155: Chapter 155 The Viper Returns to Its Nest, The Show Begins

Upper Realm, Ziwei Star Domain.

The Secret Palace of the Xiao Family Divine Mountain.

Inside the empty grand hall, the light of the ever-burning lamps flickered.

Riiip.

The space let out an overburdened tearing sound. A one-way cross-Realm rift was forcibly torn open.

Thud.

A figure crashed from mid-air onto the white jade floor tiles.

Qing Yuan's green battle armor, which originally flowed with astral runes, was completely shattered, with large pieces of plating falling off.

Dark golden blood surged out from the broken edges, quickly pooling into a glaring puddle beneath her.

Her limbs twitched uncontrollably, her hands gripping the gaps in the floor tiles tightly, her nails splitting.

She struggled to lift her head, her face as pale as paper, and she spat out three large mouthfuls of blood in a row.

The severe injuries were not faked in the slightest.

Su Yun's finger of Sword Qi had solidly severed thirty percent of her Meridians, and the remaining destructive Sword Intent was still rampaging within her body.

Hurried footsteps came from the depths of the Secret Palace.

Xiao Ninger, dressed in a plain white ethereal dress, walked over quickly. Lin Aotian followed half a step behind.

"Qing Yuan?" Xiao Ninger's brow furrowed slightly as she immediately stepped forward and supported Qing Yuan's shoulders with both hands.

"Young Miss..." Qing Yuan collapsed into Xiao Ninger's arms, her voice extremely hoarse.

Lin Aotian stopped three steps away. His gaze went past Xiao Ninger, staring fixedly at Qing Yuan's empty hands.

"Where is Su Yun's head?" Lin Aotian asked urgently.

Qing Yuan lifted her eyelids, swept a glance at Lin Aotian, and then quickly lowered her gaze.

"The rejection from the Lower Realm's Heavenly Dao was too strong."

Qing Yuan gasped for breath, blood continuously overflowing from the corners of her mouth.

"That thief was extremely strange; he had actually refined a sliver of the Lower Realm's Heavenly Dao Origin. Your Servant forcibly activated the Profound Immortal Manifestation, which drew the strangulation of the plane's Laws."

From a compartment in her armor, she pulled out a cracked jade talisman with trembling fingers.

"Su Yun detonated the Luck of the Taiyi Holy Land. Your Servant risked the falling of my Realm and used the forbidden tool bestowed by the Grand Elder, using Nine Heavens Thunder Fire to completely incinerate his Physical Body along with his Divine Soul."

"This is the last wisp of his remnant soul's aura that Your Servant forcibly intercepted before his body and soul were utterly destroyed."

The jade talisman was handed over.

Lin Aotian lunged forward and snatched the jade talisman. His fingers tightened.

Crack.

The surface of the jade talisman shattered completely.

A faint wisp of Divine Soul aura, carrying the scent of death and dissipation, drifted into the air.

It was Su Yun's aura. There was no life in it.

Lin Aotian closed his eyes. His chest heaved violently.

Three seconds later.

Laughter rolled out from deep within his throat, growing louder and louder.

"Hahahaha!"

Lin Aotian suddenly threw back his head, his arms spread wide.

Tears seeped from the corners of his eyes due to the intense emotional fluctuations.

He swung his arms forcefully, and the Spiritual Qi in the hall was stirred by him, emitting a low whistling sound.

"He's dead! He's finally dead!" Lin Aotian's fists were clenched tight, his knuckles turning white.

The gloom that had weighed on his heart for many days was swept away.

The humiliation Su Yun had brought him ended completely with the dissipation of this remnant soul.

He even felt that his stagnant Dao Heart had loosened slightly.

Xiao Ninger looked at Lin Aotian, who was laughing towards the sky, and sighed softly.

Getting rid of Su Yun not only helped resolve Lin Aotian's mental knot but also erased a stain on the Xiao Family's dignity.

She turned to look at the bloodied Qing Yuan in her arms and took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her storage ring.

She uncorked the bottle and poured out a Medicinal Pill surrounded by golden patterns.

"Nine Transformations Return to Heaven Pill."

Xiao Ninger personally placed the Medicinal Pill into Qing Yuan's mouth.

"Qing Yuan, you've worked hard. You've performed a great service this time, and I will keep it in mind. After you go down, go to the Family treasury and pick three Immortal Artifacts for self-defense."

The pill melted upon entering her mouth, and a hint of color returned to Qing Yuan's pale face.

"Thank you, Young Miss." Qing Yuan lowered her head, concealing the dark light in her eyes.

Lin Aotian restrained his laughter and strode over to Qing Yuan, looking down at her condescendingly.

"Where is Liu Qingyan?"

Lin Aotian stared intently at Qing Yuan.

"That bitch, and the other women around Su Yun—did you extract their Divine Souls?"

Qing Yuan's body shrank imperceptibly, a look of difficulty on her face.

Xiao Ninger frowned, noticing her maidservant's movement.

