70: Xuan Gu's Madness

Xuan Gu Immortal Monarch sat on the white jade immortal seat that originally belonged to Bai Li, his fingers digging into the armrest. The fine ten-thousand-year-old warm jade creaked under his grip, cracks spreading across it. His gaunt face, twisted by extreme rage, looked even more terrifying, and murderous glints flickered in his sunken eye sockets, as if he wanted to devour someone.

Half of the Demon Suppression Hall had been blown up, and the Immortal Binding Grotto was now a large, smoking pit. The most critical thing was that Bai Li was gone! That damned, slippery Lin Xuan had snatched her right from under his nose!

What a colossal humiliation! This was the biggest setback he had encountered in his tens of thousands of years of life! The thought that Lin Xuan might be ridiculing him about this right now made Xuan Gu feel a blockage in his chest. He wished he could immediately rush to the Star Palace and rip out that brat's soul to refine it!

But he couldn't. At least not yet.

The Immortal Alliance was too vast, and its waters ran too deep. On the surface, he, Xuan Gu, under the pretext of Bai Li being in seclusion to heal, had united with Akasaka and a group of elders who had long defected to the Asura Clan or been coerced by him, temporarily gaining control of the situation. He had issued a series of Alliance Leader orders in his name, mobilizing troops and reinforcing defenses, making it appear as a unified front.

But what about secretly? The Immortal Alliance had been passed down for countless years, with numerous factions and countless power bases. Officially, there were over fifty late-stage Immortal Monarchs, over a hundred mid-stage, and over five hundred early-stage—a terrifying number. But among them, those who genuinely followed him, Xuan Gu, to the bitter end were less than thirty percent! Most were opportunists, seeing Bai Li in seclusion and Xuan Gu's growing power, temporarily enduring and observing. There were also many loyal to Bai Li, or simply neutral, only concerned with their own small domains.

These individuals were now being held in various critical strongholds and resource points by him, using various genuine or fabricated Alliance Leader orders, mutually restraining each other and unable to move. Many of them had no idea that something had happened to Bai Li, still believing the orders truly came from the Alliance Leader.

Xuan Gu knew in his heart that his current power was like a castle built on quicksand; it looked impressive but was actually fragile and could collapse with a single poke. The only cornerstone was Bai Li's reputation! As long as Bai Li remained in his hands, he could continue to issue false edicts, slowly erode power, completely turn the Immortal Alliance into his personal domain, and then open the Ten Thousand Fox Cave to obtain that legendary item, break through to a higher realm, and truly be free from worry.

But now, his reputation had been shattered! Snatched by Lin Xuan!

"Lin Xuan! Lin Xuan!" Xuan Gu's teeth ground together, his voice sounding as if it was squeezed from his throat. "You must die! Bai Li must be recaptured!"

More urgently than killing Lin Xuan for revenge, he needed to regain control of Bai Li! Without Bai Li as a shield and a key, his usurped position as Alliance Leader would be unstable! And the Ten Thousand Fox Cave would be an impossible dream!

"Someone!" Xuan Gu roared suddenly.

From the shadows, two ghostly figures subtly emerged, exuding the chilling aura of early-stage Immortal Monarchs. They were his true confidants and loyal assassins, Shadow Killer and Soul Thorn.

"Master," both bowed, their voices devoid of emotion.

"Mobilize all forces of the Dark Hall!" Xuan Gu's eyes gleamed with madness and malice. "First, investigate for me! Where is Bai Li hidden in the Star Palace? What is her condition? Even if you have to turn over every rat hole in the Star Palace, you must find me accurate information!"

"Second," Xuan Gu's tone grew even colder, "at all costs, create chaos! Attack their supply convoys! Destroy their ore veins! Spread plagues and rumors in their rear! I want Lin Xuan to be overwhelmed, to be constantly on the run! To expose his weaknesses!"

He paused, a sinister grin appearing on his face: "Isn't he collecting Asura materials? Doesn't he have the Primal Chaos Furnace? Send it to him! Send him 'enhanced' materials! Find the most insidious, most concealed curses and soul-eating evils, undetectable even by an Immortal Monarch, mix them into the materials, and send them to him! I want to see if his Primal Chaos Furnace can refine the most sinister and evil things in this world!"

"Third," Xuan Gu looked at the Immortal Alliance territory map, "in the name of the Alliance Leader, order all frontline legions! Contract your defenses! Without my personal order, not a single soldier is allowed to move rashly! Especially the several battle zones near the Star Palace, all retreat a hundred li! Create a gap in the defense for me!"

Shadow Killer and Soul Thorn had no objections, bowing to accept the command: "Yes!" Their figures once again merged into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

Xuan Gu watched the direction where they vanished, muscles twitching on his emaciated face. He knew these methods were somewhat despicable, even aiding the enemy, but he couldn't care less! He was like a gambler who had lost his eyes, only wanting to retrieve his most important chips at all costs!

Soon, orders bearing Xuan Gu's mark, yet stamped with the Alliance Leader's great seal, spread throughout every corner of the Immortal Alliance. Most cultivators, though puzzled by such sudden, almost cowering orders, could only comply due to the Alliance Leader's prestige and Xuan Gu's faction's dominance.

In an instant, the already strained frontline defenses of the Immortal Alliance developed several huge, undefended blank zones! Like open gates, welcoming the Asura Clan and the insect swarms!

Star Palace, deep within the Spirit Herb Garden.

Inside a newly established, exquisite small building enveloped by layers of purification arrays, Bai Li slowly opened her eyes, herColored Glaze-like gaze still carrying a trace of weakness and confusion. She found herself lying on a soft cloud bed, surrounded by gentle and pure life energy. The tormenting Asura restriction power within her seemed to be suppressed; although her immortal power was still depleted, at least she was no longer in pain.

