232: Undercurrents within the Liang clan

Noticing Xiao Chen and Bing Xueer exchanging glances again, Bing Yuqiu's expression stiffened slightly. She felt a sense of helplessness; she could control the girl's person, but not her heart.

Then, she quickly stood up and cupped her hands toward everyone.

"In that case, we shall return to the Ice Cloud Palace first. There is no need for everyone to see us off. If we have leisure in the future, we will visit again."

"Very well, may your journey be smooth." Everyone cupped their hands in return.

The people of the Holy Sun Sect did not delay any longer. After leaving the hall, they hurriedly set out on their return journey.

In the blink of an eye, only Xiao Chen, Nan Yueli, and Xing Yao remained in the entire Qifeng Hall.

"Xing Yao, you should be the one to manage this Sect treasury."

As he spoke, a spatial ring and a treasury key appeared in Xiao Chen's palm.

"Rebellious Disciple, you are getting more and more impudent. You won't even call me Revered Master anymore, will you?"

"Well, you're still my sister-in-law right now! Why don't you call me brother-in-law?"

Nan Yueli glanced at the two of them and shook her head helplessly.

"Hmph!"

Nan Xingyao took them indignantly, pouting her small mouth with a huff. "Then what's the deal with this qiankun ring?"

"That Sima Yi almost emptied the entire treasury. Part of the resources were transferred to the qiankun ring, and the other part was moved to his Family."

The two sisters were shocked. If Sima Yi had managed to escape to the Baili Clan back then, the consequences would have been truly unimaginable.

"That damned old thing!"

Nan Yueli's gaze suddenly turned cold as she said in a heavy voice, "Then how do you plan to deal with his clansmen?"

"They have already been dealt with."

...Eastern Continent, Liang Clan.

In a pitch-black dungeon, a disheveled old man with a drooping head was bound by heavy iron chains, his clothes in tatters.

His body leaned against the cold stone wall. Every breath was exceptionally difficult, accompanied by the violent rise and fall of his chest.

A Spirit-Locking Array was hidden beneath his withered skin, sealing his cultivation while also preventing his spiritual energy from recovering.

No one could have imagined that this was actually the Clan Chief of the Liang Clan, Liang Yuan, a renowned powerhouse of the Eastern Continent with a Nascent Soul Stage Perfection cultivation.

Just then, a black-clothed figure appeared silently outside the dungeon. Two guards bowed tactfully:

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

They then tactfully and hurriedly away.

The black-clothed figure known as the 'Grand Elder' came before Liang Yuan and glanced at him coldly.

"Eldest Brother, why bother? Hand over the treasury key sooner and find release sooner."

Liang Yuan's eyes snapped open, and he let out a hoarse, low roar: "Liang Ji, you beast! One day you will reap what you sow!"

"Eldest Brother, don't speak so harshly. Look at these thousand years you've sat as Clan Chief; the Liang Clan has been declining day by day. You should have stepped down and yielded your position to someone more capable long ago!"

"Hahaha..."

Liang Yuan tilted his head slightly, a miserable smile on his face. "You think that by sitting in the position of Clan Chief, the Baili Clan will look highly upon you?

You are nothing but a dog in their eyes, a dog that only knows how to wag its tail and beg for mercy!"

"Hmph!"

Liang Ji snorted coldly, his gaze as frigid as ice. "Old thing! I might as well tell you some good news..."

"Get out!"

Liang Yuan roared, interrupting him. "I don't want to hear it. Get as far away from me as possible!"

"You don't want to hear it, but I insist on saying it. Hai Wei is back, did you know?"

Hearing this, Liang Yuan's cloudy eyes instantly became sharp, and his wrinkled face contorted. The iron chains wrapped around his arms clattered loudly.

"You mad dog, what on earth do you want to do?"

"I simply used a little trick to lure her back!"

"If you dare touch even a hair on her head, once I get out, I will definitely see you dead without a grave!"

"Hahaha... What kind of pipe dream are you having! Just stay here obediently!"

Liang Ji mocked with a face full of playfulness. "However, she is very lucky. Being favored by the Young Clan Leader of the Baili Clan is also her good fortune."

"You!"

Liang Yuan's eyes nearly split from rage as he shook the iron chains desperately. "You are a sinner of the Liang Clan; you will not have a good end!"

"Hmph, if you obediently tell me the whereabouts of the treasury key now, there might still be room for maneuver."

"Hahaha... I'm afraid that as soon as I hand over the treasury key, you will kill me to silence me and impatiently take the position of Clan Chief, right?"

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Liang Ji shook his head, a sinister arc curling at the corner of his mouth. "Should I say it's because we are biological brothers? Even at this stage, I have to admit that you are still the person who understands me best."

"Hmph!"

Liang Yuan snorted coldly, looking at him with sharp eyes. "I have no brother like you. One day, you will become a sacrificial lamb for the Baili Clan!"

"That's none of your concern!"

Liang Ji's face was grim as an exquisite wooden box slowly appeared in his palm. "As your brother, I'll ask you one last time: where exactly is the treasury key?"

"Stop your wishful thinking. You won't get anything from me!"

"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

After speaking, Liang Ji slowly opened the wooden box. Inside was a seven-inch-long black larva.

Its whole body emitted a ghostly green light, and its wrinkled, nauseating body wriggled slowly.

At the corners of its mouth was a pair of short, sharp fangs. Just one look was enough to make one's skin crawl.

"This is a heart-eroding gu from the Southern Region. After entering your body, it will nest around your heart and gnaw at it day and night, making you endure the pain of heart-eroding!"

Liang Yuan's gaze trembled violently, but he showed no fear. He silently watched this brother of his, unable to understand how a person could become like this.

"If you have the guts, then come. I have nothing to fear!"

"Good!"

Liang Ji's gaze turned cold. Without hesitation, he held the wooden box and walked up to Liang Yuan.

He pulled aside the tattered clothing on Liang Yuan's chest and slowly brought the wooden box close to his torso.

As if smelling delicious food, the heart-eroding gu crawled directly onto Liang Yuan's chest. Its sharp fangs tore a hole, and it quickly burrowed inside.

It left behind a tiny hole that was seeping blood.

"Ah..."

In the dark dungeon, a heart-wrenching scream instantly rang out. "Mad dog, if you have the guts, then kill me! Ah..."

With a thought from Liang Ji, the heart-eroding gu immediately stopped its gnawing. He grabbed Liang Yuan's chin and roared with a fierce look in his eyes:

"Quickly tell me the whereabouts of the key!"

Sweat poured down Liang Yuan's forehead, his face was pale, and he said weakly:

"Stop dreaming. I have set One Hundred and Eight Killing Arrays inside the treasury. With just a single thought from me, everything in the treasury will be reduced to ashes!

You will get nothing. Even if you sit as Clan Chief, so what? Let's see what you use to pay the clansmen their Monthly Stipends!"

"You!"

Liang Ji trembled with rage. The time to pay the Monthly Stipends was fast approaching. If he couldn't get the treasury key, chaos would likely erupt.

Just as he was about to activate the heart-eroding gu to continue torturing Liang Yuan, the sound transmission jade slip in his bosom suddenly vibrated.