Chapter 548 - 498: Dark Chess Piece, Crisis

Chapter 548: Chapter 498: Dark Chess Piece, Crisis

Hearing this, Xu Changqing froze, seemingly unable to process it at first. But soon, his pupils contracted. As if struck by an unbelievable thought, he whipped his head toward Chu Mu, his breathing growing ragged.

Just then, Wangcai’s nose twitched. An extremely faint ripple from its Bloodline Divine Techniques emerged as it surveyed the surroundings.

After only a few breaths, Wangcai whipped its head to the southeast. It let out two low growls, bent its forelegs, and was about to spring forward when it suddenly turned back to look at Chu Mu.

"WHINE..."

Wangcai paced in a circle, then abruptly turned and darted back to Chu Mu’s side. It let out a series of urgent growls, clearly trying to tell him something.

Chu Mu’s eyes narrowed, a look of disbelief on his face.

He then leaped into the air, landing a moment later on the roof of the courtyard pavilion. From this high vantage point, he could survey most of Bazhou City.

Xu Changqing followed close behind, his white robes immaculate as he drifted down to land. Wangcai was already there, sticking close to Chu Mu’s side.

By now, Chu Mu was completely focused. Under his Spiritual Radiance Blessing, his eyes, which seemed to hold the profoundest truths of the world, grew as deep as the starry cosmos. He slowly scanned his surroundings, taking in the sprawling expanse of buildings and pavilions.

His gaze swept over the city as he carefully extended his senses.

A moment later, while the Spiritual Radiance was still active, Chu Mu suddenly closed his eyes, as if sensing something specific.

About fifteen minutes later, under Xu Changqing’s grave stare, Chu Mu’s eyes snapped open. Still glowing with Spiritual Radiance, they were filled with undeniable, staggering shock.

Xu Changqing’s voice was grave, as if he had already guessed something. "Fellow Daoist?"

Chu Mu remained silent. He waved his hand, and several Jade Boxes appeared, hovering before him. With a light tap of his finger, the boxes shattered, revealing the Spiritual Materials inside.

Nine Heavens Profound Gold, Shoushan Red Copper, Celestial Trace Crystal Stone, Moonlight Essence... One after another, these rare Spiritual Objects were revealed. Spiritual Light flared from them, and their precious auras radiated outwards without concealment.

Chu Mu pointed to the core Spiritual Materials used for refining Soldier Puppets and looked to Wangcai. His expression was solemn, his voice laced with trepidation. "How many beings with this aura are there?"

At his words, Wangcai activated its Bloodline Divine Techniques. A moment later, a low growl rumbled from its throat.

Chu Mu’s breath hitched, his disbelief palpable. "How many?"

Wangcai growled again.

Xu Changqing pressed him, his voice growing more urgent. "Fellow Daoist?"

Only then did Chu Mu seem to notice Xu Changqing’s questions. His face was a shade paler as he fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking:

"The Chen Family’s Tier Four Soldier Puppets have reached Bazhou City. They must be concealed by some kind of Array Prohibition, or perhaps they’ve already combined into a larger formation."

"My contingency measure was obscured and difficult to detect. I’m not sure if the Chen Family discovered the abnormality in the Soldier Puppet, or if this is simply the concealing effect of the Array Prohibition itself."

"But I am certain of this: there isn’t just one Tier Four Soldier Puppet hidden in this city. There are likely more than ten of them."

Chu Mu was being cautious, not drawing any absolute conclusions.

But to Xu Changqing, these words struck like a bolt from the blue.

His expression changed drastically. He hastily pulled out a Sound Transmission Order and sent a message, but there was no response.

Without another word, he leaped into the air. Unleashing his Sword Dao Cultivation without reservation, he transformed into a rainbow of sword light and streaked toward the city center.

’Twelve... Tier Four Soldier Puppets...’

Chu Mu watched Xu Changqing’s hurried departure. As he repeated the words silently to himself, he looked back at the city, his gaze growing heavy.

Twelve Tier Four Soldier Puppets.

A Tier Four True Cultivator of Sword Intent...

A millennial celebration meant to stir up a storm...

Nascent Soul Great Powers from all sides gathered in one place...

Taken individually, each of these things was normal enough.

But when you put them all together...

...it becomes the biggest anomaly of all!

These twelve Tier Four Soldier Puppets were clearly refined by the Chen Family, modeled after the one he had repaired for them years ago.

But for the Chen Family to secretly bring twelve Tier Four Soldier Puppets to Bazhou at this exact moment...

’So, this millennial celebration has been a setup from the very beginning?’

’Using a Tier Four True Cultivator of Sword Intent as bait to stir up a storm and lure the prey into a trap...’

’And then... catch them all in one net?’

At the thought, Chu Mu’s heart couldn’t help but hammer in his chest.

The implication was terrifying—so terrifying it was nearly suffocating.

But... his senses weren’t wrong, and neither was the tracking from Wangcai’s Bloodline Divine Techniques!

That meant his guess was infinitesimally close to the truth. In fact, it *was* the truth—a truth that was about to unfold!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly sensed his hidden contingency measure within the Soldier Puppet’s core just a moment ago.

And that perception had only lasted for an instant before vanishing without a trace. Clearly, someone was deliberately concealing the Soldier Puppets’ presence.

In that brief moment, they must have been plotting something with the Soldier Puppets—or arranging them in some way—which caused his momentary perception, followed by its immediate disappearance.

’So, this Overlord Saber Ancestor is very likely one of the Chen Family’s... hidden pawns?’

’This millennial celebration is just a grand performance to help the Chen Family set a massive trap...’

Chu Mu gazed toward the Overlord Saber Alliance headquarters in the center of the city, now more certain of his guess than ever.

A millennial celebration where all parties would converge.

The masterminds behind the current chaos in the Vast Sea—the Nascent Soul Great Powers from factions like the Longevity Sect, the Nine Heavens Sect, the Celestial Demon Sect, and the Profound Nether Alliance—had all gathered here for this celebration.

If this trap succeeded, they would all be caught in one fell swoop...

Then, for the Chen Family, the chaotic situation in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World—their predicament of facing troubles both internal and external—would be resolved in an instant. All their endless internal strife could be settled in a single moment!