Chapter 39: Muddying the Waters

“Prefect,” Xu Yi said with a deep bow, “the Nine Heavens Group will certainly provide you with an explanation. However, we must trouble you to ensure the safety of the auction.”

Having discovered that among the Late Qi Refining cultivators sent by the Nine Heavens Group to protect the auction, there was indeed someone colluding with the Demon-Worship Cult, Xu Yi could not possibly allow the prefect to leave now.

Though Lu Tianyu had been apprehended, he couldn’t guarantee that all three remaining Late Qi Refining cultivators from the Nine Heavens Group were entirely trustworthy.

The annual auction represented both the reputation of the Nine Heavens Group and Xu Yi’s own security. Only by having the prefect—a true Foundation Establishment cultivator—remain on-site could they ensure the safety of the auction and themselves.

As for offending this prefect, any potential consequences would be addressed later through compensation by the Nine Heavens Group.

The prefect shot Xu Yi a resentful glance. Since Xu Yi refused to voluntarily terminate their contract, he had no choice but to stay put. “Think carefully about your decision,” he warned solemnly. “All ensuing consequences will fall squarely upon your shoulders!”

This time, Xu Yi remained silent, maintaining his bowed posture in respectful deference.

At Second High School, Principal Wang wore an expression of utter exhaustion. Around him, several teachers lay unconscious on the ground, while those still standing bore various injuries.

“I have some Rejuvenation Pills here—quickly distribute them!” Principal Wang instructed, tossing a bottle containing these medicinal pills to one of the lightly injured teachers nearby.

The teacher took the bottle of pills but didn’t consume any himself. Instead, he meticulously examined the conditions of his injured colleagues.

This bottle contained a limited number of Rejuvenation Pills. To maximize their efficacy, they could only be administered to those most severely wounded—the ones who needed them the most.

Schoolmaster Wang gazed in the direction where the four monsters had departed. Had these late Qi Refining stage creatures unleashed their full power during the attack, none of Second High School’s teachers, including himself, would have survived.

However, it was clear that these four monsters possessed more pressing matters at hand; thus, they hastily retreated mid-battle without finishing off their opponents.

Had someone been observing from above, they would have seen groups of cultivator-wielding monsters converging on a single target from various points across the city: the prefectural residence itself.

At this moment, the prefect was absent, leaving behind only cultivators with relatively weak abilities to guard the premises. In truth, the prefectural residence never required a formidable protective force; no matter how powerful, no guards could match the strength of the prefect—a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Within the residence were primarily servants and administrative staff—those tasked with attending to the prefect’s needs and assisting him in his duties.

Without even needing to assume their monstrous forms, the invaders effortlessly dispatched everyone within the prefectural residence.

One of the monsters then produced several sheets of spirit beast hide, each intricately adorned with complex patterns of lines.

He spread out the spirit beast hides on the ground, carefully piecing them together so that each line connected seamlessly with another.

“Channel spiritual energy into the array!” he commanded once the hides were properly aligned.

The prefectural capital was not merely the political center of Yunxi County; it housed the core of its primary spirit vein—a vital lifeline for the entire region.

Every county, including Yunxi, possessed at least one second-rank spirit vein. Yunxi County’s specific vein was classified as inferior-grade, yet from this main artery branched numerous smaller tributaries, supplying spiritual energy to every corner of the county where it was needed.

For instance, Second High School drew upon a first-rank superior-grade branch directly from the second-rank inferior-grade spirit vein. Meanwhile, Li Zhen’s home had a dedicated connection to channel spiritual energy specifically for his spirit plant area.

Throughout the entire county, all sources of spiritual energy originated from this second-rank inferior-grade spirit vein—it formed the very foundation of existence for Yunxi County.

Each county’s prefect, being a true cultivator at Foundation Establishment stage, bore the responsibility of protecting their respective second-rank spirit veins. Moreover, these powerful individuals could only advance their cultivation base by harnessing the energy from such veins.

By piecing together the spirit beast hides, they employed a specialized method for rapidly setting up an array formation. Each hide contained partial designs of the overall array, which when combined correctly, formed a complete and functional magical layout. This technique allowed them to swiftly manifest the power necessary for their purposes.

The formation drew its energy directly from the second-order inferior spirit vein, ensuring that it was abundantly powered.

Several demonic individuals channeled the spiritual energy of the vein into the spirit beast hide. As the light danced across it, each line of the formation seemed to ignite like a circuit coming alive.

With bated breath, they watched the array on the ground. They had to activate it before the prefect returned; otherwise, all their meticulous planning would have been for naught.

A surge of intense spiritual energy rose from the spirit beast hide, radiating outward in a golden-yellow glow emanating from the formation.

“The Houtu Dust Array has activated successfully!” exclaimed the leader demon excitedly. “Immediately begin constructing the altar!”

