Chapter 156 Return to Zhongzhou, Undercurrents Surge Again

Leaving the Eternal Ice Plains, he traveled south.

Nightmare did not rush; he maintained a moderate speed. While flying, he distracted himself by digesting the massive information from the Star Palace Legacy, and simultaneously helped Su Wanqing recover.

Although Su Wanqing had escaped danger, her Divine Soul and dao foundation had suffered certain losses from being used as a dao seed in the Ice Soul Immortal Palace. In particular, the influence of the Supreme Art of Forgetting Emotion had not been completely eradicated, and she would occasionally reveal a detached and ethereal temperament, which, when intertwined with her original personality, appeared somewhat complex.

Nightmare fed her some Medicinal Pills obtained from the Star Palace for nourishing the Divine Soul and consolidating her foundation, and combed through her Meridians with his own pure Nirvana magic power (which already contained a trace of vitality), with significant results.

"Master, where are we going now..." Su Wanqing looked at the mountains and rivers with emerging greenery below and asked softly. She had changed into a simple green dharma dress; her beauty remained stunning, but she possessed a bit more calmness than before.

"Heavenly Derivation City in the Central Province." Nightmare said indifferently, "To handle some old business."

He did not explain the deal with the Black-Robed Person in detail, and Su Wanqing obediently stopped asking, just silently following behind him. For her, as long as she could stay by Master's side, it didn't matter where they went.

A few days later, that familiar, magnificent giant city appeared on the horizon again. Heavenly Derivation City was still bustling and noisy, with people flowing like a weave, as if the previous turmoil of the Star Palace ruins had not caused too much impact on it.

But Nightmare keenly felt that the atmosphere in the city seemed somewhat subtle. The number of patrolling Sky Patrol Guards had increased significantly, and their cultivation levels were clearly higher, their eyes scanning passers-by sharply. The figures of some major Sect Disciples had also increased significantly, and they seemed to carry faint wariness between each other.

Nightmare brought Su Wanqing and merged into the crowd silently, without attracting too much attention. His current cultivation had reached the Late-Stage Transformation Spirit, and his control over power had reached a Transcendent level. With deliberate restraint, unless an existence of the same level or even higher investigated carefully, no one could see through his true state.

He first found a quiet inn, asked for a superior room, and settled Su Wanqing down.

"Cultivate here with peace of mind, recover your Origin Qi, and do not go out if there is nothing to do." Nightmare set up several Restriction for concealment and protection, and instructed. The situation in the Central Province was subtle, and he did not want Su Wanqing to get involved in any trouble again.

"Yes, Master." Su Wanqing nodded obediently.

After settling Su Wanqing down, Nightmare flashed his figure and left the inn. He needed to first understand what had happened in Heavenly Derivation City and even the Central Province during the time he was away, and... whether that Black-Robed Person had left any new messages.

The first place he went to was the Myriad Treasures Tower.

Money Maple seemed to have expected him to come. When Nightmare just stepped into the gate of the Myriad Treasures Tower, a steward respectfully greeted him and led him directly to the private room on the top floor.

Inside the private room, Money Maple was still dressed as a shrewd and capable steward, leisurely tasting spirit tea. Seeing Nightmare, he showed a professional smile on his face: "Fellow Daoist Ye, have you been well? It seems that the trip to the North Pole has been very fruitful."

He swept his gaze over Nightmare, and a trace of hard-to-detect surprise flashed in his eyes. Although he still couldn't see through Nightmare's specific cultivation, he could feel that the other party's aura was deeper and vaster than before, as if he had merged with heaven and earth, which was chilling.

Nightmare sat down opposite him and got straight to the point: "What happened in the city? The Sky Patrol Guard and the people from the major Sects seem to have increased a lot."

Money Maple put down the tea cup and smiled: "Fellow Daoist Ye is indeed keen. Something did happen, and it is somewhat related to you, Fellow Daoist."

"Oh?" Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The first thing is, an Elder Li from the Sky Patrol Alliance, and an Elder from the Lingxiao Sword Sect, along with three Soul Transformation Loose Cultivators, were found to have all fallen in the South Lane of Heavenly Derivation City half a month ago. The scene had extremely strong ice-cold aura and a kind of... weird Annihilation power remaining." Money Maple said, looking at Nightmare meaningfully, "The Sky Patrol Alliance and the Lingxiao Sword Sect are furious and are fully investigating the murderer. It is said that they suspect it is related to the mysterious Black-Robed Person who won the seven-colored ice soul lotus that day."

