"Yan Zhenfu, long ti no see."
Yan Xuankong was shocked to the core by Chen Baxian’s words.
No matter how quick-witted he was, he never imagined that Chen Baxian would see through his disguise and greet him.
Yan Xuankong even subconsciously touched his own face, wanting to see if his disguise had been exposed.
Han Zheng also didn’t expect that Yan Xuankong’s disguise would be seen through in a single phrase by Chen Baxian.
Now he doesn’t even have his own body, his appearance has changed, and he can’t even use his previous cultivation technique. How did Chen Baxian recognize him?
Seeing Yan Xuankong’s bewildered yet seemingly strategizing expression, Chen Baxian said calmly, "No need to panic, whether you’re Yan Xuankong or Xiahou Xuan, it doesn’t matter to as long as you stand with the Demon Cleansing Bureau. I will keep your identity a secret."
Yan Xuankong awkwardly smiled and cupped his hands towards Chen Baxian, saying, "Tha... Thank you."
Facing Chen Baxian, Yan Xuankong still felt sowhat embarrassed.
When Yan Xuankong was the Garrison Commander, Chen Baxian was just an arrogant and audacious junior. Despite having impressive battle achievents, like Han Zheng now, Yan Xuankong naturally didn’t take such a junior seriously.
Who would have thought that after decades, the once junior had grown to a level he could only look up to?
Yan Xuankong was indeed arrogant, believing he could certainly reach the Dharma Manifestation Realm.
However, no matter how arrogant Yan Xuankong was, he couldn’t imagine having the terrifying combat prowess of Chen Baxian after reaching the Dharma Manifestation Realm.
It’s safe to say that the current Chen Baxian has beco so powerful that Yan Xuankong couldn’t even conceive of it.
Chen Baxian gently waved his hand, saying, "No need to thank . If anyone should be thankful, it should be thanking you."
"Thank ?"
Yan Xuankong’s expression turned sowhat odd.
He was aware of his own reputation, and given the things he had done in the past, being cursed was the best he could hope for. Yet Chen Baxian actually wanted to thank him?
Chen Baxian said calmly, "Yan Zhenfu, after you disappeared, there were indeed many in Southern Mountain who cursed you. Even Elder Xu, with his good temper, cursed you daily. However, I never uttered a word against you.
Firstly, if you hadn’t disappeared, I wouldn’t have had such an easy ti rising in the ownerless Southern Mountain.
Secondly, in my youth, for every rit achieved, the rewards I received were never withheld, often exceeding those of my peers among the Xuanjia Guard. It was because of this that I was able to lay a solid foundation in my youth.
So while others cursed you, I, who benefited from the rewards, owed you a favor."
Yan Xuankong’s evaluation in Southern Mountain could be said to be very bad. Before Ren Tianying arrived, it was not an exaggeration to say he was universally reviled.
However, after Ren Tianying ca, Yan Xuankong’s reputation improved considerably.
Southern Mountain’s Demon Cleansing Departnt described Yan Xuankong as ambitious, arrogant, opportunistic, and unscrupulous, all of which were not incorrect. He had indeed done those things.
He even dared to embezzle the salaries issued to the Demon Cleansing Bureau and take ghost salaries.
But to those who were capable and could achieve rit, Yan Xuankong was indeed generous and open-handed.
Yan Xuankong believed that rather than nurturing a bunch of worthless people, it was better to use those resources to make himself stronger.
So if soone under his command was significantly stronger than their peers among the Xuanjia Guard, and also competent, Yan Xuankong would be willing to allocate so of his resources to reward them, even more than they deserved.
Though Chen Baxian didn’t endorse Yan Xuankong’s actions, he benefitted during Yan Xuankong’s tenure in Southern Mountain and obtained many benefits because of him.
Therefore, while others could chastise Yan Xuankong, Chen Baxian alone would not join in.
After listening, Yan Xuankong’s thoughts were sowhat complex.
Unexpectedly, the only person in Southern Mountain to rember his good deeds and complint him was the one who should have denounced him, showcasing his own prowess and ability to turn the tide—Chen Baxian.
