Dark Chamber Suspicions, a Hidden Hand Stirs Trouble

"Reporting, Elder! The initial investigation of the secret chamber is complete! We found several damaged... items that appear to be connected to the Star Luo Imperial Family!"

The Black Armored Knight's report exploded over the oppressive ruins like a thunderclap!

The Star Luo Imperial Family?!

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin's expressions changed drastically in an instant! Both abruptly turned, their gazes like lightning as they stared fixedly at the pitch-black entrance to the secret chamber!

Even Ning Rongrong, who had been acting "frightened out of her wits," instinctively clenched her father's sleeve. Genuine shock flashed across her little face before being covered by an even deeper chill and calculation.

The Star Luo Imperial Family? How could the Star Luo Imperial Family be involved? Could the Evil Cultist in that secret chamber... be connected to Dai Mubai? Or...

Countless thoughts flashed through Ning Fengzhi's mind, cold sweat breaking out across his back! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy beyond measure, but it had never been close to the Star Luo Empire and certainly had no desire to be drawn into the conflict between the empire and Spirit Hall! If this truly involved the Star Luo Imperial Family, then the nature of the matter would be completely different! These waters ran far deeper than he had imagined!

Sword qi flickered faintly around Chen Xin as his gaze sharpened enough to seem capable of slicing through space itself. Instinctively, he felt that something was wrong. Everything was too coincidental, as though someone had carefully guided it all. But the clue involving the Star Luo Imperial Family... was too alarming for him to ignore!

Yang Yu appropriately showed an expression of "shock" and "rage." "The Star Luo Imperial Family?! They've got some nerve! First, Dai Mubai provoked us and committed violence, and now they've sent an Evil Cultist to infiltrate the academy, cause an explosion, and plot something sinister! Do they really think Spirit Hall is made of clay?!"

His performance of "righteous indignation" instantly directed everyone's thoughts toward the possibility of "retaliation by the Star Luo Imperial Family"!

Just then, Gu Rong's somewhat illusory avatar condensed once more. His face was frighteningly grim as he said to Ning Fengzhi and Yang Yu, "Sect Master Ning, His Highness the Holy Son, we have indeed found some interesting things in the secret chamber. Please come and take a look."

His true body was obviously still below.

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and suppressed the storm raging in his heart. "Fine! I'd like to see exactly what the Star Luo Imperial Family is trying to do!" He took Ning Rongrong by the hand and gestured for Chen Xin to join them.

Yang Yu naturally followed close behind.

The group entered that cold, sinister secret chamber once again.

The chamber had been illuminated by the Black Armored Knights using lighting Soul Tools. The deep claw marks on the walls and the broken chains were horrifying to behold, while the lingering evil aura in the air made everyone deeply uncomfortable.

Gu Rong's true body stood in a corner of the chamber, holding a specially made jade box. Inside lay several charred fragments that appeared to be pieces of some metal token. A half-visible image of a roaring tiger's head could vaguely be seen on them—the emblem of the Star Luo Imperial Family's White Tiger Martial Soul! Besides that, there were several strands of hair that gave off a faint dark aura and clearly did not belong to Tang San, as well as some strange, difficult-to-identify markings that seemed to have been left behind by a certain ritual.

"These fragments were buried beneath the broken bricks. They should have been shaken out from some concealed compartment during the explosion," Gu Rong said darkly. Picking up half of the tiger-head token fragment, he continued, "A fragment of the Star Luo Imperial Family's Imperial Guard Tiger Tally... Heh, interesting. And these hairs and markings... they are filled with a dark, fallen aura. They share the same origin as that Evil Cultist, but are even older... It seems the Star Luo Imperial Family not only sent people, but also provided quite a bit of 'support.'"

His analysis was half-truth and half-lie, cleverly tying the Star Luo Imperial Family to that evil aura with tremendous power to mislead.

Tuoba Xi also stood nearby, staring solemnly at the "evidence." Though he still suspected Yang Yu, the items from the Star Luo Imperial Family could not be faked, and the balance in his heart began to shift.

Ning Fengzhi looked at the Tiger Tally fragment, his expression growing even uglier. The Tiger Tally of the Star Luo Imperial Guards carried extraordinary significance! Could the Star Luo Imperial Family truly have planned all of this? Was it directed at Yang Yu? Or... did they have another objective?

