Chapter 123 Defeat and Suspicion

Ouyang Shuo staggered backward, his face ashen, a striking trail of blood still at the corner of his mouth. He clutched the bronze token, now dim and even cracked, his eyes filled with horror, disbelief, and a hint of unspeakable humiliation.

Defeated!

The dignified Sky Patrol Alliance Northern Region Patrol Envoy, a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit grand Elder, wielding a Sacred Artifact projection, was utterly defeated by an unknown Devil Head, who was only a Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Cultivator!

This outcome struck him like a ten-thousand-pound hammer, shattering his pride and confidence.

Below, whether it was the people of Ye Yan Palace or the Divine Senses secretly probing from afar, all fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was utterly shocked by this subversive scene.

The Ye Yan Palace Master... was actually this strong?! Even the Patrol Envoy using a Sacred Artifact projection couldn't do anything to him, and was instead severely wounded?!

If this news spread, it would surely shake the entire Northern Region, and even draw the attention of the Sky Patrol Alliance Headquarters in Central State!

Ye Yan hovered in the air, his aura stable, as if the earth-shattering battle just now hadn't consumed much of his Qi. He looked indifferently at the distraught Ouyang Shuo and said calmly, "Patrol Envoy Ouyang, now, do you still demand an explanation from This Sovereign?"

His voice was calm, yet it was like an invisible slap, harshly striking Ouyang Shuo's face.

Ouyang Shuo's chest heaved violently, and another mouthful of congested blood surged up his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it down. He stared fixedly at Ye Yan, his eyes incredibly complex, filled with anger, astonishment, and apprehension, ultimately turning into an icy coldness.

He knew that today he had fallen, completely and utterly. If he continued to entangle himself, he might truly face the danger of falling! This Devil Head's strength was unfathomable, and his methods were unpredictable; he was definitely not an opponent he could defeat!

"Good... very good! Ye Yan, This Seat remembers this!" Ouyang Shuo squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse and full of hatred, "For today's 'gift,' the Sky Patrol Alliance... will surely repay it handsomely in the future!"

With that, he no longer had the face to stay, abruptly turned, and transformed into a streak of escape light, not even bothering with his magnificent jade chariot and silver-armored guards. He fled towards the horizon in utter disarray, at an astonishing speed, as if fearing that Ye Yan would change his mind and pursue him.

Seeing this, the silver-armored guards also woke up as if from a dream and fled in panic, arriving majestically but leaving like stray dogs.

Ye Yan did not stop them, merely watching coldly as they disappeared into the sky.

Do not pursue a cornered foe, especially since the other party was, after all, a Patrol Envoy of the Sky Patrol Alliance. If he were truly to kill him here, it would be an irreconcilable enmity with the Sky Patrol Alliance, and it was not yet time for that stage. Severely wounding him and forcing him to retreat today was already enough to establish his might.

It wasn't until Ouyang Shuo's aura completely vanished that the Ye Yan Palace below erupted in thunderous cheers!

"Palace Master is invincible!"

"Palace Master's Divine Might!"

All the Disciples were so excited their faces were flushed, feeling honored! The Palace Master could even defeat a Patrol Envoy of the Sky Patrol Alliance; who else in the Northern Region's periphery would dare provoke Ye Yan Palace?

Mo Yuan and Su Wanqing also flew forward, their faces filled with excitement and reverence: "Congratulations, Palace Master (Benefactor), for defeating a powerful enemy!"

Ye Yan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the area below, and his voice spread in all directions: "From today onward, seal the Sect, and all Disciples shall devote themselves to Cultivation. Mo Yuan, strengthen the defenses, and report any unusual movements to me at any time."

"Yes!" Mo Yuan solemnly accepted the order.

Ye Yan's figure flickered and he returned to his Immortal Cave, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter.

However, the outside world was completely stirred into a monstrous wave because of this battle!

The news of Patrol Envoy Ouyang Shuo's devastating defeat at the hands of the Ye Yan Palace Master spread at an astonishing speed, sweeping across the entire Northern Region like a storm, and even diffusing towards Central State.

"Have you heard? Ouyang Shuo of the Sky Patrol Alliance was defeated by that newly risen Ye Yan Palace Master in the Black Fiend Wasteland! He fled, heavily wounded!"

"What?! How is that possible? Ouyang Shuo is a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivator! Isn't that Ye Yan Palace Master only a Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Cultivator?"

