The Unparalleled Sword Emperor
Chapter 972 - 970: A Storm is Coming!

Chapter 972: Chapter 970: A Storm is Coming!

Between the Nine Courtyards of the Miracle Ridge, there was this majestic complex of palaces.

This place was the location of the Enforcement Hall of the Nine Courtyards.

The Enforcement Hall held absolute authority within the Nine Courtyards.

And the master of the Enforcement Hall was Zhao Longtu.

At this moment, Diao Yiran, crying like a pear blossom bathed in the rain, ran into this complex of palaces, wailing, "Master, Master, your disciple begs to see you."

"What’s wrong? Yiran, why are you crying so hard?" An old man’s voice came from within the palace, containing a hint of concern, "Come in and talk."

Diao Yiran ran into the palace, and upon seeing the old man inside, immediately knelt on the ground and cried out, "Master, you must stand up for your disciple!"

"What happened? Could there be someone on the Miracle Ridge who dares to bully you?" The old man asked with a faint smile.

This old man, with a youthful appearance despite his white hair, was dressed in clean white robes, exuding an otherworldly air, with a high-ranking authority exuding from his demeanor!

This old man was none other than Zhao Longtu!

If there were experts of the same level present, they would be surprised to find that Zhao Longtu’s inner energy was unstable, clearly indicating that he had yet to recover from serious injuries.

The injuries on Zhao Longtu were inflicted by Lin Yue when he had gone to the Canghai Yuntai Palace.

Even now, the memory of the event still deeply shocked Zhao Longtu.

At that time, he had fought fiercely with Lin Yue in the Canghai Yuntai Palace, and the battle even reached the East Sea. Clearly outmatched by Lin Yue, if not for a few powerful escape treasures he possessed, he likely would have died by Lin Yue’s sword that day.

After fleeing from the East Sea, Zhao Longtu returned to the Miracle Ridge to heal his wounds.

He even feared that Lin Yue, in a fit of rage, would come to the Miracle Ridge to seek him, so he hid inside the palace without taking a single step outside!

Until this day, Diao Yiran’s arrival broke Zhao Longtu’s tranquility.

"Master, a disciple named Lin Bai bullied me. This person coveted my beauty, and when his advances were rejected, he tried to force himself on me. If not for several senior brothers and junior brothers who forcibly rescued me, I might have already fallen into the clutches of this villain," she explained.

"Master must stand up for your disciple!"

Diao Yiran looked at Zhao Longtu with pitiful eyes.

"What! There’s such an outrageous person on the Miracle Ridge!" As soon as Zhao Longtu heard this, he immediately became furious.

On the Miracle Ridge, who didn’t know about the ambiguous relationship between Diao Yiran and Zhao Longtu, and who would have the audacity to lay a hand on Diao Yiran?

Did they no longer wish to live?

"Wait, what did you say his name was?" Zhao Longtu asked, frowning, as he suddenly felt that the name mentioned by Diao Yiran sounded familiar.

"His name is Lin Bai!" Diao Yiran repeated.

Zhao Longtu, after careful thought, suddenly remembered Lin Bai and said, "What a small world! I have a sworn enemy also named Lin Bai; I wonder if he is the same person!"

"Did he also offend Master?" Diao Yiran asked in surprise, "That’s unforgivable. If it weren’t for my lack of strength, I would definitely make that person pay a bloody price!"

"No need to rush to conclusions. Let’s investigate this Lin Bai’s background first. If it really is him, hmm hmm, then I will let him know who is in charge on this Miracle Ridge!" Zhao Longtu’s eyes gleamed as he said through gritted teeth.

"Someone, go call Hua Jingcheng here."

Zhao Longtu called out to someone outside the hall.

"Alright, no more crying. Once Hua Jingcheng arrives and clarifies Lin Bai’s identity and background, I will take care of everything for you," Zhao Longtu said softly, comforting her.

"Thank you, Master." Diao Yiran wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and stood obediently by Zhao Longtu’s side.

It wasn’t long before.

Hua Jingcheng, dressed in white, entered the Enforcement Hall and saluted, "Senior Zhao called for me, may I know what orders you have?"

Zhao Longtu said indifferently, "Indeed, I need your help with something. Go and investigate a disciple named Lin Bai for me—find out which monastery he belongs to, his background, and his Martial Soul. After you have all the details, report back to me."

Hua Jingcheng listened.

Investigate who?

Lin Bai?

Was there a need to investigate? After coming out from Martial Intent Mountain, Wu Qing, Chuyi, Zhu Kun, and the others had already dug up everything they could about Lin Bai’s ancestry.

"Heh! Senior Zhao, if it’s Lin Bai you want to investigate, there’s no need to trouble yourself. Some time ago, Wu Qing Senior Brother from the Fist Daoist Courtyard and Ning Yunlong Junior Brother, Zhu Kun Senior Brother from the Sword Art Academy, Chuyi Senior Brother from Chulong Courtyard, and Bai Chen Senior Brother from the Spear Daoist Courtyard all looked into this person’s background," he said.

"If Senior Zhao wishes to know, you could simply ask these people, and everything will be clear," Hua Jingcheng said with a faint smile.

