Not long ago, Xie Buchen had carried out Hengxu Zhenren’s secret orders to enter Ghost Gate Pass and explore the watchtower. Now he had returned, safe and sound with no losses—this could truly be called a miracle.

Everyone watched as he and Lu Xiangleng approached from the distance, all filled with admiration.

His azure robes seemed to condense mountain mist and ink wash. Without conversing with others along the way, he went directly before Hengxu Zhenren, who was observing the battle from the high rocky desert, and first performed a respectful bow.

The other important figures from the Nineteen Continents naturally gathered at this moment as well.

Hengxu Zhenren glanced at his condition and knew he was indeed injured, though currently without serious problems. He suppressed his urge to ask about this and went straight to the heart of the matter: “How did things go?”

“I didn’t fail Master’s entrustment. I entered Ghost Gate Pass and investigated the watchtower situation, but unexpectedly encountered Fellow Daoist Jian Chou from Yashan and Sword Emperor Qu from Mingri Xinghai along the way. I wasn’t able to obtain the order token to control the watchtower as planned.”

Xie Buchen reported truthfully.

Almost the instant the names of Jian Chou and Qu Zhengfeng came out, everyone was shocked!

“Young Friend Jian Chou?”

“How is this possible?”

“And how could she be together with someone from Mingri Xinghai…”

“How did they enter the Extreme Domain?”

“From Ghost Gate?”

“We didn’t hear anything!”

“What happened…”

Surprised voices, carrying several traces of incredulous doubt, suddenly spread through whispered conversations.

Many people directed questioning gazes toward the Yashan cultivators.

Most of the Yashan cultivators present looked completely bewildered, just as surprised as everyone else.

Sect Leader Zheng Yao’s expression was identical to the others.

Of course, the others were genuine while his was an act.

Hengxu Zhenren had long perceived and guessed that the cultivators from Yashan and Mingri Xinghai’s delay in arriving, along with their various excuses, must definitely involve some unspeakable schemes behind the scenes.

But he never expected—

These two people had appeared in the Extreme Domain without any warning, and moreover in the rear of Ghost Gate Pass where cultivators shouldn’t have been able to reach!

His two whitened eyebrows immediately furrowed. He couldn’t help glancing at Fudao Shanren, who had just walked over, but ultimately suppressed his immediate urge to ask how Jian Chou and Qu Zhengfeng had appeared behind Ghost Gate Pass.

After all, it was wartime with special circumstances.

If he asked, he would undoubtedly let everyone know he knew nothing about this, letting people know that Yashan and Kunwu no longer trusted each other and their conflicts were irreconcilable.

Conversely, not asking would make others think this was all pre-arranged by them.

Hengxu Zhenren only asked Xie Buchen: “Then that order token should be in their hands?”

“Yes.”

Xie Buchen’s mind turned slightly and he easily understood Hengxu Zhenren’s reason for skipping questions about Jian Chou and Qu Zhengfeng. He also didn’t bring up this topic again, only answering according to the plan he and Jian Chou had devised in the watchtower hall at Ghost Gate Pass.

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou said that the two of them have disguised themselves and infiltrated the Extreme Domain, making their actions quite convenient. The order token to close the watchtower is already in hand. Next is to find the right timing to completely wage war against the Extreme Domain. With coordination from inside and outside, this should achieve the miraculous effect of surprising and catching them off guard.”

Setting aside the enormous puzzle of why the two had appeared in the Extreme Domain, Xie Buchen’s words at this moment could truly be considered tremendously encouraging good news.

Upon hearing this, everyone knew the current stalemate would soon be broken!

The watchtower was already in their side’s control—what difficulty could there be in taking Ghost Gate Pass?!

Even Hengxu Zhenren, upon hearing this, showed a moment of dazed bewilderment in his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected the turning point to come so urgently, and even more hadn’t expected this development…

Originally, he had sent Xie Buchen to handle the watchtower matter.

Now it had been preempted by Jian Chou and Qu Zhengfeng.

Listening closely, everyone was now discussing things like “Yashan’s surprise victory” and “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou and His Majesty the Sword Emperor’s methods are truly beyond mortal comprehension.” This made him feel subtle emotions, already vaguely perceiving what Fudao was ultimately trying to compete for and calculate.

Xie Buchen, however, was completely oblivious to all this, or perhaps he sensed it but didn’t care. He only looked up at the silent Hengxu Zhenren and said: “Additionally, there’s another matter I must report to Master…”

Hengxu Zhenren said: “What matter?”

Xie Buchen lowered his gaze and answered calmly: “Among the eight palace Underworld rulers of the Extreme Domain, the Second Palace Lord Chu Jiang has already perished.”

“Dead?”