"Absolutely true! It's said Ouyang Shuo even used a Sacred Artifact projection, and he was still beaten to the point of spitting blood and fleeing!"

"My heavens! What is the background of this Ye Yan Palace Master? This is too terrifying!"

"The Northern Region... is probably going to change! With the rise of such a fierce person, the major Sects probably won't be able to sit still..."

Profound Yin Bone Mountain.

After hearing the detailed battle report, the Xuanming Sect Master remained silent for a long time, finally sighing deeply and ordering: "Recall all spies targeting Ye Yan Palace, and prepare a generous gift... No, This Sect Master will personally prepare a gift and go to Ye Yan Palace to pay respects!"

He completely abandoned any thoughts of probing or retaliation. A ruthless person who could defeat Ouyang Shuo was definitely not someone his Profound Yin Bone Mountain could afford to provoke. Now, he could only try to befriend him, or at least not be an enemy.

The other major Sects in the Northern Region with Soul Transformation Cultivators also had their high-level members urgently convene, and their attitude towards Ye Yan Palace underwent a fundamental shift, from previous disdain and observation to deep apprehension and caution.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Sky Patrol Alliance Northern Region Branch Hall, far away on the border of Central State, was extremely oppressive.

Ouyang Shuo sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression, while the Elders and deacons below were silent as cicadas in winter.

"Investigate! Use all your power to investigate for This Seat!" Ouyang Shuo's voice was incredibly cold, containing monstrous rage and a subtle hint of lingering fear, "What exactly is the origin of that Ye Yan? The power he used is definitely no ordinary Demonic Technique! And his method of neutralizing the Power of the Stars... we must find out!"

"Yes! Patrol Envoy!" His subordinates quickly acknowledged the order.

"Furthermore..." A shadow flashed in Ouyang Shuo's eyes, "Report this matter in detail to the Headquarters... This Devil Head is no longer someone we can handle independently; we need the Headquarters to make a decision, and perhaps even... invite the main body of the sky patrol mirror to project itself!"

Hearing the words "sky patrol mirror," everyone present felt a chill in their hearts. That was one of the Sky Patrol Alliance's Sacred Artifacts that guarded the alliance, possessing boundless power; its main body's projection was far beyond the token projection Ouyang Shuo had used earlier!

It seems the Patrol Envoy was truly pushed to the brink, not even hesitating to alarm the Headquarters... Inside Ye Yan's Immortal Cave.

Ye Yan sat cross-legged, reviewing the battle with Ouyang Shuo.

"A Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivator indeed has some tricks. The Divine Ability of 'Words Become Law' and the Sacred Artifact projection were quite powerful," he mused to himself, "If I didn't possess rule fragments, which can break all techniques, and had not initially refined the star source core, which just happens to counter his Star Secret Techniques, winning against him would definitely not have been so easy."

This battle also gave him a clearer understanding of his own strength. With his many trump cards, he could defeat ordinary Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivators, but if he encountered those Peak or even Perfection Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivators with extremely profound backgrounds, powerful Legacies, or treasures, the outcome would be uncertain.

"My strength still needs to improve," Ye Yan's gaze became even more resolute.

He waved his hand and took out the incomplete Star Road Map, his eyes burning.

"The Fallen Star Ancient Ruins... there, perhaps, lies the Opportunity I need."

Whether it was to find more clues about rule fragments or to acquire resources to enhance his strength, this Star Palace Secret Realm was a must for him.

"System, continue to deduce the Star Road Map, prioritizing the analysis of safe paths and potentially dangerous areas within the 'Fallen Star Ancient Ruins'."

"[Instruction received... Deduction in progress... Expected to consume a large amount of computing power, suggesting more high-level energy...]"

Ye Yan did not hesitate, taking out some Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills from Ouyang Shuo's storage Magic Treasure to serve as auxiliary energy for the System's deduction. A Patrol Envoy's wealth was quite substantial.

Just as he was about to continue his secluded Cultivation, his heart suddenly stirred, sensing a message from Mo Yuan outside the Immortal Cave.

"Palace Master, Xuanming, the Xuanming Sect Master of Profound Yin Bone Mountain, is seeking an audience outside with a heavy gift, claiming to specifically apologize for the disrespectful behavior of his Elder previously..."

Upon hearing this, a faint curve appeared at the corner of Ye Yan's mouth.

"Heh, quite sensible."

He knew that after this battle, the winds of change in the Northern Region had already begun to shift.

And he was the one stirring up these winds and clouds.