Chapter 1239: Tacitly
The figures revealed as the dust dispersed were none other than Yang Haoran and his companions.
After clearly seeing their faces, without exception, all the Emissaries of Death present underwent a drastic change in expression. However, their reactions varied: some displayed doubt, others shock, some awe, and still others, caution.
Yang Haoran and his companions were all among the Jingling Continent Underworld Office's highest echelons, especially Luo Yao, the Jingling Great Emperor—the true, undisputed leader of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office, a figure of supreme nobility. Consequently, virtually none of the Emissaries of Death present failed to recognize them. Even if Yang Haoran and the others didn't know them, it didn't stop them from being recognized.
It was precisely because almost all the Emissaries of Death present recognized them that their expressions shifted in such varied ways.
“Salutations, Great Emperor! ”
Though their expressions differed, these Emissaries of Death quickly regained their composure and bowed respectfully to Luo Yao.
No sooner had the chorus of Emissaries of Death saluting Luo Yao subsided than the space above the Guardian District suddenly fluctuated violently. A spatial rift then emerged, and four figures stepped out of it in succession.
Leading the group was a young man, handsome and fair-skinned. Though he appeared delicate and not particularly aggressive, quite a few Emissaries of Death present recognized his true identity.
This was the Guardian District of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office's First District. Emissaries of Death serving here possessed a breadth of vision and connections far surpassing those from most remote mountain regions. Consequently, they not only recognized their own Great Emperor but were also familiar with the other Great Emperors and the vast majority of Guardians.
Now, with the Tongzhou Great Emperor's arrival, they not only recognized his identity but also the identities of the three individuals behind him, all of whom, without exception, were Guardians of the Tong Continent Underworld Office.
Though they recognized the Tongzhou Great Emperor and the three Guardians accompanying him, they remained unaware of his purpose in bringing them to this place.
The sudden appearance of Luo Yao and several Guardians had already unnerved the vast majority of Emissaries of Death present. Now, with the arrival of the Tongzhou Great Emperor and his subordinate Guardians, their shock naturally escalated. Some more perceptive individuals even caught a whiff of something highly unusual.
Under these circumstances, none of the Emissaries of Death present dared to utter a word, knowing full well they lacked the authority to speak.
Some Emissaries of Death glanced at Luo Yao, then at the Tongzhou Great Emperor, finding themselves in an awkward predicament, unsure whether to depart or remain.
The Tongzhou Great Emperor, of course, held no interest in noticing the Emissaries of Death from the Guardian District. After emerging from the spatial rift, he first cast a glance at Luo Yao, then shifted his gaze towards the sunken area on the ground below.
At that sight, the Tongzhou Great Emperor's expression subtly shifted, as if a realization had dawned upon him.
“Tongzhou Great Emperor, you’ve arrived late. The ferocious beast here has already been eliminated by us, so your trip, I’m afraid, was for naught. ”
Luo Yao regarded the Tongzhou Great Emperor, his face impassive, and spoke dispassionately. Upon hearing this, the latter withdrew his gaze from the sunken ground below, settling it once more upon Luo Yao.
“That truly is a great pity. I had originally thought that bringing people here might offer some assistance, but from the current situation, it appears I can offer no help at all. This journey truly was, just as you said, a wasted effort. ”
The Tongzhou Great Emperor replied, his words laced with apparent regret, yet his face betrayed not the slightest trace of it. Like Luo Yao, he remained expressionless, making it impossible to discern his innermost thoughts from his facial reactions.
Others might have been unable to discern the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s true feelings from his expression, but Luo Yao was different. Even with not a shred of emotion displayed on the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s face, Luo Yao could still accurately surmise his mood.
He knew that the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s mood at this moment was undoubtedly quite foul, whereas his own was rather excellent; he simply chose not to reveal his inner sentiments.
