Shan Hu did not spend much time returning to the capital from Yan Mountain. He completely concealed his aura and simultaneously cast an extremely sophisticated illusion technique, making himself merge into the air. He landed silently in a secluded corner near the Ye family's old manor.
His current state was fundamentally different from three days ago.
His cultivation at the peak of Qi Condensation Layer Four, combined with the vast True Essence from the Azure Emperor Longevity Art, gave his physique a qualitative leap. Every casual breath he took resonated with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. Although this resonance was faint in the sparse spiritual environment of the city, it was enough to make him feel energized.
More importantly, his Divine Sense, having been purified by the remnant will of the Dragon Vein's "Dao," was unprecedentedly condensed and powerful. He could clearly perceive the life rhythms, the flow of wind, and even the subtle refraction of light within a radius of several hundred meters.
"If I were to face that black-robed man now, I could easily suppress him with pure True Essence and Divine Sense pressure alone, without resorting to formations or talismans," Shan Hu mused, gaining a clear understanding of his current strength.
His effort on the mountaintop had completely solidified the foundation of his Immortal Emperor re-cultivation and cleared his initial hurdles on Earth.
Recalling his thoughts, Shan Hu executed his movement technique and scaled the wall, entering the Ye family's backyard like a wisp of smoke. To avoid alarming the Ye family members, he chose to rest briefly in the practice room instead of going straight to his bedroom.
The moment he stepped into the practice room courtyard, Shan Hu's brow furrowed slightly.
He paused, his gaze fixed on the Ye family mansion in the dark night. His Divine Sense, like invisible tendrils, quickly and accurately scanned the perimeter of the residence.
"There is an aura of prying…"
This aura was extremely well hidden, and had Shan Hu's Divine Sense not been purified by the Dao Heart, it would have been difficult to detect. It was not the casual gaze of an ordinary person or a bodyguard, but a professional, cold, and persistent "spiritual energy lock-on."
This was the work of a cultivator.
Shan Hu's Divine Sense traced the source of the aura in reverse. Soon, he pinpointed the target on the rooftop of a high-rise residential building about one kilometer away from the Ye family manor.
Sitting there was a man in gray sportswear, holding a compass-like magical artifact. His eyes were slightly closed, clearly engaged in long-term detection or surveillance. A faint spiritual energy fluctuation emanated from the man, indicating he was at least in the middle stage of Qi Condensation.
"A professional observer, indeed. It seems the Ye family's troubles are greater than I anticipated."
Shan Hu understood the situation. The Ye family had suffered a great blow due to the spiritual vein depletion and internal strife recently. The forces in the capital coveting the Ye family's status, such as the rival Wu family, would certainly not miss this opportunity to kick them while they were down.
Hiring a cultivator for detection and surveillance was a subtle pressure exerted on the Ye family under secular rules. They dared not trespass openly, but through this method, they could constantly gather evidence of the Ye family's weakness or seek a breakthrough point.
If the Ye family failed to discover this surveillance, they would inevitably have all their actions mapped out by the opponent over time, leading to a passive situation. A rash counterattack might also lead them into a trap set by the rival force.
"Hmph, since I'm home, I should clean up the flies around the front door."
Shan Hu's eyes turned cold. He initially did not want to interfere in mundane disputes, but the Ye family was, after all, his dwelling place in this life, and an important channel for him to acquire resources in the future. He would not allow anyone to cause trouble right under his nose.
Without alarming anyone, his True Essence subtly circulated, condensing two swirls of azure energy beneath his feet. The next moment, he shot out like an arrow from a bow, his figure blurring into an afterimage in the night as he silently swept toward the high-rise building.
The night in the capital was quiet, yet dangerous. An Immortal Emperor was preparing to display the first trace of killing intent since his re-cultivation in the mortal world.