Chapter 80 Wen Zhong Tests His Skill

Three days later.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong did not give any prior notice.

The Ink Kirin trod down the street, its hoofbeats heavy, causing all the stray dogs in the alley to cower.

Without attendants or a formal invitation, he barged straight through the gates of the Chen Manor.

By the time Chen Yuan received word from the servants, Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong was already standing in the center of the front hall.

Facing the north wall, he stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze fell upon a map of Zhaoge's city defenses hanging on the wall—

It wasn't an official one, but one Chen Yuan had commissioned privately.

As Chen Yuan entered the front hall, Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's eyes were scanning several positions marked in vermilion ink on the map.

"These seven positions you've marked." Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong did not turn his head.

"They are the seven weakest points in Zhaoge's defenses."

Chen Yuan came to a halt three steps behind him.

"The Grand Preceptor has a keen eye."

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong turned around, his gaze as heavy as molten iron.

"Why would a Lord Wende be studying city defenses?"

Chen Yuan did not back down.

"Though the Eastern Yi are pacified, the Chan—"

His voice paused.

He changed his words with extreme naturalness:

"But the world is not yet settled. Zhaoge is the central hub; if there are loopholes in the city defenses, the state will not be at peace."

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong stared at him.

That pause and correction had fallen precisely into his ears.

The Chan Sect.

This youth had been just one word away from saying it.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong did not press further. He walked to the table and took an iron box from his robe.

The box was not large, but it landed on the table with a dull, heavy thud.

He opened it.

Inside was a letter.

Signed by Yin Pobai, it was a copy of a secret memorial impeaching Chen Yuan for colluding with the Eastern Yi.

The wording was detailed, including the date, location, and contact codes.

"This document is already on Emperor Yi's desk."

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's tone was devoid of warmth.

"What do you have to say?"

Chen Yuan lowered his head and scanned the contents of the letter.

His expression did not change.

The Shanhai Chessboard had already deduced this move three days ago, including Yin Pobai's two visits to the palace.

Emperor Yi's attitude toward the forged evidence had all been marked on his chessboard.

What he hadn't expected was that Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong would personally bring this to him.

This meant one thing—Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong had intercepted a copy.

Instead of sealing the original in the Grand Preceptor's Manor to use as leverage.

He was giving Chen Yuan a chance.

"Fake."

Chen Yuan only said two words.

"Yin Pobai has been in Zhaoge for barely ten days, and his origins are unknown. Although the documents are real, no such person can be found in the seven branches of the Zhaoge Yin Clan.

If he truly had such a secret letter, why did he not report it during the war against the Eastern Yi?

Why wait until Chen Lie was transferred away from Zhaoge to jump out?"

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong did not respond.

He closed the iron box and walked into the courtyard.

Outside the door, the Ink Kirin shook its mane and snorted.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong stood with his back to Chen Yuan.

The shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard stretched long, and the wind rustled softly through the leaves.

The silence lasted for seven or eight breaths.

Then he spoke.

His tone was completely different from before—it was no longer the tone of a Grand Preceptor questioning a subject.

It was one cultivator facing another.

"Chen Yuan."

"This old man will give you one last chance."

He turned around.

The vertical line on his forehead suddenly split open—

The Heavenly Eye.

Fully open.

A beam of golden divine light surged from the crack, illuminating half the courtyard.

This was not the uncontrolled, light sweep from the chess game that night. Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong had actively mobilized all his magic power.

The cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal poured into the Heavenly Eye Divine Ability, turning into a piercing power of insight that locked straight onto Chen Yuan.

The core ability of the Heavenly Eye—Seeing the Truth.

Within Chen Yuan's body, the Wuwei Sutra instantly operated at full power.

But the level of the Heavenly Eye was too high.

The Wuwei Sutra could deceive a Grand Unity Golden Immortal's normal Divine Sense, but it could not withstand the penetration of the Heavenly Eye.

The two forces collided violently on the surface of Chen Yuan's body; golden light clashed with the obscuring power, creating fine ripples in the air.

Within Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's pupils, the image was peeled away layer by layer.

The first layer—the Mortal skin shattered. The magic power of a Taiyi Peak flowed like a surging river, with clear Meridians.

