Chapter 756: Six Departments Arrive

Pitter-patter… Raindrops hit the ground, creating small, circular ripples on the puddles in the road.

With a splosh, the puddles were again broken by the hard-soled shoes of rushing white-robed figures, sending water splashing everywhere.

In an instant, the white-robed team vanished at the end of the road.

At the trade fair. After watching numerous white-robed figures depart for support in the North District, the white and red-robed action commanders in the tea house fell silent.

For a long time, finally, someone spoke. "Holy Power?"

"Hmm, it's unlikely to be an illusion. I expect someone must have learned of the activities here at the Spirit Rift Trade Fair and decided to act elsewhere."

"Who?"

"Within the Eastern Heavenly King City, apart from the Holy Temple and the Half-Saint forces, it's probably only the newly arrived Jiang Clan and the First Pavilion in Heaven."

"Then it must be the Jiang Clan. After all, their people didn't show up tonight, and the First Pavilion in Heaven's people are already inside the trade fair."

The white-robed commanders' conversation was very simple. In just a few sentences, they had clearly analyzed the situation.

"Using this opportunity to act against the Half-Saint Jiang Clan, what is their intention?" someone else asked.

"Jiang Xian of the Jiang Clan, the Three Annihilation Eyes..." another white-robed figure speculated.

At this remark, the tea house fell silent once more.

The Three Annihilation Eyes. If it involved this, it could not be a minor matter.

As white-robed figures who eradicate evil and darkness, and as the sole sliver of light in the darkness, how could any of the present individuals not know that the Three Annihilation Eyes were a matter of great importance, involving many complexities?

Support had already been dispatched, and the present individuals remained silent. Man plans, Heaven decides. They only hoped that the situation in the North District at that time would not be grim news.

"Everyone!" Just then, Chu Lisheng, who had been warming tea in the back, suddenly spoke, interrupting the white-robed figures' conversation with a solemn expression.

"What is it?" The white-robed commanders immediately looked over.

"I have bad news..." Chu Lisheng, holding a communication bead in his hand, said mournfully, "I just received a message from the Yao family of King City, saying that Elder Yao Ye of the Yao family has fallen tonight. The person who acted was someone named 'Eight Revered One'."

With a sudden bang, everyone at both the white-robed and red-robed tables rose to their feet in shock.

"Eight Revered One?" Shou Ye exclaimed in surprise, "The real one, or an impostor?"

Chu Lisheng looked back and said wistfully, "A few senior red-robed figures, not being from King City, might not know that Yao Ye of the Yao Manor was the wielder of the Dao Sword, Grand Origin Water Sword, one of the Twenty-One Famous Swords, and a Grand Void cultivator."

At this, the pupils of Shou Ye and the others sharply contracted. "A Grand Void cultivator... dead?"

If Chu Lisheng could convey such news, Yao Ye must have truly fallen. Yet the repercussions of a Grand Void cultivator's death were so minimal?

Even while stationed in this tea house, the full attention of the white and red-robed figures had been drawn by the Spirit Rift Trade Fair and the Holy Power. They had not expected a Grand Void cultivator to die in battle tonight.

"In that case, it could only have been that sword cry just now..." someone among the white-robed commanders said hesitantly.

Indeed, before the Holy Power erupted, a sword cry had come from the west. But at the time, no one paid it any mind. "A sword cry from the Yao Manor, wasn't that normal?" Who would have thought it was Yao Ye's final lament!

"A sword trial?" A sword-wielding white-robed commander asked.

"Yes." Chu Lisheng nodded. "A pure sword duel, nothing else involved. Yao Ye fell because he failed to defend his sword, which is a legitimate occurrence in the path of ancient sword cultivators."

"Legitimate..." At any other time, everyone would have believed this 'legitimate' claim to be truly legitimate. But tonight, with heightened alarm and this incident occurring, how could it still be considered legitimate?

"So, it really is the Eighth Sword Immortal?" Shou Ye looked back at the others around him, recalling the battle in the Eight Palaces outside the White Cave.

