241: Chapter 241 Annihilation

[Prisoner: Yan Feng]

[Age: 47]

[Realm: Return to Truth Realm Peak (Crippled)]

[Life: Born into the Yan Family of Jiangnan, practiced martial arts since childhood, talented, entered the 7th Grade at twenty, advanced rapidly thereafter, broke through to the Return to Truth Realm at forty. Due to Family misfortune, he defected to Cao Yong's faction, serving for ten years. Countless lives on his hands, decisive in killing, ruthless.]

[Crimes: Once followed Cao Yong's orders to massacre three small families opposing the Cabinet, totaling 173 people. Assassinated 12 imperial officials and over 20 experts from the Jianghu Righteous Path.]

Chen Ran quietly watched the words on the pages, a flicker of strange light in his eyes.

173 lives.

12 imperial officials.

Over 20 experts from the Jianghu Righteous Path.

The blood on Yan Feng's hands was truly substantial.

Chen Ran raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Yan Feng.

The other party had already noticed his stare, a look of shock and uncertainty flashing across his face, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.

Chen Ran put away the heavenly book of prison suppression and spoke calmly: "Do you have anything else to say?"

Yan Feng trembled all over.

He could tell this was his last chance.

After a moment of silence, Yan Feng gritted his teeth and said: "If I reveal all of Cao Yong's plans, can you spare my life?"

"My cultivation is already crippled; I am no longer a threat to you."

"I know everything about the Cabinet's secret agents, the eyes and ears all over the capital, and even the trump cards held by Cao Yong."

He spoke very quickly, his tone filled with a desire to live.

Chen Ran listened quietly, his face impassive.

After a long time, he nodded slightly: "Very well."

"Speak."

Yan Feng's eyes instantly burst with a glimmer of hope, and he hurriedly spoke.

"Cao Yong has three experts at the Return to Truth Realm under his command. I am ranked third; above me are Hyena and Blood Eagle."

"Hyena is skilled in tracking and assassination, while Blood Eagle is proficient in disguise. Both are at the Middle Stage of the Return to Truth Realm."

"For this operation, Cao Yong's target is not just the Lin Family, but also the Wen Family, the Lu Family, and even several lords within the Demon Suppression Division."

"He wants to take down all the disobedient forces in the capital while the imperial power is shaken, paving the way for the Cabinet."

Yan Feng spoke faster and faster, fearing Chen Ran would not be satisfied.

"The secret agents deployed by the Cabinet in the capital total twenty-seven, distributed across Six Doors, the Demon Suppression Division, and major clans..."

He rattled off over a dozen locations and names in one breath.

Some Chen Ran had heard of, others were completely unfamiliar.

Chen Ran listened quietly, his face as calm as water.

Yan Feng spoke for a full quarter of an hour, spilling almost all the intelligence he knew, before stopping, gasping for breath.

"Everything I said is true, every word is factual."

"As long as you spare me, I swear to go far away and never step foot in the capital again."

His eyes were full of pleading.

Chen Ran lowered his eyes and said calmly: "What you have said is very valuable."

Upon hearing this, a look of relief flashed across Yan Feng's face, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

"Thank you, Lord, for sparing my life."

Before the words faded.

Crack.

A crisp sound of bone breaking rang out.

Yan Feng's neck twisted at an unnatural angle, his eyes widening instantly. The hope in his eyes had not yet dissipated before it solidified into despair.

Chen Ran let go, letting Yan Feng's corpse collapse softly to the ground.

"You're such an adult, yet you still believe such things."

His voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.

The wind blew through the Mass Grave, and the withered grass rustled.

Chen Ran lowered his eyes, looking at the corpse at his feet, his eyes devoid of any fluctuation.

The next moment.

The heavenly book of prison suppression appeared again, shining with golden light.

[Detected that prisoner Yan Feng is dead, calculating rewards.]

[Because you personally executed the target, participation level: High.]

[You have received the reward: 10 years of cultivation.]

A massive surge of cultivation poured into his body like a tide, rushing crazily along his Meridians and merging into the depths of his Dantian.

Ten years of cultivation.

Chen Ran closed his eyes, silently feeling the surge of True Qi within him.

In his Dantian, that mass of liquid True Qi became increasingly solid, almost entirely transformed into True Essence, with faint signs of an impending transformation.

Innate Realm.

It was already within reach.

Chen Ran opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

He raised his hand, the True Qi in his palm vibrating slightly, causing ripples in the surrounding air.

He muttered to himself, a faint arc curving at the corner of his mouth.

"It is time to find a suitable place to make a Breakthrough."

Chen Ran's gaze flickered.

Simultaneously, he utilized the Blood Transformation Great Art and the Ghostly Heart Sutra within his body.

He raised his hand, and a scarlet light emerged, covering Yan Feng's corpse like a large net.

Gurgle.

In an instant, the corpse turned into a beam of blood light and flew into his body.

[Ghostly Heart Sutra has devoured the Divine Soul, your Soul Power has improved.]

After finishing all this, Chen Ran's figure flashed and disappeared into the Mass Grave.

...

...

The capital, Western District.

Outside Chen Ran's residence, it was now bustling with noise.

The entire street was sealed off. Dozens of Six Doors Constables dressed in black hard-armor surrounded the small courtyard, holding weapons, as if facing a great enemy.

The courtyard gate had been smashed open, and the yard was in a mess.

The ground was shattered, walls had collapsed, and eaves were broken; it was clear a fierce battle had taken place.

Outside the street perimeter, more and more onlookers gathered.

"What happened?"

"Why did the people from Six Doors come?"

"Look at that courtyard, the fight was really intense; even the ground cracked."

The commoners whispered, their faces full of fear and curiosity.

The Six Doors Constables had solemn expressions, carefully searching every corner of the courtyard.

"Captain, we didn't find anyone."

"The backyard is empty too."

"We searched the cellar, it's empty."

One by one, the Constables reported to the Silver Badge Constables in the center.

The Silver Badge Constables frowned and said in a deep voice: "Keep searching, don't miss any corner."

"Yes."

Just then.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out.

Everyone turned back and saw a figure in a Flying Fish Robe riding over, pulling the reins outside the crowd, and dismounting.

Lin Wan.

Her face was cold, frost between her brows as she walked quickly toward the courtyard gate.

"Lord Lin."

The Silver Badge Constables hurriedly stepped forward and saluted with cupped fists.

Lin Wan scanned the mess in the courtyard and said in a deep voice: "Have you found the person?"

"Reporting to Lord, we have not found any trace of Chen Ran."

The Silver Badge Constables said in a low voice: "We blocked the three surrounding streets and searched house by house, but..."

Lin Wan interrupted him: "Have you asked the nearby residents?"

"We asked; they all said they heard a huge commotion in the morning, but by the time they went out to check, the fight was already over, and they didn't see anyone."

The Silver Badge Constables paused and added: "A few families did say they inexplicably fainted and when they woke up, several hours had passed."

Lin Wan frowned.

Knocked out?

She scanned her surroundings, feeling a faint sense of unease.

"Keep searching."

"Yes."

Lin Wan turned and walked into the courtyard, squatting down to stroke the cracks in the ground.

The edges of the cracks were smooth, clearly shattered by an extremely powerful force.

This level of destruction...

Lin Wan stood up, her gaze falling on the stone table in the center of the courtyard, which was already broken in two.

Where is Chen Ran?

Where did he go?