Chapter 759: Several, my family’s lord seems to have been kidnapped…

"Ghost Beast!"

In an instant, everyone turned around in unison.

The beast's roar came suddenly. But among those present, not to mention the Red Coats, even the Red Coat Ruler, one of the two Rulers of the Guiding Path from the Holy Divine Palace, was there. How could they not discern its true nature?

Rao Yaoyao immediately cast all other matters aside and issued orders: "Teng Shanhai, investigate Yao Manor. If you find it's truly Eight Masters, do not engage. Immediately send me a message and call for assembly."

Teng Shanhai nodded, "Understood."

Rao Yaoyao sternly reminded him, "Remember, once you find him, don't rush to attack. You can't defeat him..."

"I know," Teng Shanhai drew out the sound, chuckling, "I'm not Yu Mo. How could I be so foolish as to choose to fight that person alone?"

"As long as you understand." Rao Yaoyao snorted lightly. With a wave of her hand, Teng Shanhai turned and vanished.

Then, she turned her head to look north again and called out, "Wang Dachui!"

*Swoosh!*

The hunchbacked elder, who had seemingly vanished to the ends of the sky, suddenly appeared, saying slyly, "What task does Fairy Rao want to give old Wang? To protect those from the Semi-Saint family?"

Rao Yaoyao's beautiful eyes glared. "Stop your joking. The Jiang clan successor appearing this time carries the Three Aversion Eyes. Your task is difficult, not easy. Be careful not to stumble."

"That won't happen..." Wang Dachui shrugged, nonchalantly. "No matter how much I stumble, it won't be as bad as Teng Shanhai having to face Eight Masters, right?"

Rao Yaoyao glared at him in annoyance. "You need to be wary of a person wearing a golden mask..."

"I know!" Wang Dachui waved his hand dismissively. "Yama's Yellow Springs, I've been watching them for a long time. I've gathered a lot of intelligence over the years; we'll have to face them sooner or later. But I still appreciate Fairy Rao's concern, don't I?"

"You know and you're still messing around?" Rao Yaoyao waved her hand again. "Hurry up and get out!"

"I'm just giving the happiness to you and keeping the tension for the battle..." Wang Dachui suddenly became earnest.

Rao Yaoyao immediately moved to draw her sword. The hunchbacked elder, startled, fled without another word, rushing to carry out his mission.

"As for the two of you..." Rao Yaoyao looked at Night Owl and Yi. "For now, conceal yourselves, you two free spirits, and guard this location!"

Night Owl remained silent, his figure beginning to fade, eventually disappearing completely from everyone's sight.

Yi, however, pouted, somewhat displeased. He listened to Rao Yaoyao's private message, which was distinctly different from her public command: "One on each side: Night Owl to the west, Yi to the north. No need to engage, but monitor their battle at all times and report back intelligence and progress."

Yi was quite unhappy. As he concealed himself within the Heavenly Dao, he transmitted a question in return, "Can't you just put us together?"

Rao Yaoyao scoffed, "You two together? Will you even think about the battle when you're together? Who was it last time who, amidst a great war, went off to the mortal world to watch fireworks together?"

Yi: "..."

This time, he couldn't retort. He could only bite on his candied hawthorn, reluctantly separating from Night Owl.

"Senior, what about us?" At this moment, Situ Yongren, seeing that all other department heads had received their tasks and only his Dao Department had nothing to do, immediately spoke up. He was not one to lag behind others and naturally couldn't stand idly by.

Rao Yaoyao turned her gaze towards them, her expression softening. She said gently, "Situ and Yu Zhiwen, you two will follow me for now. No need to move."

Situ Yongren's expression froze; he felt a pang of discomfort. Sure enough, she was still treating him like a junior!

How could Rao Yaoyao not see the young man's expression and hear his unspoken thoughts? She then explained further: "You two are here to learn. If you can control the mid-field, try to learn how to observe the entire situation. A true leader plans strategies from within their tent and wins battles a thousand miles away. Especially you, Situ!" Rao Yaoyao's voice became stern as she spoke. "Your master has high hopes for you. What you will face in the future is not just the Holy Slaves or the Xu Yue Gray Palace, but all the darkness of the continent. Therefore, don't get caught up in minor details. You need to learn to broaden your perspective, just like..."

As she spoke, Rao Yaoyao turned to look at Yu Zhiwen, but suddenly swallowed the rest of her sentence.

Truth be told, Rao Yaoyao felt that Situ Yongren's youthful temperament was too pronounced; he simply couldn't achieve the steady composure of a seasoned young man. In this regard, even Yu Zhiwen was significantly better than Situ... It should be said, much better!

