Chapter 582 - 379: Unmasking the Mastermind! (Part 2)

Chapter 582: Chapter 379: Unmasking the Mastermind! (Part 2)

They dared not slack off even a bit, because the person behind the door was the last fang of Dongchang, also the only one who could keep them alive, the Director of Dongchang.

Now the entire court, both civil and military officials, were waiting to see Dongchang’s disgrace. Those forces once tormented by Dongchang also began to stir, frantically seeking revenge on Dongchang...

And as members of the Twelve Guardians of Dongchang, they were naturally the prime targets for revenge.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the quiet room’s gate, his dark robe billowing without wind.

The piercing cold air emanating from his sleeves caused the surrounding air to frost over delicately.

He slightly raised his eyes, gazing impassively at the people below the stairs.

Wherever his gaze landed, a layer of thin ice silently covered the bluestone tiles.

"My orders..."

Lu Xuan’s voice was neither light nor heavy, yet it made Cao Er, who knelt at the front, shudder all over.

The forehead of this second Guardian of Dongchang instantly crystallized with ice, yet he dared not raise a hand to wipe it away.

"Did you do it?"

The hem of the dark robe brushed the bluestone, as Lu Xuan walked down the steps with his hands behind his back, one slow step at a time.

His eyes, emitting a cold light, swept over the kneeling Twelve Guardians of Dongchang, like two icy blades, sending shivers down their spines.

His tone was as indifferent as asking what they had for breakfast.

But everyone present knew that every word from their adoptive father could decide their life or death.

Ten days ago, when their adoptive father retreated in seclusion, he left an order that heavily weighed on everyone in Dongchang’s hearts.

Lu Xuan naturally ordered all in Dongchang to cease all arrests and interrogations, and deploy all hidden undercover agents throughout the martial realms.

There were only two objectives.

Search for natural treasures in the world of the same origin as the Seven Treasure Glazed Lotus, or those ghost things that lurk in the margins of yin and yang, emanating a defiled aura.

This bizarre command left everyone in Dongchang puzzled, but no one dared to question it further.

After all, in their hearts, the Director of Dongchang could unleash the Cold Ice Gang Essence with a flip of his palm, enough to silence any doubter forever.

Cao Er’s Adam’s apple rolled violently, cold sweat soaking his back under the robe, yet he still gritted his teeth and kneeled forward.

The solid bluestone ground groaned under the pressure of his knees.

With a muffled "thump," Cao Er’s forehead slammed heavily onto the stone slab, creating a bowl-sized dent.

Tiny stone shards mixed with streaks of blood splattered onto the surrounding ground.

Blood slid from his brow, but as it touched the ground, it instantly froze.

"Godfather, this child... deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

Cao Er trembled as he straightened his upper body, veins throbbing at his neck: "Initially, the spies I dispatched from Dongchang could still send back seven secret messages intermittently.

"But starting from the fifth day... all one thousand brothers who left the capital suddenly died mysteriously."

"Yes, may Godfather discern clearly..."

At this time, Cao Jin, dragging an empty left sleeve, knelt forward, the white cloth bandaging his severed arm already soaked with blood, flapping in the cold wind.

Beside him, Cao Haosheng’s scarred face was still bleeding, running from his brow down to his mouth, like a centipede crawling across his face.

At this moment, Cao Jin’s eyes flashed with a terrifying light, his previously ominous face now twisted like a demon from hell.

His neck veins bulged, his knuckles turning white, almost crushing the bluestone: "A few days ago, at Black Wind Gorge on the outskirts of Liangzhou city, I was suddenly ambushed by three martial artists at the Grandmaster Minor Accomplishment level!"

"Their body techniques were swift, palm strikes carrying an overwhelmingly fierce power, obviously targeting me."

"In the end, I had no choice but to sever my own arm. Borrowing the rugged mountain path, I barely managed to escape with my life!"

At this moment, Cao Jin’s bloodshot eyes surged with overwhelming hatred.

No longer was there any semblance of the majesty of a Dongchang Guardian, but clearly, a vengeful ghost crawling from the Shura field.

It had always been us from Dongchang assassinating others. When had we become the ones hunted down, reduced to humiliating stray dogs?

Beside him, Cao Haosheng’s Adam’s apple rolled violently, his blood-encrusted mouth twitching twice.

He spoke with a quavering voice, filled with survival after the fact: "If it weren’t for Mr. Jin risking his life to pass the message, this child might have also perished in Liangzhou!"

Speaking, Cao Haosheng suddenly lifted his head, bloodshot eyes nearly breaking through his whites.

