Chapter 181 - 180: Everyone, Behave

Chapter 181: Chapter 180: Everyone, Behave

In Wenhua Hall, with a beauty in each arm, Xia Wuyang was kept fully abreast of the events outside through his channels, including Tantai Zhan, Cao Zhenghe, and Jiang Mingyuan.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before Xuan Nu Palace might just crumble. Even if it managed to survive by some fluke, it would be severely crippled.

’They likely won’t have the time or energy to trouble Yun Liyue anymore. If they remain obstinate, I wouldn’t mind taking action again and giving Xuan Nu Palace another taste of its own medicine.’

’When I have time later, I’ll have to find a way to get my hands on all the treasures Xuan Nu Palace has accumulated. I need to increase my own foundation and power. That way, I’ll be better equipped to face the experts from all sides.’

The matter of the Xuan Nu Palace spies was like a giant boulder thrown into a lake, creating monstrous waves in White Jade City and sending shockwaves throughout the vast Great Xia Dynasty.

As the incident continued to develop, another shocking piece of news began to circulate quietly among the major powers.

Crown Prince Consort Yun Liyue was being secretly protected by a Super Grade Celestial Human. And not just any ordinary Super Grade Celestial Human—it might be one at the Super Grade Late Stage, or even the Super Grade Perfection stage.

"Elder Yuheng and Elder Saint Heart of Xuan Nu Palace both suffered defeats at Lizheng Hall one after another. This is especially true for Elder Saint Heart—she’s the second-ranked elder in Xuan Nu Palace! Her cultivation power was said to have reached the Super Grade Late Stage, yet she was taken down so easily at Lizheng Hall. Not only was her cultivation crippled, but she was also bewitched into revealing so many of Xuan Nu Palace’s secrets. You can just imagine how powerful that expert at Lizheng Hall must be."

"At least Super Grade Late Stage, but most likely Super Grade Perfection. And they’re proficient in a Confusing Skill. Otherwise, how could they have done all that? To think that Yun Liyue had such an expert hidden by her side."

"Xuan Nu Palace really hit a steel plate this time. They were planning to seize the Sword Control Skill from Yun Liyue. But not only did they fail to get it, they also lost two elders and made Xuan Nu Palace a public enemy. I’m afraid their destruction isn’t far off."

...

The rumors became more and more outrageous. Gradually, many people began to speculate about the identity of this mysterious expert. Even when the Crown Prince’s Mansion was at its peak, it never had such a powerful figure in its service. How was Yun Liyue worthy of having such a peerless expert protect her?

"Have you all forgotten someone? The missing Elder Qing Yin! She didn’t die; she disappeared. Perhaps this mysterious expert is the missing Elder Qing Yin. She was already a Grandmaster at First Grade Perfection many years ago. She might have broken through to Super Grade long ago and reached an extremely high level."

"Right, right, it all adds up! Elder Qing Yin just recently went missing, and suddenly an unknown Supreme Expert appears by Yun Liyue’s side. Only a fool would believe there’s no connection. That mysterious expert is most likely Elder Qing Yin."

"And not only that, if you think about who hates Xuan Nu Palace the most right now, it has to be Elder Qing Yin. She fought for Xuan Nu Palace abroad, and when she returned after being severely injured, they didn’t protect her. Instead, they tried to steal her Sword Control Skill! It makes perfect sense that she would strike back in a rage now."

"She wouldn’t do something like this to Xuan Nu Palace unless she hated them to the bone. It’s precisely because she knows them so well that Elder Qing Yin was able to strike their weak spot and ruin their reputation."

"Elder Qing Yin isn’t just protecting Yun Liyue; she’s also getting her revenge. Otherwise, why would she be so ruthless toward Xuan Nu Palace? Elder Qing Yin fought abroad for many years, so it’s not surprising she might have obtained a Confusing Skill. She even got the Sword Control Skill, so what’s a mere Confusing Skill in comparison?"

...

This speculation sent a chill down the spines of the various powers, especially those from Xuan Nu Palace.

A peerless expert hidden in the shadows was terrifying enough. What was worse was that this expert also mastered the Enchanting Heart Skill, capable of controlling even a Supreme Expert at the Super Grade Late Stage.

Inside the Main Altar of Xuan Nu Palace, the remaining elders gathered, their expressions grave. They too had received the news.

"If it really is that bitch Qing Yin, then this is bad. She knows our Xuan Nu Palace inside and out. Since she could control Senior Sister Saint Heart, she can naturally control most of us. What should we do now?" one of the elders asked, her voice trembling with obvious fear.

Another elder chimed in, "Exactly. If we had known, we should have just killed her when we demanded the Sword Control Skill. But she didn’t reveal such terrifying power back then. Was it because she was injured, so her strength was greatly reduced? Or was she deliberately hiding it?"

As her words fell, everyone’s expression turned incredibly grim.

Elder Saint Heart was one of the top three experts in Xuan Nu Palace. If even she could be so easily crippled and controlled, what chance did the rest of them have?

In front of an expert proficient in a Confusing Skill, they couldn’t even protect their deepest secrets. If they were captured, the consequences would be unimaginable.

They couldn’t possibly ask the Grand Elder to intervene, could they? The Grand Elder was the pillar of Xuan Nu Palace. If even she were to fall in White Jade City, Xuan Nu Palace would truly be finished.

"Pass down the order! Suspend all operations against Yun Liyue. We must first survive this crisis!"

After much hesitation, Bing Qing Fairy was forced to make this decision. Her face was grim and her body trembled, revealing the depth of her hatred for Yun Liyue and her master, Elder Qing Yin.

Xuan Nu Palace’s retreat made the other major powers even more wary. If even Xuan Nu Palace, which had suffered such a huge loss, didn’t dare to act rashly, then the others naturally had to reconsider whether they should still try to seize the Sword Control Skill.

In the Southwest Royal Mansion, the Southwestern King, who had just repudiated his Main Consort, sighed to his confidant, "We can’t touch this Yun Liyue for now. We’ll no longer contend for the Sword Control Skill."

In the Minister of Rites’ Mansion, the Lord Minister who had discovered his wife was a spy gave a direct order: "From now on, do not speak of the Sword Control Skill again. We will no longer compete for it."

The most obvious change was within the Deep Palace. The Princes and Princesses, who usually looked down on the Eastern Palace, suddenly became much more docile.

Many of the Palace Attendants in the Eastern Palace could feel this change. The overt and covert provocations of the past suddenly decreased significantly, and even the rations sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were no longer being withheld.

Many of the Palace Attendants were overjoyed. After all, not all of them were spies for other people; some were just rule-abiding attendants who had done nothing out of line.

"Lady Yun is amazing! To think she has such a powerful backer. We finally won’t have to be bullied anymore."

"I never thought Lady Yun’s master was so incredible, a Celestial Human at Super Grade Perfection!"

"This is great! At least we have something to look forward to now."

...

Those in the palace who had also been secretly plotting for the Sword Control Skill now ceased all their activities.

"The Sword Control Skill is great, but you have to be alive to practice it."

"Elder Qing Yin, who has mastered the Sword Control Skill, is already one of the strongest experts below the True Monarch realm. Unless a True Monarch makes a move, she has nothing to fear from anyone."

"Even Xuan Nu Palace has quieted down, let alone us."

...