"I also paid a heavy price, and after returning to the palace, I went into seclusion for three years to suppress my injuries."
Ling Changkong spoke calmly.
But Shen Qianyue's eyes flickered.
He had followed the royal family for many years, but had never heard Ling Changkong mention this matter. Twenty years ago, during that period of seclusion, the royal family announced to the outside world that the elders were trying to reach a higher realm.
Only now do we realize that the real reason was a fight with the deputy leader of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
Ling Changkong looked at Ling Xueyao, his tone carrying a hint of warning. "Since then, the Blood Baleful Intent Tower has been silent for a long time. I originally thought they had suffered a blow to their foundation and wouldn't dare to make a move again in the short term. Now it seems I underestimated them."
Ling Xueyao's expression grew even colder. "So, the purple-faced deputy sect leader who appeared tonight is the one who escaped back then?"
Ling Changkong nodded. "It should be him. His palm strikes are even more sinister than before, and his injuries should have already healed. If it weren't for his concern for me and..., he might not have retreated so decisively tonight."
Shen Qianyue said in a deep voice, "If the deputy tower master has already reached the Dao Mysterious Realm, then what realm must the Blood Baleful Intent Tower master be at?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
"I don't know."
Ling Changkong shook his head. "No one has ever truly seen the Blood Baleful Intent Tower Master. Whether this person is male or female, old or young, or even whether they truly exist, there is no definite information from the outside world."
This statement made the atmosphere even more somber.
The unknown is often more frightening than a visible enemy.
Chu Yunfei suddenly spoke up, "Tonight's Blood Baleful Intent Tower raid on the palace is probably more than just a test to see if the emperor has been cured and awakened."
Ling Changkong turned to look at him.
After the incident with the detoxification, he no longer viewed Chu Yunfei as a junior. This young man's cultivation level was not high, but his judgment far surpassed that of his peers, and was even more astute than many old guys in the Divine Sea Realm.
What are your thoughts, young friend?
Chu Yunfei didn't keep them in suspense, speaking calmly, "If it were just about taking money to kill, they didn't actually kill anyone tonight. The three golden-masked men attacked Elder Shen with fierce moves, but avoided vital points. The purple-masked deputy master personally intervened, but didn't continue the assault. Seeing that the poisonous fog was still there and the emperor hadn't appeared, he retreated."
Ling Xueyao followed his words and thought about it, her expression gradually becoming serious.
Chu Yunfei continued, "They are very worried about the emperor waking up."
"The fact that an assassin organization knows the emperor is poisoned and is concerned about whether he can be cured suggests two things. Even if they weren't the ones who poisoned him, they're certainly involved. Furthermore, they fear the emperor's awakening might disrupt a certain plan."
Ling Xueyao's gaze gradually turned cold.
The Emperor has been poisoned for many years, and the royal family has never been able to find the true source. If the Blood Baleful Intent Tower is involved, then this is not as simple as a struggle for the throne among the princes.
Ling Changkong remained silent for a moment.
A strange light flickered across his aged eyes.
It was as if he had recalled a secret hidden deep within the royal family.
But he didn't reveal the truth, only slowly saying, "I don't know much about how Zhantian was poisoned. It happened so secretly back then that by the time I discovered it, the poison had already penetrated deep into his soul."
Ling Xueyao looked at Ling Changkong: "Grandpa Elder, after Father Emperor awakens, will you be able to find out who poisoned him?"
"Whether we can find out or not depends on when he wakes up." Ling Changkong looked towards the dragon bed, his voice low. "Some things, only he knows."
Chu Yunfei continued, "Combined with the contents of Lu Shaoyuan's will, I believe the Blood Baleful Intent Tower is secretly weaving a vast net covering the entire Eastern Continent."
" Lu Shaoyuan?"
Ling Changkong's eyes narrowed.
Ling Xueyao immediately gave a brief account of the discovery of Lu Shaoyuan's remains in the abyss, the last words on the stone wall, the three golden-masked figures from the Blood Baleful Intent Tower surrounding and killing him, and how one of them's techniques seemed to be of the same origin as the Devil-Suppressing Hand the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect.
After listening, Ling Changkong's expression turned completely serious.
" Lu Shaoyuan was a genius that the Heavenly Edict Sect would only see once in ten thousand years. If he hadn't disappeared, he would have had a chance to break through to the Dao Mysterious Realm thirty years ago. When I heard about his disappearance back then, I also found it strange. I never expected that he would die at the hands of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower."
Shen Qianyue lowered his voice. "If the last words are true, some people within the Seven Sects have already secretly defected to the Blood Baleful Intent Tower."
"That's not all." Ling Changkong looked into the night sky, "A force capable of mobilizing Late Divine Sea Realm experts to besiege Lu Shaoyuan, and capable of fighting me twenty years ago, cannot be supported by just a few traitors."
Silence fell once more in the hall.
This silence was even deeper than before.
The Royal Family, the Seven Sects, and the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
Originally, the boundaries between the three were clear, but now they have been stirred into an undercurrent by a will and a test of the palace.
