Chapter 579: Bandit Chief, Bandit Number Two

Zhang Xian had taken half of the Fire Battalion's heavenly soldiers away, leaving six hundred immortals behind. Though each of them was a dragon among men, when faced with a criminal who had released a great demon to assault the Celestial Court, none dared claim they wouldn't betray themselves through some slip.

But after Black Pot's consciousness swept over them, everyone's demeanor relaxed. They felt that even if someone were to mince them into fine filling, it would be nothing more than that—nothing to be afraid of.

"My Dao Heart has never been more stable." The same thought arose in every one of their minds.

However, when Black Pot attempted to control Zhong Lin's mind, he still couldn't reach the man's consciousness.

Zhong Lin's expression remained as calm as ever, giving nothing away.

Chen Shi raised his hand, retrieved the section of chain he had severed, and hid it away. Then he flipped the chains on the ground over, pressing the damaged side against the earth.

He had barely finished these tasks when Commander Wu Guanyun of the Chen Character Office arrived at the Demon-Refining Well.

Wu Guanyun's cultivation was overwhelmingly powerful. The moment he arrived, his presence alone made everyone's hearts skip a beat.

He had a commanding countenance—a square face framed by a ring of unkempt whiskers, dressed in embroidered robes with a jade belt at his waist. Radiant light steamed from the crown of his head, and within that glow stood a gleaming golden sword box. An Azure Dragon coiled around the box, exhaling cyan light that continuously poured into it.

Wu Guanyun swept his gaze across the scene. When he spotted the chains the group had pulled out, his eyes flickered, and a smile crept onto his face. Then his gaze fell upon the mountain of chains piled on the ground, and the smile deepened. He said, "Gentlemen, it seems you've made some discoveries."

Chen Shi bowed. "The Commander has keen insight. We discovered a Three Purities Demon-Refining Well. The great demon within was most likely deliberately released to assault the Celestial Court and destroy the Celestial Strategy."

Wu Guanyun's gaze settled on the severed cross-section of the chains. "What makes you say that?"

Chen Shi said, "The Three Purities Demon-Refining Well appeared overnight. The people nearby, and even the common folk throughout the entire Wash Immortal Kingdom, heard a wind howling at midnight. When they came out to look during the day, they found this Demon-Refining Well. We searched the area and discovered these chains. The chains were severed by someone, so we suspect the great demon in the well was deliberately released."

Wu Guanyun nodded slightly. "Your analysis makes good sense. Your name is Chen Shi? The Chen Shi who killed Yin Fenglou?"

Chen Shi inclined his body. "Indeed, I am Chen Shi. Commander Yin and I fought a fair contest, but his cultivation and strength were simply too great. In the life-or-death struggle, I slipped for a moment and mistakenly slew a loyal official. Fortunately, the Celestial Court understood that I was wronged and pardoned me."

Wu Guanyun gave him a long, searching look, then smiled. "Having someone in the Celestial Court who appreciates you is a good thing. Chen Shi, do you resent me for not arranging you as Fire Battalion Regional Commander?"

"I wouldn't dare." Chen Shi's expression remained unchanged.

"Truly worthy of the one who dared to kill Commander Yin before countless immortals in West Heaven Expanse."

Wu Guanyun said, "You don't reveal your emotions on your face. I imagine you were no small figure in the mortal world either—you must have been a ruler of a nation, yes?"

Chen Shi shook his head. "I wouldn't presume to call myself a ruler. In Western Ox New Continent, I hold the title of True King of the overseas territories of the Ming Dynasty."

"The Ming Dynasty. It fell long ago."

Wu Guanyun dismissed it with indifference, staring at the severed chain surface. "What can you discern from this cut?"

Chen Shi said, "The cut is perfectly smooth, seamless as one. For a sword strike to achieve this, it must have employed techniques from the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture."

Zhong Lin had been listening from the side the entire time. At these words, his heart lurched, and he thought to himself that things were taking a bad turn.

Wu Guanyun said, "So who do you think the culprit could be?"

"An immortal!"

