King of Creation Chapter 1752 - 1737: Seeking the Dao at Five Immortals Hall

It was several years prior, during Ye Zhen's initial appointment as the West Patrol's Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, that Xio Qiangu had planned to assert dominance over him. This confrontation, however, provided Ye Zhen with the perfect opening to infiltrate the West Patrol Office by planting a trusted informant. That informant turned out to be none other than Ma Yuanjin, the Junior Director of the Inner Affairs Bureau. The value of Ma Yuanjin as an asset was immense, so much so that Ye Zhen exercised extreme caution, rarely utilizing him to avoid detection. He had only given Ma Yuanjin one directive: to alert him if Xio Qiangu ever made a genuine move against him. Yet, this contingency remained unused for years.

Ma Yuanjin proved to be a reliable operative, not disappointing Ye Zhen's trust. Indeed, shortly after Ye Zhen had severely wounded the former Chief of the Inner Affairs Bureau five years prior, Xio Qiangu appointed Ma Yuanjin to the position. Over a month had now passed since this five-year appointment concluded, and no action had been taken by Xio Qiangu. To preempt any unforeseen developments or a decisive strike from Xio Qiangu, Ye Zhen discreetly reached out to Ma Yuanjin to ascertain the current situation and any potential activities initiated by Xio Qiangu. The intelligence received from Ma Yuanjin, however, left Ye Zhen somewhat taken aback.

It transpired that as soon as the five-year term expired, Chii Jingshan, who had suffered public humiliation and was forced to kneel by Ye Zhen years ago, had eagerly proposed to Xio Qiangu that Ye Zhen, specifically as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, be targeted. Yet, Xio Qiangu's response to Chii Jingshan was rather unexpected. Xio Qiangu stated that with the just-concluded five-year term, Ye Zhen would undoubtedly be on high alert, fully prepared for any conceivable challenge from their side. Consequently, initiating an attack at this juncture carried a low probability of success. Therefore, proceeding with caution was advised, waiting for Ye Zhen to let his guard down before launching a surprise assault.

This revelation caused considerable surprise for Ye Zhen. Could this be the explanation for the current tranquility? Ye Zhen trusted Ma Yuanjin implicitly, confident he would not resort to deception. However, the possibility lingered that this might be a carefully orchestrated ruse by Xio Qiangu, a strategic maneuver to deliberately leak such information. Perhaps, the intention was for Ye Zhen and his subordinates to relax upon receiving this intelligence, only to be caught off guard by an imminent attack from Xio Qiangu. Consequently, Ye Zhen maintained his vigilance.

However, Ye Zhen soon recognized the impracticality of remaining perpetually on the defensive. The entire North Sea County was under a state of heightened alert—a situation unsustainable in the long run. Even if Ye Zhen could endure it, his subordinates would eventually falter. An incessant state of high alert would inevitably breed complacency, leading to the opposite of the intended effect. Thus, after another fortnight, Ye Zhen subtly rescinded the stringent alert measures within and surrounding North Sea County, adopting a facade of relaxed composure while retaining internal vigilance.

Ye Zhen contemplated that any potential move by Xio Qiangu against him would likely center on professional conduct, integrity, or the dissemination of intelligence. He issued stern warnings to mid and high-ranking officials, urging heightened awareness in these specific areas. Furthermore, Ye Zhen acknowledged that remaining indefinitely in North Sea County was an untenable situation. Given that Xio Qiangu held the position of his direct superior, he possessed the authority to create obstacles for Ye Zhen at any moment. Ye Zhen understood he could not maintain his presence in North Sea County forever. This was compounded by the fact that Ye Zhen's cultivation had plateaued at the Dark Palace Realm, with no sign of breakthrough—a pressing issue demanding immediate resolution. Without progress, his cultivation would remain stagnant, hindering his ability to improve.

Only by attaining a certain level of cultivation and combat prowess could he establish a credible deterrent. The immediate priority, therefore, was to overcome the barrier hindering his cultivation advancement. After prolonged deliberation, Ye Zhen resolved to seek counsel from Mountain God Yi Xun of the Five Immortals Heavenly Destiny Hall. Yi Xun, recognized for his esteemed lineage, extensive experience, and unwavering trustworthiness, was the ideal individual for Ye Zhen to consult on this critical matter. Ye Zhen initiated contact with Mountain God Yi Xun via a discreet Communication Transfer Formation.

