346: Killing the Master

Atop the mountain peak, Jiang Donghua and the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect concealed all their aura, merging with the rocks, quietly overlooking the massive Illusion Sound Platform below.

With Jiang Donghua's current Soul Power at the First Revolution Dou Zun Peak, the conversation between the two individuals below clearly entered his ears, and he could even perceive their subtle breathing and the circulation of their Dou Qi with perfect clarity.

Sure enough, two graceful figures appeared on the Illusion Sound Platform.

One of them wore a moon-white dress, possessing unparalleled beauty and a temperament like a secluded orchid in an empty valley. She appeared to be only twenty years old, yet her cultivation had already reached Peak Dou Zong, clearly indicating exceptional talent.

At this moment, she was pulling the arm of the woman beside her, slightly playfully.

The woman next to her was a charming and mature middle-aged beauty, dressed in a simple, elegant robe. She was well-proportioned and graceful, and her face was extremely well-preserved. Though there were subtle traces of time around her eyes, they only added to her mature and captivating allure.

Particularly striking was her cultivation base, which had reached the level of Eight-Star Dou Zun—two stars higher than the six stars Jiang Donghua had previously displayed publicly!

A faint, strange fluctuation seemed to linger around her, creating a subtle resonance with the energy between heaven and earth. This must be the profound mystery of the Heavenly Sound Spirit Body.

At this moment, Mu Qingxian, the Valley Master of the Sound Valley, was looking at her beloved Disciple with a mix of indulgence and slight helplessness. Her voice was gentle and pleasant, carrying a unique musical quality.

"Alright, Ning'er, stop fooling around. Why did you urgently send a message asking your master to come to this Illusion Sound Platform? What is the matter?"

"Although this place is an old site of my Sound Valley, it has been abandoned for a long time, and its aura is not what it once was."

The young woman named Ning'er blinked playfully and said.

"Master, you spend all day in the valley either handling affairs or cultivating in seclusion. How boring!"

"Your Disciple heard rumors that the Heavenly Sound Stone near this Illusion Sound Platform has been acting strangely recently, so I wanted to invite you to take a look. Maybe it's a sect opportunity! Besides, cultivation needs to be balanced, too."

Mu Qingxian gently tapped her beloved Disciple's forehead, her tone carrying a hint of reproach but more affection.

"You should focus more on your current bottleneck. Breaking through to Dou Zun is not easy; you need to meditate and gain insight. While external opportunities are important, the foundation still lies within yourself."

"When we return this time, you will go into seclusion at the Tranquil Heart Pool. You are not allowed to come out until you break through."

"Ah? The Tranquil Heart Pool..."

Ning'er's small face immediately fell into a grimace.

On the mountaintop, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect lowered his voice and spoke to Jiang Donghua with a hint of flattery.

"Venerable One, that young woman is Mu Qingxian's most favored personal Disciple, named Su Ning."

"According to our investigation, she was the one who used a scheme to lure her master here. It seems the plan is proceeding smoothly; Mu Qingxian has not grown suspicious."

Jiang Donghua remained expressionless, but his heart was clear as a mirror.

This Su Ning must have either had her mind controlled by the Hall of Souls or the Five Poisons Sect, or she was tempted by immense benefits and betrayed her sect.

Looking at the scene of deep affection between master and Disciple below, the disgust in his heart toward the Hall of Souls deepened.

To achieve their goals, they didn't hesitate to exploit the most precious emotions of others—this was indeed the Hall of Souls' usual despicable style. The one being used was also an idiot!

"When will the Soul-Corroding Miasma take effect?" Jiang Donghua asked indifferently.

"Replying to the Venerable One, judging by the time, it should be soon."

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect quickly replied.

"This poison is colorless and odorless. It has long since permeated the area around the Illusion Sound Platform, silently invading as she breathes and circulates her Dou Qi."

"Once Mu Qingxian uses even a slightly greater amount of Dou Qi, the toxicity will immediately be triggered, corroding her Dou Qi. It is especially effective against her sonic-wave Dou Qi, possessing extremely strong paralyzing and obstructive effects."

Sure enough, not long after the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect finished speaking.

Mu Qingxian below seemed to notice something; her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she said to Su Ning.

"Ning'er, does this place feel a little strange?"

Before she could finish her sentence, her expression suddenly changed!

An unnatural pallor instantly swept across her originally rosy cheeks, and the harmonious sonic fluctuations around her body were disrupted by a faint, discordant noise!

"Master! What's wrong?"

Seeing this, a flicker of undetectable panic crossed Su Ning's face, but she immediately replaced it with an expression of anxious concern.

"Poison, what strange poison!"

A sharp glint flashed in Mu Qingxian's beautiful eyes, and she instantly realized she had fallen into a trap!

She suddenly looked at Su Ning, her eyes filled with shock, heartache, and disbelief.

