Chapter 4427: Chuanming's Crisis

In the Tianming Sea, at Tianming Market.

Inside Xuegui Pavilion, Murong Bing and Sun Hai occupied the main seats, while Wang Chuanming stood respectfully to the side.

Sun Hai held a Heavenly Mystery Box in his hand, his face filled with admiration. "Fairy Murong," Sun Hai said with a smile, "it seems your people are more capable. They knew to target the Snow獠 clan. If it weren't for young friend Song, we probably wouldn't have obtained so many items."

Wang Qingbai had left the most precious items, placed some things into the Heavenly Mystery Box, and set up a restriction. He then gave it to Wang Chuanming, instructing him to present it to Murong Bing and claim he was the one who found Bati. Coincidentally, Wang Chuanming had slain a Snow獠 clan cultivator and obtained a Blood Essence Disk. His subordinates were scattered across various sea areas, tracking the movements of Snow獠 clan cultivators—a fact that was not a secret. In Murong Bing and Sun Hai's view, Wang Chuanming had found Bati and obtained the Heavenly Mystery Box using the Blood Essence Disk.

"He has always been very effective in his work," Murong Bing suggested. "Let's divide the items obtained this time! Young friend Song should be credited with a major contribution, and he should also receive a reward of cultivation resources."

"That's only right," Sun Hai fully agreed.

"This subordinate thanks Seniors Murong and Sun for your guidance," Wang Chuanming bowed respectfully, his expression excited.

In reality, he didn't care much for this small reward from Yama Palace. Wang Qingbai had given him many valuable items, including a set of mid-grade immortal artifacts, the Golden Thunder Pearls, and a high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon. Wang Chuanming could directly refine these into his body to enhance his strength. He was currently cultivating by incorporating artifacts, using his own body as a furnace to absorb various treasures and strengthen himself. With a high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon, Wang Chuanming could pose a threat to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but he was well aware of the gap between himself and such an expert, so he wouldn't use it casually. The high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon would be one of his trump cards.

"Alright, you may go and attend to your duties," Murong Bing instructed. "This matter must not be spread outside. The Snow獠 clan people must be furious." Wang Chuanming agreed and withdrew.

"Last time, Yuan Tianshan got away, but thankfully Bati didn't," Sun Hai said excitedly. "Submitting the secret art of opening seven orifices is also a merit." The Heavenly Mystery Box contained a secret art for opening orifices, capable of opening up to seven. This wasn't something Wang Qingbai had intentionally placed there; it was originally part of the box. The Wang family didn't value this particular secret art, so they left it in the Heavenly Mystery Box, allowing it to become Wang Chuanming's credited achievement.

"Of the three Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level seven-colored chaos beast crystal cores, I'll take two and Fellow Daoist Sun one. Do you have any objections?" Murong Bing asked.

"Of course not, that's only fair," Sun Hai readily agreed. Murong Bing could have easily taken all of them, but she chose not to.

"Fellow Daoist Sun," Murong Bing said, "the Chaos Continent is short on manpower. You're quite close with Fellow Daoist Qian, so could you put in a good word for me and recommend me to go to the Chaos Continent?" She distributed some of the wealth to Sun Hai, partly to ask for his favor and partly to solidify Wang Chuanming's achievements. After Han Rong's death, Yama Palace had dispatched a new Grand Unity Golden Immortal to manage its personnel and business on the Chaos Continent. Murong Bing was not familiar with this person, and if she went rashly, the other party might not introduce her.

"So that's why Fairy Murong is being so generous, sharing the wealth with me," Sun Hai suddenly understood, saying with a laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, would you be willing to help?" Murong Bing asked. "I can leave all my people with you; I'll recruit new personnel once I reach the Chaos Continent."

"You're not taking young friend Song with you?" Sun Hai asked, puzzled. "He's so capable."

