With legs crossed and leaning back against her chair in an elegant, relaxed posture, the Grand Marshal was looking down, fiddling with her phone. But hearing the words coming from the speaker, she abruptly sat up straight.
Yuanshi Tianzun had returned to the Spirit Realm? Died in a dungeon?
Even as a demigod, hearing this news caught her off guard. She had placed high hopes on Yuanshi Tianzun, considering him a youthful prodigy capable of reaching the demigod stage.
A figure like that had just returned to the Spirit Realm like this?
She couldn't help looking toward her useless brother. Fu Qingyang sat frozen behind his desk like a sculpture. His face was cold and stern as always, completely expressionless.
Yet the hand gripping his phone was trembling faintly—trembling so much that this hand, which could hold every sword in the world, could no longer hold steady a phone.
Not dead in a dungeon? As a demigod Scout, Fu Qingxuan's sweeping glance read the problem right from Fu Qingyang's emotions with Insight.
"Tell me why..." Fu Qingyang squeezed those words out almost through gritted teeth, cold as a midwinter wind.
Fu Qingxuan narrowed her eyes as well.
Fu Xue sobbed as she recounted what had happened, from Elder Cai setting a trap to lure and kill Yuanshi Tianzun, to Yuanshi Tianzun choosing mutual destruction at the tribunal, and finally to the grassroots official walkers resigning en masse.
Fu Qingyang remained expressionless throughout. But when he heard that Yuanshi Tianzun's body and soul had been completely extinguished, leaving not even a spirit body behind, a trace of panic finally surfaced in his eyes—a deep, frantic panic.
Fu Qingxuan listened calmly to their aunt, then said:
"This matter isn't that simple. Past Without Trace making a push for demigod drew away two Alliance Leaders. In September, you had a sudden impulse to push for Level 8, and I followed you into the Spirit Realm. Yuanshi clearly knew there was a lethal tribulation awaiting him; his safest move would have been to hide in a guild dungeon, yet he just had to attend a crab banquet on October first... Everything is too coincidental, too seamless.
"Besides, I suddenly recalled something. Back when you collaborated with the Southern Sect to capture Sect Master Chunyang, two Southern Sect elders vanished abruptly and never resurfaced. Only afterward did we discover they had actually retreated long beforehand." As a demigod Scout, Fu Qingxuan analyzed:
"I suspect that even back then, Dark Night Rose had already conspired with the Southern Sect. You should know the rules for using a Myriad Realms Commercial Firm redemption ticket—equivalent exchange! What did Yuanshi Tianzun exchange for demigod-level power? It was the supreme power of the Night Wanderer class left behind by the Demon Lord. That is precisely what Ling Tuo needs. I even suspect the Taiyi Sect Master was involved, but that Lord of Stars plays his games far too discreetly; I cannot see through it."
Fu Qingyang remained expressionless, as if he had absorbed it all, yet also as if he hadn't heard a thing.
The call had already ended, yet he still held the phone up to his ear.
He forced himself to maintain his cold, detached demeanor as a facade, but his emotions were already in utter disarray. Fu Qingxuan had never seen her brother—who was so terrible at showing feelings—lose his composure like this.
She realized she had probably underestimated Yuanshi Tianzun's importance to Fu Qingyang. Fu Qingyang had concealed it so well in daily life that even she had misjudged the depth of their bond.
She had merely thought of them as close friends, like he was with Lingjun.
Fu Qingxuan consoled him softly:
"Most farewells in life happen in silence. It turns out that meeting on a certain day was already fated to be the last, separated thereafter by mountains, waters, and the divide between life and death, never to meet again."
Fu Qingyang felt a sharp agony in his heart. Looking at Fu Qingxuan, he said, "I want you to convene an Alliance Leaders' conference in the name of the Grand Marshal!"
Without waiting for Fu Qingxuan's response, he dialed Tianxia Guihuo:
"In my name, have the Songhai Branch's official account publish an announcement on the forum. I'll send you the details shortly."
Next, he dialed another number:
"Youfeng Laiyi, assemble the White Tiger Guards. Destination: Thousand Birds Lake!"
***
Beijing.
