In more than three years, under the construction of the Ancestor God Temple, the Blood River Forbidden Land has become a fully functional base.
When Ye Zhen arrived and presented his identity and talisman, he was led by the sacrificial guards of the Ancestor God Temple to a rather spacious silent chamber.
The silent chamber, as usual, reflected the solemn and monotonous architectural style of the Ancestor God Temple.
When Ye Zhen arrived, there were not many people, only the Third Grand Power Sacrifice Kan Mo, the Seventh Grand Power Sacrifice Tumen Changyin, the Eighth Grand Power Sacrifice Ge Yan, and that hunched old eunuch whose name Ye Zhen never knew, along with another Void Hunting King representing the Heavenly Patrol Department.
After greeting them one by one, Ye Zhen casually found a seat and sat down, not noticing the presence of Yues Cang, the chief instructor of the Heavenly Patrol Department, and Gou Ruoxu, the head of the Ghost Soul Hall.
Soon after, a man dressed in military attire, with an extraordinary demeanor and sword-like eyebrows reaching his temples, gracefully stepped into the conference room and then greeted each of the power sacrifices present, in a very enthusiastic manner.
Ye Zhen didn’t recognize him, but hearing those present address him as Heir Jiong, he roughly guessed that this person should be, at the least, the son of a duke, or even the son of a prince. Still, after learning of his identity, Ye Zhen was slightly taken aback.
“Marshal Ye, I’ve long admired your great reputation, like thunder in my ears, it’s a pity I only get to meet you today, I’ve long looked forward to it!” Ji Jiong smiled and cupped his hands toward Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen hurriedly stood up, “Forgive my ignorance, may I ask who you are?”
Ji Jiong pursed his lips, “Everyone says Marshal Ye is meticulous and thorough, and today, it seems you live up to that reputation. One would think Marshal Ye should know my name.”
These words with a mix of sarcasm made Ye Zhen’s expression slightly change, wondering if there was a grudge between them?
Upon a closer look at the man’s features, a thought suddenly struck Ye Zhen.
“The Anling Marquis Ji Jia who was deprived of his title before is actually my own younger brother. I am Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik’s Mansion.”
“Ah, pardon my poor eyesight,” Ye Zhen, who quickly realized, said blandly. “I wonder how your brother has been doing recently at the Heavenly Temple? I suppose the Heavenly Temple Green Lamp Ancient Scroll has helped him calm his mind quite a bit?”
The other party was here to stir trouble and show intimidation, but Ye Zhen was not to be outdone. He brought up a sore spot without hesitation.
With adversaries, Ye Zhen always faced them head-on, never holding back.
Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik squinted his eyes, smiling coldly, “My brother is doing quite well at the Heavenly Temple! Fine wine and beautiful women, sumptuous clothes and fine food, last year he even added a chubby grandson for my father, making my father so happy he can eat half a bowl more each meal!”
“My Great Zhou’s founding emperor and all the generations of the Ji family ancestors of our Great Zhou Royal Clan are still worshipped in our Great Zhou Ancestor God Temple! One wonders if knowing their descendants gave birth to a big chubby grandson at the Heavenly Temple will also make the Ji ancestors take a few more glances at you?”
“You!”
Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik’s Mansion’s eyes widened roundly.
Originally, his self-restraint was excellent, but Ye Zhen’s remark directly brought up the Ji ancestors, pointing out that Ji Jia’s childbirth at the Heavenly Temple tarnished the royal family’s reputation and betrayed their ancestors, which he could not tolerate.
After all, that was an immense accusation.
Beside him, the expressions of Power Sacrifices Kan Mo, Tumen Changyin, and Ge Yan became incredibly colorful.
Even though Tumen Changyin didn’t favor Ye Zhen and stood on the opposing side, he too could not speak to aid Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik at this moment.
After all, the issue of Former Anling Marquis Ji Jia living and having children at the Heavenly Temple is itself a source of resentment to the Ancestor God Temple, only tolerated due to Prince Lik’s status as Prince of Political Affairs.
Otherwise, Anling Marquis Ji Jia would have long been dealt with by the royal elders of the Ancestor God Temple.
The hunched old eunuch simply watched Ye Zhen with a subtle, amused smile, his eyes conveying—interesting.
Seeing that Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik was a bit embarrassed, suddenly a soft and very pleasant “Feinuo” sounded from outside the silent room.
“Our Heavenly Temple Dao Ancestor once assisted during the founding of Great Zhou, and the Dao Ancestor’s disciples have made unprecedented achievements. Ten thousand years ago, during the demon clan invasion, our Heavenly Temple elites also shed countless blood and heads on the battlefield. Now, a great chubby boy from the Great Zhou Royal Clan is born in our Heavenly Temple, it’s just a continuation of old ties, why not?”
A bald man with a fair complexion entered the conference room, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
Underneath his fair skin, there was a hidden glow of treasure, with countless lights shimmering in his eyes, which startled Ye Zhen.
This bald man from the Heavenly Temple was undoubtedly much stronger than most others Ye Zhen had ever encountered from the Heavenly Temple.
“Haha, Master, your timing is perfect, please sit, please sit!” Heir Ji Jiong of Prince Lik laughed, eagerly offering a seat.
Clearly, not only did they know each other, but they were also quite familiar.
This man in white did not rush to sit but moved in front of Ye Zhen, a faint scent of sandalwood wafting into Ye Zhen’s nose.
“This humble monk is Hong Ru from the Heavenly Temple, I greet Marshal Ye, County Prince Ye.”
Ye Zhen, not quite understanding, slowly nodded, showing his courtesy.
