Chapter 1478: Transcending Time and Space Heavenly Secrets War, Removing the Fuel from Under the Cauldron at Empty Holy Mountain

"There's no need to search for the people from the Pan Duo Si."

"The marks I left on them have all vanished, which means they've all been killed by Dao Qiong Cang."

"As for Dao Qiong Cang himself, there's no point in pursuing him. Since he dared to kill, it shows he's made his decision, and no one can persuade him otherwise."

"Just issue a wanted order... Dao Qiong Cang has fled out of fear of punishment and has betrayed Sheng Shen Dian Tang!"

Dao Xuanji lightly dusted off her fly whisk, finalizing the matter after abolishing the rules set by the former hall master regarding Xi's report.

Was that it? Just over?

Xi stood there in a daze, unsure if this new Xuanji Hall Master had truly placed marks on the Pan Duo Si people.

Did she even dare to do that?

Or was she simply going with the flow, erasing any possibility of the former hall master returning?

"Yes, Xuanji Hall Master!" Xi quickly nodded.

No matter what, he couldn't resist.

As always, the former hall master might have been good to him, but he could only remain loyal to Sheng Shen Dian Tang.

"Continue."

"Yes!" Xi responded swiftly. "The second matter: Wu Yue Jian Xian has been confirmed missing, and the mark jade tablet he left behind indicates he's left the range of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan."

The usually calm Dao Xuanji showed a flicker of emotion in her vacant eyes upon hearing this.

After a brief pause, she didn't address it directly and instead asked, "Where is Wei Feng? Summon him to see me."

One of the Three Emperors, the killing god Wei Feng... Xi shook his head. "Ever since the Tian Zu operation, I haven't seen Senior Wei Feng."

"What was his task?"

"I don't know either. The former hall master managed us separately and kept everything confidential, fearing there might be Sheng Nu spies among the Tian Zu members leaking information."

What a clever move with the Sheng Nu spies!

What divine foresight!

Dao Xuanji's gaze shifted restlessly for a moment before settling back into stillness, and she finally closed her eyes heavily.

Back then, before the Si Xiang Secret Realm opened, had he already planned everything, sending people away without any intention of calling them back?

"Dao Qiong Cang, Gou Wu Yue, Wei Feng—they've all defected from the holy mountain. Add them all to the wanted list!"

As this chilling command echoed through Sheng Huan Hall, Jiang Na Yi jumped in fright, and so did Xi.

This seemed far too hasty!

"Xuanji Hall Master..."

Xi started to speak, but Dao Xuanji slowly opened her eyes and cut him off coldly:

"When Dao Qiong Cang was in power, didn't he teach you that as a Tianji Shu practitioner, you should never question orders—only obey?"

"I remember he wasn't very patient and hated repeating himself."

"Do you think my patience is any better?"

Xi felt a chill run down his spine at that look and tone...

They truly were siblings!

"Yes!" he hurriedly replied.

Right and wrong didn't matter anymore; time could judge that later.

For now, agreeing was the most important thing.

If Xuanji Hall Master's orders turned out wrong later, it would be her face that was slapped, not his as the executor.

Xi was about to mention the third matter when Dao Xuanji raised her hand, stopping him.

Sheng Huan Hall fell silent. Everyone could see that Xuanji Hall Master was deep in thought, though no one knew what about.

"The southern domain has seen the rise of a Tianji Shu sect that's gaining momentum rapidly?" Dao Xuanji suddenly asked.

"Yes, it's called Tianji Shen Jiao."

Xi nodded, his mind racing.

Bringing this up right after the second matter—did Xuanji Hall Master suspect that the former hall master had defected to the palace and taken Wu Yue Jian Xian and Wei Feng to the southern domain?

How had they jumped to this... The way Tianji Shu practitioners thought was beyond Xi's comprehension.

He couldn't see what was so appealing about the southern domain.

Compared to the Tianji Shu heritage on Sheng Shan, this Tianji Shen Jiao was utterly outclassed.

Wait...

Xi suddenly thought of something.

"Go on," Dao Xuanji said, seemingly very interested in Tianji Shen Jiao.

Xi snapped back to attention, pushing aside distractions, and gathered all the relevant intelligence in his mind, summarizing it concisely:

"Tianji Shen Jiao's origins can be traced back over a thousand years."

"At that time, it wasn't called by this name; it practiced various heretical Tianji Shu from the southern domain, along with other forbidden arts."

"After the former hall master's fame spread, the path of Tianji Shu was validated, and countless people in the southern domain began secretly studying it."

"Twenty-three years ago, Tianji Shen Jiao formalized its doctrine as 'Unify all heavenly mechanisms and harmonize all laws,' and it abandoned other forbidden arts, accepting only Tianji Shu practitioners."

