"The signal for help from Xie Chenyuan..."

Cha Huan glanced at the fireworks blooming in the night sky and said to Crane Tears below, "You're fast, go see what's happening."

Crane Tears resolutely refused, "No way, what if there's an ambush? An old man like me can't just charge in first."

"Why did you arrive so quickly last time when I got ambushed? Weren't you afraid there might be more ambushers?"

"You're alive, aren't you? Since you survived, that means the enemy was annihilated."

"What if I had died?"

"Then I wouldn't have to worry."

Crane Tears paused, "I mean, you don't need to worry about my safety."

Cha Huan raised an eyebrow, "Oh, Crane Tears, you're not even pretending now?"

"No matter what, if you go, I support; if I go, I'm not going." Crane Tears said seriously, "I have a feeling that there's a fierce battle awaiting us."

Cha Huan did not mock his cowardice but exchanged a look with other martial pillars, nodding secretly. At the Peak of Perfection, martial artists have some sort of 'gut feeling' ability, which essentially is their resilient spiritual power keenly sensing others' malice.

Of course, not all malicious intents can incite gut feelings, otherwise Cha Huan would be in constant turmoil every moment; only enemies whose strength can threaten them would incite such intuition.

Moreover, gut feelings are greatly related to one's personality. Cha Huan and Lou Yinhai are among the least sensitive, contrasted by the likes of Silver Bell Uncle Crane Tears, who excels at high-speed movement and close combat. He usually acts with great caution, being most attuned to gut feelings, able to judge enemies' overall strength based on subtle spiritual cues.

His reluctance to scout ahead is not to oppose Cha Huan, nor out of cowardice, but driven by an ominous premonition—if he goes alone, he might die!

"No need to argue." A handsome, middle-aged literati suddenly interjected, "They're coming to greet us on their own."

This middle-aged literati dressed in deep purple attire, crowned and adorned with jade, exuded elegance, with a striking fiery-like crystalline flower pinned on his chest.

This was none other than the Minister of Justice and Judge of Darkness, Cui Yan.

Before the era of the Statistical Department, Cui Yan was the only official tool in Yanjing to stop infant night cries. Among the imperial court officials, it was said, "If the Patrol and Punishment Department catches you, you can likely retain your position, self-punish with three cups; if the Judge's team arrests you, you might keep your life, with luck you could be dispatched to the Outer District and make a comeback; if Judge Cui arrests you, I suggest suicide for a much more comfortable experience."

Everyone looked ahead, seeing five shadows standing on the courtyard wall. With a slight discernment, they recognized their identities. Xie Chenyuan calmly stated, "The gathering of Sea Barbarians, Mountain Barbarians, Grass Barbarians, and Wild Barbarians, I've only seen such a scene in the specimen museum."

"I haven't killed any Barbarians for ages." Wearing celestial feather armor, Yu Ke lightly said, "It really brings back memories of those passionate years!"

"Commander, they all seem to have reached the Peak of Perfection." Bai Letian reminded.

"Even better, battling Barbarians at the Peak of Perfection! My greatest regret is not having claimed a Grass Barbarian's head during my years with the Ta Bai Army... Hahaha, I'm definitively writing to Youyun tomorrow and make them envy me! Sitting here in Yanjing, the Barbarians descend from the heavens!"

Yu Ke cheerfully pulled out two spears from behind, "That Grass Barbarian is mine, no one else gets to fight for him!"

"No one's fighting over it," Cha Huan quickly analyzed the force comparison and said, "Crane Tears, follow me, the others meet us afterward once you deal with them. Crane Tears and I will first investigate what scheme they're plotting inside!"

These aliens were clearly out to stall for time, but Cha Huan had no intention of engaging them in battle; he preferred not to act according to the enemy's plan. As they attempted to stop him, he was determined to bypass them and see what they were protecting!

Others had no objections, not because Cha Huan's seniority could command them, but only Crane Tears and Cha Huan could bypass the enemy's interception—Cha Huan had flying boots, Crane Tears was the fastest.

"'Lad,' long time no see." A smiling figure ascended to meet Cha Huan, dressed in flying boots, "Remember to join the Immortal Palace gathering tomorrow."

"I will, Smiling Immortal," Cha Huan loudly replied, "Tomorrow, I'll attend your Immortal Palace gathering at the sky prison! I guess you wouldn't dare intercept a booted flyer like me, right?"

As soon as the words fell, Cha Huan shifted positions in the air swiftly, in a blink above Smiling, avoiding any conflict with him. Meanwhile, as wind chimes echoed, Crane Tears left a trail and bypassed the aliens' defensive line instantly.