“I’ve long heard of Marshal Ye’s magnificence, and today I see it, it’s indeed extraordinary! It seems my three unfortunate martial nephews Kuju, Kuju, and Kumu did not vanish wrongfully!” The white-clothed Hong Ru once again joined his palms toward Ye Zhen.
Another one here for trouble, Ye Zhen raised his eyebrows, “Recently, I’ve heard that many Grandmasters from the Heavenly Temple have vanished, not only Kuju, Kuju, and Kumu here, but even Shou Gui, Jingxiang, and all of them mysteriously missing! I, though unsuited, am in charge of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy of the Western Patrol of the Heavenly Patrol Department, with several Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals under my command. If the master needs help, just say the word, and I will do everything I can to send people to look for the whereabouts of the missing Grand Divine Masters.”
White-robed Hong Ru’s Qi cultivation skill is undoubtedly top-notch, but he was still angered by Ye Zhen’s words.
To be precise, he was infuriated by Ye Zhen’s arrogance.
You’re the one who killed them, yet you shamelessly offer to help find them.
This is almost Ye Zhen openly admitting that the disappearance of those Grand Divine Masters is his doing.
However, with Ye Zhen’s current status, mere suspicion cannot be used as a reason to cause trouble.
One can only look for opportunities or take action to seek revenge.
“It’s not necessary to help! However, I believe that wherever those missing disciples are, they would be very happy to see Marshal Ye,” Hong Ru’s words carried hidden meaning, implying sending Ye Zhen to meet with the spirits of Bitter Chrysanthemum and others.
“Rest assured, if there’s a chance, I will certainly send or bring more of Bitter Chrysanthemum’s relatives, friends, and fellow disciples to meet them. I will not let them be lonely, and perhaps even help them reunite and make things lively!”
Ye Zhen’s response was simple: if you want revenge, go ahead, I don’t mind sending a few more people to meet Bitter Chrysanthemum.
Even if I am to die, I’ll make sure I bring a few down with me.
Despite this, white-robed Hong Ru maintained a faint smile, “That depends on Marshal Ye’s abilities!”
“Rest assured, I am very confident in my abilities!”
Upon hearing this, white-robed Hong Ru gave Ye Zhen a steady look and then politely started greeting others instead.
The other Power Priests, as well as the hunched eunuch, no matter their vast life experience, were also stunned by Ye Zhen’s formidable combat strength just now.
This Ye Zhen, he sure knows how to confront anyone!
Not to mention the Heir Ji Jiong from Prince Lik’s Mansion, who might just become the next Prince of Political Affairs, the first under the Holy Son of Heaven, Great Zhou.
Ye Zhen just confronts anyone whenever he feels like it.
As for white-robed Hong Ru, although not widely known by name, the Power Priests know the inside story.
This white-robed Hong Ru is no simple character.
Disciples of the Heavenly Temple are divided into three kinds.
One kind is the secular disciples; for example, the former Anling Marquis Ji Jia, who is a secular disciple. The second kind is the Heavenly Temple disciples, who are numerous.
The disciples seen in the world handling affairs in various halls, those who walk among the common folk, including those like Bitter Chrysanthemum, Bitterwood, Shou Xuan, whom Ye Zhen killed earlier, are all Heavenly Temple disciples.
The third kind is rarer, and even fewer people know about it.
Holy Land True Disciple.
These Holy Land True Disciples are the real elite disciples of the Heavenly Temple. Like the current hall masters of the lower court of the Heavenly Temple, they are all Holy Land True Disciples.
These Holy Land True Disciples seldom walk in the world, as their food, clothing, living, and cultivation all take place in the various secret realms of the Heavenly Temple, and they have cultivated countless divine skills.
Usually, only for major events will Holy Land True Disciples be sent to preside over matters.
The known generations of Holy Land True Disciples are Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, Universe, Cosmos, Hong, and Desolation.
Do not be deceived into thinking that this Hong Ru is just a seventh-generation True Disciple, because even during the great change back when Yuan Dan happened, the disciples sent by the Heavenly Temple to oversee secular affairs were not of the Cosmos generation.
The fact that the Heavenly Temple sent a disciple of the Hong generation True Disciple to partake in this issue already signifies the Temple’s level of attention to the matter.
Yet, this Hong generation disciple, upon arrival, was fiercely challenged by Ye Zhen.
Of course, though they quibbled, Power Priests like Kan Mo, Tup Menn Changyin, and Ge Yan, being from the Heavenly Temple, looked on with great satisfaction.
The Heavenly Temple and the Ancestor God Temple have always been at odds.
If not for the apparent collaboration between the two factions, these three would have immediately praised the confrontation as fantastic and wondrous.
“Be cautious, this Hong Ru is a Holy Land True Disciple of the Heavenly Temple. Do not underestimate him, even if he is only at the Mid Dao Realm, his strength far surpasses that of Bitter Chrysanthemum, Bitterwood, and the others. Do not be careless.”
In Ye Zhen’s mind, the words of warning from Third Grand Power Sacrifice Kan Mo and Eighth Grand Power Sacrifice Ge Yan echoed, with Eighth Grand Power Sacrifice Ge Yan explaining the background of Holy Land True Disciples of the Heavenly Temple to Ye Zhen.
According to Eighth Grand Power Sacrifice Ge Yan, there is another fourth kind of disciple in the Heavenly Temple — Dao Ancestor’s Direct Disciple.
But no one has ever seen them.
Ye Zhen nodded in gratitude to the two Power Priests. While he absorbed this information, the sacrificial guard at the entrance of the Silent Chamber suddenly shouted, “Great Priest Tongda arrives!”
As the Second Grand Power Sacrifice Tongna arrived, a hundred layers of formation barriers for confidentiality rose simultaneously.
This meeting concerning significant discoveries in the Blood River Forbidden Land officially began!

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