48: Night Visit to the East Courtyard

Situ Jun rose quietly and covered Cherry with a blanket.

He changed into night-traveling clothes, slapped an Invisibility Talisman onto himself, and took his Lifebound Treasure, 'ice seal', out of the System space to tuck it into his waist.

Leaving the room, he stood staring toward the East Courtyard for a long while before letting out a soft sigh.

Executing the Light Body Technique, he flew onto the roof and sped toward Zhu Changpo's residence.

As Zhu Changpo was a Half-step Golden Core Stage expert, Situ Jun had considered secretly slipping a "servitude pill" into his food.

Unfortunately, this Medicinal Pill could only be used on those with a Cultivation lower than oneself to utilize the mysterious rules of the Heavenly Dao and completely transform the target into an obedient slave.

This time, Situ Jun's main goal in going to the East Courtyard was to use the "Eye of Detection" to investigate Zhu Changpo's recent movements.

As for the idea of wounding Zhu Changpo until his Realm dropped to the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment before feeding him the "servitude pill," that was nothing more than a pipe dream.

Not to mention whether he could even defeat Zhu Changpo; even if he succeeded by some fluke, it would certainly alert the estate's guards, making escape difficult.

At this time, Zhu Changpo's courtyard was still brightly lit and heavily guarded, with soldiers patrolling back and forth.

Situ Jun stood on a distant roof, lost in thought for a moment. After circling the courtyard, he finally spotted Zhu Changpo in front of a heavily guarded, brightly lit room.

Through the open window, he saw Zhu Changpo looking down at a yellowed ancient book.

Situ Jun didn't dare get too close, fearing he would be detected by the other's spiritual sense.

He silently chanted in his heart, "Eye of Detection!"

[Name: Zhu Changpo]

[Age: 120]

[Identity: First Commander of the North City Estate]

[Cultivation: Half-step Golden Core Stage]

[Spiritual Vein: Low Grade Gold Spiritual Vein]

[Favorability: -50]

[heavenly luck value: 3000]

[Recent Evaluation: Controls all minerals. Plans to take advantage of the spirit stone vein rotation in half a month to transfer Situ Jun there for guard duty, seek an opportunity to kill him, seize all the Spirit Stones, and frame people from the State of Zhou.]

Seeing this information, Situ Jun's eyes gleamed. He had originally planned to run a shop and build up his own power, but now a strong desire surged in his heart—he wanted to replace Zhu Changpo.

One must know that for a cultivation power or a nation, a spirit stone vein meant endless cultivation resources and massive capital to recruit experts.

Furthermore, rare Ores produced by some veins were precious Materials for Cultivators to perform Artifact Refining and nurture their Lifebound Treasures.

Now that so many treasure-producing sites were firmly controlled by Zhu Changpo, how could Situ Jun not be moved!

What also surprised him was:

Even after having so much of his heavenly luck value plundered, Zhu Changpo still had 3000 left. If he hadn't plundered it, this man would have surely achieved a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage before long, threatening his life.

Situ Jun gripped the 'ice seal' at his waist; the Magical Artifact trembled slightly, as if responding to his surging killing intent.

Suddenly.

The candlelight in the study suddenly flickered violently. Zhu Changpo slammed the ancient book onto the desk with a dull thud. His face was dark as he said in a low voice:

"Call the Secret Guard Commander here."

After a moment, footsteps approached from a distance. Hiding in the shadows, Situ Jun's pupils constricted—he had never seen this person before.

The newcomer was burly, his tall frame almost filling the doorway.

The man had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with a hideous scar running diagonally across his bronze face. His black armor glinted coldly, and he was surrounded by a faint aura of blood, as if he had emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, exuding the killing intent of a battlefield.

Situ Jun was shaken but calmly activated the "Eye of Detection."