Chen Xin furrowed his brow as he carefully sensed the hairs and markings. Suddenly, he said, "This dark aura... seems slightly different from that of the Evil Cultist who self-destructed yesterday. It is more concealed and... colder." As a Super Douluo, his senses were naturally sharper.

A flash of barely perceptible ferocity crossed Gu Rong's eyes, and he immediately added, "Brother Chen Xin has a keen eye! What does that mean? It means the Star Luo Imperial Family may have sent more than one person! Or perhaps the source of that Evil Cultist's power was connected from the beginning to some kind of dark force controlled by the Star Luo Imperial Family! Dai Mubai's Martial Soul mutation may not have been an accident either!"

He cleverly redirected Chen Xin's suspicions toward an even more shocking possibility!

Ning Fengzhi sucked in a cold breath! If the Star Luo Imperial Family truly possessed some power capable of creating or controlling Evil Soul Masters... then it would pose an enormous threat to the entire continent!

Yang Yu added fuel to the flames at just the right moment, his tone icy. "No wonder Dai Mubai was so arrogant. So he had such backing behind him! Assassinating this Holy Son, blowing up the academy—does the Star Luo Imperial Family intend to declare war on Spirit Hall?!"

For a time, the atmosphere inside the secret chamber became grave to the extreme. Suspicion, shock, anger, fear... all kinds of emotions intertwined.

Ning Rongrong hid behind her father, but her little hand quietly clenched several pieces of rubble tainted with evil qi, her eyes flickering uncertainly. She always felt that something was wrong. Everything had fallen into place too naturally, like a script carefully arranged by someone. Yet the evidence pointing to the Star Luo Imperial Family lay right before them...

Just then!

"Report—!" Another Black Armored Knight hurried over and dropped to one knee, his voice carrying a trace of bewilderment. "Reporting to the elders and Sect Master! At the southeastern corner of the ruins, we discovered two heavily injured, unconscious women! One of them... appears to be Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy! The other's identity is unknown, but... but there seems to be an extremely faint aura of Spirit Qi inside her body!"

Shui Bing'er?! Spirit Qi?!

Everyone was shocked once again, and their attention was instantly drawn over!

Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi exchanged a glance before immediately saying, "Bring them here! Guard them carefully!"

Soon, four Black Armored Knights carefully carried over two stretchers.

On one stretcher, Shui Bing'er's face was as pale as paper, her aura weak as she remained in a deep coma. Beside her lay a pink-haired girl, Xiao Wu, also unconscious. Yet her face was unusually rosy, and an extremely faint but incomparably pure vitality radiated from her body, along with a barely perceptible wisp of Spirit Qi. It was as though all the impurities within her body had been washed away!

It was Xiao Wu! After that destructive eruption of energy and the Immortal Herb's final cleansing, disaster had turned into fortune. Not only had she survived, but she seemed to have initially absorbed and fused with the Immortal Herb's medicinal power! However, the aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had become extraordinarily concealed and difficult to detect beneath the residual seal of Shui Bing'er's ultimate ice and the Immortal Herb's medicinal power!

"Bing'er!" Ning Fengzhi recognized Shui Bing'er and was even more surprised. "Why is she here? And why is she so badly injured?"

Chen Xin's sharp gaze swept over Xiao Wu, and his brows knit slightly. The aura around this girl... was truly strange. Her Soul Power was clearly not strong, yet she gave off an unfathomable feeling.

Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi's eyes instantly locked onto Xiao Wu. Especially when they sensed that faint wisp of Spirit Qi, greed and curiosity erupted in their eyes once again!

The Exotic Treasure wasn't completely destroyed?! Could it have fused into this girl's body?!

Yang Yu looked at Xiao Wu and Shui Bing'er, who had been discovered "at the perfect time," and sneered inwardly. The timing was just right. Yue Guan's "excavation" work had been flawless.

He immediately stepped forward, blocking Xiao Wu's stretcher as he said in a "grave" tone, "This young lady is a friend I met previously in Nuoding City, not an academy student. She must have happened to be here last night and was seriously injured by the explosion. There seems to be something special within her body, perhaps some hereditary constitution from her family. It may resemble the aura of that Exotic Treasure, which is why it drew the Evil Cultist's attention."

Once again, he casually attributed Xiao Wu's unusual nature to her "constitution," clearing himself of suspicion while implying that she too was a "victim."