Chen Shi's expression did not change. "This person must have once served as a heavenly soldier in the soldier camps and learned the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture. When he found the Three Purities Demon-Refining Well and released the great demon, he knew his deeds could not bear the light of day, so he didn't dare use his true abilities. The Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture has the most students among immortals—nearly all of them have learned it. Therefore, he used this immortal technique to conceal his real methods."

"You analyze well, very well..."

Wu Guanyun smiled, keeping his eyes fixed on Chen Shi's the whole time, as if trying to read the true thoughts behind those pupils. But Chen Shi's expression remained as steady as ever, and Wu Guanyun could detect nothing unusual.

"The criminal has quite the nerve."

Wu Guanyun sneered. "Attempting to muddy the waters with the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture. But such petty tricks won't fool me. Commander Zhang has already led the Fire Battalion down?"

"Yes."

Wu Guanyun's face broke into a smile. "He is cautious by nature, keeping you all outside. But if something happens within, you can immediately provide support or report to the Celestial Court. However, with me here this time, there's no need for such caution. All of you will follow me, deep into the Demon-Refining Well!"

He was the Commander, and with such words spoken, naturally no one dared to disobey.

Bai Fangfang, Xiao Dulu, and the others weren't afraid in the slightest. Instead, they beamed with delight, as if descending into the Demon-Refining Well alongside Wu Guanyun was a wonderful opportunity.

Seeing this, Chen Shi thought to himself, "Black Pot has made them overconfident. If Black Pot gave the order right now to attack Wu Guanyun, they'd probably strike without hesitation."

He had no desire to go, and said, "Commander Wu, let me remain outside the well to guard against unforeseen circumstances, and to send word to the Celestial Court for reinforcements if needed."

Wu Guanyun smiled. "No need. You'll follow me and perform well—I may promote you to Regional Commander."

"Thank you, Commander Wu." Chen Shi bowed.

The group soared into the air and descended into the Demon-Refining Well.

The well was far too massive. Even with more than six hundred immortals entering, they were like birds flying into a vast forest.

They flew deeper and deeper into the well. Wu Guanyun lagged a step behind, staying at the rear. Chen Shi and Black Pot also fell back, following Wu Guanyun.

Tianji Scholar Zhong Lin stayed close by Wu Guanyun's side.

Wu Guanyun glanced left and right, then chuckled. "So this dog immortal is Black Pot? He truly resembles that great black dog from the Immortal Slaying List who once plunged the world into chaos!"

Chen Shi said, "All dogs look the same. I've seen the great black dog on the Immortal Slaying List before—it's more doglike, while Black Pot is an immortal."

Wu Guanyun cast him a sidelong glance and laughed. "Daoist Chen also bears a striking resemblance to the second person on the Immortal Slaying List. If Daoist Chen were to cover his face with divine light, he'd look even more like him."

Zhong Lin's heart stirred at these words. He raised his hand to block Chen Shi's face from view, observing only his mannerisms, and thought to himself, "Indeed, there's a certain resemblance to Bandit Number Two on the Immortal Slaying List. Bandit Number One is a dog, and Bandit Number Two resembles Daoist Chen... so that means..."

Chen Shi said without changing his expression, "The Commander jests. Black Pot and I have only recently ascended. We passed through the Celestial Strategy's resonance, and I achieved Dao Unification in the Celestial Court. We are not the madmen on the Immortal Slaying List."

Wu Guanyun laughed heartily. "I never said you two were those madmen—no need to be nervous. I heard those two lunatics, a man and a dog, broke into the Dao Realms of five hundred true immortals in succession, stealing earthly treasures and spiritual roots as if strolling through an empty courtyard. Now they're infamous throughout the Earth Immortal Realm. If anyone caught even a trace of them, they wouldn't even know how they died."

Chen Shi's heart clenched. "I'm still fine—I haven't revealed my true face. But Black Pot has shown his. If we leave the Celestial Court, someone is bound to pick up his trail."

Wu Guanyun continued, "Moreover, that man and dog carry over five hundred earthly treasures and spiritual roots on them. A single one can keep an immortal lord alive through Opening the Calamity. Five hundred of them—heh heh. If their whereabouts ever leaked out, I dread to think how many people would come hunting them."

