Chapter 550: Books Are Only Regretted When Needed

Yin Tianlu, appearing somewhat anxious, was about to approach the guards. "Quickly, release the restrictions on me!" he urged. "The magic treasure I lost in the Divine Fire Domain is nearby; I can use my spiritual sense to control it and make it return."

The guards reacted coldly, their expressions conveying, "Are you joking?"

The guard didn't care what treasure the other party had lost. Unauthorized removal of the restrictions could lead to serious trouble for him—trouble that no magic treasure could fix. So, without haste, he calmly asked, "What kind of magic treasure?"

"It's the 'Heavenly Net Sword Bone Umbrella'," Yin Tianlu replied urgently, "a high-grade fifth-rank magic treasure."

The guard was clearly surprised to hear it was a high-grade fifth-rank item. He asked skeptically, "Where did you acquire such an advanced artifact? Even though the Extreme Fire Sect is known for crafting artifacts, they wouldn't just distribute high-level magic treasures like that, would they?"

Yin Tianlu was somewhat speechless, but understanding his subordinate position, he patiently explained, "The Divine Fire Domain. I already said it was in the Divine Fire Domain. When we entered, the sect bestowed these treasures upon us to help with the competition. I then lost it in..." He suddenly paused, as if remembering something, then exclaimed, "It's Shi Chun! Shi Chun is nearby!" Remembering that these people were looking for Shi Chun, he cried out, "It must be Shi Chun! I can find Shi Chun!"

The guard was taken aback by his sudden excitement, and cautiously confirmed, "Are you certain? You know the consequences of giving false information."

Yin Tianlu threw up his hands. "I'm in this state already; I've said everything, whether I should have or not. It's no different from betraying my sect, so why would I lie now? Quick, quickly release the restrictions on me! I can find Shi Chun, I can find him, I..." He trailed off, realizing that the guard had vanished in a flash. It dawned on him that the guard had no authority to make such decisions.

And so it was. The guard rushed off to find the local commander.

The commander of the area also hesitated to make a quick decision on the matter. However, he had a means to contact someone with the authority to decide, and he swiftly produced a communication talisman to report the situation.

After a series of rapid communications, the commander hurried to Yin Tianlu's side and questioned, "Are you claiming that the high-grade magic treasure you lost is in Shi Chun's possession?"

"While it didn't directly fall into his hands at the time," Yin Tianlu asserted, "I'm sure there's a very high chance it ended up with him later."

The commander pressed further, "Shi Chun was not far from you for a considerable period. Even if the artifact was stored in a spatial pouch, you should have been able to sense its spirit. Why did you not sense it then, and only now do you have a feeling?"

"It was the 'Boundless Banner' from Shading Sky Island," Yin Tianlu explained. "That artifact can create its own dimension, and any treasure it absorbs instantly loses all connection with its owner. During the skirmish in the Divine Fire Domain, I was briefly inattentive, and my 'Heavenly Net Sword Bone Umbrella' collided with it and was absorbed. Many people saw this happen; you can verify it. The sect that seized my treasure, which I was determined to track down, was the Four Cauldrons Sect, an artifact-refining sect. At the time, they were allied with Shi Chun and his group; they were clearly working together. Many sects were aware of this and witnessed it. Later, it was discovered that all members of the Four Cauldrons Sect were annihilated in the Divine Fire Domain; not a single one escaped. It's highly probable that the 'Boundless Banner,' along with all the treasures it had absorbed, fell into Shi Chun's hands."

The commander mused, "If what you say is true, and they were allies, then the Four Cauldrons Sect should have been eliminated by others, and their possessions should have fallen into those others' hands. How can you then conclude they are currently with Shi Chun? Are you suggesting Shi Chun coveted the treasures, leading to internal conflict and the murder of his own allies?"

Yin Tianlu choked, momentarily silenced because the commander's reasoning was sound. But after a moment's thought, he insisted, "It's highly probable that's exactly what happened. Consider this: my 'Heavenly Net Sword Bone Umbrella' just happened to appear here, precisely in the area where Shi Chun is. Do you think that's a coincidence?"

The commander fell silent, as Yin Tianlu's point was equally valid. It truly shouldn't be a mere coincidence.

Yin Tianlu then suddenly recalled something else. "Furthermore," he added, "at that time, there was a tremendous thunderstrike on the scene, with countless lightning bolts creating a forest of electricity between heaven and earth. It seemed no one who deployed a magic treasure escaped unscathed; their artifacts appeared to have been rendered useless by the lightning. Everyone present knew how devastating that sight was. The 'Boundless Banner' should not have been spared either. The strongest evidence is that no matter what dangers Shi Chun and his group faced later, the person wielding the 'Boundless Banner' was never seen using it for defense again. This is highly illogical and proves that the 'Boundless Banner' was also destroyed in that lightning storm. That's likely why I couldn't sense my treasure before—because it remained inside the 'Boundless Banner'."

