Outside the Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm.
After Nangong Wuhen's life tablet shattered.
The noise in the central square lingered for a long time.
Nangong Hai's eyes were bloodshot, and he still clutched a blood-stained fragment of his life tablet in his hand.
The oppressive aura of the Divine Sea Realm Eighth Level enveloped the high platform, forcing the nearby disciples to keep their heads down.
Just when everyone thought this was the biggest unexpected turn of events in the competition.
On the high platform of the Puppet Sect.
A gray-white soul lamp hanging beside Yin Xiaotian suddenly shook violently, and the soul fire in the center of the wick, which originally represented Yue Chenzhou, went out without warning.
Click!
The lamp that held the soul flame split open from the center, scattering fragments.
Yin Xiaotian's fingers, which were playing with the puppet bead, suddenly stopped.
He stared down at the shattered soul lamp, and for the first time, a change appeared on his pale face.
"The ship is dead."
Yin Xiaotian spoke softly, but the expressions of several Puppet Sect elders nearby changed simultaneously.
Qi Yuanshan suddenly stood up, his gaze fixed on the extinguished soul lamp, his face filled with disbelief.
Although Yue Chenzhou had been defeated by Chu Yunfei in the Jingyuan Hall, he had already broken through to the Divine Sea Realm before entering the secret realm, and he also had core disciples of the Puppet Sect accompanying him.
How could he possibly be dead?
Moreover, Yue Chenzhou's storage ring also contained two useful battle puppets, as well as a life-saving talisman bestowed by the sect.
Even if he encountered Late Divine Sea Realm demon beast, he shouldn't have died so quickly.
"Sect Master, could it be that the connection between the Soul Lamp and the secret realm has been interfered with?"
Qi Yuanshan suppressed his unease and tried to find another explanation. " The Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm has been sealed for ten thousand years, and the rules of its internal space are unknown. Perhaps the Soul Lamp has only temporarily lost its ability to sense things."
Yin Xiaotian did not answer.
The extinguishing of the soul lamp and the loss of its connection are two completely different changes.
The divine soul imprint left by Yue Chenzhou in the soul lamp has completely dissipated.
He died cleanly.
Yin Xiaotian slowly raised his head and looked at the golden array gate hanging above the square, a cold light flowing in his gray-white pupils.
Yue Chenzhou is a holy son cultivated by the Puppet Sect at great expense.
To help him break through to the Divine Sea Realm, the sect not only bestowed upon him a sixth-grade pill, but also assigned two fifth-grade alchemists to personally regulate his meridians.
No one in the Eastern Continent could refine seventh-grade pills, and sixth-grade pills were already the highest grade that various sects could reliably obtain.
That pill that aided in breaking through to the next realm was obtained by the Puppet Sect at a huge cost.
Now, all the investment has vanished with the extinction of the soul lamp.
Yin Xiaotian's anger had already risen, but he did not rush to lash out.
Although Yue Chenzhou was talented, he was not important enough to make him lose his composure on the spot.
What he really cared about was the sect's reputation.
"I'd like to see who dares to be so audacious!"
Yin Xiaotian slowly closed his eyes, forming a secret seal of the Puppet Sect with his hands, attempting to trace back to the scene before his death through the divine soul imprint left by Yue Chenzhou in the soul lamp.
A wisp of grayish-white mist rose from the fragments.
Before the mist could condense into a picture, it was torn apart by an extremely sharp dark gold sword intent.
Yin Xiaotian's finger trembled, and the secret seal collapsed on the spot.
Only a trace of that sword intent remained, yet it caused a faint stinging pain in his mind.
Sword cultivator.
Moreover, the person wielding the sword has a control over power far exceeding that of ordinary Divine Sea Realm cultivators.
Qi Yuanshan also sensed the sword intent, and his expression instantly darkened.
"This aura..."
He whispered, "When Han Kui's life tablet shattered, it also left behind a similar sword intent."
Yin Xiaotian stared at the gradually dissipating gray mist, a gray glint surging in his eyes.
Han Kui died outside the imperial city.
Yue Chenzhou died in the Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm.
Although the two died in different places, the sword intent they left behind was remarkably similar.
"Could this be the work of the royal family?"
Yin Xiaotian frowned deeply.
Previously, Qi Yunshan discovered Imperial Dao Dragon Qi outside the imperial city where Han Kui died... leading him to suspect that Han Kui's death was a setup by the royal family and Chu Yunfei.
