the silhouette of the evil ghost swiftly also dashed out of the courtyard, his palm pressing Wutuo’s head forcefully into the sand.

Boom!

After a loud bang, Wutuo seemed to understand something.

He no longer resisted, allowing himself to be pinned down by Gu Shen in the sand.

Staring blankly at the distant shadow of the West Sea Crossing.

The tide washed the shore, his consciousness became blurred, a sharp pain surged.

"Answer me."

Gu Shen’s tone remained extremely calm: "How did Yao Jin know the ’Donglai Family’ would be searched?"

"I..."

Wutuo closed his eyes, struggled painfully for a long time, then rasped: "I don’t know!"

He felt immense pain in his mind, the tide rising with the waves seemed to rush into his skull.

Finally, a long sigh.

His world became pitch black.

...

...

In the quiet little courtyard, the long sigh continued to linger, slowly dissipating after a long time.

The flowers and plants in the courtyard swayed with the wind, stretching their posture.

The walls were unbroken, the bricks and tiles unaffected.

Everything here remained intact because there was never a battle.

Wutuo remained in the stance of pushing the door open, his gaze dazedly fixed in the shadows... he never truly entered this courtyard all along.

But what he saw was all real.

Indeed, under the shade of the tree, there was a figure wearing the Evil Ghost Mask.

Only the scenes that followed were mere illusions.

Shouting? Breaking through walls? Escaping?

Gu Shen wouldn’t give Wutuo these chances at all... true despair isn’t setting up an Array Pattern Barrier in the physical world, trapping someone inside.

True despair is constructing a prison of the heart.

From the moment Wutuo felt this world was eerily silent, he had already stepped into the dream woven by Gu Shen.

Yao Jin chasing Zhong Fan.

Gu Shen chasing Wutuo.

If it wasn’t for Zhong Fan appearing with the Evil Ghost Mask last night, Gu Shen wouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation, setting up this confrontation... however, killing ’Wutuo’ here is better than acting last night, Light City at West Sea Crossing has no support from the Divine Domain, they wouldn’t be able to trace how Wutuo actually died.

The most important thing is.

Wutuo’s death at West Sea Crossing has largely to do with Yao Jin’s negligence.

It’s expected that Gu family’s envoy on the other side, should be progressing smoothly as well.

"The only pity is, you truly don’t know the answer..."

Gu Shen stood up, the last regretful sigh came from the failure of the interrogation within the Dream.

Wutuo’s spirit had already crumbled.

Forcing to scour the Heart Lake of such level Transcendent, has a high chance of failure.

Gu Shen softly spoke: "Alright, it’s time to move on."

He came to Wutuo, supporting him into the courtyard, guiding him to the chair.

Wutuo’s complexion was extremely pale.

His eyes still held remnants of fear and dread...

Gu Shen smiled, extended two fingers, gently tapped on his forehead.

"Dong."

Wutuo’s pupils split open, the inky color spreading like ink.

This gentle tap, transmitted into the Spirit Sea, resulted in complete collapse, transforming violent reverberations into a tsunami.

"This [Red Phoenix Crossbow], though a counterfeit, it’s still a good item."

Gu Shen looked at Wutuo, speaking mildly: "Thinking carefully, quite a few treasures from you Light City are with me, you truly are my benefactors."

Light Blessing Robe, Calamity Bracelet.

Now adding this quasi-S-level [Red Phoenix Crossbow]...

These items, each are of considerable value, probably even today’s Saint Heir Su Ye doesn’t possess so many precious things!

Gu Shen knew, items from Light Church are easy to take but hard to use, each has a mark, but it’s alright, he simply enjoys possessing them, not using them. After taking the [Red Phoenix Crossbow], Gu Shen directly placed it in the deepest part of the Pure Land Domain.

Having done all these, Gu Shen left the courtyard at West Sea Crossing, not forgetting to close the gate for the third Judge turned traitor before departing.