The opening scene reveals the story of Yao Lao, alarming the Soul Emperor.

Hunyu jumped down from the carriage shaft, his white robes swayed slightly, and he landed firmly on his toes.

"Can't catch it?"

He followed Hun Kui's steps, his fan draped over his shoulder.

"Steward Hun Kui, who is this person who deserves your reminder?"

Hun Kui walked ahead with his hands behind his back, without looking back.

"Go inside and see for yourself."

"What if I can't see it?"

"That means you're lucky."

Hunyu smacked his lips and didn't ask any further questions.

After entering the city gate, the streets were cleaner than he had expected.

All the shops on both sides had their doors and windows closed, and only half of the lanterns were hanging, with a few going out.

The main road was deserted; apart from the stone pavement underfoot and two rows of silent guards, there was not a single living person in sight.

"And what about the people in the city?"

They withdrew three days ago.

"A city of ten thousand people, wiped out in three days?"

"The Heavenly Gang Hall is efficient and decisive in its work."

"That's true." Hun Yu pointed with his fan to a slightly ajar window on the second floor to his left. "So, were those two Dou Zong figures hiding behind that window forgotten to come out, or were they specifically left to keep an eye on me?"

Hun Kui's steps were a beat slower.

"You saw it?"

"No need to look. The seal was torn from the inside, with fresh wax residue on the edges. It happened within the last three hours."

Hun Yu put away his fan and continued walking forward.

"Since entering the city, I've counted seventeen hidden sentries. Six on rooftops, four at alley entrances, three next to ventilation shafts in the underground sewers, and four hidden behind fake roadside stalls."

"The lowest cultivation level is the peak of Dou Huang, and the highest is an eight-star Dou Zong in the attic at the end of the street, the same level as you, Deacon."

He smiled.

"Your welcome banquet is truly generous."

Hun Kui stopped, turned around, and looked him up and down for several breaths.

"Something's wrong with your eyes."

"Even ordinary people can see the wax residue."

"Ordinary people cannot see the hidden sentries next to the underground sewer ventilation openings."

"I have a keen sense of smell," Hunyu said, covering half his face with his fan. "The tanning oil used in the Tiangang Palace's standard armor is made with a formula of ambergris. It has a very unique smell that drifts upwards through the ventilation vents, making it hard not to smell it."

Hun Kui stared at him for five breaths, then laughed, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Good lad. No wonder the clan chief wants to see you."

He turned around, his steps quickening slightly.

"Let's go, don't keep the people inside waiting."

At the end of the main road is a three-story square stone building with no plaque; the entire exterior wall is bare black stone.

The building doors were open.

There were two people standing at the door.

Hunyu's gaze swept over, his steps did not stop, and a golden Bagua pattern flashed deep in the depths of his eyes.

Dou Zun.

Both gatekeepers were one-star Dou Zun.

The strongest elder in the Northwest Branch Hall is only a four-star Dou Huang, while here, a Dou Zun is used to guard the gate.

He swallowed the information, his expression remaining unchanged.

Once inside the building, there is a straight corridor wide enough for four horses to walk side by side.

A black-armored guard stood every three steps on either side, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Soul Crow was stopped at the door.

A guard came forward to inform him that his mount and carriage would be moved elsewhere and that he should wait where he was.

Hunwu glanced at Hunyu's back, opened his mouth but said nothing, and obediently stayed where he was.

At the end of the corridor is a door.

It was black, three zhang tall, and its facade was covered with writhing runes.

Hun Kui stopped in front of the door and turned to the side.

"arrive."

"Soul-locking array patterns, a base for the 'trapping' technique, plus three layers of sensory blockade." Hun Yu looked up and scanned the runes on the door. "Once you enter this door, no one outside can see inside, and no one inside can send out messages."

"You even recognize this?"

"It's not hard to recognize. The design follows the standard Soul Palace style, but the engraving is a bit rough; it was rushed out."

Hun Kui's expression changed, and he remained silent for a few moments.

"Fourteen years ago, the clan chief also issued a decree summoning a collateral descendant to Zhongzhou."

"Did that person also travel this route?"

"Passed by."

"And then?"

"He went inside. He didn't come out."

Hunyu paused for a moment, then started waving her fan again.

"Deacon Soul Kui, are you telling me this out of kindness?"

"I've lived for over three hundred years, and I don't have much goodwill left," Hun Kui said, taking two steps back. "This is all I have left, you can use it."

"Then you won't be polite."

Hun Kui's footsteps did not stop, and his voice drifted back from the corridor.

"There's a person sitting at the highest point inside. No matter what he says, don't talk back."

"If you can't control your mouth, it's not too late to turn back now."

The footsteps faded into the distance, and could no longer be heard after turning the corner.

The corridor fell silent.

Hunyu stood alone in front of the black door, coughed twice, and a few drops of blood seeped from his palm, which he silently wiped into his sleeve.

Then he looked up.

The runes on the door began to wriggle faster.

A muffled hum came from behind the door.

The two large doors slowly opened inwards.

Behind the door was a deep darkness, within which floated two rows of eerie green flames, stretching from the doorway to the horizon.

Will-o'-the-wisp.

Hunyu unfolded the white feather fan, waved it gently in front of him, and stepped inside.

The door closed behind him.

The moment he closed the door, he heard a sound coming from behind it.

It wasn't just one person.

It was the sound of dozens of people breathing, all lowering their voices and then exhaling in unison.

The breath that enveloped him was heavy and oppressive.

The aura of a Dou Zun level.

And there's more than one.

Hunyu paused for a moment between the first row of will-o'-the-wisps.

His eyes slowly adjusted to the light in the darkness and finally saw the entire hall clearly.

They also got a clear look at the people standing on either side of the will-o'-the-wisp.

The frequency of his fan waving remained the same, but his pupils contracted slightly.

Then it loosened and returned to normal.

His lips moved slightly, and he uttered two words in a whisper that only he could hear.

"interesting."