CHAPTER 755: CHAPTER 751: FLOWING CLOUD

They laughed gleefully, without any sign of restraint.

Being Spirit Guards as well, they felt Chu Honglin was approachable, one of their own.

Chu Honglin said, "It’s a kind of treasure clothes, Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes."

As he spoke, a box suddenly materialized in his hand.

The box was not large, only two feet square, entirely dark gold in color, with an antique aura.

The purple-gold box shimmered with a dusky luster, seemingly cast from purple-gold, its texture and weight palpable.

"Bang!"

The purple-gold box landed on the ground.

"Open it," he gestured.

A handsome young man stepped forward to open the box, discovering it was indeed made of purple-gold, extraordinarily heavy.

Inside the box lay gold-red clothes, reminiscent of clusters of sunset rays.

"One piece per person, exactly eight pieces." Chu Honglin said.

While the eight were retrieving the Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes, he spoke with Chu Hongfeng.

"I’ve been discussing with Zhao’er how the Demon Clan might act this time, finally deciding to use these treasure clothes, and then consult with Elder Brother."

Chu Hongfeng frowned, "Will it be very dangerous this time?"

Chu Honglin shook his head, "Zhao’er said the previous three times have thoroughly enraged the Demon Clan. Given their temper, they will definitely retaliate recklessly this time; he should be the one to go in, unfortunately..."

"Though Zhao’er is formidable at Demon Suppression, it’s not necessarily accurate."

"He understands the Demon Clan deeper than we do."

"How could that be."

"I feel this is right." Chu Honglin shook his head.

Chu Hongfeng laughed, "So what methods does Zhao’er have?"

"Even with the best methods, if he can’t enter it’s useless." Chu Honglin shook his head helplessly, "All he can do is suggest."

"Indeed, not letting Zhao’er in straight away is somewhat inappropriate." Chu Hongfeng said, "At least there should be a transition, let Zhao’er watch over them in secret."

"I’ve suggested that too, but it’s useless." Chu Honglin snorted.

Chu Hongfeng looked towards the direction of the Imperial Palace, smiling bitterly, "That’s something that can’t be helped, Elder Brother is wise, he won’t make mistakes."

Chu Honglin said, "Zhao’er is extremely clever and meticulous, he wouldn’t be mistaken either."

He glanced at the eight Spirit Guards.

Chu Hongfeng laughed, "Then let’s see if they can prove themselves."

"Prince Gan, what is the wondrous use of these Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes?" The handsome young man in the lead asked with a smile.

"It has only one miraculous use." Chu Honglin said, "Conceals one’s aura, hides oneself."

Turning his head to Chu Hongfeng, he said, "I’ve discussed back and forth with Zhao’er, inventoried the treasures in the Imperial Treasury, and think these Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes are the most suitable."

"Hmm..." Chu Hongfeng frowned, "Only conceal an aura?"

"The Demon Clan’s strength lies in stealth; we can’t detect them, which is why they’re terrifying. Once we find them, in a frontal battle, we aren’t afraid of them."

"That’s true."

"In that case, let’s not let them discover us." Chu Honglin sneered, "This is using the enemy’s spear to attack their shield!"

"Interesting!" Chu Hongfeng laughed, "With these Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes, we’re turning the tables this time!"

The Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes allow them to conceal their aura and hide their form, so the Demon Clan remains unaware.

Yet, through the Soul Pearl, they can detect the presence of the Demon Clan.

This reverses the situation on the Outer Realm Battlefield.

Thus, the situation reverses too; they can ambush the Demon Clan from the shadows.

"Earlier I truly hadn’t considered the Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes," Chu Honglin shook his head, "It only blocks the aura below the Divinity Transformation Realm, not very useful."

Its most crucial weakness is being unusable on the Outer Realm Battlefield.

Not on the Outer Realm Battlefield, without facing the Demon Clan, it’s unnecessary to use it within the Dynasty; the mental method to conceal aura suffices.

So it had been gathering dust in the Imperial Treasury’s corner.

Now it’s just right for use; they can both employ the mental method to conceal their aura and wear the Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes, double concealment, surely fooling the Demon Clan.

