King of Creation Chapter 1699 - 1684: Poison Dragon Pearl

"It is truly peculiar that the Heavenly Temple would proactively withdraw the accusations against Ye Zhen," Emperor Ji Long of the Ren Venerate dynasty mused, his face etched with bewilderment within the Imperial Palace's East Arrival Pavilion.

"There must be developments I am not privy to. Great Attendant, have there been any unusual findings in these recent days?" Emperor Ji Long inquired.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this old servant has discovered nothing thus far. The sole point of note is that Hall Master Mu Xu had previously met with Ye Zhen twice in secret.

On both occasions, the pretext was to gather intelligence regarding the Soul Demon Sovereign that surfaced in Shahe City," Yu Chaoen reported. Almost concurrently, a talisman's light flickered, causing Yu Chaoen's brow to furrow once more.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has just received word that Baili Fei and Mu Xu have once again met Ye Zhen in secret at the posthouse, under the guise of collecting information about the Soul Demon Sovereign," Yu Chaoen stated.

"Can you monitor them?" Emperor Ji Long's eyes gleamed with an intense emotion.

Yu Chaoen slowly shook his head. "Since the annihilation of the Heavenly Listening Clan, our ability to monitor Dao Realm experts has completely vanished."

"I comprehend!"

Emperor Ji Long slowly waved his hand. "From this moment forward, investigate meticulously to ascertain if there have been any unusual reactions from the Heavenly Temple in recent times."

The instant his words concluded, Emperor Ji Long wove a hand seal, causing light to flash between his fingers. Great Sun Priest Bai Xiang of the Ancestor God Temple materialized out of thin air within the East Arrival Pavilion.

"What is the outcome?"

"Your Majesty, this old man just performed a ritual sacrifice employing secret techniques to summon the Heavenly Communication Spirit God and probe the reason behind this matter. The answer obtained was quite unexpected," Bai Xiang revealed.

"Unexpected? In what manner?"

"That Heavenly Communication Spirit God conveyed that the Heavenly Temple's decision to spare Ye Zhen was entirely due to a Jade Scroll. As for its contents, the Heavenly Communication Spirit God could not perceive them," Bai Xiang explained.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Ji Long raised his eyebrows. "A Jade Scroll? It appears my suspicions were not misplaced. If the Heavenly Temple intended to retaliate against the Demon God Palace, they would have no need for such a grand charade, requesting my cooperation.

Their exaggerated plea for my assistance was merely a performance to avoid publicly backing down after retracting their accusations against Ye Zhen."

"However, under normal circumstances, even with the Luo Prefecture Branch Temple incident and considering the Heavenly Temple's methods, especially with Ji Yuan and Xiao Qiangu involved, they would not have let Ye Zhen off the hook so easily, would they?" Emperor Ji Long pondered aloud.

"This is also the source of my confusion. According to the Heavenly Communication Spirit God, Ye Zhen was indeed present at the Shahe City Branch Temple when it was massacred, and the destruction was undeniably linked to him."

"If he had not annihilated the Shahe City Branch Temple and completely turned against the Heavenly Temple, why would they have protected him?"

"It would seem Ye Zhen and the Heavenly Temple must have reached some form of accord!" Emperor Ji Long declared, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "It appears this cunning Ye Zhen is not entirely foolish!"

"An accord?"

Yu Chaoen suddenly lifted his head. "Your Majesty, this old servant recalls a matter; Green Dawn Peak has perpetually sought the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique that Ye Zhen possesses. Could this Jade Scroll be that very technique?"

"The Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique?"

Great Sun Priest Bai Xiang's expression shifted dramatically. "That is entirely plausible! In recent years, Mu Hall, under the Ancestor God Temple, has cultivated the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique acquired from Ye Zhen among thousands of disciples. Those who excelled have achieved minor success, and its power is indeed exceptional.

After a century of diligent practice, the Deputy Sacrificers within Mu Hall, who arduously cultivate the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique, can each contend with forces numbering ten thousand or even hundreds of thousands of troops!"

"A trade involving the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique?"

After a period of contemplation, Emperor Ji Long slowly nodded. "That is indeed a distinct possibility..."

....

