Night fell like a vast curtain, swallowing every trace of light. The darkness was thick as ink, and the sky seemed like a motionless deep sea.
Only a sliver of moonlight pierced through the heavy night.
The pavilion in the rear courtyard of Duke Fu's Mansion was brightly lit, while the surrounding courtyards were pitch-black and silent, save for the chirping of insects.
That pavilion was like the only light in the darkness.
On the third-floor terrace, Ling Yan sat upright in the center. His gaze was sharp now, and the former warmth about him had vanished, leaving only an air of dominance and uninhibited ease.
He had already prepared for the worst. Perhaps he would die here today. He wanted to use his life to buy his descendants another chance to survive, even if it was only the faintest glimmer of hope.
Lowering his head, he glanced at the hem of his robe between the fingers of his left hand and smiled calmly. This robe, ranked among Divine Weapons, was his only gain from that ruin.
The Mysterious Feather Dao Robe.
People really could not be too greedy.
Ling Yan sighed inwardly.
It was precisely because of this Divine Weapon that he had been trapped by the formation within those ruins. He had barely escaped after risking half his life, only to be severely injured by a yin creature. Yin and evil energy had entered his body, corroding the meridians and soul throughout his body.
From then on, though he still possessed his cultivation, he had become a useless cripple.
Yet it was also this robe that had kept others from discovering him for thirty years. It contained the might of heaven and earth, could conceal his entire body, and possessed unparalleled defensive power.
Neither the Imperial Clan nor the other ducal estates had discovered his true condition.
They even believed that Ling Yan had obtained a defensive Divine Weapon and had naturally become stronger.
Thus, after the news spread, the prestige of Duke Fu's Mansion rose to another level.
It truly was the cycle of karma.
Behind Ling Yan, Flying Eagle lay flat on the ground, spread out like a large character. His left cheek was pressed against the floor, his eyes fixed on the wall beside him, completely motionless.
He blinked from time to time, proving that he was still alive.
Ever since Ling Ying had sent a strand of true energy into him at noon, Flying Eagle had lost all feeling in his limbs. He could not even use his true energy.
After being held for a while, he had been brought here and had remained sprawled on the ground from noon until midnight.
Ling Yan and Ling Feng had asked him some questions in the meantime, but Flying Eagle had not uttered a word.
Brother Eagle said nothing, merely kept lying there.
Kick me all you want. I'll pay it all back.
He knew he would be fine. At least, he would be fine until that person arrived.
After all, he was still someone of status. As things stood, there was still room for negotiation.
If they killed him, what would that prove? That they were willing to die for their cause? Then there would be nothing left to discuss.
Besides, he believed that if he died, Your Highness and the Divine Marquis would avenge him. The entire Duke Fu's Mansion would accompany him to the grave.
That would be an absolute steal.
Yes, Flying Eagle was the Iron-Clawed Flying Eagle of Dragon Guard Manor.
As for whether he would be in trouble after that lord arrived, he was not worried in the slightest.
Once the masked lord mentioned by the Divine Marquis arrived, if anyone in Duke Fu's Mansion could still kill him, Flying Eagle would kneel and call him grandpa on the spot.
With that kind of strength, why be a duke? He could directly stand among the top powers like the Li Family. Why would he lower himself beneath the Imperial Clan?
At that moment, Flying Eagle could only stare helplessly at the wall and cry inwardly.
My lord, why haven't you come yet?
Sitting slightly below Ling Yan were Duke Protector Ling Feng and the steward Ling Ying, positioned at his left and right. Both wore tense expressions, their auras surging as they prepared to fight at any moment.
Their divine senses spread throughout the area. If anyone dared appear within Duke Fu's Mansion, they would detect them at once. They knew that tonight might decide the fate of Duke Fu's Mansion.
Their divine senses took in everything within Duke Fu's Mansion, including Ling Chen, who sat on a rooftop not far away.
At that moment, Ling Chen sat atop the roof of his own courtyard, looking toward the pavilion where his great-grandfather resided. Ever since Flying Eagle had been exposed, his father and the others had remained there. He did not know what had happened, and with his cultivation, he could not help at all.
He had gone to ask them, but his father and the others had merely looked grave and refused to say much, telling him to return.