Chu Hongfeng laughed, "This way it’s foolproof, let’s proceed then!"

"Prince Gan." The handsome young man quickly said, "Isn’t the Ninth Prince coming?"

"He’s not going to the Grotto Heaven this time; you will act alone, equipped with Spiritual Rhinoceros Pearl, Soul Pearl, as long as you hide in the shadows for ambush."

"But the Ninth Prince..."

"... He has other matters, can’t spare a clone." Chu Honglin said.

He sighed inwardly, shaking his head repeatedly.

Elder Brother’s action was too hasty; there’s no need to kick out Zhao’er so quickly and impatiently.

It’s not suitable for outsiders to know, lest it affects Elder Brother’s image of fairness and wisdom.

The handsome young man sighed, "With the Ninth Prince around, I feel much more assured."

"Hmph, Xie Zhuang, with the Ninth Prince absent, you’re less confident?"

"Somehow, with the Ninth Prince gone, I surely feel less assured; the Ninth Prince is exceedingly formidable."

"No matter how formidable he is, he’s just in the Transformation Realm, you’re Venerables!"

"Sigh... The Ninth Prince should have come." Xie Zhuang said, "Without the Ninth Prince last time, it wouldn’t have been so easy to succeed."

"Don’t count on him; you eight Venerables, with the Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes, can easily handle those intruding Little Demons!"

"Yes!" Xie Zhuang solemnly nodded.

——

The Grotto Heaven opened, and the eight led by Xie Zhuang crossed into it, their sight immediately dimming.

Upon reopening their eyes, they couldn’t see each other; they quickly sensed their nearby companions through the Spiritual Rhinoceros Pearl.

They were already ten miles apart, some even a hundred miles away.

Even if they hurried, it would take half a day to catch up.

Thus, they converged towards Xie Zhuang as the center.

After half a day, they gathered within a forest halfway up a mountain peak.

The ancient trees were tall and thick, as if piercing the sky. In the grove formed by them, they felt their insignificance.

While waiting for companions, Xie Zhuang kept sensing the Soul Pearl.

The Soul Pearls mutually sensed each other, detecting Demon Clan within a hundred miles, they’d perceive one another through the Soul Pearl.

Yet half a day elapsed, and he hadn’t sensed the Soul Pearl.

Even when everyone gathered, he still hadn’t sensed the other Soul Pearl, hadn’t sensed the Demon Clan.

"Brother Xie, how should we proceed?" a rugged young man asked solemnly, "Just give the command."

Xie Zhuang looked up at the sky.

The ancient trees spread their canopy like an umbrella; the sky was visible only through the gaps.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves.

"It’s noon now," Xie Zhuang said, "Let’s walk in one direction, try walking for a day."

"Alright."

"Pay attention to operating the mental method, concealing your aura; don’t let them ambush us; we all know how insidious they are."

"Understood."

The group of eight stealthily advanced like eight fish swimming in water, light and agile, silent as ghosts.

At dusk, they stopped within a forest, their expressions solemn.

They vaguely sensed something amiss.

While operating their powers, they whispered using Sound Transmission into Secret, avoiding lighting a fire to prevent exposing themselves.

"Could the Demon Clan have not entered this time?"

"Impossible."

"But why haven’t we encountered them at all?"

"The Grotto Heaven is vast; if they’ve entered in few numbers, it’s not surprising we haven’t encountered them."

"They certainly wouldn’t enter with fewer numbers this time; there should be more than last time. We shouldn’t find none of them."

They all knew Xie Zhuang had the Soul Pearl, capable of sensing Demon Clan within a hundred miles.

"Let’s see tomorrow, continue heading in this direction!"

"...Okay."

At dusk the next day, they halted in a mid-mountain forest, each with a serious expression.

They all sensed something was off.

Could it be the Demon Clan truly hadn’t invaded the Grotto Heaven?

Or perhaps they couldn’t detect them, as the Demon Clan had also used treasure like the Flowing Cloud Treasure Clothes to conceal their aura, severing the sensing of the Soul Pearl?