Chapter 853: A Farce

Shixue Dian was shrouded in gloom.

Outside Shixue Dian, war flags fluttered fiercely as eight massive armies of cultivators formed neat squares, like nine black carpets spread across the entire ground.

In the grand hall of Shixue Dian, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it could solidify.

Shixue Yanluo sat rigidly on the high seat, his face ashen and his eyes bloodshot, staring silently at those below.

Below him stood eight people in perfect order, each clad in armor that clearly indicated they were prepared for battle. However, under Shixue Yanluo's gaze, they all instinctively lowered their heads.

They were, without a doubt, the hall masters of the first through eighth branch halls of Shixue Dian.

Upon hearing the news of Shixue Yanluo's death, they had returned to Shixue Dian with remarkable tacit understanding, not caring about the order of arrival—all to verify whether he was truly dead.

Of course, their real aim was the position of Shixue Dian's hall master.

To that end, none of them had come alone; each had brought their own armies of cultivators.

But everything had disappointed them.

The moment they entered the grand hall of Shixue Dian, they saw Shixue Yanluo sitting upright on the high seat.

It was awkward! Everyone was instantly embarrassed.

"Isn't this disappointing?" Shixue Yanluo spoke, smirking coldly at the eight branch hall masters below.

"Hall master, please understand—we came only to dispel the rumors." The first hall master hurriedly bowed in salute. "Now that we see you safe and sound, we can all rest easy."

"Xue Zang, your loyalty truly moves me!" Shixue Yanluo laughed, but his blood-red eyes gleamed with an eerie light, making the first hall master shudder.

"Hall master." Just then, a black-clad figure entered and knelt on one knee. "The ninth branch hall master has returned."

"Let him in." Shixue Yanluo said, his narrowed eyes still fixed on the first branch hall master, Xue Zang.

Soon, Xue Qiong, clad in battle armor, walked in.

Seeing the eight branch hall masters with their heads bowed and Shixue Yanluo seated on high, his expression turned awkwardly embarrassed—the situation seemed different from what he had planned.

"I greet the hall master." After a brief hesitation, Xue Qiong quickly bowed to Shixue Yanluo.

"Xue Qiong, didn't I order you to pursue the Haotian Shijia? Why have you come back?" Shixue Yanluo asked, eyeing him with interest.

"Reporting to the hall master, your subordinate heard en route that you had been assassinated, so... so I hurried back."

"Oh?" Shixue Yanluo's amused smile grew even more intense, sending chills through everyone. "Then tell me, were you rushing back to mourn me?"

"Hall master, please understand—your subordinate had no such intention." Xue Qiong hastily knelt on one knee.

"That's for the best." Shixue Yanluo slammed his hand on the dragon throne and stood up abruptly, his roar like thunder that made the hall tremble. His blood-red eyes swept sharply over the nine people below. "Don't think I don't know what's in your minds. As long as I live, you are all subordinates!"

"The hall master is absolutely right." At this, the other eight hall masters quickly knelt as well.

"Get out!" Shixue Yanluo bellowed in fury.

"Your subordinate bids farewell." The nine of them scrambled to their feet, wiping away cold sweat as they cautiously backed out of the grand hall.

"Xue Qiong, you stay." Shixue Yanluo said sternly.

Hearing this, Xue Qiong, who was about to leave, quickly turned back and stood rigidly in place, not daring to make a sound.

"Have you found any traces of the Haotian Shijia?" Shixue Yanluo's sharp gaze bore into Xue Qiong.

"Not yet for the time being." Xue Qiong replied, wiping away cold sweat again.

"What are you good for?" Shixue Yanluo snorted coldly. "I entrusted the Shixue Shenying to your command, and you still haven't found them."

"Hall master, please calm your anger. Your subordinate will return immediately and ensure not to disappoint you."

"Then what are you waiting for? Get out!"

At these words, Xue Qiong felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly turned to flee the grand hall of Shixue Dian.

After he left, Shixue Yanluo's breathing grew rapid, his aged face flushing—whether from anger or rage, it was unclear.

What had happened today might be the biggest farce in Shixue Dian's history. All because of a rumor, the nine great hall masters had returned, and he had witnessed this spectacle firsthand.

"It seems Shixue Dian isn't as harmonious as it appears on the surface!" Soon, a ghostly laugh echoed as a figure cloaked in black robes materialized in the hall.

"Shihu Wang, are you taking pleasure in my misfortune?" Shixue Yanluo retorted coldly.

"I don't have time for that." Shihu Wang replied eerily. "I just want to make you realize that for a supreme commander, what's most important isn't strength, but the ability to command. If you can't even manage that, how can you stand against Nan Chu Tian Ting?"

"I don't need you to tell me that." Shixue Yanluo sneered. "But what about you, the legendary king? How much longer will you hide like turtles?"

"Don't talk as if it's easy." Shihu Wang's tone turned colder. "The eight divine generals of Xuan Huang have been shadowing us for over eight hundred years. Do you really think they're just for show? If we emerge, they'll emerge too—it's essentially the same situation. The only one unhindered now is Mo Yu, so the key to victory between Shixue Dian of North Chu and Nan Chu Tian Ting lies not with us, but with Mo Yu. If we can pull them in, success is within reach."

"You make it sound simple." Shixue Yanluo's face darkened. "How many envoys has Shixue Dian sent to Mo Yu? Has even one returned alive?"

"That's because your sincerity isn't enough." Shihu Wang glanced at Shixue Yanluo meaningfully. "If you offered up the half Tian Ji Dan in your possession, the situation would change dramatically."

"So you know about the half Tian Ji Dan in my hands." Shixue Yanluo narrowed his eyes at Shihu Wang.

"What can escape my sight?" Shihu Wang chuckled eerily. "Did you really think that night, only you were fighting for the Tian Ji Dan? If not for us being held back by the emperor's descendants, would Shixue Dian have gotten it so easily?"

"Then tell me, who has the other half of the Tian Ji Dan?" Shixue Yanluo asked, subtly glancing at Shihu Wang.

"If I said it's in my hands, would you believe me?" Shihu Wang bared two rows of white teeth, his smile sinister.

At these words, Shixue Yanluo's eyes narrowed into slits. For a moment, he nearly ordered Shihu Wang's execution—after all, this was Shixue Dian, where even the eight kings might not escape alive, let alone just Shihu Wang.

But the current circumstances didn't allow it; he still needed Shihu Wang's powerful assistance to counter the descendants of Xuan Huang.

The hall fell into silence because of Shihu Wang's words, the atmosphere growing even more oppressive, as if it could solidify.

"Report!" The silence was broken as a black-clad figure entered and knelt on one knee. "Hall master, the person who abducted Xue Lin has sent a message—they demand a ransom for his return."

"Notify Cang Liang to go and retrieve him." Shixue Yanluo snorted coldly. "No matter who it is, bring that person back to me, dead or alive."

"Understood." The black-clad figure nodded but didn't leave. "Hall master, we've just received news—Sun Hao has also been abducted."

"Damn it!" Shixue Yanluo erupted in fury.