Chapter 285 Infiltration

In recent days at the Fortress of Sharpness, it was not uncommon for disciples of the Holy Sanctuary to engage in fights over their rankings. However, no one had dared to challenge the top ten positions—until now, with two contenders stepping up, the stage was set, and everyone was eagerly anticipating this spectacle.

Although Zhao Ziyue ranked ninth, to be honest, apart from Hei Wu Kai, Xiao Bang, and the newcomer from Dark Demon Island, the other top ten rankings were all determined through genuine battles during the Hero Competition. The gap between them wasn't significant, and the outcome of any confrontation could depend on factors like timing, location, and personal form. Even Ye Dun, who held the top rank, couldn't confidently claim he could easily defeat Zhao Ziyue.

Hei Wu Kai had never participated in any of the Holy Sanctuary's competitions and was directly placed third, which most people found questionable. Now, facing off against Zhao Ziyue seemed just right.

Those who wanted to see the excitement, those who wished to truly gauge Hei Wu Kai's abilities, and those hoping to witness the myth of the Eight Guardians being broken by humans—all were drawn to this match. The reputation of Zhao Ziyue and Hei Wu Kai attracted countless spectators.

Even the group from Dark Demon Island, who usually kept to themselves after arriving at the Fortress of Sharpness, watched the entire event with keen interest. However, cloaked in dark robes, they lurked in the corners, their eerie presence deterring most from approaching. It was best not to provoke anyone from Dark Demon Island; even if you could defeat them, it was better to avoid trouble, as they were notoriously persistent and relentless.

At that moment, within the fortress...

Yakrei was chatting jovially with several middle-aged officers when his subordinate Exorcist reported the latest observations on the Dragon City Soul Illusion.

A bearded officer in his forties asked, "Five days to two weeks, will this estimate change again? It’s like a difficult labor, with the predicted date already wrong three times."

"Apologies, Lord Tamucha. The 'fetus' of the Soul Illusion has been expanding, leading to our miscalculations," the Exorcist respectfully replied. "Now that we can observe the expansion has stopped, the range of five days to two weeks should be more reliable and stable. I am at least eighty percent confident."

"That’s enough, enough. You’ve really gotten into the habit of making excuses." Tamucha waved his hand unhappily. "If you’re not sure, just say so. What’s this about seventy or eighty percent? Keep that twenty or thirty percent in mind; if you get it wrong, you’ll still have plenty to explain."

The Exorcist's face showed a hint of embarrassment.

Another officer beside him said, "Speaking of which, the formation time for this Soul Illusion is unusually long."

"The longer it takes to form, the larger the scale, which is a good thing," Tamucha remarked. "It’s been forming for nearly half a year; it should be a three-layer illusion, right?"

"At least three layers, possibly more," the Exorcist said regretfully. "Unfortunately, higher-level Soul Illusions appear too rarely, and there are no accurate records of their growth rates. So, we can only guess, making precise calculations difficult."

"Everything has a first time. This time, we’ll have firsthand data, and we’ll gain experience for the future," Yakrei said calmly, waving his hand. "Alright, you may go."

With the exorcist’s departure, the atmosphere in the room relaxed considerably. These few people were old comrades who had followed Akrai for many years. In front of their subordinates, they had to maintain their dignity and authority, but privately, they were quite casual with each other.

The bearded Tamucha chuckled and said, "Tsk, Chief Akrai, a soul illusion realm of three layers or more, it seems the treasure inside this time is no ordinary thing."

Akrai replied indifferently, "The better the treasure, the greater the danger within, naturally."

"Yes!" The only female warrior in the room sighed, her features rugged and commanding, though she was not young, at least thirty-five, with faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and sun-tanned skin: "Such a level of soul illusion realm is a bit too challenging for those young tigers from the peak. I can understand the Nine Gods, but sometimes I really don’t get what the Council is thinking?"

"Give them a nudge, what else can they think? They’ve already stepped on our doorstep; if we don’t respond, should we just hide like turtles?" Tamucha laughed heartily: "It’s rare that those old guys in the Council have shown some backbone. Besides, the conditions from the Nine Gods side are also fair. Lei, stop nitpicking."

"Nitpick what, I’m just wondering if there’s something fishy about this."

