140. Ling Qingzhu’s Deceit

Eastern Xuan Region, Great Yan Dynasty

In Lin City, within a sealed chamber, a young woman dressed in deep blue sat dazedly on a stone platform. She had a picturesque face and snow-white skin, but her eyes, once vibrant, now appeared lifeless and empty, like withered trees devoid of vitality.

She was Lin Qingtan, trapped for a long time.

On her pale wrist, a dark bracelet bound her. This bracelet not only restricted her from leaving the area but also prevented her from cultivating. She was unable to remove it herself and could only endure its presence.

To ensure her confinement, Chen Xuan had set up several powerful formations in the area. Even an expert at the Samsara Realm would struggle to break through them.

As Lin Qingtan sat lost in thought, Lin Fan entered the chamber. He glanced at her briefly before turning to leave.

“Wait!” Lin Qingtan called out hastily.

Lin Fan stopped and turned. “What is it?”

“Patriarch Lin Fan, can’t you release me?” Lin Qingtan pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.” Lin Fan sighed, shaking his head.

Before leaving the Great Yan Dynasty, Chen Xuan had entrusted Lin Fan and Mo Jingtian with the task of guarding Lin Qingtan, ensuring she couldn’t escape. He had warned that if she got away, the entire Great Yan Dynasty would face ruin.

As a result, Lin Fan and Mo Jingtian took turns monitoring the underground chamber, regularly inspecting Lin Qingtan to ensure she hadn’t regained any spiritual or physical energy. If she had, they would immediately suppress it.

Lin Qingtan pleaded again, tears streaming down her delicate face. “He’s been gone for so long… Maybe he’s forgotten about me.”

“Qingtan, you know I’m responsible for more than just myself. The fate of my entire clan depends on this,” Lin Fan said helplessly.

“Patriarch Lin Fan, the Lin family of Yan City is also your clan!” Lin Qingtan cried, her tears falling to the ground.

Lin Fan smiled bitterly. “Yan City no longer exists, and neither does your family. Besides—”

Suddenly, the space before them distorted, and a cloaked figure stepped out. The newcomer’s face was obscured, but their aura radiated immense power, causing Lin Fan’s legs to tremble and his limbs to weaken.

“Who… who are you?” Lin Fan asked shakily.

“I’m here to take her away,” the cloaked figure declared in a low voice.

Lin Fan realized the intruder intended to rescue Lin Qingtan. But could they succeed?

Moments later, the formation around the chamber activated with a hum, emitting waves of energy.

The cloaked figure scoffed and waved their sleeve, unleashing a terrifying force against the barrier.

Boom!

The formation held firm.

Frustrated, the cloaked figure launched several more powerful attacks, but each was neutralized by the barrier.

“You should leave. You won’t break this formation,” Lin Qingtan said, her brief glimmer of hope extinguished.

“Hmph! I’ll see about that!” the cloaked figure growled and resumed their assault.

Two and a half minutes passed, but the formation remained untouched. Instead, the formation’s rebound energy injured the intruder.

Lin Fan was stunned.

What kind of terrifying formation was this?

Thank goodness he hadn’t let Lin Qingtan go; otherwise, someone with such power would have killed him instantly.

Realizing they were at an impasse, the cloaked figure crushed a jade talisman. Moments later, the space rippled again, and another figure appeared.

When Lin Qingtan saw the newcomer, tears streamed down her face. “Lin Dong! Brother Lin Dong!”

“I’ve come to save you, Qingtan,” Lin Dong said, his entire body shrouded in dense black energy.

Lin Qingtan’s heart ached at the sight.

Lin Dong raised his hand, releasing a stream of black energy toward the formation. The corrosive energy clung to the barrier like maggots on a corpse, eating away at it.

Hiss!

White smoke rose as the barrier began to disintegrate. Before long, the formation was breached.

Lin Dong then used his black lotus energy to destroy the bracelet on Lin Qingtan’s wrist. Extending his hand, he said, “Come, Qingtan. Let me take you away.”

“Okay.”

