188: fueling the flames

"Uncle Dao... He is Father's most prized asset; he won't be deployed easily."

Meng Bi frowned, weighing things in his heart. Mobilizing Daoba meant the nature of the matter had completely changed; it had escalated to the Family using core power to carry out an assassination!

The risk was extreme; once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Cousin!"

Seeing Meng Bi hesitate, Meng Lang immediately deepened his tone, his eyes flashing with the light of a venomous snake.

"Think about that Yao Delong! How long has he been rising? He has already comprehended a Domain in the Golden Core Realm!

If he dares to humiliate you in public today, what if he takes another step forward in the core rankings tomorrow, receives more attention from the Sect, and is even valued by the Sect Head...

By then, if he wants revenge, will we still have a chance? His wings are gradually filling out; he has already become a serious threat!

If we don't use thunderous means to strangle him before he has fully grown, I fear that in the future... you will have no foothold in this Yin Yang Sect, and perhaps... even your position as the heir to the Zhenyuan Marquiss Residence..."

"Enough!"

Meng Bi snapped, interrupting him, but Meng Lang's words were like icy awls, stabbing fiercely into his heart.

Before his eyes, he seemed to see Yao Delong's imposing, unfathomable figure, as well as the undisguised admiration and reliance in Luo Miaomiao's eyes when she looked at him.

A wave of intense humiliation, jealousy, and icy fear instantly submerged him.

That's right! He couldn't wait any longer! Yao Delong's growth speed was too terrifying!

The humiliation of today was etched into his bones!

If he let this child continue to grow, not to mention having a foothold in the Yin Yang Sect, he, Meng Bi, would likely not even be able to save his own life!

"One must be ruthless to be a real man!"

Meng Bi's last trace of hesitation was replaced by ruthlessness.

He gritted his teeth fiercely, a ferocious look appearing on his face.

"You are right! If this villain is not removed, I will not be able to sleep or eat in peace! Xiao Chen's side is an overt move, and Uncle Dao is the covert hand!

With both working together, let's see how Yao Delong can overturn the heavens!"

He no longer hesitated and immediately took out a pitch-black jade talisman engraved with complex runes from his storage ring.

This jade talisman was made of a special material, neither gold nor jade, and emitted an ancient and secretive fluctuation.

It was exactly the secret communication talisman that only core members of the Zhenyuan Marquiss Residence could possess.

It could contact the Marquis Zhenyuan himself directly and was extremely difficult to track or intercept.

Meng Bi took a deep breath, submerged his Divine Thought into the jade talisman, and clearly conveyed Yao Delong's threat, the plan to enlist the Third Prince, and his request to mobilize Daoba as a final safeguard.

He emphasized Yao Delong's terrifying potential in comprehending a Domain at the Golden Core Realm, as well as the huge threat he might pose to the Meng Family's future, his words sincere and filled with a sense of desperate resolution.

Ba Xia Dynasty, Zhenyuan Marquiss Residence, study.

The lights were bright, but the atmosphere was even more heavy than the Immortal Cave at Tuyao Peak.

The Current Marquis, Meng Tianxiong, a middle-aged man with a majestic face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's, was frowning as he looked at an inquiry document from the Family's Council of Elders.

It listed the trouble Meng Bi had caused in the Yin Yang Sect and the losses incurred, the lines filled with dissatisfaction and questioning of his qualifications as heir.

He was already overwhelmed, racking his brains over how to protect his son.

Just at this moment, the secret communication talisman in his bosom, which matched the one in Meng Bi's hand, vibrated slightly.

Meng Tianxiong's expression tightened; he immediately took out the jade talisman and probed it with his Divine Thought.

A moment later, his majestic face was instantly covered in frost.

A suppressed anger and icy killing intent permeated the room, causing the temperature in the study to drop by a few degrees.

"Comprehended a Domain in the Golden Core Realm... publicly humiliated my son... suspected of possessing a great treasure... even if the Third Prince acts, there may be variables..."

Meng Tianxiong whispered the key information from the jade talisman, his eyes growing colder and colder. "What a Yao Delong!"

He only had this one legitimate son, Meng Bi!

Although this son's Cultivate was just so-so, and he was always causing trouble, he was ultimately his own Bloodline and the future hope of the Meng Family!

