Chapter 99: Underworld Express Delivery (Cash on Delivery)

The bloodshed in the secret chamber of the Prince's mansion and the divine might of the Immortal Venerable instantly stirred up a monstrous wave in the capital.

The following morning, the entire capital was shrouded in a tense atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.

The Imperial Guards surged into the streets like a tidal wave, the sounds of clashing armor and thundering hooves filling the air.

Checkpoints were set up along the main streets, and all pedestrians and vehicles were subject to strict checks.

Posters with harsh wording, offering rewards for "the villains who attempted to assassinate the Prince's mansion," were put up in prominent places, causing widespread panic.

The Marquis of Weiyuan's residence became the only safe haven in the eye of the storm. Relying on his prestige in the army and his iron-fisted methods, Shen Qingyue used the pretext of protecting the righteous heroes of the martial arts world who were assisting the court in eliminating demons to firmly protect Shen Yunzhou and his group within the residence.

The Marquis's personal guards, clad in armor and armed with weapons, surrounded the mansion, their cold gazes sweeping over any suspicious figures attempting to approach.

Fang Li leaned against the window, watching the strict checkpoints on the street and the imperial guards' cavalry rushing past every now and then, inwardly grumbling, "Crazy! System! In this day and age, even exorcising a demon makes you a wanted criminal?"

The system [“Host! We’re now a protected species! The Marquis’s safe zone is open! We’re safe! This royal family doesn’t seem clean either! I suspect this is a trap, and they specifically sent us to the capital to exorcise the demon!”]

"Steady my ass..." Fang Li muttered under her breath, then looked away and went back into her room.

The atmosphere inside the room was heavy.

Xie Chen held the token between his fingers. The ferocious wolf head totem engraved on it looked particularly sinister, with a strange bone claw mark covering the wolf's eye. "I just received news," his voice remained gentle, but the content sent chills down one's spine, "that the wolf head and bone claw totem on the token has been confirmed as a sacred mark worshipped by the Black Wolf Tribe of the Northern Frontier for generations. The bone claw mark covering it, however, only appeared in recent years, coinciding with the activities of the Soul Devouring Cult."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yun, who was sitting to the side, raised his hand and cast a complex rune. The token was enveloped in a blue light as he carefully sensed it. "The token is made of a special material, containing components of Soul Burial Jade, which has the property of absorbing the power of souls! Its residual spiritual energy fluctuations are of the same origin as the Soul-Eating Grass powder, but are purer and more domineering. The two are from the same lineage."

Ling Shuang, who had been concentrating with her eyes closed, using a special divine sense technique to recall her memories, suddenly opened her eyes and her clear, cold voice rang out: "The two men in black robes last night used techniques that contained characteristics of the forbidden Blood Wolf Sacrifice Technique of the Northern Frontier. Before he self-destructed, his incantation mentioned that the Holy Mountain should not be desecrated."

Fragmented information was quickly pieced together.

"The Soul Devouring Cult colluded with the Black Wolf Tribe to refine demonic creatures in the secret realm of the Sacred Mountain in the Northern Frontier. The events in the capital were probably just a test." Xie Chen concluded, lightly tapping the table with his fingertips, his eyes deep and thoughtful. "The real core lies in the Northern Frontier."

Just then, a servant rushed in and presented Xie Chen with an urgent secret report.

Xie Chen unfolded the document and raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement: "Breaking news. This morning, the Third Prince, Li Yan... died suddenly in his own residence."

The room fell silent.

Xie Chen continued, "The royal guards were the ones who did it, killing him with a sword to the heart. When he died, he was clutching a broken bone talisman in his hand. The royal guards did not announce his death, but publicly accused him of colluding with evil spirits and that he deserved what he got."

Fang Li gasped: "Use and then throw away? The royal family is ruthless!" This blatant discarding of a useful tool sent a chill down her spine.

The system's electronic voice, tinged with the excitement of gossip, read: [“Li Yan: Confirmed to be a tool! Bone Talisman… Is the royal family trying to double-cross us?”]

Ling Shuang stood to the side, not ceasing her contemplation. She closed her eyes, her powerful divine sense once again replaying the details of the moment the black-robed man self-destructed last night.

