Chapter 579: You Forgot

"A mere killing array?"

Ye Xuan smiled faintly, his fingers forming a hand seal. More and more rainbow-colored light appeared in the sky, shimmering and transforming.

Its power seemed even greater than when Sect Master Tang Zhao was in control, and his expression darkened.

Nearby, the pleasant surprise on the faces of the crowd froze. They had learned from Tang Zhao himself that Gale Light Academy had only taken control of the killing array within the Seven Star Earth Element Array; they couldn’t actually use it to free anyone.

Even so, the solemn expressions on their faces softened considerably. At the very least, they saw a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Without needing to discuss it, the members of the remaining Seven Great Sects instantly banded together. Dozens of Martial Kings gathered, their combined aura terrifying to behold.

Ge Puzi said coldly, "Tang Zhao, I advise you to open the Seven Star Earth Element Array and release us all before this situation deteriorates further. Don’t be so stubborn. Otherwise, you will go down in infamy, reviled by all."

"Go down in infamy? Reviled by all?" A cold sneer touched Tang Zhao’s lips. "History is written by the victors. Once I kill you all today, you’ll be gone. Who will be left to remember you? Only we, the victors, will be the sole heroes of the Dream Realm Plain, admired by all."

"But it’s a shame you won’t live to see that day. Hahaha." Tang Zhao laughed callously.

Ge Puzi shook his head. "Tang Zhao, it seems you refuse to see reason. Did you really think your three sects could control everything just by joining forces? We have so many people on our side, and the killing array is in our hands. Do you really believe you can kill us all?"

In terms of a direct comparison of strength, the Profound Mystery Sect’s faction was composed of only three major sects, whereas Gale Light Academy’s side had seven. On the surface, at least, Gale Light Academy’s faction held the advantage in sheer numbers of experts.

They had only been so desperate before because of the Seven Star Earth Element Array. Now that they controlled its killing aspect, their confidence surged.

"Is that so?" Tang Zhao let out a strange laugh. "Since we dared to make a move, do you really think we came unprepared?"

As his voice fell, he looked toward Yan Song and Cai Yan. "You two, it’s time for your experts to show themselves."

Yan Song and the others smiled indifferently. The next moment...

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Over twenty sharp whooshes suddenly echoed across the sky. Immediately after, more than twenty experts exuding terrifying auras descended from above.

These twenty or so people split into three groups, landing behind the three major sects.

"Sect Master Tang Zhao, it’s been a while!"

From the Nine Yang Sect, an old man slowly descended. His face was a web of wrinkles, like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree, and his aura was overwhelming.

It was none other than the Sect Master of the Nine Yang Sect, Qiu Diantian.

"So it’s Brother Qiu himself. Forgive me for not giving you a proper welcome," Tang Zhao said with a slight smile.

And from the Bright Moon Empire, a figure completely shrouded in a black cloak and wreathed in an eerie black smoke also descended slowly.

"Heheheh, so many experts here. Tsk, tsk. Such a magnificent feast. My fangs are getting restless."

The moment the cloaked man landed, he revealed a pair of sharp fangs. A scarlet tongue darted across his lips as a ghastly green light shone from the eyes hidden beneath his hood.

Tang Zhao’s brow twitched, clearly repulsed by the man’s aura, but he still forced a smile. "Brother Xie Li, it has been some time. I trust you’ve been well."

"How hypocritical." The cloaked figure sneered, his gaze sweeping excitedly over Ge Puzi and the others.

The Martial Artists from the other major sects turned pale at the sight. They never expected that the Sect Master of the Nine Yang Sect and the Grand Protector of the Bright Moon Empire would both appear, and with so many Martial King Level experts in tow.

With this, the balance of power between the two sides was instantly shattered.

A thread of despair once again crept into the hearts of the experts from the various sects.

Tang Zhao sneered, a murderous glint in his eyes. He announced loudly, "Your arrival is most timely. Please, assist us in slaughtering these stubborn fools so we may complete our grand ambition."

As his voice fell, Profound Energy flared from Tang Zhao and his allies, and they prepared to strike.

"Sect Master Tang Zhao, wait," Qiu Diantian of the Nine Yang Sect suddenly interjected.

Tang Zhao froze, frowning. "Is there something else you wish to say, Brother Qiu?"

Qiu Diantian’s murky eyes glinted sharply. He stared indifferently at Ye Xuan and said in a slow, deliberate tone, "Brother Tang, that boy just claimed your Profound Mystery Sect has an ulterior motive for attacking Gale Light Academy. I must admit, I am quite curious. I’d like to hear what he has to say."

Tang Zhao’s expression changed, but he replied dismissively, "Brother Qiu, surely you won’t believe the desperate ramblings of a boy about to die? He’s only saying this to divide us, to deliberately sow discord. Don’t fall for his trap."

A strange light flickered in Qiu Diantian’s eyes. He chuckled. "Brother Tang, rest assured, I’m no three-year-old child. How could I be so easily deceived? Let’s just hear him out. We can treat it as a joke."

"Heheheh, I’m quite interested as well."

