The Truth Exposed IV

Feng Huai nodded and formed a hand seal.

At once, a massive black, shuttle-shaped magical artifact slowly emerged above everyone's heads. An entrance had opened along its side.

"Let's get inside first. We can talk as we go."

Lin Xin and his group followed him into the artifact. Inside, it was a world apart, with space as vast as a small estate.

After the group entered the main hall and took their seats,

teapots and cups automatically poured tea before flying onto the tables beside them.

Feng Huai formed several more hand seals. The artifact rose into the air and streaked into the distance, vanishing into the clouds along the sunset horizon in just a few flashes.

White Jade City

Huan Ping knelt on the ground, clutching his junior sister's corpse, his heart aching beyond measure.

In truth, no one knew that besides his master's instructions, there was another reason he had always taken such care of his junior sister.

He had secretly harbored feelings for her.

From childhood to adulthood, he had practically raised his junior sister with his own hands. There was not a single part of her body that he did not know well.

Little by little, he had watched her grow from a bawling infant awaiting milk into a graceful, lovely young maiden.

Her figure and features closely resembled those of that senior sister who had long since fallen.

Originally, he had been waiting. Once his junior sister grew a little older, he would ask his master to arrange for them to marry and have children.

But now, everything had been destroyed.

Rumble!!!

Countless streams of white light converged above White Jade City, forming an enormous gate of light.

Within the gate stood a green-robed figure, twelve silver lines embroidered upon his clothes, while a huge azure pointed radiance drifted at his side.

The newcomer had an aged face and a bald crown. A ring of white hair connected to his beard, encircling his entire head and giving him a mighty appearance. He also held a black staff inlaid with a transparent jewel.

It was none other than the Azure Mountain Elder, the Realm Lord of the entire Azure Mountain Realm.

His expression was wooden, and a trace of grief filled his eyes. After closing the gate of light behind him, he flew straight down through the air.

The city guards' commanders hurried forward to greet him.

"Realm Lord."

"Realm Lord!"

All the generals lowered their heads, not knowing what to say.

By the time they had arrived, everything had already become inevitable. Qiao Yu's courtyard barrier had instead kept all of them outside, making them accomplices to this tragedy.

The Research Institute's dean and the person in charge of the Heavenly Evolution Tower both shook their heads.

"Azure Mountain Realm Lord, please accept our condolences," the Research Institute dean said. They were all experts of the same rank, so speaking was much easier.

The Azure Mountain Elder shook his head, descended beside Huan Ping, and carefully crouched to inspect the corpse.

Only after a long while did he stand and let out a sigh.

"Who was on duty today?"

"Reporting to the Realm Lord, it was this subordinate."

A white-armored commander stepped forward, forcing himself to do so.

"Go receive your punishment." The Azure Mountain Elder's mood was somewhat low.

The commander gave a bitter smile and was escorted away between two Dao soldiers.

"Master." Huan Ping had only just barely recovered himself. "Can Junior Sister still be saved?" A faint trace of hope lingered in his eyes.

The Azure Mountain Elder opened his mouth, but when he caught sight of the threads of disgust in the eyes of the cultivators watching nearby, he could only laugh bitterly to himself and remain silent.

"Though Yu Er violated the sect laws, her crime did not warrant death in the end. Senior Sister Qi, don't you think Lin Xin, the killer, went too far?"

The blind old woman from the Heavenly Evolution Tower showed no change in expression.

"Though killing someone in War City may have been understandable as an act of revenge, it was still excessive. According to Article Seventy-Five of the sect regulations, he must be punished with a third-class offense and guard an ancient seal for a thousand years."

The Azure Mountain Elder nodded.

"Men."

The instant his words fell, several distorted black shadows appeared at his side.

The shadows were vague and indistinct, seemingly without physical forms. Their upper bodies were human, while their lower halves consisted of continuously swirling mist.

"What are the Realm Lord's orders?" the shadows spoke in unison.

"Capture the fugitive Lin Xin and bring him to justice. If he resists..." The Azure Mountain Elder paused slightly, closing his eyes in silence.

A moment later, he finally opened his eyes slowly, a glint of killing intent flashing through them.

"Kill without mercy."

At those words, not only Huan Ping and the Heavenly Evolution Tower's master, but even the many cultivators gathered around them felt their hearts tremble.

With this order, the Azure Mountain Realm had completely abandoned its True Inheritor disciple, Lin Xin.

This Tier Five pureblood, who had only become a True Inheritor a short time ago, had become a discarded disciple in such a brief span. No one had expected it.

"Huan Ping, bring your junior sister's body and follow me."

The Azure Mountain Elder sighed deeply. A cloud of Qing Yun appeared beneath his feet, carrying him toward a tall tower in the distance.

Huan Ping gathered up his junior sister's corpse, carried her in his arms, and followed close behind.

Neither of them spoke along the way.

As they neared the tower,

the Azure Mountain Elder finally spoke slowly.

"From now on, temporarily support Shen Tang with all our strength."

"I understand, Master." Huan Ping nodded heavily.

Shen Tang and Lin Xin, the two newly advanced Tier Fives, were both the finest geniuses selected from countless people.

Though Shen Tang had a faction backing him, the Azure Mountain Elder had investigated personally and confirmed that it was not a hostile force.

With no other choice now, they could only first support Shen Tang, who had the greatest hope of advancing to Earth Immortal.

"What is Feng Huai's situation?" The Azure Mountain Elder slowly landed on the platform at the edge of the tower.

"Lin Xin once saved his life, so he's supporting him with all his might." Huan Ping said bitterly. "If not for the Thousand Eyes at his side, I definitely could have left both of them behind!"

