After following the bandits through all kinds of twists and turns, shuttling along the main road, Chen Ming reached the destination when he was at the end of his patience.

  I say, for these bandits to take so long to get to a deserted area does it mean they got their meal?

  Chen Ming entered the aforementioned courtyard. It lived up to their description, wild overgrowth, shrubs in disorder, and best of all, deserted.

  Chen Ming was the first to enter, and threw an angry look at the four who came behind, “Don’t you know to close the door?”


  Scarface turned and closed it.

  Chen Ming probed around then said in all seriousness, “This isn’t right. There’s no silencing array here. Only it can offer the greatest safety.”


  Scarface clapped and another bandit set up a small-scale silencing array.

  Chen Ming gave his full approval, “En, perfect. This should do.”


  Scarface said, “I must say, this is my first time meeting such a cultivator, asking guidance from bandits to reach certain death.”


  Scarface stepped towards Chen Ming, wishing to speak some bandit-like lines, but the immense pressure cut him off. The next thing he knew, he hit the dirt, hard.

  Scarface struggled to give his surroundings a once over, finding his men in the same pickle.

  And the source of this pickle was the said Dao Comprehending realm cultivator.

  Chen Ming peered below, smiling at the straining bandits, “I must say, this is my first time meeting such cultivators, leading their enemy to give them certain death.”


  Scarface found it hard to speak, “Spare us, immortal! Immortal, I wish to give you everything I posses in exchange for my life.”


  Mommy! What in god’s name have I provoked?

  Chen Ming smiled, “I don’t want any of it.”


  Scarface smiled, but then he picked on his faint muttering, “But I do want your life!”


  Chen Ming spread his arms and put a bitter cucumber flavored Qi Pill in scarface’s mouth. He chopped his neck and the pill slid down scarface’s throat.

  In the same way, he dealt with the other three.

  Scarface was terrified, “What did you give me?”


  “Intestine-breaking Pill? Soul Scattering Pill? Seven Days Suicide Pill? Anyway, it’s nothing good, I’ll assure you.”


  Chen Ming released the pressure, then sat on a rock, “I will give you six hours to provide me with all information pertaining to Bu Liuhen.”


  Fear has yet to fully leave scarface’s visage. Chen Ming scared him to death. He was just a Dao Comprehending realm cultivator, but his power told him an immortal stood in his place.

  And the fact he hid his power, this made him an immortal walking in shadows. Not mentioning the poison he fed him added more dread.

  “Please wait, sir, we will soon have all you require.”


  Not even an hour later, scarface returned with the other three bandits, “Sir, we learned from the Red Sleeve Tavern that Bu Liuhen is hiding his cultivation. He is already a Celestial Immortal and harmed Heavenly Court’s Seventh Celestial Immortal. He is fleeing towards the Star River the Jade Lake is in control of with his daughter!”


  “Can you vouch for this information?”


  “The tavern’s host is a secret Jade Lake member. Because Jade Lake and Heavenly Court are always vying for control over the three Star Rivers, it is true without a shred of doubt!”


  Chen Ming shook his head, “Still not enough. I need more details!”


  To gain control over a person, one needed to have him experience true despair.

  The desperate need but a thread of hope and will submit.

  Bu Liuhen has yet to reach such a state.

  Chen Ming had no intention to push him that far. He was a mere spectator, for now.

  But to guarantee the validity of the information, they were unlikely to go as far as death to prove it. Chen Ming settled on going after Bu Liuhen.

  Scarlet Dragon Star, River Office.

  In the center of a golden palace was a golden table. At its head stood a golden armored general overlooking the Heavenly Court immortal officials standing bellow in the main hall, “You’re telling me you can’t find a simple man?”


  An immortal official bowed, “J-Jade Lake intervened!”


  The general laughed, “Jade Lake is as disgusting as ever. Are they interested in messing with Heavenly Court’s traitors?”


  “Lord, please give us some time.”


  “Know where you are. This is the Scarlet Dragon Star River. We, the Heavenly Court, control it. If Bu Liuhen escapes, then you can try the sharpness of Immortal Gallows’ blade.”


  They all bowed, “We shall leave at once.”


  Bu Liuhen has been on the run for a month as the Heavenly Court’s scouts littered the Star River. If not for his Celestial Immortal cultivation, he would’ve been caught by now.

  Bu Liuhen wanted to flee to the Vile Dragon Star River between the Scarlet Dragon Star River, under Heavenly Court’s control, and the Jade Dragon Star River, under Jade Lake’s control.

  Havoc reigned in this Star River. The two factions were in constant fights, with the powers there twisted beyond recognition, and the best place to lay low.

  If he reached it, Heavenly Court would have a hard time finding him.

  But the sealed up Scarlet Dragon Star River backed him into a corner, leaving him with killing as the only option.

  His biggest problem was the general guarding the exit to the Vile Dragon Star River. He was a mid-level Celestial Immortal official from the Heavenly Court, one that could draw unto himself the power of the stars.

  This last star proved to be the most difficult.

  He was an expert in the immortal art Eight Dragon-ascending Steps. His speed was eerily fast, the only thing that kept him alive thus far. If he could master the next stage, then he would tear space apart and flee, unhindered by the paths to immortality in his travels among the stars!

  But misfortune would have it that even after a hundred years of arduous cultivating, this final step has yet to be surmounted.

  Bu Liuhen was a lanky middle-aged man, with slightly bulging eyes. They flitted around as he returned with food to a house, where the pitiful and lovely Bu Shenlian regarded him, “Father, isn’t there another place we can go to?”


  Bu Liuhen turned to this mesmerizing beauty, “No, we can still make it. Jade Lake is always against the Heavenly Court and if they intervene, our chance will present itself!”