The Lord of Void and Real-Chapter 1675 - 1671: Investigation

"I know what you’re worried about, but rest assured, traveling from Chang’an City to the Kingdom of Qingqiu takes only a moment. If anything happens, we won’t just sit back and do nothing. Besides, there are already several Taiyi Realm cultivators in Chang’an City right now, so you don’t need to worry too much," Fairy Qinglian glanced at Shen Luo and said.

"Aside from you, Elder, and Elder Cheng Yaojin from the Great Tang Dynasty Government, Elder Yuan Tiangang—are there other Taiyi Realm cultivators?" Shen Luo asked in astonishment.

"The Pagoda Heavenly King Li Jing from the Heavenly Palace and Kongdu Zen Master from Hua Sheng Temple are here as well," Fairy Qinglian nodded slightly.

"Five Taiyi Realm cultivators are stationed here, and they’re all close to the Great Tang Dynasty Government. This must not simply be to deal with any potential incidents from the Kingdom of Qingqiu, right?" Upon hearing this, Shen Luo furrowed his brows and remarked.

Upon hearing this, Fairy Qinglian’s gaze toward Shen Luo showed a trace of hidden approval.

"You guessed correctly. The influence of the Chang’an Fox Chaos has not been completely eradicated. In fact, Chang’an City has not been peaceful recently. In the span of just a dozen days, several officials from the Astronomical Bureau have been successively assassinated and killed," she said.

"Why assassinate officials from the Astronomical Bureau?" Shen Luo asked in confusion.

"It’s not clear yet. However, these Astronomical Bureau officials share one common trait: they were all engaged in underground hydrology investigations to repair Chang’an City. Yuan Tiangang even divined a hexagram for this matter. Afterward, he invited a few of us to remain in Chang’an City to assist with the investigation, just in case," Fairy Qinglian replied.

Having heard this, Shen Luo felt a slight unease rise in his heart. But knowing that the elders were overseeing the matter, he didn’t dwell on it too much.

Shortly afterward, he took his leave, while Nie Caizhu stayed behind.

After leaving the other garden, Shen Luo planned to meet up with Master Yan outside the city to inform him of the plan to postpone their departure to the following day.

As he approached the City Gate, Shen Luo suddenly spotted a familiar figure. The person also noticed him at the same time, and the two walked toward each other.

"Friend Shen..." the person spoke first.

"Friend Gu..." The individual turned out to be Gu Hualing.

Shen Luo scrutinized her briefly and said, "Friend Gu, judging by your hurried demeanor, do you have urgent matters to attend to?"

"Heading to the Great Tang Dynasty Government," Gu Hualing nodded and replied.

"What happened?" Shen Luo furrowed his brows upon hearing this and asked immediately.

"Let’s talk as we go..." Gu Hualing hesitated briefly and then said.

Shen Luo thought for a moment, nodded, and walked side by side with her toward the government offices.

"En route, I was tasked by the Underworld to assist the government in investigating the deaths of several hydrology officials from the Astronomical Bureau. Recently, I’ve uncovered some clues and plan to report them to the National Master," Gu Hualing explained.

"I’ve heard of this matter as well. The government seems to have no updates yet. What have you uncovered?" Shen Luo asked in puzzlement.

Gu Hualing paused her steps and brought Shen Luo to a secluded spot.

"In investigating the deaths of the Astronomical Bureau’s hydrology officials, I found something odd. They appear to have been killed because they discovered certain issues with the underground water veins of Chang’an," Gu Hualing said.

"What kind of issues?" Shen Luo asked.

Gu Hualing turned her hand and produced a silk map. As she slowly unfolded it before Shen Luo, she explained:

"While conducting hydrology surveys, they found multiple changes in the underground water veins and earth veins. The officials hadn’t yet clarified whether these changes were due to severe damage from prior attacks on Chang’an or deliberate tampering afterward, and they were killed shortly after making these discoveries."

Shen Luo’s gaze fell upon the map. He noticed its numerous dense and erratic lines, clearly a geomantic map of the underground water veins and earth veins in Chang’an City. He began carefully studying the marked areas that had been altered.

On the geomantic map, the altered earth veins and water veins were prominently marked—one earth vein even extended beyond Chang’an City.

His gaze landed on the earth vein heading out of the city, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Judging by the map’s markings, the direction this earth vein led toward was none other than the Yinling Mountains.

Shen Luo was clearer than anyone about what lay within the depths of the Yinling Mountains: an ancient tomb directly connected to the Netherworld. The motive behind linking the earth vein to that location was obvious.

"Friend Shen, have you noticed something?" Gu Hualing, observing the change in Shen Luo’s expression, asked.

"Have you sent anyone to investigate where this earth vein leads, Friend Gu?" Shen Luo did not answer but pointed at the earth vein and asked instead.

"Not yet. I only recently uncovered clues about the killings of the Astronomical Bureau hydrology officials. I haven’t had time to thoroughly examine these altered earth veins one by one," Gu Hualing replied.

"Then follow me to investigate this earth vein!" Shen Luo said decisively. His figure transformed into a crimson streak and shot toward the Yinling Mountains.

Gu Hualing frowned with slight displeasure. However, being well-acquainted with Shen Luo’s temperament, she knew he wouldn’t act rashly. Shortly after, she leapt after him.

Given their current cultivation levels, the two quickly arrived at the Yinling Mountains.

"What kind of place is this? What are we doing here?" Gu Hualing asked as she scanned her surroundings.

"You’ll know once we go underground," Shen Luo replied. He turned over his hand to produce an Escape Earth Talisman, placed it on himself, and offered another to Gu Hualing.

"I possess treasures for underground travel. I don’t need such talismans," Gu Hualing declined.

Upon hearing this, Shen Luo pocketed the talisman, activated his own Escape Earth Talisman, and dove underground. Gu Hualing followed closely behind, and the two quickly reached the deep underground.

Once Shen Luo steadied himself, he extended his Divine Sense outward, spreading it in all directions.

"Are you investigating the earth veins here? No need to go through so much trouble. I have an Earth Vein Instrument, a magical treasure well-suited for sensing earth veins," Gu Hualing said as she retrieved a small yellow sphere, about the size of a fist. Covered with intricate runes crisscrossing its surface, it emanated an air of mystery.

With a hand gesture, Gu Hualing activated the Earth Vein Instrument. It began revolving swiftly, releasing a layer of yellow misty radiance. Lines of yellow patterns flickered across its surface continuously.

Shen Luo noticed that, as the Earth Vein Instrument operated, the spiritual power within the surrounding soil began rippling and undulating in waves that expanded outward. It indeed facilitated the examination of earth vein conditions.

A moment later, the yellow light on the Earth Vein Instrument ceased, revealing a thick yellow pattern.

"Follow me," Gu Hualing said as she moved forward underground.

Shen Luo followed silently, and the two soon arrived at a specific location underground.

At this spot, spiritual energy was densely concentrated, forming a massive earth vein that flowed beneath the ground like a giant dragon.

However, the spiritual power within this earth vein felt somewhat unfamiliar in its movements, occasionally emitting low rumbling sounds.

"This earth vein is the altered one, correct?" Shen Luo asked, looking toward Gu Hualing.

"Indeed." Having encountered similar changes in other earth veins within Chang’an City, Gu Hualing confirmed without hesitation.

"Follow me," Shen Luo nodded and moved along the earth vein’s path. He soon arrived at its endpoint.

Up ahead, a dense shadow emerged underground, resembling an abyssal void—with its destination entirely unknown.