Chapter 402 - Sneaking Into the Counter Essence Realm

Hearing Lin Batian's earnest begging, Long Chen pretended to think about it. “Fine, I will think about it. Once I’ve decided that I will help you, I will head to the Red Sun Inn in the capital. You just need to look out for me there. If I’m there, that means I’ve accepted your offer.”

Long Chen didn’t even give him time to talk and disappeared without a trace. Lin Batian looked up and was surprised to see that Long Chen was gone! The only thing on his mind was the Red Sun Inn.

Lin Batian took a deep breath and called for the strongest guard. “Chen Xiong, come here.”

“My Lord, what is it?” The youth called Chen Xiong approached the Prince.

“Do you know of anyone in the Cangyang Kingdom at that age who is very close to the Ninth River Stage? That man was incredibly strong, but I’ve never heard of him before.”

“My Lord, there is only one who has reached the Ninth River Stage before the age of twenty-five, and that’s the Fourth Prince. There seems to be one more person called Yang Danfeng who’s at the Eighth River Stage, but he doesn’t look like the man just now. Yang Danfeng would also never appear here.”

“He’s mysterious, but his strength is the real deal. Chen Xiong, do you think he would help me?”

“My Lord, he will most likely help you. He would’ve just left if he didn’t want to, but he talked about a meeting place.”

“That’s good. My brother is cocky because of his strength, but that’s all he has. If I can find someone to match his strength, he will be at a disadvantage! We need to return now. This place is too unsafe!”

“My Lord, what should we do to them? Should we show them to the Emperor and blame the Fourth Prince?”

“No! Let him be surprised. Let him know that it’s not that simple to kill me. We can’t be too obvious. I am weak, so my father never considered me as important as Lin Zichen. If my name gets too famous, he will feel revolted. We will wait until that man joins us!”

Lin Batian was not a fool.

“My Lord, you are too wise!”

***

“Brother Chen, are you planning on slipping into the palace using the Eldest Prince?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’m only preparing just in case. have a completely different identity, so I can do whatever I want as long as I don’t reveal myself. But let’s see if I can get the Nine Heaven Immortal Fruit first. I might be confident, but I’m also very prudent.”

Long Chen soon arrived at Counter Essence City. It was still the same—normal people had difficulty entering and exiting due to the large number of guards.

I’ve already shown my face to Lin Batian. There’s a chance that I will expose myself if he learns that I came here, so I need to hide my face.

Long Chen took a piece of cloth and covered his face. It was the same piece of cloth that was worn by the assassin.

He then changed his outfit.

“Xiaolang, you can’t follow me this time. It’s too risky because you are too recognizable. You don’t have to stay here either. Instead, you should wait for me in that direction, ten Li away. Can you do that? I can escape with Blood Warp, so don’t worry about me.” Long Chen pointed in a direction.

He could indeed escape, but he couldn’t bring Xiaolang with him if he used Blood Warp. It was safer for Xiaolang to hide somewhere further away.

Xiaolang nodded and disappeared in the direction. Long Chen then focused on the city.

“Xiao Xi, let’s go. I couldn’t get it last time, but I will get it this time.” He was ready.

“Okay!” Ling Xi nodded, but Long Chen couldn’t see how worried she was because she was in the ear stud. The Nine Heaven Immortal Fruit was something she had coveted in the past, but now it was the object of her worries.

Long Chen took a deep breath and approached the city. Rather than using the main entrance, he used Traceless Demon Shadow to scale the wall. He used it in conjunction with the Soul Swallowing Gaze to find the weakest part of the wall before entering, so no one noticed him.

He found a section of the wall where there were no guards and entered the city from there. He then quickly hid himself in a house. When he came out, he was wearing the uniform of an Immortal Guard as well as the token. Long Chen had kept his identity token, and he was certain that no one would bother checking it.

Long Chen walked on the street and found Sorrow Moon Lake. He then plunged into it without any hesitation.

There were numerous exits, but he chose the one that led to Area Eighteen of the Elementary Zone. The exit that led to the Advanced Zone was being guarded, and they would always check the identity of those entering, so Long Chen avoided it like the plague.

The flowing water enveloped him and surged forward. When he opened his eyes, he was once again in the Counter Essence Realm. The fragrant scent of herbs reached his nose.

Long Chen noticed that the destruction left by the previous stampede was completely cleared away and the elementary-tier spiritual herbs were growing again. Yellow-tier herbs were everywhere, while Black-tier herbs could be found every few steps. The Earth-tier herbs were being guarded too.

This was where he had killed Song Yuefeng, and also the start of his escape. Rather than staying here, Long Chen used his fastest speed to zip past the guards while avoiding them using the Soul Swallowing Gaze. He headed straight towards the Advanced Zone, where the herb he needed could be found.

He realized that the Soul Swallowing Gaze was too strong. He could see all of life within a single Li and could use it to avoid everyone. With it, he moved undetected towards the Advanced Zone.

But the deeper he went, the more bizarre he felt. Something was trembling in the space, but he didn’t know what it was. The closer he got to the center, the stronger the trembling got.

“What is happening ...” Long Chen stopped and checked his body, but he found nothing.

Looks like something deep in the Advanced Zone is affecting me, but what is it? Is it the Nine Heaven Immortal Fruit?

He thought that it was very likely.

“Xiao Xi, do you feel something strange?”

“No, everything is fine.”

Maybe I’m overthinking.

He continued his advance until he reached the Intermediate Zone. He proceeded further until came across a narrow river separating the Intermediate and the Advanced Zone. The river was projecting a wall of light that blocked him.

“Looks like a seal that separates the zones ... Maybe the Advanced Zone is protected by it.” Ling Xi looked at the seal and was even more excited then how Xiaolang was when he saw the Fire Essence.

“How can I break it?” All seals were useless in front of Ling XI.

“It’s simple. You can just break it with your Demon Emperor Sword, but it will sound the alarm and everyone will rush here. I need to let you slip in without breaking it.”

“Can you do it?” Long Chen frowned. There were people guarding the exit to the Advanced Zone, and now there was a wall of light. He would’ve never been able to slip past it quietly without Ling Xi here.

“Of course. Wait here patiently and give me some time.” She started working on the wall. Some time later, she shouted, “I did it!”

She had created a small opening around a meter in diameter. Long Chen ran through it without a second thought and reached the Advanced Zone. He looked back and saw that the hole was slowly closing.

“Am I incredible?”

“Not bad. You are indeed my little Ling Xi. Once you get your body back, I will make sure to reward you for your efforts! Haha.” Long Chen laughed.

“Idiot ...” Ling Xi blushed.