Smiling did not intercept them but pulled out a gemstone flickering with blood light, tinting the night red.

The Blood Essence Stone!

But unlike previous projections used for extracting Immortal Palace members' essence, this was the true Blood Essence Stone!

However, Smiling executed a shocking move—he raised the Blood Essence Stone and smashed it on the ground, shouting:

"Stabilize!"

The Blood Essence Stone hit the ground unscathed, instead radiating boundless blood light, soaring into the night sky, visible for miles!

Looking at the blood-red pillar of light caused by the Blood Essence Stone, for some reason, everyone felt a bit of pressure, as if it wasn't just a jewel that anyone could pick up, but a mountain of corpses, a sea of blood!

Smiling with hands clasped together:

"Lock!"

Swish!

With the sound of chains flying out, the Blood Essence Stone shot out chains, and no matter how the seven Martial Artists of Yanjing transformed, each Blood Lock accurately and unerringly connected to them!

Cha Huan, who had almost reached the center of the courtyard, was directly pulled back by a Blood Lock, and no matter how he paddled through the air, he couldn't escape the restraint of the Blood Lock, like a vicious dog being leashed!

Cui Yan, without hesitation, fiercely struck the Blood Essence Stone with a palm, shouting loudly: "Unforgivable!"

The Minister of the Patrol and Punishment Department's judgment seemed to materialize, imposing on his palm, with the people nearby as if hearing the sound of thunder, the punishment of a downpour, the condemnation of thousands, and the pounding of the gavel, the pronouncement of the Judge!

Judgmental Aikido Combat Technique · Death Penalty!

If concerning comprehensive combat strength, Cui Yan might not measure up to Cha Huan and the others, but if he fought as the Minister of the Patrol and Punishment Department against a criminal felon, his combat power wouldn't be much worse than Cha Huan's—when the enemy is a criminal felon, the Judgmental Aikido Combat Technique can exert more than three times the strength!

Bang!

The pillar of blood shimmered with ripples, but Cui Yan's strike did not shake the Blood Essence Stone. Still, the others' eyes lit up, and Yu Ke said, "If everyone attacked together, we might break through this layer of blood light in a few minutes."

"But clearly, we won't give you such an opportunity."

Sisi giggled while wielding her curved blade, gliding like water towards Mo Yu, the head of the Patrol and Punishment Department: "Brother Mo Yu, let's chat on the side."

"Malaka! Bastard, your grandpa is here!"

Zong Taiji roared angrily, his feet creating dents in the ground, rushing towards Cui Yan like a cannonball!

Seeing he couldn't charge through, Crane Tears immediately turned back to the main force, but his body suddenly halted in mid-air, dropping like a crane with clipped wings.

"A prey watched by the Titan has no right to escape." The golden light in Sa Sajo Luo's third eye dimmed as he held dual blades, pouncing towards Crane Tears like an elegant black panther.

Stone Pantuo remained silent, merely shedding his gray robe to reveal his golden-furred demon ape form, charging towards Bai Letian, the deputy commander of the Twelve Guardians.

"Have you overlooked something?" Yu Ke spoke lightly, "I don't have the habit of being a spectator."

Saying so, Yu Ke extended his right hand with a long spear, its tip gathering a blazing flame aura, capturing the flaw in Stone Pantuo's inability to change posture or breathing gap in mid-air, stabbing unerringly at Stone Pantuo's throat.

On the other side, Xie Chenyuan's ten fingers shot out deep blue threads, akin to a spider spinning silk, capturing towards Sisi.

Meanwhile, Cha Huan, who had been pulled back, was ready to strike, his hand forming a sword finger, the sword aura radiantly sharp, dimming the stars and stealing the light of the bright moon, as thick darkness completely engulfed Cha Huan and Smile!

Sky Covering Moon Eclipse!

When Cha Huan first creates a complete domain in battle, no one has ever survived walking out of his domain.

Until tonight.

"Three distinguished guests, I shall personally entertain you," Smile calmly said in the darkness.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With three explosive sounds, Cha Huan, Yu Ke, and Xie Chenyuan were all blasted away by a sudden invisible attack, all three tumbling into the front courtyard's brush, battered and bloodied, utterly disheveled!

Although they immediately flipped upright into combat stances, exchanging glances, none could hide the astonishment in each other's eyes!

"As weaklings, you should fight other weaklings. The strong shouldn't interfere with their fate."

"And as powerful beings among humans—"

Smile stood in the air above them, gazing down with blood-red pupils from behind his mask at the three strongest combatants of Yanjing, like a deity looking down upon ants.

"—you should become stepping stones for the Immortals."

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