34: The tragic Lie Tianxiong

“It's just that Burning Heaven Palace and Myriad Law Pavilion clashed.”

Xuan Yangzi smacked his lips, then his tone shifted, and a smile appeared on his face.

“It’s actually quite amusing. After Burning Heaven Palace left our Azure Profound Sect that day, they were beaten up four times in one night. It was truly miserable! I heard that their entire group is still lying in bed, unable to even crawl.”

Shi Wanshan nodded repeatedly from the side.

“Hmm, I heard about it too. It seems like the people from Myriad Law Pavilion did it. Myriad Law Pavilion really is acting as they please, relying on their strong power.”

Gu Changge’s hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

He quietly watched the two of them, playing off each other, displaying expressions of indignation or schadenfreude, but in his heart, he was as clear as a mirror.

If he didn't know that both of them had secretly followed out that day, changed their attire, and personally beaten the people from Burning Heaven Palace, an outsider might really have been fooled by their acting.

“What about now?”

Gu Changge asked indifferently.

“What else could happen?”

Xuan Yangzi pouted.

“The two sides have already had several major battles. Burning Heaven Palace suffered considerable losses, with several Purple Mansion Realm Elders dying. I heard that three Cave Heaven Realm Protectors also perished there.

Myriad Law Pavilion, on the other hand, fared better; only a few Cave Heaven Realm experts were injured, and only two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators died.

The most crucial thing is that one of Burning Heaven Palace’s Spirit Stone veins was forcibly seized by Myriad Law Pavilion. Burning Heaven Palace must be furious now.”

Shi Wanshan also sighed along.

“I just don’t know when this matter will end. It’s best if we don’t get involved.”

Hearing this, Gu Changge remembered the palm strike he had given the people of Burning Heaven Palace earlier, and he wondered how they were doing.

With a slight thought, his Divine Sense, like an invisible net, crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, silently enveloping Burning Heaven Palace.

Inside the sleeping chambers deep within Burning Heaven Palace, Palace Master Lie Tianxiong was slumped on his bed. His once majestic face was now filled with exhaustion, and a few strands of white hair had inexplicably appeared at his temples.

He would occasionally let out a muffled groan, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Whenever that tricky energy surged within his body, he would curl up into a ball, as if his internal organs were being gripped by an invisible hand.

Around the bed stood three old men in grey-green medicinal robes, with a lifelike spiritual ganoderma embroidered on their cuffs. They were the Elders of the Hundred Herbs Hall from Medicine King Valley.

The three of them examined Lie Tianxiong’s pulse for a long time, their brows furrowed so tightly they could trap a mosquito.

“Strange, truly strange!”

The white-bearded Elder, who was leading them, withdrew his finger and stroked his beard, shaking his head repeatedly.

“The energy within Palace Master Lie’s body is extremely domineering, yet it hides very deeply, like a bone-deep ulcer.

We used seven kinds of detoxifying pills and three kinds of force-dissolving powders, but we couldn't even touch its edge.”

Lie Tianxiong was panting in pain, and hearing this only made him angrier.

“Can you cure it or not? If this drags on any longer, this old man’s life will be consumed by it!”

The three Elders exchanged glances, and finally, the white-bearded Elder sighed.

“Palace Master Lie, it’s not that we are incompetent; it’s truly that this energy is too domineering, and this injury is too peculiar. Our skills are insufficient, and we have no way to deal with it.”

“As for the remuneration, we also have no face to accept it. We shall take our leave.”

The three Medicine King Valley Elders cupped their hands in farewell. As soon as they walked out of the sleeping chambers, the atmosphere within the hall became heavy.

The Grand Elder of Burning Heaven Palace looked at Lie Tianxiong’s pain-contorted face, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

“Palace Master, why don’t… we humble ourselves and go beg that old fellow from Myriad Law Pavilion?

I heard that Myriad Law Pavilion Master Yun Canghai has a ‘Breaking Calamity Pill’ in his possession, which might be able to cure your strange injury. As long as he is willing to act, even if it means giving up some of our mine profits…”

“Nonsense!”

Lie Tianxiong suddenly raised his voice, which pulled at the energy within his body, causing him to groan “Ow, ow,” in pain, and the cold sweat on his forehead flowed even more profusely.

“Make this old man go beg that old scoundrel? He’d be happy to see me dead! This injury might even be his doing in secret!”

Second Elder Lie Yan, standing nearby, had an ashen face and slammed his hand heavily on the table.

