Chapter 467 - 45 Ignite! _4

Chapter 467: Chapter 45 Ignite! _4

“Yan Qing feels that there must be a conspiracy involved, possibly instigated by Incense Fire Dao!”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyun couldn’t help but take a deeper look at Yan Qing.

This scheme of deflecting blame has been well played.

Qiao Yushan, however, wore a mournful expression. He said, “Brother Zhuang Dao was already severely injured and was just beginning to recover. Hearing that Incense Fire Dao was wreaking havoc outside Yanqiao Pass, he rushed to assist the House of Prince Gao without hesitation. Who could’ve thought that Yan Qing, this vile creature, would seize the opportunity and murder him with a single strike!”

“I urge Master Li to discern right from wrong and bring this criminal, Yan Qing, to justice!”

“Shut up! You’re nothing but a loss-stricken cur and dare to bark here!”

Yan Qing interjected.

“Master Li, I implore you to arrest Yan Qing!”

“Master Li, please do not be swayed by this loss-stricken cur’s one-sided tale…”

“Master Li…”

“Enough!”

Li Xiangyun reprimanded, then couldn’t help but rub her temples again.

She faintly understood why her husband, Xiang Huang, was reluctant to involve himself in Yan State’s affairs year after year. It was indeed because these matters were just too complicated.

She pondered for a moment and eventually reached a decision.

“Zhuang Yi died heroically to support Yanqiao Pass! He shall be posthumously honored as the ‘Immortal Master of the State for Yan’…”

“Yan Qing committed murder, a crime worthy of the harshest punishment! But considering that he has also made merit and now is a time when everybody is needed, his death sentence shall be spared. However, he won’t escape his due suffering! In the ensuing battle with Incense Fire Dao, if he fails to behead a Class III cultivator, he shall be sentenced to serve Xuli Sect for a hundred years!”

Upon hearing this sentence, Yan Qing rejoiced greatly within his heart.

This was far better than paying for his life. And even if he didn’t manage to decapitate a Golden Core Craftsman, serving Xuli Sect for a hundred years wasn’t a rigid requirement; it offered much wriggle room.

Upon hearing this sentence, Qiao Yushan also quickly grasped the underlying principle.

However, his expression slightly faltered, and he refrained from making any further comments.

Instead, he submitted the spirit materials prepared by Xuli Sect.

He wore a sorrowful face and said, “Time was against us, and we could only gather a portion of the materials. The rest was planned to be delivered after our return…”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyun felt a twinge of regret, and she glanced at Yan Qing.

Chagrined, Yan Qing could only accept his bad luck, hastily stuffed some treasures into his Storage Bag and handed it to Qiao Yushan.

“Consider this as a token of my apology… I admit that I truly lost my senses back then.”

Qiao Yushan didn’t even give Yan Qing a glance. After respectfully bowing to Li Xiangyun, he led the remaining disciples of Xuli Sect away without further ado.

As Qiao Yushan and the others left, Li Xiangyun coldly snorted and said to Yan Qing:

“If you ever dare to repeat today’s reckless act, I will kill you first!”

Hearing this, Yan Qing instantly broke out in a cold sweat and hastily nodded in agreement:

“Yan Qing will never dare to repeat it!”

“However… Yan Qing finds it quite strange. Even though I was extremely angry at Xuli Sect, I wouldn’t have let it hinder the bigger picture… earlier, it was as if I had truly lost my senses.”

After hearing this, Li Xiangyun’s expression changed, as if she had thought of something.

Her gaze flickered. She didn’t say anything but just waved her hand.

Yan Qing promptly excused himself discreetly.

“Lost his senses…”

Li Xiangyun wore a contemplative expression and unconsciously tapped her fingers on the desk. Then suddenly, she gave an order:

“Investigate within the city and seal all locations with old locust trees, old temples, wells, mirrors, and old books… everything of this sort!”

A female Golden Core Craftsman stepped forward and respectfully accepted the order. However, she showed a hint of uncertainty on her face: “The first ones are manageable, but restricting mirrors and old books… is truly difficult…”

“Do your best.”

Li Xiangyun’s countenance was fraught with tension: “Each branch of the Incense Fire Dao has its own unique abilities, but when they combine forces, their plans become unpredictable and cunning. While the Five Dragons Imprison Array might withstand their frontal attacks, it can’t guard against their devious schemes. We must tread carefully, leaving no room for errors. Once Prince Gao returns, those evildoers from Incense Fire Dao won’t pose a threat anymore.”

“Yes!”

The female Golden Core Craftsman immediately took her leave to carry out the orders.

Seated behind her desk, Li Xiangyun did not immediately dive back into her documents. Instead, her gaze pierced through the Formation outside, looking into the distance.

There, everything was pitch black.

Not a single speck of light could be seen.

…

“Yushan is incompetent! I allowed Master Zhuang to die at Yan Qing’s hands in Huifeng Valley! I implore the Sect Master to punish me!”

It was the dead of night.

Within the Xuli Sect, the atmosphere was eerily tense.

Despite being a Golden Core Master, Qiao Yushan was kneeling on the ground, sorrow etched across his face.

The disciples of Xuli Sect stood behind him, their faces filled with outrage.

“How dare Yan Qing murder Martial Uncle Zhuang! If we don’t avenge this, how can we face the world!”

“Destroy Huifeng Valley!”

“Avenge Martial Uncle Zhuang!”

Only Lin Boyue still remained in shock. His gaze looked past the cultivators surrounding him and fell upon the corpse amidst them.

The body was covered with a white cloth.

But he could faintly make out the blood stains seeping through…

“Junior brother…junior brother…”

Lin Boyue’s throat tightened, momentarily unable to approach.

However, he was ultimately the Sect Master of Xuli Sect, so he clenched his teeth tightly and, with a resolute march, he strode until the cloth-covered body was right in front of him.

He paused slightly, then abruptly uncovered the cloth.

The sight of the familiar face, now disfigured by the violent wound, made Lin Boyue clench his fist abruptly!