After arranging everything with the Demon God, and reminding Shang Yong and the others to stay safe, Pei Yan found a spot where the space barrier was weak. Now, having fused with the Divine Artifact Duanyuan, he no longer needed to use the cornerstone plane as a transit. He directly slashed open a space rift to the Daoist Realm and stepped through.
Upon passing through the space passage, Pei Yan didn't leave immediately. Instead, he smoothed the space rift behind him and waited quietly. As an agent of the Investigation Bureau, he knew that any spatial travel would attract the attention of space monitors in the plane. If he left abruptly and was pursued later, it would be troublesome. It's better to wait for the reception from the other side.
As expected, the efficiency of the Immortal Palace hadn't fallen below Pei Yan's threshold. Fifteen minutes after he passed through the spatial rift, the Immortal Palace Law Enforcement Squad, alerted by the spatial fluctuations, hurriedly arrived in front of him.
"Who are you? Don't you know that unauthorized crossing of planes is a serious crime?" The leading Immortal Palace Steward, recognizing Pei Yan's extraordinariness, had to muster the courage to question him due to his responsibility.
"I am Pei Yan, a participant from the cornerstone plane in the competition! Take me to our hall's lodging." Not wanting to cause more trouble, Pei Yan directly revealed his identity. Because the location of the Immortal Palace in Luocheng has many spatial restrictions and is sensitive, Pei Yan chose to base himself outside Luocheng. Now having an Immortal Palace Disciple lead him into the city was also respectable.
"You're Pei Yan?" Upon hearing Pei Yan declare his name, the Immortal Palace Steward's eyes widened, scrutinizing him up and down. The name Pei Yan, once only a topic among high-ranking cultivators, had become a renowned figure since the team competition.
"He really is Pei Yan!"
"How did he become like this?"
"He must have undergone unimaginable training. I heard our Immortal Palace's Venerable Lin also went through a lot for this competition!"
Many Immortal Palace Disciples, having watched the competition and now recognizing Pei Yan, immediately began to chatter excitedly.
"Silence! What kind of conduct is this!" After recovering from the initial shock, the Immortal Palace Steward coughed twice to stop the disciples' clamor. Then, he turned to Pei Yan with a slight apology, saying: "Since Fellow Daoist Pei has graced us with a visit, in principle, an Immortal Palace Disciple should lead you into the city. However, Fellow Daoist Pei has previously participated in the sword tournament team competition and has resided at our Immortal Palace, being quite familiar with Luocheng's complex situation."
"Speak your mind!" Pei Yan, listening to the lengthy explanation, impatiently replied.
"My point is, to prevent infiltration by the Blood Fiends and Underworld factions, we need to strictly verify documents for all who enter the city during the competition. Without an entry pass issued by the Immortal Palace, we are in a difficult position."
Seeing the displeasure on Pei Yan's face, the Immortal Palace Steward, well aware of the God of Slaughter's previous behavior, hurriedly explained: "We did not intend to make things difficult for you, Fellow Daoist Pei. We only hope you'll wait a bit longer as I send someone to notify your disciples to escort you. Once they verify your identity, you can freely enter with them."
"Annoying! Just do it quickly!" Having no other option, Pei Yan felt it would have been easier to return to the cornerstone plane and have someone lead him through official channels.
Upon Pei Yan's wave of acquiescence, the Immortal Palace Steward, relieved, ordered his subordinates to return to the city for help. Fortunately, the palace wasn't far. About twenty minutes later, an Immortal Palace Disciple came rushing with someone from afar.
"Pei Yan?" Wang Wenze stared in disbelief at the white-haired, weathered Pei Yan, cautiously inquiring.
"Why, can't you recognize me? Have I changed that much?" Pei Yan brushed his hair back, playfully draping an arm over Wang Wenze's shoulder.
"You've indeed changed a lot! Seems you suffered quite a bit in the special training. Why didn't you come through the hall? I thought someone was impersonating you!" Familiar with his roommate, Wang Wenze was certain this was indeed Pei Yan, jostling him playfully with an elbow as they spoke.
"Don't mention it. I wanted to save time, but ended up wasting a lot instead!" Pei Yan said, turning to the Immortal Palace Steward to ask: "Can I enter the city now?"
"Now that your disciples have confirmed your identity, you are free to enter Luocheng with them. You two old friends meet again, and we shall not disturb you any further. We'll take our leave."
Ignoring the Immortal Palace Squad's hasty retreat as if avoiding a plague, Pei Yan and Wang Wenze walked leisurely into the city side by side.
"How are my sister, Ye Ruozai, and Gu Chu?" Pei Yan inquired while walking.
"Not long after you set out for the Hell Plane, they entered intensive training under Lin Junzhao. Later, after Zheng Jia Ru woke from his coma—though not fully recovered—he joined them. I don't know exactly where, but according to Elder Lin, they should still be in the Daoist Realm, possibly in a separate space. We thought they'd return before you, but here you are first!" Wang Wenze commented, often glancing at Pei Yan with a hint of unfamiliarity in his gaze.
"Old Wang, what's up? Speak openly. We're close, aren't we?" Sensing his friend's unease, Pei Yan paused, eyeing him perplexedly.
"You've gotten even stronger, haven't you?" Wang Wenze scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
"Ah, I did get stronger!" Pei Yan nodded confidently.
"Phew! I'm increasingly feeling like we're from two different worlds!" Sighing deeply as if understanding something, Wang Wenze relaxed at once, turning to Pei Yan with a heartfelt statement: "I've felt this for a long time, thinking I could catch up by working hard. But after the team competition, I realized I was wrong. Not just you, but the gap between me and Xia Yu is growing. I'm slightly relieved that Lin Junzhao didn't choose Liang Qian for the team competition. I fear the gap growing too wide, making me feel unworthy of her!"
"Uh...!" Listening to his friend's troubles, Pei Yan was at a loss for comforting words. Anything he said might seem boastful, though he had no such intentions. Among his peers in the Investigation Bureau, Wang Wenze, his roommate, was perhaps his closest friend, and he didn't want their bond affected by a disparity in strength.