The second layer—the outline of the Great Dao Golden Wheel emerged.

The ancient Dao Rhyme caused Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's breath to hitch. In his hundreds of years of cultivation, he had never sensed something of this level.

The third layer—

A barrier condensed from Way of Chess stood across the deepest part. When the golden light hit it, it was swallowed silently.

He could not see through it.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's pupils shrank suddenly.

The Heavenly Eye slowly closed. The golden light receded, and the courtyard returned to normal.

Chen Yuan stood where he was, his face pale. The consumption required to resist the Heavenly Eye far exceeded his expectations.

Thirty percent of his Taiyi Peak magic power had been drained.

But his back did not bend.

He looked up at Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong, offering no explanation or defense.

He waited.

The courtyard remained quiet for a long time.

Long enough for a locust leaf to flutter down from a branch and tumble twice on the ground between them.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong spoke.

His voice was very low, as if speaking to himself.

"Taiyi Peak. Great Dao Golden Wheel. And one more layer that even this old man cannot see through."

He walked up to Chen Yuan.

"Who exactly are you?"

Chen Yuan was silent for three breaths.

"I am a Disciple of the Jie Sect."

As those words left his mouth, the wind in the courtyard stopped.

"Under the Grandmaster of Heaven, following the Shangqing Immortal Arts, a direct lineage."

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's body froze.

He was a Disciple of the Golden Spirit Holy Mother. The Golden Spirit Holy Mother was a personal Disciple of the Grandmaster of Heaven.

The youth before him... came from the same sect.

"Evidence." Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's voice was dry.

Chen Yuan raised his hand and unbuttoned his collar.

The Jie Sect Lotus Seal on his chest emerged in the sunlight, glowing faintly.

The spiritual energy was warm and enduring, carrying the aura of a female cultivator of an extremely high Realm.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong stared fixedly at that mark.

He recognized it.

The Soul-Protecting Lotus Seal of a Jie Sect Core Disciple. And the technique of this one—

The Sanxiao.

Those three "maids."

All the pieces clicked together in this instant.

Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, he turned and walked toward the Ink Kirin, vaulting onto its back.

Before stepping out of the manor gate, he paused. He did not look back.

"The matter of Yin Pobai, this old man will investigate."

"Regarding the marriage decree, this old man will speak to Your Majesty."

"But remember—"

His voice was as heavy as striking iron.

"This old man recognizes the Jie Sect, but recognizes the Great Shang even more. If there is ever a day these two conflict, this old man will be the first to take your head."

The Ink Kirin neighed loudly, its hooves treading on the bluestones as it sped away, leaving only dust.

Chen Yuan stood at the entrance. Pressing his hand against the Lotus Seal on his chest, he watched the dark figure disappear at the end of the long street.

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor."

His voice was very soft.

Behind him, a faint sound came from the roof ridge.

Bixiao was lying on the tiles. Having been tense for a long time, she finally let out a long breath.

"That moment just now... I almost jumped down."

Yunxiao's voice came from the shadows of the courtyard wall, calm as water.

"He had no ill intent."

Bixiao rolled her eyes. "A Taiyi Golden Immortal with his Heavenly Eye fully open and aimed at someone—you call that no ill intent?"

Chen Yuan turned and walked back into the courtyard. The paleness on his face faded, and he returned to normal.

He glanced at Yunxiao.

Yunxiao looked at him.

Nothing was said between the two.

But Chen Yuan noticed that the hunyuan golden bucket in Yunxiao's sleeve had just been returned to its place.

——At the moment Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong's Heavenly Eye was fully open, she had already gripped the hunyuan golden bucket in her hand.

Chen Yuan withdrew his gaze and walked toward the study.

"Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong has entered the game. Next, it's time to pull in the net."

"Pull in whom?" Bixiao flipped down from the roof ridge.

Chen Yuan pushed open the study door; the endgame of the chessboard was still on the table.

He picked up a black piece and placed it on the position corresponding to Yin Pobai.

"Within three days, Yin Pobai will enter the palace once more."

His gaze passed through the window lattice, looking toward the east of Zhaoge.

"That time, he will bring the final blade."

"It won't be aimed at me."

Chen Yuan's voice deepened.

"It will be aimed at my mother."