Chapter 1752: Persisting in Delusion
Was this woman sent by Lang Daochun?
A glint flashed through Fang Chen's eyes as he looked at Yun Xiuxue. If Lang Daochun had orchestrated all of this, it would explain how Yun Xiuxue was able to sabotage the Demonized Alliance's plans with such surgical precision. Furthermore, her excuse was flawless. Even if she were blamed afterward, as long as it wasn't a true betrayal, her father—a ninth-transformation War Immortal—would surely shield her. The ultimate punishment wouldn't be too severe.
The others hadn't thought that far ahead. Upon hearing Yun Xiuxue's words, they all recalled the phenomena that had appeared in the sky recently. Xie Yueguan and the rest had long been dying of curiosity, but given the circumstances, they hadn't dared to ask. Now that Yun Xiuxue had brought it up, they looked toward Wang Ye, eager to hear his response.
Wang Ye said flatly, "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Keep acting."
Wang Ye wore a faint smile. "If you are referring to the heavenly omens from a while ago, then I can tell you plainly. That was nothing more than a trick played by your higher echelon. They want to alienate the Enlightenment God Palace from the other forces in the Fangcun Realm, triggering infighting between the Fangcun and Shenwang Realm so your alliance can seize victory and completely occupy the Taicang Realm."
He chuckled. "Surely everyone here can see through such childish tactics? This talk of a contemporary Monarch Yan is utter nonsense. There is no Monarch Yan in the current Underworld."
"It matters not if you refuse to admit it. Right now, I only want an account," Yun Xiuxue replied indifferently. "The Enlightenment God Palace must hand over my brother's soul. If you cannot even manage that, then none of you shall leave today."
Fang Chen watched the scene silently. He was curious. If his guess was correct, how would she manage to send them away without leaving a trace? If he was wrong, it didn't really matter. The Ghost Infant could easily handle the two seventh-transformation Ancient Immortals she had with her. Abess Qing He wouldn't need to show herself.
Before Wang Ye or the others could respond, several figures suddenly streaked through the air, shouting at Yun Xiuxue in shock and fury, "Yun Xiuxue, what are you doing?!"
"How dare you completely disrupt our race's arrangements?!"
"Even if your father is a ninth-transformation immortal, he might not be able to shoulder the responsibility for this crime!"
"Order your men to suppress and kill them this instant!"
The crowd looked at one another.
The newly arrived cultivators were not Ancient Immortals. They were either fifth- or sixth-transformation Immortals. Only one among them possessed an aura that seemed to rival Yun Xiuxue's. This person, in particular, showed no signs of being intimidated by her background. His anger did not seem feigned.
Their arrival caused the two Ancient Immortals behind Yun Xiuxue to take a half-step forward, their gazes turning cold and sharp.
Yun Xiuxue said indifferently, "Today's matter has nothing to do with you. Do not interfere."
"Nothing to do with us!?"
The sixth-transformation awakened demon laughed out of sheer rage. "Do you have any idea how long the upper echelon planned this to finally lock onto this batch of high-status core disciples from the two realms? And you say it has nothing to do with us? Do you know how many cultivators we purposefully let into our heartlands for this plan? Do you know how many of our clansmen died because of them!?"
Xian Yuguan was momentarily stunned. As they glanced at one another, their expressions grew increasingly heavy.
First, there was Wang Ye from the Enlightenment God Palace, then Ye Qingqiu from the Blood and Flesh Divine Palace, and Xian Yueguan from the Taiyi Immortal Sect. Every core disciple here was elite. Almost all of them had comprehended Formation Immortal Arts.
Had the enemy truly been waiting for this exact moment for a very, very long time? Had the core disciples who passed before them been intentionally let through? Had they been lured into a false sense of security, believing this route was low-risk, while the enemy watched from the shadows all along?
"You must remember your true identity," the sixth-transformation awakened demon hissed, staring intently at Yun Xiuxue with heavy implication.
Yun Xiuxue replied calmly, "I am someone who likes to act on impulse. Whatever consequences today's actions bring, I will shoulder them alone. Don't force my hand, Ji Lindong. Killing you is something I am more than willing to do."
The two Ancient Immortals took another half-step forward.
The old woman smiled faintly. "Did you hear my miss? You should withdraw."
The awakened demons were nearly jumping with rage.
Hearing the name "Ji Lindong," Xian Yueguan and the others were shaken.
"Ji Lindong? Ji Lindong of the Ancient God Sect?"
Ji Lindong was the fifth-ranked core disciple of the Ancient God Sect. During the Taicang Realm campaign, he had spearheaded several major operations and had been a key figure in many specialized battles.
Ji Lindong looked coldly at the old woman. "You are nothing more than a domestic slave of the War King. If not for that status, you likely wouldn't have even qualified for the register of Ancient Immortals. As a slave, should you not consider your master's future? You are ruining Yun Xiuxue."
The crowd couldn't help but marvel.
"An Ancient Immortal as a domestic slave... As expected of the War King..."
No matter where one went, Ancient Immortals were figures of immense status. No one was fooled by the word "slave." It was obvious these two were powerhouses in their own right with profound foundations.
Who else but a ninth transformation Immortal could command such figures?
The old woman smiled. "Ji Lindong, though I am a slave, I am not someone you have the right to berate. My master is the War King, and my young mistress is Miss Yun. Whatever the young lady wishes to do today, I will support and follow her. If you have an objection, and she requires me to kill you, I will not hesitate."
The old man nodded. "If you don't believe us, feel free to try."
Ji Lindong fell silent, his face unreadable.
"Why don't you two fight? Whoever wins gets to decide our fate," Xian Yueguan proposed.
"Xian Yueguan, do you truly believe you won't die today? I have long heard of the fame of the Roaring Waves Sea of the Fangcun Realm. When the flowers bloom in the future, I will certainly pay you a visit," said Ji Lindong, looking toward him coldly.
"You've even investigated my origins?" Xian Yueguan was startled. He then looked toward Ye Qingqiu and the others. "These guys aren't inferior to us when it comes to intelligence gathering."
Ye Qingqiu rolled her eyes. "Do you even need to say that? How else did we walk into this trap today?"
"Yun Xiuxue, you still have a chance. Capture them and find the person they are escorting. Although what you are doing violates regulations, the higher echelons will surely forgive you. Do not persist in your delusion. Do not ruin our race's grand cause for the sake of your brother's life alone," urged Ji Lindong, staring at her in a final attempt at persuasion.
Yun Xiuxue said suddenly, "Kill them."
In the next instant, the two seventh-transformation Ancient Immortals struck.
Ji Lindong and his companions had no time to react before they were brutally killed. In Fang Chen's eyes, the Ghost Immortals from the Motian Division who had been hiding near the trio never once emerged to protect them. The primary reason, aside from the fact that they were no match for Ancient Immortals, likely involved Yun Xiuxue's own identity as an awakened demon.
Only after Ji Lindong and the others were dead did those Ghost Immortals appear to collect their souls and swiftly exit the scene.
"Do you see my sincerity now?" asked Yun Xiuxue as she looked at Wang Ye calmly.
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