"Godfather! Our Dongchang routes, codes, and contact points have been thoroughly exposed, there must be someone colluding with the enemy!"

He suddenly lowered his voice, his gaze as cold as a venomous snake: "Now the Jinyi Guard has slipped from our Dongchang’s control."

"Those bastards hate our Dongchang to the core, and there’s no guarantee they won’t collaborate with that traitor, attempting to completely annihilate our Dongchang’s power!"

At this point, Cao Haosheng suddenly shuddered violently, his bloodshot eyes widened abruptly, as if struck by a thunderbolt.

"Godfather, those people specifically target our Dongchang’s members, each using distinct cultivation techniques, clearly intending to eradicate us completely."

"I once had someone risk stealing back a few corpses, and although the other side deliberately covered their tracks, the flaws were still traceable."

He paused, his gaze growing increasingly chilling, "The Clear Wind Palm of the Qingfeng Sect, the Five Mountains Broken Gate Saber of the Broken Sword Manor, and the Nine Heavens Kill Life Sword Skill of the Black and White Impermanence Life-taking Organization..."

"To command these irreconcilable forces to join hands, even making them willingly work for someone..."

Cao Haosheng lowered his voice, his tone filled with apprehension, "The range of forces involved behind this is unimaginably vast."

"And the person capable of uniting them likely possesses the ability to manipulate clouds and rain, reaching the heavens." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Lu Xuan’s brows suddenly knit together tightly, the murderous intent surging in his eyes almost solidifying.

Surrounding him, the Cold Ice Gang Essence uncontrollably dispersed, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet abruptly.

On the bluestone ground, centered around Lu Xuan, spiderweb-like ice cracks formed.

Anyone attempting to obstruct him from comprehending life and death, transcending this mortal world.

No matter who is behind it, they must die!

"Where is the closest force to the capital..."

Lu Xuan suddenly asked coldly, shocking everyone present to the point their spines went cold.

The Twelve Protectors exchanged glances, after a brief dead silence, Cao Er suddenly reacted, moving his knee heavily forward half a step: "Reporting to Godfather, it’s the Qingfeng Sect!"

"It’s just thirty miles west of the city on Qingfeng Mountain."

Just as Cao Er finished speaking, the surrounding temperature had already plummeted to its lowest point, even the window sills of the quiet room were instantly covered with white frost flowers.

Atop Qingfeng Mountain Peak stands a majestic complex of buildings, built according to the mountain’s terrain, with vermilion eaves and blue tiles looming faintly in the clouds and mist.

At the mountain gate, the three gilded words "Qingfeng Sect" gleam brilliantly under the sun, and the thirty-six jadeite steps at the front shine as if polished to a mirror finish.

All the disciples of the sect wore blue and white uniforms, their robes fluttering like a flowing azure cloud.

Only five elders in purple robes sat in the main hall, with gilded black iron tokens hanging from their waists, showcasing their distinguished status.

Inside the main hall, sandalwood incense wafted gently.

The walls were adorned with landscape paintings by past sect leaders, and at the center hung a plaque inscribed with "The Clear Wind Blows" in powerful calligraphy.

The figure in purple-red at the main seat was particularly striking.

Qingfeng Sect Leader Xio Fenghe wore a dark purple robe, embroidered with nine golden patterns on the chest.

This grandmaster, renowned throughout the world, was resting with his eyes closed, rhythmically tapping the armrest with his fingertips.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, two beams of light, tangible, shot out: "Such a heavy killing intent..."

Outside the hall, the sea of green bamboo suddenly moved without wind, the rustling of bamboo leaves sounded like countless blades unsheathing simultaneously.

"Report—!"

A blood-soaked disciple stumbled into the hall, collapsing heavily on the floor.

His chest wound was horrific, and blood continued to seep from the corners of his mouth.

"It’s not good, Sect Leader... Elder... it’s the Dongchang... people from the Dongchang..."

Before he could finish speaking, those five purple silhouettes exploded like thunder.

The figure of Xio Fenghe on the main seat transformed into a streak of purple lightning, shattering the jadeite bricks wherever it passed!

In the square, blood had already stained the blue stones red.

Dozens of disciples in blue robes were frozen into ice sculptures, maintaining their sword-drawing postures.

Among the crowd, twelve silver-white figures darted like ghosts, leaving moans and blood mist in their wake!

"What audacity!"

"You damned lackeys of the court, how dare you cause trouble on our Qingfeng Sect’s territory."

Xio Fenghe’s roar shattered the sky filled with ice crystals, his purple robe billowing, emitting a dazzling azure light all around him.

This grandmaster was truly enraged!