Light Fortress

"What you need to do is simple, just help me with the blood transfusion."

The Great Elder smiled and said, "If you find this task dirty and don’t want to get involved... you can also refuse."

"No."

Yao Jin softly replied, "My hands have long been stained with countless blood, how could I find your blood dirty?"

"It’s not my blood that’s dirty, but the ’calamity’ of the Netherworld King."

The Great Elder spoke gently, "Though the cabin can automatically complete the transfusion and extraction... the terminal blood bank needs manual replacement. This task, I only entrust to the person I trust the most."

Previously, it was Yuan Yang.

And now... he chose Yao Jin.

...

...

Blood transfusion isn’t complicated.

Soon, the fresh blood was delivered into the aging body, and the Great Elder’s complexion visibly improved. He opened his eyes and slowly sat up from within the Light Barrier, the old blood tainted by calamity was taken away, and at the end of the blood bank were several cabins, inside them were the deceased Undead. The blood bank’s last reserves were exhausted, their bodies served as containers for the calamity, and after this transfusion concludes, these bodies would be permanently sealed.

"The operation of this world aligns with two sets of rules."

"One set is overt... like the Seven God’s Apostles not overstepping boundaries, the Five Continents mutually assisting each other. If faced with an unknown crisis beyond the Five Continents, such as the Ice Sea Ruins, everyone is mandated by the covenant to contribute."

"This overt set of rules is established collectively by the strong, and agreed upon to be observed."

"The other set of rules is hidden."

Yao Jin retreated to the world beyond the screen.

The Great Elder stood cloaked in darkness, bathing, changing clothes.

His voice was still aged, but no longer trembling. With the infusion of the Undead’s blood, he regained vitality, even his white hair showed traces of black.

"Many things we agreed upon appear one way in the light, and another way in the shadows."

"Like spreading faith across the Five Continents."

"The failure of dark line number one fundamentally lies in Yuan Yang exposing secrets meant to be kept in the shadows into the light."

"This lesson is not suggesting... that the temple cannot engage in dark deeds."

The Great Elder emerged gradually from the darkness, looked earnestly at Yao Jin, and admonished, "Since there are two sets of rules in this world, then we abide by them... games meant to be played in the shadows must never be exposed to light."

Yao Jin seemed contemplative.

He murmured asking, "Like... this ’assassination’?"

"Yes."

The Great Elder calmly said, "Wutuo’s betrayal and escape align with the ’shadow rules’ I just mentioned, you handled this very well. From start to finish, there’s no overt evidence to link Wutuo’s case to the West Continent. If we don’t let Wutuo appear, East Continent, to resolve the issue, must abide by the shadow game’s rules."

Yao Jin thought it over and said, "I understand."

"Next, Gu Nanfeng arrives at Light City, will certainly inquire about last night’s assassination..."

The Great Elder slowly said, "As long as we hide Wutuo well, the Gu family can’t say much."

The two left the pavilion together.

The Gu Family Envoy had already arrived at Light City, the Holy Canon was being held, countless people were parading, the believers’ revelry would last a whole month.

The Cloud Ship Airship swept through the skies above Light City.

A large number of guards maintained order.

It appeared to be a chaotic ’celebration,’ but in reality, everything was under Light City’s control.

The Great Elder, with Yao Jin, stood at the East City entrance of Light City, silently welcoming the envoy...

However, what happened next was completely different from what he anticipated.

Gu Nanfeng, upon entering the city, didn’t inquire about last night’s ’assassination’ at all. After the Great Elder proactively offered an apology, this Gu Family Young Master merely acknowledged with a light ’hmm,’ completely unconcerned as he dismissed the matter.

The Great Elder had prepared countless explanations to handle the Gu family’s subsequent envoy.

But nothing happened.

This seemingly grandiose entry ceremony ended quickly and was utterly ordinary.

There was simply no undercurrent.

How is there a surge?

Gu Nanfeng had conversed minimally throughout the journey, even with interactions with the Great Elder, he only responded perfunctorily with a few words. Given the poor relations between the West and East Continents nowadays, reminiscing about past friendships held no current significance.

The Great Elder had been old acquaintances with Rustbone.

But considering the current situation, if the Great Elder were indeed given the chance to meet Rustbone again, he would likely arrive with the Fourth Legion in a grand advance on a Source Energy Boat.

This meeting ceremony concluded swiftly.

Gu Nanfeng found a secluded courtyard at the temple to settle down with his entourage... It took less than an hour from entry to completion.

The Great Elder felt an inexplicable sense of defeat.

He had just used the last reserve of the Undead’s blood, which meant from this day forward his ’active lifespan’ officially entered a countdown. Without fresh replacement blood, after these few days, he’d have to return to the life-sustaining cabin.

And as he pondered over the Gu family’s strange behavior...

Mu Xin, in charge of guarding the West Sea Crossing, sent a message.

...

...

"By the time it was discovered... it had been dead for quite a while."

In the small courtyard at West Sea Crossing.

The Great Elder, Yao Jin, and Mu Xin looked at the ’peaceful-looking’ corpse.

Yao Jin, in a daze, gazed at his old friend before him.

