Chapter 431 324: Unexpected

"Of course, once this operation is complete, we will reward each of you based on your contributions."

"In short, the Celestial Net Department will not disappoint any of you."

Cheng Xuan concluded.

The Du Family was one of the older Noble Families in the Great Li Imperial City, with a complex and tangled web of connections to many other Noble Families.

That was why the power of the Noble Families could not be used for this operation.

Similarly, experts from the Great Li Royal Family and the Celestial Net Department couldn't be easily mobilized.

The Immortal Sect High Priest was undoubtedly watching the Celestial Net Department and the Great Li Royal Family from the shadows.

That's why this operation could only rely on Divine Sea Experts brought in from other regions.

Hearing this, the crowd of Divine Sea Experts showed satisfied expressions.

Soon.

Following their instructions, the experts quietly dispersed, taking up their positions around the Du Mansion.

Han Yuan stood in the shadows beneath the eaves of a building, his eyes glinting as he watched the back gate of the Du Mansion.

Not long after.

He felt a gentle evening breeze drift down the street.

Imperceptibly, Han Yuan felt a mysterious power descend, quietly enveloping the entire Du Mansion.

Without hesitation, Han Yuan charged toward the Du Mansion.

He knew Ling Yunzi had made his move.

SWOOSH!

He vaulted directly into the back courtyard of the Du Mansion.

The Du Mansion was vast, full of courtyards and winding corridors. Han Yuan quietly concealed himself in the shadows.

His only responsibility was to guard the back gate and ensure no one from the Du Mansion escaped this way.

'I wonder which unlucky soul will run my way.'

A sense of anticipation grew in Han Yuan's heart.

Before long, the silence of the Du Mansion was shattered.

"Intruders!!!"

The shout was followed by an uproar that instantly engulfed the Du Mansion.

This quickly escalated into chaos.

A cacophony of shrieks, pained cries, and furious roars rose above the Du Mansion.

Yet these sounds seemed to be contained by some unseen force, unable to travel beyond the estate.

RUMBLE!!!

Soon, Han Yuan heard the sound of collapsing buildings, accompanied by the rise of several terrifying auras.

According to the Celestial Net Department's intelligence, Du Honghao was the only Divine Sea Expert in the Du Family. Even counting the Immortal Sect High Priest, that made only two.

This time, however, the Celestial Net Department had dispatched ten Divine Sea Experts.

In Han Yuan's eyes, there was no way this battle could have an unexpected outcome.

Not long after.

A squad of Guards leading a dozen or so people dressed in fine brocades rushed toward the back gate.

"Young Master, the Du Mansion is under attack by a mysterious force! The Patriarch is fighting with all his might."

"We have to escape now if we want to survive!"

The Guard captain said grimly.

"Captain Dong, we're counting on you!"

The Du Family's eldest son, however, remained fearless in the face of danger, managing to keep his composure.

But then, his second brother spoke up, "Something feels off… An attack by this many experts must have been planned in advance."

"Why have they left the back gate completely unguarded?"

At his words, a chill ran down everyone's spines.

"We can't use the back gate!"

The eldest young master was the first to react, whispering,

"Quick!!!"

"Let's go somewhere else!"

The Guard captain roared.

But it was already too late.

A figure wearing a ghost-face mask quietly appeared before them.

"Pardon me…"

Han Yuan smiled faintly.

The next moment.

He became a phantom shadow, instantly lunging at the group.

Before they could even react, they felt a sharp pain in their necks and lost consciousness.

A few moments later, all of them lay unconscious on the ground.

After all, Zhou Mingwu had ordered them taken alive, so Han Yuan couldn't bring himself to use lethal force.

"Who are you?!"

"Why are you destroying my Du Family?!"

At this moment.

A furious roar echoed above the Du Mansion.

It was clearly the voice of Du Honghao.

No one answered Du Honghao's question.

But following Du Honghao's roar, the chaotic din of the Du Mansion gradually faded into a deathly silence.

After all, the Celestial Net Department had deployed so many people precisely to take down the Du Mansion as quickly as possible.

But Han Yuan frowned.

'Based on the commotion, Du Honghao has shown himself.'

'But where is the Immortal Sect High Priest...'

'Why hasn't he shown up?'

'Could he not be in the Du Mansion?'

'That can't be... The Celestial Net Department must have used some special means to confirm the Immortal Sect High Priest was here before they would act.'

'Otherwise, Du Honghao alone isn't valuable enough to warrant all this.'

Han Yuan pondered.

At this moment.

He was suddenly struck with a feeling of absolute dread, an indescribable sense of danger washing over him.

!!!

Without a shred of hesitation, Han Yuan activated Second Stage: Demon Whale Transformation!

BOOM!!

Five Emperors Great Demon Qi erupted from his body, forming a colossal aura.

Han Yuan's body swelled to over three meters tall. His black hair whipped about and his eyes turned crimson, making him look like a Great Demon from ancient times.

The next moment.

A palm silently struck his hard, powerful back.

Han Yuan felt as if a mountain had crashed into him. The muscles across his back tore as he was sent flying, smashing through a wall!

The one who had attacked Han Yuan was none other than the Du Family's eldest son.

He now pulsed with a sinister aura, as if countless wailing spirits were coiled around him.

A look of surprise appeared on the face of the Du Family's eldest son.

He hadn't expected his sneak attack to fail to instantly kill the man before him.

Without hesitation, he decided to use this opportunity to escape the Du Mansion.

But the next moment.

A figure shot out from the rubble, caught up to the Du Family's eldest son in an instant, and threw a devastating punch!