A piercing ring woke Sun Miaomiao. After the tribunal ended, she had gone home, cried her eyes out, and curled up into a deep sleep until now.
With a low groan, her weary eyes looked at the screen. The caller was Zhao Chenghuang.
Sun Miaomiao answered the phone, letting out a heavily nasal "Hello."
Zhao Chenghuang said in a grave voice, "Leave your apartment immediately. Quickly!"
Sun Miaomiao froze, jolted mostly awake in an instant. "What happened?"
Zhao Chenghuang spoke extremely fast, laced with grim urgency:
"Demon Eye Heavenly King brought Ghost Blade, Miejue, Silver Moon, and a host of cultists from the Soldier Master sect to storm Beijing! They've already wiped out six official strongholds. The Nine Elders of the Five Elements Alliance aren't in reality, and the Alliance Leaders seem to be away as well. Also, my great-grandfather tried contacting the Sect Master, but the Sect Master isn't in reality either. Yuanshi returned to the Spirit Realm, and Demon Eye is out for revenge against the Five Elements Alliance. The location of our apartment is no secret among the top brass of the evil classes. Pull back first so you don't get caught in the crossfire."
To evil classes, both the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect were the establishment; there was little difference.
Sun Miaomiao jolted and sprang from her bed. "How could this happen... What's the battle situation?"
Zhao Chenghuang said heavily:
"Your grandfather and Elder Hongying were severely injured. On the Five Elements Alliance's side, two elders have returned to the Spirit Realm. Casualty numbers for ordinary walkers can't be assessed yet; that will have to wait until after the battle.
"I heard from my great-grandfather that Demon Eye's state is very bizarre. He's way, way too strong... Never mind that for now. Get out fast and hide in a residential area."
With that, he hurriedly hung up.
Barefoot, Sun Miaomiao dashed out to the balcony. Looking out into the distance, she saw thick fog churning in the northwest, swallowing the city like a rising tide.
Gale-force winds howled, sweeping dense fog into the sky. But the fog covered such a vast expanse that the gusts only aided its spread.
Sun Miaomiao was startled. Such terrifyingly dense fog meant the Saints and Dominators of the Soldier Master sect had deployed in full force.
Without a word, she returned to her room. With no time to change out of her pajamas, she quickly slipped on shoes, threw on a jacket, and dissipated into starlight.
Given the official foundation, they naturally didn't fear the Soldier Master sect—as long as Asura didn't make a move, there was little to dread. But large-scale clashes between Spirit Realm walkers would inevitably result in catastrophic casualties.
Not to mention a gang brawl between Dominators.
***
Beijing, southern outskirts, Thousand Birds Lake.
The lakeside villa district was brightly lit. In a spacious, luminous small parlor, Cai Qinhe's sons and daughters were gathered together, every face clouded with worry and gloom.
Cai Longshen's father, the current clan head Cai Shuishi—who was also the sole Dominator present—swept his gaze across his brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, saying in a low voice:
"Father has returned to the Spirit Realm. I know everyone is heartbroken, but the clan's future is what matters most right now. Let us discuss how to get through this crisis."
A middle-aged woman sneered:
"Even though Father has returned to the Spirit Realm, there's still us, and there are still the elders and Saints belonging to the Cai clan's faction. What is there to worry about? Of course, without Father, it will be hard to hold onto all those positions. At worst, we'll concede a portion of them."
Her eyebrows were thin and upturned, cheekbones somewhat high, and lips very thin, giving her an overbearing and mean-spirited appearance.
In her view, with Father—one of the Ten Elders—returning to the Spirit Realm, the clan's influence would inevitably decline. The remaining Nine Elders were bound to encroach upon the Cai lineage's power.
Power struggles had always been like this. Without their pillar of stability, clinging forcibly to power they could no longer protect would only bring disaster upon themselves.
One had to accept reality on that front.
Yet the Cai clan had operated within the Water God Palace and the Five Elements Alliance for so many years. Internally, the clan had four elders of its own, and an even greater number of allied elders closely knit with them, scattered across various branches.
Externally, among the major Spirit Realm aristocratic clans, the Cai clan had connections in almost every one. Their roots ran deep, so they were unlikely to suffer any existential catastrophe.
