Gongyang Road held no ties of kinship to the Tian clan, nor was he a son of the main lineage. He was but a guest retainer, drawn in by the Tian family’s prestige, yet he enjoyed profound trust.

This trust surpassed even that afforded to many of the Tian clan’s own members. Without such absolute confidence, he would never have been included in the team venturing into the Hidden Star Realm.

Hearing Tian Chang’s query, he replied simply, “From outside the formation, naught can be discerned. One must experience it firsthand.”

“In your estimation, is the risk great upon entering?”

Gongyang Road answered, “Natural formations of this ilk vary in strength. However, being naturally formed, they lack the treachery of man-made arrays. A killing formation is a killing formation, a confounding array is a confounding array. Since this Nine Swirling Sands is a confounding array, at worst, we shall but fail to find the exit and perish within.”

“If that is the case, my heart is at ease.” Tian Chang offered a flattering smile. “So long as we are given time, what need have we to fear failing to find the exit?”

His words served both to bolster the team’s morale and to elevate Gongyang Road’s standing.

Gongyang Road did not become complacent, stating solemnly, “I possess but a five-percent grasp.”

“A fifty-fifty chance is also called a grasp? Either find the exit, or fail to find it?” Tian Yong grumbled, “I could do the same and claim a five-percent grasp!”

His anger was not without cause. He felt that Gongyang Road should have discerned the nature of the confounding array earlier. Colluding with Tian Chang, he had caused his precious Ink Warrior to be trapped within. It was truly infuriating.

Tian Chang paid him no mind, merely producing a compass. “With the Lead Star Disk?”

This Lead Star Disk was a spiritual tool crafted by Tian Anping himself, accustomed to guiding direction and charting routes. Tian Anping had no need of it in recent years and had gifted it to the clan treasury. This time, for the Hidden Star Realm expedition, it had been brought forth. Thanks to this disk, they had effortlessly traversed the sand sea and discovered this oasis.

“Seven percent,” Gongyang Road stated.

“Sufficient.”

Tian Chang gave a direct command. “Liu Si, Tian He, remain outside as a safeguard against unforeseen circumstances. The rest of you, follow me into the formation.”

Liu Si protested, “Cousin, I wish to be with you.”

Tian Chang raised a hand, cutting off her attempt to act spoiled. “When acting outside, follow instructions.”

Liu Si was his cousin, and Tian He a son of the main lineage who had served his father and later followed him. He was a most reliable and trusted confidant. With these two outside the formation to offer support, he felt the most secure. Had Tian Yong been outside, he would have worried about his own return.

Tian Yong had no objection to this arrangement; he yearned to enter the formation swiftly to locate his Ink Warrior. Any scratch or bump would cause him immense heartache, and the black-hearted merchants who sold puppets charged exorbitant repair fees.

With the troublesome Tian Yong silenced, the others held great faith in Tian Chang’s leadership. After a brief period of tidying, the group entered the Nine Swirling Sands one after another.

Once all their figures had vanished, Liu Si stomped her foot. “That despicable turtle egg!”

She understood the reason Tian Chang had left her outside, but she was unwilling to accept it. The group entering the formation were the ones most likely to gain rewards, and guarding outside meant forfeiting any major contributions to this expedition.

However, her inclusion in this team was already a result of Tian Chang’s machinations. Acting spoiled was acceptable, but directly opposing him was beyond her courage.

Tian He was a middle-aged man of around forty, appearing somewhat dull and rigid. Hearing Liu Si’s resentful words, he showed no reaction. Had he not been so passive, Liu Si likely wouldn’t have dared to curse others in his presence.

“Hey!” Liu Si suddenly called out. “Anyway, you don’t need to enter the formation now. Give me the Dao Origin Stones allocated to you this time.”

Tian He said nothing, honestly retrieving a small cloth bundle from his chest. Carefully opening it, it contained twenty pieces of Dao Origin Stone.

“These old folks are truly stingy to death,” Liu Si grumbled as she reached for the stones, taking nineteen pieces and placing them in her storage box.