Nightmare's face was calm, as if it had nothing to do with him: "What about the second thing?"

Money Maple was not surprised by his reaction and continued: "The second thing is naturally the ancient ruins in the Blackwater Swamp in the southwest. Many people entered that day, but there were heavy casualties, and finally, the entrance to the ruins was inexplicably closed, and no one could enter again. According to rumors from a few survivors, the heavy treasure at the core of the ruins is suspected to have been obtained by a mysterious powerhouse... Now all forces are secretly inquiring about the whereabouts of that mysterious powerhouse."

He paused and added: "Oh, there is one more thing, perhaps you will be interested, Fellow Daoist. The Seventh Prince of the Central Province Imperial Dynasty, Zhao Wuji, will arrive in Heavenly Derivation City in three days to inspect the Northern Territory on behalf of the Emperor, and host a 'Heavenly Derivation Grand Gathering'. It is said that the winner will be qualified to enter the Imperial Dynasty treasury to choose a treasure, and may even be personally summoned by the Emperor."

Seventh Prince Zhao Wuji? Nightmare's heart moved; this was exactly the target the Black-Robed Person wanted him to kill. The timing was quite coincidental.

"Thanks for the information." Nightmare stood up, ready to leave.

"Please stay, Fellow Daoist Ye." Money Maple suddenly stopped him, took out a black Jade Talisman, and placed it on the table, "This was entrusted to my Myriad Treasures Tower by someone a few days ago to pass on to you, Fellow Daoist. They said... the previous agreement should be fulfilled."

Nightmare's gaze fell on the black Jade Talisman, the aura of which was of the same origin as the sound transmission talisman at the Star Gazing Pavilion back then.

Black-Robed Person!

He picked up the Jade Talisman and sank his Divine Sense into it.

There were only a few short sentences inside: "In three days, at the Heavenly Derivation Grand Gathering, when the Imperial carriage travels along the Vermilion Bird Long Street, it will be the best opportunity. After success, see you at the old place."

The information was clear, with both time and place.

Nightmare put away the Jade Talisman and looked at Money Maple: "What else did this person say?"

Money Maple shook his head: "He just left the Jade Talisman and left without saying much. However..." He pondered slightly and said, "The person who sent the Jade Talisman had a cold aura and not weak cultivation, but it seemed not to be his main body, more like a Puppet Incarnation."

Puppet Incarnation? Nightmare's eyes narrowed. This Black-Robed Person was indeed cautious.

He didn't ask any more questions, turned, and left the Myriad Treasures Tower.

Returning to the inn room, Su Wanqing was meditating and adjusting her breathing. Nightmare did not disturb her, walked to the window alone, looked at the bustling street outside, his eyes deep.

Assassinating a prince was by no means a small matter. Especially when the other party was prepared and in full view. Regardless of success or failure, the subsequent shock would be huge. The anger of the Central Province Imperial Dynasty was by no means comparable to any Sect in the Northern Territory.

Did the Black-Robed Person pay for the information about the Ice Soul Immortal Palace just to make him act as this blade? What deep hatred did he have with the Seventh Prince?

Behind this matter, I am afraid it is far from as simple as personal grievances.

But in any case, a deal is a deal. He, Nightmare, keeps his word. What's more, he also wanted to see what other information this Black-Robed Person could provide about the Ice Soul Immortal Palace or other things.

Three days later, huh...

Nightmare closed his eyes, his mind sank into the rule fragment, and he began to deduce the details of the action three days later, as well as the various variables that might occur.

...

Three days later, Heavenly Derivation City welcomed unprecedented liveliness.

The arrival of the Seventh Prince of the Imperial Dynasty was a rare grand event. The main streets had long been cleared and martial law imposed by the Sky Patrol Guard. Countless Cultivators and commoners crowded on both sides of the street, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Prince.

Vermilion Bird Long Street was the widest and most prosperous main road in Heavenly Derivation City, and also the only way for the Imperial carriage to pass. At this moment, the restaurants and teahouses on both sides of the long street were already full of people, and the windows were crowded with heads.

Nightmare disguised himself as an ordinary middle-aged Cultivator, sat by the window on the second floor of a teahouse along the street, ordered a pot of clear tea, seemingly leisurely, but in fact, the power of the rule fragment had already enveloped the entire Vermilion Bird Long Street and the surrounding area like an invisible net.

He could clearly perceive that in the many buildings on both sides of the long street, there were no less than ten Soul Transformation Stage auras hidden, which were obviously the Prince's guards and experts sent by various forces to observe. There were also powerful Divine Senses constantly scanning in the air.

