Chapter 588: The Hand Behind the Scenes
Although Yun Che called it a "guess," the four reasons he laid out, when taken together, were clearly infinitely close to the truth!
Regarding three of the points Yun Che mentioned, Yun Qinghong and Mu Feiyan had long harbored similar doubts. Over the years, they had also been puzzled as to how, a hundred years ago, the eleven strongest members of the Yun Clan could have all been buried in the Tian Xuan Continent... No matter how powerful the Four Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent were, perhaps they could have defeated and repelled them, but it should have been absolutely impossible to kill them all...
Only today did they learn that as soon as they entered the Tian Xuan Continent, they had fallen into the "Heaven's Might Soul-Suppressing Array," which would seal their profound energy!
Just as Yun Che said, the "Heaven's Might Soul-Suppressing Array," which could seal eleven high-level Emperor Lords, required an immense consumption of energy for every breath it was sustained, so immense that ordinary people could not even imagine it. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for it to have existed there permanently... Rather, someone must have clearly known in advance the time and place of Yun Canghai and the others' arrival!
This single point was enough to prove conclusively that there must be a traitor within the Demon Emperor City!
And that "traitor" could only be the Huai Wang Mansion!
"So, the culprits who caused the deaths of the Former Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor, and brought great calamity upon our Illusion Demon Realm, are not those so-called Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent, but... the Huai Wang Mansion!" Mu Yubai punched the ground and stood up, trembling with fury.
"I originally thought that the Huai Wang Mansion only developed its ambition after the Little Demon Emperor's death severed the Demon Emperor bloodline. I never expected that..." Mu Yuqing ground her teeth in anger. "Their entire clan has been blessed by the Demon Emperor's bloodline for thousands of years, yet they committed such deeds that bring disaster to the Illusion Demon Realm, deeds that heaven and earth cannot tolerate! If all this is true, then the Huai Wang Mansion... is guilty beyond redemption!"
"With the four reasons Che'er has presented, it can no longer be false!" Mu Feiyan's chest heaved violently, his tiger-like eyes blazing with fury. "Although I occasionally had such suspicions before, I always denied them to myself because I absolutely refused to believe that a princely mansion would commit acts so outrageous that both gods and men would be outraged, deeds that heaven and earth could not tolerate! I never imagined... that they truly are a pack of beasts like this! For the sake of their own ambition, they killed the Former Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor, killed Yun Canghai... caused the Demon Emperor bloodline to be severed... plunged the entire Illusion Demon Realm into a hundred years of terror..."
The more Mu Feiyan spoke, the more agitated he became, his breathing growing faster amidst rage and grief... When Yun Che mentioned the reason for Yun Canghai and the others' downfall, he knew that the vague suspicion he had refused to believe for a hundred years was actually the truth.
For these years, they had harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Four Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent, and the entire Illusion Demon Realm had regarded the Tian Xuan Continent as a demonic land... Only today did they learn that the demon that brought calamity to the Illusion Demon Realm was right here in Demon Emperor City! It was a member of the royal clan!
Who could have imagined this? Who would have thought of it?
Even those forces that leaned toward the Huai Wang Mansion could never have imagined that the Huai Wang Mansion was the sinister mastermind behind it all.
Xiao Yun stood to the side, his eyes wide and completely dumbfounded. Every word he heard now struck him like a peal of thunder.
Yun Qinghong's hands were already clenched tightly, a low murmur escaping his lips: "The one who killed the Demon Emperor, killed my father, killed the people of my Yun Clan... has been right by our side all along... This hatred... is irreconcilable!"
He lifted his head and said slowly, "However, it seems that the one who initially nurtured ambition was probably not Huai Wang himself! When the Tian Xuan Continent first invaded, Huai Wang was only thirty years old. There's no way he could have had such ambition and cunning, nor could he have colluded with the people of the Tian Xuan Continent without being detected by anyone..."
Mu Feiyan and the others were greatly startled. Mu Yukong exclaimed in shock, "Could it be... Huai Wang's father—Ming Wang!?"