They had captured numerous live policemen during this operation—perfect sacrifices favored by the Demon God. Their plan relied heavily on invoking the Demon God to amplify their victory later.

Meanwhile, at the auction house, as news of the invasion reached them alongside reports of trouble at the Prefectural Office, the deputy quickly tried to contact his superior there.

After waiting several anxious moments with no response, he realized something catastrophic must have befallen the Prefectural Office.

“Xu Yi,” he said resolutely, “I can’t stay here any longer!” At that moment, concerns about contracts with the Nine Heavens Group were cast aside. If harm came to the second-order spirit vein within the Prefectural Office, the consequences would far outweigh any breach of contract with the powerful corporation.

Without awaiting any response from Xu Yi, he abruptly took flight, shattering through the roof with a forceful leap as he vanished into the sky.

“Quickly investigate what has transpired!” Xu Yi commanded. He knew all too well that the prefect would not abandon his post due to some contractual dispute; this must be an emergency of monumental proportions.

As others rushed to ascertain the situation, the spectacle of the prefect soaring away had already caught the attention of every cultivator at the auction venue—leaving them utterly spellbound by the dramatic scene unfolding above their heads.

“Intruders! Demonic forces have invaded the county town and are heading straight here!” one cultivator cried out loudly.

Upon hearing this commotion, Xu Yi immediately set about identifying who was stirring up such chaos. The speaker, however, had deliberately concealed himself, eluding detection by Xu Yi.

This single shout plunged the auction house into disorder almost instantly.

“The Foundation Establishment Pills and other precious items are just behind us,” another voice called out seductively. “Let’s seize them!”

Even if there were those unaffected by such enticement, the mere thought that these coveted treasures listed on the auction catalogue were within reach proved irresistible. Especially for the Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators present, the allure of the Foundation Establishment Pills was simply overwhelming.

It was against this backdrop of turmoil that Li Zhen approached the auction site. Before he could even enter, he spotted the departing figure of the prefect soaring across the horizon—a stark reminder of the crisis unfolding beyond the walls of the auction house.

He paused, momentarily stunned. Though he had come to the auction with greedy intentions, his primary reason for being here was the presence of the prefect—his best guarantee of safety.

Now that the prefect had left, Li Zhen heard commotion rising from within the hall. After a moment’s hesitation, he realized this chaotic situation might afford him an opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

The disorder at the entrance had prompted two cultivators from the Nine Heavens Group stationed there to rush inside, joining their comrades already on scene to restore order.

Li Zhen slipped into the auction house unimpeded, finding chaos reigning supreme. Many experienced cultivators present had covered their faces with cloth and were making a beeline for the side rooms of the auction venue.

Everyone knew well that the item Nine Heavens Group intended to auction would undoubtedly be guarded by their most powerful cultivator—the one capable of protecting it against all others.

That individual was Xu Yi, not only the strongest among the Nine Heavens Group but also the most formidable cultivator at the scene, standing at the pinnacle of Qi Refining mastery.

Even for someone at such an apex, facing such a vast number of cultivators was deeply unnerving. Yet Xu Yi acted swiftly; he understood that if these covetous cultivators engaged him, Lu Tianyu might seize the chance to escape.

Before preparing to battle, Xu Yi made a decisive move: with a single kick, he dispatched Lu Tianyu outright. This ruthless action eliminated any possibility of interference as he prepared to face the encroaching horde alone.

“We must fight our way out; we cannot be trapped indoors!” Xu Yi declared solemnly to his three Late Qi Refining Stage companions after dispatching Lu Tianyu.

Each of these three cultivators produced magical artifacts and numerous talismans—this was no time for restraint.

The greedy assailants unleashed their arsenal: some wielded magical artifacts while others flung forth talismans.

Though few among them possessed magical items or talismans superior in quality to those of Xu Yi’s group, their sheer numbers created an overwhelming onslaught.

Li Zhen shrank into a corner, using a corpse as cover by draping it over himself. His smaller frame was easily concealed beneath the body, which measured well over 1.9 meters tall.

By employing the Qi Concealment Art, he suppressed his spiritual energy signature to its lowest possible level. He slowed his breathing, ensuring that even without deliberate concealment, his mere second layer of Qi Refining cultivation would go unnoticed amidst such chaos—who present would spare attention for a cultivator at only that basic stage?

At this moment, Li Zhen released his sensory focus on spiritual objects. Within ten meters, any unclaimed spirit item should have been detectable by him.

Unfortunately, despite the abundance of corpses littering the ground, not a single spiritual object registered within his perception.

Plundering fallen bodies was an essential skill for any cultivator. The slain here had long since been stripped clean of any spirit items by earlier arrivals—not a one remained for someone like Li Zhen who arrived too late to the feast.