Their mission had ended then, and what remained was the responsibility of the white-robed figures. Thus, Gou Wuyue had ordered them, the red-robed figures, to leave the scene first.

Who would have thought? After they left, they soon heard of a battle in the Eight Palaces where seven hundred white-robed figures were killed. Even Sword Immortal Wuyue had been defeated by a withered branch from the Saint Servant's leader. And the opponent's identity was also clear.

"The Eighth Sword Immortal..." Lan Ling murmured softly, "He's here too."

No one could be unafraid of the words "Eighth Sword Immortal." That was a legend! Not from ancient times, but from just decades ago in the Eastern Region, it could be said to be a contemporary... true legend!

After the battle in the Eight Palaces, the declaration of war by the Saint Servants and the Eighth Sword Immortal had actually been suppressed by the Holy Temple, to prevent panic and the proliferation of dark forces.

But outsiders didn't know; their own people understood! The leader of the Saint Servants was the Eighth Sword Immortal, was Eight Revered One. This was common knowledge among the internal members of the white and red-robed figures.

Now, as soon as the situation at the Spirit Rift Trade Fair was set in motion, the other side immediately acted. "This is too fast!" Shou Ye was astonished by the Saint Servants' speed.

These people seemed to possess the Eyes of the Grand Dao, as if constantly monitoring every move of the Holy Temple. And once the Holy Temple had a lapse in defense, a fatal blow from the shadows would be delivered immediately!

"But why did he target Yao Ye and not us?" "A personal grudge?" someone wondered.

Then someone remembered a very ancient legend. "The Twenty-One Famous Swords..." "That's it, Eight Revered One must be after these twenty-one famous swords."

"From ancient times until now, no one has ever gathered all of the famous swords. But there's a legend that when all the famous swords are collected, it will become another path to sainthood."

Previously, everyone thought the rumors were false. When the Eighth Sword Immortal had not yet truly appeared, even fewer people would believe such an absurd path. "The Twenty-One Famous Swords, even if collected, no one has twenty-one hands to wield them all simultaneously. How could this be another path to sainthood?"

But when the Eight Revered One, whose identity was confirmed, made his move and truly acted on this path, the white-robed figures immediately sent this intelligence up the chain.

Regardless of whether this inference was accurate, the enemy's intention was clear. The Holy Temple only needed to stop them.

Holy Power leaking, Eight Revered One acting... Occurring at such a sensitive time as the Spirit Rift Trade Fair, such vile incidents had erupted. Even though the various white and red-robed commanders present had experienced much, their hearts felt a little uneasy.

"Have our people not arrived yet?" Shou Ye looked at Chu Lisheng, asking inquisitively.

He was one of the few who had witnessed the grand formation in the Eight Palaces, and thus understood the terrifying nature of the Eighth Sword Immortal even better. Since the opponent had decided to act, it was clearly not as simple as merely seizing a famous sword.

Because Xu Xiaoshou might still be at the trade fair. The Saint Servants could not possibly stand idly by. If that were the case, even dark forces like the Saint Servants would intervene in this situation. Back then, even Gou Wuyue had been suppressed, so with the scale of this trade fair, even with many people, how could the operation succeed without a grand master overseeing it?

"They should be here soon..." Chu Lisheng responded subconsciously, then suddenly looked towards another part of the void and corrected himself: "They're here!"

As soon as he spoke, ripples appeared in the void. Then, an intricate Dao pattern formation spread out, covering a good portion of the sky, making the night shimmer.

The next moment after the Heavenly Mechanism formation was completed, a small spatial tunnel expanded, and a young man and woman emerged from it.

The man was tall and upright, handsome and dashing, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuding youthful vigor. The woman had a graceful figure, her face covered by a light veil, her star-like eyes shining brightly, her every glance radiating brilliance.

