Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 645 - 640 The Incident is Exposed 4

Chapter 645: Chapter 640 The Incident is Exposed 4

Feng Huai nodded and formed a Decree with his hand.

Suddenly, a giant, pitch-black shuttle-shaped Magic Artifact emerged slowly above everyone’s heads. An entrance opened on the side of the Magic Artifact.

"We’ll go inside first, and then talk as we walk."

Lin Xin and the others followed him into the Magic Artifact, which astonishingly contained a space as large as a small manor inside.

After several people entered the main hall and took their seats,

a teapot and teacups automatically poured tea and flew to the tables beside each person.

Feng Huai formed several more Decrees, and the Magic Artifact lifted off and shuttled swiftly towards the distance, disappearing into the clouds at sunset in just a few moments.

****************

White Jade City

Huan Ping was kneeling on the ground, holding the corpse of his junior sister, his heart filled with indescribable sorrow.

What no one knew was that his care for his junior sister was motivated by not only his master’s orders but also another reason.

He was secretly in love with his junior sister.

From childhood, he had practically raised his junior sister himself; there was not a single part of her body that he wasn’t familiar with.

He had watched her grow from a helpless infant into a delicate and charming young lady.

Her appearance and figure bore a striking resemblance to that of their senior sister who had long since perished.

Originally, he had been waiting for his junior sister to grow a bit older when he planned to ask their master to agree to their marriage and having children.

But now, everything was destroyed.

Boom!!!

Numerous beams of white light converged above White Jade City, forming a massive Light Gate.

From within the gate, a figure in a Green Robe appeared, adorned with twelve silver threads, with a large green spike swirling next to him.

The newcomer had an aged face, a bald head surrounded by a ring of white hair that connected with his beard, giving him a fierce look. He also held a black staff inlaid with a clear Treasure Bead.

It was none other than the Elder of Qing Shan, the Realm Master of the entire Qing Shan Realm.

His expression was wooden, with a trace of sorrow in his eyes. He turned off the Light Gate behind him and flew down through the air.

A crowd of city defense generals promptly went up to meet him.

"Realm Master."

"Realm Master!"

Despite their low bows, none of the generals knew what to say.

By the time they had arrived, everything had already been sealed by fate. The Barrier of Qiao Yu’s courtyard had blocked them all outside, turning into an accomplice to the tragedy.

The head of the research institute and the person in charge of the Heavenly Evolution Tower both shook their heads.

"Realm Master Qing Shan, take comfort," said the head of the institute. Since they were equals in strength, it was much easier for them to speak.

Qing Shan Elder shook his head, landing beside Huan Ping and crouched down carefully to examine the corpse.

After a long while, he finally stood up and sighed.

"Who was on duty today?"

"Reporting to the Realm Master, it was I," said a General in White Armor, bracing himself as he stepped forward.

"Go and accept your punishment," the expression of Qing Shan Elder was somewhat downcast.

The general gave a bitter smile and was escorted away by two Dao soldiers.

"Master," Huan Ping finally managed to gather himself, "is there any hope for my junior sister?" he asked, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

Qing Shan Elder opened his mouth but saw the disgust in the eyes of the surrounding cultivators, and he sighed silently without saying a word.

"Although Yu’er violated the Sect rules, she surely did not deserve death. Elder Sister Qi, don’t you think that Lin Xin’s actions were too extreme?"

The blind wife of the Heavenly Evolution Tower Master remained expressionless.

"Killing within the battle city, although there are understandable reasons and it was an act of vengeance, it was somewhat excessive. According to the Sect’s seventy-fifth law, this should incur a third-class penalty, being stationed to guard the ancient Seal for a thousand years," she said.

Qing Shan Elder nodded.

"Fetch someone."

As the words fell, several distorted black shadows immediately appeared beside him.

The shadows were blurry and seemingly incorporeal, their upper bodies human and their lower halves continuously swirling mist.

"What does the Realm Master need?" the shadows asked together.

"Apprehend the fugitive Lin Xin. If he resists..." Qing Shan Elder paused slightly and closed his eyes in silence.

After a moment, he finally slowly opened his eyes, a glint of murderous intent flashing within.

"Kill without mercy."

At this, not only Huan Ping and the Tower Master of the Heavenly Evolution Tower but also the many cultivators who had gathered around were all shocked.

This command marked Qing Shan Realm’s complete abandonment of the recently promoted True Disciple, Lin Xin. No one had anticipated that this Fifth Rank Pureblood, who had just recently become a True Disciple, would so swiftly become a discarded disciple.

"Huan Ping, take your junior sister’s corpse and come with me," said Qing Shan Elder with a long sigh, a cluster of Qingyun appearing under his feet and flying toward a distant tower.

Huan Ping packed up his junior sister’s corpse, hugging it waist-high as he closely followed behind.

The two were silent throughout the journey.

As they approached the tower,

Qing Shan Elder slowly began to speak.

"For the time being, give your full support to Shen Tang."

"I understand, Master," Huan Ping nodded gravely.

Shen Tang and Lin Xin, two newly emerged Fifth Ranks, were both top geniuses selected from countless candidates.

Even though Shen Tang had factional support behind him, Elder Qing Shan had personally verified that they were not hostile forces.

In the situation where they had no other choice, they could only support Shen Tang, who had the greatest hope of ascending to the Earth Immortal rank.

"Feng Huai, what’s the situation?" Elder Qing Shan slowly landed on the platform beside the high tower.

