Dangerous Situation

Dangerous Situation . . .

The celestial phenomenon, a masterpiece woven from the dual constellations, shattered before their eyes, a clean rupture dividing the heavens in twain.

Once the celestial fireworks subsided, the familiar sky stretched above Qin Wentian. But as his sword descended, an alarming transformation took hold. His once-mighty aura withered at a terrifying pace, leaving his visage as pallid as paper.

Recollections of a time when he'd assumed the form of a primordial great roc to invoke the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay flooded his thoughts. This particular immortal art differed from others—it exacted a grave toll. To unleash its supreme might, one had to burn their very essence, including their life force. What Qin Wentian failed to recognize, however, was that without his extraordinary vitality, this relentless assault would have consumed him entirely.

Nonetheless, the potency of this sword strike remained unparalleled. His innate strength had far surpassed his primordial great roc days. Burning his own energy was a more manageable feat compared to the energy harnessed from the eight demonic divinities.

As the spectators watched, a luminous beam of swordlight pierced through the once-enclosed space, shattering the very constellation that imprisoned them.

Hearts quivered. Had the battle finally reached its crescendo? Was Qin Wentian's ultimate gambit a prelude to his demise?

They scanned the scene for answers. Whence had that beam of swordlight erupted? Was Qin Wentian now naught but a memory?

In a flash, the grey-robed old man and Qin Wentian materialized in midair, their forms unwavering. Qin Wentian clutched his demon sword with his left hand, bathed in a fiery aura of swirling sword might. His entire being was a tableau of blood-red determination, an indelible testament to the fierceness of their struggle.

The grey-robed assassin, by contrast, bore no visible wounds. His eyes exuded a frigid resolve, a chilling specter of dominance.

"Brother-in-law!" Mo Feng and Ling Yue's voices quivered with concern as they locked eyes on Qin Wentian. In that pivotal moment, Mo Qingcheng, her grace unwavering, stepped forward. With deft hands, she produced a shimmering medicinal pellet and fed it to Qin Wentian.

He ingested the pill, then tenderly passed her a pristine white robe. Mo Qingcheng, her demeanor the embodiment of a virtuous spouse, helped him don the garment. Her actions spoke volumes; she didn't need to utter a word to perceive the gravity of Qin Wentian's condition. He was concealing his injuries beneath a veneer of strength.

"Go!" Mo Qingcheng's voice rang with authority. Those from the Mo Residence needed no further prompting. They nodded in unison and set forth, while a silvery roc descended to retrieve Qin Wentian. Once he was aboard, the magnificent bird took flight, vanishing into the horizon. Qin Wentian had resheathed his demon sword, but his eyes remained riveted on the figure suspended in the sky. The grey-robed assassin, seemingly frozen in place, hadn't budged since their battle's conclusion.

The silvery roc soared through the air, gradually fading from the crowd's sight. The Greencloud Sovereign's countenance paled, yet he dared not act rashly. A chill gripped his heart. Qin Wentian survived? Even the old man couldn't claim his life?

His gaze swiveled to the grey-robed assassin, but at that very moment, the old man spewed a torrent of fresh blood into the heavens. His complexion turned ashen, his aura oscillated wildly, and uncontrollable tremors racked his body. Agony etched his features, rendering his pain unmistakable.

With a deep inhalation, the grey-robed assassin steadied his aura, his gaze fixated on the vanishing Qin Wentian. Failure—an unsuccessful assassination attempt.

"I relinquish the mission you all entrusted to me," the grey-robed old man declared, his gaze locked onto the Greencloud Sovereign. His pronouncement hung in the air, unanswered, save for the unease that began to grip those assembled.

"Why? The battle isn't over. Qin Wentian is a wounded bird, a spent force. Why didn't you finish him when he was vulnerable, before he fled?" The Greencloud Sovereign's face contorted with frustration at the old man's words.

"Wounded bird, a spent force?" The grey-robed man scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. "You should've acted then. But this matter no longer concerns me. Farewell."

With a flick of his robes, he turned and strode away, vanishing from view in the blink of an eye. But as he retreated, he couldn't suppress another bout of coughing, expelling yet more blood. He hadn't killed Qin Wentian because he lacked the ability to do so. Pressing the situation further might have led to a lethal outcome for himself. He had no intention of risking his life on this mission.

The old man's departure left the Greencloud Sovereign in a quandary.

Today's trap had been meticulously set for Qin Wentian, with the Greencloud Sovereign himself making a personal appearance, confident that Qin Wentian would come to Chu. If Qin Wentian didn't appear, the Greencloud Sovereign could simply target Qin Wentian's kin. But if Qin Wentian did show up, he would fall into the deadly assassination trap they'd devised.

Reality, however, diverged dramatically from his expectations. Qin Wentian had defied death, and even the grey-robed old man had failed to eliminate him. With Qin Wentian's recovery, the Greencloud Sovereign became the prime target for his vengeance.

"Am I to shoulder this responsibility alone? Unthinkable," the Greencloud Sovereign thought, his heart icy. He issued a command: "Retrieve Ling Yue."

With those words, he launched himself into the air and disappeared into the distance.

The ripples of this commotion reached every corner of Chu. As for the central figure in this drama, Qin Wentian, he had already sought refuge at the Mo Residence.

Inside Mo Qingcheng's chamber, Qin Wentian lay on the floor, utterly drained of strength. He had summoned every ounce of his remaining energy to control the vanishing immortal strike, ensuring it didn't devour him entirely. Nevertheless, the technique had still exacted a heavy toll, depleting his essence, spirit, energy, and even his vitality.

