The sealed room fell into a deathly silence, as if even the air itself had frozen.
Zhu Li frozen in place, as if transformed into a stone statue. Only his heavy, chaotic breathing, sometimes rapid and sometimes paused, and the violent heaving of his chest clearly indicated the terrifying shock and intense impact that he was experiencing at this moment, an impact so profound that it could reshape his entire understanding of life!
Because in such a short period of time, Lin Ming delivered an enormous amount of information, so much so that even with his High-Tier Half Sage mind, it would take him an extremely long time to slowly sort through, digest, and try to believe in all of this, which was like a myth.
Meanwhile, outside the sealed room, time seemed to be stretched out by an invisible force, making every minute and every second feel exceptionally agonizing.
The burly, towering figure of Hei Qing had long lost its usual composure, pacing back and forth in the cold stone corridor like a raging bear trapped in a cage. His heavy footsteps pounded on the Blue Stone, making dull thuds that echoed clearly in the silent corridor.
His brows were furrowed into a deep frown, and his large, bell-like eyes kept glancing at the tightly closed, heavy Stone Door engraved with isolation runes. His eyes were filled with barely suppressed anxiety, worry, and a hint of frustration at being excluded.
Lin Ming and Elder Zhu Li have been inside for far too long. What are they talking about inside? How is Zi Yan? Is she alive or dead? Why can't we hear a single sound?
Countless times, he wanted to ignore everything, punch open the obstructing Stone Door, and rush in to get to the bottom of things. But his remaining rationality and his reverence for Elder Zhu Li forced him to suppress this impulse.
Before Lin Ming went in, although he didn't ask him to come along, he left a message saying that whether or not to tell him the inside story was up to Elder Zhu Li. In Hei Qing's view, given his status on East Dragon Island and his relationship with Zi Yan, there was no reason for the Third Elder not to tell him the truth after he came out knowing the situation.
Having realized this, Hei Qing felt a little relieved and continued to wait for the Stone Door to open.
Another half hour passed while he waited. Just as his anxiety was reaching its peak, Hei Qing turned around abruptly once more, his gaze fixed intently on the seemingly unchanging Stone Door, ready to make a commotion without hesitation—
"Buzz..."
A very faint, yet heavenly sound of a mechanism turning came from inside the Stone Door!
Hei Qing froze instantly, all the muscles in his body tensing up, his attention focused on the slowly moving Stone Door.
The Stone Door creaked heavily as it slowly opened a crack inward. The crack then widened, Elder Zhu Li, his slightly weary yet still upright figure, stepped out first.
"Third Elder!"
Hei Qing rushed forward in one stride, disregarding all etiquette. His large, fan-like hand almost grabbed Zhu Li's sleeve, his voice urgent like a machine gun:
"How is she? Zi Yan... how is she? Is she in danger? Where is she now?!"
At this moment, Hei Qing stared expectantly at Zhu Li, hoping to hear definite news, or at least news, that he was alright.
However, the gaze Elder Zhu Li met with was one of unprecedented complexity and depth. In that look, there was lingering fear after learning the earth-shattering secret, contemplation and joy about the future of the clan, and even more so, a sense of helplessness and resolve in having to make the decision to conceal it.
Zhu Li raised his hand and gently patted Hei Qing's muscular, tense arm. His voice was slow and carried an undeniable sense of finality as he slowly said:
"Hei Qing, Zi Yan is alright. She's in a completely safe place now, you don't need to worry."
This answer relieved Hei Qing, but Zhu Li's next words made his heart leap into his throat again.
"As for the specifics..." Zhu Li's gaze was deep, as if he could see through people's hearts, "Just don't ask. Forget about it."
"What?!"
Hei Qing could hardly believe his ears. His eyes widened, and his face was filled with astonishment and incomprehension. He immediately began to speak.
"Third Elder! But... Zi Yan is of the Dragon Emperor Bloodline, her safety concerns the future of our clan! I, Hei Qing, am utterly loyal to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor and to our clan, why can't I know? What exactly did that brat Lin Ming tell you? Was it him...?"
"Alright, Hei Qing!"
Zhu Li's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying an air of authority born of long-held power, instantly interrupting Hei Qing's excited words. His eyes, which had previously appeared slightly weary, were now sharp as knives, staring directly at Hei Qing:
"Knowing too much about some things might not be a good thing for you, for East Dragon Island, or even for the entire Ancient Dragon Clan! The causal relationships involved are far too complex, far beyond your imagination! In the future, when you are old enough to know, you will naturally understand everything. But for now, this matter ends here!"
Zhu Li's tone was firm and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
The determination in his eyes, along with a deep-seated solemnity that even Hei Qing couldn't fully comprehend, made Hei Qing swallow back all the doubts and pleas that were on the tip of his tongue.