Lin Qingtan wiped her tears and smiled for the first time in ages.

Lin Dong turned to Lin Fan and warned, “Tell Chen Xuan that I’ll settle the score with him sooner or later.”

With that, Lin Dong enveloped himself, Lin Qingtan, and the cloaked figure in black energy and disappeared.

Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief, grateful to have survived the ordeal.


---

Eastern Xuan Region, Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace

In the Supreme Hall, a female disciple bowed respectfully to Ling Qingzhu. “Palace Master, reliable sources confirm that the Ying sisters have gone to the Chaotic Demon Sea.”

“Just the two of them?” Ling Qingzhu asked, opening her eyes slowly.

The disciple’s back lowered even further. “Elder Ying Xuanzi intended to go, but it seems the formation was destroyed, preventing his departure.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, Palace Master.”

“Very well. You may leave.”

After the disciple left, Ling Qingzhu’s stunning face grew cold.

The Dao Sect just never learns its lesson.

Did they think they could deliver information to Chen Xuan before she could act?

The Chaotic Demon Sea was vast. She would make sure to find Chen Xuan before they did.

If she succeeded, the Ying sisters would pay the price.

By then, the blame would fall entirely on the Dao Sect, and Chen Xuan would return to her side.

As for the Dao Sect?

It would be erased from the Eastern Xuan Region entirely.

Ling Qingzhu flipped her jade-like hand, and an ancient tome appeared in her palm.

Following the instructions written in it, she began constructing a spatial teleportation array within the Supreme Hall.

Before long, the array was completed. Ling Qingzhu summoned a female disciple and informed her that she would be leaving the sect for a while, entrusting the Grand Elder with the sect’s affairs during her absence.

With a light step, Ling Qingzhu entered the spatial teleportation array. As the array activated, her figure vanished from the grand hall.


---

Chaotic Demon Sea, Heavenly Wind Sea

Ying Huanhuan and her sister, guided by the Flame Master, were heading toward the Chaotic Tower. However, when they arrived, they found no trace of Chen Xuan.

After asking around, they learned that a powerful young man had recently appeared, instantly killing two elders of the Shentu Clan and even slaying their clan leader.

Ying Huanhuan was almost certain that this person was Chen Xuan.

Following the leads, the group arrived at the Gu Family. They hoped to catch up with him there, but they were once again too late—Chen Xuan had already left.

Ying Huanhuan asked, “Patriarch Gu, did Chen Xuan leave anything behind?”

“He…” Gu Yan hesitated to speak, but Gu Ying quickly interrupted, “Young Master Chen left in such a hurry that he didn’t leave anything behind!”

“I see. Thank you for your time,” Ying Huanhuan replied, her disappointment evident.

Gu Mengqi, biting her lips, hesitated but ultimately refrained from revealing that Chen Xuan had left behind a jade talisman.

“We are his senior sisters from the same sect. There’s an important matter that requires his return,” Ying Xiaoxiao explained with a faint smile.

With no trace of Chen Xuan, the group decided to continue searching in the Chaotic Demon Sea. The Flame Master speculated that Chen Xuan might be seeking the Flame Ancestral Symbol and suggested staking out the area where it was likely located.

Left with no better options, the sisters agreed and followed the Flame Master toward the Sea of Flames.


---

After they departed, the skies above Martial Association Island rippled with spatial energy.

A graceful figure appeared in the air. She wore a pale green dress that accentuated her slender and elegant frame. Even from a distance, her fair, snow-like skin radiated purity. A thin veil partially obscured her face, but her near-perfect features were still discernible. Her clear eyes shimmered, stealing the brilliance of the heavens.

She floated barefoot in the air, drawing gasps of admiration from those below.

“Look over there…”
“Oh heavens, what a stunning woman!”
“No one, not even the Gu Family’s three beauties, can compare to her!”
“Whoever gets to marry her is the luckiest man alive!”
“If I could marry her, I’d happily give up ten years of my life!”
“She’s heading toward the Gu Family!”