Shen Qianyue continued in a low voice, "If there are already members of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower within the Seven Sects, we cannot be careless about Young Master Chu sending a letter to the Heavenly Edict Sect. Once Lu Shaoyuan's will is exposed, it is very likely that it will be targeted by the Blood Baleful Intent Tower before it even reaches Qin Yangui."
Ling Changkong nodded. "That's right. Qin Yangui was already at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level back then. If she were still alive, her cultivation would only be even deeper. But whether the people around her are clean, and whether the Heavenly Edict Sect is trustworthy, are all other things to consider. Young friend Chu, it's best not to rush this matter."
Chu Yunfei said calmly, "I will find a suitable opportunity."
He never liked working for the dead.
But he took what Lu Shaoyuan left behind.
He will send that letter sooner or later.
However, who to give it to and how to give it to them will depend on a clearer picture of the situation.
Ling Changkong looked towards the dragon bed and calmly said, "Regardless of what conspiracy the Blood Baleful Intent Tower may have, we can only wait and see for now. Once Zhantian awakens, the royal family will no longer be in such a passive position."
He said this in a very steady tone.
It's not about offering comfort.
Rather, they genuinely have the confidence.
A hint of doubt flashed across Chu Yunfei's eyes.
Ling Changkong was at the Dao Mysterious Realm Second Stage, while Ling Zhantian was only at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level.
Logically speaking, the true anchor of the royal family should be Ling Changkong.
Judging from Ling Changkong's attitude, he has great confidence in Ling Zhantian's effectiveness after his awakening.
Could it be that only Ling Zhantian can use some kind of trump card of the Great Qian Imperial Family?
Chu Yunfei didn't ask any further questions.
This kind of issue involves the core secrets of the royal family.
Asking that question would only be inappropriate.
Shen Qianyue suddenly said, "What happened tonight will probably spread throughout the capital tomorrow. The Seven Sects Grand Competition is approaching, and many forces have already arrived in the capital. Coupled with the matter of the princess and her consort, the capital will not be peaceful from now on."
Ling Xueyao understood his concerns and said coldly, "For the next three days, Chu Yunfei and I will remain in the palace. We will not go out again until Father Emperor awakens."
Ling Changkong frowned. "Why was the Seven Sects Grand Competition held in the Imperial City?"
Ling Xueyao was taken aback.
Shen Qianyue also shook his head. "The venue for the Seven Sects Grand Competition is usually decided jointly by the seven sects. In previous years, the royal family would at most send people to observe, but never interfere in the competition. I don't know why it was chosen to be in the capital this time."
Chu Yunfei glanced at the dilapidated palace walls outside the hall and said calmly, "I'm afraid this Seven Sects Grand Competition isn't as simple as it seems on the surface."
Ling Xueyao turned to look at him.
Chu Yunfei continued, "The sect's prodigies are all gathered in the imperial city, and the emperor has not appeared for many years. If someone wants to test the imperial family's bottom line, or wants to stir up a bigger storm by exploiting the conflict among the younger generation, this is the perfect opportunity. It cannot be ruled out that the Blood Baleful Intent Tower is behind it all."
Ling Changkong's gaze darkened.
He did not deny it immediately.
Because what Chu Yunfei said made perfect sense.
Now that the Blood Baleful Intent Tower has made its move to test the Imperial Palace, Seven Sects Grand Competition has just happened to be held in the Imperial City, it would be too much of a coincidence to say that the two are not related at all.
A moment later, Ling Changkong waved his hand. "You all go back and rest first. I will guard Zhantian for the next three days."
Ling Xueyao wanted to stay, but Ling Changkong spoke first, "With me here, no one can touch him. If you keep guarding him, it will only make outsiders more suspicious."
Ling Xueyao remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Then I'll leave this to Grandpa Clan."
Ling Changkong smiled and said, "Go ahead. If there are any changes in your father's situation, I will inform you immediately."
Ling Xueyao took one last look at the direction of the dragon bed in the hall before turning and leaving.
Chu Yunfei followed beside her.
Shen Qianyue's injuries were not yet stable, so he stayed in the side hall to recuperate and did not accompany them.
After the two figures disappeared at the end of the palace road, the smile on Ling Changkong's face slowly faded.
He re-entered the black palace and sat before the dragon throne.
Nine ancient bronze lamps swayed gently.
Ling Zhantian was still asleep, the pale golden medicinal power slowly flowing between his brows.
Ling Changkong looked at him, his voice so low that only he could hear it.
" Zhantian, wake up soon."
"They can't wait any longer."
The night was deep as they returned to the princess's palace.
The number of imperial guards patrolling the palace roads was twice as many as usual.
The array patterns in the shadows were all activated, and several auras of the Heavenly Origin Realm were hidden between the eaves and the corridor, their breathing extremely suppressed.
Ling Xueyao remained silent the entire way.
She stopped abruptly after walking several dozen feet.
Chu Yunfei.
Chu Yunfei was pondering the connection between the Blood Baleful Intent Tower and the Seven Sects Grand Competition when he heard this and turned his head.
"What's wrong?"
Ling Xueyao looked at him, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
"How did it feel to hold me just now?"
Chu Yunfei never expected her to ask this.
He blurted out a sentence without thinking.
"It's quite soft, and..."