The Divine Urban Physician Chapter 3780: Tearing Off the Mask (Fifth Update)

A solitary figure contorted with uncanny agility, astonishingly breaking free from Elder Jun’s formidable Freedom Heaven containment. An icy spectral image materialized around him, wind and snow swirling ferociously, and in the subsequent instant, his form evaporated from the desolate terrain!

Elder Jun’s brow furrowed, and he moved as if to give chase, but Lin Rutian interjected, "Let it be. Given that this individual managed to break free from your Freedom Heaven constraint, he is clearly no ordinary person. Even if you were to pursue, apprehending him would prove exceedingly difficult."

Elder Jun offered a respectful nod, "Yes, Young Master."

He then retracted his Freedom Heaven aura and rejoined Lin Rutian.

Lin Rutian’s gaze swept over the scattered bloodstains and debris, his eyes narrowing before he inquired, "Young Master Ye, concerning the individual who just escaped, what was the extent of his power?"

Ye Chen responded, "That person possessed strength at the Qiankun Realm."

A wry smile touched Lin Rutian’s lips, "It appears he is the architect behind this scheme, and those who perished were merely expendable pawns, their sole purpose to purchase time for his escape."

Ye Chen regarded Lin Rutian, asking, "Were these individuals attempting to assassinate you? If so, why dispatch only these martial artists to carry out the deed?"

Lin Rutian chuckled softly, "As I’ve stated before, sometimes murder doesn't solely hinge on raw strength. Had these individuals truly intended to end my life, all they needed was a brief moment to stall Elder Jun; that would have sufficed.

Traps, potent poisons, coupled with that Qiankun Realm martial artist – these would have been more than enough. However, I detected their intentions in advance and acted preemptively, denying them any opportunity to strike.

Furthermore, their primary objective wasn't my demise. The Chen Family Master was merely a convenient intermediary; the true target lies behind him. They likely sought to extract that person's identity from me, did they not?"

Ye Chen queried, "When did you begin to suspect the involvement of an external party?"

This Faceless Divine Sect’s transformation technique is indeed remarkably unique. Even though Ye Chen possesses the Mental Demon Body, granting him an exceptionally potent spiritual sense, he only perceived a vague oddity about these individuals and failed to detect their physical alterations!

Lin Rutian, naturally, was similarly unable to discern any such changes!

Upon hearing Ye Chen’s question, Lin Rutian replied with a degree of solemnity, "Do you recall when we first arrived here, I mentioned a discrepancy in the number of steps taken? We navigated the Shifting Shadow Array employing five hundred and fourteen steps.

The Chen Family Master had once shared with me a peculiar characteristic of the Shifting Shadow Array: each traversal necessitates a distinct number of steps. However, regardless of its variation, it would never equate to precisely five hundred and fourteen."

Lin Rutian let out a somewhat melancholic laugh, "The Chen Family Master confessed his own superstitious inclinations, suggesting that five hundred and fourteen sounds akin to 'I am already deceased.' He posited that should I ever traverse the Shifting Shadow Array using exactly five hundred and fourteen steps, it would signify his own demise."

Both Ye Chen and Elder Jun fell into a pensive silence upon hearing this revelation.

Elder Jun voiced his concern, "Young Master, it appears our presence has been compromised, and the Chen Family Master has met his end. Without his guidance, we are unable to rendezvous with the individual behind this plot. Might it be prudent to return to Jiuqing Mountain first to deliberate further?"

Lin Rutian, however, shook his head. "There is no need for that."

Elder Jun appeared perplexed, "I fail to comprehend, Young Master."

Lin Rutian stated impassively, "The Chen Family Master was originally intended as mere bait to divert the enemy's attention. Within this very mountain, I have concealed a token. So long as I retrieve it, I can arrange a meeting with the mastermind, even without the Chen Family Master's introduction!"

Elder Jun’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Indeed! Young Master possesses remarkable foresight!"

Lin Rutian offered a self-deprecating smile, "If my foresight were truly that impeccable, the Chen Family Master would not have perished. Enough, let us proceed. Even within this Shifting Shadow Array, the opposing party cannot easily track our movements."

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slightly. A token? He pondered why Lin Rutian had hidden this token separately.

Could it not be carried along?

Only someone perpetually anticipating mortal danger would choose to conceal something of critical importance elsewhere...

Against whom, precisely, was Lin Rutian maintaining such vigilance?

Nevertheless, Ye Chen refrained from pressing further. Having already accepted this commission, as long as Lin Rutian harbored no malicious intent, he resolved to remain by his side.

With renewed purpose, the trio resumed their journey, venturing deeper into the embrace of the mountains and dense forests.

Lin Rutian expertly navigated the intricacies of the Shifting Shadow Array, their progress spanning several hours until they arrived before a seemingly unremarkable tree.

Lin Rutian gently caressed the tree's rough bark, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. In the next moment, his spiritual energy surged forth, causing the colossal tree to disintegrate into fine powder.

Ye Chen's pupils contracted as a simple, unadorned wooden box materialized before them.

Though the wooden container appeared ordinary, Ye Chen sensed its hidden complexity!

Even with his formidable spiritual sense, distinguishing its essence from that of common wood was impossible. Had it not been for Lin Rutian's subtle direction, Ye Chen would never have unearthed this wooden box concealed within the grand tree!

Lin Rutian moved to lift the box's lid, revealing a pale yellow jade pendant nestled within, its surface adorned with crimson markings resembling intertwined bloodlines.

Just then, Elder Jun's voice echoed from behind Ye Chen and Lin Rutian, a question posed, "Young Master, is this jade pendant the very token required to meet that individual?"

Lin Rutian carefully retrieved the jade pendant, his back still angled towards Elder Jun. "Indeed, it is."

Elder Jun pressed further, "And where shall we proceed to encounter the other party now?"

Ye Chen's eyes remained fixed on the jade pendant held by Lin Rutian, his expression suddenly faltering. The pendant's crimson patterns unexpectedly began to bleed onto Lin Rutian's arm!

Lin Rutian's face remained impassive as the crimson markings progressively spread across his form; not only his arm but also his exposed neck and face started to manifest the striking, vein-like crimson patterns!

In that instant, Lin Rutian's imposing aura underwent a subtle, yet noticeable, shift!

Elder Jun's pupils violently constricted, and he instinctively took a small step backward.

Lin Rutian inquired casually, his tone unperturbed, "What troubles you, Elder Jun? Why maintain such a distance?"

He slowly turned, his gaze locking onto the elder who had faithfully accompanied him for over a millennium, his features now strangely vacant, "Ah, I recall now, this particular aura must be rather unsettling for you?"

Ye Chen observed from the side, his eyes narrowing slightly, pondering the unspoken history and events that had occurred between Lin Rutian and Elder Jun.

Elder Jun's gaze stayed on the jade pendant clutched in Lin Rutian's hand, his voice soft, "Young Master, there truly was no other token hidden within this mountain, was there? You guided us here solely for the sake of this jade pendant?"

Lin Rutian offered no direct reply, instead directing a complex, unreadable look toward Elder Jun. "Elder Jun, how many years have you stood by my side?"

Elder Jun responded, his voice steady, "One thousand two hundred and thirteen years."