"It shouldn’t be." Tamucha said decisively: "Both sides’ candidates are absolutely vetted! I heard that before reporting to the Holy Sanctuary, even their ancestors for eight generations were thoroughly investigated. Even Mi couldn’t sneak in. As for others, well, the soul illusion realm hasn’t even appeared yet, leaving no room for the Nine Gods to prepare or set anything up."

"But I still feel there’s more to this…" she frowned and said: "If it’s aimed at Wang Feng, it seems a bit too much effort. The Nine Gods have no need to do this."

"It’s probably just part of the reason, not all of it," Akrai interrupted his subordinates’ argument, speaking calmly: "Guessing now is pointless. Just be prepared for any eventuality. Speaking of which, that boy Wang Feng is different from what I’ve heard..."

Tamucha asked with interest, "Chief, how so?"

"I don’t think he’s here under duress," Akrai smiled slightly, recalling Wang Feng’s calm demeanor when he was called out during the meeting: "He was very composed, which surprised me a bit. It’s as if he knows the mountain has tigers."

"I conveyed the Council’s intentions this afternoon, telling everyone to protect him a bit, but it doesn’t seem to have much effect. These young ones these days are quite proud..."

"Just shows they haven’t been beaten down by society yet!" Tamucha chimed in, then laughed and added: "But seriously, Chief, you’re not really worried about this, are you? Let the young ones figure it out themselves. If they survive, they’re truly capable; if they die, it’s their fate. Once they’re in, who can really control the situation?"

"If it were just the Council’s perfunctory instructions, it wouldn’t matter," Akrai said indifferently: "But Karida sent me three urgent letters, insisting that I must find a way to ensure Wang Feng’s safety… Well, even if I don’t care about the monk, I’ll do it for the Buddha. For Lei Long’s sake, we should try to protect Wang Feng."

"So, what’s your plan?"

"Take your time," Akray smiled, "Those young ones won't lack for troublemakers. Let's observe and see what he can do."

Dozens of miles away from the Fortress of Sharpness, there was the Dragon City...

This town appeared to be quite small, situated amidst a vast expanse of yellow sand. The somewhat dilapidated city walls made this already desolate town seem even more forlorn. However, once inside, it was bustling with activity; perhaps in places where life is tough, people can display their vitality more vividly.

Both the Blade and the Nine Gods had garrisons nearby, but soldiers were nominally forbidden from entering Dragon City. Normally, about ten thousand people resided here permanently, along with several thousand transient residents.

It was small, with a very mixed population. Due to its geographical location, not only the Blade and the Nine Gods, but also spies from other major forces occasionally infiltrated this place. It was a no-man's land with its own set of unwritten survival rules. However, recently, such spies seemed to have become fewer.

The Blade and the Nine Gods joined forces to directly seal off Dragon City, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, to prevent any leaks of information. Therefore, apart from the inevitable bits of information revealed due to the mobilization of the War Academy and the Holy Sanctuary, other forces found it impossible to get any news at all. As a result, intelligence about Dragon City was highly valued on the black market, which made the espionage personnel of various forces eager to infiltrate Dragon City, regardless of how tight the security was. Once inside, they believed they could find ways to transmit information out.

There were two main areas of investigation: one was information related to the Soul Illusion Realm. Undoubtedly, the significant actions taken by the Blade and the Nine Gods indicated that this Soul Illusion Realm was no ordinary affair; it might even be a third level or higher, with treasures of considerable value. Information in this regard was clearly very valuable.

The other aspect was the large-scale movements of the Nine Gods and the Blade, with the core young talents fully engaged. This clearly contained extremely useful information for all factions. It wasn't just about geniuses; these core young talents carried secrets, usually protected like chicks under the wings of their elders. Other forces, even if aware of these secrets, couldn't investigate them. But now, the situation was different...

To put it bluntly, in such a grand event, every piece of information, big or small, was valuable—just a matter of price... Of course, infiltrating the current Dragon City was no easy task, even for seasoned spies. However, this did not apply to Fu Liye.

In a low-ceilinged room, Old Sha sat motionless on a chair, feeling a bit panicked.

Although Dragon City was a no-man's land, business here was good. People passing through were generous and discreet, and violent incidents or murders were rare. For civilians like him, the only downside was the strong wind and sand, otherwise, life was quite comfortable.