His ability to recount those past events with such clarity indicated how much thought he had dedicated to the matter since his treasure was taken.

The commander mused, "So, are you saying the 'Boundless Banner' has been repaired and is now operational again?"

"I don't know if it's been repaired," Yin Tianlu said, hesitating. "So many artifacts were damaged back then, and I haven't heard of anyone easily repairing them; they're usually set aside for later. I can't be certain how they extracted it, but one thing I am sure of is that if they got the 'Heavenly Net Sword Bone Umbrella,' they wouldn't allow my spiritual consciousness to remain linked to it. They would definitely seize the opportunity to erase my connection, effectively usurping it. If I don't act now while I can still sense it to retrieve it, I fear I'll lose any chance of sensing it again."

His reasoning was sound. The commander immediately cast aside his hesitation, turned his back, and picked up the communication talisman to report the matter once more.

This message went directly to Jiang You'er on the Divine Mountain, who had by then already rushed to the second floor of the North Mountain Hub to urgently report the situation to the North Mountain Commander, Huang Ye.

Holding the communication talisman, Jiang You'er repeatedly questioned and confirmed the incoming message before reporting it once more to Huang Ye.

Huang Ye inquired about the details, then paced back and forth, muttering, "The 'Boundless Banner' has been repaired?" He suddenly turned and asked, "In Yin Tianlu's confession, what kind of establishment did Shi Chun's group set up?"

"Treasure Hunt Pavilion," Jiang You'er replied.

Huang Ye mused, "They were involved in some dealings with 'Death-Defying Incense', right?"

"Yes..." Jiang You'er replied, pausing as he grasped the Commander's line of reasoning.

Huang Ye's lips twitched, his thoughts clearly conflicted, and his expression twisted. He even swore, "Damn it, that Shi Chun, stirring up so much trouble and causing such a scene, making everyone speculate for so long... Could it be that he was just secretly trying to use 'Death-Defying Incense' to repair the 'Boundless Banner'?"

Jiang You'er was momentarily speechless, opening his mouth several times before finally speaking, "My Lord, it's not entirely impossible. Shading Sky Island once faced annihilation because of the 'Boundless Banner.' Although the 'Boundless Banner' is a fifth-rank artifact, some of its properties allow it to surpass many other fifth-rank treasures. One could even argue it's beyond a fifth-rank artifact. It wouldn't be a waste to expend more effort on it."

"Has it really been repaired?" Huang Ye wondered, rubbing his substantial beard, a mix of confusion and bewilderment on his face. "Did he really manage to obtain 'Death-Defying Incense' after all that commotion around the Divine Mountain? It couldn't have been refined by him; 'Soul-Reversal Trees' haven't appeared on the Divine Mountain for a considerable number of years. How could he refine it without the materials? If a Soul-Reversal Tree were to truly mature, its distinct fragrance would spread widely, and it would be discovered on the mountain instantly—he wouldn't be the one to harvest it. Did he somehow acquire a supply from the Phoenix Clan?"

He was utterly perplexed. As is often the case, the more one knows, the more worries one accumulates.

Jiang You'er was also puzzled, but he still reminded, "My Lord, if Yin Tianlu's account is accurate, then he is correct. If we release his restrictions now, he still has a chance to control his artifact..."

Huang Ye, deep in thought, suddenly raised a hand to interrupt. "He doesn't need to retrieve that artifact," he stated. "Whether it's retrieved or not is unimportant. If he controls it, it will immediately alert them. Shi Chun likely doesn't even know Yin Tianlu is nearby. What we need to do now is let Yin Tianlu pinpoint the artifact's location, then immediately send in a large force. Once we capture the person, why would we fear not recovering the artifact? Tell him to act quickly, and you personally go to take charge. I will coordinate with the true masters sent from above to go and assist you. Go, quickly!"

"Understood!" Jiang You'er replied, cupping his hands in salute. Just as he picked up the communication talisman to relay the order to Yin Tianlu's location, new information arrived from that very spot.

He read it and gasped, looking up sharply. "My Lord," he exclaimed, "Yin Tianlu says his spiritual sense connection has been severed! He believes his consciousness, which was fused with the artifact's spirit, has been erased by someone."

Huang Ye immediately pointed at him. "Ask him if he can still discern the approximate location of the artifact from just a moment ago!"

