NOVEL NEXT Chapter 98 Is it him?
In mid-air.
The Second Elder stopped in his tracks, his ink-like black hands reaching out from his sleeves, a trace of confusion in his aged eyes.
What had he just heard?
An Illusion Technique?
Was Yan Chu really willing to let him take away the Qingmu Secret Realm?
"What you just said..."
The Second Elder Shen Zhi's tone was uncertain, and he even seemed a bit dazed.
It wasn't his fault, really, as the Old Dean's recent declaration, "Take it then!" had taken him by complete surprise.
"I, cough cough... said, you want the Qingmu Secret Realm, don't you? Then take it."
The Old Dean wasn't pretending to be the good guy anymore.
After a few hearty coughs, he repeated what he had said earlier.
"Teacher..."
"Shut up, you cough cough... cough, it's not your place to speak!"
Lan Junyan opened her mouth helplessly at the Old Dean's decision, seemingly wanting to say something, but she was immediately scolded into silence.
The Second Elder still hesitated.
He indeed wanted to accomplish his plan, but he was no fool.
It was like a robber planning a home invasion, only to find the desperately resisting homeowner suddenly give up and willingly show you where the money was hidden.
It was just too abnormal.
Amidst his hesitation, the Second Elder activated his Spiritual Power to carefully scan the surroundings, finding no ambush nor any Righteous Path cultivators coming to support.
He then used his eyes, which had seen countless insidious schemes in the world, to scrutinize the Old Dean of Qingmu Academy, trying to detect any hidden plots.
But after observing for a while, he found nothing amiss other than the occasional cough and undeniable injuries on the Old Dean's body.
The anxious expression on the face of the little girl in the Divinity Transformation Realm suspended in mid-air didn't seem fake either.
The Second Elder's thoughts ran deep.
The Old Dean wasn't in a hurry, seeing the other party's behavior; after all, the longer the time drag on, the more advantageous it was for them.
The various Immortal Sect forces below were also confused about how one of the elders from one of the Four Great Immortal Sects in the Nine Provinces Realm had suddenly softened.
But with the Old Dean's cultivation and status, even if the many forces didn't understand, they didn't dare to openly discuss it.
For a moment, apart from the occasional cough from the Old Dean, the entire Qingmu City fell into an unusual silence.
"You three, go use the Space Treasures I gave you on the way here to surround the entrance of the Secret Realm."
As the atmosphere became more and more oppressive, the voice of the Demon Sect's Second Elder, Shen Zhi, rang out. He indifferently commanded the three Hall Masters, who were hovering over the black mist, to follow through.
The Qingmu Secret Realm was a type of small world, and if the Demon Sect wanted to move it, it was not easy. The best method was to use a Space Treasure to sever and transfer the entire entrance.
If the Righteous Path cultivators wanted to find the coordinates of this realm afterward, it would definitely take them some effort.
By that time, they would have already stolen the Origin of the Qingmu Secret Realm.
The three who had been watching from above the black mist were startled; they hadn't expected to be called into action so soon.
Among them, the short, ugly cultivator was the first to react, murmuring agreement and flying out first, heading straight for the entrance of the Qingmu Secret Realm.
The remaining two quickly snapped to their senses and hurriedly followed.
The Second Elder had made up his mind. Regardless of whether the plan in front of him was deceptive or straightforward, he had to take the Qingmu Secret Realm today; after all, the plan was crucial to the return of the Demon Lord.
The previous failures in the Great Xia Empire had already greatly impacted their plan to welcome back the Demon Lord.
Now, regarding the matter in Qing State, Shen Zhi had to succeed in order to welcome back the Demon Lord.
Besides, no matter what conspiracy there was, in the face of absolute power, all schemes are as futile as flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected on the water's surface.
The Second Elder believed that among those present, his Cultivation Strength was the highest. Moreover, he didn't need to take action himself to capture the entrance of the Qingmu Secret Realm; he just needed to stand by and protect it.
By then, even if there were any unforeseen events, the Second Elder was confident that he could smooth things over.
"Heh, Old Worm, you sure are bold. Aren't you afraid that I'll set a trap for you?"
The Old Dean's face bore an inexplicable smile as he teased Shen Zhi, then turned towards the entrance of the Secret Realm and commanded, "No fighting, let them through!"
The group of Confucian Practitioners blocking the way of the three Hall Masters, upon hearing their Dean's order, reluctantly made way and opened up a small path.
"Heh."
The Demon Sect's Second Elder sneered and did not respond.
He then continued to issue orders to the three Hall Masters, "Use your treasures to cut through the space at the entrance. Remember to be careful — this Qingmu Secret Realm will belong to our Demon Sect from now on. We should take care of our own things."
After speaking, he cast a nonchalant glance at the Old Dean, then resumed his silent posture.
The Old Dean was unconcerned, thinking to himself that there would soon be a surprise for him,
Ignorant of the true situation, Lan Junyan beside him was both anxious and angry, but dared not defy the orders of his teacher.
At the entrance to the Qingmu Secret Realm.
The three Hall Masters faced a slew of murderous glares as they each pulled out a shuttle-shaped treasure from their storage treasures.
"Hehehe, Brother Lang, our actions here today will surely cause a sensation across the Nine Provinces Realm."
The short and ugly Cultivator, surrounded by numerous Cultivators of the Righteous Path, was either nervous or overly excited and initiated a conversation with Monster Lang.
"Hehe, if anyone is to gain fame, it will be the Second Elder. We are just basking in his reflected glory," replied Elder Lang blandly, taking the opportunity to casually flatter his leader.
The short and ugly Cultivator cursed silently upon hearing this, thinking that Elder Lang was just kissing up!
He likewise reflected on how he had failed to take the opportunity to suck up when he was clearly the first to fly over!
The foreign girl adorned in silver, on the other hand, said nothing and was the first to offer up her shuttle-shaped treasure.
The short and ugly Cultivator wanted to say something, but seeing his comrade already sacrificing the treasure, he didn't dare to delay the important task. He quickly recited the mantra and threw the Space Splitting Shuttle component from his hands.
But...
The part of the Space Splitting Shuttle he threw did not, like the foreign girl's offering, successfully enlarge and cover a portion of the green light screen.
Instead, it was caught in a hand!
The three Hall Masters's eyes expressed shock, and they froze on the spot for a moment.
In mid-air, the Demon Sect's Second Elder, who had been watching the scene, had his pupils contract, ready to move forward.
However, before anyone could make a move,
a crisp snap sounded.
The part of the Space Splitting Shuttle made of Kongming Stone
shattered!
"What is this, so fragile?" came a disdainful voice from within the green light screen.
Following that, a small Taoist wearing a mysterious mask and a black Taoist robe walked out slowly from within.
After emerging, Jin Xu turned his head to glance at the three Hall Masters closest to him. The short and ugly Cultivator stood trembling, full of doubt and fear.
"Was it you throwing garbage around?" the little Taoist teased him, then, as if remembering some important task, brushed past him casually.
This minor character could wait to be dealt with later; he had to find the big one first.
Jin Xu quickened his pace and raised his head slightly, directing his gaze towards the Second Elder, suspended above the city.
"Is it him?"
Jin Xu lifted his right hand, asking softly.
In the palm of his hand, a small bug with two pale blue stripes on its back curled up there.