The cloaked man from the Bright Moon Empire let out a strange cackle, his tongue flicking about erratically.

"Boy, speak. What is the Profound Mystery Sect’s true motive for attacking your Gale Light Academy?" Qiu Diantian demanded, his eyes glinting sharply.

Tang Zhao snorted but didn’t try to stop him. He simply stared at Ye Xuan, his eyes cold and flickering.

Ye Xuan smiled. "It seems that while Sect Master Qiu has allied with the Profound Mystery Sect, you don’t fully understand their true purpose."

A fierce light shot from Qiu Diantian’s eyes. "Boy, get to the point. One more word of nonsense, and don’t blame me for being merciless later."

Ye Xuan looked at Qiu Diantian with a grin, completely unfazed by his threat. Just as the old man’s patience was wearing thin, he finally spoke. "Doesn’t Sect Master Qiu know? The Profound Mystery Sect attacked my Gale Light Academy for a supreme treasure."

Tang Zhao’s expression changed instantly, and he shot a cold glare at Duan Tianlang behind him.

Duan Tianlang flinched, his expression panicked. He wanted to explain but didn’t know where to begin.

Qiu Diantian and the others didn’t miss this exchange. "A supreme treasure?" he asked coldly. "What supreme treasure?"

In truth, they were also quite curious about the Profound Mystery Sect’s motive for attacking Gale Light Academy. The Profound Mystery Sect had explained that it was merely a ploy to lure out the experts from all the major sects and wipe them out in one fell swoop. But Qiu Diantian and his allies were no fools; they could sense that the Profound Mystery Sect had some other, hidden objective concerning Gale Light Academy.

That was why they were so curious about the Profound Mystery Sect’s true goal.

Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "As for what this supreme treasure actually is, it’s not convenient for me to say. What I can tell you, however, is that the Profound Mystery Sect doesn’t want it for themselves. They plan to seize it as an offering for a certain powerful figure from the Profound Domain. I wonder, did any of you know that? Ah, with a powerful figure from the Profound Domain backing you, it’s no wonder your three sects harbor ambitions of uniting the Dream Realm Plain. If it were me, I might even be dreaming of uniting the entire Profound Celestial Continent."

"What? A powerful figure from the Profound Domain?"

Qiu Diantian and Xie Li’s expressions changed drastically. When the Profound Mystery Sect had approached them, they had only spoken of a three-way alliance to unite the Dream Realm Plain. There had been no mention of any powerful figure from the Profound Domain.

Instantly, both of them shot sharp, questioning glares at Tang Zhao.

Under their scrutiny, Tang Zhao’s expression remained unchanged. He said coldly, "Gentlemen, you’re not actually going to believe such a blatant attempt to sow discord, are you? A powerful figure from the Profound Domain? If such a person truly existed, why would I have needed to contact you two? I would have united the Dream Realm Plain on my own long ago."

Qiu Diantian and Xie Li’s gazes hardened. What Tang Zhao said did seem to make sense.

Neither of them noticed that as Tang Zhao spoke, a flash of pure rage deep within his eyes was directed in a cold glare at Duan Tianlang.

’This matter is top secret,’ he thought. ’Only a handful of people in the entire Profound Mystery Sect know about it, and Duan Tianlang is the only one who knows even a fraction. It’s impossible for Gale Light Academy to know. This information must have been leaked by Duan Tianlang!’

Duan Tianlang wanted to cry but had no tears. He didn’t remember telling Ye Xuan any of this.

Ye Xuan, who had been watching closely, committed all of this to memory.

"Boy, do you think I’ll believe you just because you said so?" Qiu Diantian turned back to Ye Xuan and snorted.

Ye Xuan smiled. "Believe it or not, that’s your business. But it’s the truth. Vice Sect Master Duan Tianlang of the Profound Mystery Sect told me this himself to save his own life. He also mentioned that their great master is from Infinite Mountain, one of the continent’s Seven Great Sects, and possesses world-shaking power."

"Sect Master, I didn’t say anything! Don’t listen to his nonsense!"

Duan Tianlang first looked shocked, then cried out in terror.

Ye Xuan chuckled. "Duan Tianlang, don’t be so quick to deny it. Have you forgotten? That day, to save your life, you told us many secrets of the Profound Mystery Sect. You even told us that this great master placed the Golden Palace Celestial Lock Seal on you, so that unless you spoke willingly, no one could pry a word out of you—not even with a Soul Search. Have you forgotten all that?"

"You also said that the Profound Mystery Sect was only allied with the Nine Yang Sect and the Bright Moon Empire on the surface—that you were just using them. Once your goal was achieved, the Nine Yang Sect and the Bright Moon Empire would suffer the same fate as us, and the entire Dream Realm Plain would fall under the control of that great master from Infinite Mountain, spreading his glory. Have you forgotten that as well?"

"Even if you’ve forgotten, I still remember it clearly—you, groveling on the ground like a dog, begging us for your life."

With every word Ye Xuan uttered, Duan Tianlang’s face grew a shade paler. By the time Ye Xuan had finished speaking, Duan Tianlang’s face was ashen, utterly drained of color.