All Hope Turned to Ashes

The Saint Infant was one of the culprits behind the great calamity a thousand years ago when the Netherworld of the Departed devoured the Realm of Life.

For thousands of years, it has been a great enemy of Lingxiao Shengjing, often causing monstrous slaughter, and is the spirit that Yu Yaozi most wants to get rid of.

As soon as the Ghost Infant incident broke out, the Second Palace Master and the Third Palace Master noticed some clues and speculated that the Saint Infant was responsible.

The fall of such a powerful figure would shock not only Xing Yenu, but the entire Lingxiao Shengjing of martial arts practitioners.

Li Weiyi said, "Perhaps the Saint Infant has been dead for a long time. At a transcendent level, there should be a secret we don't know about. Quickly go and report to the Third Palace Master; the Demon Child is the key to everything."

Xing Yenu understood the seriousness of the matter, because this indirectly proved that what Long Xiangcen had told her was very likely true.

The outbreak of the Ghost Infant incident roughly coincided with the time when the Demon Child arrived in Lingxiao Shengjing.

With his cultivation at the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, how could he influence so many women who had drunk from the Mother-Child Spring, leaving even the Transcendent Realm helpless? This can only mean that the Mother-Child Spring itself is problematic.

It is very likely that the Mother-Child Spring was taken from the Saint Infant by the Great Palace Master.

The Saint Infant died, and the Demon Child emerged.

It is evident that there must be some extraordinary relationship between the Demon Child and the Saint Infant, which allows them to influence the Mother-Child Spring.

Xing Yenu arrived at the Demon God's Mansion, which was surrounded by an army. Further ahead, the world around the Demon God's Mansion was shrouded in formations, scriptures, and radiant light, releasing terrifying energy that made it impossible for anyone to approach.

She reported loudly, "Master! Xie Chucai has confessed that the Saint Infant is dead, and the Demon Child has emerged. The key to everything lies with the Demon Child. This disciple requests permission to apprehend him at all costs throughout the city."

There was no response from within the Demon God's residence.

The Third Palace Master, engrossed in the game, said gravely, "If I'm not mistaken, the Saint Infant has been dead for twenty-two years, hasn't he? It was you and my senior sister who joined forces to kill him. My senior sister took the Mother-Child Spring, while you took the Demon Child. The seeds of this disaster were sown at that time."

Ten steps away, the Old Man from the Sacred Dark Family was trembling with fear, his face almost buried in the ground.

Xie Chucai's leak of such a secret will bring great disaster to the entire Sacred Dark Family.

The figure sitting opposite the Third Palace Master, holding a chess piece between two fingers, said calmly, "The Third Palace Master seems to understand very well that without evidence, you can move against my people, but the price will be something your Lingxiao Palace cannot afford."

The Third Palace Master's tone turned cold. "What exactly are you doing here in the Lingxiao Shengjing?"

The figure said, "It is said that among the Great Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace, Xianmin is the most unyielding, but I think you are the most courageous one, daring to speak to me like this."

The Third Palace Master raised his finger, and instantly, nine Ancient Immortal Giant Beast roared in unison in the sky, and countless Formation Script rose and fell like stars in a sea of stars.

The figure sighed softly, "I underestimated you before! How about we play a game? I'll give your Lingxiao Palace a chance. Only those of the same cultivation level are allowed to fight. Half a month. If you can capture the Demon Child, I'll admit defeat and tell you a secret that's absolutely worth it. But if you can't capture him, then there's nothing I can do. It's just that your Lingxiao Shengjing's First Realm Longevity Realm martial artists aren't strong enough. Is this game fair enough?"

The Third Palace Master asked, "Does Your Crown Prince truly believe you can withstand the Nine Heavens Beyond the Clouds Great Formation left behind by the Master Wu?"

"Attack from the inside out, and the formation will remain intact. Attack from the inside out, and both sides will be severely injured," the figure said.

The Third Palace Master said, "Perhaps you will die, and I will be injured?"