Beside him, Han Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Baxian chose not to pursue the matter and offered to help conceal it, which couldn’t be better.
Yan Xuankong’s identity remained sensitive, and if the headquarters discovered it, considering the deeds he’d done back then, he’d be lucky to escape with his life.
"By the way, Master Chen, it’s quite far from here to the Demon Suppression Pass; how did you sense we were being hunted?"
Han Zheng curiously asked.
"It wasn’t sensing you being hunted; I ca specifically to assist you."
Chen Baxian said calmly, "After you departed, Elder Chu Tianyuan sent a ssage from the Demon Suppression Pass regarding the Capital City’s situation.
I anticipated that Ji Yuanfang’s actions, once taken, would certainly involve thoroughly hunting you down, never simply stopping and giving up—a trait typical of him. So, I ca specifically to assist you, and it turns out I was right."
"If Master Chen hadn’t helped us this ti, we’d be in real trouble. Thank you for saving us."
Han Zheng wasn’t flattering Chen Baxian; his tily arrival was indeed appreciated.
"You don’t need to be polite; you are from Southern Mountain. Ji Yuanfang may act against you in the Capital City, but this is not his domain.
Currently, the Grand Commander is not present, and the Capital City is their domain. Hence, for the ti being, you shouldn’t think of returning to the Capital; instead, seize the chance to train at the Demon Suppression Pass.
The Capital City is a place of indulgence and decadence.
The Demon Suppression Pass is a place of life and death, surrounded by warfare.
Yet, if you can find your footing at the Demon Suppression Pass, even if you don’t reach the Dharma Manifestation Realm, your strength will undoubtedly increase significantly."
Chen Baxian waved his hand, leading Han Zheng and Yan Xuankong in haste towards the Demon Suppression Pass.
On the way, Han Zheng also curiously questioned Chen Baxian on how he could recognize Yan Xuankong’s disguise.
He was concerned about any potential flaws in the disguise, hoping to correct them promptly.
Chen Baxian explained that Yan Xuankong’s disguise had no flaws; he was able to discover it simply because he had slain a Demon Emperor and discovered the Emperor’s eye.
The eyes of the Demon Emperor could see through illusions, so Chen Baxian directly used them to discern Yan Xuankong’s disguise, which others could not detect.
The three of them exerted themselves for half a day before finally spotting the legendary Demon Suppression Pass.
Upon first seeing this imposing fortress, Han Zheng felt his breath taken away.
The city walls, towering a thousand feet high, were entirely black, appearing as if carved from an entire mountain range, their surface densely inscribed with countless runes, each glowing with a faint golden light. These golden lights flowed ceaselessly, like living entities swimming across the walls, creating mysterious patterns.
At intervals of a hundred feet along the city wall, a bronze giant cauldron stood, burning with a fla that never extinguishes. The blaze was intense and bright, interspersed with dazzling golden gleams that illuminated the surrounding thousand feet of the Demon Suppression Pass at night. Even if the Demon Clan attempted a nightti raid, they would be exposed by this light.
In fact, these flas could reveal various invisibility secret techniques, and Yin God Ghost Objects among other things, making assaulting the Demon Suppression Pass impossible without a direct attack route.
On both sides of the pass were endless mountain ranges.
Those peaks towered like swords piercing the sky, encircling the Demon Suppression Pass.
However, the mountain range was not enveloped by clouds; it was instead marked by black, twisted space rifts, as if this world had been torn apart by a sword.
These space rifts appeared above the mountains but had actually segregated the Northwest Wilderness from the Great Zhou Central Plains, leaving the Demon Suppression Pass as the only traversable path.
The length of the Demon Suppression Pass was also truly astonishing, stretching over thirty miles, making it impossible for Han Zheng to see its end.
However, the Demon Suppression Pass differed from Han Zheng’s imagination.
He originally assud that the Demon Suppression Pass would be extrely desolate and remote, populated only by the Xuanjia Guard and Great Zhou soldiers fiercely battling upon it.
In reality, there was even a workshop outside the Demon Suppression Pass, with many martial artists and rchants selling various items, as well as individuals dressed in Demon Cleansing Bureau’s profound armor and military armor wandering among them.
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