---

Arriving at the Gu Family estate, Ling Qingzhu waved her delicate hand, releasing a surge of mysterious energy that shattered the estate's grand gates.

The members of the Gu Family quickly poured out to confront her.

Gu Tong shouted, “Who are you? The Gu Family has no quarrel with you. Why destroy our gates?”

“Where is Chen Xuan? Bring him out!” Ling Qingzhu’s cold voice cut through the commotion.

Hearing this, Gu Yan realized the uninvited guest was hostile. Taking advantage of the distraction, she swallowed the jade talisman Chen Xuan had left behind and encased it in her spiritual energy for protection.

Gu Tong answered, “He left the Gu Family long ago.”

“When did he leave? Where did he go?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hand over whatever he left behind.”

“Left behind? He didn’t leave anything!” Gu Tong’s expression shifted, but he continued to deny it.

Ling Qingzhu’s eyes turned icy. “Still denying it? Fine! Then you can all die!”

Her gaze darkened, and with a wave of her hand, a long sword appeared. She unleashed a terrifying wave of energy, reducing the Gu Family’s buildings to rubble in an instant.

“You… who are you?” Gu Tong’s face turned pale.

Unfazed, Ling Qingzhu calmly replied, “One last time—where is what he left behind?”

“We’ve told you already! He didn’t leave anything!” Gu Yan shouted defiantly, though her heart pounded in fear.

Ling Qingzhu suddenly appeared before Gu Yan, grabbing her wrist. “Hmm? Your body carries his unique scent.”

“You… you’re spouting nonsense!” Gu Yan’s cheeks flushed in panic.

Unimpressed by her denial, Ling Qingzhu activated a secret technique to probe further. She quickly discovered the truth. Without hesitation, she killed Gu Yan on the spot.

“Gu Yan!”
“Sister!”

No one expected Ling Qingzhu to act so decisively. Fear gripped the onlookers.

Enraged, Ling Qingzhu began interrogating the others, but none provided the answers she sought. Furious, she captured Gu Mengqi and, before her eyes, slaughtered the remaining members of the Gu Family.

Amidst the carnage, Ling Qingzhu destroyed all traces of life in the Gu Family, ensuring that the jade talisman within Gu Yan was shattered.

The shattered talisman emitted a strange energy ripple. Ling Qingzhu smirked, understanding its purpose.

Not long after, a familiar presence descended upon the Gu Family estate. Ling Qingzhu looked up and saw him—Chen Xuan.

As Chen Xuan arrived, he was immediately struck by the overwhelming stench of blood. Looking down at the destruction, his fury ignited.

His gaze locked onto the familiar figure. “Ling Qingzhu! They had no grudge against you. Why did you kill them? Why?”

Ling Qingzhu, already prepared, put on a sorrowful expression. “Chen, you’ve misunderstood. This wasn’t my doing.”

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels aggrieved. Emotion Points +500.

“If not you, then who?” Chen Xuan roared.

Ling Qingzhu replied sadly, “I don’t know. All I saw was a blue-haired woman fleeing the scene.”

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels helpless. Emotion Points +500.

“A blue-haired woman? Don’t tell me she’s already escaped!” Chen Xuan sneered, clearly unconvinced.

Ling Qingzhu pleaded, “I know you don’t think highly of me, but I’m not a madwoman. I had no reason to harm them!”

Feigning a victimized demeanor, Ling Qingzhu managed to paint herself as the wronged party. Her sorrowful expression was almost flawless.

Despite this, Chen Xuan remained skeptical. “Then explain yourself, because I will avenge them!”

Ling Qingzhu wiped away a tear and said softly, “I came here only to deliver a message. Afterward, you may do with me as you wish.”

Chen Xuan’s voice was icy. “I doubt you have anything worth hearing.”

Ling Qingzhu sighed. “I heard that during a mission, the Ying sisters and Yun Yun were ambushed by demons. To save themselves, the Ying sisters betrayed Yun Yun, leading to her death.”

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels sorrowful and regretful. Emotion Points +500.