I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God Chapter 1276: Fortune Favors the Bold

The Outer Sect Hall of the Fallen God Palace was filled with tension.

A gathering of elders was deep in discussion, plotting their vengeance. As the chorus of vengeful vows began to fade, every face was masked with a synchronized display of grief and fury. Whether their sorrow was genuine or fabricated, they had performed the role of mourning comrades to perfection.

Just as the assembly prepared to depart.

Abruptly!

A weathered, ancient figure materialized at the hall's entrance.

The arrival was none other than Liu Runan, a prestigious Inner Sect Elder.

His reputation carried immense weight throughout the Fallen God Palace and across the entire Land of the Fallen Gods. To the elders present, he was a legendary predecessor; most were merely juniors who wouldn’t dare dream of showing him the slightest lack of respect.

Upon seeing that aged countenance, the elders rose as one. Shock flickered briefly in their gazes before they hastily clasped their fists in a formal salute!

"We pay our respects to Elder Liu!"

Their true thoughts remained buried beneath a veneer of extreme humility. Bowing low, the elders waited in silence, maintaining an aura of profound reverence.

Despite their display.

Liu Runan’s hunched form remained motionless, his clouded eyes offering no specific scrutiny. With a single, detached glance across the room, he effortlessly pierced through the intentions of these juniors.

He knew this was little more than a performance designed to win his favor.

To the outside world, these Outer Sect Elders were seen as god-like figures, yet to him, they were nothing but insignificant children. Their clumsy attempts at manipulation and cunning were far too shallow to escape his notice.

Though his physical body was failing, his mind remained as sharp and clear as a mirror.

As his silent gaze lingered, an oppressive pressure began to weigh on the crowd. It felt as though they were facing their old masters again, and anxiety began to gnaw at their hearts.

Finally, unable to endure the silence, the Outer Sect Grand Elder stepped forward with a bow.

"Elder Liu, your presence in the Outer Sect is a profound honor. Your noble son was our colleague for many years, and his tragic death at the hands of a treacherous villain is a loss we all feel. We swear to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice!"

The moment he finished, the other elders voiced their loud agreement in unison.

Watching this display of solidarity, Liu Runan lowered his gaze and spoke with a chilling tone.

"Oh?"

"My useless son has been dead for an entire day, yet you have no news to report? Is this the camaraderie you boast of?"

"If word of this incompetence spreads, what will remain of the Fallen God Palace’s prestige?"

His low, questioning voice sent a wave of terror through the room, making their knees tremble!

Before any excuses could be offered.

Liu Runan spoke again, his voice now vibrating with palpable irritation!

"For tens of thousands of years, our Fallen God Palace has reigned supreme over Lan Star. Never has such a humiliating event occurred. While my son’s life may be a small matter, your total lack of progress is a disgrace to your titles as elders of this sect!"

"It appears the Outer Sect has grown soft and complacent. Perhaps this matter should be escalated to the Star Lord so the Inner Sect can take over the investigation!"

As those words hit the air.

The elders turned deathly pale, dropping to their knees simultaneously!

"Elder Liu, we beg for your forgiveness!"

"We will hunt for the murderer immediately, without a moment's rest!"

"Elder, have mercy! Please, do not involve the Star Lord!"

"We implore you, Elder! For the sake of the years we spent working with your son, please show us leniency!"

As the elders pleaded desperately, Liu Runan remained cold and unmoved.

In the era when he was carving out his path to power, these people were either non-existent or mere infants. Did they really think their pathetic tricks could influence a master like him?

It was laughable!

Having broken their spirits with just a few sentences, Liu Runan allowed a flicker of emotion to soften his face.

He put on an act of reluctant generosity and sighed.

"Fine, enough..."

"Since you claim to care for your comrade and the sect’s reputation, I will hold off on reporting to the Star Lord for now. However, this must be settled swiftly. If not, I will personally see that you are held accountable for your negligence!"

The elders reacted as if they had just been granted a stay of execution, nodding fervently.

"Elder Liu is truly merciful. We are forever in your debt!"

"Yes, absolutely..."

Only the Outer Sect Grand Elder, while grateful, still looked troubled.

After a moment of hesitation, he rose and clasped his fists tentatively.

"Elder, your kindness is boundless."

