Chapter 439: Truth

The crimson figure hovered in the air, not rushing to escape. It clearly understood that facing Meng Chuan, who possessed unmatched speed, escape was utterly impossible.

"Meng Chuan, it will take you at least several moves to capture me," the crimson figure cackled. "If I wish, I can instantly slaughter many mortals below."

"You have two choices."

"One, let me leave, and I will naturally flee immediately, harming no more mortals."

"Two, you confront me, and I will make these mortals die with me."

"Choose wisely," the crimson figure said, looking at Meng Chuan. "I know the renowned Meng Chuan is not a heartless person."

Meng Chuan looked at the strangely cackling crimson figure before him, secretly wondering, "I'm ninety percent sure this mysterious killer is King Anhai. But when did King Anhai become so talkative? And so foolish?"

Meng Chuan's mental-soul star-like fluctuation spread forward, instantly sweeping over the crimson figure.

Meng Chuan knew that King Anhai was exceptional, with a formidable will. Even at the fourth level of mental-soul cultivation, he should have been able to maintain some level of consciousness under the star-like fluctuation.

"Hmm?" The crimson figure, struck by the 'star-like fluctuation', involuntarily swayed and then plummeted downwards.

"What, he lost consciousness?" Meng Chuan had been preparing to defeat the opponent with his bloodblade. Seeing the figure fall helplessly, he was somewhat puzzled. Threads of true essence swiftly flew out and permeated the opponent's body. The figure offered no resistance, allowing Meng Chuan to seal all its power.

As he sealed the figure, Meng Chuan also detected the 'true essence' within this mysterious person, as well as an unconscious 'mental-soul'.

The aura of true essence, the aura of the mental-soul... there was no doubt; it was King Anhai.

Meng Chuan looked at the mysterious killer, now suspended and sealed before him. This mysterious killer's body was larger than King Anhai's, and its face bore dark red runes, making it appear ugly and malevolent.

"His appearance has completely changed, but both his true essence and mental-soul auras are King Anhai's, and his will is quite weak," Meng Chuan mused. "I'll take him back to Yuanchu Mountain first, inform my masters, and then we'll decide how to deal with him."

King Anhai's reputation in the human world was immense.

He was considered the most promising among Yuanchu Mountain's Marquis Godfiends to achieve the rank of 'Creation Venerable'. He had guarded Anhai Pass for many years, slaying numerous demon-beasts and protecting humanity.

Many Godfiends had revered King Anhai, and many demon-beasts feared him.

If this incident were to become public... the impact would be too severe! More crucially, Meng Chuan harbored many doubts. He constantly felt that the 'crimson figure's' speaking style was completely different from King Anhai's.

"King Dongning," King Lyu Yue transmitted from afar as he flew closer.

"I have captured this killer alive," Meng Chuan said. "King Lyu Yue, please handle the aftermath here. I will immediately send this killer to Yuanchu Mountain."

"Good, this killer must not be let off lightly," King Lyu Yue said, his eyes filled with anger. How could he not be enraged when this mysterious killer had caused over a million deaths upon arriving in Yu'an City?

"Rest assured," Meng Chuan said.

Taking the mysterious killer with him, Meng Chuan swiftly headed to Yuanchu Mountain.

Yuanchu Mountain.

Li Guan, Qin Wu's projection, and Luo Tang's projection were already waiting.

"Meng Chuan sent a signal through his token, stating that the threat has been successfully resolved," Luo Tang said, worried. "But we don't know if he captured the killer alive or killed him."

"I hope he's captured alive," Qin Wu frowned. "I really want to see who this killer is, whether human or demon."

"He's here."

Li Guan looked up.

Meng Chuan landed directly inside the Cavern Heaven Pavilion with the mysterious killer. He released the person, and the tall, ugly man with dark red runes on his face looked around uneasily.

"He's the killer?" Qin Wu asked, perplexed.

"Hmm?" Li Guan's expression changed. "I checked his true essence and mental-soul auras. Is it King Anhai?"

Meng Chuan nodded, "When he performed his sword technique earlier, it was indeed 'Spring and Autumn Tribulation'. Back then, King Anhai and I explored the World Gap together, and I saw him use this move. This mysterious killer performed it even more perfectly."

"King Anhai?" Luo Tang was surprised.

"Xue Ting?" Qin Wu was incredulous. "Xue Ting is the killer? That's impossible."

King Anhai was also Qin Wu's disciple, and one of his most outstanding ones.

"My mental-soul avatar is on its way to the city where King Anhai is stationed," Li Guan said. "I want to see if there is another King Anhai there."

"What about his primordial treasure, 'Crimson Cloud Sky', and his identity token?" Luo Tang asked. "They can determine his location."

"They're still in the city he guards, not moving," Li Guan said coldly. "But I've already sent a message summoning him to Yuanchu Mountain, yet his identity token and the Crimson Cloud Sky treasure remain in place, unmoving."

Qin Wu and Luo Tang's expressions subtly changed.

If he didn't obey the summons, then the one before them was likely King Anhai.

Everything was becoming clearer.

"This killer's eyes aren't right; they don't look like King Anhai's," Li Guan observed, looking at the ugly man. He then suddenly activated a mental-soul secret art targeting the ugly man.

"Ahhh!"

The ugly man clutched his head in agony, wailing painfully for a long time. His mental-soul was severely stimulated, and finally, another consciousness began to awaken.

His body trembled, and he slowly raised his head.

Although still in pain, he endured it, looking around.

Meng Chuan, Li Guan, Qin Wu, and Luo Tang were all startled.

At this moment, they were all familiar with the ugly man's gaze—that cold, arrogant look, the eyes of King Anhai.

*Hiss, hiss, hiss.* His bones and muscles were changing, and his face was transforming. Although his true essence was sealed, a Marquis Godfiend's control over their physical body was still very strong, and he quickly reverted to King Anhai's true appearance.

"Venerables, Master," King Anhai said, standing up and bowing respectfully despite the severe pain.

"It's really you," Qin Wu said, looking at him.

"That mysterious killer?" King Anhai frowned slightly. "Was it me?"

Li Guan, Qin Wu, Meng Chuan, and Luo Tang all looked at him.

"I had suspected it too," King Anhai nodded calmly. "Twice before, during my late-night cultivation, I lost consciousness. Even when I woke up, I had no memory of that period. And those two times... coincided precisely with the mysterious killer's attacks on cities."

"Why didn't you report it?" Qin Wu couldn't help but ask angrily.

"I lost my memory twice, and twice cities were attacked thousands of miles away. Does that automatically mean it was me?" King Anhai replied calmly. "If I reported it, what would I say? That I had colluded with the demon race and had connections with them?"

Qin Wu looked at his disciple with a pained expression.

He was once his most proud disciple, one on whom Yuanchu Mountain had pinned its hopes for the emergence of a new Venerable. Who would have thought he was colluding with the demon race?

"Another evil consciousness has appeared in your mental-soul," Li Guan said. "This is very rare. Usually, only by cultivating forbidden secret arts do practitioners develop split consciousness and succumb to madness. Such evil forbidden secret arts have long been sealed away by our human race."

"I have cultivated some unique demon-race techniques," King Anhai said, deep in thought. "Perhaps it's related to their techniques."

King Anhai waved his hand.

Four ancient texts appeared before him.

"These are all the unique techniques the demon race has given me over the years," King Anhai said calmly, realizing there was no need to hide anything now.