The Tian clan of Great Marsh was certainly wealthy and influential, and disciples like Tian Chang lacked for nothing in cultivation resources. However, families like the Liu family, attached to the Tian clan, were better off than most, but still struggled to be extravagant.

Especially since she wasn’t highly valued in the Liu family, her only means was to flatter Tian Chang. She understood Tian He’s nature perfectly; always dull and weak, you couldn’t get a word out of him with three strikes. If he weren’t absolutely loyal, Tian Chang wouldn’t use him at all.

Tian He still said nothing, merely silently rewrapping the single remaining Dao Origin Stone and placing it back in his chest.

Liu Si stared at Tian He. “If my cousin finds out, you’re a dead man walking.”

Tian He replied in a muffled voice, “He won’t.”

“Good servant.” Liu Si said with satisfaction. “I’m not being greedy with your few Dao Origin Stones. It’s just that during this period, my expenses are outweighing my income. When I marry Cousin later, I will reward you generously.”

Tian He nodded. “Alright.”

Liu Si smiled, then seemed to recall something and added, “After this mission is complete and the rewards are received, you should also show me some filial piety. Rest assured, this young lady remembers everything and will reward you later.”

“We don’t even know how many will be rewarded,” Tian He said woodenly.

“At least a hundred Dao Origin Stones?” Liu Si said magnanimously. “You can keep ten pieces.”

Tian He was silent for a moment before saying, “I also need to cultivate, Miss.”

Liu Si frowned. “At your age, your talent is just so. You have no wife, no children. Are you saving so many Dao Origin Stones to buy a coffin?”

Tian He said, “Since last year, all the allowance money has been distributed by you. I only receive half each month… Miss, please let me be. Precisely because my talent is insufficient, I need more resources to supplement it.”

Liu Si grew increasingly annoyed. “You are dissatisfied? Do you believe I won’t tell Cousin, you are being impolite…”

She lowered her head in disbelief, seeing a small knife embedded in her abdomen. A sharp surge of Qi energy radiated from it, directly piercing her Tongtian Palace.

Tian He had pulled out a small knife from who knows where and stabbed her with it.

One hand pressed her shoulder, lifting her entire body, while the other wielded the knife.

One thrust, two thrusts, three thrusts.

His movements were swift and steady.

Liu Si’s eyes widened, staring fixedly at him.

She gazed at the middle-aged man, whose expression remained dull even as he committed murder. Finally, all breath left her, and her body slid downwards.

Jiang Wang, hidden within the inner world of the Red Makeup Mirror, watched as the Tian family members entered in a line, disappearing one by one like the Ink Warriors.

He understood that they had encountered a natural formation.

He had originally intended to approach and observe, but the Tian clan team had left two people behind to guard the exterior.

At this moment, the Tian clan group had not been within the formation for long, and he didn’t know if they would return promptly, so Jiang Wang could only restrain himself for the time being.

He then saw the woman speaking, and the middle-aged man took out Dao Origin Stones to give to her.

The Red Makeup Mirror offered only vision, no sound.

Jiang Wang thought that in the future, he would not only need to improve the Red Makeup Mirror’s visual capabilities but also learn lip-reading.

Then, he witnessed the middle-aged man produce a small knife and stab the woman dead on the spot!

The middle-aged man’s composure while killing was so profound that it secretly surprised Jiang Wang.

This individual was truly unremarkable. Standing within the Tian clan team, he left absolutely no lasting impression. Had Tian Chang not specifically left him outside the formation for support, Jiang Wang wouldn’t have even noticed him.

Even if he had noticed, he wouldn’t have discerned the exceptionally cold heart hidden beneath that dull exterior.

Jiang Wang did not avert his gaze.

He watched as, after killing the woman, the middle-aged man calmly wiped the small knife on her clothes before standing up and walking outwards.

Throughout the entire process, there was not a single trace of panic. He was as calm as if he had decided to go out and buy some vegetables.

Read “Red Heart Patrolling Heaven”