“What kind of foolish talk is Grand Elder spouting! Myriad Law Pavilion has been too aggressive these past few days. Not only did they seize one of our Spirit Stone veins, but they also killed three of our Cave Heaven Realm Protectors at the border! This is an irreconcilable enmity; how can we go beg them?”

“But Palace Master’s injury…” The Grand Elder stomped his foot anxiously, “If this drags on, I’m afraid…”

Lie Tianxiong curled up in pain, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists.

“Go find me more powerful apothecaries. If there are none in Xuan Province, then go to other provinces. I refuse to believe that without Myriad Law Pavilion, there’s no other way to cure my injury.”

Lie Tianxiong gasped in pain, but his mind was not idle.

These past few days, he had repeatedly recalled his encounters after leaving Azure Profound Sect.

Four beatings, each more severe than the last, especially the final one. That palm technique, descending from the sky, was incredibly fierce and overbearing. It was precisely this palm technique that left him with this troublesome ailment.

Initially, he adamantly believed it was Myriad Law Pavilion’s doing, as there were only a handful of Sects with such power in Xuan Province.

But when he calmed down and thought it over, he felt something was off.

That group from Myriad Law Pavilion was very arrogant and always disdained using sneak attack methods, let alone acting four times in a row. This simply didn't fit their style of conduct.

Perhaps only the last palm strike was from Myriad Law Pavilion, while the first three times seemed more like someone seizing the opportunity to vent.

Moreover, those four attacks seemed like a premeditated, organized joint operation.

To be able to send out four experts with such power, it couldn't be that Myriad Law Pavilion alone dispatched four King Realm cultivators, could it?

They weren't that extravagant.

Could it be… that several other Sects had joined forces?

Lie Tianxiong’s heart skipped a beat.

A few days ago, he had gone door-to-door challenging and offended all the Sects like Azure Profound Sect and Formation Breaking Sect. Those Sects might seem weaker than Burning Heaven Palace on the surface, but who knew if they were hiding old monsters?

It might have been the Old Ancestors of those few Sects who made a move.

These villains, resorting to underhanded tactics when they couldn't win directly!

Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Lie Tianxiong’s eyes.

The energy within his body seemed to sense his anger and began to surge again, causing him to groan “Ow” twice in pain.

“This debt cannot be settled just like that!”

Lie Tianxiong gritted his teeth and said, his voice hoarse from the pain.

“Myriad Law Pavilion is powerful; I can’t contend with them for now, but against other Sects, my Burning Heaven Palace still has the upper hand!”

He looked at the Grand Elder beside him, his gaze firm.

“I suspect they were also involved that night. Grand Elder, please make a discreet trip to Azure Profound Sect and Formation Breaking Sect.

If I find out who was behind this, I will make them pay the price!”

The Grand Elder heard this, cupped his hands, and replied, “Yes, Palace Master, I will go handle it immediately.”

The Second Elder also stepped forward, a few hints of solemnity forced onto his face, but inwardly he was secretly sighing.

He slowly opened his mouth, “Palace Master, what about Myriad Law Pavilion…”

“Leave them for now.”

Lie Tianxiong waved his hand, taking a deep breath in pain.

“The most important thing right now is to find out what happened that night and to find someone who can cure my injury. As for Myriad Law Pavilion, we will remain inactive for now. Once my injury is healed, we will slowly settle the score with them!”

The Second Elder’s heart sank. Well, it seemed the show wouldn't go on.

He secretly glanced at the grimacing Lie Tianxiong, muttering to himself.

He had originally wanted to see Burning Heaven Palace and Myriad Law Pavilion fight to a mutual destruction, so Azure Profound Sect could reap the benefits, but he didn’t expect this old fellow to suddenly change his tune.

It seemed he needed to quickly send a message to Azure Profound Sect, so they could prepare in advance, lest they be bitten by this big fool.

Inside the sleeping chambers, Lie Tianxiong’s groans of pain continued intermittently, but his eyes now held a calculating and ruthless glint.

And the Second Elder, standing beside him, wore an expression of worry on his face, but his fingertips were secretly forming a communication spell in his sleeve that only those within Azure Profound Sect would understand.

The Third Elder, who had not spoken, was also secretly sending a message, though it was unknown where… On Zizhu Peak, Gu Changge’s Divine Sense took in the farce within the sleeping chambers.

This Burning Heaven Palace certainly hid many interesting characters.

This commotion seemed even more lively than Gu Changge had imagined.

As his Divine Sense withdrew, Gu Changge happened to meet Xuan Yangzi’s gaze.