Within a radius of ten thousand miles, countless spatial laws suddenly appeared, and silver-white spatial patterns spread and crisscrossed from the ends of heaven and earth, forming a vast spatial array that covered a vast territory in just a few breaths.
Four silver pillars of light, piercing the sky from the east, west, south, and north, rose from the ground, connecting with each other and completely locking down the entire world, forcibly closing all void passages and spatial rifts.
The escape passage that the old man in black robes had just torn open instantly closed, and the immense spatial shockwave slammed into him, sending him crashing back to the ground.
His face filled with horror as he exclaimed, "Spatial lockdown! It's the Wuji Realm!" Only then did he fully realize that he had stepped into an inescapable net. At the same time, Qin Yu took a step forward, his figure instantly traversing a vast distance, arriving beside Chi Zhihan and her brother in a flash.
Without any unnecessary movements, a hundred Supreme Transformation Source Crystal appeared in mid-air with a wave of his hand, their silvery-white light slowly flowing, and an extremely rich primal aura instantly filled the surroundings. Qin Yu pushed the Origin Crystals in front of the two of them, his voice steady. "Take them quickly and focus on healing."
Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei moved. The battle had been fierce and the situation had changed rapidly. They were still in shock and had not yet recovered. "Take it quickly. Leave the rest of the battle to us." The brother and sister suddenly came to their senses and took the Supreme Transformation Source Crystal without hesitation. They sat cross-legged on the spot and began to circulate their cultivation techniques to refine their source and suppress the severe injuries in their bodies.
In the deep pit, Chi Qianyuan slowly propped himself up, his mangled body dripping blood from his chin. He stared intently at the four figures in the void, his shock replaced by overwhelming fear. "You... this was all a pre-arranged trap? Deliberately luring me to reveal myself!"
Chi Boqian took a step forward, his gaze as cold as an abyss, utterly unmoved. "Indeed. From the moment you stepped out of the Chi Lineage's territory, you have already fallen into the game." Chi Qianyuan's face turned deathly pale in an instant. Chi Boqian stared at the black robe and mask on his face, and said in a deep voice, each word distinct. "No need to continue pretending. I already know your identity. Chi Qianyuan, remove this mask of hypocrisy."
The entire void suddenly fell into deathly silence. Chi Qianyuan remained silent for a few breaths, then suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Hahahaha!" His laughter was filled with endless bitterness and resentment. He slowly raised his hand and removed his black mask, revealing an old face that everyone in the Chi Lineage recognized—it was none other than the second elder of the Chi Lineage, Chi Qianyuan!
Chi Qianyuan looked up at Chi Boqian and shook his head sadly. "Chi Boqian, in this round, I have been completely defeated. I admit defeat." He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was still filled with an unresolved doubt.
"But I've always been puzzled. I've been hiding for decades, acting with utmost caution, never revealing the slightest flaw, leaving not a single suspicious trace... How exactly did you discover me?"
The vast void was utterly silent. The spatial sealing array still stretched across the four directions, its silver-white spatial Dao patterns like endless chains traversing heaven and earth, firmly sealing off the entire territory and cutting off all escape routes.
On the distant land, Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei sat cross-legged in meditation, with hundreds of Supreme Transformation Source Crystal floating around them, continuously pouring out pure essence to quickly repair their damaged Fate Soul.
At this moment, the siblings' gazes remained fixed ahead, their hearts churning with disbelief. Neither of them had expected that the assassin who had just tried to kill them and annihilate them was actually the second elder of the Chi Lineage, Chi Qianyuan.
Chi Qianyuan was a highly respected figure in the clan, known for his gentle nature. He often guided the younger generation in their cultivation, and many stewards and disciples had benefited from his guidance.
Chi Zhihan slowly lowered her head, her voice tinged with uncontrollable unease. "It was... the Second Elder." Chi Zhiwei's eyes trembled violently. She gently closed her eyes, her mind unable to find peace for a long time. This answer far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Chi Xiyue took a slow step forward, and a wisp of the unique Daoist charm of the Void Emanation Realm quietly spread out. It did not stir up any storms, but it made the atmosphere of the entire world even more solemn.
Her gaze was icy as she fixed it on Chi Qianyuan, her tone devoid of any warmth. "Chi Qianyuan, my Chi Lineage has shown you immense kindness. For decades, you have held the position of Second Elder, possessing vast clan resources and enjoying the respect of the entire clan."
None of us ever imagined that you were a spy planted in my Chi Hua Lineage Chi Lineage. You've been lying low for decades; it's likely that countless core secrets of the Chi Lineage have already been secretly passed on to the Hua Lineage by you."
Chi Qianyuan slowly raised his head, a cold smile playing on his lips. There was no trace of regret in that smile, only biting sarcasm. "Hmph, things have come to this. I have already lost. There's nothing left to hide."
He straightened his broken body, his eyes revealing undisguised arrogance and contempt. "I am of the Hua Lineage bloodline. To fulfill the clan's entrustment, I voluntarily changed my surname and concealed my identity, infiltrating the Chi Lineage for decades. To me, such forbearance is itself a great disgrace."
