4: Chapter 4 The Probing of the True God

Lingxiao Sect liaison point in the capital.

Back room.

When Zhou Xian pushed the door open, someone was already sitting inside.

It was a middle-aged man, his features 70% similar to Zhou Xian, but with more gloom and oppression between his brows. He wore a black brocade robe, an ancient jade pendant hanging at his waist, his aura restrained like an abyss, and occasionally, the rules of heaven and earth trembled with his fluctuations.

Zhou Tong.

Lingxiao Sect inner sect Elder, True God Realm Early Stage.

Zhou Xian's biological father.

"Father." Zhou Xian bowed.

Zhou Tong raised his eyes, his gaze like lightning: "Is he dead?"

"He is dead." Zhou Xian's expression remained unchanged, "Six people, all killed. The leader was a Grade 9 Great Grandmaster Middle Stage, and he didn't even last three breaths."

Zhou Tong was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "That guard, what Realm is he in?"

"Void God." Zhou Xian said, "I can't tell if it's Early or Middle Stage. But when he attacked, I felt threatened."

"Threatened?" Zhou Tong raised an eyebrow, "You are also Void God Early Stage; for you to feel threatened — that person is at least Void God Middle Stage, or even Late Stage."

Zhou Xian nodded: "I thought so too."

Zhou Tong stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside.

"An eighteen-year-old trash prince, where would he get a Void God Late Stage guard?"

"I want to know that too." Zhou Xian said, "So I want to investigate personally."

"No need."

Zhou Tong turned around, his gaze deep: "If that guard is truly Void God Late Stage, you going might not guarantee you can retreat safely."

Zhou Xian was taken aback: "Father means..."

"I will go personally."

Zhou Xian's pupils constricted: "Father is going personally? That trash prince, what virtue or ability does he have..."

"It's not for that trash." Zhou Tong interrupted him, "It's to find out who is standing behind him."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his voice low: "A fallen prince suddenly appears with a Void God Late Stage guard — either it's the foundation left by his mother's family, or someone is supporting him in the dark. If it's the former, it's not worth worrying about; if it's the latter..."

He paused, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.

"Then it would be interesting."

Zhou Xian was thoughtful: "Is Father worried that someone wants to support that trash to seize the throne?"

"Seize the throne?" Zhou Tong laughed, his smile tinged with disdain, "A Grade 6 trash, what does he have to seize the throne? But if someone is laying out a plan in the dark, wanting to use him as a chess piece to stir up the court — then this person must be investigated thoroughly."

He walked to the door and pushed it open.

"Tonight, I will go there myself."

Yongan Ward, Seventh Princes Mansion.

Basement level.

Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, Strategist Jia Xu accompanying him at his side.

"Your Highness," Strategist Jia Xu pointed to the mark of the Lingxiao Sect, "Zhou Xian did not come personally tonight, which shows he is very cautious. This kind of person is the hardest to deal with."

Xiao Xuan nodded: "He knows General Lu Bu is in the Void God Realm, yet he still dares to send people to test, which shows there is someone behind him."

"Your Highness means..."

"Zhou Xian's father, Zhou Tong." Xiao Xuan said, "Lingxiao Sect inner sect Elder, True God Realm Early Stage."

Strategist Jia Xu's expression tightened: "True God Realm... that is indeed troublesome. No matter how strong General Lu Bu is, he cannot stop a True God."

Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Strategist, do you think Zhou Tong will come personally?"

Strategist Jia Xu pondered and said: "If he is cautious enough, he should. His son's men were wiped out, and that guard is at least Void God Late Stage — he cannot not personally investigate this matter."

"Then when will he come?"

"Tonight." Strategist Jia Xu said, "The sooner the better. The longer it drags, the more variables there will be."

Xiao Xuan nodded, turned, and looked toward the south of the city.

"Master Jiang..."

He murmured in his heart.

"Tonight, I will have to trouble you."

South City, Daoist temple.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on a prayer mat and suddenly opened his eyes.

He smiled slightly.

"Zhou Tong... True God Realm Early Stage... finally, someone decent has come."