"But your son met his end in the outer territories. The Divine Land is immense, and we currently lack any solid leads. If you could grant us a few days of grace..."

"Three days! Give us three days, and we will exhaust every resource and connection to find the culprit!"

Liu Runan gave a small, approving nod.

"Hmm..."

Hiding his satisfaction at having them exactly where he wanted, he provided them with a breakthrough.

"That is fair."

"However, finding him is not as difficult as you think. Through the report of my son’s soul flame, I have already pinpointed the killer’s location and background. Are you prepared to follow me, capture the criminal, and wipe away your shame?"

The elders were struck by a wave of relief and joy, responding with immediate fervor.

"We would face ten thousand deaths to serve you!"

"With the Elder leading the way, we will surely seize the murderer!"

"We thank the Elder for his guidance and mercy!"

With a few calculated remarks, the Outer Sect Elders had been completely subverted.

What should have been a situation where they were doing him a favor had been flipped; now, they were the ones who owed him. They were even feeling grateful for the chance to do his dirty work and hunt down Yi Feng.

Such was the terrifying manipulation of an Inner Sect Elder.

Gazing at his group of eager tools, Liu Runan finally allowed a satisfied smile to touch his lips. Everything was proceeding exactly as he had envisioned.

...

The Northern Desert Barren Domain.

Yi Feng had quietly returned to the area, where he had pitched a tent and was now calmly sipping tea.

His previous drinking bout had been enjoyable, but he hadn't forgotten his ultimate goal: seeking his own demise. Now that he had provoked such a powerful enemy, he didn't want to drag anyone else down with him. He had to face the consequences alone.

After a few cups, his mind felt tranquil.

He would wait right here for the so-called masters of the Divine Palace to arrive. Though it was a bit dull, he was used to the solitude.

After half a day of waiting with no sign of his enemies, he turned his attention to Mantou.

"Hey, do you think they’re actually coming for blood? The Fallen God Palace sounds like a big deal. Surely they wouldn't let someone like me get away with it, right?"

He tossed out several questions.

Mantou, however, remained as sluggish as ever, wiggling slowly in the sand. It turned its dull, dead-fish eyes toward him and blew a few mindless bubbles.

"Blub blub..."

Looking at the creature, it clearly lacked any real intellect. Talking to it was a waste of time.

Then again, the complexities of his grand plan to seek death were likely too much for anyone else to grasp.

Yi Feng sighed, looking up at the sky with a prayer.

"Old Liu, come on, don't let me down..."

Meanwhile.

High in the void, Liu Runan led the contingent of elders toward the Northern Desert Barren Domain. They arrived in an instant, but as they looked down at the solitary figure below, confusion began to spread among them.

When Liu Runan shared a few specific details about their target, the elders were visibly shaken!

"Barren Realm?!"

"Elder Liu, how are we supposed to fight a Barren Realm expert?"

"This is..."

The elders felt they had been led into a trap, though they were too afraid to say it aloud.

The difference between the Half-step Barren Realm and the true Barren Realm was a literal chasm. Those in the Barren Realm could tap into the Primordial Barren power, a force capable of upending the heavens and commanding spirits.

In a casual exchange, they might survive, but in a desperate struggle where all limiters were removed, the gap in power was not something that could be overcome by numbers alone!

Liu Runan, however, remained perfectly composed, his hands tucked behind his back and a confident smile on his face.

"Don't lose your nerve."

"Your only task is to use your movement techniques to surround and distract him. While he is occupied, I will manifest a grand formation from the outside to crush him in one strike!"

"Do this, and not only will your past failures be forgotten, but I will also owe each of you a personal favor."

Hesitation flickered in their eyes.

The mission was incredibly dangerous, but if they could just hold him off for a short time, they could clear their names and gain the backing of an Inner Sect Elder. The potential reward was massive.

As the saying goes, wealth is found within danger. With such a high stake on the table, they were willing to gamble. Besides, with Liu Runan there to finish the job, the risk felt manageable. They didn't want to miss this opportunity.

These elders were all ruthless men. Seeing Liu Runan’s confidence, they steeled their resolve and clasped their fists!

"Very well! We will do it!"

Exchanging determined looks, the dozen or so experts gritted their teeth and dived straight toward the desert floor!