A Startling Turn of Events

Yang Qingxi smiled and said, "The mistress of Luantai is the Second Palace Master. Can Jiang Ning defy her will?"

"So, the Sui Sect has really collapsed completely? I thought you would leave yourselves a way out, or that you wouldn't be in such a hurry to collapse," Zuoqiu Ting asked tentatively.

Yang Qingxi saw through her thoughts and didn't answer her.

"The fact that Miss Yang did not go to the seventh floor pavilion actually indicates that the Sui Sect is still hesitant and wants to observe the situation further." Li Weiyi sighed inwardly. He did not expect that the situation in Lizhou would change so drastically in just a few months. No wonder the war has reached a stalemate.

He asked, "What exactly is the purpose of this Far West Ash Region?"

"They only want to create as much chaos as possible in the entire Lingxiao Shengjing, and then march east to swallow us all up. Cooperating with them is like seeking help from a tiger; it will not end well."

These words were not spoken by Zuoqiu Ting and Shi Shishi, but by Yang Qingxi.

Zuoqiu Ting laughed and said, "Is that all Miss Yang has to say?"

Yang Qingxi had always preferred to conceal her true abilities, but now that she had been aroused by this, she pouted her red lips, flicked her sleeves, and sent out wisps of magical energy.

"Splash!"

The plates, dishes, cups, and bowls on the table moved quickly. Shi Shishi was very fast, but he couldn't pick up a single bite with his chopsticks. He looked at Yang Qingxi speechlessly.

In a short while, the dishes and drinks on the table were arranged in the pattern of the Twenty-Eight Prefectures of Lingxiao.

She stood up and said, "The Ash Region in the Far West is close to the Western Territory, where we have the deepest influence and infiltration. Ten years ago, in the Battle of Cangyuan, the West Sea Slaves of the Imperial Court for a thousand years, were defeated. Ember Spirit were involved in the battle, and subsequently, the seven states of the Western Territory were thrown into chaos."

"The Western Territory, after ten years of chaotic warfare, has suffered a 40% reduction in population, making it arguably the most devastated of the four territories. Of the seven provinces, two belong to the Imperial Court, three to the wealthy and powerful, and the remaining two to the Quan Rong and Que Rong respectively. And the two treacherous Western Rong tribes are backed by the Ash Region of the Far West."

"Without a doubt, the Far West Ash Region's intervention in the Southern Territory is an attempt to replicate the chaos in the Western Territory. First, they will support Night City and the Three Chen Palace, utilize the Sui Sect to defeat the Jiu Li Tribe, and seize the entire Lizhou. Then, they will coerce forces such as Coffin Mountain, Li City, and Tianya Ridge to jointly attack the Zuoqiu Courtyard."

"When the Xue Jian Tang Ting of the North, the Dragon Gate and Lei Xiao Sect of the East join forces at the foot of Lingxiao City, and both sides are exhausted by the Imperial Court army, that will be the time when the Ember Spirit comes from the East and burns down Twenty-Eight Prefectures of Lingxiao."

Gan YanZhen looked at the layout of the table, her eyes deep and strange. "Since the Ash Region of the Far West are the common enemy of the world, why are there still people willing to be used? Why can't we join forces and deal with them first?"

Zuoqiu Ting laughed sarcastically, "Even during the most brilliant and decisive period of the Great Palace Master, they were unable to unite the power of the world to destroy the Ash Region of the Far West, which shows just how powerful they are."

Yang Qingxi nodded. "No one will think they are being used; they will only think they are using the Far West Ash Region, borrowing their power to do their own thing."

A commotion arose outside the pavilion; judging from the shouts, it was clear that the Imperial Court's top experts had arrived.

From Zheng Nan Que, you can only see the sea view; you can't see the grandeur of the other side.

But the palace fell silent, for everyone knew that the Imperial Court experts would inevitably pass through. This naturally put psychological pressure on these martial artists who were imposters from the Imperial Court camp.

Zuoqiu Baiyuan was in a good mood. He poured Li Weiyi a full glass of wine, held the cup with both hands, and said in a flattering manner, "Brother Li, Baiyuan toasts you to atone for my previous disrespect."