At the bottom of Eight Directions City in the Extreme Domain, beside the Reincarnation Pool, Lord Qin Guang stood with hands clasped behind him at the end of the pier, still gazing at the massive Ghost Axe wrapped in flowing water. His voice contained not a trace of fury about the fact that the Eight Directions Underworld Palaces had lost an Underworld ruler. He was very calm, as if a stranger had died.

Zhang Tang stood behind him and replied: “This subordinate personally acted. He is indeed dead. But the two Nineteen Continents cultivators captured earlier took the opportunity to escape. This is this subordinate’s oversight and failure to handle matters properly.”

“Capturing them for interrogation wouldn’t have been much use anyway.” Lord Qin Guang laughed once. “The situation in the Nineteen Continents is ultimately just like that. Even if we captured people and questioned them about things, this battle would still be a hard fight.”

“Then now that Ghost Gate Pass has no one in command…”

Zhang Tang naturally wouldn’t contradict Lord Qin Guang, but thinking about the current situation at Ghost Gate Pass, he frowned and looked toward Lord Qin Guang.

Lord Qin Guang’s silhouette almost merged with the surrounding darkness.

Only the Reincarnation Pool rippled with strange silver light.

After pondering for a moment, he said: “With Chu Jiang’s death, he should be much more well-behaved and won’t dare make any more underhanded schemes for now. Ghost Gate Pass is the gateway for entering and leaving our Extreme Domain, with Wrongful Death City following closely behind. If Ghost Gate Pass falls, then Wrongful Death City won’t be secure. This battle is the first battle—we cannot lose. You should go to the Sixth Palace first and request Lord Taishan to go to Ghost Gate Pass to take charge of the overall situation.”

“This subordinate will go immediately.”

Zhang Tang received the order and was about to withdraw.

Only then did Lord Qin Guang turn to look at him once. That indifferent gaze held none of the temperament that any living being in this world should have, carrying a coldness almost approaching the “Dao.” He only said to him: “With Chu Jiang’s death, the Second Palace is empty. Right now it’s wartime, but when the timing eases slightly, someone should fill this vacancy. You are the first judge under this palace. If you have such intentions, you can start planning for yourself.”

“…”

Though the words were bland, their meaning was shocking!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tang couldn’t help raising his eyes. In this complete silence, he met Lord Qin Guang’s penetrating gaze, seeming to comprehend his meaning. Only then did he lower his gaze again and slowly say: “Yes.”

After these words, Lord Qin Guang spoke no more.

Only then did he finally withdraw from this place, heading toward the Sixth Taishan King Palace in the void.

On the other end, Jian Chou had already transformed into Lian Zhao and, according to the plan previously set with Qu Zhengfeng, re-entered the eighteenth level of hell under the pretext of supplementing ghost soldiers.

In the cave dwelling beneath the ruins, cultivators from both Yashan and Xinghai sects were present.

She informed everyone about what had happened over the past two days and the current situation outside, then wanted to lead everyone out of the eighteenth level of hell.

However, things weren’t so easy.

The eighteen levels of hell—each level was a checkpoint.

Originally, she and Qu Zhengfeng had been able to pass through safely entirely because their cultivation was profound and they had disguised themselves as Lian Zhao and Xiao Mou, thus avoiding detection.

But now…

Fang Xiaoxie, holding Little Marten, saw Jian Chou frown and cleverly thought of what she was considering. Blinking, he suggested: “Grand Master Uncle, we have many people and great strength. Why don’t we simply fight our way out from the eighteenth level of hell and break through them all?”

Break through the eighteen levels of hell?

The warlike and hot-blooded young man’s idea was indeed quite tempting.

But…

Jian Chou’s mouth twitched slightly as she said: “Before the war begins and the situation is decided, exposing our strengths and weaknesses gives others leverage—it’s unwise. Even if we could fight our way out by force, we might not be able to preserve our full strength.”

“Then what do we do?”

Every bone in Fang Xiaoxie’s body was clamoring to fight and battle. Seeing Jian Chou so calm and rational, completely unmoved by his suggestion, he pouted and grumbled in frustration.

But Jian Chou’s eyes revealed thoughtful light.

What surfaced in her mind at this moment was a question that had appeared when she encountered Xie Buchen’s ambush array halfway to the watchtower—a question that had never been answered:

How had Xie Buchen passed through Ghost Gate Pass undetected by gods or ghosts?

Had he taken an alternate route around it?

Or did he have an even more shocking method?

Various past details related to this person quickly flew out from the depths of her memory.

Wisdom, schemes, military strategy…

A flash of inspiration suddenly sparked in the depths of her consciousness. She immediately laughed aloud and directly stood up: “We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?”

Fang Xiaoxie, and even the others, were stunned and bewildered: had she thought of a way to get out?

“How do we leave?”

Jian Chou’s words were as shocking as always, saying: “To conceal the truth to cross the ocean, naturally we must walk right under their noses!”