Gu Rong narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced, and gave a sinister smile. "Oh? What a coincidence. His Highness the Holy Son certainly has a wide circle of friends. However, this girl is of great importance. She must be brought back to Spirit Hall for careful examination, lest any of the Evil Cultist's power remains within her..."

"No need." Yang Yu cut him off directly, his tone brooking no objection. "I will handle her injuries myself. There is no need to trouble Elder."

His attitude was exceptionally forceful!

Gu Rong's expression darkened. "Your Highness! This concerns clues regarding the Evil Cultist. How can it be treated so lightly?!"

Tuoba Xi also stepped forward, Dragon Might faintly emerging around him. "Your Highness the Holy Son, this girl must be handed over to the Patrol Team for questioning!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense enough for swords to be drawn!

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin watched the dispute between the two sides, their brows tightly furrowed. They too found the girl somewhat suspicious, but Yang Yu's forceful protection of her only made them more doubtful.

Just as the stalemate continued.

"Father... Grandpa Sword..." Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke timidly, tugging on Ning Fengzhi's sleeve. Her little face was pale as she pointed at Xiao Wu. "I... I think that before the explosion last night... I saw this older sister... She... she seemed to be trying to stop that bad person..."

Her words were vague, her voice trembling, more like a hazy memory recalled in extreme fear.

Yet they instantly gave Yang Yu the perfect excuse!

"Rongrong, what did you say? You saw her trying to stop the Evil Cultist?" Yang Yu immediately pressed "excitedly."

Ning Rongrong nodded "fearfully," then shook her head. "I... I didn't see clearly... I think so... Then... then there was an explosion..."

Yang Yu immediately turned toward Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi, his tone resolute. "Both elders heard her! This young lady acted out of righteousness and tried to stop the Evil Cultist, which was why she was severely injured! She is a meritorious contributor to Spirit Hall! How can she be made to suffer the hardship of interrogation again? There is no need to discuss this further!"

He firmly declared it, directly branding Xiao Wu a "meritorious contributor"!

Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi's faces turned livid with anger, yet for the moment, they could find no grounds to refute him. With Ning Rongrong as a "witness," however vague her testimony might be, forcibly demanding the girl now would make them seem far too deliberate and suspicious.

"Fine... very fine!" Gu Rong forced the words out through clenched teeth, casting Yang Yu and Xiao Wu a cold, sinister glance. "Since Your Highness is so certain, then we shall do as Your Highness says. I only hope Your Highness... does not regret today's decision."

He flicked his sleeve and refused to look any longer.

Tuoba Xi also snorted coldly and said nothing further.

Ning Fengzhi looked at his daughter, then at Yang Yu and Xiao Wu. The doubts in his heart deepened, but this was clearly not the time to pursue them.

Chen Xin silently committed Xiao Wu's appearance and aura to memory.

"Since that is settled, this place will be left to the two elders for further investigation." Seeing that he had gained enough, Yang Yu instructed, "Yue Guan, take these two young ladies to receive treatment. Sect Master Ning, Rongrong has also suffered quite a fright and needs proper comfort."

He made his arrangements calmly, once again throwing the mess to Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi while he departed in style with the "meritorious contributor" and the "injured."

Gu Rong and Tuoba Xi watched Yang Yu's retreating figure, then looked at the devastated ruins and the "evidence" pointing toward the Star Luo Imperial Family. Their faces were so gloomy that water could have dripped from them.

They felt as though every step they took had been tightly calculated by their opponent!

"Investigate! Keep digging! Even if you have to turn these ruins upside down, find more clues!" Gu Rong ordered through gritted teeth.

Yet they were destined to accomplish nothing. All the "evidence" had been bait carefully prepared for them by Yang Yu. The real secrets had long since been deeply buried.

And through this incident, the suspicion that the Star Luo Imperial Family had colluded with the "Evil Cultist" had been planted.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been dragged into the waters.

The hidden danger surrounding Xiao Wu and the Immortal Herb had been temporarily resolved.

Ning Rongrong's "testimony" had produced an unexpected effect.

Yang Yu sat in a comfortable room at the guesthouse, listening to Yue Guan's report. The curve at the corner of his lips, one that spoke of absolute control, grew increasingly cold.

The pieces on the board were all in place.

Next, it was time to let Star Luo Empire... properly experience the "greetings" of Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

His gaze turned southward, as though it pierced through countless stretches of space and saw the Star Luo Imperial City.

The game had only just begun.