Evana leaned in close, her breath warm against Dong Rui’s ear. "I know about your Lightforged Illumination Technique ."
Dong Rui’s eyes widened in shock, her face draining of color. How could Evana possibly know?
"Don’t be so surprised," Evana said, a smug grin spreading across her face. "I have my ways. And let me tell you, I am sure when everyone in the solar system knows about it they will also be surprised too."
Dong Rui’s mind raced as she tried to process this revelation. "What do you want?"
Evana’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little favor."
"What kind of favor?" Dong Rui asked warily.
Evana smiled playfully. "I want you to give me the cultivation method of Lightforged Illumination Technique "
"If you refuse," Evana hissed, her voice now cold and menacing, "I will not hesitate to expose your secret to the entire solar system. Do you really want to be branded as a practitioner of such an evil technique?
"You wouldn’t dare," Dong Rui retorted, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to appear confident.
Fear coursed through Dong Rui’s veins. She knew that Evana was not bluffing. If word of her cultivating the Lightforged Illumination Technique were to spread, her reputation and the reputation of the Dong Clan would be irreparably damaged.
Dong Rui felt trapped, her options rapidly diminishing. She knew that if she refused Evana’s demand, her reputation and safety would be forfeited. On the other hand, handing over the Lightforged Illumination Technique would compromise her most closely guarded secret and make her vulnerable to potential threats.
Torn between desperation and caution, Dong Rui hesitated, with a heavy hand, Dong Rui reached into her pocket and retrieved a jade slip. "Here, This contains the cultivation method."
Evana snatched the jade slip from Dong Rui’s grasp, as she inspected it with her Ethereal Will, her eyes lit up. "Excellent,"
Evana pressed the jade slip against her forehead, transferring the contents into her consciousness. Once the transfer was complete, she tossed the slip back to Dong Rui with a careless flick of her wrist.
"Oh, right," Evana said, her voice dripping with false concern, "I almost forgot to give you a little piece of advice. Don’t trust that Liang fellow. He’s not who he seems."
Dong Rui’s heart skipped a beat.
"What do you mean?"
Evana leaned in close, her breath warm against Dong Rui’s ear. "He’s the one who revealed your location to me. He’s been playing you for a fool all along."
Dong Rui’s mind raced as she tried to process this revelation. It was almost too much to bear.
"Why?" Dong Rui whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Evana shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows?"
****
As Evana and Dong Rui emerged side-by-side from the grand hall, their expressions inscrutable, a flicker of amusement gleamed in Liang’s eyes.
"Now that all matters have been amicably resolved," Chess Paragon intoned, his voice resonating with authority, "let us address your respective requests."
With a wave of his hand, two ethereal doorways materialized before Liang and Dong Rui. Without hesitation, they stepped through the shimmering portals, disappearing into unknown depths.
Yue Xin turned to Evana, her gaze filled with mingled curiosity and concern. "How did chatting go ?"
Evana nodded, her lips curving into a sly smile. "It proceeded with remarkable smoothness," she replied. "I even took the liberty of adding a touch of...spice." An enigmatic gleam danced in her eyes.
Yue Xin smiled in response, choosing to refrain from further comment.
"With all affairs concluded, I bid you farewell," Evana declared, bowing respectfully to Chess Paragon. "Until our paths cross again, Sister Yue Xin."
Yue Xin inclined her head in acknowledgment.
Moments later, Evana vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the three remaining individuals.
Lolas Mast leaned close to Seni, whispering conspiratorially in her ear before offering a respectful bow to Chess Paragon. With that, he too departed, disappearing into the shadows.
Chess Paragon’s gaze settled on Seni, a faint smile playing upon his lips. "now you two accompany me."
Without a word, Seni and Yue Xin nodded in unison and followed Chess Paragon deep into the opulent palace.
***
Within the depths of an opulent pavilion, imposing figures shrouded in an aura of unfathomable power gathered around an exquisite jade square table. Their very presence exuded an oppressive force that would send shivers down the spines of even seasoned Runic Embodiment Experts. Each one of these masters was a True Paragon, commanding respect and inspiring awe.
