123: Brothers! Cut off the chicken head and worship Master Chen!

Soon, the joyful sermon came to an end.

After the Grand Elder finished his sermon, he told everyone, "You may return and contemplate deeply," before leaving.

Next, the True Disciple and Inner Sect Elders who had been listening to the sermon gradually dispersed.

A small portion remained, subtly exchanging and discussing something.

Chen De, of course, wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to make friends.

He would also discreetly scout for his next parasitic host.

If Chen De wanted to act conveniently, he certainly couldn't do so while wearing the skin of someone at the Myriad Transformations Realm, First Level.

Otherwise, it would inevitably be like when Chen De first entered the Inner Sect, using Shen Xu's body.

His actions were constrained, and he encountered a host of inexplicable troubles.

The host Chen De could parasitize had to have a cultivation level no higher than his own.

Since Chen De's current cultivation is at the Demon Transformation Realm, Fifth Level, he could parasitize beings at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level, and below.

This time, Chen De's idea was to parasitize a True Disciple at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level.

After learning their true background, dealing with them would naturally be less restrictive.

However, the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level, was still quite a gap from Chen De's current realm.

Although the difference was significant, it wasn't insurmountable.

At least Chen De currently didn't have absolute confidence in eliminating a Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level cultivator without a trace or sound.

But it didn't matter; a careful search would surely yield a suitable candidate.

For example, many True Disciples now frequently go out to perform tasks related to Shenwu Academy.

Isn't this a great opportunity?

Chen De couldn't deal with too many people at once.

After all, if they were scattered, Chen De could only prioritize one of them.

After securing what he most desired, he would try to 'enlighten' as many of the remaining ones as possible.

As a True Disciple, Chen De naturally knew who all the True Disciples of Tianyan Sect were.

So, Chen De carefully considered his options in his mind.

He finally settled on one person - Yang Wei!

This person was also at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level, with good cultivation.

But this wasn't the most crucial reason Chen De chose him.

Though rare, there were still a few cultivators at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level.

Chen De's true reason for choosing him was his very good relationship with Shen River, the strongest True Disciple.

Shen River was at the peak of the Myriad Transformation Realm, Eighth Level, and could break through to the Myriad Transformation Realm, Ninth Level, at any time.

Once he broke through to the Myriad Transformation Realm, Ninth Level, he would be at the same realm as the Grand Elder of the Inner Sect.

There were already rumors among the True Disciples that he was practically the designated next Sect Master of Tianyan Sect.

And Yang Wei had a very good relationship with Shen River.

By taking down Yang Wei, Chen De could take advantage of the situation to get close to this future Young Sect Master.

At that point, Chen De's subsequent actions would be much easier.

If Chen De was lucky, he might even become the Sect Master of Tianyan Sect.

Choosing Yang Wei offered many benefits!

Having made his decision, Chen De no longer dwelled on it, focusing intently on the task at hand.

Back in his cave dwelling, Chen De also took the opportunity to visit several True Disciples he could easily 'convert'.

After successfully 'enlightening' them, he sent them to gather relevant intelligence.

As for Chen De himself, he returned to his cave dwelling to meticulously plan.

Before long, messages began to arrive for Chen De.

Chen De used these messages to make careful and thorough arrangements.

...

A few days later.

Yang Wei was about to thrust his sword to kill a Shenwu Academy dean at the Myriad Transformations Realm, First Level.

Just then, he was suddenly surrounded by a group of masked figures in gilded attire.

As a True Disciple of Tianyan Sect, Yang Wei was naturally well-traveled and knowledgeable.

He immediately recognized them as the Shenwu Guard of the Shenwu Empire.

He had fallen into an ambush!

The Shenwu Guard were renowned throughout the Shenwu Empire.

The lowest-ranking ordinary Shenwu Guard had at least the cultivation of the Spirit Opening Realm.

Above them were Centurions (Myriad Transformation Realm), Chiliarchs (Void Union Realm), Commanders (Heavenly Imperial Realm), and Marshal (peak Heavenly Imperial Realm).

The Shenwu Empire had nineteen prefectures, with the Central Profound Domain occupying nine, the Eastern Profound Domain five, the Western Profound Domain three, and the Northern Profound Domain two.

Each prefecture would dispatch one main and one vice Commander to serve as the chief of the local intelligence agency.

Among these, Qingyun Prefecture was divided into twenty-one districts, with each district dispatching one main and one vice Chiliarch as the intelligence chief.

Stronger Shenwu Guard were dispatched to stronger regions.

Their Tianyan Sect was the strongest sect in Qingnan District, one of the twenty-one districts of Qingyun Prefecture.

Within Qingyun Prefecture, the strongest force was Qiu Xian Hall, followed by the slightly weaker Qianyuan Sect.

