Chapter 14483 Secret Plot
"You senile old fool!" Lingxiao's sword pointed diagonally at the ground, demonic runes meandering across the scabbard. "The mastermind behind Yun Susha's death is the one who killed you. You've chosen the wrong enemy!"
Before he could finish speaking, a cold, metallic aura surged within him. An invisible blade of energy burst forth, grazing Yun Mubai's temple and cleaving the ancient pine tree behind him in two, the broken ends still smoldering.
Yun Mubai's expression changed drastically, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints. He couldn't forget that strike; Su Hao had perished under that very blade of energy, and Su Hao's strength was nearly equal to his own!
Ling Xiao frowned inwardly. Dao Sha was still as capricious as ever. Her source power was already thin, how could it withstand such squandering? If she really exhausted her spiritual energy, she would probably dissipate completely. He couldn't afford to lose such a powerful ally for the time being.
Seeing Yun Mubai frozen in place, Ling Xiao said no more, turned around and transformed into a streak of green light, disappearing into the depths of the sea of clouds.
Only after that figure completely disappeared did Yun Mubai step out of the void, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and he suddenly crushed the communication jade talisman in his palm, his voice as cold as ice: "Activate the 'Star Hunting' plan!"
"Sect Master!" An elder rushed forward to dissuade them, "We and Ling Xiao are both victims, why make it a fight to the death?"
"A victim?" Yun Mubai turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot. "He has repeatedly killed members of my Divine Light Clan. If we don't kill him, won't everyone think that my Divine Light Clan is easy to bully? We can't lose face for our millennia-old foundation!"
……
Outside another base of the Demon Heaven Sect, Ling Xiao stood in mid-air, gazing at the sect's protective array before him, which was shrouded in countless runes. The entire array had seemingly refined the heavens and earth into a solid plate, impenetrable even to the wind. He unleashed a hundred-foot-long sword beam with his fingers, causing the light barrier to tremble violently and ripple, but it quickly returned to normal. He unleashed seven sword strikes in quick succession, the sword light cleaving through the clouds, yet it failed to even break through the array's defensive layer.
"So you've learned to hide your true abilities." Ling Xiao sheathed his sword, turned around, and his robes swept across the void.
Elder Qing Shi, who was inside the formation, suddenly released his grip on the formation's core. Cold sweat trickled down his wrinkles and into his collar, and his voice trembled as he said, "Fortunately, our ancestor had already united various forces..."
"What a pity for this ancient formation that has stood for ten thousand years." Elder Cang Qi stared at the cracks on the light screen, his knuckles unconsciously rubbing the corner of his sleeve. "But as long as we can hold out until the return of our ancestors, no matter how strong Ling Xiao is, he won't be able to stir up any trouble!"
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a resolute determination in each other's eyes. This game, which concerned the balance of power in the Realm of Annihilation, had already begun, and neither could back down.
……
Inside the Lord's Mansion, the glow of the glass lamps cast dappled patterns of light on the ground, illuminating two opposing figures.
"The Sword Sect?" The Lord of the Silent Realm twirled a newly forged jade ruyi between her fingers, the cloud patterns on its surface flowing with her movements. "Is the Overlord Emperor interested in the Sword Sect?"
Ling Xiao approached step by step, his boots making a crisp sound as they stomped on the white jade ground: "Your people appeared in the wasteland on the day the little fox was kidnapped."
"If I were to say that I am investigating the true culprit, would the Overlord Emperor believe me?" The Lord of the Silent Realm conjured a light screen at his fingertips, in which three figures shrouded in chaos flashed. "The Sword Sect, the Gu Clan, and another being that even I cannot fathom. Their actions are faster than you think."
Ling Xiao flicked his fingertips on the hilt of the sword, and the demonic runes on the Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword instantly lit up. The candlelight in the hall was pressed against the wick by the sword energy: "You should know the price of harming the people around me."