He stood up and walked outside the temple.

The night wind blew his grey-white Daoist robe, and his white hair and beard shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

He raised his hand, his thin fingers flicking gently in the Void.

An invisible ripple, with the Daoist temple as the center, spread out silently, instantly covering the entire capital.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and nodded.

"Zhou Tong... is already on the way."

He turned back into the temple and sat down cross-legged.

That hookless fishing rod still lay across his lap.

But this time, faint light flowed on the fishing rod.

Yongan Ward.

A figure emerged from the night.

Zhou Tong.

He did not hide his aura, nor did he deliberately conceal his tracks.

In the True God Realm, within this capital, except for those Old Ancestors deep in the palace, no one could match him.

He did not need to hide at all.

He stood on a large tree a hundred yards away from the Seventh Princes Mansion, his gaze piercing the darkness and falling upon that shabby mansion.

"The blue bricks have iron water in the interlayer, and there is a Formation beneath the grey tiles... interesting."

He muttered to himself, a flash of playfulness in his eyes.

"The surface is shabby, but inside it hides such methods. This Seventh Prince is indeed not simple."

He raised his hand and flicked his finger.

An invisible force broke through the air and went straight for the main hall of the mansion.

With this flick, he only used 50% of his power.

But it was enough to force out that Void God guard.

However —

The force flew over the mansion and suddenly seemed to hit an invisible barrier, dissipating silently.

Zhou Tong's pupils constricted.

"Formation?"

He sensed carefully, but he did not sense any fluctuation of a Formation.

That barrier seemed not to exist at all, yet it had truly blocked his attack.

"Interesting."

He sneered, raised his hand, and this time used 50% of his power.

A stronger force broke through the air, like an invisible sword, stabbing straight at the mansion.

And then —

It disappeared again.

This time, Zhou Tong saw clearly.

It was not a Formation.

But a power he had never seen before, which quietly dissolved his force the moment it was about to touch the mansion.

That power... came from underground?

He frowned and was about to attack again —

Suddenly, his whole body stiffened.

A terrifying pressure, like the sky collapsing, crushed down from all directions.

Zhou Tong was horrified.

True God!

And at least True God Realm Middle Stage!

He turned to flee.

But that pressure was like a substance, pinning him firmly in place, unable to move.

"Who?!"

He hissed in a low voice, his internal spirit power running wildly, trying to break free.

But it was all futile.

That pressure was as vast as the sea and as deep as an abyss; it was simply not something he could contend with.

Then, he heard a voice.

The voice was very light, very faint, as if it came from very far away, and yet it seemed to ring right in his ear:

"Go back."

"As for tonight's matter, just pretend it never happened."

"If there is a next time..."

The voice paused.

"My fishing rod doesn't mind having one more fish."

The pressure disappeared suddenly.

Zhou Tong felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, staggering back a few steps, almost falling from the tree.

His face was pale, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

Fishing rod?

What fishing rod?

He did not dare to think more and turned to flee.

He fled for thirty miles in one breath, and only when he returned to the Lingxiao Sect liaison point did he dare to stop and gasp for breath.

"Father!"

Zhou Xian greeted him and, seeing his appearance, was horrified: "What happened to you?"

Zhou Tong waved his hand, sat down on a chair, and gasped heavily.

After a long time, he looked up, his eyes full of fear.

"That Seventh Prince... has someone behind him."

"What kind of person?"

"At least True God Realm Middle Stage." Zhou Tong gritted his teeth, "Maybe even stronger."

Zhou Xian gasped.

True God Realm Middle Stage?

In the entire Lingxiao Sect, there are no more than three Old Ancestors above the True God Realm Middle Stage.

How could that trash prince have a backer of this level?

"Father, what did that person... say?"

Zhou Tong was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "He said... let me go back, and pretend tonight's matter never happened. If there is a next time..."

He paused, a flash of deep dread in his eyes.

"His fishing rod doesn't mind having one more fish."

Fishing rod?

Zhou Xian was stunned.

What does this mean?

The father and son looked at each other, both seeing fear and confusion in the other's eyes.

