Chapter 445: Which Powerhouse?

Luoyu watched Li Yang's dark expression, feeling inwardly delighted.

"Furious, aren't you? Too bad. Anger is completely useless." He savored Li Yang's dark expression.

Li Yang's expression was indeed dark. Luoyu was clearly trying to prevent him from approaching the Sun.

Previously, so many Deities had descended and destroyed his surveillance. Now, they were stationed here, completely cordoning off the area around the Sun. At this point, he'd have to be a fool not to realize the Sun held some kind of secret.

Li Yang asked inwardly, 'Soul Ink, can you find out what secret the Sun is hiding?'

Upon hearing the question, Soul Ink replied, "I cannot."

"You can't?" Li Yang was stunned. 'Even Soul Ink can't investigate it?'

"Li Yang, kid, you really think I'm omnipotent?" Soul Ink said with a sigh.

"In my prime, uncovering this Sun's secrets would have been child's play. But now, not only are we facing all these Deities, but that Luoyu fellow seems to have a treasure that specifically blocks all forms of investigation."

"I was able to discover that hidden member of the Alien Race before because it was just one individual, and only at the level of a Tri-System Deity. That's why they couldn't escape my detection."

"But what about now? We're talking about nearly a hundred Deities! And among them are dozens of Tri-System and Four-Element Deities!"

"With so many Deities around, my investigation is under immense pressure. I have to avoid having my consciousness detected by any of them."

"On top of that, Luoyu has that investigation-blocking treasure, which makes it impossible for even my soul to get through."

Meanwhile, Luoyu was feeling quite smug.

'Haha, Li Yang, you must be dying to know the Sun's secrets, right? Thinking of having that one Deity, Hei Xu, investigate? Tough luck. At this point, even if an Emperor came in person, they'd have a hard time investigating the situation with the Sun.'

He had tempered himself on the Slaughter Battlefield, and that investigation-blocking treasure had been a gift from Zun Lie Venerable.

'With this treasure, it's extremely difficult for other experts to track me down, which undoubtedly boosts my chances of survival immensely.'

'Now that Li Yang has probably guessed what's going on with the Sun and wants to investigate, I, of course, have to have a contingency.'

'Even if Li Yang managed to bring an Emperor here, they would struggle to investigate this place.'

'Besides, Fire Cloud Emperor will arrive in twenty-some days at most. Even if other Emperors came to help Li Yang, who could possibly be faster than Fire Cloud Emperor?'

'Right now, the only human Emperor on the entire Yangyuan Star Continent is Yangyuan Emperor himself. But he would never help Li Yang; he wouldn't dare stand against our Zun Lie Clan.'

While Luoyu was pleased, Li Yang's mood had grown even darker.

Even Soul Ink was unable to investigate. So, even though he knew the Sun held a secret, there was nothing he could do.

"Li Yang, you should leave," Luoyu said coolly. "We will depart once our mission is complete. But while it's ongoing, it's best you don't come near this place."

He was in a fine mood, anticipating the sour look on Li Yang's face when he tried to force his way in only to be blocked.

However, Li Yang didn't give him the satisfaction. After Soul Ink confirmed that an investigation was impossible, he didn't hesitate, simply turning and walking away.

'He's leaving already? This Li Yang is surprisingly decisive.'

Watching Li Yang depart, Luoyu felt a pang of disappointment. He had wanted to see more of Li Yang's miserable expression. The more miserable Li Yang looked, the happier he became.

"If Li Yang comes near here again, drive him off immediately. There's no need for courtesy," Luoyu ordered, glancing at the surrounding Deities.

"Yes, Young Master Luoyu."

...

Meanwhile, Li Yang found a secure location and immediately entered the Virtual World to find the Blade Slaughter Sect Master.

Looking at his disciple, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master asked, "Li Yang, what's the situation?"

Li Yang had previously informed the Blade Slaughter Sect Master that a large number of Deities under Fire Cloud Emperor's command had descended upon the Solar System.

"Teacher, I went to where Luoyu and the other Deities are. They've built numerous palaces and established a permanent base there. They've completely surrounded the area around the Sun and are forbidding me from entering..."

Li Yang quickly finished explaining, "Their excuse is that they're searching for members of the Alien Race within the Solar System."

"Using the search for the Alien Race as an excuse to set up a base in the Solar System?"

After hearing Li Yang's report, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master mused for a moment. "It seems the Sun in your Solar System must hold some secret."

'For so many Deities to make such a grand move, the secret must be significant.'

"I'm not too sure myself," Li Yang said, shaking his head.

The Solar System wasn't enormous, but exploring it thoroughly would likely take centuries. He had been using those mechanical lifeforms to explore it constantly.

However, he hadn't yet managed to explore the Sun itself.

After another moment of thought, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said, "Li Yang, don't worry. I'll arrange for someone to head to your Solar System right away."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Li Yang was overjoyed. He couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, who are you planning on sending?"

"You'll find out when they get there," the Blade Slaughter Sect Master replied with a smile, not giving a direct answer.

...

Time passed, and Li Yang continued to wait. Twenty-some days went by in a flash.

'Who in the world did Teacher send?' Li Yang wondered, growing more anxious with each passing day.

'Luoyu's forces included nearly a hundred Deities. The weakest among them were of the Dual Pantheon, and there were even a dozen or so Four-Element Deities.'

'With that kind of terrifying power, could anyone less than a Five Elemental Deity possibly handle them?'

'Is it one of Teacher's friends?' Li Yang couldn't help but wonder.

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master had never revealed who it was.

"Li Yang, go directly to where Luoyu and his contingent of Deities are stationed. The person I sent has arrived," the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said.

"Oh? They're here?" Li Yang's heart leaped with joy upon hearing the news, and he immediately set out.

Meanwhile, Luoyu was also waiting for the arrival of Fire Cloud Emperor from his clan.

'The old ancestor will be here soon. He should be able to break the Array,' Luoyu thought with great anticipation.

'No, not 'should be able.' He will *definitely* break the Array.'

In truth, Luoyu wasn't so sure. After all, the creature inside the Sun was of an incredibly high level; the Array surrounding it was bound to be of a high level as well.

But they wanted to keep this great opportunity for themselves, so they certainly weren't going to contact anyone else for help.

In their clan, Zun Lie Venerable was in a remote location; it would take him several years just to get back. Furthermore, Zun Lie Venerable had already made it clear that he would not be returning.

Therefore, Luoyu could only place all his hopes on Fire Cloud Emperor.

'If the old ancestor, Fire Cloud Emperor, can't break through, then our only option is to resort to the final plan: leak the news. Spread it to the other Emperors of our Hunyuan Martial Saint Realm, and perhaps even to the Sovereigns!'

'Even though we wouldn't be able to keep the opportunity for ourselves, our Zun Lie Clan would still reap enormous benefits.'

Luoyu ran through the various plans in his mind.

The worst-case scenario he envisioned was that even Fire Cloud Emperor would be unable to break the Array. In that case, they would have no choice but to leak the information and join forces with other experts to break it together.

*(I have to go out with a girl from a blind date... Thanks to Bansheng liang liang liang dao shang for the 1,500-coin donation, and thanks to 08a for the 100-coin donation. Thank you.)*