The appearance of this pair was like an imperial prince and a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. Both possessed an extraordinary, ethereal aura, untouched by earthly dust. The originally solemn night was adorned with a stroke of extreme splendor, becoming elegant and refined.

"My name is Yu Zhiwen. I greet the seniors." As soon as she appeared, Yu Zhiwen clasped her slender hands and bowed respectfully. Then her starry eyes turned, and she looked with slight surprise towards the red-robed table, "Sister Lan Ling..."

"Sister Zhiwen!" Lan Ling was equally surprised by the newcomers.

Her last collaboration with Yu Zhiwen in the White Cave had shown her the terrifying Heavenly Mechanism Arts of the contemporary youth, and also made her understand why the Holy Temple dared to gradually dispatch young people to cooperate with the red and white-robed figures.

It wasn't just for training. They were genuinely useful!

They were so useful that, apart from the unexpected cry of "Run!" on the Departing Sword Grassland, Lan Ling could find no fault with Yu Zhiwen.

As for that unsettling cry of "Run!"... To be honest, Lan Ling never dared to directly ask whether it came from Xu Xiaoshou or Yu Zhiwen, even until the very end.

The matter was over. She had let it go. Pursuing it? There was no point.

Descending from the void, Yu Zhiwen drifted to the red-robed table, arriving before Lan Ling. Lan Ling smiled and said, "Why are you here? I thought you had already returned to the Central Region to report."

Yu Zhiwen's eyes curved, and she replied with a faint smile, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sister Lan Ling, but Master told me to remain on standby in the Eastern Region, saying there were still places where I could be useful. Incidentally, he also sent me a helper, who can be put to good use right now."

"What disappointment are you talking about..." Lan Ling shook her head with a chuckle, following Yu Zhiwen's gaze to look at the young man who was still floating in the void, seemingly aloof, yet also as if waiting for someone to introduce him, and who was curiously surveying the area during the pause.

"And this is?" she asked.

Yu Zhiwen introduced with a straight face, "My senior brother, Situ Yongren, number one on the Dao Department's Heavenly Ranking, the beloved disciple of the Dao Palace Master, and much more powerful than me."

Everyone was astonished. The Dao Department was one of the six departments of the Holy Temple. The Dao Department's Heavenly Ranking was a list of those who delved deeply into the mysteries of the world, with those on the list having profound mastery of Heavenly Mechanism Arts. It was already known that Yu Zhiwen, standing before them, was second on the Dao Department's Heavenly Ranking. They had not expected that the newcomer would be her senior brother. Number one on the Heavenly Ranking.

And... The beloved disciple of the Dao Palace Master! It could be said that this revelation truly allowed everyone to truly see the background of the young man floating in the void. The disciple of the current Holy Temple Master, Dao Qiongcang. In worldly terms... This was akin to a Crown Prince!

"Junior Sister, you're being too modest." At this, Situ Yongren, having been introduced, slowly descended to the ground and said softly:

"I, your senior brother, am merely a few years older and have studied Heavenly Mechanism Arts for a few more years, that's all. Junior Sister was born with the talent to rank second on the Heavenly Ranking, has now reached the Grandmaster realm, and has gained initial insight into the Dao of Heaven. With her Pearlescent Star Eyes activated, who wins and who loses is still up for debate, hehe."

Situ Yongren possessed an elegant demeanor and a very humble attitude, speaking impeccably. However, beneath her veil, Yu Zhiwen merely pressed her red lips together and did not respond.

Situ Yongren's expression remained calm. After speaking and seeing Yu Zhiwen's silence, he calmly turned to look at the surrounding white and red-robed figures.

"Junior Situ Yongren greets all seniors. I am here to be commanded as you wish."

It must be said that, apart from his condescending stance just now, Situ Yongren's behavior was flawless, and he appeared gentle. However, Chu Lisheng, who was holding the teapot in the back, subtly frowned.