Now, the Great Qian Imperial Family has suddenly intervened in the Seven Sects Grand Competition, changing the location and rules, and even relaxing the conditions for Rogue Cultivator to enter.
And Yue Chenzhou tragically perished in the chaos.
Based on these two points, Yin Xiaotian couldn't help but suspect that there was a royal conspiracy behind all of this.
Thinking about this...
Yin Xiaotian rose from his seat and looked toward the royal platform.
"Your Highness."
His voice echoed throughout the central square.
"My Puppet Sect's Holy Son has just perished in the secret realm."
" The Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm was provided by the Great Qian Imperial Family, and the rules of the Grand Competition were also changed at the sudden request of the Imperial Family. Now that both the Holy Son of my sect and the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sword Sect have died inside, shouldn't you give both sects an explanation?"
The square fell silent for a moment.
The next moment, a huge uproar erupted all around.
"What? Yue Chenzhou is dead too?"
"They've only been inside a short time, and two Holy Sons have already died?"
What exactly happened inside the Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm?
All eyes turned to Yin Xiaotian and the royal platform.
Ling Chengyuan was stunned after hearing this.
Then a hint of satisfaction flashed deep in his eyes, but his face immediately showed shock and regret.
Yue Chenzhou is dead.
The conflict within the secret realm was more intense than he had anticipated.
The more prodigies from various sects continue to fall, the more satisfied the Emperor will be.
The matter of succession will then be easier to settle.
"Sect Leader Yin, I also did not expect this to happen."
Ling Chengyuan stepped forward, his tone grave. "Although the Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm was opened by the royal family, it has been sealed for ten thousand years, and the situation inside is far beyond the royal family's control. Before the competition began, I reminded everyone that the dangers within the realm are unknown, and everyone is responsible for their own lives."
He glanced at the extinguished soul lamp and continued, "I deeply regret the fall of Saint Yue. However, the secret realm has not yet reopened, and no one knows what happened inside. If Sect Master Yin demands answers from the royal family now, the royal family will have no way to investigate."
Yin Xiaotian's eyes grew colder and colder.
Ling Chengyuan's words were so watertight that it was as if he had said nothing at all.
"Unable to investigate?"
Yin Xiaotian's puppet bead spun in his hand. "The royal family suddenly interfered in the Seven Sects Grand Competition and moved it to a secret realm that had never been opened before. Now that something has gone wrong, His Highness thinks he can shirk all responsibility with just a statement that he will bear the consequences of his actions?"
Zhou Xuancheng, a royal attendant, stepped forward.
The pressure from the Late Divine Sea Realm cultivator subtly rose, and his expression also darkened.
"Sect Leader Yin, the rules of the Grand Competition are agreed upon by all sects, not forced by the royal family. If the Puppet Sect had any concerns about the secret realm, it could have refused entry to its disciples in the first place. Now that Holy Son Yue is dead, Sect Leader Yin is turning around and questioning the royal family, which is hardly befitting of a sect leader."
A gray glint flashed in Yin Xiaotian's eyes.
Black puppet threads dangled from her sleeves, causing subtle distortions in the surrounding void.
Just as he was about to speak, several soft sounds came from behind him.
puff.
Pfft!
One by one, the soul lamps went out.
He was initially just an ordinary disciple.
Immediately afterwards, the soul lamps representing the core disciples also began to dim.
One lamp... two lamps...
In just over ten breaths, dozens of soul lamps were completely extinguished.
The elders and disciples on the Puppet Sect's high platform all froze in place.
The color drained from Qi Yuanshan's face, and even his lips began to turn pale.
The extinguishing of a soul lamp could perhaps be explained as an accident.
With so many soul lamps going out one after another, there can only be one possibility.
The elite of the Puppet Sect are being slaughtered!
"Impossible."
Qi Yuanshan rushed to the Soul Lamp, his divine sense scanning the wick repeatedly. "Disciples entering the secret realm are protected by battle puppets, and core disciples have mastered combined attack formations. Unless they encounter a Late Divine Sea Realm expert, who could kill so many people in such a short time?"
Yin Xiaotian no longer had time to argue with the royal family.
He turned around abruptly, his gray-white pupils fixed on the rows of extinguished soul lamps.
Each lamp extinguished represents years, even decades, of training by the Puppet Sect gone to waste.
Those core disciples were originally supposed to take over as deacons and elders in the coming decades, becoming the backbone of maintaining the sect's legacy.
But now he died in a short time.
This is not just a large-scale loss.
The foundation of the Puppet Sect is being uprooted.
