Zhou Qing finished speaking and took out the flying ship.

Ghost Mastiff dazedly boarded the flying ship, remaining in shock long after leaving the Blood Maple Forest.

No, is this a mere fantasy before I die?

...

Days later, a message that shocked the entire Imperial City spread like wildfire.

All six Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection members of the Nangong Family stationed in the Imperial City have fallen!

Since Nangong Xiao was slain by the Loose Cultivator Ghost Mastiff, various forces have closely monitored the developments.

After all, no one had dared to challenge the prestige of the Spirit Slash family for a long time.

Then Elder Nangong Ye was publicly slain by the man in the chicken head mask, pushing the event to the forefront.

According to rumors from within the Nangong Family, Nangong Xuan and others set out to besiege Ghost Mastiff but met total annihilation.

The accompanying twenty Divinity Transformation Cultivators were all lost as well.

With Ghost Mastiff’s Mid-stage Divinity Transformation cultivation, it’s impossible to have accomplished such a feat.

There’s only one possibility, it must have been the work of the mysterious man with the chicken head mask.

In an instant, many speculated about which faction secretly sent this person.

What is the purpose of this action? 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Is it to test the foundation of the Nangong Family?

The Imperial Family reacted swiftly too.

On the same day the news of the Nangong Family’s six Perfection-level cultivators’ demise was released, the current Emperor Xuanyuan Hao convened an emergency meeting with the three dukes and nine ministers.

The next morning, an edict bearing the dragon-pattern jade seal was posted throughout the Imperial City:

[By Heaven’s command, the Emperor decrees: A mad attacker who slayed the cultivators of the Nangong Family gravely defies royal authority.]

[Order the Tianyan Bureau, Divine Strategy Guard, and the Secret Guard Division to fully investigate and ascertain the identity of chicken head mask, providing an explanation to the Nangong Family!]

Once the edict was issued, the entire Imperial City boiled over.

In teahouses and taverns, cultivators discussed fervently.

"I heard the Imperial Family plans to use the ’Zhou Tian Star Chart’."

"I’m really curious what that chicken head mask man looks like; his combat power is too fierce, a true model for us!"

"There’s going to be quite a spectacle now; it’s been years since the Spirit Slash family suffered such a loss..."

But no one expected that less than three days after the release of this imposing edict, the Imperial Palace urgently issued a new edict:

[Upon verification, the chicken head mask man has killed nine leaders of the Jieyun Thief at the Sea of No Light, among whom Big Leader Tu Qianyue was the culprit behind the murder of the Thirteenth Prince.]

[Considering his contribution to the country, the Imperial Family will no longer intervene, leaving the matter to the Nangong Family’s discretion.]

This sudden twist left everyone stunned.

"What? The Imperial Family actually withdrew their support for the Nangong Family?"

"I heard the Duobao Trading House provided solid evidence, and the person is suspected to be a Level Three Array Master."

"Look! The astrologers from the Tianyan Bureau are beginning to dismantle the Zhou Tian Star Chart!"

...

In the Imperial City Square, the enormous star chart that once floated in mid-air is being slowly retracted.

Twelve cultivators, wearing star-patterned robes, form spells to reseal this national treasure.

A large crowd rushes to the Duobao Trading House for confirmation.

Upon confirming that the chicken head mask man is not only capable of single-handedly defeating nine peak Divinity Transformation, but also a rare Level Three Array Master, the city buzzes with astonishment.

"No wonder the Nangong Family’s six Perfection members fell..."

"Cultivators of the same level are tough to differentiate, but this person managed to consecutively defeat nine of them!"

"What’s scarier is that he’s proficient in array techniques..."

...

It’s known that since Master Wu and Master Su fell in the Vast Mansion ruins, the Holy Martial Dynasty openly had only Lin Daochen as a Level Three Array Master.

Now, with the sudden emergence of such a mysterious figure whose martial power and array expertise reach an ultimate level, how could one not be shocked?

Inside the Duobao Trading House’s Inner Courtyard, Jin Mantang lay pale on a jade bed in a quiet room.

Just three days ago, he leisurely piloted the Cloud Whale back, arriving at the Imperial City to hear about the Nangong Family affair.

Especially the battle over the Inner City captured by the Imaging Stone, fully confirming that the chicken head mask man is indeed Mr. Ji who saved his life at the Sea of No Light.

"I must do something..." Jin Mantang immediately sought out the president and implored him to perform a Soul Search on him.

Only in this way could the president prove his statements were true.

Then, with the president’s intervention, seeing it was on account of eradicating Zou Lun, the bane of the herd, he might persuade the Royal Family to rescind the imperial edict assisting the Nangong Family.

"Mr. Ji, why did you have to provoke the Nangong Family? When you return next for those top-grade spirit stones, I must persuade you to join the trading house."

"With your status as a Level Three Array Master and the president’s protection, even the Nangong Family wouldn’t dare touch you!"

Jin Mantang muttered to himself, then weakly drifted into sleep...

Almost simultaneously, a figure in white stopped and gazed at the bustling Imperial City ahead.

He closed his eyes lightly, then slowly opened his arms, greedily inhaling the air here, and softly murmured: "This palace has returned—"