"About half a year ago, they added another doctrine: 'Absolve sins, alter fate, and seal divinity with heavenly mechanisms.' Since then, the sect has expanded rapidly and continues to grow."

"That's all."

Dao Xuanji listened, a hint of surprise crossing her face. "Is that it?"

This was all common knowledge that anyone determined could gather. What she wanted to hear wasn't this vague overview.

As the head of the Yi Bu, he should know she was after something else—definitely not these general concepts.

"That's all I have," Xi replied with firm conviction. "Tianji Shen Jiao has grown quickly in the southern domain, but only a few can access its core."

"So, Yi Bu hasn't gathered more specific information. Besides, Sheng Shen Dian Tang's influence in the southern domain is limited..."

As the speaker intended casually, the listener perceived intent.

Dao Xuanji's eyes suddenly lit up, widening slightly, and Xi stopped abruptly, unsure what sensitive topic he'd touched.

"Continue."

Under that command, Xi had no choice but to explain further: "Additionally, all detailed information about Tianji Shu is classified at the highest level on Sheng Shan."

"Perhaps only the former hall master investigated Tianji Shen Jiao thoroughly."

"But since I've never seen or heard of it, that means I don't have the clearance to access that information."

"You should know that, Xuanji Hall Master."

Dao Xuanji knew it well.

She had signed off on those confidentiality agreements, promising that Tianji Shu would never be leaked.

After all, if it weren't kept secret, what they practiced in the southern domain wouldn't be heretical Tianji Shu anymore—it would be legitimate.

That could lead to unimaginable disaster.

"Fetch the orders and go to Dao Bu to retrieve the files. I want to review them," Dao Xuanji said with a flick of her sleeve, tossing out a token.

As the master of Sheng Shen Dian Tang's main hall, she had the highest authority and could access any level of classified materials.

"This..." Xi looked troubled.

"Is my rank not sufficient?" Dao Xuanji's lips curved into a mocking smile.

When she was one of the Three Emperors, the process to become hall master—up to this point—hadn't been fully completed.

So, essentially, she had the title but not the full power, and couldn't access much.

But Dao Xuanji didn't bother with that; after all, Dao Qiong Cang was still around back then, and she found entering Sheng Shan annoying, mostly preparing for what came next outside.

Now that she was hall master...

That tedious process could be skipped with a single word, couldn't it?

"Reporting to Xuanji Hall Master, it's not about rank. The more advanced information on Tianji Shu and Tianji Shen Jiao on Sheng Shan might only be stored in one place," Xi explained awkwardly.

"Where?" Jiang Na Yi asked curiously.

"The Tianji Shen Shi!"

That Tianji puppet from the Ten-Person Council... Jiang Na Yi glanced at the now somber and silent Xuanji Hall Master and quickly said, "Then call it here!"

Xi looked at Jiang Na Yi as if he were a fool. "Tianji Shen Shi Number Two died in the battle at Sky City."

"Ah?" Jiang Na Yi was stunned, then added, "Tianji puppets can die? Couldn't the former hall master fix it anytime?"

Xi was about to retort when he froze.

Jiang Na Yi was foolish, sure, but... he wasn't wrong.

Fixing the Tianji Shen Shi was just a word from the former hall master.

As long as the database and information repository were intact, they could find a new vessel and modify it with rare items.

Then Senior Number Two could be brought back from the dead!

But over a month after the Void Island battle, the position of Tianji Shen Shi had remained vacant, and it hadn't appeared at the last Sheng Shan assembly.

At the time, Xi thought even the former hall master would need time and effort to revive Tianji Shen Shi Number Two.

Now, it seemed...

Xi looked up.

On the golden dragon throne, Xuanji Hall Master's entire face was shrouded in dark clouds, her faint brows and thin lips making her look even more menacing.

"So, the former hall master never intended to revive Tianji Shen Shi Number Two?"

"Did he take everything in Number Two's mind—including information on Tianji Shen Jiao and other critical secrets from Sheng Shan, all the data needing absolute protection—and defect with it?"

Realizing this, Xi lowered his head sharply, staring fixedly at his toes, his eyes wide with horror.

What was a Tianji Shu practitioner?

What was the unfathomable Dao Qiong Cang?

Clearly, even though the man wasn't in Sheng Huan Hall or even on Sheng Shan... Xi felt like he'd just survived a holy war!

The blades and shadows filled the hall—invisible, untouchable, yet everywhere!

"Is there a backup of Number Two's brain on Sheng Shan?" Dao Xuanji's question was eerily calm.

"No..."

Xi's response only confirmed his suspicions were spot on!

The former hall master had played a cunning trick on Xuanji Hall Master before leaving!