"Do you really think that Kirin Zhuang and Qingluan aren't hiding in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike? Do you really think that all the officials under your Lingxiao Palace would dare to oppose the Demon Kingdom and would fully support you? I think Xianmin is already on her way back. Once she returns, your chances of winning will be much better," the figure said.

Earth Demon Pine, a dungeon opened, and the evil masters, Demon Race powerhouses, and departed evil spirits who had been suppressed in the Six Thoughts Zen Temple for the past sixty years transformed into afterimages and rushed towards various directions of Lingxiao City.

Someone deliberately released them to create chaos.

The Third Palace Master's voice resounded throughout Lingxiao City: "The army no longer needs to be stationed at the Six Thoughts Zen Temple. Focus all efforts on apprehending these Outer Dao and heretics, and show no mercy. All martial artists in the First Realm Longevity Realm in the city, listen to my command: search for the Demon Child. Kill or capture him if you wish. Whoever it is, capture him within fifteen days, and you will be rewarded with Myriad-character Artifact, a Qilin Platform Token, and thirty million Spring Coin."

The area surrounding Six Thoughts Zen Temple was filled with the sounds of battle.

The army clashed fiercely with the newly freed heretical cultivators.

Upon hearing the Third Palace Master's decree, Li Weiyi, Jiang Ning, Taishi Yu, and the others felt their hearts grow heavier than tenfold, as if weighed down by a massive mountain, making it difficult to breathe.

The withdrawal of troops was clearly because the presence of the Zen monastery was simply beyond the capabilities of these troops to handle.

By limiting the martial arts practitioners who can deal with the Demon Child to the First Realm of the Longevity Realm, it is clear that even the Third Palace Master, who controls the Nine Heavens Beyond the Clouds Great Formation, has to compromise.

Even after descending the mountain, a force of the Imperial Court remained close behind Li Weiyi, watching him with predatory eyes.

"Get in the carriage, I'll personally escort you out of the city. It's too dangerous for you to stay in Lingxiao City any longer!" Taishi Yu got into the carriage and sat in the driver's seat, making his stance clear in this way.

Li Weiyi's disappointment with the Imperial Court had reached its peak. He never imagined they had become so weak, lacking even absolute control within Lingxiao City.

Is there any hope for this?

Li Weiyi looked at Hidden Nine and transmitted his voice. "Have Hidden One immediately release Sikong Jingyuan and tell Old Zhuo to lead all the hidden people to evacuate."

Walk!

This was Li Weiyi's only thought at that moment.

Reaching the car, Li Weiyi looked at Jiang Ning, wanting to take her with him.

Jiang Ning could see what Li Weiyi was thinking at that moment and sense his disappointment, but as a member of the Imperial Court, receiving a salary from the Imperial Court, how could he possibly leave when the Imperial Court was in danger?

"I'll help you keep these people here! I hope... we'll meet again someday."

Holding the Startled Feather Sword, Jiang Ning and the Song Siblings turned and headed towards the group of Imperial Court martial arts practitioners.

"Smack!"

Taishi Yu swung his long, spiritually lit whip, striking the beast pulling the chariot.

The vehicle sped off.

Li Weiyi didn't get into the car; instead, she sat beside Taishi Yu, remaining silent as she considered whether to reveal all the secrets she knew. Her only concern was Yao Qingxuan.

Taishi Yu was also in a bad mood, staring ahead. "I am also in pain. How can the Imperial Court be so weak? But I can also understand the helplessness of the Third Palace Master. I guess that there must be a top figure in the Demon Kingdom in the Six Thoughts Zen Temple, the kind of person who absolutely cannot be killed."

" In Lingxiao City, there are probably some people who have already pledged their allegiance, and the Demon Kingdom is their escape route. That's why they've arranged for assassins to kill you and try to capture you—all to curry favor with you."

"Furthermore, with troubles arising from the Western Territory and Eastern borders, the Demon Race, and cults, I suspect there are only two or three transcendent beings stationed in Lingxiao City."

