Reactions from all sides 2

Time ticked by, second after second. Just as the Grand Elder grew increasingly anxious, a deep voice like a great bell suddenly rang out from the secluded chamber. "Come in!" A rumble followed, and the heavy stone door slowly opened.

The Grand Elder dared not delay. He hurried to his feet and strode into the chamber. The light inside was dim, and a stale, decaying smell filled the air.

At the very center of the chamber stood a stone bed. Seated upon it was an old man with a head of white hair and an aged face that nevertheless radiated immense authority.

This old man was none other than Li Xing, the ancestor of the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect. His cultivation had already reached the peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm, making him the strongest being in the entire sect.

Upon seeing the ancestor, the Grand Elder hurriedly bowed once more, then reported with a terrified expression, "Ancestor, something terrible has happened! The sect master... has fallen!"

Hearing this news, Li Xing, who had been sitting steadily on the stone bed, abruptly opened his eyes. Brilliant light shot from them as he asked loudly in disbelief, "What did you say? How could Liu Ran have fallen? Aside from those few old fellows living in seclusion, who in the Heavenly Star Dynasty could possibly kill him?"

The Grand Elder drew a deep breath and steadied himself before continuing, "Ancestor, according to what this subordinate knows, an extremely mysterious force called the Shadow Pavilion has suddenly risen within the dynasty in recent days.

"This time, the sect master went with numerous experts from the Ghost King Sect, the Blood Kill Organization, and other forces to encircle and destroy the Shadow Pavilion. But he met with misfortune during that fierce battle and ultimately perished."

"The Ghost King Sect's master, Qi Tianlong, its ancestor, Guixuan, and the Blood Lord of the Blood Kill Organization were all slain as well!"

Li Xing was startled once again. "Are you saying that three major forces besieged the Shadow Pavilion, only to be completely wiped out instead? Could a Reincarnation Realm expert have intervened?"

"Yes, Ancestor! The Shadow Pavilion's master is an early Reincarnation Realm expert! Even after the Ghost King Sect's ancestor used a secret art to raise his cultivation to the mid Reincarnation Realm, he only lasted two moves against him before being slain!"

Why exactly had they gone to surround and kill the Shadow Pavilion? Who could have imagined that such powerful beings would fall so easily?

Li Xing knitted his brows tightly, his heart full of questions, and could not help asking again, "What exactly happened?"

The Grand Elder drew a deep breath and slowly said, "It happened like this. While Sun Qi, a true disciple of the Ghost King Sect, was training in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range, he unfortunately fell victim to someone using the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's sword techniques.

"When the Ghost King Sect learned of this, they came aggressively to our Falling Rosy Clouds Sect to demand an explanation, but to no avail.

"However, while the two sects were investigating in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range, the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder was suddenly surrounded and ambushed by the Shadow Pavilion!" Yet the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's people and the others were completely unharmed!

Hearing this, Li Xing suddenly understood. Someone had wanted to provoke conflict between the Ghost King Sect and the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, then reap the fisherman's rewards.

He knew full well that unless he acted in time to prove the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's innocence, a life-and-death war between the two sects would likely be inevitable, and it would surely stir up towering waves!

At this thought, Li Xing sank into contemplation and murmured to himself, "Where did this Shadow Pavilion come from? With a Reincarnation Realm expert presiding over it, it clearly cannot be a local force.

"But this is merely a small, obscure place. Why would those powerful outside forces take any interest in it? Could there be something else behind this..."

The more he thought, the more he felt this was no trivial matter. Li Xing realized that the situation had already become extremely perilous. The slightest misstep could turn the entire dynasty upside down!

Their immediate priority was to find the imperial family and the Vajra Sect as quickly as possible and discuss countermeasures together. Only by joining forces might the three sides resolve this impending, enormous crisis and save the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect from destruction.

"Grand Elder, remain here and oversee the sect. Activate the sect-protecting formation! I will go speak with the imperial family and the abbot of the Vajra Temple now! It would be best if they are willing to cooperate!

"Otherwise, the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect will not escape its doom!"

Within the Heavenly Star Dynasty's magnificent Xiao Hall, which resembled a resplendent palace, the eldest prince of the imperial family, Murong Yi, was reporting the matter to Murong Fu with a grave expression!

"Father, a Reincarnation Realm expert has actually appeared in the Shadow Pavilion! What should we do?" Murong Yi's voice was filled with anxiety and unease.

