"How is that possible?!"
Nightingale exclaimed in shock, "Without the Forbidden Red Lotus of our Tianxuan Palace, how did you manage to break the seal?"
Forbidden Red Lotus!
Qin Chuan mentally noted this term, guessing that it was most likely a powerful treasure, and it seemed Nightingale had it on him. However, staying true to his principle of continuing the bluff as long as possible, Qin Chuan didn't show any reaction on his face.
With a smile, he said, "It wasn't us who broke the seal; it was Emperor Kun himself."
"Emperor Hong had us bring him a vial of the All-Origin Water. We only intended to restore his vitality, but unexpectedly, Emperor Kun gained new insights while being sealed away all these years. After consuming the All-Origin Water, he immediately broke through and forcibly shattered the seal."
He spoke with calm conviction.
Especially with the inclusion of names like "Emperor Hong" and "All-Origin Water," which were known only to the Tianheng Clan, it made his story even more credible.
After all, trust is often built on seemingly insignificant details.
"Your Tian Shui Palace has successfully developed the All-Origin Water?! That's wonderful news!"
Nightingale exclaimed with excitement.
Tian Shui Palace!
Qin Chuan caught another name.
Adding it to "Tianxuan Palace" that Nightingale mentioned earlier, he could now roughly deduce the organizational structure of the Tianheng Clan. It seemed they were divided into various independent factions, secretly connected, each led by Tianheng Clan Emperors, infiltrating different regions of the Jiucang Continent.
"Yes, it's been successfully developed."
Qin Chuan nodded, then solemnly said, "The others have already left with Emperor Kun. The Emperor asked me to wait here for you. He entrusted me with something very important to deliver to Tianxuan Palace."
"What is it?"
Nightingale asked, curious.
"Lord Nightingale," Qin Chuan lowered his voice, "It's better not to ask about things that shouldn't be asked. Besides, your delay this time seemed to have displeased Emperor Kun."
That last sentence was a subtle form of pressure.
Typically, after making a mistake, someone who's subtly pressured would feel cornered, making them more compliant and less likely to ask questions.
"I understand. It was indeed my oversight this time, nearly causing a major blunder."
Nightingale lowered his head in shame, then said, "Come with me. I'll take you to Tianxuan Palace."
With that, Nightingale led the way, and Qin Chuan followed silently.
After flying for a long time, they arrived at a secluded valley.
Nightingale drew a complex pattern on one of the stone walls. Suddenly, a golden rune popped out from the wall. The rune seemed to be a one-time-use mechanism.
He grabbed the rune and walked over to a large boulder, pressing the rune into the rock.
"Buzz!"
The giant boulder trembled, revealing intricate patterns on its surface before a crack formed in the middle.
From the crack, a glowing ant crawled out.
Nightingale caught the glowing ant and tossed it into a pool in the center of the valley.
"Splash!"
Moments later, a golden carp jumped out, swallowing the ant. As the fish leaped, a string of golden symbols appeared on its scales and vanished in a flash.
"Let's go."
Nightingale memorized the symbols and led Qin Chuan out of the valley to another location.
They went through several places and performed more than a dozen complex steps until they had gathered a complete set of symbols.
Nightingale skillfully arranged the symbols, and instantly, they formed a teleportation array!
"Does Tianxuan Palace always make entering this complicated?"
Qin Chuan couldn't help but ask.
"Well, we at Tianxuan Palace specialize in formations, so we enjoy creating intricate and fancy mechanisms. But in truth, it makes everything much more secure."
Nightingale coughed lightly and proudly added, "Our Tianxuan Palace is hidden within the void, and its coordinates constantly shift. So the teleportation array also changes each time. Every time, the formation symbols are different, and only by completing the steps I just performed can we enter."
Qin Chuan was dumbfounded.
Was this what people called… a verification code?
The Tianheng Clan really knew how to complicate things.
"Let's go, into Tianxuan Palace."
Just as Nightingale was about to step into the teleportation array, a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind.
"What's wrong?"
He turned around in confusion, only to see a massive fist, radiating light, growing larger in his eyes.
"You!"
His pupils shrank, and his body tensed, trying to dodge, but it was too late.
"Bam!"
The punch landed with a thunderous crack, nearly shattering his skull. His mind went blank, and he instantly lost consciousness.
Qin Chuan casually erased the teleportation array and stored the unconscious Nightingale in his internal world, then quickly left the area.
As for sneaking into Tianxuan Palace?
Forget it.
Tianxuan Palace, as one of the secret strongholds of the Tianheng Clan, undoubtedly had at least one, if not more, Tianheng Emperors stationed there. If Qin Chuan recklessly entered, it would be like walking into a trap, with no way out.
There was no need to take that risk!
After flying across half of Chiming Domain, Qin Chuan found a secluded place to release Nightingale.
Then, he began to ransack his belongings.
After robbing so many people, Qin Chuan had gained experience, and soon stripped Nightingale of all valuables.
He checked everything carefully.
This guy's collection was indeed impressive, filled with treasures that would make even a quasi-emperor envious, along with some rare items exclusive to the Tianheng Clan.
But one thing was missing—the Forbidden Red Lotus.
"Could it be that he didn't bring it with him?"
Qin Chuan frowned.
He had checked everywhere, even Nightingale's dantian and sea of consciousness, but there was no sign of it.
Suddenly!
Qin Chuan noticed something unusual about Nightingale's bulging underwear. After secretly comparing it with himself, he sneered.
"Brother, bluffing is one thing, but if you go too far… that's just giving yourself away!"
With a swift movement, Qin Chuan pulled off Nightingale's underwear. Immediately, a radiant red glow filled the air.
A magnificent red lotus floated up, its surface covered in runic imprints. Three thousand silver runes spiraled around it like a whirlpool of stars, slowly rotating.
The intricate patterns on its surface were profound and ever-changing, seemingly capable of forming any formation or breaking through any seal!
"As expected, it was here."
Qin Chuan smiled in satisfaction and casually stowed the formation treasure away.
He knew it!
How could anyone possibly be bigger than him?
After all the people he had seen, no one had ever been able to match him in that department—his confidence was absolute.
"Now, how should I deal with this guy?"
Qin Chuan looked at the unconscious Nightingale on the ground, pondering.
"This guy is the only one from Tianxuan Palace who's seen my face. Once the Tianxuan Palace gets wiped out by the Jiucang Sacred Temple, he'll be the only survivor. I'll need him to point the finger at Qin Xiaozhu."
"So, I won't kill him. I'll lock him up somewhere, pretending to interrogate him for Tianheng Clan secrets."
"When Tianxuan Palace falls, I'll 'let him escape.' That way, no matter what, Qin Xiaozhu won't be able to clear his name."
"The destruction of Tianxuan Palace, combined with the Kun Emperor affair, will be enough to land Qin Xiaozhu at the top of the Tianheng Clan's most-wanted list!"
Qin Chuan had always been indifferent to fame.
All the honor was meant for his son.