Li Weiyi declined, saying, "I never drink..."

"How can you not drink it? The fish head is right in front of you." Shi Shishi wanted to eat the fish head for a long time, but it was too far away for him to reach.

Li Weiyi served him the fish and was about to offer him tea instead of wine when the sound of hurried footsteps and noisy conversations spread from the first pavilion to the fourth, reaching the gate of the south gate.

As if time had stood still, everyone at the table stared in that direction, their eyes fixed, motionless.

The leaders of the Phoenix Pavilion, Ge Xiantong, Jiang Ning, Qilin Platform, Chen Ziliang, passed by the gate with a large number of Imperial Court experts. Each of them was dressed in official robes and fine clothes, exuding nobility. Their figures moved in long, continuous steps, and whispers filled the air.

There were also dozens of skilled young warriors in the army, all clad in armor. Even through the doors and windows, one could feel their chilling killing intent, and the Battle Intent fluctuations of their swords and horses filled the air.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, the door to the palace was pushed open with a single palm strike.

Before anyone outside appeared, a torrent of energy surged in.

More than a dozen young martial arts masters from the Imperial Court, dressed in black official robes and wearing long-winged official hats, filed in. Half of them were women and half were eunuchs. They were imposing, but their aura was extremely sinister.

They made way, retreating to the left and right.

"You all go first, I'll settle a personal grudge." A familiar, melodious voice, like heavenly music, came from outside.

Jiang Ning walked in with a tall and straight figure, his hands behind his back. White feathers and magical energy swirled around him, and his skin glowed with a rosy light. His eyes were covered by a three-finger-wide white dragon-patterned veil, concealing his exquisite eyebrows. His official robe was also different from the others; it was pure white and embroidered with five phoenixes, giving him a mysterious and ethereal air amidst his heroic spirit.

Everyone in the palace felt the unparalleled pressure of her will, especially those from the Sui Sect.

"Yang Qingxi, why are you sitting on the fourth floor? With your cultivation level..."

Jiang Ning noticed Li Weiyi sitting next to Yang Qingxi, paused, and said in an even colder tone, "You shouldn't be here."

Yang Qingxi remained seated, not looking at her, and transmitted his voice through his spiritual energy. "Jiang Ning, before settling your personal grudges, you'd better think it through. Right now, the Imperial Court needs the Sui Sect, not to push him to the opposite side for the sake of a moment's pleasure."

Jiang Ning raised her right hand.

A female official immediately appeared behind her and presented the sword to her.

"Whoosh!"

Jiang Ning merely raised his sword, and the sword light poured down like a waterfall of silver. Sheng Qingyan, who had been escorting Zhuang Yue, was decapitated, her head falling onto the plate on the table with a thud.

The scene was horrific; blood splattered several feet away.

Shi Shishi, sitting next to Sheng Qingyan, was so frightened that he held his breath and shrank back, as if frozen in place, not daring to turn around and look at Jiang Ning.

"Do you think you're that important? Killing you won't change the decisions of the Sui Sect's higher-ups."

Jiang Ning turned and left, leaving behind the words, "Give the frightened guest a different room and the best wine."

The group of young martial arts practitioners from the Imperial Court, dressed in official robes, chuckled and then left like a receding tide.

Yang Qingxi, her eyes cold as frost, was left with nothing but gritted teeth, her fingers clenched tightly, her whole body trembling, forced to swallow this humiliating disgrace.

Yang Yue and Yang ZhiYong, recovering from their shock, looked at Sheng Qingyan's Decapitated Corpse, still gushing blood, and said, "Young Lady... let's go. We've already come to apologize, but who would have thought... she..."

Yang Qingxi possessed remarkable composure, and quickly recovered, calmly saying, "Then let's go! Li Weiyi, be careful after you leave Heavenly Pavilion. The night is difficult to traverse; everyone is prey. It's either you eat me or I eat you."

After saying this, Yang Qingxi picked up Sheng Qingyan's head, ordered the two Yangs to carry the body, and went downstairs amidst the shocked gazes of all the martial artists in the Bright Moon Seven Stars Pavilion, attracting onlookers along the way.