Qiu Xian Hall was located in Tianqing District, one of the twenty-one districts, and had Heavenly Imperial Realm martial artists guarding it.

Each district was further divided into many prefectures, each prefecture into many cities, and each city simultaneously managed many surrounding villages.

And now, Yang Wei was assassinating the Shenwu Academy dean dispatched to Tongqi Prefecture.

And now, there was clearly more than one Myriad Transformation Realm Shenwu Guard surrounding him.

It was clear that there was more than one Centurion among them.

Moreover, these Centurions all had cultivation at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Third Level, and above.

The two leaders were both at the Myriad Transformation Realm, Fifth Level.

This was definitely a joint operation involving multiple prefectures.

This time, he was truly in danger!

So, the two sides immediately engaged in battle.

Unfortunately, whether it was combat experience, combat awareness, or combat techniques.

Yang Wei was clearly inferior to these Shenwu Guard who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

As soon as they clashed, he was at a disadvantage everywhere.

Afterwards, with each exchange, new wounds appeared on his body.

It was clear that the opponents were deliberately toying with him, preventing Yang Wei from making a desperate move.

If they continued fighting like this, he would lose his life within a hundred moves.

Finally, when Yang Wei was almost unable to hold on.

The Shenwu Guard naturally noticed this and immediately pressed their advantage, aiming to deliver the final blow to Yang Wei.

At this moment, a force suddenly appeared, pushing them back.

This gave Yang Wei an opening, allowing him to seize the opportunity to escape.

The one who made the move was, of course, Chen De.

However, Chen De did not press the attack, because there was no need.

It wasn't that Chen De didn't want to parasitize them, but he was worried that these Shenwu Guard might also have similar methods to Tianyan Sect.

Unlike those city lords and deans.

What kind of special agents were the Shenwu Guard?

They could be described as death warriors!

All the methods the Shenwu Empire used on the Shenwu Guard were definitely different from those used on city lords and deans.

Tianyan Sect's method was only planted by a Void Union Realm cultivator.

But the methods on these Shenwu Guard could very likely be carefully researched by a group of peak Heavenly Imperial Realm existences.

Soon, Chen De caught up with the frantically fleeing Yang Wei.

At this point, Yang Wei had been beaten so badly that he could barely tell east from west.

Yang Wei saw Chen De approaching and was about to cup his hands in thanks.

Chen De, however, couldn't be bothered with him and immediately parasitized him amidst his terrified gaze.

...

Upon returning to the sect, he first explained that he had encountered an ambush.

As a True Disciple, this mission was naturally left unresolved.

Then, Chen De went to visit Shen River, and Shen River coincidentally had something to discuss with Chen De.

It turned out that Shen River had found a secret realm left behind by a Void Union Realm expert before his death.

Among the sect, Yang Wei had the best relationship with him, so he naturally invited Yang Wei to go with him.

Chen De, of course, wouldn't refuse such a matter.

Thus, Chen De followed Shen River, enduring countless hardships along the way.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the main chamber where the treasure was hidden.

And Chen De, in this process, also built a deeper friendship with Shen River.

Just as Shen River was about to enter, Chen De called out to him, "Wait a moment!"

Hearing this, Shen River stopped and turned to look at Chen De, "What's wrong?"

Chen De thought for a moment, then said with a sincere expression, "Before we go in, I want you to promise me something."

Shen River became interested, "Tell me!"

Chen De spoke without hesitation,

"Having come all this way through countless difficulties, and considering our long-standing friendship, how about we become sworn brothers?"

Shen River thought about it and then agreed.

So, Chen De immediately took out a statue made in the likeness of Chen De's previous life and a chicken.

The statue had one hand stroking its beard and the other holding a knife.

Shen River looked at the statue and asked, "This is...?"

Chen De chuckled, "This is Chen Gong. In my family, Chen De is the embodiment of loyalty, righteousness, filial piety, kindness, friendliness... all that is true, good, and beautiful.

Worshipping Chen De signifies that brothers can be as loyal as Chen Gong.

Where we come from, sworn brothers must cut a chicken's head and worship Chen Gong!"

Shen River didn't find this strange after hearing it.

Qingnan District alone was vast and rich in resources, so it was normal for different places to have strange customs.

So, Shen River and Chen De knelt before Chen Gong's statue.

Chen De spoke first, "Above, Chen Gong, I, Yang Wei!"

Shen River followed, "Above, Chen Gong, I, Shen River!"

"Today, we become sworn brothers of different surnames, not seeking..."

Finally, they bowed deeply again to Chen Gong's statue.

The ceremony was complete.

Chen De was the first to stand up, helping Shen River, "Big Brother!"

Shen River also called out, "Little Brother!"

"Big Brother!"

"Little Brother!"

"Big Brother!"

"Little Brother!"

...