Inside Tianshu Hall, the pale blue-white flames in the glazed ceiling lamps flickered ceaselessly. As light and shadow alternated, they cast Xin Bairen's face in shifting shades of blue and white, making him look like a ghost.
His right hand clenched a jade slip in a death grip. Though the jade slip was hard, it suddenly gave a crack, and fine, web-like fractures spread across it as though it had been slashed by fierce sword qi.
Several lines of tiny gilded characters, glowing faintly gold, rapidly faded along the cracks.
A closer look revealed that those words carried news of the catastrophic destruction of Black Ape Island.
"Where is Gongsun Yang?"
Xin Bairen clenched his teeth, squeezing the words out one by one through the gaps.
The instant he finished speaking, the formidable pressure of his Pseudo-Core cultivation surged outward, murderous intent lurking everywhere.
"Black Ape Island is gone? Where the hell did Gongsun Yang go?"
Beside himself with rage, Xin Bairen thrust out his left hand. His fingers sank deep into the jade desk before him like steel hooks.
Wu Zhen, the newly appointed Deputy Hall Master of the Technique Transmission Hall, stood trembling at his side.
"R-reporting to the Deputy Hall Vice Lord."
Wu Zhen's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat had soaked through the back of his Daoist robe.
"Island Lord Gongsun is probably dead. During the hour of the boar, at the array manned by the sect's duty personnel, the life tablets of Black Ape Island's Foundation Establishment protectors shattered one after another without warning.
"When the protector on duty noticed this, he hurried to investigate, only to discover that the life lamps of large numbers of Black Ape Island disciples were also going out in succession. It was truly chilling."
"Afterward, the protector on duty