As for Yuanshi Tianzun, he was just a commoner. For a prodigy without a faction backing him, all his value vanished into thin air the moment he returned to the Spirit Realm. Who would go to the mat against a deeply entrenched Spirit Realm clan over him?
Especially an official Spirit Realm clan.
As for the public uproar on the forums, it would die down after a while; they had seen it all before.
"I agree with Eldest Sister," a middle-aged man said.
"I agree as well," another chimed in, adding, "Sixth Uncle, Second Brother, and Seventh Brother have already gone to talk to the elders under Father one by one. They'll stabilize morale very soon. As for the Nine Elders, we can have them sound them out afterward. Given the past ties between Father and the Nine Elders, as long as we make concessions and satisfy them, there won't be any problem.
"Yuanshi Tianzun was just a commoner. When he's dead, he's dead. Who would fight our Cai clan to the death for him? We can't completely ignore the public outcry, though. When the time comes, we'll pick a few unimportant family members as scapegoats and have headquarters expel them on charges of dereliction of duty and corruption. Once the folks at the bottom see that, they'll be satisfied."
The others chimed in, discussing back and forth.
Cai Shuishi listened in silence, then said with feeling, "Father's action was indeed correct. Look at it from another angle: if Yuanshi Tianzun had been allowed to advance to Dominator, peak Dominator, or even demigod, that would have been when real disaster struck the Cai clan."
"Indeed. Better to strangle a tiger cub in the cradle than let it grow into the king of beasts."
A sense of relief washed over everyone.
Right at that moment, a knocking sound came: *Knock, knock.*
Sixth Uncle and the others are back? Cai Shuishi looked toward the door, and the people in the hall turned their heads as well.
The door of the parlor was pushed open. Standing at the threshold was a young man in snow-white robes, draped in a magnificent cloak, with a handsome short ponytail. His features were sharply chiseled, and his deep gaze harbored a terrifying tempest.
Amid the scraping clatter of chairs, the members of the Cai clan stood up one after another. Cai Shuishi frowned and said in a heavy voice:
"Fu Qingyang, what are you doing here?!"
The overbearing, sharp-featured eldest sister of the Cai clan said coldly:
"What, here to cry injustice on behalf of your subordinate? Yuanshi Tianzun colluded with evil classes; I bet you, his direct superior, wouldn't withstand an investigation either. Fu Qingyang, it is not your place to come demanding accountability from the Cai clan. I am not in a good mood. Get the hell out, or I'll report you to headquarters tomorrow!"
Everyone looked at the young master in white. Knowing his connection to Yuanshi Tianzun, their expressions were hostile.
Fu Qingyang said nothing. From his inventory, he drew out a talisman inscribed with the words: *None but you wear three feet of snow; who else under heaven is worthy of plain white!*
He closed his eyes, the grief in his heart transforming into a raging surge of killing intent. "Everyone, receive my sword!"
In his ears, he could almost hear that person bowing deferentially once more: *Boss is brilliant!*
Killing intent spanning three thousand li; sword qi filling heaven and earth.
***
Donning vine armor and spattered with blood, Youfeng Laiyi pushed open the door to the parlor, stunned by the scene before her.
Inside the lavishly decorated parlor, blood was splattered across the tables, floor, and walls. Severed limbs and mangled organs littered the ground.
Across tables and chairs marred with sword gashes rolled several severed heads, one of which belonged to none other than the Cai clan head, Cai Shuishi.
The Dominator's eyes were wide open and his mouth slightly ajar, as though he had experienced extreme terror and shock in his dying moments.
The top brass of the Cai clan were all dead.
Fu Qingyang stood amid the slaughterhouse, his white garments pure as snow, solitary and aloof from the world.
"G-Guild Master... The Cai clan colluded with evil classes and murdered Yuanshi Tianzun. The direct line has been entirely executed, and the collateral branches are under control. What are your further orders?"
"The Cai clan still has three Dominators. Have a Scholar crack Cai Shuishi's phone and send them messages telling them to return to Thousand Birds Lake immediately." Fu Qingyang's voice was icy cold:
"The Nine Elders are still in the Spirit Realm. Act quickly!"
"Yes!"
Chapter 641