King of Creation Chapter 1751 - 1736: The West Patrol’s Oddity

This was the initial transmission received after Ye Zhen channeled spiritual power into the mother-child magic conch, carrying Gu Tieqi's voice.

"What has transpired? Did the Western Patrol Immortal Commander Qian make a move?" Ye Zhen inquired urgently.

"It's nothing of importance, my Lord, nothing at all. My Lord, where are you? Are you alright?" Gu Tieqi's voice echoed, laced with worry.

"Hmm?"

Ye Zhen's brow furrowed, a measure of confusion clouding his thoughts regarding Gu Tieqi's fervent inquiry.

In North Sea County, Liuu Feng, who was utilizing the mother-child magic conch in conjunction with Gu Tieqi to establish contact with Ye Zhen, seemed to grasp the situation and quickly took possession of the conch.

"My Lord, all is well in North Sea County. The primary concern arose because, roughly half a day prior, Her Highness Princess Changle contacted us via a minor teleportation formation, inquiring about your whereabouts, as she feared you might be in peril. We hastened to reach you but were unsuccessful in establishing contact. Alas, Tieqi grew exceedingly worried that something had befallen you," Liuu Feng explained with haste.

"Pay no mind to his worries, my Lord. I had faith that you would not encounter trouble, but your well-being is paramount!" Gu Tieqi interjected, his anxiety palpable.

"Fear not, I am well! I shall return to North Sea County within two to three days. Maintain vigilant watchfulness; let your guard remain unbreached."

Having issued his instructions, Ye Zhen put away the mother-child magic conch, realizing the communication was a mere false alarm and not an indication of trouble brewing in North Sea County.

As a wave of relief washed over Ye Zhen, he also retrieved the small communication teleportation formation, which he used to contact Princess Changle, dispatching a jade scroll to assure her of his safety.

Regrettably, such mother-child magic conches are exceedingly rare. Ever since acquiring a few pairs from Ao Zheng, the Crown Prince of the Blue-scaled Dragon Palace, he had not obtained any more.

If only there were a more convenient method for him to communicate with Princess Changle.

Fortunately, Ye Zhen's fortune in departing the Demon Soul Realm this time was not unfavorable. He was not thrust into demon territories or perilous predicaments. After a swift self-orientation, he located the nearest ancient teleportation array.

Covering a distance of approximately four million miles, Ye Zhen had the small cat transport him at a speed of around two hundred thousand miles per hour, enabling him to reach the closest ancient teleportation formation in less than a day and a half.

It must be acknowledged that the small cat's recent breakthrough had significantly aided Ye Zhen.

Previously, traversing four million miles, even with the small cat's assistance, would have consumed eight to ten days for Ye Zhen.

Now, the journey was accomplished in merely a day and a half.

This was achieved while maintaining the small cat's standard flight capacity. If it were to unleash its top speed, exceeding four hundred thousand miles per hour, the destination could be reached in as little as ten hours.

However, following such an exertion, the small cat would likely require several days to recuperate fully.

A day later, Ye Zhen, having altered his appearance, emerged once more from the ancient teleportation array nearest to North Sea County City. Utilizing the small cat's swiftness, he could return to North Sea County in under a day.

While Ye Zhen was making his safe return, the Seventh Grand Power Sacrifice, Tumen Changyin, grew increasingly anxious in Luoyi, awaiting any news.

Several days had already elapsed without any communication from the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui.

Not only Tumen Changyin but also Ba Shanqiu, recently given his new name by Tumen Changyin after being extricated from the Black Wind Absolute Domain, was becoming restless.

He had been residing within Tumen Changyin's estate for several days.

"Grand Power Sacrifice, has any word arrived from that direction?" On the sixth day, Ba Shanqiu could no longer suppress his impatience and posed the question to Tumen Changyin.

Tumen Changyin's visage was grim at that moment. Observing the fretful Ba Shanqiu, he slowly shook his head. "No tidings have been received from that quarter yet. Perhaps the extensive journey has led to unforeseen delays. I shall inform you once news becomes available."

