"Elder Nie," the Liang Clan head said, his voice respectful, "I have brought you here as requested. This is the chamber where the White Tiger once resided."
Elder Nie, his eyes scanning the chamber, nodded slowly.
"Indeed," he said, his voice raspy. "The residual aura is strong. It is clear that the White Tiger held this place dear."
The Liang Clan head gestured towards the pedestal in the center of the chamber.
"We have kept this place guarded since the Bai Clan’s demise," he said. "We believe there is something here that the White Tiger desires. Otherwise, she would have fled this realm and never returned."
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"Indeed," Elder Nie said, his eyes narrowing. "That is a sound theory. The White Tiger’s recent reappearance suggests she seeks something within this cave."
He began to walk around the chamber, his gaze fixed on the walls, the floor, the ceiling.
"But what could it be?" The Liang Clan head asked.
Elder Nie didn’t say anything. He stopped in front of the pedestal, his eyes fixed on the runes. He reached out a hand, his fingers tracing the ancient runes on its surface.
Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly. He turned his gaze towards the wall Linlin had pointed out, his expression turning serious.
"There is something amiss here," he said, his voice low. "The energy signature behind this wall… it is not natural."
He raised his hand, his fingers glowing with a faint white light. He pressed his hand against the wall, his energy flowing into the ancient carvings.
A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and a section of the wall slid open, revealing a hidden passage.
"What is this?" The Liang Clan head asked.
Elder Nie’s gaze was fixed on the passage.
"A hidden chamber, huh?" he said, his voice grave. "Let’s go."
Elder Nie, with the Liang Clan head following closely behind, stepped into the hidden passage. Yun Lintian, his presence completely concealed by his Shadow Concealment, silently trailed after them. The passage was narrow and dimly lit, the air thick with the lingering aura of the White Tiger.
They soon arrived at the end of the passage, where another chamber opened before them. This chamber was different from the previous one. It was smaller, more intimate, and it had the distinct feel of a boudoir. Delicate tapestries adorned the walls, soft furs covered the floor, and a faint, sweet fragrance filled the air.
In the center of the chamber, a small white tiger cub sat, its eyes wide and vigilant, its tiny body trembling slightly. It was a miniature version of the majestic White Tiger, its fur as white as snow, its eyes as bright as stars.
Elder Nie and the Liang Clan head’s eyes lit up with excitement. They had found the White Tiger’s cub, the source of the lingering aura, the reason for the White Tiger’s return.
"A cub!" Elder Nie exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph. "The White Tiger’s offspring! This is a stroke of fortune!"
The Liang Clan head nodded eagerly.
"Indeed," he said, his eyes gleaming with avarice. "With this cub, we can control the White Tiger. We can command her to do our bidding!"
Linlin, perched on Yun Lintian’s shoulder, clenched her tiny paws, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. She saw herself in the little cub, the same white fur, the same bright eyes, the same innocent vulnerability. She understood now why the White Tiger had not left this realm. She had stayed to protect her child.
Yun Lintian’s expression turned cold. He understood the situation perfectly. The White Tiger had been trapped, unable to leave her cub behind. The Liang Clan and the Profound Mystery Sect could use this to their advantage, keeping the cub as a hostage, a bargaining chip. Your journey continues on Freewebnovel
Unfortunately for them, they probably wouldn’t have expected him to be here.
"Big Brother Yun." Linlin said anxiously. She was ready to make a move.
"Don’t worry. They will die." Yun Lintian said calmly.
Elder Nie took a step towards the cub, his hand outstretched.
"Come here, little one," he said, his voice deceptively gentle. "We won’t hurt you."
The cub recoiled, its tiny body trembling even more. It let out a soft growl, its eyes filled with fear.
The Liang Clan head chuckled. "She’s feisty. Just like her mother."
"Indeed," Elder Nie replied, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "With her, we will have the White Tiger’s power at our fingertips."
He raised his hand, a faint white light emanating from his palm. He was about to cast a spell, to subdue the cub, to bring her under his control.
All of a sudden, Yun Lintian made a move.
Before Elder Nie could complete his incantation, Yun Lintian unleashed his Cloud Domain, instantly enveloping the entire chamber in a dense, swirling mist.
The sudden change in the environment caught Elder Nie and the Liang Clan head off guard, their expressions turning from triumph to confusion.
"What is this?" Elder Nie exclaimed, his eyes scanning the swirling mist, his senses heightened.
Before he could react, Yun Lintian materialized before him, his fist already aimed at Elder Nie’s abdomen. Elder Nie, sensing the impending attack, attempted to raise his arms in defense, but it was too late.
BANG!
Yun Lintian’s fist connected with Elder Nie’s abdomen, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through the chamber.
Elder Nie’s eyes widened in disbelief as he felt his Divine Core, the source of his cultivation, shatter into fragments. He staggered back, his face contorted in pain and shock.
"You…" he gasped, his voice weak, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How…?"
Before he could finish his sentence, he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing, his divine energy fading away. He was crippled, his cultivation destroyed, his fate sealed.
The Liang Clan head, witnessing the swift and brutal demise of Elder Nie, reacted instantly. He unleashed his aura, his eyes blazing with fury, and lunged towards Yun Lintian, his fist aimed at Yun Lintian’s head.
"Die!" he roared, his voice filled with rage.
Before he could reach Yun Lintian, Linlin leaped from Yun Lintian’s shoulder, her tiny paw glowing with crackling lightning. She unleashed a Thunder Palm, a bolt of pure lightning that struck the Liang Clan head with devastating force.
BANG!
The Liang Clan head’s body convulsed, his muscles spasming, his aura flickering. He was sent flying across the chamber, crashing into the wall with a resounding thud. He slumped to the ground, his body twitching, his eyes wide with shock…