Yongan Ward, Seventh Princes Mansion.

Basement level.

Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, waiting quietly.

Suddenly, his heart stirred, and he looked toward the south of the city.

A moment later, Zhao Gao's figure walked in quickly.

"Your Highness, Zhou Tong came. And he left."

"He left?" Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Zhao Gao had a look of disbelief on his face, "He attacked twice from a hundred yards outside the mansion, and then fled in panic. My men saw from afar that his face was pale, as if he had seen a ghost."

Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"I know. You may go."

Zhao Gao received the order and left.

Xiao Xuan turned and looked toward the south of the city.

"Master Jiang..."

He murmured in his heart.

"Thank you."

South City, Daoist temple.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on the prayer mat and smiled slightly.

"A small effort."

He whispered to himself, the hookless fishing rod still lying across his lap.

Only the light on the fishing rod had quietly faded away.

The next day.

Lingxiao Sect liaison point.

Zhou Tong and his son had not slept all night.

"Father, what should we do next?" Zhou Xian asked.

Zhou Tong was silent for a long time, then slowly said: "From today on, stay away from that Seventh Prince."

"Then what about Baili Qingyun..."

"Tell him to get lost." Zhou Tong said coldly, "If he wants to seek death, don't drag our Zhou family into it."

Zhou Xian nodded and asked again: "Then what about the Third Prince's side..."

Zhou Tong pondered for a moment and said: "Continue to make contact. But do not be in a hurry to state our position."

He paused, a flash of deep dread in his eyes.

"I must investigate the power behind that Seventh Prince clearly. But before I find out... we absolutely cannot act rashly."

Meanwhile, Crown Princes Mansion.

Xie Duan hurried into the study to report to Crown Prince Xiao Jing.

"Your Highness, there was something very strange last night."

Xiao Jing was reviewing memorials and did not look up: "What is it?"

"Last night, Zhou Tong of the Lingxiao Sect went to Yongan Ward."

Xiao Jing's vermilion brush paused in his hand.

"Zhou Tong? That True God Realm Early Stage inner sect Elder? What did he go to Yongan Ward for?"

"I do not know." Xie Duan said, "But he went quickly and left quickly. My men saw from afar that his face was pale when he left, as if he had encountered something."

Xiao Jing was silent for a moment, then slowly put down the vermilion brush.

"Yongan Ward... Number Seven?"

He frowned.

A True God Realm Early Stage inner sect Elder, going to a trash prince's mansion late at night, and then fleeing in panic?

"Go and investigate." He said in a deep voice, "Find out what Zhou Tong did at Yongan Ward, and check if there is anything unusual about Number Seven recently."

"Yes!"

Third Prince Mansion.

The same news was also delivered to the desk of Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu's reaction was more direct than the Crown Prince.

"Zhou Tong went to Yongan Ward? And fled in panic?" He sneered, "Interesting. I was worrying that I couldn't find any dirt on Number Seven, and he delivered it to my door himself."

He looked at the advisor beside him: "Send people to watch Yongan Ward closely. Since Zhou Tong went there, it means there must be a problem with Number Seven. Finding the problem is a merit."

"Yes!"

Yongan Ward, Seventh Princes Mansion.

Basement level.

Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, looking at the newly added marks.

Crown Princes Mansion spies. Third Prince Mansion scouts. Lingxiao Sect eyes. And a few people from unknown forces were all wandering around Yongan Ward.

"Overnight, so many more eyes." Strategist Jia Xu laughed, "Your Highness, you have become popular."

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly.

"Let them watch."

He turned and looked at the dense marks on the sand table.

"No matter how they look, they will only see a shabby mansion and a Grade 6 trash prince."

"When they can see nothing at all..."

He paused, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.

"Then it will be time for us to strike."

Outside the window, the sun was bright.

On the streets of Yongan Ward, the cries of peddlers rose one after another, pedestrians came and went, and it was a scene of bustling city life.

No one noticed the spies hidden in the crowd.

And no one noticed that beneath that shabby mansion, a large net was quietly tightening.