"His methods are too ruthless," Murong Bing replied. "Taking him to the Chaos Continent would bring me trouble. If Fellow Daoist Sun doesn't care for him, you can assign him a leisurely post; I have no objections." Her reason for going to the Chaos Continent was to reunite with the Demonic Lord Xuanfu. She had already asked Wang Chuanming, who was willing to remain in the North Sea Immortal Realm. Since Fairy Murong was going to the Chaos Continent, he saw no need to follow.

"No, he's still very capable," Sun Hai said. "I can recommend you to Fellow Daoist Qian, but I can't guarantee whether he'll accept you." Yama Palace itself wasn't a monolithic entity; where there were people, there was competition. Murong Bing had been close to Han Rong, so it was normal for the newly appointed Enforcement Elder not to be close to Murong Bing. It was a case of "a new emperor, new courtiers."

"Naturally. Then I'll leave it to you, Fellow Daoist Sun," Murong Bing said, expressing her gratitude.

"It's just a small matter, no trouble at all," Sun Hai said nonchalantly.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Chuanming shook his sleeve, and a large, red-glowing cannon appeared before him. "A high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon!" Wang Chuanming's gaze was fiery. In addition to the high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon and Golden Thunder Pearls, Wang Qingbai had also given Wang Chuanming two Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level seven-colored chaos beast crystal cores. In the future, when he sought to break through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal, his family would also provide immortal elixirs and miraculous medicines.

Wang Chuanming formed a hand seal, and his body radiated golden light. He placed his right hand on the high-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannon. The Immortal Annihilation Cannon visibly fused with his arm at a visible rate, slowly integrating into his body.

***

In the Xuanhan Sea, on Xuefeng Island.

Inside Xuefeng Hall, Ai Feng sat in the main seat, her gaze gloomy, while Bai Shuang reported to her.

"The sensation suddenly disappeared?" Ai Feng asked.

"Yes," Bai Shuang confirmed. "A team of our clansmen was searching for Bati in the Xuanyin Sea. The Blood Essence Disk reacted, but before they could arrive, the disk lost its sensation. Bati must have been eliminated by someone. They searched everywhere and found traces of a fight on a desolate island, but they didn't find Bati's body or the Heavenly Mystery Box."

"Ai Xin and his team were wiped out, and the Blood Essence Disk was stolen," Ai Feng said, her face filled with murderous intent. "This means the person who killed Ai Xin obtained the Heavenly Mystery Box." If the other party hadn't intercepted them, the Snow獠 clan would have had a chance to obtain that Heavenly Mystery Box.

"Precisely. We have already sent people to Baihua Market to investigate and search for the true culprit behind Ai Xin's death. Currently, there are no clues. We also sent people to the lower realms, inquiring everywhere in Feiyun Realm, but found no clues about Bati. He might not have ascended from the lower realms but came from another immortal realm, or even his name could be fake."

"There's no need to send people to the lower realms to search anymore," Ai Feng commanded, her face filled with murderous intent. "Now that he's dead, continuing to track his whereabouts is pointless. Focus all efforts on investigating the murderer of Ai Xin. I want to see who dares to kill our Snow獠 clan members and steal our belongings." The other party dared to kill a Snow獠 clan cultivator and steal the Heavenly Mystery Box this time; who knew what they would dare to do next? The true culprit must be brought to justice.

Bai Shuang took out a gleaming white disk, cast a spell into it, and her face lit up with joy. "Ancestor," she reported, "we have a lead! It was done by people from Yama Palace. Ai Hao and his team were tracked by two True Immortal cultivators. They led them out of the market and lured them into a trap, killing both. Through soul-searching, we learned they were from Yama Palace, ordered to monitor the whereabouts of our clansmen."

"By whose order?" Ai Feng asked.

"Song Dongli, a late-stage Golden Immortal. This person possesses considerable abilities. After Ai Xin's death, he withdrew his subordinates, making him a major suspect."

"Send people to apprehend this person, but do so discreetly, so as not to scare him away," Ai Feng ordered. "Regardless of whether the Heavenly Mystery Box is still in his possession, if he killed Ai Xin, he absolutely cannot be spared."

"Yes, Ancestor," Bai Shuang replied, accepting the order and departing.