"Here is our course of action: I have already finalized your identity documentation. You shall report to the Ancestor God Temple initially. Within a few days, you will be transferred alongside other Moon Priests and Star Priests to the Barbarian Spirit Hall, where you will await your brother's completion of his penance and subsequent return to the Barbarian Spirit Hall," Tumen Changyin declared.

"Understood!"

Although Ba Shanqiu complied with apparent obedience, the disappointment was evident in his expression and the gaze of his eyes.

Nothing would have provided him with greater satisfaction than to personally witness the beheading of the bandit Ye Zhen.

Despite their brief sojourn alongside Ye Zhen and Princess Changle within the Barbarian Spirit Hall, their experienced perceptions had discerned that the connection between Ye Zhen and Princess Changle was far from ordinary.

Should tidings of Ye Zhen’s execution and demise surface, Princess Changle would undoubtedly plunge into profound sorrow. The supreme satisfaction would arise when he, under a new guise, returned to the Barbarian Spirit Hall to witness the pained Princess Changle.

This particular thought had long been harbored within his mind, fueling a powerful anticipation.

Now, however, a measure of disappointment began to creep in.

Once Ba Shanqiu departed, Tumen Changyin’s already somber expression deepened further.

While protracted journeys might indeed cause delays for ordinary individuals, for Feng Kui, the Great Saint of the Tempest, whom Tumen Changyin had expended a significant favor to enlist, the concept of distance was rendered utterly irrelevant.

As a matter of course, the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui, possessed the ability to traverse a thousand miles in an instant, covering ten million miles within a single day.

With such effortless swiftness and the utilization of ancient teleportation formations, he could reach any given corner of the Primordial Continent in merely one to two days.

In Tumen Changyin’s estimation, it was not only possible but highly probable that the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui, had met with some untoward incident.

It had been six days since Tumen Changyin relayed the meticulously obtained location of Ye Zhen to the Great Saint. The saint had pledged to deliver favorable news.

Yet, by the second and third days, no such promising tidings arrived.

Tumen Changyin harbored a premonition of something amiss, but a part of him resolutely refused to accept it.

After all, given Feng Kui’s formidable might, he possessed the capacity to contend even against a formidable adversary in the late stage of the Dao Realm.

How could any mishap possibly befall him when confronting an individual as inconsequential as Ye Zhen?

However, the crux of the issue was that the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui, had been uncontactable for the past six days.

Abruptly, Tup Menn Changyin’s gaze fell upon his butler, who was hurrying towards him with a solemn countenance. "Master, we have just received intelligence; the third-class Earl of North Sea County and the West Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, Ye Zhen, has safely returned to North Sea County."

"What?"

"That brat, Ye Zhen, returned unscathed?"

"This is impossible!"

Tup Menn Changyin sprang to his feet abruptly, the lines on his forehead knitting together into a cascade of deep furrows, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Could it be a case of mistaken identity?"

The butler’s expression turned crestfallen. "Master, the individuals responsible for conveying the news also provided a Spirit Shadow recording."

Upon hearing this, Tup Menn Changyin snatched the Jade Scroll. After a mere glance, he slumped back into his chair, utterly spent.

The Spirit Shadow vividly captured the scene of the Governor and County Captain of North Sea County, alongside a retinue of officials, extending a welcoming reception to Ye Zhen upon his arrival at the prefecture.

Particularly striking was the moment Ye Zhen descended from the heavens, astride the formidable Cloud Winged Tiger King.

While Ye Zhen himself might have been an imposter, the Cloud Winged Tiger King, a beast of exceptionally rare lineage, capable of breaking through to the Dark Palace Realm despite its humble origins, was undeniably genuine.

Gazing upon the Spirit Shadow, Tup Menn Changyin’s heart hammered against his ribs. How could it be that even the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui, failed to bring Ye Zhen to heel?