"But this Ming Wang is usually extremely kind to others, conducts himself with a low profile, and shows no royal airs even toward commoners. He was always loyal and obedient to the Former Demon Emperor, with no ambition for fame or fortune. Over a hundred years ago, when Huai Wang was thirty-seven, he eagerly handed over the position of mansion master to Huai Wang, freeing himself to travel and enjoy the sights without caring about anything anymore... His carefree and detached nature is known throughout the city, to the point where many have almost forgotten his name... How could it possibly be him!" Mu Yuqing said in disbelief.
Mu Feiyan was stunned for a long while, then suddenly said, "Back then, I always admired Ming Wang's temperament and was quite close to him. But once, while drinking, Yun Canghai solemnly warned me that I should only have a superficial friendship with Ming Wang and never open my heart to him. When I asked why, he said Ming Wang was too gentle, so gentle that it always gave him an abnormal feeling. Moreover, if Ming Wang was truly detached from everything, why was his profound strength cultivation so high..."
"Ming Wang is very powerful?" Yun Che quickly asked.
"Indeed!" Mu Yubai nodded, his face dark. "Among that generation, the Former Demon Emperor was the strongest, followed by the Demon King. And Ming Wang's profound strength was second only to the Former Demon Emperor and the Demon King. Now, a hundred years have passed, and his cultivation should have surpassed the Demon King of that time."
"Haa." Mu Feiyan let out a long sigh. "At the time, I dismissed Yun Canghai's warning... Even when Huai Wang's ambition became clear, I never suspected him. And now..." Mu Feiyan's breathing visibly hitched, and everyone's faces turned much uglier, their bodies growing icy cold for a moment.
The clearer the truth became, the more terrifying it was.
Huai Wang's strength had already swelled to the point where the Little Demon Empress could not match it. Now, with the addition of Ming Wang, whose cunning and power were terrifyingly formidable, the already dire situation was sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss...
This shadow that hung over the Demon Emperor clan, over the entire Illusion Demon Realm... What could they possibly use to fight against it!?
The room fell silent for a while, leaving only the chaotic sounds of breathing. After a long time, Mu Feiyan let out a long sigh, furrowed his brows, and said, "As things stand now, the only hope is for the Little Demon Empress's bloodline to awaken!"
"If the Little Demon Empress's bloodline awakens, how much can her strength increase?" Yun Che asked.
Yun Qinghong replied calmly without hesitation, "Once the bloodline power of every Demon Emperor awakens and they cultivate the 'Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record,' their strength will become invincible within the Illusion Demon Realm! A thousand years ago, the Former Demon Emperor awakened his bloodline at the fourth level of the Lord Xuan Realm, and his profound strength directly rose to the ninth level of the Lord Xuan Realm. The Little Demon Empress currently has profound strength at the fifth level of the Lord Xuan Realm. After her bloodline awakens, her profound strength will at least rise to the peak of the ninth level of the Lord Xuan Realm! Moreover, since she possesses the 'Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record,' she will be fully capable of matching the tenth level of the Lord Xuan Realm! At the same time, her awakened Golden Crow Flame power will greatly suppress members of the royal clan who only have thin Golden Crow bloodlines. By then, even Ming Wang will not be a match for the Little Demon Empress."
"I see." Yun Che showed slight surprise. He had learned earlier that each Demon Emperor, after using the Demon Emperor Seal to enter the Golden Crow Ancestral Ground, would experience a surge in profound strength and become invincible... It seemed that was not an exaggeration.
Since the Little Demon Empress had already obtained the Demon Emperor Seal, she could enter the Golden Crow Ancestral Ground, and the Golden Crow Thunder Flame Valley would open in just half a month.
"Since awakening the bloodline would give the Little Demon Empress such an exaggerated increase in strength, then..." Yun Che frowned. "If I were Huai Wang, I would do everything possible to prevent the Little Demon Empress from entering the Golden Crow Ancestral Ground in the Golden Crow Thunder Flame Valley!"