The defense could be described as strict.

Su Wanqing was asked by him to stay at the inn and did not follow.

Time passed bit by bit.

As noon approached, melodious horn sounds and majestic ceremonial guards came from afar.

It's here!

I saw teams of Imperial Forbidden Army in bright armor and fierce auras clearing the way, followed by a huge ceremonial team, with flags fluttering and canopies like clouds. In the center of the team, a huge carriage, pulled by nine exotic beasts with Dragon Bloodlines, extremely luxurious, and shrouded in pale golden halo, was slowly driving over.

Around the carriage, four old men with auras as heavy as mountains were walking behind, all of them were Late-Stage Transformation Spirit! There was even a hidden but more terrifying Divine Sense, like a shadow enveloping the entire carriage. That was at least a Peak Spirit Transformation, or perhaps... a Void Refining Stage old monster protecting in the dark!

The Seventh Prince, Zhao Wuji, was sitting in that carriage. The rule fragment could vaguely perceive that there was a young but equally not weak aura in the carriage, which had reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

The team moved slowly. Along the way, the commoners knelt and prostrated on the ground, shouting long live, and most of the Cultivators also bowed and saluted.

The atmosphere was solemn and enthusiastic.

Nightmare sat upright, his fingers gently rubbing the edge of the teacup, his eyes calm and waveless.

The Imperial carriage gradually drove into the middle section of Vermilion Bird Long Street.

Now!

A fierce look flashed in Nightmare's eyes. He did not make any exaggerated movements, just moved his mind slightly.

Nirvana · Soul Stealing!

An invisible and intangible power of the Nirvana Law, which transcended conventional Divine Sense perception and acted directly on the true spirit and Divine Soul, like the thinnest black silk thread, traveled through space, ignored the carriage's defensive halo and the perception of the four Late-Stage Transformation Spirit guards, and shot into the carriage with extreme precision!

This attack was not intended to cause huge physical damage, but was extremely restrained, targeting only one point — the complete annihilation of the true spirit mark!

Inside the carriage, the Seventh Prince, Zhao Wuji, who was smiling and waving to the commoners outside the window, suddenly stiffened!

The smile on his face instantly solidified, the brilliance in his eyes quickly extinguished like a candle in the wind, becoming empty and godless. The vigorous vitality around his body dissipated like a receding tide, and his Nascent Soul didn't even have time to react before he had completely lost all life aura.

He still maintained the posture of sitting and waving, looking completely normal.

But in reality, his true spirit had been completely erased!

Dead!

Silently!

The carriage continued to move slowly, and the surrounding guards, ceremonial guards, and commoners did not notice any abnormality. The four Soul Transformation guards and the hidden Void Refining protector only vaguely felt that a trace of extremely imperceptible spatial fluctuation had passed by, but careful investigation yielded nothing, so they just thought it was some spectator Cultivator's aura leaking out due to excitement, and did not pay attention.

It wasn't until the carriage had traveled another hundred feet that an accompanying eunuch felt that His Highness the Prince had been silent for too long, so he cautiously stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Your Highness? Do you need to rest..."

No response.

The eunuch gathered his courage and looked up slightly. When he saw the Seventh Prince's completely empty and godless eyes, he was instantly scared out of his wits, and let out an extremely shrill scream:

"Your Highness! Your Highness has passed away!!!"

Boom!

The whole scene exploded instantly!

"What?!"

"Your Highness!"

"There is an assassin! Protect His Highness!"

The four Soul Transformation guards' expressions changed drastically, they rushed into the carriage instantly, and after confirming the situation, their faces turned pale! The hidden Void Refining aura erupted suddenly, like an angry volcano, and the terrifying Divine Sense crazily scanned everything within a hundred miles!

The crowd was in chaos, screams arose everywhere!

Lockdown!

Thorough investigation!

The entire Heavenly Derivation City instantly fell into huge chaos and panic!

And the culprit, Nightmare, had already left the teahouse silently with the chaotic crowd just before the eunuch screamed, and his figure flashed a few times, disappearing into the intricate alleys.

He didn't even look back at the chaos behind him.

Assassinating a prince, for him, seemed like just doing a trivial thing.

He was now going to another place — the Star Gazing Pavilion in the west of the city.

To meet the Black-Robed Person who paid the final payment.

He was very curious, what would be the reaction of the other party after seeing him complete the task so cleanly and neatly.

And, how big is the real vortex behind this.