He’d been thrown into cultivation at West Sea Crossing from a young age, having only ’Wutuo’ as a friend. However, as they grew, he remained at the temple, while Wutuo was sent as a Hidden Child to East Continent.

Just yesterday.

This fellow was bouncing around energetically, talking to him.

And now, he’s a cold corpse...

Since guarding the Secret Dungeon, Yao Jin’s hands had been stained with the blood of many, many individuals. But for the first time, he was tainted with the blood of someone he cared about.

Wutuo... died because of me.

"[Profile] is useless, that person didn’t leave any evidence."

Mu Xin’s voice was hoarse: "No images, no footprints, no traces... like a living ghost, silently arrived at West Sea Crossing, took Wutuo’s life, and during this process, we didn’t even hear a cry for help."

For a Fourth-tier Expert, it was impossible to even call for help.

What a terrifying thing is this?

The Great Elder looked at Wutuo’s body, remained silent for a long time, and spoke with a difficult expression: "[Red Phoenix Crossbow] was taken."

"...Yes."

Mu Xin gritted his teeth and said: "I used [Light Mirror] as soon as possible to find the mark of [Red Phoenix Crossbow], but found nothing, damn it, can’t even feel a bit of a sense!"

"No wonder... Gu Nanfeng hasn’t said a word."

The Great Elder reached out to support the wall, feeling a bit dizzy.

Wutuo is dead, this news... Gu Nanfeng must already know!

This world indeed follows two sets of rules, Light City chose the underground set to take away Wutuo.

The rules in the dark cannot be illuminated by light.

Now, Changye uses this set of rules to let Light City reap what it sowed.

The death of Wutuo, Light City cannot proclaim, cannot retaliate, can’t even question a word about this matter... because on the surface, they shouldn’t be interested in a person like "Wutuo" at all.

Yao Jin quietly looked at the corpse for a long time and then spoke: "This is the person I’ve been wanting to investigate."

He always knew.

The guy playing chess with him from afar is not Gu Nanfeng.

"The identity of that ’behind-the-scenes person’ is difficult to investigate, we only know that he arrived earlier than the Gu Family Envoy."

Mu Xin said headache: "But there are too many Transcendents entertained by the temple these days, this person probably already mixed in with the crowd... or he has been concealing his identity, even the temple doesn’t know he has come."

Trying to determine identity through entry records, is impossible.

"Able to silently kill ’Wutuo’, must at least be titled."

The Great Elder frowned and said: "East Continent’s titles are just those few, when did another such person appear?!"

Every title will be recorded by the council!

Their whereabouts, residences, all closely monitored!

Trying to suddenly create a title is sheer nonsense...

The most likely explanation is that East Continent has long been conspiring to cultivate an immensely powerful "shadow".

Although this is very absurd.

But it’s the only explanation the Great Elder can think of.

A titled figure, silently concealed in Light City, and unnoticed, killed a Fourth-tier Expert under tight protection.

How absurd is this?

If this news spreads, it’s likely to cause panic in the temple.

"These days, don’t go out!"

The Great Elder said solemnly: "Before this ’behind-the-scenes person’ is caught, maybe only inside Light City is safe... once out of the city, you might be targeted. After last night’s game, you’ve already been exposed."

Yao Jin originally wanted to catch East Continent’s "behind-the-scenes person".

But last night, he set up an ambush for the kill and personally led the hunt...

Instead, it let him surface.

In this way, he is in the light, and the opponent is in the dark.

That guy chose to kill Wutuo while he led the Holy Judges far to East Port, thinking carefully, the Gu Family Envoy’s encounter was just a part of that person’s plan, he was delayed outside, unable to return to Light City, thus the Wutuo tragedy happened.

Mu Xin asked tremblingly: "Great Elder, Wutuo... what do we do?"

"..."

The Great Elder just shook his head.

What do we do?

No what, people are already dead, everything is already over.

Yao Jin saw the Great Elder’s reaction and quietly came to Wutuo’s side alone, closing the eyes of his only friend.

Spirit Sea shattered.

Wutuo’s pupils were already scattered.

Although his face seemed peaceful now, he actually died horribly... looking at this shattered face, Yao Jin suddenly felt somewhat sad.

More than sadness, it was unwillingness. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

This game he truly lost, but he is still alive, so the game is not yet over.

At this moment, Yao Jin heard the voice in his heart again.

"Want to take a gamble?"

That unknown person hidden in the dark seems to have a strong magic power, attracting him to look.

From the moment he guessed the opponent’s existence.

Yao Jin started trying to find that person’s tracks... this magic power hits the Heart Lake directly, like a destiny’s guide, making him act uncontrollably.

People who’ve taken the first step often won’t be content to stop here.

Perhaps by taking two more steps... can reach the end, can unveil that person’s mask?

Yao Jin knows his best approach at the moment is to stay calm.

He is no longer a Hidden Child, no longer a shadow.

As long as he stands under the sunlight of Light City, the opponent cannot do anything against him...

In the Divine Domain, the sunlight is intense, everything is revealed.

No matter what the opponent wants to do, as long as he stands in the light, he is invincible.

But he wasn’t content to end like this.

Yao Jin raised his head and said to the Great Elder: "I want to try and bring that person out."