"Qingcheng, this could be a perilous time for the Mo Residence," Qin Wentian murmured softly.

"I'll send you away temporarily," Mo Qingcheng replied in hushed tones. "As long as you're outside of Chu, no one will dare to harm you. Until now, they hesitated because they feared your retaliation." Mo Qingcheng sat by his side, her words soothing and gentle. Qin Wentian understood that too. He had no reservations about relocating the Azure Emperor Palace. He wasn't even concerned about the other transcendent powers threatening his family. He knew that as long as he lived, they wouldn't dare to harm his kin.

After all, he wasn't the only one with family. Every ascendant had loved ones. The leaders of the transcendent powers wouldn't be foolish enough to harm his family before eliminating him.

"It's different now," Qin Wentian shook his head. "Since they've resorted to hiring assassins and forsaken all pretenses, the Greencloud Sovereign knows I'll seek revenge once I recover. In that case, he'd rather take the risk and eliminate me at any cost. If I leave now, he'll resort to desperate measures. I can't leave."

Mo Qingcheng gazed at the pallid face of Qin Wentian, yet his unwavering determination shone in his eyes. She settled beside him, her gentle form embracing his weakened body. She understood that Qin Wentian's assessment was astute; before the pretense of cordiality was discarded, those who sought his demise would hesitate to push him too far. But the game had changed with the hiring of an assassin. Would they still be restrained by the pretense of cordiality?

If Qin Wentian departed now, they would undoubtedly use his loved ones as pawns.

"No matter what transpires, I shall stand by your side," Mo Qingcheng murmured, refraining from attempting to sway his resolve. She respected his choice, for she knew that once Qin Wentian made a decision, he would not waver.

"Our grand wedding approaches, and our friends from the Royal Sacred Region will soon arrive. If the transcendent powers dare to act, inform them of your status. I believe they won't dare to proceed if they understand," Qin Wentian whispered as he gently caressed Mo Qingcheng's cheek. "I need to rest for a while now..."

"Of course, I won't disturb you. I'll simply be here, keeping you company," Mo Qingcheng replied with a warm smile.

Within the Mo Residence, worry for Qin Wentian's injuries weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Yet Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng remained in their chambers, behaving as though everything were normal. But everyone was acutely aware that a tempest was brewing.

Qin Chuan and Qin Yao also visited the Mo Residence, eager to check on Qin Wentian. However, they too were unable to see him. A few days later, startling news reached the Royal Clan of Chu: several supremely powerful figures, on par with the Greencloud Pavilion and Misty Peak, had arrived in Chu's Royal Capital. These leaders represented transcendent powers that stood at the pinnacle of Grand Xia.

This news sent shockwaves throughout Chu. These individuals were as formidable as the Greencloud Sovereign, if not stronger. Their sudden appearance in Chu could only mean one thing: they were here because of Qin Wentian.

Tension gripped the Mo Residence. They had no inkling of the storm Qin Wentian had stirred, but with the revelation that these ascendants considered Qin Wentian an adversary, fear was a palpable presence. Moreover, they had no knowledge of Qin Wentian's current condition.

These ascendants occupied the royal palace, their intentions clearly malevolent.

The Chu royal clan was promptly expelled from the palace, leaving only the ascendant-level representatives of various transcendent powers. All eyes were on the Greencloud Pavilion as questions poured forth: "What happened in that battle? Why didn't Qin Wentian perish? The Darkshadow Sovereign has remained tight-lipped about the clash and has abandoned the mission to assassinate him."

"I don't know," the Greencloud Sovereign replied. "Both the Darkshadow Sovereign and Qin Wentian sustained severe injuries. Otherwise, given Qin Wentian's character, he would have sought vengeance by now."

"Hmph, if his injuries are indeed grave, why didn't you finish him off? And if he's as badly wounded as you claim, why hasn't he left Chu?" Wang Ancestor inquired suspiciously. Qin Wentian's survival following an assassination attempt by the Darkshadow Sovereign, his breakthrough of the constellation, and the injury inflicted on the Darkshadow Sovereign rendered him an enigma, too formidable to ignore. While they yearned for his immediate demise, they dared not act rashly without fully understanding the situation.

"Are you suggesting I should have killed him directly? We all agreed to this mission. Why should I shoulder the blame alone?" the Greencloud Sovereign retorted, a chilling edge to his laughter.

"Now that we're all here, Qin Wentian should have a pretty good idea of who orchestrated the hiring of the Darkshadow Sovereign," the Greencloud Sovereign began, his tone heavy with resignation. "We're running out of options. Our only course of action is to either hunt him down, eliminating the threat for good, or wait for him to strike back. I'm sure you're all well aware of the situation. I won't object if any of you prefer the latter option. After all, I'm a lone wolf. I can simply cut ties with the Greencloud Pavilion and make my escape. But let me remind you, every one of you still has family here."

The Wang Ancestor's expression grew icy, but the Greencloud Sovereign met his gaze without flinching. Did these cunning old foxes really think they could distance themselves and leave him holding the bag? That was preposterous.

"Enough bickering. Given our current predicament, we truly have no other choices," the Shi Ancestor interjected, his voice level. It was either kill Qin Wentian now or wait for their own doom.

"Considering our limited options, the decision is quite simple," the Greencloud Sovereign remarked with an eerie grin. "Do we storm his location now or employ the lives of everyone in the Mo Residence as leverage to draw him out here?"