Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

A figure squatted on a tree in the courtyard, hands clasping a human head, drenched in fresh blood.

"Saintly Honor? Mysterious Gate Peak disciple Nangong Wantu at your service, Saintly Honor."

Shen Ye was startled and hastily rose to pay his respects.

The person on the tree was none other than Saintly Honor.

...Complacency had been my undoing.

My consciousness had lingered in the Dharma Realm, which made me less aware of everything in the courtyard.

"Your human name is Nangong Wantu? Why choose a name of the Human Race—it's quite unpleasant to the ears, little insect of the king species," Saintly Honor said, squinting and looking down at Shen Ye judgmentally.

"It's just a codename, Saintly Honor need not concern himself," Shen Ye replied.

Shen Ye glanced at the human head.

The Dao of righteousness!

It was the Dao of righteousness!

Why would Saintly Honor kill him?

Perhaps sensing Shen Ye's gaze, Saintly Honor lifted the head and said to Shen Ye,

"Have you seen him?"

"More than just seen—we've collaborated on many matters," Shen Ye replied.

"Why did you entrust him?" asked Saintly Honor.

Shen Ye spread his hands, speaking as if it were obvious,

"Surely I don't need to personally deal with such trifling matters, do I?"

"He belonged to a secretive human organization that specialized in exploring all of humanity's relics and ancient forces, aiming to excavate and abscond with all treasures and heritages," said Saintly Honor.

"I truly didn't know about that—after all, I haven't been with the Taoist Palace for very long, Saintly Honor," Shen Ye replied.

Saintly Honor stared at him silently, and the head in his hand suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist with a "bang."

"Great Saintly Honor, I apologize once again, and if there's anything I need to compensate, I am willing to pay," Shen Ye said.

Saintly Honor grinned and spoke,

"Little insect, I've heard you have a profound background, now tell me about the forces behind you—if you speak even half a lie or try to bluff before me—I assure you, your fate will be no different from Dao of righteousness."

Shen Ye calmly raised his left hand, showing his palm with a black vertical pupil to the other party.

"I come from the Heart of the Swarm," he said.

Saintly Honor's gaze landed on his hand and swept over it lightly, his murderous aura dissipating slightly.

"The Heart of the Swarm... never heard of it, but indeed your hand harbors the consciousness gathering of the king species."

"Let me take a personal look, and all will be clear," Saintly Honor said before finishing his thought.

Saintly Honor vanished from the tree, suddenly appearing in front of Shen Ye, placing a hand on his palm.

So fast!

Shen Ye's pupils contracted sharply.

Even after summoning the Formless Heavenly Demon, I had no chance to react!

The next instant.

Saintly Honor's hand retracted.

He adopted a kind demeanor and his tone became cordial,

"So you call it the Heart of the Swarm now—I know you—you are indeed the strongest of the king species. There's no doubt about that."

"But why disguise yourself as a human? Allow me this last question, please."

Shen Ye was about to give another reason when a flash of insight struck him.

Indeed.

That authoritative voice had once said something.

It seemed apt for this moment—

"Humans and Pandas are the races most likely to awaken gate powers, and gate power symbolizes the future."

Shen Ye repeated those words.

Saintly Honor listened intently, nodding subconsciously and adding,

"Absolutely correct."

Shen Ye then continued,

"—I must disguise myself as human to understand human cultivation methods, to see why they awaken gate powers more easily."

"Of course, if my stay here has caused any inconvenience to Saintly Honor, it was not my intention."

"I can leave at any time."

"Before I leave, I have one more thing to say—"

"If my presence has caused any disgrace or loss to the Supreme Tao Palace—"

"I can provide tenfold compensation!"

Saintly Honor was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

This emperor species came from the strongest imperial race organization across multiple universes.

—First and foremost from his identity, it could be confirmed that he was reliable.

He certainly wouldn't side with the humans.

And he held great potential.

Plus, he had wealth.

No.

He must be extraordinarily wealthy.

The earlier conversation about gate power was unerring, a consensus among Cosmic Demon Masters.

Rarely did he consider disguising as human.

Indeed, he was among the strongest of the emperor species.

Besides.

He had boldly stated he could leave at any time.

There was no falsehood in that—

I could tell he truly didn't care.

"Hahaha, it's all a misunderstanding—a mere misunderstanding!" Saintly Honor said quickly,

"Nangong Wantu, I must sincerely tell you that previously my Heart Demons had thrown the Sect into chaos, so I had to rush back to clean up this mess."

"—Do not take it to heart."

"You may stay as long as you like here."

"Absolutely no problem."

While speaking, Saintly Honor affectionately patted his shoulder.

Shen Ye was about to continue the conversation when the door of the cave residence was flung open.

Dantai Mingyue and several men and women entered.

"Nangong Wantu!" a Female Cultivator called out.

"Greetings to my fellow disciple brothers and sisters," Shen Ye bowed in haste.

He turned to see that Saintly Honor gestured to him with his hand, saying, "They can't see me, nor hear me."

"—Disciple brothers and sisters, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Shen Ye had to continue asking.

Dantai Mingyue stepped forward, her eyebrows knit, and said, "Chu Manshu said you had potential, so I thought to give you a chance."

"You claim to refine Middle-grade Pills, yet you blew up the Pill Furnace."

"You missed the agreed-upon gathering to exchange insights on cultivation, yet we were still worried, searching everywhere for you."