"Speak freely," Xiao Ninger's voice turned cold. "With me here, no one can touch you."

With Xiao Ninger's promise, Qing Yuan spoke in a low voice.

"Replying to Young Miss. Before Su Yun died, he detonated the core eye of the sect-protecting array. The massive spatial turbulence swept those women away, transporting them to an unknown dead land."

"Your Servant suffered too much backlash from the Laws and could not continue the search. Fearing I would delay your important matters, I could only return first."

"Not found?" The wild joy on Lin Aotian's face instantly froze.

He suddenly raised his right hand, golden light flickering in his palm, and slapped Qing Yuan's cheek fiercely.

"Useless trash! You couldn't even bring back a few Lower Realm ants! What use is there in keeping you!"

Slap!

With a crisp sound, Qing Yuan was sent flying by this slap infused with spiritual power, crashing against the wall as blood gushed from her mouth.

Xiao Ninger stood aside, her brow tightly knit, but she ultimately did not step in to stop him.

Lin Aotian flicked his wrist, his chest heaving violently, his face flushed red.

"Ninger, those women betrayed me! If I don't torture them with my own hands, my thoughts will not be at peace!"

Xiao Ninger looked at Qing Yuan in the pool of blood, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes, but she still sighed and stepped forward, her voice softening slightly.

"Brother Aotian, please calm down first. Su Yun is already dead, and a few Lower Realm women won't be able to cause any trouble. Qing Yuan also nearly lost her life just to kill Su Yun; just... treat it as venting your frustration."

She leaned down, attempting to help Qing Yuan up, while softly advising her.

"Qing Yuan, don't blame Brother Aotian. He's just too angry. Please understand him. Get up first, and I'll help you go heal your injuries."

Qing Yuan submissively allowed her to support her, lowering her head weakly as her long hair covered her face.

Unseen by anyone, there was not a hint of fear or grievance in her eyes, only a bone-chilling coldness and mockery.

She couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

This was the Young Miss she had served since childhood, who was a sister in all but name?

She would actually watch her get beaten until she spat blood for an outsider like Lin Aotian, and then expect her to "understand" afterward?

The so-called deep sisterly bond was such a fragile joke in front of a man.

Qing Yuan leaned submissively against Xiao Ninger, and those hands close to her waist seemed to tighten a bit more.

The two left the Secret Palace.

Inside the empty hall, only Lin Aotian remained.

With his hands behind his back, he walked to the hall's entrance. Sunlight pierced through the nine-colored sea of clouds, spilling onto the white marble steps.

Lin Aotian gazed at the boundless Ziwei Star Domain, a fanaticism reigniting in his eyes.

"Su Yun, so what if you reigned supreme in the Lower Realm? In the end, didn't you turn to ash and smoke?"

The corners of Lin Aotian's mouth curled up.

"Liu Qingyan, once I catch you, I will make you wish you were dead. This Upper Realm, this Ziwei Star Domain—sooner or later, it will all be mine."

He closed his eyes, envisioning the future.

Marrying Xiao Ninger, controlling an Immortal Family, and treading upon the myriad worlds of the heavens.

A breeze blew past, and the light of the ever-burning lamps in the hall flickered.

Lin Aotian thought he had gained a new life, but in reality, he was nothing more than a speck of dust on Su Yun's chessboard.

The trajectory of fate had long been completely locked.

The more arrogant he was, the more wretched and absolute his future collapse would be.

Late at night. The Xiao Family Divine Mountain.

Inside Xiao Ninger's bedchamber, incense curled in the air.

Xiao Ninger, wearing thin, plain-colored clothing, sat cross-legged on the spiritual jade bed, meditating.

Knock, knock.

A very soft knocking sound was heard.

"Enter." Xiao Ninger did not open her eyes.

The door pushed open, and Qing Yuan, having changed into a clean green robe, walked in lightly carrying a white jade tray.

On the tray sat a green jade bowl. The thick brown liquid emitted a strange, delicate fragrance.

Qing Yuan walked to the bedside.

"Young Miss, you have been exhausted these past few days because of Young Master Lin's affairs. Your Servant has brewed a bowl of Spirit-Nourishing Soup for you." Qing Yuan's voice was gentle.

Xiao Ninger opened her eyes and, seeing her maidservant's pale face, a hint of touched emotion flashed in her eyes.

"You are very thoughtful."

She reached out and took the jade bowl. Her fingers touched the wall of the bowl; the temperature was just right.

Qing Yuan took half a step back, her hands folded over her abdomen, her head slightly lowered.

Xiao Ninger brought the jade bowl to her lips.

Under the dim candlelight, within Qing Yuan's lowered eyelids, a dark red blood-colored ornamental pattern quickly emerged and then instantly vanished into the depths of her pupils.

A strange, cold smile spread across the corners of her mouth.

"Young Miss," Qing Yuan's voice was extremely soft, like a mumble in a dream.

"While the soup is still hot, hurry and drink it..."