Just how incredibly tenacious was this fellow’s destiny?

A profound sense of helplessness washed over Tup Menn Changyin. Then, suddenly, a fresh wave of shock struck him.

If Ye Zhen had indeed returned alive, what, then, had transpired with the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui?

Could it possibly be...

In the ensuing moment, Tup Menn Changyin’s face contorted in horror. He frantically shook his head, desperate to banish the chilling possibility from his mind.

Yet, such unsettling thoughts could hardly be dismissed so easily.

Mere moments later, the Seventh Grand Power Sacrifice, Tup Menn Changyin, his eyes betraying a flicker of genuine fear, turned and retreated into his heavily fortified secret chamber. His intention was to discreetly contact a select few acquaintances within the Four Profound Demon World, seeking information regarding the Great Saint of the Tempest, Feng Kui.

With a lifespan stretching over a millennium and possessing such elevated cultivation and esteemed status, the Seventh Grand Power Sacrifice, Tup Menn Changyin, commanded an exceptionally wide and influential network of connections.

....

Ye Zhen, though startled by the reports, swiftly returned to North Sea County and began diligently organizing its defenses in preparation for the impending challenge from West Patrol Xian Qian.

In recent years, Ye Zhen had largely detached himself from the day-to-day administration of North Sea County. He had entrusted all matters concerning the county and his role as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy to Governor Qiao Fu, County Captain Tang Biao, as well as Gu Tieqi, Liuu Feng, Heavenly Patrol Divine General Fengg Jiumo, Spirit Scout Niu Er, and several others.

Ye Zhen did not even recognize every individual holding a mid-to-upper-level official position.

Upon his return to North Sea County, Ye Zhen's inaugural act was to convene with officials across all echelons of the County Government. He also personally met with every captain commanding three thousand or more County Soldiers, as well as the leaders of the Wind Scouts and the minor officials of the Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, all falling under the purview of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy.

The roster of individuals Ye Zhen interviewed surpassed a thousand souls.

Yet, Ye Zhen treated each official and officer with utmost seriousness, never merely going through the motions. Meeting twenty to thirty individuals in a two-hour span would be considered rapid.

For every single person he met, Ye Zhen posed several pointed questions, tailored to their unique backgrounds and experiences.

This was by no means a frivolous expenditure of Ye Zhen's time.

Primarily, Ye Zhen sought to solidify his authority as the third-class Earl of North Sea County and the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy. Secondarily, he aimed to unearth and neutralize any potential lurking dangers.

As long as these officials and officers proved to be beyond reproach, his jurisdiction over North Sea County and his role as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy would remain unassailable.

One might ponder, can a handful of probing questions truly expose hidden truths?

Is such a feat even conceivable?

Under ordinary circumstances, it would be highly improbable.

However, with Ye Zhen's Sword Heart Enlightenment sense, coupled with Ling Qianbi's potent and discerning Divine Soul Sensing, Ye Zhen could perceive subtle fluctuations in the Divine Soul and psychological shifts that occurred in response to each query.

Furthermore, leveraging the exceptional observational prowess granted by Big Ears Nie Ting's innate divine ability, Ye Zhen could detect even the most minute irregularity in a heartbeat or a flicker of nervousness in those being interviewed.

Should any concerning anomalies arise in these aspects, Ye Zhen would compile a discreet dossier for his Heavenly Patrol Department operatives to investigate covertly.

If any peculiar issues were unearthed, they would be swiftly addressed.

Yet, even in the absence of concrete evidence, at this crucially sensitive juncture, Ye Zhen would proactively reassign officials from pivotal positions as a stringent precautionary measure.

Ye Zhen dedicated seven full days to these crucial interviews as planned, and the subsequent implementation of comprehensive adjustments spanned nearly an entire month.

However, Ye Zhen found himself astonished that more than a month had already elapsed since the five-year agreement, and there remained no discernible activity or word from Xian Qian of the West Patrol.