Perhaps it was due to spending too much time in official circles, which made it difficult for Chu Lisheng to feel any immediate fondness for this young man. In front of so many white and red-robed seniors, even he, Chu Lisheng, had to speak politely. Yet Situ Yongren, upon his arrival, first spoke from a lofty position, then seemingly ignored the seniors, and only after failing to engage his junior sister in conversation did he turn to address the white and red-robed figures.

Although his attitude was humble and courteous, Chu Lisheng's first impression was that the man was excessively arrogant.

But when he turned and saw that the red and white-robed seniors seemed not to care at all about the order of address, Chu Lisheng suddenly felt a pang of shame.

Oh, right! These white and red-robed figures, who constantly walked the line between life and death, how could they possibly care about the order in which a junior spoke or addressed them? Their stance was firm. Their abilities sufficient. That was all that mattered.

"Let's begin!" The white-robed commander wasted no words, telling Yu Zhiwen and Situ Yongren.

Situ Yongren glanced back at him, but said nothing. He then turned his head to Yu Zhiwen, his lips curving into a gentle smile as he said, "Junior Sister, shall we begin?"

Yu Zhiwen said nothing, simply extended her hand silently, gently formed a hand seal, and slowly pressed it into the void. Instantly, intricate Heavenly Mechanism Dao patterns emerged. The Heavenly Mechanism formation that had brought them there expanded again, and the spatial tunnel became even more stable.

Situ Yongren watched for a long time, then smiled and came to his senses, extending his hands as well. "Buzz—" As his King's power spiritual energy poured in, the void hummed and trembled. Then, Dao patterns lit up on Situ Yongren's body and spread into the void through his spiritual senses. In an instant, everyone could feel a monumental change in the Heavenly Mechanism formation patterns.

If Yu Zhiwen's Heavenly Mechanism Arts had solidified this spatial tunnel to its utmost, then Situ Yongren had given it wings, allowing the Heavenly Mechanism Dao patterns within to undergo a qualitative sublimation.

"So powerful..." Lan Ling's eyes showed shock. As a Spirit Array Master, she understood Situ Yongren's strength even more.

Such a young man not only possessed King's power cultivation, but also commanded such powerful Heavenly Mechanism Arts. One must know that this was not a fixed large-scale teleportation array, but the instantaneous construction of a spatial tunnel communicating between two regions. Since ancient times, only Heavenly Mechanism artists of the Dao Palace Master's level could accomplish this. And now, two juniors had completed such a magnificent feat. Geniuses!

"Wah-ga-ga!" While she was contemplating, an excited, strange cackle came from inside the spatial tunnel.

"Here it comes, here it comes! The spatial tunnel is finally open! I can finally come out and have some fun, hahaha! Damn this position as the leader of the Body Department! For so many years, sitting here has practically flattened my backside!"

Amidst the strange cackle, a short, hunchbacked old man, like a dwarf, sprang out. The moment he appeared, his eyes glowed green, and he enthusiastically surveyed his surroundings.

"Little girl!" Upon seeing Yu Zhiwen, the hunchbacked old man's eyes blazed brightly. Such beauty, even veiled, was practically unheard of in his life. The hunchbacked old man immediately bounced higher, trying to make his presence known, then rubbed his hands together and eagerly asked, "Little girl, what's your name... hmm?"

Upon realizing that the spatial tunnel was constructed by the girl before him, the hunchbacked old man's eyes showed a hint of surprise. Then he changed his tone, urgently saying:

"Stop, stop! I'm enough! No need to call anyone else out. This time, I guarantee I'll smash them to bits." He waved his hand.

Beads of fragrant sweat appeared on Yu Zhiwen's delicate neck, but her hands did not dare to stop.

Just as the hunchbacked old man's words fell, another robust and arrogant voice of anger came from within the spatial tunnel:

"Wang Dachui, what a big, smelly mouth! Aren't you afraid of offending people? Back then, Kui Leihan hammered you into a hunchback, and it seems your damn injuries haven't healed yet, so you dare to spout such arrogance? If you're alone, with no one holding you up, can you even jump high enough to hit the enemy's knees?"