His tone shifted, and he turned to look at Chi Boqian, his sarcasm deepening. "Chi Boqian, you don't need to put on such a righteous act. The Lineage are mutually restraining; who dares to say they're completely clean? Don't think I don't know; the Chi Lineage has also planted spies in the Hua Lineage. It's always been the norm for major powers to plant spies and gather intelligence on each other. But this time, I've lost."
Having said that, he tilted his head back slightly, slowly closed his eyes, and said calmly, "Do it. Give this old man a quick death; there's no need to drag it out."
Chi Boqian stared at the other person silently, his expression unwavering. After a few breaths, he slowly raised his right hand, his voice deep and authoritative, resounding throughout the heavens and earth.
"Chi Qianyuan has betrayed his clan and sold out his people. Today, I, the clan head, in the name of the Chi Family Lineage patriarch, will cleanse this family."
Boom! The vast power of Fate Soul soared into the sky, and countless golden Dao patterns gathered together, eventually condensing into a golden ancient sword of judgment that stretched across the sky. It hung high in the heavens, and wherever its blade pointed, all things were annihilated.
Chi Boqian strode forward and shouted out his clan's divine power in a deep voice, "Clan Divine Power - Heaven-Judging Soul-Severing Sword!" A thunderous roar shook the ages, and the golden ancient sword suddenly fell. There was no wildly spreading Sword Qi, only a pure and supremely decisive sword light that instantly cleaved through the heavens and earth.
Chi Qianyuan neither resisted nor dodged, standing quietly in place, letting the sword light pierce through his body. With a soft thud, the moment the sword light swept across his body, countless golden cracks spread from within his flesh and blood. His Fate Soul, Dao foundation, and origin crumbled layer by layer.
Chi Qianyuan gazed one last time at the vast sky, his body transforming into countless golden specks of light before vanishing completely into nothingness. A thin, wisp of Soul Sound Talisman drifted gently down from where the light had disappeared.
Chi Boqian raised his hand and drew the Soul Sound Talisman into his palm, immersing his divine sense within it to examine it closely. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and serious. "Just as we predicted. He had already sent a message to the traitor lurking in the Ju Lineage, inviting him to meet him at the Heavenly Desert Ancient Forest, a hundred miles away from the Ju Lineage."
Qin Yu, Chi Ninghua, and Chi Xiyue slowly approached. After a moment's thought, Chi Xiyue said, "Clan leader, we can handle the rest."
She turned to look at Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei, who had finished healing in the distance. "Their Fate Soul injuries have temporarily stabilized, but they still need to recuperate quietly. Let's escort them back to their clan to rest first."
In the distance, Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei rose. The brother and sister had already figured it out. From the moment the plan began, they were the "kites" to lure the big fish out. But as stewards of the Chi Lineage, the two had no resentment. They knew that if they didn't do this, the cancer that had been lurking in the clan for many years would never be rooted out.
Chi Boqian stepped forward to the two men, his chilling killing intent slowly receding, his expression gradually softening, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes, and a peaceful Daoist aura flowing gently. "You two performed exceptionally well this time. You did not retreat in the face of a formidable enemy, nor did you betray your clan at the critical moment of life and death. This sense of responsibility is worthy of a higher position."
He solemnly announced, "After returning to the clan, you and your brother will be promoted to elders simultaneously. At that time, I will personally issue the elder tokens." The brother and sister's bodies trembled violently, and a huge surprise swept over them. They immediately knelt down, their voices strong and clear.
"This disciple thanks the clan leader for his promotion! I will dedicate my life to the Chi Lineage and never let the clan leader down," Qin Yu said calmly as he stepped forward.
"Clan Chief, the subsequent journey to the Heavenly Desert Ancient Forest will be undertaken by Senior Xiyue and me. We will change our appearances and conceal our auras, while Senior Xiyue will temporarily suppress her cultivation to the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage. This way, the traitor within the Ju Lineage will not easily become wary. Once the traitor appears, we will seize the opportunity to capture him alive and hand him over to the Ju Lineage for their own disposal."
After a moment's thought, Chi Boqian slowly nodded. "It's feasible. Let's proceed according to Fellow Daoist Qin's plan." The group immediately split up and set off. Chi Boqian led Chi Ninghua, Chi Zhihan, Chi Zhiwei, tearing through the void and speeding back towards the Chi Lineage land.
Above the void, only Qin Yu and Chi Xiyue remained. Their Fate Soul trembled slightly, and their appearances began to slowly transform. Qin Yu transformed into a composed middle-aged cultivator; Chi Xiyue became an ordinary-looking young female cultivator.
Chi Xiyue completely suppressed the fluctuations of the Void Emanation Realm's origin, steadily holding her cultivation at the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage. All abnormal auras were concealed. After preparations were complete, the two exchanged a glance, needing no further words, and took a step forward. Their figures dissolved into the depths of the void, heading straight for the Ju Lineage's territory, the Heavenly Desert Ancient Forest.