"Also, I previously had the black market post a mission with the Shadow Pavilion to assassinate the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder!

"The Shadow Pavilion's people probably also know that the idea came from our imperial family!

"I only wanted to test the Shadow Pavilion's strength. Who would have thought they actually had a Reincarnation Realm expert!

"The Ghost King Sect's ancestor and sect master both fell, and even the Blood Lord, the leader of Blood Slaughter whose very name struck terror into people's hearts, was not spared!"

After hearing this news, Murong Fu, seated in the seat of honor, kept tapping his fingers, producing crisp taps that seemed to beat out the rhythm of his inner unease.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and worry covered his face as he spoke gravely. "If there is only one Reincarnation Realm expert, that is not much of a problem!

"Have the secret guards discovered exactly who this young master of the Shadow Pavilion is?

"Do they know his name?"

Hearing this, the eldest prince hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Father, we have yet to uncover anything!

"However," he continued thoughtfully after a brief pause, "based on the information we previously gathered, the person who killed Sun Qi with the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's sword techniques was very likely the Shadow Pavilion's young master. The identity he used in the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect at the time was 'Tian Luo.'"

The eldest prince paused, then added, "According to the information uncovered by the secret guards, this person's movements show that he came here from Fengluo City.

"After entering the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, he also went out to train for a time. Yet just after Sun Qi was murdered, this inner disciple named 'Tian Luo' suddenly vanished without a trace, and nothing more was heard of him!"

At this point, the eldest prince could not help shaking his head, a troubled expression on his face. "Several major forces have now launched investigations, but none has found anything.

"That is precisely why everyone suspects this person is very likely a member of the mysterious Shadow Pavilion.

"Moreover, it is said that the Shadow Pavilion's young master always wears a mask when appearing before others. His strength is unfathomable, and killing Sun Qi would certainly be no difficult task for him.

"So his identity truly does arouse suspicion!"

After hearing him out, Murong Fu frowned deeply. Only after pondering for a moment did he slowly say, "Yes, there are indeed many suspicious points in this matter.

"Since they came from Fengluo City, and the Shadow Pavilion also happened to appear there, there must presumably be a connection between the two. The likelihood is as high as eighty or ninety percent.

"After all, when so many powerful forces have searched everywhere to no avail, only the Shadow Pavilion would have the ability to hide someone without leaving a trace!"

As he spoke, he paced back and forth across the room, his face filled with gravity.

Suddenly, he stopped, turned to look out the window, and murmured to himself, "But these people's origins are like a shroud of mist, leaving us completely at a loss.

"We have tried every means to investigate, yet we have never found the slightest clue. It is as though they appeared out of thin air!

"Could it be... that they truly are not people of our dynasty, but a mysterious force from beyond its borders? No matter how I consider it, that seems to be the only explanation that makes sense."

"Here is what we will do. Your second brother will be returning soon to visit the family. When he arrives, ask him whether he has heard of the Shadow Pavilion.

"If there truly is danger then, we can only seek help from your second brother's master and see whether he will come forward and help us!"

At this thought, Murong Fu could not help drawing in a sharp breath. If an outside force truly had become involved, the matter would become extraordinarily thorny.

What was more, not even the records preserved by the imperial family mentioned this so-called Shadow Pavilion. That alone showed that its mystery was far beyond the ordinary.

"No! This is no trivial matter. We absolutely cannot take it lightly

"It seems I must find a suitable opportunity to discuss this properly with the ancestor. Otherwise, I fear our imperial house will face a calamity that drowns us all!" Murong Fu muttered to himself, having already made his decision!

Although the imperial family had a first ancestor whose cultivation had reached the early Reincarnation Realm, his blood essence had long since been exhausted. He was like a candle guttering in the wind, in the twilight of his years!

Once he acted, his life would vanish in an instant like a shooting star! Unless there was absolutely no other choice, they would never let the first ancestor take action!

The second ancestor was only at the peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm and had remained unable to break through to the Reincarnation Realm. Clearly, this was closely tied to the dynasty's cultivation environment. This remote land lacked Spiritual Qi and resources. Like an oasis in the desert, it struggled to nurture powerful martial artists!

Only by leaving this corner of the world and heading into the greater world outside would there be a thread of hope!

The force behind the Shadow Pavilion was like a shroud of mist, mysterious and unfathomable, leaving one completely at a loss. Could it truly be a colossal power from the outside?