Upon hearing the details of Ye Zhen's predicament, Mountain God Yi Xun was utterly astonished. He remarked that throughout his extensive years of cultivation, he had encountered a myriad of anomalies and peculiar phenomena, but a situation like Ye Zhen's—where his Divine Soul Cultivation was excessively profound, and his Primordial Spirit remarkably potent, thus obstructing the formation of the Dark Palace—was unprecedented. If Ye Zhen's past adversaries were aware of this peculiar circumstance, Yi Xun mused, they would likely react with utter disbelief and frustration; it was indeed an exceptionally perplexing predicament. Nevertheless, Mountain God Yi Xun couldn't help but secretly marvel at how Ye Zhen had managed to cultivate such an unconventional path. Possessing the Primordial Spirit of a Dao Realm expert while operating at the Ninth Stage of the Divine Communication Realm was, quite frankly, astonishing.

This revelation only amplified Ye Zhen's growing frustration. If even the esteemed Mountain God Yi Xun had never encountered such a case, did this signify that Ye Zhen's hopes of finding a solution through him were also in vain?

Faced with disappointment, the Mountain God, Yi Xun, did not dismiss Ye Zhen immediately. He wished to personally assess Ye Zhen's condition to ascertain a resolution.

Several days later, Ye Zhen discreetly departed from North Sea County, setting his course for Five Immortals Island.

Although only two months had elapsed in the external world, the accelerated time flow from the Mirage Dragon Pearl meant that while Ye Zhen had frittered away much of his time, others had completed two full years of rigorous cultivation.

The Sky Wing Three Saints had all advanced their cultivation to varying degrees within the early to late stages of the Fifth Stage of the Dark Palace Realm. Even the little cat had achieved a breakthrough, reaching the mid-Sixth Stage of the Dark Palace Realm.

Such an advancement translated to a 10% improvement in the little cat's speed and its endurance during flight.

Ye Zhen reached Five Immortals Island within a mere three days, where he finally met the much-anticipated Mountain God Yi Xun.

Without delay, Ye Zhen made another attempt to break through to the Dark Palace Realm before Mountain God Yi Xun.

The outcome, as expected, was another failure!

Nevertheless, Mountain God Yi Xun's brow furrowed, and a wry smile touched his lips as he stated, "My apologies, Count Ye. This predicament is truly unheard of. This is the very first time I have encountered such a situation, and I have no immediate remedy."

Despite having braced himself mentally, Ye Zhen still experienced profound disappointment.

"Is there truly no way?" he questioned internally, his mind racing with the possibility of his cultivation being perpetually stalled at the Ninth Stage Peak of the Divine Communication Realm.

Perceiving Ye Zhen's evident distress, Mountain God Yi Xun quickly reassured him, "Count Ye, please do not be alarmed. While I am presently without a solution, my master possesses knowledge and experience that is hundreds of times greater than mine. There might be a path forward."

"Furthermore, Count Ye," he added, "do not forget the divine power inherent in our Tianyun Hall's Heavenly Fortune Technique. It may not only address this issue but also illuminate the correct path toward a resolution."

These words offered Ye Zhen a measure of solace.

He had yet to locate Caiyi, despite possessing only the clue of 'South,' mostly due to his recent overwhelming schedule that left him no leisure time.

However, the single character 'South,' penned by the Grand Venerable of Tianyun Hall, was indeed a tantalizing enigma.

Mountain God Yi Xun promptly departed for Tianyun Hall to consult with his master regarding this perplexing matter.

Approximately two hours later, Mountain God Yi Xun returned. Observing his countenance, now marked by a distinct relaxation, Ye Zhen inquired with keen interest, "Great Deacon Yi, have you discovered a solution?"

Mountain God Yi Xun offered a slight nod. "Indeed, a solution has been found."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhen was instantly filled with immense joy!