"He owes Lin Xin his life and supports him fiercely," Huan Ping said harshly. "If it weren’t for him carrying Thousand Eyes, I would have definitely taken both of their lives!"

"Since the matter has already been settled, we can only make the best of a bad job. No need to say more." Elder Qing Shan signaled him to walk into the high tower carrying the corpse.

Boom, boom...

The heavy iron gates slowly descended, blocking all light from the outside world.

*******************

Inside the Magic Artifact.

"Brother Lin, according to the sect’s rules, this qualifies as intra-sect homicide and occurred within the Realm Master’s battle city—your crime could mean either exile or being sent to guard desolate lands,"

Feng Huai said as he flipped through the Jade Slip in his hand.

"It’s not a capital crime?" Lin Xin was somewhat surprised.

"No, it’s not. You didn’t kill without cause; the other party sought to harm you first. This can only be considered excessive retaliation. The Sect’s rules do allow for retaliation, it’s just that yours was a bit excessive," explained Feng Huai.

"Whether it’s guarding or exile, I don’t really care, but I ultimately feel unjust about this," Lin Xin said calmly.

"This matter isn’t your fault, Brother Lin," Feng Huai agreed. "Hehe, if this had happened in another realm, I might not have been able to help, but in Qing Shan Realm, I actually have a way."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xin was also curious.

Green Lake Mountain’s strength was terrifyingly potent, and although Feng Huai’s background appeared profound, he shouldn’t be able to openly defy the sect’s rules.

Seeing his expression, Feng Huai knew he had misunderstood.

"Brother Lin, you’re mistaken, mistaken. I naturally don’t dare to confront the sect’s rules or mediate. But if I can’t, someone else can!"

His expression became smug again.

"Someone else can? What do you mean, Brother Feng?"

Lin Xin was even more puzzled.

"Inside Green Lake Mountain, the archenemy of the Qing Shan lineage, the Dragon Serpent Realm Master!"

Feng Huai didn’t keep him in suspense, directly revealing his method.

"The Dragon Serpent Realm Master?"

Lin Xin hadn’t yet grasped the implication, but Lin Youke’s expression had shifted.

"Young Master, we often hear about the Dragon Serpent Realm. This has been Qing Shan Realm’s nemesis for many years, and the Realm Master is Dragon Serpent Elder, also an Elder of Green Lake Mountain," Lin Youke quietly communicated.

"The young lady is quite knowledgeable," Feng Huai said with a smile.

"Dragon Serpent and Qing Shan, both realms being decaying and ruined, yet unlike Qing Shan Realm, their environment is barren and harsh, nowhere near as affluent as Qing Shan Realm.

They also held disciple selections recently; however, the number of participants was nowhere near as high as now,"

"Young Master, you left out something; I’ve been to the Dragon Serpent Realm, it’s not just barren and harsh—it’s practically barren land. Other than some volcano essence, they produce nothing else. Without the Human Race multiplying and thriving, they can’t cultivate their very own team. They can only draw from the outside world," the female guard also joined in, smiling.

"Indeed, that’s true," Feng Huai unfolded a folding fan in his hands and gently shook it. "Dragon Serpent Elder’s direct descendant, the most talented woman, was killed by Qiao Yu’s father due to a past incident in Qing Shan Realm. The specific reasons are unknown now, but the feud between them was settled from then on."

"So, you suggest I should go to the Dragon Serpent Realm?" Lin Xin thought for a moment and then asked.

"That is the best option; of course, if Brother Lin is unwilling, I will also make an effort to help reduce the duration of the penalty," Feng Huai said earnestly.

"Honestly speaking, although the Dragon Serpent Realm Master is a bit hot-tempered, he’s much more straightforward than the Qing Shan Realm Master. He is also quite powerful. If it weren’t for too many conflicts and covert injuries severe enough to reduce his lifespan in his early years, he would probably not be just an Elder of Green Lake Mountain and zone Realm Master,"

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xin didn’t say much more and decided to go to the Dragon Serpent Realm.

Several days later.

The Magic Artifact soared through the air and landed in an old fortress near the coast of a wilderness.

A short while later, a golden light ascended to the sky and disappeared in an instant.

Soon after, several shadows dashed into the fortress from all directions, but found nothing and quickly withdrew.

********************

Dragon Serpent Realm.

The land flowed with scarlet magma, thick and scorching hot.

Among the black ground, there were countless magma rivers, similar to cracks. Various-sized bubbles continuously emerged, swelled, and exploded rapidly.

In the black-red sky, a black iron spherical fortress floated up and down, slowly oscillating.

Hissss....

Suddenly a green light descended from the sky, forming a column of light that slowly landed in front of the sealed fortress gate.

The surroundings of the fortress occasionally echoed with rhythmic metallic clanging sounds, like smithing.

Minute sparks flew rapidly, scattering like points of fireworks.

Black chains, red sparks, heavy iron gates.

The three together created a somber and scorching image.

The green light column slowly extinguished, and a young man with long green hair stepped out.

The man had a handsome appearance and skin as delicate as white porcelain.

However, between the eyebrows of his black eyes, there were three red spots, resembling a special mark.

"It turns out to be Junior Brother Feng Panjun. Welcome from afar; please come in and rest,"

The fortress gate slowly opened, and a large mass of black-red aura gushed out. This aura was extremely hot, and could instantly scald anyone ordinary on contact.

But as the aura approached the man, it abruptly halted and turned into dust, falling to the ground.