Perfection: The Eastern Emperor Bell manifests, I am the Golden Crow Heavenly Emperor

Chapter 113 Hidden Clues of the Heavens
On this day, after the routine sermon and instruction concluded, Yan Huang and Yang Shuo did not leave immediately, but stood respectfully at the lower end.

"Emperor."

Yan Huang cupped his hands, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit and a trace of doubt. "My brother Yang Shuo and I have been cultivating recently and have made great progress. However, being confined to the ancestral land all day long, although we listen to the Great Dao, we have no real combat experience to hone our skills. It's like a precious sword hidden in its sheath, its sharpness unseen. Moreover... due to the information blockade, the disciples of the clan, although they are devoted to cultivation, inevitably have a sense of suppression and confusion. If this continues, I'm afraid it's not a good solution."

Yang Shuo also spoke calmly: "Emperor Lu is far-sighted, and the news blockade is for the sake of the overall situation. However, the calamity of darkness is imminent. We have the power, but we do not know the specific situation outside, nor do we know the enemy's movements. We are like blind men trying to describe an elephant. Is it possible... for us to secretly go out, both to gain experience and to investigate?"

Lu Xuan listened quietly, his expression unchanged. He understood their thoughts and was also aware of the potential drawbacks of prolonged isolation.

“What you say makes sense,” Lu Xuan said slowly. “However, going out at this time is extremely risky. The darkness will definitely investigate my existence. The Immortal Realm is not a monolithic entity either. You two are the new hope of our clan, and we cannot afford to lose you.”

He then changed the subject: "However, real combat experience and intelligence gathering are indeed necessary. I have my own arrangements for this."

He flicked his finger, and two barely perceptible gray-gold specks of light entered Yan Huang and Yang Shuo's brows respectively. "These are the 'Void Realm Imprints' I condensed using the Dao of Chaos and Annihilation. With these imprints, the two of you can connect your divine senses and enter a 'Void Realm Battlefield' that I temporarily created based on the residual Daoist essence of the Chaos Bell and the Annihilation True Meaning of the Nameless Emperor."

"Within this battle domain, based on the information provided by Fellow Daoist Ran Deng and my own understanding of dark beings, I will simulate dark opponents of varying strengths, and even... simulate some of the oppressive power and law characteristics of a Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperor." Lu Xuan's voice carried a hint of coldness. "The two of you can fight, hone your skills, and experiment to your heart's content in this realm. Even if you 'die,' it will only result in the loss of some divine consciousness, without much harm to your physical body. This is the best place for training."

Upon hearing this, Yan Huang and Yang Shuo were first startled, then overjoyed! Simulating the oppressive aura of a Dark Quasi-Immortal Emperor? This was an unprecedented opportunity for training!
"As for external intelligence," Lu Xuan continued, "there's no need for you to take risks for now. Fellow Daoist Ran Deng's wisdom is our eyes in the shadows. When the time is right, you will have your chance to prove your worth."

His gaze swept over the two of them, carrying a warning: "The most important thing right now is to do everything possible to improve your strength and become familiar with all the methods to fight against darkness. I will gradually increase the difficulty of the Void Realm Battlefield, so I hope you two will not waste this opportunity."

"Yes! We will live up to Emperor Lu's expectations!" Yan Huang and Yang Shuo responded excitedly, suppressing the last trace of restlessness in their hearts and replacing it with boundless anticipation and high morale for the "Void Realm Battlefield".

After the two left, the ancestral hall returned to silence.

Lu Xuan gazed at the eternally burning sun's projection outside the hall, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Nurturing Yanhuang and Yangshuo was merely one part of his plan. Through the Burning Lamp, he had gained a clearer understanding of the undercurrents within the Immortal Realm and certain movements in the Boundary Sea. He had also secretly conducted a preliminary and extremely cautious investigation into the anomalies at the site of the Xi Emperor's fall, confirming that something extremely ominous was brewing there, likely related to the next phase of the Dark Sacrifice.

He was like a patient fisherman, quietly casting invisible nets beneath the surface of the sea as a storm approached. The Golden Crow Ancestral Land was his foundation and arsenal, Yanhuang and Yangshuo were the sharp blades he had meticulously forged, Randeng was his eyes and ears and his strategist, and he himself was the ultimate trump card that would ultimately hold everything together and determine victory or defeat.

"Soon..." he murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously drawing a thin, gray-gold mark in the air, a mark that seemed capable of cleaving through time.

"The Dark Sacrifice, the fall of the Emperor of Dawn, the traitor within the Immortal Realm... these threads will eventually converge."

"And I will then tell all the heavens and myriad worlds..."

"The Chaos War Immortal returns with annihilation, not to linger on in vain..."

"Instead, we must... liquidate everything!"

The silent vow echoed in the ancient ancestral hall, eventually fading into the increasingly solemn Taoist atmosphere.

The outer immortal realm remained oppressive and gloomy, but the power accumulated deep within the Golden Crow Ancestral Land was like a volcano about to erupt, awaiting that earth-shattering moment.

