The mont the Yaksha Lord arrived, a strange stillness fell across the entire wedding venue.
The cheers, the light-hearted chatter, the music—everything ca to a sudden halt.
It was as if the air had frozen.
A heavy, unseen pressure dropped over the guests, making even the Foundation Building experts hold their breath.
The Blackblood Lord's eyes locked onto the new arrival.
His calm expression finally cracked. His fists clenched tightly by his side, and for a mont, it seed like he might attack right then and there.
Even the Spirit chains on Haitin's ceremonial robe trembled slightly under the weight of his father's rising anger.
Then, a cold breeze swept through the stage as another figure stepped forward—Frostbound Lord.
He moved to stand beside the Blackblood Lord without a word, his face like ice, eyes sharp and focused on the Yaksha Lord. His gaze alone was enough to make many lower-level cultivators turn their eyes away.
But just as the Blackblood Lord opened his mouth, the Yaksha Lord surprised everyone.
He stepped forward and lowered his head.
"Old friend, I'm sorry," he said in a low, steady voice that still reached every corner of the venue. "I thought I didn't have a choice when I did what I did. I was helpless... and desperate."
His words made the tension even heavier.
"If it helps calm your anger," he continued, reaching into his storage ring, "I will drink this One Thousand Deaths Poison right now... as compensation for my actions. It's not much and it won't reverse the harm that's done to you. But it's the least I can do to accompany you."
Gasps spread quietly through the crowd as he pulled out a small, sealed vial and tossed it—not to the Blackblood Lord, but to the ceremonial elder, Haan Di Lord.
Haan Di Lord caught the vial without speaking. Even though he was surprised, he didn't show it in his face.
He was the only neutral figure on the stage. Despite not knowing the full story between the three demonic lords, he could sense the weight of what was happening.
After all, he rembered his own exit from the Holy Land Torel—an escape that had left him seriously injured. Back then, he had thought the Blackblood Lord's injuries were a result of forcefully trying to harness Heretic Dao.
But now, watching this scene, the truth was sowhat clearer.
He slowly uncorked the vial, bringing it close to his nose. His Spirit Sense wrapped around the container as he took his ti examining it.
Ten seconds passed. Then fifteen.
Finally, he closed the vial again, turned to the rest of the crowd, and said calmly, "It is indeed One Thousand Deaths Poison."
The Haan Di Lord's words weren't influenced by anyone. As the ruler of the neural region Haan Di, true neutrality was his biggest asset. As such, even the Blackblood Lord and Frostbound Lord had to accept what he said as the truth.
The air grew even more tense. The righteous faction lords looked at one another but stayed silent. They didn't understand the full story, but they were wise enough to keep their thoughts to themselves.
Even though they ca from the so-called righteous side, these Core Formation Lords were no less cunning than the demonic ones. They could guess what was going on.
The Yaksha Lord had clearly betrayed or wronged the Blackblood and Frostbound Lords in so serious way. And now, he was trying to make peace in the only way that might be accepted—by offering sothing extre.
The Yaksha Lord stood in the center of the stage, his robes still and his expression calm. He looked at the Blackblood Lord again and spoke in a voice that wasn't loud but carried across the silent plaza.
"Old friend," he began, "please don't take it the wrong way. I wasn't trying to betray you. I was only thinking about the interests of our demonic faction. If I had known there was another way, sothing simpler, sothing safer... I swear I would've never tried to harm you."
He paused and then took a slow breath, his next words cutting deeper.
"Don't you think... it was your subordinate's fault for arriving late? His delay forced to look for another way. I didn't do it out of malice. I did what I thought was necessary."
Then, almost casually, he turned his head—and his gaze fell on Aksai.
It lasted for less than a second. No killing intent. No spirit pressure. Just a look.
But that look alone made Aksai feel as though he had just been stared at by a snake ready to strike.
Aksai's heart skipped a beat. His breath caught in his throat. He clenched his fists and looked down.
That short glance was enough to remind him of the huge gap between him and soone like the Yaksha Lord. He could fight many mid-stage Foundation Building Experts at the sa ti, even trick late-stage Foundation experts—but against a Core Formation Lord? He had no chance.
Even though the Yaksha Lord didn't na him directly, the ssage was clear: You were late, and because of you, I had to do what I did.
It was foolish to ask how did the Yaksha Lord know about his involvent at this point. The whole of the Blackblood sect knew Aksai's identity. It was only natural for the Yaksha Lord to have at least low-level spies planted in his "old friends'" sects.
Aksai felt wronged. Bitter. But he kept his mouth shut. In front of a Core Formation Lord, silence was his best defense.
The Blackblood Lord noticed the shift. He had seen the glance. He had felt Aksai's sudden unease. And he hated it.
His eyes burned as he stared at the Yaksha Lord. His voice ca out sharp and cold.
"Old bastard," he said, each word like a blade.
"You're not welco here. Leave. Go back before I lose control.
The only reason you're still standing is because I don't want to stain my son's wedding with your blood."
===
AN: Hi. I have realized the Core Formation Lords' eting kind of pulled us away from the main plot — Aksai heading to Duya Forest and getting his first Aether Beast.
I do want to move things along faster so we can get back on track, but I also don't want to rush this scene and make it lose its weight, since it'll be important later for Aksai.
So, to keep things smooth without cutting corners, I'll be dropping an extra chapter for the next 2-3 days to keep the pacing tight. Thanks for sticking with ! :)
User Comments
0 comments from readers