“But what?” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable demanded impatiently. “If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
The Second Elder said, “It is said that although Ye Wushuang severely injured Holy Son Tang Ye and escaped from Absolute Life City, he himself was also gravely wounded by City Lord Qian.”
“Logically speaking, with Ye Wushuang’s cultivation, it would be impossible for him to kill Divine Son Song Que and City Lord Qian.”
“Moreover, Divine Son Song Que had two guards at the peak of the Transcendent Realm by his side.”
“The life lamps of those two guards have also been extinguished.”
“This subordinate has a suspicion. To be able to easily kill Divine Son Song Que, Qian Cheng’en, and the two peak Transcendent Realm guards, the only possibility is…”
The Second Elder paused here and looked up at the Wuji Heavenly Venerable.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable’s face was cold as he forced four words through clenched teeth. “A Saint Realm expert!”
The Second Elder nodded. “This subordinate thinks the same. Only a Saint Realm expert could easily slay Divine Son Song Que and the others.”
“However, this subordinate cannot understand which power would dare to oppose our Yin-Yang Sect.”
“And even dispatch a Saint Realm expert to kill a Divine Son?”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable’s gaze was icy as he said faintly, “Looking across the entire cultivation world, there are many who harbour dissatisfaction towards our Yin-Yang Sect, but few have the strength to challenge us.”
“The Butian Sect and the three great holy lands possess such strength.”
“Yet they are our allies. They would not arbitrarily kill our people.”
“The Qingyun Sword Sect counts as one.”
“However, Yun Shan has always sought compromise. Our Yin-Yang Sect has provoked the Qingyun Sword Sect multiple times, yet Yun Shan dared not act. Given his style, he would not take the initiative against us. He would not dare kill Song Que.”
“Du Gu Wudi counts as one.”
“However, that fellow is arrogant and exceedingly domineering. If it were truly him, he would certainly leave his name, or even storm our Yin-Yang Sect headquarters. Thus, Song Que was not killed by him.”
“Therefore, only one remains.”
“The demon race!”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable said, “The demon race has Saint Realm experts, and they bear deep hatred towards our Yin-Yang Sect. They have every reason to kill Song Que.”
The Second Elder said, “Sect Leader, we have people at the demon race border, and the Butian Sect and the three holy lands are also monitored. If anyone from the demon race emerged, it would be discovered immediately.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable rebuked, “You yourself are a Saint. Do you not understand the methods of Saints?”
“If a Saint Realm expert from the demon race were to act, could those disciples of ours with their weak cultivation possibly detect a Saint’s traces?”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable narrowed his eyes and thought to himself, “If it truly was a demon race expert who killed Song Que, that means Ye Changsheng has likely left the demon race as well.”
With this thought, an idea formed in the Wuji Heavenly Venerable’s mind. He said, “Second Elder, if there are no other matters, withdraw for now…”
“Sect Leader, this subordinate has more to report,” the Second Elder said quickly. “Besides Absolute Life City, the city lords of Water Moon City, Xuanyun City, Wind Fire City, Jintao City, Feiyu City, and Yingfeng City have all been killed.”
“What did you say?” The Wuji Heavenly Venerable’s expression was one of utter shock.
The Second Elder steeled himself and reported, “The city lords of those seven cities have all been slain.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable was so enraged that fury blazed within him. “Too arrogant! To kill so many city lords. They court death… cough, cough, cough…”
Pfft.
A jet of blood sprayed from the Wuji Heavenly Venerable’s mouth.
He had vomited blood from anger.
“Sect Leader, please take care of your health…”
The Second Elder began to console him, but before he could finish, a slap landed on his face.
Smack!
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable slapped the Second Elder across the face and cursed, “You worthless fool! Such a grave matter, and you report it only now? What are your intentions?”
The Second Elder explained aggrievedly, “This subordinate was concerned that the Sect Leader’s injuries had not yet healed and that hearing this news would agitate you, so I waited until now to speak.” “Am I not agitated now?” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable scolded. “Remember this: in future, report everything at once. If you dare do this again, I will kill you.”
“Yes.” The Second Elder, terrified, prostrated himself on the ground.
“Get out!” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable roared.
The Second Elder asked, “Then regarding the Divine Son’s death, I…”
“You need not concern yourself with this matter. This seat has its own plans,” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable said.
“Yes, this subordinate takes his leave.” The Second Elder responded and hurriedly departed.
Silence returned to the palace.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable took several deep breaths to compose himself. Then his hands formed seals before him as he silently recited an incantation.
After a moment, a cluster of radiance emerged from between his brows and floated into the air.
This radiance transformed into a circular mirror, about the size of a dining table.
No one knew what material this mirror was forged from. The left side of its surface was white, the right side black, with yin-yang energies flowing ceaselessly around it.
“Yin-Yang Void Mirror, reveal the truth within ten thousand li. Edict!”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable forced a drop of blood from his middle finger and dotted it onto the mirror surface. In an instant, the entire mirror became transparent.
“I want to see just who it is that has killed so many city lords.”
Soon, three figures appeared in the mirror.
Ye Qiu!
The Long-Browed Daoist!
And a five-coloured divine ox!
Under the illumination of the Yin-Yang Void Mirror, the three revealed their true forms.
“As expected, it is you.” The Wuji Heavenly Venerable recognised at a glance that Elder Niu was at the Saint Realm.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable laughed coldly rather than in anger.
“Ye Changsheng, oh Ye Changsheng. I did not expect you to leave the demon race so soon. Excellent.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable observed the coordinates of the wind-riding boat, then sneered. “It seems your next stop is Guangming City.”
“There is still time.”
“Ye Changsheng, since you are impersonating Song Que, this seat shall play along with your scheme.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable put away the Yin-Yang Void Mirror and shouted, “Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, Second Divine Son Su Wuming, come see me at once.”
Soon, two elderly men and a youth arrived in the palace and bowed respectfully.
“We pay respects to the Sect Leader!”
The three said in unison.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable said, “Ye Changsheng is impersonating Song Que, accompanied by an old Daoist and a Saint Realm ox demon from the demon race. They have killed Song Que, Tang Ye, Yun Jie, and the city lords of seven cities. At this moment, they are heading towards Guangming City.”
The three were shocked.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable continued, “Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, take Su Wuming and proceed to Guangming City immediately.”
“You must arrive at Guangming City before Ye Changsheng and lay an inescapable net to await him.”
“Remember, by whatever means necessary, you must bring Ye Changsheng back to me alive.”
“As for that ox demon from the demon race and the old Daoist, there is no need to spare them. Kill them on the spot.”
“Furthermore, all information regarding Ye Changsheng must be sealed. No one is to know of it.”
“Go at once!”
“Yes!” The three responded and quickly withdrew from the palace. Then the two elders tore through the void, taking the youth with them, and headed straight for Guangming City.
