Chapter 203 Startling Revelations
"Haven't I already chosen?" Feng Feixuan said a little dissatisfiedly.
"Have you?" Liang Tianye asked meaningfully causing Feng Feixuan's heart to stop beating for a moment.
But, she recovered quickly and shot a coy smile at Liang Tianye. Licking her lips in a provocative manner, Feng Feixuan leaned into Liang Tianye's ears and whispered hotly.
"Even if I didn't, wouldn't you show me the error of my ways?"
Liang Tianye didn't reply immediately. He looked at her with a calm smile and nodded softly. There seemed to be some inner meaning to his smile that made Feng Feixuan worried a little bit.
"Anyways, I forgot to tell you. Your latest disciple has barged into that area as well. After I set things up, I spent a few weeks in Starmist City. I ran into your disciple who had paid a visit there to decimate the Wang Clan. I saw him run into Greenwood Forest after the deed. He still hadn't emerged from there until I left the area," Feng Feixuan tactfully changed the topic.
Surprise colored Liang Tianye's face for the first time since they started conversing. He suddenly fell into deep thought. Feng Feixuan watched his reaction and wondered how he would react.
Suddenly, Liang Tianye started laughing heartily. This caused Feng Feixuan to become a little intrigued.
She looked at the happy Liang Tianye and asked, "Aren't you worried about his safety?"
"Why should I?" Liang Tianye snorted.
"What do you mean?"
"When that idiot came to me and asked to travel, do you know why I agreed?" Liang Tianye asked looking at her. He didn't wait for her answer, but readily answered his own question, "When he came, I could smell the bloodlust wafting off him a mile away. One look was enough to let me know that he was going to take revenge or something like that."
"Do you know why I let him go? It is because it is in my best interest. I don't care where he goes or whether he is alive, all I care about is that he creates a ruckus wherever he goes. Him running directly into that storm is even a surprise for me," Liang Tianye shrugged.
Feng Feixuan looked at Liang Tianye deeply and nodded. While she liked his ruthlessness, she felt that it was a pity for the brat to have such a master. However, none of this had anything to do with her. So, she didn't care about it much.
"Fine, then I will take my leave. I took some other mission from the sect to hide my activities. I need to go and report as well," Feng Feixuan nodded once more and prepared to leave.
Liang Tianye watched her go. Just as Feng Feixuan was reaching the threshold of his abode, Liang Tianye sent a message directly into her ears causing Feng Feixuan to stop for a second rigidly and turn to look at him.
Seeing her state, Liang Tianye shot a mischievous smirk and turned around. Feng Feixuan stood at the threshold with waves rising in her heart. She had always thought that she would have some upper hand when dealing with Liang Tianye. But, only now did she realize that all her actions were under the other party's eyes. He was merely indulging her until now.
Recalling Liang Tianye's words just now, Feng Feixuan felt a tremble in her heart. She didn't think Liang Tianye was lying. However, if this was true, then it would mean that this was the last chance for her to choose a side. If she chose wrongly, then it would end in a disaster for her.
Only one sentence, and it had created waves in her heart. The meaning and the implications behind that sentence were enormous. She realized for the first time that she couldn't see the depths of the river she had gotten herself into.
"It wasn't the sect master who told me…"
The meaning behind these words was enormous. What did Liang Tianye mean? Did he mean that he has other accomplices? In that case, only those who were Grand Elders in the sect were at the Spirit Severance stage. If that were the case, did they also have a Grand Elder in their midst? This would severely reduce the threat the First Grand Elder could pose.
Feng Feixuan shuddered as she identified the likely candidate. The Second Grand Elder had been very low-key during this time. If Liang Tianye didn't tell her this now, she would never think he would be in cahoots with the Sect Master and Liang Tianye.
The alliance of the Sect Master, Liang Tianye, and the Second Grand Elder was very strong. They can effectively neutralize the First Grand Elder and take control of the sect anytime they want. If that is the case, why haven't they done so yet? The only possible reason would be that they are waiting for the right time.
Feng Feixuan's eyes shrank in surprise. She realized that unless the Third Grand Elder came back from the Central Continent and stood in line with the First Grand Elder, things were already set in stone. Even then, things would be very chaotic. And if there was one thing Liang Tianye was proficient in, then it was to navigate chaotic waters and emerge on the other shore.