He sensed that his great-grandfather and father seemed to be waiting for someone. After returning, he had remained on the roof, watching that pavilion.
"What's so interesting about watching from here? Why not go over and take a look in person?"
Ling Chen, his thoughts in turmoil, suddenly heard a deep voice from behind him and was startled.
Turning around, he saw a man standing behind him, wearing a bamboo hat and a mask. The moment Ling Chen looked into his eyes, he could not help but feel the urge to worship him.
Cold and domineering. That was Ling Chen's first impression.
Celestial Phenomenon Realm. Ling Chen already had his answer. The aura of the man before him was beyond anything his father and Uncle Ying could compare to. He also knew that this was the person his great-grandfather and father had been waiting for.
"Junior Ling Chen pays respects to Senior." Ling Chen hurriedly stood and bowed to Yuan Tiangang.
At the same time, he glanced toward the pavilion, somewhat puzzled. Even if his father and the others could not detect this man, why had his great-grandfather made no move either?
Could it be that, despite both being in the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, his great-grandfather was inferior to the man before him and could not detect him?
Or did he simply feel that there was no need?
Yuan Tiangang said nothing. His figure vanished, and he appeared within the pavilion.
Ling Chen was not surprised when he saw the man disappear without a trace. Knowing that he had gone to find his great-grandfather, Ling Chen turned toward the pavilion and bowed before sitting down again.
As Yuan Tiangang appeared before them, all three immediately rose to their feet. Ling Yan frowned and stared straight at Yuan Tiangang, yet could discern nothing. Ling Feng and Ling Ying faced a formidable enemy; their divine senses had not detected the arrival at all!
Yet the man was standing right before them.
Their minds had not detected him, but their eyes had. He was right in front of them.
Yuan Tiangang paid no attention to the three of them and instead looked at Flying Eagle. Flying Eagle, who had been lying on the ground, floated up and drifted before Yuan Tiangang.
Feeling himself rise, Flying Eagle looked up and saw Yuan Tiangang before him. Knowing this was the lord the Divine Marquis had spoken of, tears instantly filled his eyes.
"Flying Eagle pays respects to my lord."
"Not bad."
Yuan Tiangang said only that. Then he pressed his right index finger against Flying Eagle's forehead.
With Yuan Tiangang's touch, Flying Eagle felt his limbs return to him.
As Yuan Tiangang withdrew his true energy, Flying Eagle swiftly fell toward the ground.
Flying Eagle blasted the ground with true energy, using the force to perform a backward flip and land steadily behind Yuan Tiangang.
Flying Eagle was no longer the helpless figure sprawled on the floor. He was brimming with vigor, smiling broadly as he looked at Ling Yan and the other two.
Yuan Tiangang looked first at Ling Ying.
"You were the one who acted?"
Ling Ying was initially confused, then remembered Flying Eagle just as he was about to speak.
A faint breeze swept past Yuan Tiangang and toward Ling Ying. Ling Ying first bent forward, but it felt as though he had been struck from behind. He crashed face-first onto the floor and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Ling Ying lay on the ground, pain wracking both his chest and back as he coughed up blood without end.
When the wind arrived, Ling Ying's chest suffered a heavy blow. The instant his body was sent flying backward, another immense force struck from behind, smashing him face-first to the ground.
All of this happened in an instant. Ling Feng reacted and was just about to act when a crushing pressure descended. It felt as if a massive mountain rested on his back, forcing him to crawl on the ground. He tried to push himself up, but could not.
"Ah!" Already wounded, Ling Ying let out a miserable cry when the pressure descended, his face twisting in agony.
Yuan Tiangang had not even made a move, yet they were already incapacitated and unable to withstand his pressure.
If he truly attacked, there would be no need to wait for death. They could begin the funeral feast immediately.
He had merely revealed his aura, enough to make that fellow see the truth.
Ling Yan looked at Ling Feng, then at Ling Ying. He carefully sensed the power between heaven and earth, disbelief written across his face.
"Can you see clearly now?"
Only when Yuan Tiangang's voice rang out did Ling Yan come back to his senses. He gave a bitter smile and respectfully bowed to Yuan Tiangang.
"This junior is Ling Yan. I pay respects to Senior. May I ask why Senior has personally come to visit?"
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