The mountain wind howled.
There was silence at the edge of the cliff for quite some time.
Lin Wanyin's smile froze.
She looked down at the innocent face in her arms, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.
The topic jumped so abruptly that it caught her completely off guard.
She opened her mouth, her mind filled with Chu Yunfei's unrestrained large hands and those blush-inducing images.
Seeing that her mother remained silent, but her cheeks grew increasingly red, Situ Shuang'er became even more curious.
" Shuang'er is saying, why is it that Mother's figure and charm have become even more captivating these days?"
She blinked.
"But what special cultivation technique did you practice?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lin Wanyin's face flushed, and she quickly interrupted her.
"A young girl like you, thinking about all this nonsense all day long."
She scolded him verbally, but inside she was in a state of panic.
Could it be... really that obvious?
"I was just asking casually," Situ Shuang'er muttered softly, "Why is Mother reacting so strongly?"
"Still talking!"
Lin Wanyin and gently tapped her forehead, then pushed her away slightly.
"Go back to your cultivation and stop daydreaming."
After saying that, she turned around and walked quickly into the courtyard.
The footsteps were much faster than usual, as if something was really chasing them.
Situ Shuang'er stood there, watching her mother's somewhat hurried back, tilting her head with a puzzled look on her face.
at the same time.
Heavenly Sword Sect, Council Hall.
The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely heavy.
Sect Master Meng Tianyun sat in the main seat with his eyes closed, his knuckles tapping lightly on the armrest, remaining silent for a long time.
The elders sat on either side, each with a different expression, but neither of them uttered a sound.
Nangong Wuhen and Mo Yuan were also present.
Just now, our spies in the capital sent back the latest news.
Nangong Wuhen's face turned extremely ugly.
"Impossible!"
He gritted his teeth, his voice almost squeezed out from between them.
"A few days ago in the Cangwu Mountain Range, Elder Mo and I saw with our own eyes that he was only at the Ninth Level of the Spirit Martial Realm!"
"He reached the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer in just a few days, and was even able to defeat the three sects' holy sons and sever Qin Hao's arm?"
"Even with the help of elixirs, it shouldn't have gotten this fast!"
He still can't understand it.
That piece of trash he regarded as an ant not only survived the Blood Baleful Intent Tower's ambush, but also grew to such a level in one fell swoop.
"What the Holy Son said is true."
Mo Yuan said in a deep voice, "I was indeed present that day."
The hall fell silent once more.
After a moment, an elder spoke hesitantly.
"Don't forget, according to the Azure Mystic Sect Master, just a few months ago, Chu Yunfei was merely a useless Body Tempering Realm."
Upon hearing this,
The people in the hall looked at each other, their expressions solemn.
In a few months, he progressed from the Body Tempering Realm to the Mid-Stage Heavenly Origin Realm.
Now, he has even defeated Heavenly Origin Realm Ninth Layer Saint.
This is beyond what the word "defying the heavens" can describe.
"Could it be...?"
A glint of greed flashed in the eyes of one of the elders, who speculated, "Is it related to the inheritance of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor? Did he obtain the opportunity to inherit the legacy?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an elder in blue robes sitting next to him shook his head.
"Unlikely."
"There are three Heaven-Slaying Key in total. Chu Yunfei possesses only one, while the whereabouts of the other two are unknown. Furthermore, the location of the inheritance site is so well hidden that even our Heavenly Sword Sect has no way of investigating it. How could a young junior like him obtain the inheritance?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent once more.
If it's not a legacy, then it must be some other extraordinary opportunity.
Either way, it means that Chu Yunfei is hiding a huge secret.
Just then, Elder Nangong Hai, who was sitting in the high position on the right, slowly opened his eyes.
His hair and beard were all white, his face was dignified, and his aura was as deep and profound as an abyss. He was one of the most senior elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Regardless of whether he has inherited the Sword Emperor's legacy, this young man must possess some extraordinary opportunity and secret."
Nangong Hai glanced at everyone in the hall, his voice steady and powerful.
"He possesses the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor Key and has forged a blood feud with our sect's Holy Son. In my opinion, before he matures, I should personally go to the imperial city and secretly capture him."
"This will not only allow us to seize the key and eliminate future troubles, but also permanently remove any threat to the sect."
"Killing two birds with one stone."
Some of the elders immediately echoed this sentiment.
"The Grand Elder is absolutely right. This child's growth rate is astonishing. If we delay any longer, the consequences will be dire."
"The sooner we act, the sooner we can end this."
However, some people hesitated.
"But he is in the palace and is the son-in-law of the Great Qian Qianlong. If he acts rashly, the royal family will surely be furious."