"With countless external enemies and internal disunity, how dare we fight?"

Suddenly.

Li Weiyi said, "I was indeed appointed as the divine son of the Rice Sect."

Taishi Yu looked at him and said, "I guessed it! You said you were sealed off, which shows your helplessness. Don't worry, I, Taishi Yu, will definitely keep my promise."

After much deliberation, Li Weiyi said, "The Taishi Family must safeguard the City Protection Array and prevent those opportunists from getting involved. In fact, the younger generation of the Imperial Court is still full of vigor and hope, and they all have ideals and ambitions."

"What exactly are you trying to say? This isn't good..."

Taishi Yu narrowed his eyes and stared at the end of the long street.

All I saw was...

Yao Qian, dressed in an official robe, stood in the center of the street with his hands behind his back.

Snowflakes gathered in the air, extremely sharp, blocking the path of the vehicle.

"Boom!"

A large number of soldiers from Luantai rushed out from various streets and alleys and surrounded Li Weiyi and Taishi Yu.

Yao Qian walked through the suspended, still snowflakes, step by step. The Dao Heart Manifestation of the Longevity Realm Giants suppressed the strange beast pulling the cart, causing it to scream and howl in agony, trembling and prostrate itself in fear.

"Luan Tai Shaoqing, Yao Qian, has come to arrest the heretical cult's son. Please, Chief Historian, grant me this favor." He didn't take Taishi Yu seriously, and his demeanor was condescending as he spoke.

Taishi Yu said, "Yao Qian, do you know the consequences of offending the Taishi Family?"

"You do not represent the Taishi Family! If Taishi Jia Shou is plotting a rebellion with the heretical cult's son, I can arrest him and imprison him in the Luantai Prison," Yao Qian said.

Taishi Yu pulled out a handful of talismans and transmitted his voice to Li Weiyi: "This Yao Qian is a mad dog. I can only take you this far! I can help you hold him off for a moment. Use the Provincial Governor's Official Robe to escape and go to the City Defense Camp to find my father. The old man is reasonable and will definitely send you away from Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain."

Taishi Yu jumped out of the carriage and walked forward. "Does Shaoqing have any evidence? Don't try to scare me."

Yao Qian stood there straight, his figure like a long spear standing between heaven and earth. "We've already captured several bigwigs of the cult. One of them has confessed, and it's confirmed that he is the cult's Fourth Divine Son..."

"Whoosh!"

Taishi Yu unleashed a thick stack of talismans, some transforming into electric pythons, others exploding into fiery clouds, completely engulfing Yao Qian.

But in an instant, Yao Qian broke through the talisman's attack energy. With a loud bang, the carriage behind Taishi Yu was shattered by his palm strike.

Taishi Yu turned around and saw that Li Weiyi had already transformed into a cloud of purple mist and escaped across space. He breathed a sigh of relief, then cursed loudly, "You son of a bitch, if you're so Longevity Realm, why don't you go and deal with the Demon Child? Are you too scared?"

Yao Qian released his mental senses and quickly detected spatial fluctuations. His figure disappeared from the spot, and he gave chase.

"This car is worth ten million Spring Coin; you must compensate me. This isn't over..." Taishi Yu roared, his eyes filled with worry. Could Li Weiyi possibly escape the pursuit of a Longevity Realm Giants?

Taishi Yu immediately rushed to the City Defense Camp.

Li Weiyi leaped out of the space and quickly used Disguise Art to try and blend into the crowd.

He had barely changed his expression when a soft, cold jade hand grabbed his wrist. The next instant, his vision blurred, and his body moved laterally at an incredible speed, rushing into the chassis of a moving vehicle.

Li Weiyi looked closely and saw a woman in white Buddhist robes sitting opposite him, holding Prayer Beads in her hands, coldly staring at him.

It was Yao Qingxuan who grabbed his wrist and led him into the carriage; he was sitting right next to him at that moment.

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