"It’s been three days, and there’s still no news from the Sect..." Lin Langtian stood before the floor-to-ceiling window as a Flying Device zipped past on the track outside.
The window was made of a special material that only allowed one to see out, not in. It could even block Spiritual Power.
He looked a little worried. Turning to Qing Cang, a hint of suspicion in his eyes, he chose his words carefully. "Junior Uncle, were they... really thrown out by you?"
"You don’t believe ?" Qing Cang shot him a sideways glance and coughed dryly a few tis. Lin Langtian was inwardly speechless.
On the day Qing Cang was severely injured, Lin Langtian had indeed been worried. But the man refused to let anyone examine him, just downing a few mouthfuls of a Top Level Repair Potion before calling it a day.
After sending Wu Feng and Hu Qi away, he hadn’t even taken any Repair Potions for the past two days. His face was ashen, he was constantly coughing, and his aura was weak and listless.
But Lin Langtian couldn’t shake his suspicion.
His age was not much different from Qing Cang’s. They had gotten along well in their youth and had even gone on adventures together.
He believed he understood Qing Cang far better than others, and Qing Cang wasn’t the type to play at sches and conspiracies.
Lin Langtian continued, "Yue’er, Wan Chen, and the others all have Netherworld Stones on them. Even if they fell into the void, they should be able to contact the Sect with the stones. But so far, there hasn’t been a peep from them..."
"Are you implying that they... might be dead?" Qing Cang’s expression darkened.
Lin Langtian was speechless. Qing Cang snorted coldly. "To put it bluntly, you still don’t believe . Are you suspecting of colluding with the Royal Court?"
Lin Langtian was at a loss for words. "Where is this coming from?"
Seeing that Qing Cang was getting angry, Lin Langtian quickly changed the subject. "That Su Chen... What’s the situation with him?"
"What, have people been whispering in your ear too?" Qing Cang said with a frown.
"I’ve just heard so criticism," Lin Langtian said, shaking his head. "After all, his Talent is a bit low. If he’s too old by the ti he advances to a Tier Eight Professional, the risk of igniting the Morning Star Fire will probably be significant."
"Besides, of the five Talents that can be enhanced, he has already taken four classes, with only Power User remaining. Even if the Sect helps him achieve a perfect promotion, there’s not much room left for improvent."
Seeing Qing Cang’s expression growing darker, Lin Langtian quickly added, "These aren’t my words. Everyone is saying it."
"Just parroting what others say. If they want to replace him, Su Chen has to die. Do you want him to die too?" Qing Cang snorted. He and Lin Langtian were on good terms—otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought the man’s daughter to Red Thunder Star—so he didn’t mince his words.
"He’s a Star Seed, after all. How could we casually discuss his death?" Lin Langtian shook his head again.
Qing Cang sneered, his eyes filled with cold indifference. "Then what’s the point of saying all this? To plant the idea that he should be replaced in everyone’s mind, but offer no solution."
"Then, when soone finally brings it up, it will spread like wildfire, and there will be much less resistance."
Regardless, Su Chen was currently the Cyan Sect’s Star Seed. No one dared to openly call for his death.
All this current talk was just building montum. If he hadn’t acted on a whim and done what he did, this public opinion would have probably spiraled out of control.
Lin Langtian fell silent. He naturally understood all this. He was just surprised by the intensity of Qing Cang’s reaction. After all, that Su Chen was just...
Before the thought could fully form, he seed to sense sothing and whirled around to look out the window, a hint of shock on his face.
In the distant star-filled space, a cyan pillar of light suddenly erupted.
The phantom of the Bronze Ancient King appeared, its verdigris light illuminating half of the Taiyue Hub.
"Is that..." Lin Langtian’s expression beca a sight to behold. He realized what was happening and looked at Qing Cang, only to see a cold smirk on his face. "So they really dared to make a move..."
...
"Is that... the Bronze Ancient King?"
In the Royal Court’s garrison at the Taiyue Hub, Ni Chuan ignored the no-fly order and shot into the sky, staring at the Bronze Giant sitting cross-legged in the starry expanse.
"How..." Ni Chuan muttered to himself. "Didn’t he use up all his power? Could it be from the reinforcents brought by the Bronze Sect?"
"But we haven’t made a move yet. Is there soone else?"
Ni Chuan was at a complete loss. He had rushed all the way here to the Taiyue Hub, only for the Bronze Ancient King to pop out before he could even do anything?
"This is a warning."
A rich, magnetic voice sounded beside him. A man with ticulously slicked-back hair, so stubble on his chin, and delicate features floated up from below, his eyes fixed on the distant figure.
"Your Excellency..." Ni Chuan said hurriedly, his eyes filled with respect.
Prince Zhen Yu of the Royal Court, a Morning Star Tier Professional of esteed status. Despite his seemingly amiable deanor, his ruthless thods inspired a healthy dose of fear in Ni Chuan.
The Prison King said softly, "Had they revealed this power after we’d already made our move, it would have been a complete break from decorum."
"Then..." Ni Chuan hesitated.
"This matter is over," the Prison King said, shaking his head. "There was too little ti, not enough to react. The Bronze Sect ca fully prepared. There’s no point in fighting over it anymore."
From the mont they received the news, the Royal Court’s reaction had been swift, but ultimately, it was still too rushed.
And the Bronze Sect had reacted just as quickly.
"But..." Ni Chuan said, unwilling to let it go. ’If I had secured the Great Venerable Red Fla Thunder Resonator, the credit would have been all mine.’
The Prison King shook his head. "There are unwritten rules between the Royal Court and the Five Great Sects. Once the chosen one erges, the contest is over. We were already crossing the line."
"Besides, the Emperor has already sent out his invitation, and the Five Great Sects have accepted. This is not a good ti for an open falling-out."
Ni Chuan’s expression was conflicted. Helpless, he finally fell silent and said in resignation, "I understand."
"However, for the sake of that Su Chen, the Bronze Ancient King has already expended one portion of his divided power, yet now he has split off another." The Prison King mused for a mont. "That, I find surprising."
Even for soone at the Bronze Ancient King’s level, splitting off a portion of power that can exist independently for a long ti cos at a cost.
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