A great upheaval

Lu Xuanqing's heart tightened. When she had parted ways with her two grandmaster-uncles, Lu and Sun, her assignment had been to transport the Spirit-Devouring Beast back to the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Logically, with the abilities of those two grandmaster-uncles, they should have found Connors Star long ago after her mishap. Yet neither had appeared.

Now, Grandmaster-uncle Lu had actually arrived with the Bai Family, and the first thing he asked about was the Spirit-Devouring Beast. It was decidedly abnormal.

After all, the Heavenly Demon Sect's relationship with the Bai Family was nothing special. They should have been doing everything possible to conceal their acquisition of the Spirit-Devouring Beast from the Bai Family. Why would Grandmaster-uncle Lu bring members of the Bai Family along to search for it?

Although Lu Xuanqing was an inner disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect, she was unquestionably a junior before a venerable sect elder like Lu Yangong. Despite her doubts, she could not refuse to answer his questions.

Thoughts flashed like lightning through Lu Xuanqing's mind. Finally, she gave an ambiguous reply. "Grandmaster-uncle, you should know that I met with an accident on this journey."

A sharp gleam flashed in Lu Yangong's eyes. "So you failed to protect that object? With the Golden Light Spirit-Locking Formation I placed on it, who could possibly open it?"

Lu Xuanqing replied respectfully, "Grandmaster-uncle, the circumstances are complicated and involve sect secrets. Might I give the elders a detailed account after returning to the sect with you?"

Lu Yangong frowned. "It seems you only have eyes for my junior brother, the sect master, little Qing, and look down on this old fossil. As a sect elder, what secrets could there possibly be that you cannot report to me first?"

Lu Xuanqing hastily said, "Grandmaster-uncle, I would never mean such a thing. But with members of the Bai Family present, it really is not appropriate to discuss that object in detail. Once we return to the sect, I would not dare conceal anything from you. I will report every detail."

Lu Yangong snorted. "Little Qing, there is something you do not know. While you were trapped here, a great upheaval occurred in the outside world. Our Heavenly Demon Sect and the White Lineage have already formed an alliance. There is no longer any need for us to hide anything from one another."

Shocked, Lu Xuanqing hurriedly asked, "I have been trapped on Connors Star for less than two months. What great upheaval could have happened outside? How could the Heavenly Demon Sect possibly have formed an alliance with the Bai Family?"

Lu Yangong said, "You have been on this garbage planet at the frontier, cut off from news, so naturally you know nothing. A month ago, Lin Jingtian, the current head of the Purple Thorn Lin Household, suddenly declared his intention to restore the Purple Thorn Dynasty. The entire Milky Way Galaxy and the Cultivation World were immediately thrown into chaos. To protect themselves, the major sects and aristocratic clans had no choice but to join forces with other powerful factions. Otherwise, would they not be handing their ancestral foundations to the Lin Household on a platter?"

Lu Xuanqing said incredulously, "The Lin Household, the foremost household in cultivation? Why would they want to restore the dynasty? The Purple Thorn Dynasty returned power to the people back then, and that was how the Galactic Federation was founded. For over a thousand years, the Lin Household has kept a low profile. They hardly seem like ambitious people."

Lu Yangong snorted coldly. "Little Qing, do you think I would make up lies to deceive you?"

Lu Xuanqing hurriedly waved her hands. "I would not dare. The news was simply too shocking. My mind was thrown into turmoil for a moment, and I lost my composure."

Lu Yangong said, "Little Qing, you must understand that the Lin Household's reputation as the foremost household in the Cultivation World is hardly undeserved. Their Chaos Spirit Art is a supreme cultivation technique said to merge the five elements. Their current head, Lin Jingtian, is a man of breathtaking talent, already regarded by many as the greatest cultivator alive. A man like that would naturally have great ambitions. It is only natural that the Lin Household would seek to restore the dynasty."

Lu Xuanqing nodded, but inwardly remained unconvinced. She knew that although the Lin Household was known as the foremost aristocratic clan in cultivation, its members were few, and it usually kept a very low profile. Lin Jingtian's sudden desire to contend for supremacy was far too suspicious.

Disrespectful though it might be to say so, it was Lu Yangong's words and behavior today that seemed strange at every turn. Even if he was a sect elder of highly exalted standing, she could not believe everything he said.

Lu Yangong continued, "The Purple Thorn Star System, where the Lin Household resides, borders our Heavenly Demon Sect's Purple Ginseng Star System. Since the Lin Household intends to dominate, our Heavenly Demon Sect will naturally bear the brunt of it. To be frank, even if the three of us old fellows joined forces, we might not be a match for Lin Jingtian. How could our Heavenly Demon Sect possibly contend with the Lin Household?"

At this point, Lu Yangong paused and pointed to Bai Hengqiu. "Like us, the Bai Family is a major cultivation power in the northern Milky Way Galaxy. Naturally, the wisest course is to unite against the Lin Household. For safety's sake, our Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters must also relocate to the Ice Phoenix System, where the Bai Family resides. I came to the Bai Family this time to make all the preparations in advance."

Lu Xuanqing found this strange. Even if her sect intended to ally with the Bai Family, why would someone of Lu Yangong's status and standing act as a mere advance runner? There had to be something suspicious behind this!

With that thought, Lu Xuanqing deliberately put on an alarmed expression. "With such a calamity facing our sect, I truly cannot rest easy. All I can think of now is returning to the Purple Ginseng Star System. Grandmaster-uncle Lu, why not proceed to the Bai Family and make the arrangements? You need only leave me a spaceship. I am willing to return to the Purple Ginseng Star System and contribute what little strength I have."

Lu Yangong frowned again. He knew that Lu Xuanqing had been exceptionally clever since childhood and had almost never fallen for a deception. Even if he could pressure her through his seniority, making her obediently follow his orders would not be so easy.

Lu Yangong held himself in extremely high regard. As a mighty Nascent Soul Realm expert, how could he tolerate having his hands and feet tied before a junior like Lu Xuanqing?

In for a penny, in for a pound. Since I am determined to obtain that object, why should I concern myself with a junior like Lu Xuanqing?

At that thought, a trace of killing intent inevitably rose in Lu Yangong's heart. With his profound cultivation, however, he concealed it in an instant.

Lu Xuanqing noticed nothing unusual, but Liu Xing, who had remained beside her the whole time, felt a stir within him and glanced at Lu Yangong in surprise.

The Spirit-Devouring Beast, which had been sleeping inside Liu Xing all this time, had suddenly extended a faint strand of divine sense toward Lu Yangong, then sent a signal into Liu Xing's consciousness-killing intent!

PS: Brothers and sisters, happy weekend! With two days off upon us, shouldn't you cast every recommendation vote you have? I'm looking forward to votes pouring in like a raging storm!!!!