He shifted his tone and smiled. "If I were them, my first choice would be to flee the Earth Immortal Realm entirely, hiding as far away as possible. The second choice would be to hide inside the Celestial Court."

His gaze landed on Chen Shi's face. "The immortals in the Celestial Court are all newly ascended. If they hid here, no one would know what they'd done before. And no aggrieved party would dare search the Celestial Court, so it would actually be the safest place."

Chen Shi said helplessly, "Commander Wu, I truly just achieved Dao Unification—and I did it in the Celestial Court."

"I never said you two were those bandits. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Wu Guanyun laughed heartily. Looking at the chains emerging from the walls around them, he said, "Just now, Daoist Chen said this person must be an immortal from outside, using the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture to hide his true Dao techniques. But is it possible this person is someone from within the Celestial Court? There are plenty of immortals in the Celestial Court who cultivate the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture."

Up ahead, Bai Fangfang let out a muffled snicker. "Confessing without being..."

Black Pot hastily seized control of her consciousness, lest she let something slip.

Chen Shi said, "What is the Commander implying?"

Wu Guanyun said, "The heavenly soldiers under King Li's command are all immortals. You newly ascended immortals have just begun cultivating the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture—naturally you couldn't sever these chains. But would a Commander or a Grand Commander be able to?"

Zhong Lin grew tense, trying to quietly marshal his Celestial Way divine abilities, but Wu Guanyun was right beside him. If his immortal essence showed even the slightest anomalous fluctuation, Wu Guanyun would sense it!

When a Gold Immortal struck, even a Tianji Scholar like him would die in a single blow!

Chen Shi said, "The Commander means that the person who released the great demon to assault the Celestial Court that night might come from under King Li's command?"

Wu Guanyun nodded lightly.

Chen Shi said, "Who does the Commander suspect?"

Wu Guanyun smiled. "I suspect every Commander and every Grand Commander. But before I suspect them, I suspect the person who stole over five hundred earthly treasures and spiritual roots even more. Daoist Chen, do you think someone with his abilities could sever these chains?"

Zhong Lin's heart shook at these words, and he turned to look at Chen Shi.

Up ahead, Xiao Dulu blurted out, "The Commander means Chen Shi is the one who released the great demon? I suspected him all along too... Mmph mmmph!"

He wanted to keep talking, but a voice in his mind wouldn't let him speak, and it turned his face bright red from the strain.

Chen Shi said, "What the Commander says makes sense. Unfortunately, at that time I had committed a capital crime and was locked away in the Heavenly Prison. Otherwise, I could have gone to the Celestial Strategy Bureau myself and seen this treasure-thieving criminal with my own eyes."

Wu Guanyun laughed heartily. "I was only making casual conversation—why rush to defend yourself? Being locked up in the Heavenly Prison and not at the scene only makes you more suspicious..."

A vein bulged on Chen Shi's forehead.

Zhong Lin thought to himself, "Commander Wu's words carry hidden meaning. Could it be that he isn't the culprit after all?"

He began to doubt his own judgment.

At that moment, they finally reached the bottom of the Demon-Refining Well. The air around them was sweltering and damp. Golden fire surged from the earth amid clouds of steam, and what met their eyes was a round, bulky three-legged cauldron covering several acres of ground, with a lid that had been knocked aside.

Around the Prime Cauldron were locking mechanisms with chains attached—though these chains had already been severed.

Chen Shi looked by the light of the earthly fire and saw many identical three-legged cauldrons come into view. These cauldrons still had chains attached to them, chains that had not been cut.

This Demon-Refining Well held hundreds of great demons!

Zhang Xian and his men were not far away, examining these three-legged cauldrons. When they saw Chen Shi and the others, they froze for a moment. Then they spotted Wu Guanyun, and Zhang Xian's face lit up with joy as he hurried over.

Wu Guanyun wore a broad smile, nodding to Zhang Xian from a distance in acknowledgment. Then he shifted his tone and smiled. "So, Chen Shi, how did you know that I was the one who released the great demon?"