"I didn't expect you to contact me again so soon!"

Qing Yu looked at the image in front of him, his eyes filled with genuine astonishment.

Originally, he thought he would have to wait for two or three days, or perhaps never receive a reply. But in reality, it took only thirty minutes for Lin Zixiao to get in touch with Qing Yu.

'Could it be a trap?' Qing Yu, the conspiracy theorist, thought to himself.

"I've been unable to wait any longer."

As he spoke, Lin Zixiao's face was calm, but the fury in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

He wasn't particularly resentful of Ji Chengtian, for Ji Chengtian's nature was such that Lin Zixiao foresaw his potential backlash from the very first day they started collaborating.

What pained and enraged the Shenxiao Taoist the most was, in fact, the Zhengtian Taoist.

If it weren't for the Zhengtian Taoist, Shenxiao Dao wouldn't have fallen into Ji Chengtian's trap so easily. Likewise, without the Zhengtian Taoist, Shenxiao Dao wouldn't have been eroded to such an extent.

As a traitor, Zhengtian Taoist naturally harbored feelings of guilt and fear. Guilt for the betrayal, and fear of the vengeance Lin Zixiao might bring.

Precisely because of this, he wanted Shenxiao Dao to fully belong to Hou Qian, dragging Lin Zixiao down with him.

If not, given Ji Chengtian's cunning, he was highly likely to choose a slow, gradual approach, like boiling a frog in warm water. Although slow, by the time Shenxiao Dao, except for Lin Zixiao, had submitted to Hou Qian, Lin Zixiao, as the Shenxiao Taoist, would have no choice but to comply.

Qing Yu was unaware of the source of Lin Zixiao's fury. If he had known, he might have offered thanks to the Zhengtian Taoist for his unintended assistance.

"Daoist friend, what are your plans?" Qing Yu asked.

"Shenxiao Dao is currently in Hou Qian Capital, but I have long strategized, sending some trusted disciples and elders across various places. However, there are still a few disciples that could be won over.

With my strength, leaving Hou Qian isn't difficult. But for those disciples, it is challenging. Hou Qian's Shadow Pavilion is renowned for its intelligence and communication."

Even Lin Zixiao couldn't verify how many spies for the Shadow Pavilion existed within Shenxiao Dao. Known as "The Shadow of Daqian," this organization still boasts an intelligence network to rival The World's Number One.

Trying to evade detection by Shadow Pavilion to let disciples escape is immensely difficult.

"Moreover, those who betray must face punishment. I don't wish for Senior Brother Zhengtian to lose his life, but a penalty that he will remember for the rest of his life would certainly make him regret deeply."

Saying this, Lin Zixiao couldn't hide the sorrow on his face. With nearly two hundred years of brotherhood, Lin Zixiao struggled with the idea of killing the Zhengtian Taoist.

However, he could certainly ensure that Zhengtian Taoist regrets deeply for a lifetime.

"The Daoist Master should remember Qu Zhen, right? He is the lifeblood of Senior Brother Zhengtian, killing him would be the greatest punishment for Zhengtian." Lin Zixiao said.

Lin Zixiao harbored a deep disdain for Qu Zhen. Anyone whose life's work collapses due to a minor character would naturally feel Killing Intent.

"Qu Zhen? That oddball?" Qing Yu felt a laugh brewing.

If not for Qu Zhen's sheer peculiarity, Qing Yu would have nearly forgotten about him.

The conversation with Lin Zixiao allowed Qing Yu to grasp the process leading to Shenxiao Dao's collapse. Essentially, an eccentric old man fond of spoiling his grandson brought down an entire Sect due to his grandson's actions.

Reality is indeed stranger than fiction. Or rather, oddities are everywhere, but a pair of eyes to detect them is lacking.

Qing Yu considered himself knowledgeable, believing few things in the world could stir him. Yet knowing Shenxiao Dao's affairs still incited amusement.

If not for his acting skills rivaling that of a film emperor, he might have laughed out loud earlier.

"It's exactly him; killing him would relieve my fury." Lin Zixiao said in a calm yet chilling tone.

It seemed the hate against Qu Zhen was profound, with talk of killing him preceding serious discussions.

Yet this was quite predictable. Lin Zixiao could tolerate losing to Ji Chengtian's cunning, could tolerate Zhengtian Taoist's betrayal, but couldn't tolerate everything falling apart due to such an eccentric clown.

"We should discuss how to let the disciples willing to follow you escape." Qing Yu quickly replied.

In a setting meant for serious discussions, harping on a minor character was somewhat degrading. Worse comes to worst, having someone from the Sword Maiden's send people to eliminate him suffices.

"As you suggest, once Shenxiao Dao attempts to leave Hou Qian, the Shadow Pavilion will inevitably detect. Hence, plan with detection as a precondition, strategize how to block Hou Qian's pursuers. Moreover, how to differentiate whom can be won over?" Qing Yu said.

"Sending someone to kill Qu Zhen, informing Zhengtian of the killer's identity, given his doting nature towards Qu Zhen, he'll surely lead the chase himself. At that point, I can discern who can be recruited."

Lin Zixiao's murderous intent remained unchanged, rather he managed to concoct a plan of extracting value from waste.

Admittedly, this diversion tactic proved quite practical. Without Zhengtian Taoist present, some disciples might indeed flee with Lin Zixiao due to his influence.

"If that's so, then..."

Followed by a murmur of sinister plotting.

...

Four days passed, Hou Qian Palace.

"Crackle——"

Qu Zhen had a massive Thunder Ball hovering above his hands, and with one strike against an artificial mountain, the mountain, as large as a small hill, was instantly shattered into countless stone fragments, with some parts pulverized.

"Good."

Witnessing the incredible power of his move, Qu Zhen couldn't help but gaze at his hands, laughing: "Hahaha... the Sky-Supporting Great One Technique passed down by my Master is indeed powerful, astonishingly so!"

Raising his arms swiftly, the fierce thunder struck around him, creating craters, causing Qu Zhen to laugh even more uncontrollably.

Ultimate, boundless, known as Great One. Ji Chengtian's cultivation technique didn't need any mystical traits, except a specialization in "greatness."

Great in strength, spirit, and divine quality, ultimately boundless, strength capable of supporting the heavens.

Shenxiao Dao's Thunder Skill was already overwhelmingly powerful, combined with the Sky-Supporting Great One Technique, it was an arsenal renewed, negating past worries of True Qi depletion and exhaustion.

At this moment, Qu Zhen was at the height of exhilaration.

"Next time, if I encounter that wench, I will make her life worse than death, regret her wickedness against me!!"

Thinking of that black-clothed woman, Qu Zhen's face twisted, brimming with bitter hatred.

In midnight dreams, the feeling of having all limbs incapacitated, worse than death, seemed never to fade; Qu Zhen feared and deeply loathed that sensation.

Towards the black-clothed woman who inflicted such severe pain upon him, Qu Zhen hated her to the extreme.

Just then a Shenxiao Dao disciple arrived hastily, saying to Qu Zhen: "Senior Brother Qu, we've found the black-clothed woman who injured you."

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