Deep within the Golden Crow Ancestral Hall, Lu Xuan concluded yet another review of the "Void Realm Battlefield" trial between Yan Huang and Yang Shuo.

Although the two newly promoted Immortal Kings were slightly tired, their eyes shone even brighter, and their aura became more refined through countless "deaths" and battles. Their response to the darkness also became more composed and ruthless.

"The trials and tribulations in the virtual realm have begun to show results."

Lu Xuan said calmly, “However, fighting against darkness is not a matter for one clan or one king. When Emperor Xi established the Heavenly Court, although he had ambitions, he also had the desire to unite the strength of the masses. Times have changed. The darkness has penetrated deeper, and the internal troubles have not been eliminated. We cannot make a big show of it. But it is urgent to secretly contact trustworthy people and form a watchful alliance.”

Yan Huang and Yang Shuo were invigorated, knowing that the Lu Emperor was about to take further action.

"I have confirmed with Fellow Daoist Ran Deng that several Immortal Kings, though they have gone into hiding due to the gloomy situation, have not lost their Dao heart, deeply abhor the darkness, and have had good relations with the former subordinates of Emperor Xi or the 'Chaos War Court' I established back then."

Lu Xuan traced lines in the air with his fingers, revealing several blurry yet distinctive silhouettes and Daoist auras.
"This is the Azure Wood Immortal King, who wields the Dao of the Ancient Tree of Life. His Daoist temple, 'Wanqing Cliff,' is one of the eastern barriers of the Immortal Realm. It was once infiltrated by darkness, and many of his disciples suffered losses. His hatred for darkness runs deep, so it is believable."

"This is the Xuan Gang Immortal King, a master of body refinement. He is fierce and resolute. He once fought alongside the Butcher at the edge of the Boundary Sea, but was wounded and returned with a damaged foundation. He has been in seclusion for many years. Although he is silent, he is a man of unyielding integrity and is by no means a subservient person."

"This is the Celestial Queen of Liyue, a master of array formations. She is cautious by nature, and her dojo, 'Thousand Illusions City,' is filled with array formations, forming a world of its own, easy to defend and difficult to attack. She is on good terms with Fellow Daoist Ran Deng, and Wisdom Lamp once helped her repair the core of an ancient array. Their relationship is very close, and her mastery of array formations will be of great benefit in the future great war."

Lu Xuan listed the names, characteristics, approximate locations, and credible evidence of seven or eight Immortal Kings. These were all potential allies selected through repeated screening and identification by the Ancient Immortal King Burning Lamp's years of observation, the deduction of the lamp of wisdom, and Lu Xuan's own keen perception of cause and effect and aura.

"Contacting such a Celestial King requires utmost caution. I must never reveal my existence or the truth about the Golden Crow Ancestral Land." Lu Xuan looked at Yan Huang and Yang Shuo, "The two of you are now of use."

Yan Huang and Yang Shuo immediately bowed respectfully: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

Yangshuo.

Lu Xuan first looked at the composed middle-aged Immortal King, "You hold this 'Chaos Concealment Talisman'." A gray, inconspicuous jade talisman appeared in his palm, the chaotic Dao rhyme flowing on it was extremely exquisite, and could conceal the holder's aura to the greatest extent and confuse the secrets of heaven.

"Your mission is to go to the outskirts of 'Wanqing Cliff' and 'Qianhuan Maze City'. You do not need to enter. Just activate the wisp of annihilation Daoist charm sealed in this talisman and my specific divine sense imprint at a specific time and in a specific location."

"This Daoist aura and mark were briefly encountered by Qingmu and Liyue during the Nameless Emperor's conquest of the Boundary Sea, either for healing or due to the resonance of the array. They will surely recognize the 'flavor' originating from the fight against the Dark Faction. Furthermore, my mark contains a unique ripple of Fellow Daoist Ran Deng's wisdom lamp as a token. Once they sense it, they will understand that it is 'one of their own' secretly contacting them, and that the matter is of great importance and must be kept absolutely secret. If they wish, they will establish a one-way connection with Fellow Daoist Ran Deng through the hidden method left by the wisdom lamp."

Yang Shuo solemnly accepted the jade talisman, feeling the profound power and heavy entrustment contained within it, and said in a deep voice: "Yang Shuo accepts the order and will live up to your trust!" Lu Xuan nodded and looked at Yan Huang: "Yan Huang, your mission is more risky, but also more direct."

Another jade talisman appeared in his hand. This talisman was dark gold, faintly intertwined with battle intent and the true fire of the sun. "Take this 'Boundary-Breaking and Edge-Guiding Talisman' and go to the edge of the Boundary Sea to find the Butcher."

Upon hearing the name "Butcher," Yan Huang's fighting spirit intensified. He was an ancestor whom Yan Huang greatly admired, a man who walked the path of slaughter!
"The Butcher has been fighting bloody battles in the Boundary Sea for many years, and his whereabouts are uncertain. However, his cultivation method is special. He condenses 'Blood Fiend Battle Marks' in the midst of killing. This talisman can sense strong and pure battle intent and blood fiend energy within a certain radius and roughly guide the direction."

Lu Xuan said.