All the confidential files, high-level intel, and top-secret information—if Xuanji Hall Master knew nothing about it...

Wouldn't that leave her completely in the dark?

How could she take over Sheng Shan without facing obstacles everywhere?

"Crack."

Jiang Na Yi turned at the sound and saw that the armrest of the golden dragon throne had been dented by Xuanji Hall Master's delicate right hand.

What immense strength!

He kept his eyes down and his mind focused, pretending he knew and saw nothing.

Even a fool could tell what was infuriating Xuanji Hall Master, let alone someone as shrewd as Jiang Na Yi.

"To Dao Bu!" Dao Xuanji took a deep breath, suddenly rising and swinging her fly whisk. "I don't believe that after years of researching Tianji Shu, Dao Bu left no traces at all!"

"Even if there are none, I can personally trace the heavenly mechanisms back!"

"Exactly!" Jiang Na Yi hurriedly agreed, helping support Xuanji Hall Master. "Anything done leaves a trace!"

The two stood up and headed toward the exit of Sheng Huan Hall.

Connecting this to Xuanji Hall Master's reaction and the information in his mind...

At that moment, Xi felt numb all over.

But he had to step forward and say, steeling himself, "Xuanji Hall Master, I still have the third matter to report."

"I said, to Dao Bu!"

Dao Xuanji stood before the golden dragon throne, gripping Jiang Na Yi's hand, her eyes flashing with cold light as she repeated, "I said it once. Do I need to say it again?"

"It's not that..." Xi shook his head firmly. "Please hear my third report, Xuanji Hall Master, before deciding on your actions."

"You little brat!" Jiang Na Yi scolded angrily.

Before he could say more, Dao Xuanji reined in her emotions, as if nothing had happened, and sat back down.

She waved Jiang Na Yi away and said flatly, "Go ahead."

Jiang Na Yi shot the boy a fierce glare, wondering how he dared to provoke Xuanji Hall Master when she was already furious.

Didn't he see she was in a rage?

Or was he just too young and inexperienced? They could discuss it on the way, couldn't they?

Xi took a deep breath and said gravely, "The third matter occurred around the time the former hall master was taken by the Pan Duo Si people. Suddenly, on Sheng Shan, there were multiple incidents of important figures dying unexpectedly."

Dying unexpectedly?

Jiang Na Yi's smile froze, and he turned his head with difficulty.

Dao Xuanji was also startled, her pupils contracting slightly, but she kept her composure and listened on.

"In the Six Departments, the Red Robes, the White Robes, the Sheng Shen Guards, the Mountain Guardians... even among the Tianji Shu practitioners maintaining Gui Zhe Sheng Shan's protective array, many key personnel died unexpectedly."

"All of them died in the same manner, as if their souls and minds had been seized, totaling six hundred and seventy-three people."

"The most severe losses were..." Xi hesitated.

Jiang Na Yi grew anxious. "What were the most severe? Spit it out!"

Under Dao Xuanji's equally serious gaze, Xi felt sweat bead on his palms and soles as he said heavily, "The most severe were in Dao Bu."

"How many died in Dao Bu?" Dao Xuanji asked personally.

"All of them..."

"Impossible!"

Jiang Na Yi leaped up, his face twisted in horror, his pupils shaking wildly: "Dao Bu has the top ten of the Tian Bang, the Thirty-Six Elites, and veterans like Tai Yuan Zi and Zhou Lao Dao, plus respected seniors like Chi Long and Qing Luan..."

"Across generations, inside and out, that's over a hundred people... a hundred elite seeds, all handpicked, the cream of the crop!"

"In the holy palace, they could carry the banner of the Fa Hui lineage or even establish a new one!"

"Even if you tied them all together for that... former hall master to kill, he couldn't chop off a hundred heads in one swing!"

Jiang Na Yi was nearly losing his mind.

If Dao Qiong Cang could silently take so many lives just by defecting from Sheng Shan, what if he found out about the schemes behind his back? Wouldn't he kill him just as stealthily?

Xi ignored this clown.

He knew Xuanji Hall Master understood what he was really getting at.

"The cause of death," Dao Xuanji said, her voice emotionless, like an unfeeling Tianji puppet.

"The cause was the same for all, regardless of their roles—as if they'd been seized, left without spirit or soul, without divine essence or intellect."

"The appraisal results."

"The appraisal results..." Xi hesitated again, fear spreading in his eyes.

"Say it!" Jiang Na Yi couldn't wait any longer. Seeing Xi's panicked expression, he felt his own life was on the line. "Just say it!"

"Be quiet." Dao Xuanji shot him a cold glare.

"Oh." Jiang Na Yi shrank back like a chick.

"The appraisal results initially determined that..." Xi looked at them both and said, "All the deceased were Tianji puppets!"