Within the posthouse, shielded by potent barriers and under the Divine Sense surveillance of Baili Fei and Mu Xu, Ye Zhen was finalizing a transaction with Mu Xu and his associates.

"If I were to hand over the Original Spirit Shadow of this Jade Scroll Spirit Shadow, wouldn’t the two Hall Masters simply turn on me and kill me then and there?" Ye Zhen jested.

Baili Fei let out a chilling laugh, making no secret of his murderous intent. "If we were outside of Luoyi, this old man truly might have done just that."

To openly assassinate a Wind Patrol Envoy of the Heavenly Patrol Department within Luoyi, a Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall no less, the Hall Masters, despite their esteemed positions, could not bear such a grave offense, nor would they dare to commit it.

The Ancestor God Temple, a power on par with the Heavenly Temple, was not to be underestimated.

Although the Ancestor God Temple's expansion was more gradual than the Heavenly Temple's due to differing cultivation techniques, their formidable strength was undeniable.

The advancement of Priests within the Ancestor God Temple far outpaced the cultivation speed in the Heavenly Temple.

"Where is the item I desire?" Ye Zhen inquired, leaning back in his chair with newfound interest.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Baili Fei's face as he tossed a storage ring towards Ye Zhen. It was typically their Heavenly Temple that extorted others, and Ye Zhen's audacity in extorting them today left him deeply uncomfortable.

With a subtle sweep of his Divine Sense, Ye Zhen verified the contents of the storage ring. "Everything else is accounted for. Now, where is the Postnatal Spirit Treasure I requested?"

"And what about the Original Spirit Shadow of the Jade Scroll, along with all the Divine Record Jade Scrolls you still owe us? Have they arrived?" Baili Fei shot back.

The Original Spirit Shadow of the Jade Scroll was a matter of utmost importance.

Given that all Spirit Shadow sites were meticulously recorded using specially crafted Shadow Capture Jade Scrolls, only the original scroll could properly archive a Divine Record using Divine Sense.

To obtain the original Jade Scroll Spirit Shadow was tantamount to seizing control over the very source of its dissemination.

"That quickly?" Baili Fei expressed a degree of puzzlement.

"Do you not possess the Dao Heart Demon Talisman?" Ye Zhen countered.

With a cold snort, Baili Fei deftly formed a series of hand seals, and a Fire Pearl, ablaze with dark green flames, materialized from thin air.

The moment the dark green flame ignited, Ye Zhen's expression shifted dramatically. Firelight erupted around him, forming a seal over his ears, nose, mouth, and other orifices.

Despite these precautions, a heavy sensation settled in his chest, a consequence of inhaling even a trace of the toxic smoke emanating from the dark green fireball.

Almost simultaneously, the barrier previously erected by Baili Fei and Mu Xu began to falter as the dark green Fire Pearl appeared.

However, Mu Xu calmly extended his palms, releasing a wave of verdant light that swiftly subdued the flames of the dark green Fire Pearl, shrinking it to the size of a mere foot.

"Is this the Fire Element Acquired Spirit Treasure you pledged to provide?" Ye Zhen's gaze shifted, assessing the item.

"This artifact is the Demon Core of the Ancient Demon Beast Green Smoke Suanni, known as the Green Smoke Suanni Pearl. Our Heavenly Temple acquired it at the cost of two Dao Realm experts countless millennia ago. As the Ancient Suanni is one of the nine sons of the Dragon, and thus belongs to the Dragon Clan, this pearl is also referred to as the Poison Dragon Pearl! It is classified as a Low Grade Postnatal Spirit Treasure, possessing boundless power," Mu Xu elaborated.

Ye Zhen's initial delight quickly gave way to a frown. Though the Green Smoke Suanni was an ancient and formidable beast, even in antiquity, its might far surpassed that of beasts like the Nine-Headed Beast or other Ancient Fierce Beasts, by a factor of tens. Could the Heavenly Temple truly afford to casually part with a Spirit Treasure forged from the Demon Core of such a creature?

An instinctual caution urged Ye Zhen to examine it with extreme care.

As his Divine Sense gradually delved into the pearl for a few breaths, Ye Zhen's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. "Are you attempting to deceive me?"