But today, this comfortable life was suddenly disrupted when that man walked in with a smile... No, Old Sha felt that the man didn't walk in; he simply appeared out of nowhere. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, as if by magic, Old Sha felt himself being controlled.

His eyes were filled with terror, unable to scream, let alone move a finger. It was an odd sensation, as if his body was no longer his own, disconnected from his mind.

Beside him, his wife was trembling. She was a rough-looking Sand Clan woman, with a figure as flat as a washboard, something he usually despised. But now, it was a source of relief because it confirmed that the man who controlled him with his magic had no ill intentions toward his wife. He was merely 'putting on makeup' in front of the mirror.

After fussing with the mirror for a while, the man turned around, satisfied.

"Take a look at this appearance," the man said with a smile.

Old Sha and his wife were instantly stunned by his face; it was a dead ringer for Old Sha. Not only did he look exactly the same, but they only now realized that the man's voice and tone were identical to Old Sha’s.

Old Sha was terrified and wanted to scream for help, but his throat wouldn't cooperate. Instead, his wife let out a scream: "Ah!"

But her scream was cut short as soon as it began. The woman clutched her throat in fear, feeling no pain or discomfort, yet unable to make a sound.

"Shh, shh, shh..." The fake Old Sha waved a finger in front of his lips and said with a smile, "A woman should be gentle; screaming at every turn is not a good habit. Even if you're not the most beautiful, you should still have a woman's heart."

The couple was utterly terrified, unsure of what to do. The fake Old Sha then smiled and said, "Alright, let me introduce myself to both of you."

"My name is Fu Liye." He spread his hands and smiled at Old Sha, saying, "See? I’ve even told you my real name, showing how honest I am. I just want to borrow your identity to play around here for a few days. If you cooperate, especially if Mrs. Sha cooperates, I promise everything will go smoothly, and I can even give you a substantial reward afterward."

The couple stared with wide eyes.

"But if you don’t cooperate..." Fu Liye sighed and shook his head, "Then there’s nothing I can do. I can’t leave until my task is completed. Since you now know my real name, I’ll have to eliminate you to maintain my cover."

The couple’s eyes filled with terror again, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

"Well?" He paused and asked with a smile, "Do you choose to make this deal with me, or choose death?"

Is there even a choice?

Even if they were slow to react, at this moment, they could only nod frantically.

"That’s the spirit." Fu Liye smiled at the woman and said, "Tell me about some of your husband’s usual habits and catchphrases. Also, bring me the inventory list of your shop. To pretend to be the shop owner, I need to be familiar with the business. Ah, sorry..."

He casually waved his hand, and the woman felt the muscles in her throat relax.

"Cough, cough, cough!" She began to cough violently.

Fu Liye waited for her to recover, smiling gently: "Now we can begin."

The woman, not being unintelligent, after calming down a bit, said with trepidation: "M-mylord, my husband he..."

"The title is wrong, and so is the emotion," Fu Liye shook his head, speaking kindly: "How could you be so afraid of seeing your own husband? This way, anyone would see through you at a glance."

"Yes, yes, yes..." The woman steadied herself, finally managing to calm down and recount the details about her husband and the small shop.

Naturally, Fu Liye had a perfect memory. Seeing that the woman was gradually relaxing, and her composure was not bad, he smiled and tossed her a gold lior: "Well told, this is your reward."

"Lie your husband down in the inner room and let him rest properly. He will probably be bedridden for some time, but don't worry, I'll make sure he moves around at night; he won't become paralyzed." He stood up, smiling, and instructed her: "After settling him, open the shop. It's broad daylight, and the door has been closed for too long; it wouldn't do to keep it shut any longer."

"What about you?" The woman asked instinctively.

"I'm going for a stroll," Fu Liye replied with a smile. "If someone asks where Old Sha is, I think you know how to answer."

There were not many people on the street. The Blade and the Nine Gods had sealed off the area, not just by posting guards, but by completely blocking the space.

Ordinary spies would find it very difficult to enter, but this was exactly what Fu Liye excelled at. To him, complex multidimensional spaces were as transparent as glass.