Shi Shishi recovered and said, "Brother Weiyi, she's very angry... I'm afraid she can only vent on you!"

Li Weiyi asked, "Do you think you can escape?"

Shi Shishi immediately looked distressed and lost his appetite.

Standing by the carved railing on the seventh floor, Jiang Ning stood with one hand behind his back, as if standing on a cloud, looking down at the three members of the Sui Sect who were walking away down the jade steps.

Beside her, the voice of Qilin Platform leader Chen Ziliang rang out. "She's deliberately playing the victim, while simultaneously leaving a way out for the Sui Sect, a silent counterattack against you. You haven't given her a good enough warning!"

Jiang Ning weren't on Yang Qingxi. She muttered to herself, "Self-righteous, unwilling to listen to advice, and rebellious to the core. He's a real headache."

"I can cure your headache, and she won't live past tonight..." Chen Ziliang said with a smile.

Jiang Ning glanced at him. "What kind of skill is it to kill Yang Qingxi? The Dragon Hall and Lu Cangsheng are coming soon. The first and second place in the Eastern Territory, which one can you defeat?"

Chen Ziliang's eyes were cold and sharp, his voice high-pitched and effeminate. "Then I'll weigh their options later and send them back east."

Moving to the adjacent room, the table was much quieter.

Qi Wangshu sighed, "To be able to see Fairy Yu's beauty up close like this is truly a great regret, as the dragon veil obscured her eyes, preventing me from witnessing her full splendor. There will never be another opportunity like this!"

Zuoqiu Baiyuan said, "This Fairy Yu is very generous. Knowing that we were imposters, she not only did not drive us away, but also changed our rooms and brought us the finest wine."

Li Weiyi seemed thoughtful and asked Zuoqiu Ting, "Jiang Ning's veil covering her eyes is quite unusual. Is there any explanation for it?"

Zuoqiu Ting said, "That's Dragon Soul Gauze. She probably wants to cultivate the Dragon Awakening Art before the Qianlong Lantern Festival, and borrow the Dragon Soul Power that the Imperial Court has sealed for thousands of years to increase her trump card strength."

Time passed, and everyone in the pavilion waited for the arrival of the successors of the Dragon Gate and the Lei Xiao Sect, eager to witness their fierce battle.

Noon.

The roar of the Dragon Roar and the sound of thunder rose up together, echoing for a long time and resounding throughout the heavens and earth.

A large number of experts from the Dragon Gate and Lei Xiao Sect, riding dragon-scaled beasts and lightning birds, arrived from the ground and the sky respectively.

Dragon Hall, Long Ting, Lu Cangsheng, and over a hundred of the most outstanding talents from the Eastern Territory who were affiliated with the two major powers, all lined up in ceremonial procession and waited outside the gate of the first-floor pavilion.

Inside the southwest wing of the fourth-floor pavilion, the group couldn't see what was happening there, but they could feel the lively atmosphere in the square.

"The Dragon Gate and Lei Xiao Sect have given Zhu Huan a lot of face. The three inheritors and all the top experts are waiting there to greet him," Li Weiyi sighed.

Zuoqiu Ting said, "They are not only giving face to Zhu Huan, but also to the Zhu family. With the eastern and western borders joining forces, the Imperial Court is under great pressure. I want to see how the three above will respond."

A quarter of an hour later, the top martial arts practitioners of the Zhu Clan arrived, and the lively atmosphere at the Bright Moon Seven Stars Pavilion reached its peak, attracting the attention of talents from all over the world, as if witnessing a historic moment.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a commotion and clamor arose from below the building.

A cry of alarm rang out, "Something terrible has happened! Long Ting has killed the heir of the Zhu Clan..."

Upon hearing this, the usually composed Zuoqiu Ting's expression changed drastically. Sensing a conspiracy, he vanished from his seat, uttering the words, "You all need to leave the Bright Moon Seven Stars Pavilion immediately! Something big is about to happen!"

At the beginning of the month, I'm asking for monthly votes!

The giveaway details for this month's monthly pass prizes will be posted tomorrow during the day.