However, Rao Yaoyao couldn't influence Dao Qiongcang's choice. Like many high-ranking officials of the Holy Divine Palace, she, Rao Yaoyao, was quite puzzled. Why would Dao Qiongcang choose someone whose Heavenly Secret Arts were excellent enough to be top-tier among the younger generation, but whose temperament was slightly inferior, to be his successor? One must know that for a position like the next Palace Lord of the Holy Divine Palace, temperament is actually more important than cultivation.

Yet, the older generation could look down on Situ Yongren but could not deny Dao Qiongcang. Kui Leihan, Eight Masters, and the unfathomable Dao Qiongcang. These were the three giants of the previous era. Especially Dao Qiongcang, renowned for his unfathomable Heavenly Secrets and ever-changing schemes. The choices of such individuals must have a true third layer hidden beneath the first and second layers that ordinary people can perceive, and even a fourth and fifth layer! And it was these so-called hidden layers that Dao Qiongcang must have valued.

Rao Yaoyao felt that her confusion, and the world's confusion, were entirely understandable. Because once even she could see through it, and the world could see through it, then Dao Qiongcang would no longer be called the unfathomable Dao Qiongcang.

To take a step back! Looking at Situ Yongren, who had fallen into thought after her words and then showed a look of sudden realization, Rao Yaoyao knew. This young man was actually not bad. What he lacked was merely that crucial bit of "self-enlightenment."

"Perhaps, experiencing more setbacks will lead to growth."

Without further thought, Rao Yaoyao had always treated these two future stars of the Heavenly Secret path with equal respect. Seeing that they respected her command, she turned to Lan Ling.

"Go. Now, it's your time."

Lan Ling and the others could no longer hold back. Upon receiving the instruction, they moved swiftly.

"Yes!"

***

At the trade fair venue.

Rewind time slightly.

Ever since Night Watch appeared and subdued the crowd, the atmosphere in the venue had been extremely tense.

The Red Coats and White Coats were conducting their judgment not here, but outside. So, as one by one, people from the VIP seats were led out by the Holy Divine Palace guards and then disappeared without a trace, everyone understood. Those who left would either return home safely, or they would simply be silently apprehended!

The atmosphere in the venue became increasingly stagnant and, with the passage of time, more oppressive. Even those at the King's Throne and Path-Severing levels seemed unable to withstand this situation of awaiting judgment. Because almost no one in the entire venue was truly innocent. The higher the cultivation, the more dirty deeds one had committed!

But... "Resist?"

Are you kidding? At this critical juncture, whoever moved first would be more suspicious! No one dared to resist. At this point, even hegemonic powers of the royal city like Great String Heavenly Sect and Guiyin Pavilion obediently returned to their private rooms, awaiting interrogation by the White Coats and Red Coats.

Since they were behaving this way, others were even less daring to act unruly.

Inside private room 122.

Yellow Springs sat in the central position, unwavering. But in this icy, stiff atmosphere, Blooming Higanbana, the blue-robed masked man, clearly couldn't sit still.

"Lord Yellow Springs..."

As soon as he spoke, Yellow Springs responded with a smile, "No rush, wait a bit longer. Our private room number is further back, so it's not our turn yet. Once the time comes and the operation on the other side succeeds, you can escape this bitter sea, and..."

As he spoke, Yellow Springs looked out the window and murmured, "With so many people, there are bound to be a few who will be the first to lose their composure."

Blooming Higanbana fell silent. In his eyes, their private room was the one least prepared for the judgment. So, still waiting? If they didn't quickly disrupt the scene, create a disturbance, and cause everyone to riot so they could take the opportunity to leave, then it would be too late.

Time ticked by. Like Blooming Higanbana, more and more people grew restless. Just then, Yellow Springs, who was seated in the main position, suddenly twitched an ear and turned his head to look behind him. He seemed to be staring at the wall panel behind him, but his gaze was clearly piercing through it, looking into the distance.

"Lord Yellow Springs..."

Blooming Higanbana and Nine Nether Ghost Infant simultaneously turned their heads, alert. They saw Lord Yellow Springs secretly act, shielding the Heavenly Secrets of their private room. Spatial-temporal energy surged on his hands.

"It's time!"

They both understood at the same time: the operation on the other side had concluded. Though they didn't know if it was a success or failure, it was clear that Yama and his companions could now leave.

However, it was precisely at this moment. When another team of White Coats entered private room 6, unlike before, they couldn't successfully bring anyone out. Instead, a furious beast roar erupted from private room 6.

"ROAR—"

This roar stunned everyone present.

"Ghost Beast?!"

Everyone suddenly realized. Private room 6, it truly contained a Ghost Beast? So, the Red Coats' alert, the Holy Divine Palace's lockdown, actually had a solid basis?