He could come and go freely here, but he needed an identity to move around and gather information more conveniently. Even for a master like the Undying Sword Demon, everyone had to show some respect, and even Fu Liye would have no chance in a direct confrontation.

The leader's assessment was quite shocking. According to the leader's estimation, this Soul Illusionary Realm was not just three layers but at least four, possibly even an unprecedented five-layered illusion. This meant that the treasures inside had a high probability of being top-tier, perhaps even the Nine-Eyed Celestial Pearl, which all the top experts on the continent dreamed of. Therefore, simply entering here was not enough; he also needed to find a way to infiltrate.

This was more challenging. The spatial abilities of the Soul Realm's illusionary space were naturally hindered, making it difficult to overcome technically. He would need to rely on gathering intelligence from various sources to formulate a comprehensive plan.

In fact, Fu Liye was well aware that not only the Dark Hall but all factions were trying their best to get in. Most might be stopped outside, but there would certainly be others like him who managed to sneak in. At the very least, according to what Fu Liye knew, the Sea Clan's Hidden Sect had this capability.

That was a group of the most unique sea folk, possessing many peculiar abilities, and what other sea folk envied most was their ability to use arcane energy freely on land. It was said that such individuals could only appear once in every few hundred thousand sea folk, survivors of forbidden spells. They considered themselves the chosen saviors of the sea folk, gradually gathering together due to their shared traits to form a sect.

Moreover, the Hundred Eyes of Heaven Sect and Celestial Master Sect of the Nine Gods, as well as the Shadow Edict of the Blade, had all sent experts. They were fully capable of entering this sealed space. Despite bearing the names of the Nine Gods and the Blade, these groups were completely opposed to the two major forces, just like the Dark Hall, belonging to underground factions jointly wanted by the Nine Gods and the Blade.

Everyone's goal was the same: to infiltrate the Soul Void Illusion. Given the strict defenses of the Nine Gods and the Blade, one could imagine how difficult this task would be. However, if even one succeeded, honestly speaking, those thousand little brats inside would be nothing more than slightly larger ants in the eyes of these ghost-level experts. Instead, they were the true formidable rivals to each other.

Whoever got in would have a high chance of obtaining the secret treasure! Thus, Fu Liye’s mission had another aspect: he not only had to find a way to sneak in but also discover the other factional experts hiding in Dragon City as soon as possible, then figure out a way to expose them to the garrisons of the Blade and the Nine Gods, using their hands to eliminate his potential opponents... It was a highly cerebral game, but Fu Liye enjoyed it very much.

Few people greeted him on the street. Although he had been running a shop here for quite some time, the Sand Folk were at the bottom of the social hierarchy in Dragon City. Unlike the status of beasts among humans, the locals here were unwilling to deal with the ugly and crude Sand Folk, and when they occasionally spoke, it was with a hurried disdain. Moreover, there weren’t many Sand Folk here... Not drawing attention was why Fu Liye chose to disguise himself.

There were no shortage of disciples from the Blade’s Holy Sanctuary or the Nine Gods’ War Academy walking around. While both sides had sealed off Dragon City externally, they clearly allowed free passage for internal disciples. These young, hot-blooded boys inevitably clashed verbally when they met, but physical fights were rare; none of them wanted to get injured before the real battle began.

Finding it amusing, Fu Liye suddenly thought of that drinking buddy who suited him so well, Wang Feng!

Although Fu Liye wasn’t clear about the exact reasons for the failure in Ice Spirit, it was somehow related to Wang Feng. After all, Karida went to Ice Spirit City because of Wang Feng, but this didn’t seem to affect his feelings towards Wang Feng.

Business is business, friendship is friendship.

Honestly, handsome appearances are a dime a dozen in this world, but interesting souls are one in a million. Who would have thought that the guy who created new runes was once a dandelion?

Being in the Dark Hall meant knowing more than others. The Nine Gods were truly enraged this time, willing to go to any lengths to kill him. If Fu Liye were Wang Feng, he would have long since left, but he heard that the guy had actually come to this place of trouble.

Sigh, the guy was great in every way except for his combat strength, which was too weak. This time, even ten lives might not be enough to make up for it.

Thinking about it, Fu Liye smiled, feeling somewhat sentimental. He casually picked up a betel nut from the nearby stall: "Hey, boss, how much for the betel nuts?"