"Once you find him, there's no need for further words. Simply activate this talisman. Sealed within it is a wisp of my Battle Immortal Dao principles, a faint resonance with the Chaos Bell, and the mark of Fellow Daoist Burning Lamp. Although Butcher is fierce, he is shrewd beneath his rough exterior and will surely recognize it. If he trusts you, he will accompany you to Fellow Daoist Burning Lamp's location or contact him as instructed in the talisman. If you encounter unavoidable danger, flee immediately and prioritize your own safety."

Yan Huang took a deep breath, accepted the jade talisman with both hands, and felt the fighting spirit within it that seemed to make his blood boil. He said firmly, "Yan Huang understands! I will definitely deliver the message!"

"As for those who sell counterfeit medicine..."

Lu Xuan frowned slightly. "This person is extremely mysterious and unpredictable, with elusive whereabouts and an inscrutable mind. Even Fellow Daoist Ran Deng can only roughly guess that he might appear in a few 'strange places' or be related to some ancient ruins. This matter... I need to go there myself. However, not now."

He looked at the two men and said, “You shall set off immediately and split up. Remember, safety first, communication second. Whether you succeed or not, you must return to your ancestral homeland to report back within a hundred years. Do not delay.”

"Yes!" Yan Huang and Yang Shuo bowed and accepted the order. They carefully put away the jade talisman, and their aura quickly subsided, turning into two inconspicuous streaks of light. They left the Golden Crow Ancestral Land silently and disappeared into the vast Immortal Realm and the boundless Boundary Sea.

Watching them depart, Lu Xuan stood silently for a moment. Sending them out, though risky, was a necessary experience and test. He couldn't shelter them under his wing forever. True warriors need to grow in the storm.

He turned around, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls of the ancestral hall, looking towards a forbidden land in the Immortal Realm known as the "Burial Abyss," a place where the laws were abnormally chaotic. According to Ran Deng's intelligence and his deductions, the seller of counterfeit medicine was most likely to be there, searching for some kind of long-extinct "Burial Earth Yin Soul Flower" to refine his strange pills.

"You fake medicine seller... I hope you still remember the 'favor' you owe me back then during the Dao Discussion at the Boundary Sea." Lu Xuan muttered to himself, a hint of reminiscence and calculation flashing in his eyes.

The network of connections has already been quietly established.

If the Celestial Kings such as Qingmu, Xuangang, and Liyue respond, the Celestial Realm will have several more reliable strongholds and eyes and ears.

If the butcher returns, he will be an invincible sharp knife.

If one can win over the seller of counterfeit medicine, their unfathomable elixirs and insights might prove surprisingly effective at a crucial moment.

He will continue to be stationed in the ancestral land of Jinwu, receiving feedback from all parties through the lamp and adjusting his strategies accordingly.

While continuously cultivating the clan's strength, they also closely monitored the increasingly intense ominous signs at the site of Emperor Xi's fall, as well as the four dark imperial mights deep within the Boundary Sea, which resembled time bombs.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

The apparent tranquility of the Immortal Realm cannot last much longer.

Meanwhile, the dark web woven by Lu Xuan is quietly tightening.

Waiting for that final, thunderous strike that tears away all pretense and repression!
At the edge of the border sea, a cluster of blood-red reefs.

This is one of the chaotic zones where dark creatures and the resistance forces of the immortal realm most frequently clash.

The void shattered, the laws were in disarray, and countless enormous star fragments and the bones of powerful beings floated in the air, stained dark red by the lingering bloodlust.

A wild and unruly figure, covered in dried black blood, was half-squatting on the largest blood-red rock, using a rough whetstone to sharpen the chipped, yet menacing, massive door-shaped blade in his hand.

The blade rubbed against the whetstone, producing a teeth-grinding "snap-snap" sound, and the sparks that flew up carried the smell of blood.

It was the butcher.

His armor was already tattered, revealing muscles as tough as if forged from divine iron, covered with old and new scars, some so deep that the bone was visible, and shrouded in a stubborn dark aura, which was forcibly suppressed and slowly worn away by his own violent bloodthirsty battle intent.

His aura was like a volcano about to erupt; though slightly weary, it was all the more dangerous and concentrated.

Hundreds of thousands of years of battles in the Boundary Sea have already made him surpass the level of ordinary giants, infinitely close to the Emperor Light Domain, only lacking an opportunity.

Just then, he paused slightly in his sharpening motion.

It wasn't that he sensed an enemy, but rather an extremely faint yet incredibly familiar fluctuation of fighting spirit, mixed with a trace of an ancient bell melody that also stirred his soul.

And a mark of wisdom, like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, quietly seeped into his keen senses, which were shrouded in bloodlust.

This fluctuation... came from the distant Immortal Realm, arriving in an extremely secretive manner, as if it had bypassed layers of causal barriers.

"Huh?" The butcher suddenly raised his head, and a terrifying glint shot out from his tiger-like eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins and murderous intent! He stopped sharpening his knife, and casually stuck the giant blade into the reef beside him, making a dull thud.

He closed his eyes, carefully trying to detect and distinguish that faint fluctuation.

(End of this chapter)