“A weakness is a weakness precisely because everyone knows where it is.” The Lord of the Silent Realm lightly tapped the void, and the light screen transformed into a star map, which entered Ling Xiao’s brow. “Instead of making more powerful enemies, it is better to form an alliance. The intelligence network of the Lord of the Realm’s Mansion can help you find the mastermind behind it all.”
The moment the star map unfolded in his divine sense, Ling Xiao's pupils shrank slightly. It turned out that there were so many unknown forces lurking in the dark side of the Silent Realm, some of which he had never even heard of.
"Deal." Ling Xiao raised his hand and slammed the scabbard against a pillar, producing a clear clang. "But if I discover you're hiding something..."
"I'll be waiting anytime." The Lord of the Silent Realm watched the azure figure disappear outside the hall, a mysterious smile curving his lips, the jade ruyi in his palm turning into a stream of light.
The gray-robed old man stepped out of the shadows, his voice low and deep: "Will he go after the Sword Sect?"
"That would be best." The Lord of the Silent Realm turned and walked towards the throne. "Send down the order to activate the Myriad Manifestations Mirror and monitor his every move."
……
Thirty thousand miles westward, into the red earth wasteland.
The scorching sandstorm swept across the mottled stone city, leaving only bare branches on the old locust tree in front of the city gate. As soon as Ling Xiao stood still, he saw a familiar figure walking towards him with a wooden cane. It was the old man from the Sword Sect who had told him about Ling Bi's whereabouts last time.
"Not bad, not bad." The old man's gaze swept over Ling Xiao's body, and his eyes flashed with amazement. "Star River Realm physical body? It seems that you have completely absorbed the spiritual fruit that little girl gave you." He paused, then changed the subject, "However, young friend, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place this time."
Ling Xiao cupped his hands in a salute, holding his sword, and asked earnestly, "Senior, do you know who kidnapped the little fox?"
"The Sword Sect never engages in kidnapping wives and children." The old man tapped the ground lightly with his wooden cane, and several intertwined strands of light appeared on the sand. "But the person who abducted your sister does indeed have some connection with the Sword Sect."
The light threads gradually intertwined to form a picture. The moment the white-robed old man turned around, Ling Xiao's breath hitched. That face completely overlapped with the "mysterious person" marked on the main star map of the Silent Realm!
"The Divine Light Clan and the Demon Heaven Sect are both plotting in secret. Young friend, do you know why the old monsters at the peak of the Star River Realm have been hesitant to make a move?" the old man suddenly asked, his tone tinged with bitterness.
Ling Xiao gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white: "Because they fear Sister Moon Maiden?"
"Fear? Hahahaha!" The old man laughed loudly, his laughter echoing across the wasteland, yet it was full of sorrow. "They are setting up an array, an ancient and unbreakable array that can imprison heaven and earth!"
"No matter what formation they set up," Lingxiao raised his sword, its blade cleaving through the sand and dust. "Anyone who dares to touch my people will be held accountable, one by one!"
The old man sighed and shook his head: "Do you really think you're invincible? The Divine Light Clan and the Demon Heaven Sect have beings you can't afford to offend. Even the Lord of the Silent Realm is beyond my comprehension. That woman is no simpleton."
“I know.” Ling Xiao lowered his eyes to look at the demonic runes on the sword hilt, a deep glint in his eyes. “Having gone through countless reincarnations, how could I not know how many unfathomable beings are hidden in this Desolate Realm?” When he raised his eyes, his gaze was as firm as iron. “But so what? I am not simple either.”
The old man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "What a fine 'I'm not simple either'! You're young and arrogant, you're quite the same as before... But young friend, if it weren't for your sister Yue Nu, you might not have survived until tomorrow. You'd better keep a low profile."
"Keep a low profile?" Ling Xiao sneered, sword energy swirling around him. "Watching your loved ones being kidnapped and doing nothing, is that what you call keeping a low profile? Besides, how does Senior know that I don't have any other trump cards besides Sister Yue Nu?" (End of Chapter)
