Conspiracy

"Senior Brother Qin, are those the Black and White Academy's Earth Rankings and Heavenly Rankings?"

"Gulp~"

Swallowing hard, Ye Han looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with awe.

Rather than pavilions, the two structures in the distance were more like pillars that reached the heavens.

The two towers were circular, each with exactly one hundred floors.

The Hundred-Person Earth Rankings!

The Hundred-Person Heavenly Rankings!

The former represented the Mystic Spirit Realm.

The latter represented the Earth Fiend Realm.

It could be said that anyone who entered either ranking would surely become renowned in the future.

After all, making either ranking was not merely a matter of strength and age; it was an infinite display of one's talent.

Even from so far away, Ye Han could still sense those auras that shook the soul...

Qin Jishi's expression remained utterly calm, without the slightest ripple.

In his eyes, these so-called Earth Rankings and Heavenly Rankings were not worth a glance.

After sweeping his gaze over the Earth Rankings, Qin Jishi looked toward the Heavenly Rankings.

Just as his gaze reached the top floor and he was about to look away, he paused slightly.

This aura?

Qin Jishi frowned. It was unmistakably Liang Simeng.

Earth Fiend Level Eight?

Back then, she...

As he thought this, Qin Jishi's mind stirred. "Baihe, did Liang Simeng conceal her cultivation back then?"

When he had seen her in Soaring Dragon City, he had clearly sensed that Liang Simeng had only just entered the Earth Fiend Realm.

Yet the lingering aura atop that tower was unmistakably Earth Fiend Level Eight.

"That's right!" Baihe replied. "She concealed her cultivation."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Qin Jishi was somewhat speechless.

"You never asked." Baihe sounded even more innocent...

"Fine~ You win..."

"..."

Liang Simeng had concealed her aura so thoroughly that even Qin Jishi had failed to notice. He had to reassess the Sacred Domain Liang Family; they truly had some skill.

A mystic artifact capable of concealing an aura beyond even his perception could hardly be an ordinary item.

Ye Han turned his head and saw Qin Jishi staring upward in fascination, mistaking it for yearning.

"Senior Brother Qin, although we're mere menial disciples, I believe that as long as we work hard, one day, whether it's the Earth Rankings or the Heavenly Rankings, there will surely be a place for us."

Those words pulled Qin Jishi from his thoughts. Seeing Ye Han clench his fists, brimming with fighting spirit, Qin Jishi patted him on the shoulder.

"I think you can definitely do it."

"Not me. Us." Ye Han smiled.

"That's right, us." Qin Jishi turned around. "Let's go. It's time to head back."

At the same time!

In a corner outside Profound Harmony Academy.

Wang Meng's face was so grim it had reached the extreme, and even a trace of killing intent seeped from his eyes.

"What did you say? That brat from before was called Qin Jishi? A'san died at his hands?"

"Young Master!" A'si gritted his teeth. "We were all deceived by that brat. If he truly had a powerful background, why would he join the academy as a menial disciple?"

"That's right!" Killing intent flashed through A'wu's eyes. "That Qin Jishi merely relied on his Innate Divine Strength to lure Third Brother into competing in physical strength. That was how he fell into his trap."

Upon hearing them, Wang Meng said nothing. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, pondering something.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

Seeing that Wang Meng remained silent, A'si and A'wu refused to give up.

After all, A'san was their clan cousin. How could they simply let his death go?

Innate Divine Strength?

A powerful body?

Did he truly have no background?

Wang Meng was not a rash and impulsive man. He knew well that there were always greater people beyond people, and higher heavens beyond the sky.

After all, there were quite a few people born with Innate Divine Strength even without mystic energy. But as for possessing such a powerful body, aside from having one's physique altered by certain heavenly treasures, it was simply impossible.

More importantly, such a method was not something just any Lineage could afford.

This matter required caution.

Just as the two were about to continue, Wang Meng suddenly raised his hand.

"Enough. I understand this matter. Rest assured, A'san will not have died in vain. I will give him an answer."

Although A'san had been arrogant and overbearing, he had at least been loyal to him. Now that he was dead, Wang Meng could not remain indifferent.

However, this was not something to rush.

He first needed to probe Qin Jishi's background. There was never any harm in being careful.

Only after receiving his assurance did the two finally feel at ease.

Seeing their savage expressions, Wang Meng reminded them, "Listen carefully. Before I say anything, you are absolutely forbidden from clashing with Qin Jishi. Do you hear me?"

"Understood..." Wang Meng's words allowed no doubt. How could the two dare to object?

"Go."

Even after the two disappeared, Wang Meng made no move. He merely stood there in silence for a long while.

Northern Commandery, Black Eagle Prefecture!

Within Yihe Hall, a cold and handsome young man's brows twitched slightly, his expression somewhat unsightly.

This young man was undoubtedly among the best of the best. Whether in looks, cultivation, or background, he was the standard by which countless love-struck young women chose a husband.

"Chen'er, your mother wants Qin Jishi to die without anyone knowing."

Pan Chen, the Second Young Master of Black Eagle Prefecture, a disciple of Black and White Academy's Earth Nether Academy, and one of those on the Heavenly Rankings, had reached Earth Fiend Level Two at such a young age. He was truly a favored son of heaven...

After hearing Liu Benlian explain the entire sequence of events, Pan Chen narrowed his eyes.

"Mother, you're saying Qin Jishi is connected to my eldest brother?"

"That's right!" Liu Benlian nodded. "Otherwise, how could our Liu Family have been wiped out?"

"Second Young Master!" Pan Sen also spoke at this moment. "This Qin Jishi must not be underestimated. Though he possesses no mystic energy, his physical strength is exceptionally terrifying. He passed Black and White Academy's menial disciple assessment through physical strength alone and even killed a Nascent Breath Level 8 martial artist. He must have some tricks up his sleeve."

"Furthermore, his joining Black and White Academy at this time may well mean that the Young Prefecture Lord deliberately planted him as a spy, intending to monitor your every move."

All these actions left Pan Xu no choice but to suspect this.

After all, where could such a coincidence exist? The Liu Family had been exterminated, yet instead of staying properly in Soaring Dragon City, Qin Jishi had chosen to join Black and White Academy. He clearly had ulterior motives.

"A planted spy?" Pan Chen's lips curled upward in disdain. "My eldest brother is good at everything, except he is far too self-righteous. He thinks everything is under his control, but in the end, he is the real joke."

"Qin Jishi, is it?"

Pan Chen nodded slightly. "Fine. You destroyed my Liu Family, so I'll slice you into a thousand pieces."

As he spoke, a fierce glint flashed through his eyes. Pan Chen lowered his voice. "Mother, don't worry about this. I know what to do. Jiao Ju of Five Elements Academy has been fawning over me lately. I'll send him a voice transmission later. I will not let Qin Jishi die too easily. I want him to know the consequences of offending us."

Liu Benlian believed her son possessed such ability. He was currently flourishing within Black and White Academy; even Academician Diming regarded him with special favor.

"Oh, right!" Another fierce glint flashed through Pan Chen's eyes. "I have already arranged for people to deal with those people Mother mentioned before. I believe it will not be long before they die in accidents."

"Good, good, good!" Liu Benlian rose to her feet and laughed sinisterly. "Once they are dealt with, the next step will be to hollow out Pan Xu. Black Eagle Prefecture must be brought under our control."