The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 420: Psychic Eye

Psychic Eye . . .

Wan-Er and Xiu-Er shared a puzzled expression, and both of them chimed in with a simultaneous "Ah? It is strange."

"So, Zhao Pingtian turned against the team just because of something Feng Zhiling said?" Master Bai inquired, a note of curiosity in his voice. "What did he look like? What exactly did he say? Recollect every detail without omission."

The burly man obediently lowered his head and pondered for a moment before recounting the story in full. As he spoke, Master Bai's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

While Master Bai furrowed his brow, lost in contemplation, the facial wounds he had sustained rapidly faded away. His visage returned to its usual pristine state, no longer resembling a pig's head.

At last, his eyes sparkled with realization as he mumbled, "Feng Zhiling never ceases to amaze me... Does he possess the Psychic Eye? It's astonishing to find someone with such a mystical ability in this lower realm."

Wan-Er and Xiu-Er exchanged glances, both leaning in to listen. "The Psychic Eye? How is that possible..."

Master Bai nodded faintly. "Why not? There is no other plausible explanation. Do you genuinely believe that Zhao Pingtian would readily abandon his allegiance based solely on his enemy's words? He's not that foolish!"

Xiu-Er expressed her bewilderment. "Master is correct. Nevertheless, individuals with the Psychic Eye in a lower realm are typically children. Most of them are afflicted because they can perceive things that exist outside the real world. As they mature, they lose the Psychic Eye... Feng Monarch isn't even young. How could he retain such a power?"

Master Bai responded coolly, "He must have devised his own method to maintain it. The techniques for cultivating the Psychic Eye are generally exclusive to the highest realms and quite scarce. Yet, he accidentally stumbled upon a method in this world and diligently honed it. This is likely the most logical explanation for this enigma."

Xiu-Er concurred, "Indeed. With effective cultivation, he can not only perceive things in the Yin world but also bridge the gap between the Yin and Yang realms. It's not that extraordinary... Ghosts and spirits may appear comical to ordinary people, but only accomplished cultivators recognize that transmigration is a genuine phenomenon. Souls are real, and by extension, so are ghosts."

Wan-Er nodded and added, "Absolutely. This Rou-Er must be of paramount importance to Zhao Pingtian. She could very well be the source of his despair and hopelessness. Feng Zhiling exploited this to sway him to his side."

Xiu-Er made a determination, saying, "I believe she is not just important but the person he loves and cares for most. Master, I will retrieve all available records on Zhao Pingtian. There may be valuable information to uncover."

Master Bai replied impassively, "In fact, there's no immediate need for further research. Zhao Pingtian will likely become Feng Zhiling's confidant. However, it's better to have information about him for future dealings."

With that, Xiu-Er departed to gather the necessary data.

Wan-Er expressed her concern, saying, "Master, you seem quite certain that Zhao Pingtian will align with Feng Zhiling. Perhaps we should dispatch someone capable of contending with Zhao Pingtian to maintain the balance."

Master Bai acknowledged her suggestion with a nod.

...

Cha Eun Xiao and Zhao Pingtian spurred their horses forward, matching pace for pace. In their brief journey of seven miles, they had already crossed paths with seven separate groups of assailants determined to claim Feng Zhiling's life. In each encounter, Cha Eun Xiao needn't lift a finger, for Zhao Pingtian valiantly warded off their adversaries, leaving behind a gruesome tableau of bloodshed and severed heads.

Nonetheless, this relentless onslaught was unsustainable. The clamor for Feng Zhiling's death was unrelenting, and the number of assailants was bound to increase.

Zhao Pingtian, despite his notoriety as a killer king, remained a mere mortal. Prolonged combat took its toll, and no one could singlehandedly withstand the ceaseless tide of foes.

To conceal his identity, Cha Eun Xiao resorted to a makeshift face mask, an unusual sight for daytime attire. Despite the oddity of his appearance, he deemed it a small price to pay to avoid becoming a marked target, particularly given the high stakes. Unbeknownst to the general populace, this masked figure who appeared to be a raving lunatic was none other than the renowned Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall, the man everyone currently sought.

Recognizing the need to maintain anonymity, Zhao Pingtian followed suit by donning a mask himself. Drenched in blood and bearing his fearsome title, he would have been immediately recognizable otherwise. Now, anyone who happened upon their masked visages knew that targeting Zhao Pingtian would inexorably lead to a confrontation with Feng Monarch.

Though the sight of their daytime mask-wearing drew ridicule, mockery, and pity from onlookers, they persisted. Their reputations were irrelevant; survival was paramount. In this unusual guise, they sprinted away from pursuers and sneering observers, enduring jeers and taunts along the way.

Finally, after navigating the challenges of their extraordinary journey, they arrived at a small tavern.

Dismounting their horses, Cha Eun Xiao and Zhao Pingtian approached a destitute family and, with a casual grace, handed over the reins of their steeds. A brief exchange of gratitude passed between the two parties before Cha Eun Xiao and Zhao Pingtian proceeded into the nearby tavern.

Inside, Cha Eun Xiao swiftly negotiated for a respectable room, which he and Zhao Pingtian promptly occupied. There, they withdrew some fresh clothing from Cha Eun Xiao's concealed storage ring and changed into more inconspicuous attire. Although their stay in the tavern was brief, they wasted no time. After their swift preparations, they departed through an open window and seemingly evaporated into the sky, their movements untraceable.

A neighboring tavern, adjacent to the one they had just left, caught Cha Eun Xiao's generous attention. With a nonchalant gesture, he handed the establishment's keeper a note worth a thousand taels of silver and effectively secured the entire venue for the day. Given its usual patronage, a tavern like this would scarcely amass a thousand taels of silver in a year, making the keeper beam with delight. The unspoken understanding between them was clear. With a discreet nod, the keeper promptly cleared out, closing the tavern's doors behind him and leaving Cha Eun Xiao and Zhao Pingtian to their own devices.

Seated across from each other in a spacious and quiet setting, they were provided with a modest spread of dishes and wine, all conveniently within arm's reach. This newfound privacy allowed them to delve into the conversation they so urgently needed.