She struggled to sit up but felt utterly weak.

"Alliance Leader, you're awake? Don't move around. Your divine soul and immortal body are both severely damaged and require rest," a gentle female voice said. Qing Xuan walked over, carrying a bowl of immortal dew that exuded a refreshing herbal aroma. She carefully helped Bai Li sit up and brought the immortal dew to her lips.

Bai Li took a few sips from her hand, and a warm current spread through her limbs, making her feel much more comfortable. She looked at Qing Xuan, then at the unfamiliar yet vibrant surroundings, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Where is this? Daoist Lin Xuan, he..."

"This is the Star Palace's Spirit Herb Garden; it's very safe. Master, he..." Qing Xuan paused, a trace of lingering fear and admiration on her face. "Master was injured while venturing alone into the Immortal Alliance Headquarters to save you. He is currently recuperating."

Venturing alone into the Immortal Alliance Headquarters to save her!

Bai Li's mind flashed back to the last image before she fainted: the black-robed youth, like a demon god, tearing through restrictions, covered in blood but with sharp eyes, severing the Immortal Binding Chains. Her heart trembled violently, and an indescribable, complex emotion surged within her. It was gratitude, shock, and a hint of a stirring she couldn't quite articulate.

She had lived for tens of thousands of years, as Alliance Leader, burdened with heavy responsibilities, long accustomed to solitude and calculation. She had never imagined that someone would, for her sake, disregard all consequences and boldly break into a den of dragons and tigers!

"Are his injuries severe?" Bai Li couldn't help but ask, her voice carrying a concern she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Master said it's nothing serious, just a significant expenditure of energy," Qing Xuan reassured her, but the worry in her eyes did not escape Bai Li's notice.

Just then, urgent footsteps and Lin Xuan's characteristic, slightly impatient voice came from outside the small building: "Qing Xuan! Have you fed her the medicine? That old tortoise is going crazy; we don't have time for her to lie around!"

The curtain was lifted, and Lin Xuan walked in. His face was still a bit pale, and his right hand was wrapped in a thick layer of ointment exuding a primal chaos aura, but he seemed to be in good spirits.

Seeing Bai Li awake, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Oh, Alliance Leader, you're awake? How are you feeling? No missing arms or legs, I hope?"

Bai Li: "..." The surge of emotion she had just felt was instantly diminished by half by this scoundrel's words.

"Thanks to Temple Master Lin, I'm not dead yet," Bai Li retorted grumpily, struggling to maintain her Alliance Leader's dignity and sit upright, but the movement aggravated her injuries, and she couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Alright, alright, stop pretending to be strong," Lin Xuan waved his hand, casually pulling up a chair and sitting down. "The situation is urgent; we don't have time for pleasantries. That old tortoise Xuan Gu found out you were gone and is now like a mad dog, using every dirty trick in the book."

He quickly summarized the current situation, including Xuan Gu's false orders, the contraction of defenses, and the various insidious tactics that might follow.

The more Bai Li listened, the uglier her expression became, eventually trembling with rage: "Shameless! How dare he? How dare he actively open up the defenses! This is treating the lives of billions of cultivators as child's play! Handing over the foundation of the Immortal Realm to the Asura Clan!"

"Saying that now is useless," Lin Xuan interrupted her anger. "That old tortoise's first priority is to kill me, and his second is to capture you back. You are more important to him than his own life. Therefore, you are now the biggest hot potato for my Star Palace, and also our biggest card."

Bai Li took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her rage, and looked at Lin Xuan: "Daoist Lin, what do you intend to do? This sovereign's cultivation is completely lost now; I am like a cripple and fear I cannot be of much help."

"Who asked you to help fight?" Lin Xuan looked at her strangely. "Isn't your Alliance Leader's reputation still intact? In the Immortal Alliance, those who believe in you and the fence-sitters are surely more numerous than those who believe in that old tortoise, right?"

Bai Li's eyes suddenly lit up!

"Su Yuan!" Lin Xuan called out.

Su Yuan immediately ran in, holding the Heavenly Evolution Array Disk.

"Is it done?" Lin Xuan asked.

"It's done, Master!" Su Yuan said excitedly. "Although Xuan Gu controls the Immortal Alliance's main communication arrays, we intercepted several hidden spiritual connection lines that link to key figures in various regions! Through these lines, we can bypass Xuan Gu's control and directly contact those people!"

Lin Xuan looked at Bai Li, grinning. "Alliance Leader, you're recuperating and have nothing to do anyway. How about sending a message to your old subordinates, letting them know you're safe, and incidentally exposing that old tortoise's deception?"

Bai Li looked at Lin Xuan's mischievous grin, then at the faintly glowing array disk in Su Yuan's hand, and instantly understood his plan! Her breathing quickened slightly, and a light reignited in her eyes!

This was the first step of a desperate counterattack! And it was the key for her to reclaim everything!

"Good!" Bai Li declared decisively, struggling to get out of bed. "This sovereign will do it personally!"

"Alright then! Qing Xuan, help our Alliance Leader!" Lin Xuan called out, a cold arc forming on his lips.

Old Dog Xuan Gu, you want to play dirty, want to trap me to death? And you want to snatch Bai Li back?

I just won't let you have your way!

Your ironclad Immortal Alliance, I will use the reputation you value most to personally carve out hundreds of holes in it!

Let's see if your old tortoise shell is harder, or if the thorns in my hand are sharper!

While the Star Palace withstood external pressure, a silent infiltration and counterattack targeting the Immortal Alliance's interior quietly began. And at its core was the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox Alliance Leader, just rescued, weak but with rekindled fighting spirit.