C7 The Men in Black Who Infiltrated the Imperial Ancestral Temple
Aware of the perils that lay beyond the Holy Land, Ye Chen harbored no desire to venture out for training. Naturally, as a servant tasked with cleaning the mausoleum, it wasn't easy for him to leave for such training. Only if he revealed his true level of cultivation to Elder Zi Yuan would the elder consider allowing him to depart for training.
With the outside world's dangers in mind, Ye Chen was even less inclined to entertain the idea.
Lately, he had been passing his days in a relaxed manner, cleaning the mausoleum, checking in, and practicing his cultivation.
He had resolved that until he achieved an unbeatable level of cultivation that could guarantee his safety, he would remain within the safety of the Holy Land and not venture out.
Yet, it seemed that Ye Chen's desire to lead a tranquil life at the Imperial Ancestral Temple was not shared by everyone. Some seemed intent on disturbing his peace.
That day, after completing his chores at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and engaging in his usual cultivation routine, Ye Chen witnessed a stunning sunset that set the heavens ablaze with fiery hues.
Stretching leisurely, he took a stroll along the mountain paths surrounding the Imperial Ancestral Temple, taking in the picturesque surroundings.
During his walk, Ye Chen noticed a shadowy figure hurtling toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple from a nearby mountainside. The dense foliage along his path provided ample cover for his movements.
Moreover, this individual was casting a spell that made their presence nearly imperceptible, stealthily drawing closer to the area.
Shrouded in a faint black mist, the figure was undetectable by spiritual sense.
By chance, Ye Chen, who often gazed at the sky and the woods during his walks, happened to spot the mysterious figure.
"This person is acting suspiciously, skulking around. They're probably up to no good. What exactly are they planning?" Ye Chen mused as he watched the figure darting from cover to cover, racing toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple. He quietly concealed himself in the nearby woods, curious to uncover the stranger's identity and their potential schemes.
Before long, the figure reached the mountain's summit where the Imperial Ancestral Temple stood and made a beeline for the temple, all the while remaining hidden within the forest's shadows.
Ye Chen remained concealed in the shadows, observing the newcomer with clarity.
The man appeared to be well over fifty, his visage marked by age.
Surprisingly, he emanated an aura of the Soul Nurturing realm, albeit in its early period. The malevolent energy radiating from him lent an air of formidable strength.
A black-robed figure stealthily navigated the forest, inching ever closer to the Imperial Ancestral Temple with great caution.
"The Sect Master has gone to great lengths to deceive those keen trackers, enabling me to infiltrate the Polaris. I've been given a dire mandate. No matter what, I must dismantle the nexus node of the Tower of Binding and unleash the Fellbeasts within."
"Should the Tower of Binding's seal falter, the Fellbeasts will burst forth, plunging the Polaris Holy Land into disarray. Then, we'll seize the opportunity to overrun the Polaris Holy Land, which prides itself on vanquishing evil."
The black-robed man whispered to himself while hastening through the woods.
He scrutinized his environment, "The spies within the Polaris Holy Land have pinpointed the nexus node's location within the Imperial Ancestral Temple. By shattering the malefic nexus node and severing the temple's sacred influence, the Tower of Binding's sanctity will slumber. The pent-up energy of the Fellbeasts amassed over the years will surely unsettle the tower's seal."
"This generation's tomb watcher is a seasoned elder in the middle period of the God-Man stage. Should he detect me, I stand little chance in combat and could be swiftly dispatched. Utmost caution is imperative; I cannot afford to alert him."
"However, intelligence suggests the elder is currently secluded, striving to overcome a bottleneck, and seldom makes an appearance. If I keep a low profile, he's unlikely to notice me."
"It's a pity that the runes of the Polaris Holy Land are so potent. Were it not for the risk of triggering them with my power, someone of higher stature would undertake this mission, not a minnow like myself, and my life wouldn't hang in the balance."
The black-robed man seemed wary of the Imperial Ancestral Temple's tomb watcher.
This was no ordinary guardian; the watcher was a formidable God-Man Stage expert, well beyond the capabilities of someone at the Soul Nurturing level.
Despite being fully aware of the perilous nature of his mission, he did not abandon it. The reward promised for its completion was irresistibly enticing.
Success would grant him an immense boon.
He continued to employ a secret technique to cloak his presence, steadily making his way toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
His movements suggested an intimate knowledge of the surroundings, as if he were a regular visitor, and he moved with remarkable speed.
His swift progress owed much to his Soul Nurturing Realm cultivation and his deep familiarity with the area.
Before long, he reached the vicinity of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Concealed in the shadows, he observed a figure emanating a faint Shadowblight aura heading straight for the temple. His gaze intensified, and he murmured gravely, "You know this place all too well."
Ye Chen could only deduce one thing upon tracking the black-clothed individual's movements: there must be a traitor within the Polaris Holy Land. Someone had clearly provided detailed maps and environmental intel of the Imperial Ancestral Temple's surroundings; otherwise, this intruder couldn't have navigated the terrain with such ease.
"Soul Nurturing early period, not an easy adversary."
Ye Chen's brow furrowed. His own cultivation might have been slightly superior to that of the man before him, but he lacked combat experience and had no clear grasp of his true power. He was uncertain whether he could handle this opponent.
"Perhaps I should notify the temple attendant?"
He glanced toward the temple attendant's stone house nearby. He recalled the attendant's words about attempting to break into the late period of the God-Man Realm and not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.
Zi Yuan was approaching the end of his life. Without a breakthrough, his time would soon come to an end.
Ye Chen hesitated, unsure whether to interrupt.
"Let's wait and see," he decided, opting not to alert Zi Yuan. Instead, he stealthily trailed the black-robed man from the shadows.
At that moment, the black-robed man stood before the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The temple was traditionally shrouded in runes powerful enough to prevent even those of the God-Man realm from forcefully entering. It was also equipped with an array of early warning runes.
Yet, after the black-robed man formed a series of hand seals outside the temple, he managed to enter without triggering any of the protective runes.
"Just as I thought, these are the hand signs that activate the temple's runes," the black-robed man thought, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he swiftly made his way into the Imperial Ancestral Temple. He headed straight for the cemetery located at the rear of the temple, aiming for the nexus node that channeled malevolent forces.
Relying on the intelligence he had gathered, he soon located the nexus node, an ancient altar intricately carved with the Bagua, or Eight Trigrams Formation.
"This is the spot. Unleash the most potent force, shatter this altar, and the mission will be complete. Upon my return to the sect, the sect master will surely bestow upon me a substantial reward," he mused, a look of elation spreading across his face.
It had been easier than he anticipated. He had infiltrated the Imperial Ancestral Temple undetected and had effortlessly found the altar that served as the nexus for the Shadowblight.
Unbeknownst to the black-robed man, a shadow was silently trailing him, moving stealthily in his wake.