"Since this matter has already become settled, we can only make the best of a bad bargain. There is no need to say more." The Azure Mountain Elder motioned for him to carry the corpse into the tower.

Rumble...

The heavy iron-essence gates slowly descended, blocking out all light from the outside world.

Inside the magical artifact.

"Brother Lin, according to the Sect Rules, you killed someone within the sect, and you did it in the Realm Lord's War City. Your punishment could be exile or being sent to guard some desolate place," Feng Huai said as he flipped through the jade slip in his hand.

"It isn't a death sentence?" Lin Xin was somewhat surprised.

"No. You did not kill without cause. The other party plotted against you first, so this can only be considered excessive retaliation. The sect regulations state that acts of revenge are in accordance with the Sect Rules. You were simply somewhat excessive." Feng Huai explained.

"If it truly means being assigned to guard somewhere or exiled, I do not particularly care. It is simply that I cannot find peace in my heart over this matter." Lin Xin's expression remained calm.

"This was never Brother Lin's fault in the first place." Feng Huai agreed. "Heh heh. If this had happened in another realm, perhaps I would not have been able to help. But since it happened in the Azure Mountain Realm, it just so happens that I really do have a way."

Lin Xin became curious upon hearing this.

Azure Lake Mountain's strength was simply terrifying. Though Feng Huai had displayed a profound background, he should not have been able to openly oppose the Sect Rules.

The moment Feng Huai saw his expression, he knew Lin Xin had misunderstood.

"Brother Lin, you're mistaken, mistaken. Naturally, I would not dare oppose or mediate against the Sect Rules. But while I cannot, someone else can!"

His face once more took on a smug look.

"Someone else can? Brother Feng, what do you mean...?"

Lin Xin was even more confused.

"Within Azure Lake Mountain, the mortal enemy of the Azure Mountain branch—the Dragon Snake Realm Lord!"

Feng Huai did not keep him in suspense and directly revealed his method.

"The Dragon Snake Realm Lord?"

Before Lin Xin could react, Lin Youke's expression shifted.

"Young Master, we have often heard news of the Dragon Snake Realm. It has been the Azure Mountain Realm's mortal enemy for many years. Its Realm Lord is the Dragon Snake Elder, who is likewise an elder of Azure Lake Mountain," Lin Youke transmitted softly.

"The little girl is quite knowledgeable." Feng Huai smiled.

"The Dragon Snake and Azure Mountain Realms are both declining, ruined lands. Yet unlike the Azure Mountain Realm, the Dragon Snake Realm's environment is barren and harsh, nowhere near as prosperous as the Azure Mountain Realm.

"Not long ago, it also held a disciple selection, but far fewer people went than came here this time."

"Young Master, you are understating it. I have been to the Dragon Snake Realm as well. It is more than barren and harsh—it is practically a dead land. Other than some volcanic essences, it produces nothing else. Without humans to multiply and thrive, it cannot cultivate a force wholly its own. It can only draw from outside."

The female guard also interjected with a smile.

"That is indeed the case." Feng Huai unfolded a folding fan in his hand and gently waved it. "Back then, the most gifted woman among the Dragon Snake Elder's direct bloodline was personally killed by Qiao Yu's father because of the incident in the Azure Mountain Realm. The exact reason is unknown now, but the enmity between the two sides began from that point."

"So, Brother Feng believes it would be better for me to go to the Dragon Snake Realm?" Lin Xin considered it, then asked.

"This is the best choice. Of course, if Brother Lin is unwilling, I will also do my best to make arrangements and reduce the years of punishment." Feng Huai said seriously.

"To speak frankly, though the Dragon Snake Realm Lord's temper is somewhat fiery, he is far more straightforward than the Azure Mountain Realm Lord. He is also strong enough. If not for the countless battles and struggles of his early years, which left his hidden injuries too severe and his lifespan too short, he would likely be far more than merely one of Azure Lake Mountain's Realm Lord elders now."

After some hesitation, Lin Xin said no more. He decided to head for the Dragon Snake Realm.

Several days later.

The magical artifact swept through the air and landed within an old fortress in the wilderness near the sea.

A moment later, a streak of golden light shot into the sky and vanished in an instant.

Not long after, several black shadows rushed into the fortress from every direction. Finding nothing, they swiftly withdrew.

Dragon Snake Realm.

Scarlet red magma flowed across the earth, thick and scorching.

Countless lava rivers, like cracks, ran between the black ground. Bubbles of all sizes continuously emerged, swelled larger, and then swiftly burst apart.

In the blackish-red sky, a black iron spherical fortress floated up and down, slowly bobbing.

Hiss...

Suddenly, an azure light descended from the sky, forming a pillar of light that slowly settled before the fortress's sealed gates.

From around the fortress came rhythmic sounds of metal striking metal, as though someone were hammering iron.

Tiny sparks scattered rapidly in all directions like points of fireworks.

Black chains, red sparks, heavy iron gates.

Together, the three formed a stifling, scorching scene.

The blue-green pillar of light slowly faded, revealing a young man with long green hair draped over his shoulders.

The man was handsome and elegant, his skin as exquisite and delicate as white porcelain.

Yet between his black eyes, on the center of his brow, were three red dots resembling some special mark.

"It turns out to be Junior Brother Feng Panjun. You have come from afar; please come inside and rest for a while."

The fortress gates slowly opened, releasing a great surge of blackish-red air. It was extraordinarily hot; an ordinary person touching it would be scalded alive in an instant.

Yet when the air reached the man, it abruptly stopped, turning into dust and falling one after another.