Meanwhile, in the northern wing of the General Ascendant Eagle's mansion.
Madam Jinyun's room remained brightly lit. Inside, Elder Helian Kuang sat at a table, clutching a teacup with an expression of deep anger.
"Damn that old Deng! He clearly refuses to hand over the demonic shen crystal core!" Helian Kuang slammed the table in rage.
"Elder Helian, please keep your voice down. Walls have ears," Madam Jinyun softly warned.
"What's there to fear?" Helian Kuang snorted. "I've already set up a soundproof barrier. Even if old Deng is highly skilled, he's not much better than me. There's no way he could sense our conversation in here."
"Even so, it's better to be cautious," Madam Jinyun said, her elegant face showing a hint of worry. "The sect leader's 'Thousand Illusions Heaven Burning Art' is at a critical stage. If we could get the crystal core, it would greatly aid in his progress. However, a thousand-year-old demonic shen is extremely rare. The best our Lieyang Sect disciples could find was an eight-hundred-year-old one."
"Hmph! Old Deng pretends to be oblivious, but he's sharp as a tack. He's just afraid that the Tianyang Empire might gain another emperor-level expert!"
Helian Kuang snorted lightly, and then continued in a serious tone, "This is a significant matter. Counting on Deng Xian to hand over the crystal core is futile. He's fiercely loyal to the Tianbai imperial family and would never help our sect leader achieve a breakthrough. But..."
Helian Kuang paused and then continued, "I won't give up easily and return empty-handed!"
Madam Jinyun smiled gently. "Elder Helian, there's no need to be too anxious. I've already devised a second plan."
"Oh?" Helian Kuang's eyes lit up. "Madam Jinyun, your wisdom is renowned. What is your plan?"
"Before coming to the general's residence, I gathered some information through the Tianmeng Chamber of Commerce," Madam Jinyun said, playing with her hair. "Deng Xian wasn't lying; he did give the demonic shen crystal core to his granddaughter, Deng Yongshi. And she's staying in the Orchid Pavilion, just south of the general's residence."
"Oh?" Helian Kuang's eyes gleamed coldly. "I'll just kidnap the little girl. With my methods, she'll spill everything!"
"There's no need for you to trouble yourself with that," Madam Jinyun said with a slight smile. "Do you think Deng Xian would let us stay here without watching our every move? This place is likely swarming with the general's spies. If we make any sudden moves, we'll be met with overwhelming force!"
"Uh..." Helian Kuang's face darkened. "Are we just supposed to let old Deng stall for time? We'll get nowhere if we stay here indefinitely!"
"Rest assured, I wouldn't mention a plan without having thought it through," Madam Jinyun said. "Surely Elder Helian has heard of the organization known as 'The Shadow'?"
"The Shadow!" Helian Kuang's eyes narrowed with a cold smile. "As expected of Madam Jinyun. With The Shadow involved, there's nothing to worry about!"
The Shadow was an extremely secretive organization in the Dongling Region. No member of this organization was an amateur.
Operating in the shadows, The Shadow encompassed assassins, spies, thieves, and all manner of shady business. The most distinctive trait of its members was their ability to vanish without a trace!
They were like shadows—no scent, no presence, and they infiltrated every crevice.
These individuals possessed unparalleled stealth skills. They could hide undetectably in any place with the slightest shadow. Even a half-step emperor-level expert like Deng Xian would struggle to notice the presence of The Shadow.
However, hiring The Shadow for a mission required a hefty fee, but once they accepted a task, they almost never failed.
Since their formation, they've had fewer than ten known failures in hundreds of years!
With members of The Shadow on the job, the demonic shen crystal core would be within their grasp in no time!
Ling Feng slowly exhaled a deep breath, using the method of the True Art of Xuanyuan to channel his true qi into his meridian gates.
Upon returning to Tianwei Academy from Beiliang County, Ling Feng had already used the Blue Moon Vermilion Fruit obtained in the Misty Hidden Forest to open his thirty-fifth meridian gate.
As for the three-legged fire toad, Ling Feng didn't waste it. He refined and absorbed its bloodline power, allowing his Body Refinement Art to successfully break through to the Earth Splitting Transformation level.
One had to admit, the bloodline of the three-legged fire toad was much more precious than that of ordinary demonic beasts. Its effect on body refinement was far superior.
"With the current strength of my body, I’m almost comparable to a peak fourth-tier demonic beast. Pretending to be a member of the demon race will be much easier now!"
At that moment, Ling Feng sensed a faint and elusive aura approaching. He snorted softly and thought to himself, "Deng Yongshi, are you still trying to play games? We'll see about that!"
Taking a deep breath, Ling Feng activated the six qi within him, condensing his second divine inscription of the Heavenly Dao and initiating Boundless Vision.
In his mind, a three-dimensional world formed around him. Ling Feng began to search for the source of the strange aura he had just sensed but quickly frowned.
Deng Yongshi and the others haven't left their rooms. There's no one else in my Boundless Vision. How can this be?
Ling Feng trusted his senses completely, and Boundless Vision had never failed him either!
Suddenly, within his vision, a shadow flickered and then vanished without a trace, so quickly that even his Boundless Vision couldn't capture it.
How is this possible?
Ling Feng's face turned grim. Since he had condensed his second divine inscription of the Heavenly Dao, not even a half-step emperor expert like Yan Cangtian could evade his Boundless Vision. Who or what could that mysterious shadow be?
What kind of person has such extraordinary stealth skills? And why are they visiting Orchid Pavilion in the middle of the night? Ling Feng furrowed his brows, a sense of unease rising within him.
This intruder is definitely not someone from the General's mansion!
Ling Feng then noticed through his Boundless Vision that the shadow flickered several more times, moving closer to the Shuyi Pavilion where Deng Yongshi resided.
Their target is Deng Yongshi!
Ling Feng's eyes widened in realization. He immediately thought of the two visitors from the Tianyang Empire.
Their goal was the same as his: the demonic shen crystal core hidden with Deng Yongshi!