*Boom!*

A sound of destruction echoed. As the beast roar subsided, the door of private room 6 instantly exploded open. Walls crumbled, and stones flew amidst the debris. Several blood-stained figures of Holy Divine Palace guards were instantly flung out. Then, amidst surging ghost mist, a black scorpion tail, several zhang high and thick enough for three people to encircle, lashed out from private room 6 with a *bang*, violently striking the center of the trade fair venue and unleashing boundless airwaves.

Everyone was terrified.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Almost simultaneously, the doors of most private rooms opened, and people poked their heads out. Upon seeing the black scorpion tail, everyone's hearts sank into chaos.

"Ghost Beast!"

"Holy crap, it's really a Ghost Beast!"

"Damn it, run! Everyone run! If a fight breaks out here, the shockwaves alone will be enough to destroy everyone!"

"Run—"

Whether intentional or not, the appearance of this black scorpion tail seemed to ignite another wave of resistance against the lockdown. Everyone fled their private rooms in a panic, dashing like mad towards the main entrance of the trade fair venue. Some, seeing the chaos, even began to bombard the protective barrier of the trade fair, wanting to open the heavenly gate and fly high.

"Silence—"

Just then, several Red Coat figures flew out from beyond the main entrance. Night Watch's killing intent erupted, instantly suppressing the chaos across the entire venue.

"Everyone, if anyone attempts to cause a disturbance, they will be considered an accomplice of the Ghost Beast, and their nine generations will be implicated!"

These words were undeniably authoritative, and everyone immediately quieted down. Regarding Ghost Beasts, implicating nine generations was not an exaggeration but a real threat.

Although the widespread panic was temporarily suppressed by Night Watch's imposing presence, some still spoke out indignantly: "Seniors of the Red Coats, we can choose not to run. But if you want us to be quiet, first and foremost, you must guarantee our safety! A Ghost Beast, this is no trifling matter..."

Some people were feigning panic, but most were truly terrified at this moment. Ghost Beasts started at the King's Throne level, with no upper limit. Even among the many present who had heard legends of Ghost Beasts, most only knew the surface, not the details. Furthermore, most of these people had only encountered the most insidious aspects of Ghost Beasts: invincible among peers, touch of ghost qi means certain death... one Ghost Beast life for ten Path-Severing corpses... So, when that horrifying, thick black scorpion tail appeared, as if an ancient primordial beast was tearing open an interdimensional space to descend, even Guiyin Pavilion, a hegemonic power, panicked.

"Pavilion Master!"

Inside private room 7, Protector Mo Qing was nearly frantic, leaping up in alarm. He had been tremblingly waiting for private room 6 to finish so that their private room 7 could undergo judgment. He never expected... A Ghost Beast, right next to him?!

Others only saw a black scorpion tail. Private room 7, as a neighbor to private room 6, witnessed the complete mutation process of two Ghost Beast hosts inside private room 6 when the massive ghost qi and black mist rose and the adjacent wall panel shattered.

Yes... Two of them!

At that moment, a woman wearing a cute cat mask inside private room 6 began to convulse violently when touched by a Holy Divine Palace guard. Ghost qi burst forth, walls collapsed. She grew massive, developing black scorpion armor. She then lay prostrate, and a thick, chilling scorpion tail grew from her lower back. That terrifying scorpion tail immediately whipped out, striking the astonished King's Throne-level Holy Divine Palace guard, sending him flying, bleeding and unconscious.

And on the other side of this scorpion-tailed Ghost Beast, simultaneously, a tall lion-headed masked man glanced at private room 7 before his figure transformed into black mist and vanished from private room 6. Mo Qing was nearly scared to death by that glance.

"At least two Path-Severing levels..." He could instantly draw this conclusion. That scorpion-tailed Ghost Beast was too terrifying. One whip, and a King's Throne was gone. This was certainly not an elementary Ghost Beast; it had been dormant on the Saint Divine Continent for a long time and was disturbed by the Red Coats' sudden lockdown.

*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!*

Several figures descended simultaneously. As soon as the black scorpion tail appeared, Night Watch, Xin, and Heiming of the Red Coats, Cheng Ji of the Holy Divine Palace, and Nangong Yin and his attendant Taixu from Night Cat, all descended at once. Six people, in a hexagram formation. They suppressed the scorpion-tailed Ghost Beast before it could even react.

"ROAR—"

The scorpion-tailed Ghost Beast was clearly startled by the Red Coats' extraordinary reaction speed, letting out another low roar.

At that moment, from inside the adjacent private room 7, Mo Qing's weak voice rang out: "Sirs, my Pavilion Master seems to have been taken hostage..."