Chapter 4672
As Kai raised his palm, the servant of the Yan Mansion was paralyzed with fear. He had just witnessed Kai, at the second level of the Mahayana realm, effortlessly kill Luo Ta, a peak ninth-level Mahayana cultivator, and Qiu Wanqing, an eighth-level powerhouse.
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”
“General Yan sent me here to observe what was happening between the Xing Mansion and the Qiu Mansion and report back to him,” the servant stammered hurriedly.
Xing Daorong’s eyes narrowed. “What is Yan Shuangying plotting? Does he intend to reap the benefits after we exhaust ourselves fighting each other? Letting me and Qiu Wanqing battle it out so he can swoop in and claim victory?”
“General Xing, I don’t know!” the servant replied anxiously. “I’m just a lowly servant following orders. General Yan didn’t share his plans with me.”
Kai, unbothered, waved his hand dismissively. “Go back and tell General Yan exactly what you saw. If he’s interested in the fairy stone vein, let him come and try to take it himself.”
After Kai’s command, Xing Daorong allowed the servant to leave, fully deferring to Kai’s authority.
Meanwhile, in the Ten Palaces…
The Lord of the Ten Palaces sat in his chamber, frowning as he wrestled with growing concerns over resources. With the cultivators of the Ten Palaces growing stronger, the demand for resources had skyrocketed.
The spoils plundered by the Demon Sealing League in the Heavenly Realm were no longer sufficient to sustain the ever-expanding needs of the Ten Palaces.
This was why the Lord of the Ten Palaces had instructed Luo Ta to trade with Beast City. To ascend to immortality required an abundance of resources, and without them, all efforts would be futile.
Suddenly, a panicked voice broke through his thoughts.
“Palace Master! Palace Master! Something terrible has happened—Luo Gongsheng’s soul lamp has gone out!”
The Lord of the Ten Palaces froze, his expression one of disbelief. “What did you say?”
Without waiting for a reply, he rushed to the Ten Palaces’ secret chamber. There, his worst fear was confirmed—Luo Ta’s soul lamp had indeed been extinguished.
Hundreds of lamps flickered softly in the chamber, each representing the soul of a member of the Ten Palaces—including the soul lamp of the Ten Palace Master himself.
If someone died, their soul lamp would extinguish instantly. Should their physical body be destroyed but their soul survive, the lamp’s brightness would dim; yet with the body restored, the lamp could reignite and return to its former brilliance.
“How could this happen? How could Luo Ta die?” the Ten Palace Master exclaimed in disbelief.
“Palace Master, Luo Ta has been trading with the Beast City for years without any issues. How could he suddenly perish?” a member of the Ten Palaces murmured. “From what I’ve heard, the overall strength of the Beast City is mediocre at best. Luo Ta should have no equals there. This situation is baffling.”
The Ten Palace Master nodded thoughtfully. “It’s indeed strange. Keep this to yourself for now. I’ll consult Old Qian to figure out what’s going on.”
With that, he left the secret chamber and made his way toward the back of the Ten Palaces’ grand hall.
Beyond the opulent main hall lay a tranquil forest, alive with birdsong and blooming flowers. Nestled within the greenery were a few humble thatched cottages, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the palace.
In front of one of these cottages sat an elderly man on a weathered rattan chair. His silver hair was meticulously combed, each strand gleaming like frost under the sunlight. His face was gaunt, the wrinkles etched across it resembling the winding paths of an ancient map, holding untold stories of the past.
Though his eyes were sunken, they shone with a quiet depth, like a still pool that concealed endless mysteries. Occasionally, a sharp gleam would flash within them, piercing like an eagle’s gaze, as though he could see through all illusions.
He wore a long, slightly faded gown, neat and simple, with its hem swaying gently in the breeze. A dark cloth belt loosely tied around his waist held a warm jade pendant, which emitted a crisp, musical clink whenever he moved.
In one hand, he held a bamboo folding fan adorned with an ink-wash painting of landscapes. The brushstrokes were elegant yet profound, exuding a timeless charm. As he waved the fan gently, it stirred a soft breeze, adding an air of quiet mystery to his presence.
On a rattan table before him stood a bamboo tube, and beneath it, several rusty copper coins were arranged meticulously in the shape of a seven-star formation.