Hei Qing opened his mouth, looking at Elder Zhu Li's unquestionable expression. In the end, he could only turn his full of doubts, resentment and worry into a muffled growl. Like a wounded beast, he slammed his fist hard against the stone wall next to him, making a muffled "thud" sound, and stone chips fell down.
However, Zhu Li is the Third Elder. With the division of Ancient Dragon Island into four parts, the Great Elder and Second Elder of East Dragon Island have been in seclusion for a long time. Therefore, the entire East Dragon Island is under the leadership of the Third Elder Zhu Li.
Furthermore, given that Zhu Li's cultivation level was also that of a high- High-Tier Half Sage, he could only lower his head, his chest heaving violently, and remain silent, but the pent-up energy was almost bursting out of his body.
Just then, Lin Ming slowly walked out of the secret room. His expression was much calmer than when he went in, but a trace of composure after experiencing turmoil still remained between his brows.
At this moment, Lin Ming glanced at Hei Qing, who stood stiffly to the side like a stone statue, radiating sullen anger, and then at Zhu Li, whose face was solemn. He understood, but Lin Ming did not bring up the topic again. Instead, he looked at Zhu Li and talked about the sect.
"Elder Zhu Li, the details of this matter have been explained. Our sect is currently in dire need of rebuilding, so I will not compensate you further. Please feel free to leave the sect; I will take my leave now."
Knowing that the fate of the entire Ancient Dragon Clan would be in the hands of this young man until Zi Yan emerged from seclusion, Zhu Li dared not put on airs and said, "Lin Ming, don't worry about us. Your affairs of the sect are more important. If there's anything we can do for you later, just let us know."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ming immediately clasped his hands in greeting and didn't linger any longer. After all, he had been in this secret room since he returned, and the sect hadn't paid any attention to him.
The Five Elements Sect Main Hall stands majestically atop the mountain. After more than a month of meticulous repairs, it has largely regained its former grandeur. However, upon closer inspection, one can still glimpse the tragic traces left by the battle not long ago in certain corners.
On the towering dome of the hall, several deep claw marks remain a shocking sight, imprints left by the impact of powerful forces, which are difficult to completely erase in a short time; at the base of some huge stone pillars around, the newly repaired Blue Stone still has subtle differences in color from the original ancient stone, silently telling the story of past wounds.
A faint, lingering scent of blood and burnt energy seemed to linger in the air, mingling with the sandalwood to create a unique and somber atmosphere.
However, the main hall was eventually cleared of its decay and restored to a solemn and orderly state.
At this moment, the core members of the temple had already gathered and were waiting.
Xiao Yi Xian was still dressed in an elegant white robe, like the cool moonlight, but her figure standing there exuded an unyielding solemnity, and her slender fingers unconsciously brushed against her sleeves from time to time.
Standing to the side, Elder Yao frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the old and new marks in the hall with lightning speed. His ruddy face carried a hint of composure and prudence that came with weathering many storms.
Qing Lin stood quietly a little behind, her unique emerald eyes filled with concern and worry. She carefully concealed her aura, like a lotus bud about to bloom in a secluded valley.
When Lin Ming's familiar figure finally appeared at the main hall's entrance and stepped steadily inside, all waiting eyes instantly turned to him.
His steps were steady, his aura restrained, just as when he left.
What truly eased the tension in everyone's hearts was Elder Zhu Li, who was following behind him.
At this moment, Zhu Li's expression was peaceful. The worry and anxiety that had lingered between his brows had dissipated, replaced by a calmness like a deep pool. Even at the corners of his weathered eyes, one could see a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Clearly, Sect Master Lin Ming had given him a satisfactory and reassuring answer, which allowed this Clan Leader to maintain such composure.
Of course, the crowd did not fail to notice Hei Qing, who was following closely behind with an unusually heavy aura.
His burly body and rugged face were shrouded in gloom, and the low pressure emanating from him was almost tangible, forming a stark contrast with Zhu Li's peaceful demeanor.
However, since Elder Zhu Li had already adopted this attitude, everyone present naturally tacitly refrained from touching on Hei Qing's obviously unpleasant mood for the time being.
Lin Ming did not linger, but walked straight to the deepest part of the main hall and steadily ascended the Sect Master's throne, which was located several steps above the main hall and symbolized the highest authority of the Five Elements Sect.
As soon as Lin Ming sat down, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward from the crowd and quickly went to greet him. She did not rush to ask about Zi Yan's recent situation or the specific results of the previous secret conversation. Instead, she solemnly presented a thick scroll that she had been carefully holding to Lin Ming.
"Sect Master!"
Xiao Yi Xian's voice rang out clearly, still carrying her unique cool and aloof quality. But if you listened closely, you could hear that beneath that coolness, there was a barely perceptible trace of icy hatred from the depths of her blood.