Before Nangong Hai could respond, another elder let out a cold laugh.
" Ling Zhantian is poisoned and will soon die. With only Ling Changkong left, he is no match for the rest of the family. The Great Qian Imperial Family is not a threat at all."
Others immediately echoed this, confirming the source of the information.
"That's right, this information came directly from the Grand Elder, it's absolutely accurate."
In a short time, the wind direction inside the hall gradually became clear.
Most of the elders' expressions indicated that they had already tacitly approved the plan to capture and kill Chu Yunfei.
Nangong Hai glanced at the crowd, a cold glint slowly creeping onto his lips.
The overall situation is pretty much settled.
But just then...
"Ridiculous!"
An aged yet extremely firm voice suddenly exploded out.
Everyone turned to look.
Suddenly, a white-haired elder stood up, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring directly at Nangong Hai.
It was Wen Buqi, the elder of the Alchemy Hall.
"Since when has my Heavenly Sword Sect stooped to the level of murder, robbery, and assassination of juniors?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it made the entire hall feel heavy.
"You've made such a despicable thing sound so noble, like it's some kind of self-evident righteousness!"
The words fell silent.
Everyone's expressions instantly turned grim.
Meng Tianyun, seated at the head of the table, frowned slightly, and stopped tapping his fingers on the armrest.
Nangong Hai's gaze turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, " Wen Buqi, what do you mean by that?"
"Do you perhaps think that our sect should allow an external enemy possessing the Sword Emperor Key to grow stronger? And sit idly by while other sects vie for the opportunity and covet our sect?"
Wen Buqi was not intimidated by the other party's status as the Grand Elder or his imposing presence.
He looked at Nangong Hai and hit the nail on the head.
"You speak of the sect's greater good, but all you're thinking about is your grandson, Nangong Wuhen."
"Using a sect as a front, don't you find it ridiculous?"
Nangong Hai's expression darkened.
When someone's thoughts are exposed in public, even the most shrewd person will inevitably feel embarrassed for a moment.
He did have ulterior motives.
Chu Yunfei grew too fast and also formed a deadly feud with Nangong Wuhen.
If such people continue to grow in power, they will surely become a major threat to the Nangong Family.
But he naturally wouldn't admit to that.
"Even if I have selfish motives, they are for the sake of the sect."
Nangong Hai said coldly, " Chu Yunfei is a vindictive man. If we let him get away with it, he'll cause trouble sooner or later."
At this point, his gaze shifted, landing sharply on Wen Buqi.
"On the contrary, you, as an elder of the Alchemy Hall, blindly protect your Wen Jiao. If it weren't for her meddling in the Cangwu Mountain Range, Chu Yunfei would have been captured long ago, and the key would already be in our hands."
"If it weren't for the sake of the Jade Firmament Sect, I would have expelled her from the sect long ago!"
Wen Buqi's anger intensified.
" Chu Yunfei saved Wen Jiao's life; what's wrong with repaying that kindness?"
"The real trouble was caused by your grandson's greed!"
The two elders faced off in the hall, and the atmosphere inside immediately became extremely tense.
Just as Nangong Hai was about to speak...
That's enough.
A deep voice came from the head of the table.
It wasn't large, but it suppressed all the sounds inside the hall.
Meng Tianyun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on Nangong Hai and Wen Buqi for a moment each.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Nangong Hai snorted coldly, suppressing his aura.
Wen Buqi also sat back down with a sullen face, but his fists were clenched even tighter.
Meng Tianyun spoke calmly.
" The Heaven-Slaying Key must be obtained."
"However, with the Seven Sects Grand Competition approaching, various forces are gathering in the capital, and there are many spies around. It is not advisable to cause any unnecessary trouble."
He paused for a moment, then made a decision.
"We'll decide on everything after the competition concludes."
Nangong Hai bowed respectfully, a slight smile appearing on his face.
"Our patriarch is wise."
The other elders echoed this sentiment.
We'll take action after the competition.
The meaning of these words is crystal clear.
Wen Buqi looked at the faces in the hall, the anger in his chest burned even brighter.
How could he not understand the deeper meaning behind it?
The so-called decision to be made after the competition was merely a way to postpone the killing and looting. In essence, the vast majority of people present had already tacitly agreed to kill the young man.
The mighty Heavenly Sword Sect, a renowned family with a thousand-year history.
It's come to this.
Wen Buqi closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened his eyes again, the disappointment in them had overshadowed his anger.
"I disdain to associate with such a sect."
He stood upright, his voice clear and resonant.
"I'd rather not stay in the Heavenly Sword Sect!"