A blue light flashed, and information surfaced like flowing water:

[Name: Tu Xiong]

[Age: 70]

[Identity: Secret Guard Commander of the North City Estate]

[Cultivation: Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment]

[Physique: None]

[Favorability: 0]

[heavenly luck value: 3500]

[Recent Evaluation: Secretly escorting a batch of iron Ore to the 'Qingyun Chamber of Commerce']

Situ Jun's gaze was deep as he secretly sized up Tu Xiong, calculating in his heart that this man's Cultivation was extraordinary; if he could be brought under his command, he would surely be a great help.

Zhu Changpo's fingertip slowly traced the mark of the spirit stone vein on the map, his eyes sinister:

"Spread news of the vein's guard rotation to the people of Zhou. Tell them the Mine Tunnel's defenses are loose and the personnel's Cultivation is low.

Furthermore, arrange for death soldiers to mingle with the rotating personnel. Once the State of Zhou attacks, if Situ Jun cannot be eliminated, have them strike together."

Tu Xiong cupped his fists, took his orders, and left. Every word of this conversation was like an icicle, stabbing deeply into Situ Jun's heart.

The night wind swept up a few withered leaves, which rustled against the window lattice as if sobbing for the impending crisis.

Using the cover of the leaves, Situ Jun silently retreated to a dark spot on the roof.

However, just as he was about to use his Light Body Technique to evacuate, a cold aura, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, instantly locked onto his body.

The hair on Situ Jun's body stood on end as he instinctively rolled backward.

A golden light shot past his ear, blasting an inch-deep gully into the tiles and sending stone fragments flying.

Situ Jun looked up to see Zhu Changpo standing on the corner of the eaves with his hands behind his back, cold light flashing in his eyes as a tangible pressure bore down on him:

"What scoundrel dares to break into the North City Estate at night?"

"ice seal!"

Situ Jun roared in his heart, and his Lifebound Treasure instantly transformed into an ice Dragon dozens of feet long, roaring as it soared into the sky.

However, Zhu Changpo's Half-step Golden Core pressure bore down like a towering mountain. Before the ice Dragon could even touch him, it shattered inch by inch, turning into a sky full of ice shards.

Situ Jun felt a metallic sweetness surge in his throat. He stumbled back three steps, his back slamming heavily against the roof ridge, and a piercing pain shot through him.

"With only this much skill, you dare to pluck the whiskers of this commander?"

Zhu Changpo approached slowly, the golden spiritual power condensing at his fingertips flickering like a snake's tongue, emitting a heart-palpitating aura:

"Take off your mask and tell me your reason for being here, and I'll give you a quick death."

Before he could finish, an earth-shattering explosion suddenly sounded outside the courtyard. Soaring flames instantly turned half the sky red, and thick smoke billowed upward.

Zhu Changpo's expression changed drastically, and he whipped his head toward the sound.

Situ Jun seized this fleeting opportunity, Without hesitation, he crushed the teleportation talisman in his arms..

A blinding white light instantly engulfed him. At the moment he vanished, he heard Zhu Changpo's furious roar:

"Pursue him! I want him found, dead or alive!"

When Situ Jun opened his eyes again, he was inside a warm pavilion.

Cold sweat soaked his clothes. He slumped behind a screen in the pavilion, his heart still pounding with lingering fear.

Recalling the danger just now, if he hadn't obtained the Heavenly Thunder Talisman and the Teleportation Talisman from five previous Intermediate draws and set up a Thunder Attraction Array in a corner of the East Courtyard in advance, he would have likely met with disaster tonight.

Situ Jun slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, opened his Storage Pouch, and took out a healing Medicinal Pill to swallow.

As the Medicinal Pill dissolved, his injuries were gradually suppressed.

Once his breathing stabilized, he opened his eyes and began to survey the unfamiliar surroundings.

Just then, the shouts of patrolling soldiers searching for the enemy rang out. Situ Jun was startled and secretly annoyed: how could the teleportation distance of this talisman be so short? He was still near the North City Estate!

While his heart was filled with trepidation, a gauze lantern lit up behind the screen, its soft light gradually spreading.

Accompanied by soft footsteps, Situ Jun's heart instantly leaped into his throat.

A female figure slowly walked out and went straight to a soft couch in front of a bronze mirror to sit down.

She had likely been awakened by the chaotic noise.