"Ning'er, you...?"

Just then, the space above the Illusion Sound Platform violently rippled like water!

An overwhelmingly dense, bloody aura surged forth, accompanied by a hoarse, triumphant laugh.

"Hahahaha! Valley Master Mu, realizing it now is a little too late! Your good Disciple here has rendered great service!"

Blood River Heavenly Venerable appeared!

The feigned concern on Su Ning's face vanished instantly, replaced by a twisted, long-held resentment and triumph.

While rapidly retreating toward the direction where Blood River Heavenly Venerable had appeared, she pointed at Mu Qingxian and shrieked insults.

"You old bitch! How dare you ask me what's wrong?"

"Did you think I didn't know? The sect's treasury clearly holds the Venerable Origin Barrier Breaking Pill! And that Millennium Seven-Colored Glazed Lotus! Either one would be enough to let me easily break through to Dou Zun!"

"But what did you do? You kept saying my foundation was unstable and that external help was ultimately inferior, forcing me to suffer and struggle! Making me repeatedly assault that damned bottleneck like an idiot!"

Su Ning's face was filled with venomous hatred; decades of dissatisfaction erupted completely at this moment.

"You were just jealous! Jealous of my talent!"

"You were afraid I would surpass you and steal your position as Valley Master! You hypocritical old woman!"

Every word was like a poisoned dagger, viciously stabbing into Mu Qingxian's heart.

She looked at the girl she had raised since childhood and treated as her own daughter, seeing the undisguised hatred on her face and hearing the heart-piercing words. Her delicate body couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her face grew paler—not just from the poison's effects, but from the agony of a heart being twisted by a knife.

"Ning'er... you..."

Mu Qingxian's voice trembled, filled with endless disappointment and sorrow.

"You actually view me this way? The Venerable Origin Barrier Breaking Pill is potent and leaves hidden dangers, and the Seven-Colored Glazed Lotus is a foundation reserved for when the sect faces a major disaster in the future!"

"I insisted you build a solid foundation for your own good, hoping your future path would lead further! You are the only blood relative of the Fourth Elder! I promised her I would take good care of you..."

Mentioning the deceased Fourth Elder, a trace of recollection and deeper anguish flashed in Mu Qingxian's eyes.

If that Elder, who sacrificed herself for the sect, had a spirit in heaven, how heartbroken would she be to see her daughter turn out like this?

"For my own good? Hahaha!"

Su Ning acted as if she had heard the greatest joke. Having retreated into the area shrouded by Blood River Heavenly Venerable's bloody Dou Qi, as if she had found the greatest backing, her tone became even more vicious.

"Stop with your pretense of benevolence and righteousness! My mother died fighting for the sect, and what did she get?"

"I, Su Ning, have been in the Sound Valley for decades, and what did I get? Am I not even worthy of one decent medicinal pill?!"

She stared fiercely at Mu Qingxian, her eyes crazed.

"Lord Blood River Heavenly Venerable has promised me that as long as I capture you, he will not only help me break through to Dou Zun but will also support me in becoming the Master of the Sound Valley in the future! This is what I deserve!"

Mu Qingxian closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the sorrow in her gaze had been replaced by cold resolution.

Decades of careful nurturing and countless efforts had ultimately raised an ungrateful wolf that would turn and bite its master.

This disappointment had pierced her heart completely.

She no longer looked at Su Ning, but instead directed her gaze toward the cold-auraed Blood River Heavenly Venerable. Her voice regained the authority befitting an Eight-Star Dou Zun Valley Master, although it sounded somewhat weak due to the poison.

"The Hall of Souls truly went to great lengths to deal with me, Mu Qingxian, even resorting to such despicable methods."

Blood River Heavenly Venerable let out a strange laugh, and bloody waves surged around him.

"Valley Master Mu, if you must blame something, blame your Heavenly Sound Spirit Body for interfering with the Hall of Souls' affairs. As for your good Disciple, she surrendered willingly. A wise bird chooses its tree to perch on, after all."

His greedy gaze swept over Mu Qingxian.

"Now that you've been struck by the Soul-Corroding Miasma, and your Dou Qi circulation is sluggish, how much strength can you still exert? Surrender obediently, and you can suffer less!"

Atop the mountain peak, Jiang Donghua, who had witnessed the entire scene, still had calm eyes, but the aura around him imperceptibly grew colder.

Betrayal, no matter the world, was always the most contemptible act.

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect whispered from the side.

"Venerable One, it seems this Su Ning has been completely misled by the Hall of Souls. That's good; it saves us some trouble."

"Just wait for Blood River Heavenly Venerable to capture her, and then you can strike for revenge!"

Jiang Donghua did not respond, merely looking down indifferently. This drama of master and Disciple turning against each other should now conclude.

As for that traitor named Su Ning, her fate had been sealed from the moment she chose betrayal.