"Oh? Ning Yunlong, Zhu Kun, Wu Qing, Chuyi, Bai Chen—they’re all top disciples of their respective courtyards; why would they look into an unknown Lin Bai?" Zhao Longtu asked curiously.

Immediately, Hua Jingcheng briefly recounted the events that happened on Martial Intent Mountain.

"Good grief, I didn’t expect him to be so fortunate as to have entered the Heavenly Palace!" Zhao Longtu said, his face immediately darkening with malice!

"You, summon all these disciples at once!"

Zhao Longtu ordered Hua Jingcheng.

"Understood!"

After receiving the order, Hua Jingcheng withdrew.

Half an hour later.

Wu Qing, Zhu Kun, Chuyi, Bai Chen, Ning Yunlong, and Hua Jingcheng, all six walked side by side into the Enforcement Hall.

"We pay our respects to Senior Zhao," the six said in unison as they bowed.

"Tell me everything you know about Lin Bai’s background and identity!" Zhao Longtu ordered.

Upon hearing this, Wu Qing realized it was about Lin Bai and immediately laughed, "This matter should be best known by Junior Brother Zhu Kun, why don’t you tell us about it!"

Zhu Kun nodded slightly: "Senior Zhao, this Lin Bai was admitted to the Sword Art Academy of the Miracle Ridge after passing the examination in Tianding City."

"It’s worth mentioning that he was once first on the Potential List in Tianding City, first in the entrance examination for new disciples at the Miracle Ridge, first in the new disciple assessment at the Sword Art Academy, and not long ago he even entered the Ascension Palace within the Martial Intent Mountain for cultivation!"

"It can be said that during this period, this person has been an extremely prominent figure!"

"Even compared to us back in the day, he is nothing short of exceptional!" Zhu Kun said with a light smile.

Zhao Longtu asked, "What about Lin Bai’s background before he joined the Miracle Ridge? Have you looked into that?"

"Er... I haven’t found anything about that, Master, but I suppose he must be a disciple from Lingdong," Zhu Kun pondered and replied.

Zhao Longtu was stunned.

He just wanted to confirm whether this Lin Bai was the same Lin Bai who had deep blood feuds with him!

Hearing that Zhu Kun had not looked into Lin Bai’s background before he joined the Miracle Ridge, Wu Qing spoke up: "Senior Zhao, I did find something. Before Lin Bai joined the Miracle Ridge, he was a disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect in Lingdong, part of the Shenwu Kingdom..."

"Shenwu Kingdom! Spirit Sword Sect!" On hearing these six words, Zhao Longtu’s body was suddenly consumed with raging flames of anger!

"It’s him!"

"There’s no mistake!"

Zhao Longtu became certain all at once.

This Lin Bai was the very same who had slain his adopted daughter Lin Zi’er at the Canghai Yuntai Palace!

This Lin Bai was the son of Lin Duo, who had once severed his lifeblood, causing an irreconcilable hatred!

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhao Longtu, shaking with fury, frightened Zhu Kun and the others into trembling. Hearing Zhao Longtu’s repeated praises, the faces clouded with shadows: "Lin Duo, oh, Lin Duo, the pain you caused me that day, today I will let your son taste the same agony!"

Immediately, Zhao Longtu’s eyes betrayed a cold intent as he looked at Zhu Kun and the others, "Since you’ve been looking into Lin Bai, you must have some grievances with him, right?"

Zhu Kun and Wu Qing along with the other six exchanged glances, their faces revealing a bitter smile as they nodded silently.

Zhao Longtu sneered, "Good, go ahead and do as you will, just don’t cause too much of a commotion. If the sky falls down, this old man will hold it up for you!"

"But I have just one demand, Lin Bai, no matter how you torment him, I want him alive!"

"At the very least, you must bring him to me alive!" Zhao Longtu said coldly: "Of course, after the deed is done, I won’t shortchange you on rewards! Though this old man is already of age, I still possess certain capabilities within the Miracle Ridge!"

On hearing Zhao Longtu’s promise of rewards, Zhu Kun and the others were immediately overjoyed!

Zhao Longtu is more than just a little capable!

His capabilities are immense!

As one of the three esteemed Sect Leader Supremes of the Miracle Ridge, Zhao Longtu’s mere word could promote Zhu Kun and the others directly to the Five Peaks, and they could also receive more cultivation resources and nurturing!

This was truly an opportunity to ascend to heaven! Without any exaggeration, Zhao Longtu’s promise could be compared with the fortunes within the Ascension Palace!

"Thank you, Senior Zhao, we will certainly not let you down!" Zhu Kun and the other six said, their faces lighting up with joy.

Zhu Kun and the others didn’t have the same goal as Zhao Longtu, and there was no conflict.

Zhu Kun and his cohort wanted to seize the fortunes Lin Bai had acquired in the Ascension Palace!

Whereas Zhao Longtu wanted Lin Bai himself!

There was no conflict at all. In fact, since Zhao Longtu even promised them rewards, it made Zhu Kun and the others all the more eager!

A storm targeting Lin Bai was quietly brewing in the Primordial World.