Han Yu’s expression was a mix of complexity. Just a moment before, Ping had spewed forth a dense mist that enveloped the entire Sea of Consciousness.

This was exactly the same as what had happened at the East Sea.

His suspicions were confirmed: the person spying on him was indeed the same one Xiao Shui had mentioned.

What terrible luck, to encounter such coincidences?

Damn the black robes, they might be ineffective, but they treat so-called exclusive information as treasure, which ultimately amounts to nothing.

He still fancied sneaking over to fish in troubled waters without informing the organization, yet others had already captured the Fire Spirit.

If it hadn’t been in his hands, and the person came personally, they would have ended up captured to be cannon fodder again.

"When you return, give that black-robed guy a good beating for me."

Han Yu instructed Ling Wuce with a dark face.

Even Ping was this cautious, clearly indicating that Ping believed the opponent posed a threat.

Retreat!

Han Yu never doubted Ping’s assessment.

And Ling Wuce and Gao Feng were equally confident in Han Yu’s words.

Run away scared by just one person?

Although the Nine Sects were perplexed, if even the Fifth Tower and Han Yu were retreating, it was no joke.

After quickly preparing, a grand procession led by the ancestor of the Mo Family, carrying a massive stone, left the city with the other eight families.

As soon as they reached outside the city gates, an inexplicable unease arose deep in everyone’s heart.

This was a rare occurrence.

At this Realm, one is not hindered by objects or bound by the mind, and acts as one pleases, making such oppressive emotions rare.

Except for matters of life and death!

The group looked up in terror at the sky, seeing black mist covering the city, dark clouds oppressing the city.

Han Yu, however, looked at the ground, where shadows seemed to be approaching.

Too fast, indeed.

From probing to appearing, how long had it been?

Not even a quarter of an hour.

The horizon was already clear of human figures, and from afar it seemed as if the other party was walking, yet each step spanned several miles.

As the other party drew closer, Han Yu’s eyes focused, feeling a force locking tightly onto him.

A sallow face, expressionless, lifted to reveal a twisted smile.

A Compass was suspended in his hand, with a flame on it pointing directly at everyone.

"What a pleasant surprise."

He looked at the people outside Minzhou City, squinting his triangular eyes.

Originally, he planned to come because his Magical Artifact was activated, not expecting that the Compass also reacted.

This saved him much trouble, as the person he wanted to capture and the artifact were responding at the same time, indicating the person was near Minzhou City.

Last time, someone inexplicably escaped, but this time he smartly changed tactics, only using the flames stripped from the Fire Spirit to search.

The method indeed worked, both the Fire Spirit and Han Yu were found by him.

"Hehe!"

He had already reached the city gate, strolling leisurely, and looked up at the crowd in the sky.

"Time is short; I’ll kill all you young ones."

The sallow-faced man bizarrely laughed, his lips moving with an ethereal sound.

At first sight, Ling Wuce and his group were rendered dumbstruck.

"Wake up!"

In the mist, the Artifact Spirit shouted in panic, as even Han Yu suffered the same fate.

In the ethereal sound, everything fell silent.

Han Yu’s eyes were dull, his whites overtaken, as were the others.

The sallow-faced man took a step, now in the sky, facing Han Yu, scrutinizing him intently.

"This youngster has quite the secrets."

Whether it was the possession of multiple Divine Techniques or increasingly mysterious pills, the Holy Sect was greatly interested.

The secrets behind these were certainly significant.

No matter which, the Holy Sect wanted them all.

With a finger, he slowly reached towards the center of Han Yu’s brow, with a profound ripple resonating, transforming the Sea of Consciousness as the mist was stirred so violently it seemed to thin.

"Ping, your cover is being pulled away!"

The Artifact Spirit shouted anxiously.

Thud!

At this moment, Ping also shook, mist rolling from its mouth, also mixing in the power of the churn, suggesting a hint of resistance.

Outside the Sea of Consciousness, the sallow-faced man raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.

He couldn’t penetrate the other’s Sea of Consciousness to probe its secrets.

He knew that this had always been a foolproof move; he trusted in nothing but what he could explore with his own finger.

Whoever he invaded the Sea of Consciousness and overwhelmed the spirit of, there would be no secrets in front of him.

This time, however, mysteriously it failed, as if this finger was no longer stirring a small Sea of Consciousness but probing into a vast sea.

How could a single finger stir a vast sea?

"Then I’ll enter it myself."

The sallow-faced man murmured to himself, amplifying his power, with the aftermath twisting Han Yu’s face gradually.

In the Sea of Consciousness, just as the power was about to overwhelm, a tiny silver snake suddenly came in.

The Artifact Spirit knew that this was not just an illusion, but indicated that the opponent had invested their spirit here.

The snake’s head swayed, flicking its tongue, wandering through the mist, brushing past several times.

As the silver snake circled around, it finally found something.

It felt icy cold, how was there a realistic touch in the Sea of Consciousness?

Before the silver snake could react, Ping suddenly flew up, shaking and smashing towards it.

Bang!

The silver snake, caught off guard, was whacked away, landing beside the Artifact Spirit.

Damn it, of all places to be flung to, it had to be here.

The Artifact Spirit gritted its teeth in frustration, but made no sound, not wanting to reveal itself.

The silver snake shook its head and began moving again, coincidentally heading towards the Artifact Spirit.

What to do?

The Artifact Spirit was at a loss, for it was merely an Artifact Spirit!

Facing this spirit-conjured snake, it was helpless!

Seeing the snake gradually approaching, the Artifact Spirit, in desperation, lunged with its mouth open.

The sallow-faced man shuddered suddenly, feeling a chill on his head as he lost connection with his spirit.

What happened?

He frowned and tried again, soon after he felt the same chill and lost his spirit once more.

"Hahaha!"

In the Sea of Consciousness, the Artifact Spirit laughed heartily, tasting success for the first time.

It had only tried to bite off the snake’s head, surprised at how easily it fell apart.

From then on, whenever the slender snake returned, it adopted different strategies: sneak attacks in the mist, Turtle Fist, flying kicks.

Every time, it annihilated the snake unawares.

"It turns out, I rule here, powerful beyond measure."

The Artifact Spirit concluded that there, any spirit daring to enter would never leave.