Chapter 590 - 323: Reactions from All Sides

With that said, he quickly added, "This is all just my personal speculation. However, Venerable Chu Lingyuan has already sent those two back."

Qin Yun remained silent. He knew a few things about Su Chen’s time on Red Thunder Star—the place was crawling with Deceitful God’s Followers.

Su Chen himself had dealings with the Believers of Black Tuo and the Faceless Ghost from very early on.

Not long after he arrived at the Bronze Sect, Fan Zhao had colluded with Black Tuo and the Faceless Divine Son in a plot against him. It was understandable that Su Chen would be highly vigilant toward the Deceitful God’s Followers.

’It seems there’s no connection after all.’

Qin Yun sighed inwardly. The last time the Fog Ashes made him think of Su Chen, he had also concluded that the two were likely unrelated.

But for some reason—perhaps out of reluctance to let it go, or some other darker impulse—he had still ordered an investigation.

’And now, it seems they haven’t found anything suspicious.’

’Who knows? If they’d had more time, those two subordinates of Su Chen’s might have actually confirmed that it was a flesh-and-blood body from Black Tuo, which would have allowed Tianlin to escape this assassination.’

"Anything else suspicious?" Qin Yun asked.

"No." Qin Lie kept his head down, his expression hidden. He had, in fact, found a few things. Some of Su Chen’s subordinates had unpredictable movements, but that had been going on for a long time and couldn’t be linked to Qin Tianlin’s death.

’My father just suspects Su Chen was involved with Black Tuo in killing Qin Tianlin, which is utter nonsense. Not long ago, Fan Zhao even conspired with Black Tuo Followers to kill Su Chen. How could Su Chen possibly trust Black Tuo?’

’I don’t want to make an irredeemable enemy of Su Chen just because of Qin Yun’s obsession.’

Qin Lie’s gaze was profound. Although he was Qin Yun’s eldest son, he had been born before his father’s promotion to the Morning Star Tier, so his inherited Talent wasn’t considered high. He was currently only a Tier Eight Professional and wasn’t held in high regard.

He had even been suppressed for years by that Qin Guang, who used Qin Tianlin as a pretext. Now, Su Chen was a rapidly rising star, while Qin Yun’s peak was nearly past. His chosen successor, Qin Tianlin, had also died prematurely, leaving the Qin Family with no one to carry its banner.

’If we make an enemy of Su Chen now, what kind of future will be left for us?’

"Hmm." Qin Yun waved a hand, oblivious to his eldest son’s thoughts.

Qin Lie understood. He bowed his head and said, "Father, I will take my leave."

He had just turned to leave when he heard a surprised gasp from behind him and instinctively spun back around.

"Hmm?" At some point, Qin Yun had moved to the window. His gaze was fixed intently on something outside.

Qin Lie followed his father’s gaze and saw a straight, white pillar of light in the distance, shooting directly into the depths of the Star Universe. It seemed ordinary at first glance, yet it held a strange, captivating power that drew his attention.

"That is a Divine Dawn Light." Qin Yun’s brow furrowed as he murmured to himself, ’Pure and flawless... and from a Twin Divine Dawns. How could someone with a Dual Divine Dawn Talent suddenly appear in Copper Heart?’

’Xiao Linfeng?’ He thought of the only person with a Dual Divine Dawn Talent at the Peak Star Conference.

Dense symbols materialized in Qin Yun’s pupils. His vision stretched out, piercing through layer after layer of obstruction to gaze directly at the pillar’s source.

The source was a Floating Island, but its core was shrouded in a hazy mist, obscured by some power that prevented him from seeing anything clearly.

This Floating Island was also part of Copper Heart, personally constructed by the Bronze Ancient King. While one could see some of its landscape with the naked eye, it was nearly impossible to probe with any other ability.

’Strange... That looks like the Floating Island where Lu Huai is staying.’

’Could it be the Profound Celestial Instrument?!’

Qin Yun was baffled. ’How could the Profound Celestial Instrument evolve a Divine Dawn Level Talent? And a Twin Divine Dawns, no less?’

But there seemed to be no other possibility. A shadow fell over Qin Yun’s face as the few Star Amber Level members of the Sect flashed through his mind.

’Wei Zhenghong isn’t here... Shen Yi’an... Su Chen...’

’It couldn’t be...’

Qin Yun’s hands clenched into tight fists, his expression so dark it looked as if water could be wrung from it.

Qin Tianlin had just died, yet the Sect had already produced a new Divine Dawn Level talent—and a Twin Divine Dawns, no less.

Regardless of who it was, he was feeling anything but pleased.

...

「Dragon Abyss.」

The headquarters of the Five Great Sects and the Royal Court had long since been relocated here, their bases situated close to one another to better coordinate in guarding the Sun.

On the top floor of a skyscraper, a combat recording played on the virtual screen in front of Han Xingliu. The two figures in the footage were both faceless.