Jiang You'er quickly complied. After receiving a reply, he looked up and said, "Yes, he can. The exact location might be elusive, but he has a rough idea. It should be no more than fifty li from his current position."

Fifty li was not a great distance for those who could fly swiftly; it wouldn't take long to reach it.

"Ensure they are apprehended!" Huang Ye commanded. "Go at once!"

"Understood." Jiang You'er accepted the order, first sending a command to Yin Tianlu's location before urgently departing.

Huang Ye wasn't idle either; he pulled out his communication talisman to urgently mobilize the newly dispatched forces from higher up. Due to the evolving situation, especially after learning that Heavenly Immortal-level experts might be clashing outside the main city, his supporting faction quickly sent significant reinforcements to this area to prepare for any contingencies.

In the deep underground cavern, thousands of emerald streams of light converged on the umbrella frame in Lao Changtai's hand, collectively shrinking until they transformed into a verdant iron umbrella. Lao Changtai, holding it, beamed with delight. Chu Jingtai's dark purple sharp wheel also hovered before him, fluctuating in size for a while.

Before the two could fully indulge in their excitement, Shi Chun, who had just dispatched the earth wolf, motioned to Wu Jinliang to light the incense. He then addressed the two, who were overjoyed with their newly acquired treasures: "Alright, the space here is too confined for your antics. Put them away for now. You can take your time to familiarize yourselves with your artifacts when we reach the Underworld."

Naturally, Shi Chun's word was law. Chu Jingtai and Lao Changtai immediately put away their artifacts, feeling much more confident about the impending journey. If their leader was willing to bestow two powerful treasures upon them at this juncture, what did they have to worry about? If the situation were truly perilous, he wouldn't risk two valuable artifacts. Even without the treasures, they would still have to proceed. Now, their sole focus was on executing the task effectively.

Soon, under the manipulation of Shi Chun's Demonic Aura Cultivation, the miraculous black hole entrance reappeared.

With a shout, Shi Chun told Wu Jinliang to extinguish the flame. He then flashed into the black hole first, demonstrating the passage by going to the other side, then turning back to call for Chu Jingtai and Lao Changtai to follow.

Chu Jingtai and Lao Changtai swiftly darted through, landing and surveying the eerie world.

After giving a brief instruction, Shi Chun returned.

Back in the underground cavern of the mortal realm, Shi Chun immediately drew his Blood Soul Blade. Employing his Demonic Aura Cultivation, he executed a 'Demon-Slaying Blade' strike, severing the bundle of golden threads. His swift entry and exit were precisely to conduct an experiment before the golden threads could successfully ensnare a soul.

*Boom!* With a resounding impact, the bundle of golden threads was indeed utterly destroyed and severed by his Demon-Slaying Blade. As soon as the golden threads lost their connection to the earth wolf's corpse, they disintegrated as expected. The two-realm passage simultaneously collapsed and dissolved, and the void returned to its normal state.

Shi Chun promptly waved his hand to collect the earth wolf's corpse. The remaining experiments would have to be conducted gradually, as he had a limited supply of 'Death-Defying Incense.' Thus, the issue of 'Death-Defying Incense' still needed to be resolved.

Watching Shi Chun sheath his Blood Soul Blade, Wu Jinliang, who had been startled by the impact, glanced at the vanished two-realm passage and asked suspiciously, "What was that for?"

Shi Chun responded evasively, "Though I'm unsure if Old Woman Qi has ulterior motives or is genuinely helping, there's no reason not to utilize an available helper. I need to find a way to contact her and ask her to refine a few more batches for us."

"Then we'll have to sneak onto the Divine Mountain and harvest more Soul-Reversal Trees," Wu Jinliang replied. "Also, I'm not sure if Old Woman Qi is free now, or if it will be convenient to contact her."

How to contact her was a problem. Their intelligence channels were limited, and those they could reach, they dared not easily. The Golden-Furred Rat, while relatively dependable for minor tasks, was from the ignorant lower ranks and currently knew nothing of the situation on the Divine Mountain, nor the state of the Bai clan.

Shi Chun pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's first investigate Bai Qiru's situation. She should have a reliable way to contact Old Woman Qi."

"To the Main City now?" Wu Jinliang asked.

Shi Chun nodded slightly. "We'll acquire another batch of 'Death-Defying Incense' and prepare our stock, then we can depart. Exiting through the Xun Gate is unsafe, and I'm still wary of Yin Xu's route. Traversing the Underworld is the most reliable, but we know little about its conditions. The Morning Moon Pavilion's library is comprehensive, so I'll use the opportunity in the Main City to consult some texts about the Underworld to gain a better understanding. Alas, one always regrets having too few books when they are truly needed!"