Yin Xiaotian Xiaotian's gray-black spiritual energy surged violently, causing fine cracks to appear on the ground of the platform.
Who exactly is it?
His voice was hoarse, and the murderous intent in his eyes was almost tangible.
The scene was deathly silent.
Qi Yuanshan's throat went dry, and a young face involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Chu Yunfei.
In the Jingyuan Hall, Yue Chenzhou and Qin Hao joined forces, but were still defeated by Chu Yunfei sword.
In the desolate mountains outside the imperial city, Han Kui and Chen Xuanhai both died under mysterious circumstances.
If we were to say who had the most motive to kill the Puppet Sect, Chu Yunfei would undoubtedly be number one.
But as soon as the thought crossed Qi Yuanshan's mind, he found it absurd.
Chu Yunfei's cultivation level displayed in the Jingyuan Hall was only at the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer.
Even if his cultivation speed is incredibly fast, reaching the Heavenly Origin Realm Ninth Layer within half a month is already his limit. How could he possibly slaughter so many elite sect members?
Needless to say, Yin Hanmei was also in the secret realm.
She possesses the Nether Puppet Spirit Physique, allowing multiple corpse puppets to share power and injuries.
Once the source of one's physique is activated, the three corpse puppets can be temporarily strengthened to the Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level.
She is the one on whom the Puppet Sect truly places its hopes.
Yue Chenzhou, this "Holy Son," is merely the publicly acknowledged successor.
Yin Hanmei was personally selected by the sect's Supreme Elder and is the most likely future pillar to step into the Dao Mysterious Realm.
Thinking of this, Qi Yuanshan suddenly looked towards the deepest part of the high platform.
There stood a single black soul lamp there.
The lamp's surface was engraved with intricate puppet patterns, and the grayish-white soul flame within its wick was several times more intense than that of other soul lamps.
The soul lamp belonging to Yin Hanmei is still burning.
Qi Yuanshan had just breathed a sigh of relief when his soul fire suddenly began to shake violently without warning.
one time.
Two times.
After the third shaking, the grayish-white soul flame suddenly went out.
Click!
The black lamp split open from the center.
Qi Yuanshan stared blankly at the shattered soul lamp, feeling a chill run from his feet throughout his body.
" Han Mei..."
Yin Xiaotian's body also froze.
Yue Chenzhou is dead. Although he is furious, he is still able to remain rational.
Yin Hanmei's death, however, snapped the last thread in his mind.
Special constitutions are rare to begin with, and those of the Nether Puppet Spirit Physique are even rarer.
Once she reaches mastery, Yin Hanmei will be able to control nine corpse puppets of the same realm simultaneously.
If she were to reach the Dao Mysterious Realm, the Puppet Sect would effectively gain nine more Dao Mysterious Realm warriors at once.
To nurture her, the Supreme Elder personally guided her and even bestowed upon her a protective jade stone that sealed the power of the Dao Mysterious Realm.
Even when facing Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level expert, that trump card would be enough to turn the tide and kill.
But now, she's dead.
Even a single strike from the Dao Mysterious Realm's sealing technique couldn't save her.
Yin Xiaotian could no longer suppress his rage. His Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level swept across the platform, instantly turning the chair beneath him into dust.
"Seal the gate!"
He stared intently at the royal platform and shouted sternly, "After the secret realm reopens, everyone must be investigated! I, the sect master, want to see who dares to sever the legacy of my Puppet Sect!"
Zhou Xuancheng's expression darkened slightly.
"Sect Leader Yin, this is the Great Qian Imperial City. It's not up to the Puppet Sect to give orders here."
So what?
Yin Xiaotian suddenly turned his head, his killing intent locking onto Zhou Xuancheng: "Our sect's holy sons, holy daughters, and elites have fallen one after another. If the royal family doesn't provide an explanation, the Puppet Sect will investigate on its own!"
Just as their energies were about to collide, the void above the Puppet Sect's high platform suddenly caved inward.
A chilling and terrifying pressure descended upon the central square.
Hundreds of thousands of cultivators simultaneously felt a tightness in their chests, and those with weaker cultivation levels nearly collapsed to their knees.
A hoarse voice echoed from the depths of the void.
"Whoever killed Han Mei, I will refine him into a corpse puppet, so that he will never find peace!"
Everyone looked up in shock.
Before the figure even appeared, a single voice was enough to make the souls of the Divine Sea Realm experts present tremble.
A giant of the Dao Mysterious Realm!
The Supreme Elder of the Puppet Sect had been hiding near the Imperial City all along!