"An abnormal core in the dantian...not a golden core...essence, blood, and soul forcibly extracted...Blood Wolf Sacrifice runes flashing..." She recounted the scene captured by her divine sense in a low voice, then suddenly opened her eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, "Remnant spirit captures: 'Priest...sacrifice my soul!'"

She looked at everyone and said, "It wasn't a self-destruction. It was a forbidden blood sacrifice technique! They used their own souls as a catalyst, burning their life essence to forcibly communicate with the Black Wolf Tribe priests far away in the northern frontier! This is a one-way communication that comes at the cost of life!"

Everyone's expression changed again.

Xie Chen reacted the fastest, his eyes instantly sharpening: "Then our location... was it marked through that token, or through the sacrifice at the moment of self-destruction?"

Fang Li and Tong Zi both jolted awake at the same time.

"A ghost delivery, cash on delivery!" Fang Li felt a chill run down her spine.

[“Recipient: Black Wolf Priest! Host, it seems we're about to be signed for!”]

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunzhou abruptly stood up, grabbed the longsword beside him, and said, "I'm going out to patrol." His gaze lingered on Fang Li for a moment before he strode out of the room, his icy sword aura faintly lingering around the courtyard.

As night fell, the atmosphere inside the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence became even more tense.

Everyone was on high alert in response to the potential tracking by the Blood Soul.

Shen Yunzhou appeared near the courtyard where Fang Li lived. Dressed in black, he blended into the night, his steps steady, his eyes sharp as an eagle, not missing a single sound. As he passed Ji Qianqiu, he paused slightly, his voice low: "Be vigilant."

Ji Qianqiu, carrying his bedding roll, sat on the stone steps outside Fang Li's room. Hearing this, he nodded vigorously and assured her in a deep voice, "Don't worry, senior brother! I'll keep watch! Not even a fly will be able to get in!" He held his battle axe, his eyes wide, like a loyal, large guard dog.

Xie Chen's voice came from the courtyard: "The Nine Palaces Maze Formation has been set up, and the Thousand Machine Warning Talisman has been activated." He waved his jade fan, his posture calm, but his eyes were scrutinizing as he swept over the corner of the courtyard wall. "Junior Brother Mo Yun, reinforce the talisman in the southeast corner by three more points."

"Understood." Mo Yun, holding the talisman brush, responded and moved, the spiritual light flowing from his fingertips, landing precisely on the nodes of the talisman array.

Ling Shuang sat cross-legged on a nearby bluestone, her eyes slightly closed. Her divine sense, like an invisible net, continuously monitored the perimeter of the Marquis's residence. Tie Pan, carrying his heavy shield, huffed and puffed as he walked to the courtyard gate, slamming the shield into the ground: "I'll come too! To guard the gate!"

Shen Qingyue summoned Shen Yunzhou to his study.

By candlelight, the Marquis of Weiyuan, his face grim, pushed a secret letter in front of him: "The northern border troops... may have an inside accomplice. This matter is of utmost importance." His voice was deep, his gaze profound.

Fang Li was unable to sleep peacefully in her room.

She took out the black and red token that Ye Wuyang had tossed to her. The token was icy to the touch, and in the cold moonlight, the ferocious wolf head and claw totem and the eerie claw marks on its surface seemed even clearer.

Just then, a dark red halo quietly appeared on the surface of the token! The halo flickered like breathing.

Fang Li's heart skipped a beat: "Master! Quick, look at the token!"

The system's voice was filled with surprise and doubt: [“Host! The token is responding! This red light… it's like a GPS device has come to life!”]

As night deepened, all was quiet.

Inside the Marquis's residence, apart from the light footsteps of the patrolling guards and the occasional rustling of Ji Qianqiu's armor as he moved, all was quiet.

Sudden!

Ling Shuang, who had been sitting cross-legged on the outer bluestone, suddenly opened her eyes! A cold glint flashed in her clear eyes as she abruptly stood up: "An expert has infiltrated! Target... the west wing! The aura is the same as that of the person who self-destructed last night!" Her voice was more solemn than ever before, instantly shattering the stillness of the night!

"Who dares to touch Junior Sister?!" Ji Qianqiu, who was sitting at the doorway, jumped up like a tiger whose tail had been stepped on! The huge battle axe was instantly in his hand, and the golden armor burst into dazzling light under the moonlight! His eyes widened, glaring at the darkness, and he let out a deafening roar!