If he were really forced to the point where he couldn't stay in the Yin Yang Sect and had to return in disgrace, those covetous elders would definitely seize the opportunity to make trouble and deprive Meng Bi of his position as heir!

This was something he absolutely could not tolerate!

"This child... has become a Heart Demon for Bi'er, and is even more of a great threat to our Meng Family in the future! He must be eradicated!"

Killing intent was fully revealed in Meng Tianxiong's eyes. He did not hesitate any longer and shouted in a deep voice: "Daoba!"

The voice was not loud, but it carried a strange penetrative power.

In the shadows of the corner of the study, the air seemed to ripple like water, and a figure appeared silently.

This person was of medium build, wearing inconspicuous grey cloth clothes.

His face was ordinary, save for a ferocious scar that slashed diagonally from his left eyebrow bone to his right cheek.

Like a centipede coiled there, it destroyed the peace of his entire face and added ten parts of ferocity.

He stood there, his aura completely restrained, as if he had merged with the shadows.

If not seen with one's own eyes, one could hardly feel his existence.

But those eyes, calm and waveless, were as deep as a cold pool, and the occasional flash of brilliance carried a sharpness that could pierce through a person's heart and an indifference that viewed life as mere grass.

He was Daoba, Meng Tianxiong's sharpest hidden blade, a killing god at the Peak of the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

"Marquis." Daoba bowed slightly, his voice hoarse and low, like sandpaper rubbing.

"Set off immediately, go to the Yin Yang Sect in secret, and wait for Bi'er's orders."

Meng Tianxiong's tone was icy, carrying an unquestionable resolution.

"The target is the Luoxia Peak Disciple, Yao Delong. If the Third Prince, Xiao Chen, fails to cripple or kill him during the core rankings...

You shall find an opportunity to strike and must completely erase him!

Remember, be clean and swift, leave no traces!

This child possesses great treasures; if there are any gains, they shall all be yours!"

"Yes."

Daoba's answer was extremely concise, without any questions or emotional fluctuations, as if he were just accepting an ordinary task.

He nodded slightly, and his figure merged into the water again, silently disappearing into the shadows, as if he had never appeared.

Luoxia Peak, courtyard.

The night was deep, and the moonlight was like water, spilling over the quiet courtyard. The lights on the training ground had long since been extinguished.

Luo Miaomiao stood in the courtyard, looking at Yao Delong, her small face carrying a trace of satisfaction after finishing her Cultivate, and also a trace of reluctance about the imminent parting.

The night wind blew, carrying the chill of the mountains, and she subconsciously tightened her clothes.

"Senior Brother... I, I should go back now."

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of imperceptible attachment.

Spirit Water Peak was not very close to Luoxia Peak; flying back would take nearly half an hour.

Yao Delong looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and her tired yet still bright eyes, was silent for a moment, and said:

"It is late, and traveling back and forth is inconvenient. I have many guest rooms here; if you don't mind, you can rest here for the night.

Tomorrow morning, I will send you back to the main Peak to participate in the rankings."

"Ah?"

Luo Miaomiao suddenly raised her head, her small mouth slightly open, and her pretty face instantly became like a ripe apple, the blush spreading all the way to her earlobes.

Her heart beat like a drum, and her mind went blank. Stay... stay here at Senior Brother's place for the night? This... this...

"I... I..."

She was too nervous to say a complete sentence, her small hands twisting her clothes in confusion, her eyes drifting, not daring to look at Yao Delong.

A lone man and woman, in the same courtyard... Although she knew Senior Brother was an upright gentleman, this... this was too embarrassing!

Yao Delong looked at her at a loss, uncontrollably shy appearance, and only then realized belatedly that his proposal seemed a bit abrupt.

He coughed lightly and explained: "It is just a guest room, in the side courtyard, very far from my main room. You can rest assured."

Hearing "very far from the main room," Luo Miaomiao's tense heartstrings relaxed a little, but the red glow on her face had not yet faded.

She secretly looked up at Yao Delong and saw that his expression was open and his eyes were clear, without any evil thoughts.

The bit of shyness and panic in her heart strangely melted away, turning into a trace of warmth and... secret joy.