Chapter 4: Suppression of the Heaven and Earth Bridge!
"I'll explain everything either in the garrison or strong city later."
Chen Yi looked at the three people in front of him who were still pondering and said with a slight smile, "Returning to the previous issue, you should consider carefully whether to report this."
"However, I must remind you that the enemy is unknown, and acting rashly will only harm yourself and others."
Chen Yi's many past experiences have taught him that, both on the Tianyuan Continent and Taizhou Mountain Battlefield, strength reigns supreme.
Before attaining sufficient strength, even if you know who the enemy is, you cannot easily act against them.
Just like how he handled Zhou Tiance—although he knew from a young age that Zhou Tiance and his 'Hidden Dragon' meant harm to him, he chose not to escalate the conflict.
Instead, he improved his cultivation and techniques while investigating everything, gradually resolving the 'Black Impermanence' hidden within the Wei Dynasty by the Demon Court and the people like Wang Yang, Zhou Guanwu, and Earth Monk hidden within Kyoto Prefecture by 'Purest Heaven'.
It wasn't until he returned to Kyoto Prefecture from the Ten Thousand Mountains that he effortlessly executed Zhou Tiance and put an end to this grudge.
Looking back, if he had directly confronted Zhou Tiance from the beginning, there would have been only two outcomes.
Either he would hasten his explorations across the lands under the pressure from 'Hidden Dragon', enhancing his cultivation and techniques and succeeding in his revenge.
Or he would have died under Zhou Tiance or Chen Ke's assassination.
Moreover, this would have impacted more than just him personally.
It would involve his older brother Chen Yuan, the people of Duke Wu An Mansion, the little girl, and others, implicating them all.
He, the little girl, Chen Yuan, and others wouldn't have been able to cultivate peacefully for ten years.
"Senior, what do you intend to do?" Gu Zhuo glanced at his junior brother and sister, seeing them hesitating, he asked Chen Yi, "If you were us, would you choose to report to the Generals?"
Chen Yi nodded directly, "With my cultivation, I am not afraid of retaliation."
Gu Zhuo: "…"
Such powerful reasoning, he couldn't think of any rebuttal at the moment.
"What if your cultivation were the same as ours?" Ji Binglan asked cautiously.
"Then obviously, safeguarding oneself comes first," Chen Yi said matter-of-factly, "You don't even know who the other party is, so what would you be reporting?"
"But what if…"
Without waiting for the three to explain, Chen Yi interrupted them by raising his hand, "I understand your devoted heart to serve the Human Race, but now is far from the time to report this matter."
"In my opinion, you should first conduct investigations in secrecy and report only when you have a clear target or suspect."
Seeing the confused expressions on their faces, Chen Yi shook his head subtly, thinking they weren't using their brains.
"Earlier, that tiger demon leaked the times when Bai Yuanguang visited their village several times; perhaps you can start investigating during those periods in either Human Extreme City or the nearby garrison to see if any Great Power has disappeared without reason."
Gu Zhuo suddenly realized and respectfully said, "Senior's thinking is indeed thorough."
Yin Shunan's face relaxed as he said, "If we use this as a breakthrough point, it becomes simple."
"First exclude the guards rotating in the nearby garrison, generally four people taking turns, with records of outings and guard duty."
"Then investigate the few Generals within Human Extreme City, where the defense is more stringent, and there would be records of anyone leaving; unless one can avoid the patriarchs' scrutiny, they would leave clues."
Gu Zhuo nodded, agreeing as he added, "I just thought of one thing, since the other party went to the vanguard Demon Village in Human Extreme City, the nearby garrisons by the Netherworld River shouldn't require investigation."
Chen Yi slightly raised his eyebrows and, after considering for a moment, understood his meaning.
—Unless the Great Power could ignore the dangers of the Netherworld River and travel upstream against its current, it would be impossible to bypass the human rear and reach the Demon Court's vanguard Demon Village from there.
Realizing this.
Chen Yi said, "The specific methods of investigation you three can handle secretly, and of course, after determining my identity, I might participate in investigating one or two things."
The trio expressed joy and immediately cupped their fists and said, "Thank you, senior."
"With your words, senior, we've eliminated future worries."
"Indeed, senior," Ji Binglan said with a face full of admiration, "With your cultivation, you surely can keep us safe."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded, "If there are no other changes in the future, I wouldn't mind staying for a few days either in Human Extreme City or in White Emperor City where you are."
There's still a few months to go until the gathering led by Zhao Muzi in Xunwang Heaven to explore the secret realm; during this time, he can still act freely.
Besides investigating the matter of Bai Yuanguang, who joined the Demon Court as a Great Power, the second task is to find where Ning Xue, Zhan Hongxiu, and others are so that he can link up with them.
However, at this moment, Chen Yi is more concerned with another matter—how to break through the Demon Court's blockade and reach the Tai Zhou Mountain Territory to link up with Zhao Muzi and others.
He can't just incur a favor from Zhao Muzi and Zhao Tianhe, letting them come to fetch him over such a small matter, can he?
"From what you said earlier, does it mean now there isn't any Great Power in the Human Race's strong cities who can detour through the Netherworld River to the Demon Court or Tai Zhou Mountain?"
Gu Zhuo hesitated a bit, and the joy he showed earlier due to Chen Yi's arrangement turned into veiled fear because of the mention of "Netherworld River."
After briefly exchanging glances with Yin Shunan, he took a deep breath and explained:
"I dare not hide from you, senior, for our Human Race cultivators, and even those Great Demon Kings from the Demon Court, the Netherworld River is a Forbidden Land."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
"Like the 'Netherworld River' and the 'Heaven and Earth Bridge', they are both Forbidden Lands within the Tai Zhou Mountain Territory."