One figure’s body was a dark gold, while the other’s was the color of blood-gold. The footage had been slowed down many times over.

BAM!

The blood-gold figure slammed the dark gold one to the ground with a single strike.

"A Tier Six with a Melting Holy Profession... The Bronze Sect really had a major card up its sleeve." Han Xingliu’s brow was furrowed. He had watched this combat recording countless times, yet his heart still pounded.

"The dark gold one should be Qin Yun’s Immortal Vajra, which has extremely strong physical and elemental defensive capabilities," came a somewhat hoarse voice from nearby. It was the Profound Turtle King, reclining on a metal chair with his eyes half-closed.

"As for Su Chen, his body’s characteristics seem somewhat similar to the Immortal Vajra, but not quite. His speed, defense, and power all seem to be perfectly balanced."

"But I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Holy Profession quite like it."

Han Xingliu nodded. "The Royal Court doesn’t have any concrete theories about what Holy Profession it is, either. A few people have already gone to test it, and this Holy Profession is indeed very powerful."

"However, the drain seems to be immense. Su Chen can only maintain it for a minute at most before he can’t hold out any longer."

The Profound Turtle King couldn’t help but sigh. "Even one minute is terrifying. After all, he’s only Tier Six."

The old man’s gaze grew cloudy, his voice distant. "Yuan Shuo wasn’t particularly outstanding among the previous generation of successors. He had a dull, taciturn personality. When Jin Siye passed the title of Ancient King to him, it caused a fair bit of criticism."

"However, Yuan Shuo’s quiet accumulation paid off. After inheriting the title of Ancient King, he advanced by leaps and bounds, leading the Bronze Sect to new heights."

"If he hadn’t been so reckless regarding his Professional evolution and been secretly struck down by a Deceitful God, the Bronze Sect would likely be even more powerful today."

"Melting a Holy Profession at Tier Six... It’s just absurd!"

At these words, Han Xingliu’s expression soured. If someone could forge a Holy Profession at Tier Six, they were guaranteed to forge at least one more at Tier Seven and Tier Eight. A diligent person might even manage two.

With the support of three Holy Professions, a Double Ninth Tier Professional could even contend with someone at the Morning Star Tier. The Bronze Sect’s overall strength would be elevated significantly in the future.

But his expression soon softened. Even if every Double Ninth Tier Professional from the Bronze Sect could go head-to-head with a Morning Star Tier, it would only give them a greater advantage when facing the other Sects.

For the Royal Court, the impact would be minimal.

What truly decided the balance of power was, in the end, the Moonlight Tier.

BAM!

On the screen, Qin Tianlin fell once more, his head shattering. Han Xingliu watched the blood-gold figure, a sudden wave of irritation washing over him.

Initially, his feelings toward this person had been more curiosity and a desire to investigate. He hadn’t believed they could become his peer anytime soon, and since they weren’t at the Divine Dawn Level, they couldn’t access the Spirit of Sun.

But now, at only Tier Six, the man had already forged a Holy Profession, and his explosive power was astonishing, even if its duration was brief.

And with the new developments concerning the Spirit of Sun, even those at the Ancient King level could compete. His own chances had been drastically reduced, and he couldn’t help but feel irritated. He snapped angrily,

"What the hell is the Bronze Sect playing at? We’ve already given them the Morning Star Essence, yet they’re still stalling and won’t let Lu Huai leave."

"Does the deal I made with Su Chen mean nothing anymore?"

Hearing Han Xingliu’s complaint, the Profound Turtle King gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, as if he had drifted off to sleep.

"I’m getting an explanation today, one way or another!" Han Xingliu huffed, then strode purposefully away.

After descending the stairs, he was about to head to the Flying Device station when he noticed that everyone around him had stopped in their tracks, pointing into the distance and letting out faint gasps of surprise.

"What is that thing? It’s so bright!"

"It’s so strange. It looks like it’s miles away, just a thin line, but for some reason, it’s the first thing you see."

"Yeah..."

"That’s..." Han Xingliu followed their pointing fingers. A thin white line stretched across the sky. It seemed inconspicuous, yet it was impossible not to notice it instantly.

A Divine Dawn Light!

Han Xingliu recognized it at a glance, his expression filled with shock. ’That’s the direction of Copper Heart.’

’Pure and flawless... and from a Twin Divine Dawns!’

’Xiao Linfeng?’ The name was his first thought, but something felt off.

’Because of Qin Tianlin’s death, no one who isn’t a member of the Bronze Sect is currently allowed to enter Copper Heart.’

’Besides, why would Xiao Linfeng activate his Divine Dawn Light for no reason?’

’Barring any surprises, this new Divine Dawn Level talent could only have come from within the Bronze Sect.’

’How did the Bronze Sect produce another talent with a Twin Divine Dawns? I’ve never heard of such a person, not even in rumors. Have they really been hiding someone this deep?’

Han Xingliu’s expression was grimly uncertain. It seemed the Bronze Sect had far too many secrets.