She felt that safety was in danger all of a sudden. If she didn't show her attitude clearly to Liang Tianye soon, her life will be in danger. Gritting her teeth, Feng Feixuan walked out of Liang Tianye's abode with a complicated look on her face.
*****
Envoy Ming stood before the two beheaded cultivators with a grave look on his face. The fresh blood near the corpses indicated that it hadn't been long since the deed had been done.
He wasn't worried about the death of his fellow disciple or the other one. Things far more important were happening in the distance and there will likely be more corpses buried in this Greenwood Forest. With such a ruckus, the death of two Violet Palace realm cultivators wouldn't make much of an issue.
What troubled him now was a completely different issue.
He hadn't reported the presence of the murderer from the start to the others. He had wanted to take the credit for the capture. It was not just him that was eager to curry favor with Junior Brother Wang.
Currently, there were a lot of people who belonged to the Iron Mountain Sect in this Greenwood Forest. No one expected the treasure that appeared here would be something that would allow someone to break through to the Nascent Soul realm. The Core Formation experts were all in hot contention for the treasure.
Naturally, the fight had also enveloped other cultivators in the region. No one knew when people began finding other cultivation treasures in the forest, but soon word has been spread and everyone knew a few people have already obtained these opportunities.
This entire forest was a mess.
Even he had forgotten about his purpose to hunt for the murderer and was contending with others for a treasure that would help him to break through to the Golden Hall realm.
However, his junior brother's call had come in and had cleared his mind. Contending with others for the treasure was no easy feat. Everyone was currently red-eyed when it comes to snatching the numerous treasures that have suddenly appeared in this region.
Thus, apprehending this murderer sounded more possible and relatively easy. So, he had ditched his opponent and had rushed over here to apprehend the murderer. He hadn't even hesitated a little bit. The time taken for him to arrive at this location was the shortest time possible.
Even then, he had been late.
He didn't know how a Spirit Sea realm cultivator could escape from the encirclement of two early-stage Violet Palace realm cultivators. Furthermore, he had left after killing them.
Envoy Ming's experienced eyes were able to find out that these two cultivators hadn't struggled much. It looked to be a one-sided affair. How can this be possible? Did the murderer break through to the Violet Palace realm?
Envoy Ming pondered a bit. He was really reluctant to go in search of the murderer and leave these opportunities behind. But, compared to fighting for treasures, this looked to be a pretty easy task.
Even if the murderer had entered the Violet Palace realm, Envoy Ming didn't think he would be able to contend against him. However, searching for and apprehending this criminal would cause him to lose some precious time when others will be fighting for opportunities. He had already given up on one, should he give up on others as well?
Envoy Ming was torn.
Gritting his teeth, he turned away from the two corpses and looked around for any other clue as to the direction the murderer had headed in. In the end, he could see some vague signs of someone hurrying in a particular direction from this place.
"Even if I fight with others, there is no guarantee that I will be able to come out victorious," Envoy Ming sighed looking at the forest. "But, if I can apprehend this criminal and bring him before Junior Brother Wang for him to exact justice, I would be appreciated by him a lot."
"Junior Brother Wang has become the priority target of training for the sect. If possible, they would even declare him as a Holy Son. Only the thought of angering the hegemons had stopped the sect from doing so. Otherwise, there is no difference in status. A person like him will obtain a lot of cultivation resources as he grows up. He will be cared for by the sect and groomed by it meticulously."
"If I can climb this tree, then my future would be bright. I may lose out on some opportunities in the short term. But, thinking long term, I think it is better to hunt down and capture this murderer. Moreover, this looks far easier than the fight for resources."
"Not to mention the bizarre raise of high-level cultivation resources in this forest. Right now, everyone is red-eyed and selectively ignoring the odd circumstances in favor of snatching treasures," Envoy Ming muttered looking around warily.
"But, what will happen after these resources are all gone? Something is not right. It is better to hunt down this murderer from Heavenly Demon Sect… Wait, why did someone from Heavenly Demon Sect appear in this region? By all logic, he should stay away from this region since a lot of righteous cultivators with more cultivation have appeared."
"So, why did he appear here?"
*****
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