"Exactly!" Mu Feiyan nodded, his eyes sharp and fierce. "So, half a month from now, when the Golden Crow Thunder Flame Valley opens, I will summon those old fellows and personally escort the Little Demon Empress to the Golden Crow Ancestral Ground!"
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Demon Emperor City, Huai Wang Mansion.
When Huai Wang returned to the mansion, his expression was as calm as water, but anyone who came near him would involuntarily shiver violently, their hearts pounding with fear, making them afraid to approach.
"Your Highness, the Old Master asks that you go see him immediately upon your return." As Huai Wang stepped through the mansion gate, a person with a sallow complexion and a short horn on his head came forward and said in a low voice. His appearance was very similar to that of the Rock Dragon Venerable, who had been severely injured by Yun Qinghong.
Upon hearing the words "Old Master," Huai Wang's brows twitched sharply. He nodded slightly and strode forward quickly. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and asked sideways, "How are Night's injuries?"
The sallow-faced man replied, "His Highness Hui Ye's injuries are more serious than expected. The power that struck into his body is extremely overbearing, and it has not been completely dispelled even now... It will likely take at least three months for His Highness Hui Ye to recover."
Huai Wang's brows tightened slightly. Without a word, he silently walked into the rear courtyard.
Opening the barrier, entering the secret passage, Huai Wang finally stopped before a wide, pitch-black beaded curtain. Behind the curtain, a dark silhouette was faintly reflected.
Huai Wang knelt on one knee, closed his eyes, and said, "Father..."
"No need to say more. I am already fully aware of today's events." A deep voice came from behind the pitch-black bead curtain. This voice made it impossible to judge the age of its owner. It was as ethereal as if from beyond the heavens, yet as cold and desolate as if from the abyss.
"Yun Qinghong's injuries suddenly healed two months ago, and his profound strength recovered. I thought this might be the only unexpected variable. I never imagined that his son would..." When Yun Che was mentioned, even Huai Wang, with his temperament, could not help but gnash his teeth fiercely. The humiliation, shame, and defeat of today were unprecedented in his life!
"This matter is not your fault. That son of Yun Qinghong is extremely formidable, and he even brought back the Demon Emperor Seal and the remains of Yun Canghai. Even if your father had been present today, it would have been difficult to reverse the defeat." The voice from behind the curtain said, "The failure of today's plan is secondary, but the hearts of the people have been drawn toward the Yun Clan. That is the most damaging part. As a result, we will not be able to act rashly for at least twenty years."
"...I will personally slice Yun Che into a thousand pieces!" Huai Wang said viciously.
"Such a losing-ones-composure statement—this is the first time your father has heard it from your mouth. It seems you have suffered a thorough and complete defeat this time." The voice behind the curtain was as calm and cold as the boundless night. "But he is cunning to the extreme, yet dares to be so unscrupulous. He must have something to rely on! In this world, the most frightening enemy is the one you have not yet figured out. Until we have thoroughly investigated all his background, it would be unwise to make a move against him, whether openly or covertly."
"I understand that." Huai Wang gritted his teeth. "I will immediately send people... mobilize all available resources to investigate all his background! Especially his master's lineage... and how he came here from the Tian Xuan Continent!"
"No! Now is not the time for that." The voice behind the curtain grew even colder. A crimson-black flame suddenly ignited in the darkness, writhing like a ghostly fire in the abyss. "The reason I called you here is to go kill someone."
"Kill who?"
"The Little Demon Empress."
"What?" Huai Wang's head snapped up.
"Now is the perfect time to kill the Little Demon Empress." A terrifyingly cold laugh sounded. "And she personally gave us this opportunity. She is not only alone now, but she is also inside the Golden Crow Thunder Flame Valley, where no one will approach."
"She thinks that by obtaining the Demon Emperor Seal, she can awaken her bloodline... how naive..."
"This matter should not disturb anyone. The fewer people, the better... To ensure absolute certainty, your father will accompany you personally. Let her die without a trace! Hahahahaha..."
The crimson-black flame danced wildly amidst the manic laughter. A gust of icy wind blew, causing the bead curtain to rustle loudly...
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