At the head of this formidable assemblage sat an enigmatic old man clad in plain white robes. Despite his unassuming appearance, an aura of deep mystery permeated the air around him. His gaze held an inscrutable wisdom that seemed to penetrate the very depths of any Runic Mastery experts’ souls.
As the gathering commenced, a chorus of congratulations echoed through the chamber.
"Brother Tian Di, allow me to extend my heartfelt felicitations," boomed a voice laden with laughter. The speaker was a middle-aged man with a piercing gaze, garbed in an opulent black and golden robe. His aura radiated both authority and the cunning of a seasoned strategist. "Your daughter has surpassed expectations, not only achieving Runic Mastery but also securing a place among the most promising individuals of this generation."
Tian Di, the man seated to the right of the old patriarch, dismissed the praise with a wave of his hand. "Brother Wang, you are too generous. As the Saintess of this generation, the little girl’s accomplishments were only to be expected." He snorted, "In fact, I am somewhat bothered that she did not secure the first place."
A wave of laughter rippled across the assembly.
"My dear brother Tian Di, consider it a blessing in disguise," interjected a man to Tian Di’s left. "Imagine if your daughter had become an apprentice to an outsider. The repercussions would have been...unfavorable."
The laughter intensified, echoing through the pavilion.
"Insolent fools!" The old patriarch on the leading seat suddenly thundered, silencing everyone instantly. "Though Old Turtle Chess may not be bold, he is still of the senior generation. You young ones would do well to show him respect."
Immediately, silence descended upon the gathering. The patriarch’s words held sway over all present.
"Nonetheless," a voice from the periphery ventured, "this could be interpreted as a setback for the Alliance."
"They withheld their most formidable warriors," one of Wang’s allies retorted. "Hardly a matter of grave concern."
"Your stance would hold more weight had you not dispatched Zi Long, Wan’er, and Xian’er to the competition," a Dong Clan member countered. "Were you not invested in achieving victory?"
"You..." The Wang Clan member’s lips curled into a thin line.
"Enough with these petty squabbles," the patriarch commanded, his voice resonating with an undeniable firmness. "We have gathered here to discuss matters of paramount importance, not to engage in idle banter."
The Dong Clan, like any other clan, is divided into several factions. Two of the leading factions are the Heaven Faction and the Asura Faction.
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
The experts on the left side belong to the Asura Faction, while those on the right are clearly from the Heaven Faction.
Regarding authority, the Heaven Faction holds the upper hand. It is widely suspected that the patriarch leans more towards the Heaven Faction, although no one dares to voice this openly.
Turning his gaze to Dong Wang, the patriarch inquired, "Have you completed the investigation I entrusted to you?"
A solemn expression etched upon his face, Dong Wang replied, "As you had foreseen, Patriarch, the Heavenly Will Palace resides within the depths of the Devil Realm. Our intel suggests its gates may open within a span of three to one hundred years "
The faces of those present darkened, their eyes reflecting a mix of apprehension and determination.
The Devil Realm was a distant place, firmly under the control and watchful eye of the Devil Court, making any interference a perilous endeavor.
"The world is indeed changing. No wonder the Old Turtle is finally ascending," the patriarch sighed.
Although the Runestone Solar System was powerful, its factions were not united, and their numbers would be no match for the overwhelming might of the Devil Court’s experts. In fact, when viewed from a broader perspective, the Devil Court possessed the largest concentration of experts, granting them an unprecedented advantage.
"The war that is to come will challenge us to our very core, demanding our undivided attention. This is no longer a conflict between clans, but a battle for the survival of the entire solar system."
The assembly erupted in a chorus of grim determination. They understood the gravity of the situation and were prepared to face the impending war head-on.
The patriarch surveyed everyone, his gaze lingering on Dong Wang. "Prepare yourself. You will lead the diplomatic mission to various clans and powerhouses across the realm, recruit as many as you can."
Dong Wang bowed in acknowledgment, his heart heavy with the weight of responsibility.
"As for the rest of you, accelerate your cultivation efforts. Immerse yourselves in training and leave no stone unturned. The strength of our experts will determine the destiny of the solar system."