“Though this trip proved fruitless, I must still thank you; at the very least, I’ve felt your sincerity. Moreover, you weren’t entirely without help. Before your arrival, someone from your Tong Continent Underworld Office reached this place ahead of time and contributed significantly to eliminating the ferocious beast. It’s simply a pity that this beast was far too powerful, and this Guardian under your command was a little too careless, resulting in him losing his life here. His very soul was cruelly devoured by the beast. I had intended to help him, but ultimately, I did not make it in time. You won’t blame me, will you? ”
Luo Yao spoke calmly, his face devoid of anger, yet equally lacking any hint of joy. Instead, a trace of regret colored his features, as though he genuinely lamented the loss of the deceased.
As Luo Yao uttered these words, the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s eye twitched subtly. From this minute detail, it was evident that his inner turmoil was far from the calm he presented outwardly.
“This ferocious beast truly is formidable; even a Life Soul realm Guardian under my command lost his life here! ”
The Tongzhou Great Emperor suppressed the rage in his heart, speaking through gritted teeth. Though he tried his utmost to mask his fury, a measure of it still bled through in his tone and expression.
“This ferocious beast is not only powerful but also exceedingly cruel; ‘devouring flesh without spitting out bones’ hardly begins to describe it. If this beast weren’t so difficult to handle, why would I have personally rushed here, let alone brought so many Guardians? ”
Luo Yao spoke dispassionately. As these words left his lips, the fury on the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s face visibly intensified.
“No matter how formidable the ferocious beast, was it not ultimately eradicated by the Jingling Great Emperor? Here, I must heartily congratulate the Jingling Great Emperor; now, there’s one less major worry on your mind. ”
After these words, the Tongzhou Great Emperor seemed disinclined to continue bickering with Luo Yao. Instead, he gravely issued an order to a Guardian behind him.
“Chuishui’s body is in the ruins. Go find his corpse; I want to take it with me. ”
The Guardian acknowledged the order, then shot swiftly towards the sunken area on the ground below, halting above the depression in the blink of an eye, and began using his methods to clear away the rubble and collapsed structures.
Luo Yao watched all of this unfold. He did not intervene, but rather swept his gaze across the Emissaries of Death present.
“It remains unknown whether any other dangers might emerge here, so it would be best for you all to withdraw quickly. ”
Whether any other dangers might still emerge here was unknown to the Emissaries of Death present. However, one thing they understood perfectly was that Luo Yao did not wish for them to remain.
Some Emissaries of Death had already harbored the intention to withdraw from the area, but simply lacked an excuse to depart. Now that Luo Yao had spoken, instructing them to leave, it perfectly aligned with their wishes.
There were also others who, for various reasons, preferred not to leave this place. However, since Luo Yao had given the command, they had no choice but to depart, even against their will. After all, they dared not defy Luo Yao’s wishes, at least not openly.
As the Emissaries of Death withdrew, Chuishui’s body was unearthed by the Tong Continent Guardian. Chuishui had long since perished, and his corpse was severely disfigured. Some areas, having suffered severe impacts, were even a bloody mess. In a word, it was a body with an utterly tragic death.
The Tongzhou Great Emperor gazed at Chuishui’s tragically deceased body, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitched once more. A potent killing intent even emanated from his eyes.
Yang Haoran and his companions had kept their gazes locked onto the Tongzhou Great Emperor. Witnessing him suddenly erupt with a potent killing intent, Yang Haoran and the other Guardians swiftly mobilized their inner strength, not daring to be careless in the slightest. They couldn’t be certain whether the Tongzhou Great Emperor would succumb to rage and harm others, so preparing for battle in advance was absolutely essential.
However, the Tongzhou Great Emperor’s killing intent was swiftly and forcefully suppressed by him, appearing and vanishing in an instant. Yet, Yang Haoran and the others did not relax their vigilance because of it.
“The ferocious beast here has been eliminated, so I shall not linger. I only hope that no more such beasts emerge within the Jingling Great Emperor’s domain in the future. ”
The Tongzhou Great Emperor forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart, preventing it from erupting. After dropping these words, he merely cast a glance at one of his subordinate Guardians, who then tore open space. He subsequently led his Guardians into the spatial rift, and Chuishui’s corpse was likewise taken along.
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