Chapter 370: All Hopes Crushed

The Holy Infant was one of the instigators of the great catastrophe a thousand years ago, when the Realm of the Departed devoured the Living Realm. For the past thousand years, it has been a formidable enemy of the Empyrean Living Realm, often causing immense bloodshed. It is the departed spirit that Yu Zi most desires to eliminate.

As soon as the ghost incidents erupted, the Second and Third Palace Lords detected clues, suspecting the Holy Infant was responsible. The demise of such a powerful being, even without mentioning Xing Yue Nu, would shock all martial cultivators in the Empyrean Living Realm once the news spread.

Li Weiyi said, "Perhaps the Holy Infant has been dead for a long time. At a transcendent level, there must be a secret we are unaware of. Quickly report this to the Third Palace Lord; the Demonic Child is the key to everything."

Xing Yue Nu understood the gravity of the situation, as it indirectly proved that what Long Xiangcen had confessed was likely true. The outbreak of the Ghost Infant incident roughly coincided with the Demonic Child's arrival in the Empyrean Living Realm.

Given his cultivation at the ninth heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, how could he influence so many women who had drunk from the Mother-Child Spring, leaving even the transcendent ones helpless? This could only mean the Mother-Child Spring itself was problematic. It's highly probable that the Grand Palace Lord seized the Mother-Child Spring from the Holy Infant.

The death of the Holy Infant brought forth the Demonic Child. It is evident that there must be an extraordinary connection between the Demonic Child and the Holy Infant, allowing the Demonic Child to influence the Mother-Child Spring.

Xing Yue Nu rushed to the exterior of the Demon God's Residence, which was entirely surrounded by troops. Beyond them, the area around the residence was enveloped by formations, scriptures, and iridescent light, emitting terrifying energy, making it impossible for anyone to approach.

She reported loudly, "Master! Xie Chucai has confessed: the Holy Infant died, and the Demonic Child emerged. The key to everything lies with the Demonic Child. Your disciple requests permission to apprehend him throughout the city at all costs."

There was no response from inside the Demon God's Residence.

The Third Palace Lord, currently engaged in a game of Go, had a grave expression. "If I'm not mistaken, the Holy Infant has been dead for twenty-two years, hasn't it? You and your senior sister worked together to slay it. Your senior sister took the Mother-Child Spring, and you took the Demonic Child. The root of the disaster was sown at that time."

Ten steps away, the elder from the Sacred Dark Family trembled, almost burying his face in the ground. With Xie Chucai revealing such a secret, the entire Sacred Dark Family faced grave misfortune.

The figure seated opposite the Third Palace Lord, holding a Go piece between two fingers, said indifferently, "Third Palace Lord, you seem well aware that moving against my people without evidence will incur a cost your Empyrean Palace cannot bear."

The Third Palace Lord's tone grew cold. "What exactly are you doing in the Empyrean Living Realm?"

The figure replied, "They say among the three Palace Lords of Empyrean Palace, Xian Min is the toughest. But I see that you are the most daring one, to speak to me in such a manner."

The Third Palace Lord lightly raised a finger, and immediately, nine ancient immortal beasts roared in unison above the sky, while countless formation runes floated like a sea of stars.

The figure let out a soft sigh. "I underestimated you before! How about we play a game? I'll give your Empyrean Palace a chance: only those of the same cultivation realm are allowed to act. If you can capture the Demonic Child within half a month, I lose, and I will tell you a secret that is absolutely worth it. But if you cannot capture him, then there's nothing to be done—you can only blame the martial cultivators of the First Stage of the Longevity Realm in your Empyrean Living Realm for not being strong enough. Is this game fair enough?"

The Third Palace Lord said, "Does His Royal Highness truly believe he can withstand the Nine Heavens Beyond Formation left by Master Wu?"

"Attacking from the inside out, the formation remains unbroken. Attacking from the inside in, both sides suffer," the figure stated.

The Third Palace Lord asked, "Perhaps it's you who dies, and I get injured?"

"Do you truly believe that Qilin Zang and Qing Luan are not hidden in the shadows, biding their time? Do you truly believe that all the officials under your Empyrean Palace dare to oppose the Demon Nation and will fully support you? I think Xian Min is already on her way back; once she returns, your chances of winning will be greater," the figure said.

Beneath the Earth Demon Pine, a dungeon opened. Evil cultivators, powerful demon clan experts, and fierce departed spirits who had been suppressed in the Six Thoughts Zen Temple for the past sixty years transformed into streaks of afterimages, rushing towards various parts of Empyrean City. Someone had intentionally released them to create chaos.

The Third Palace Lord's voice echoed throughout Empyrean City: "The army no longer needs to be stationed at the Six Thoughts Zen Temple. Fully apprehend these evil cultists and foreign devils; spare none. All martial cultivators of the First Stage of the Longevity Realm throughout the city, heed my command: search for the Demonic Child. He may be killed or captured. Whoever apprehends him within fifteen days shall be granted a Myriad-Character Artifact, a Qilin Platform Token, and a reward of thirty million Spring Coins."

The city area around the Six Thoughts Zen Temple was filled with shouts of killing. The army fiercely clashed with the recently escaped evil cultivators.

Upon hearing the Third Palace Lord's decree, Li Weiyi, Jiang Ning, Taishi Yu, and others instantly felt their hearts sink more than tenfold, as if a great mountain weighed upon them, making it hard to breathe. The withdrawal of the troops was clearly because the entities within the Zen Temple were simply beyond the army's capability to handle. Limiting the martial cultivators pursuing the Demonic Child to the First Stage of the Longevity Realm clearly showed that the Third Palace Lord, even with the Nine Heavens Beyond Formation at her disposal, had to compromise.

After descending the mountain, a faction of court forces continued to follow closely behind Li Weiyi, watching him covetously.

"Get in the carriage, I'll personally escort you out of the city. It's too dangerous for you to remain in Empyrean City!" Taishi Yu got into the carriage, taking the driver's seat, thus expressing his stance.

Li Weiyi's disappointment with the court had reached its peak. He hadn't expected them to be so weak that they lacked absolute control even within Empyrean City.

"Is there still hope?" Li Weiyi looked at Yin Jiu and transmitted a message: "Have Yin Yi immediately release Sikong Jingyuan, and tell Elder to lead all hidden operatives to withdraw." This was Li Weiyi's only thought at that moment.

Reaching the front of the carriage, Li Weiyi looked at Jiang Ning, wanting to take her with him. Jiang Ning understood Li Weiyi's current thoughts and sensed his disappointment. However, as a court official who received court emoluments, how could she leave when the court was in danger? "I'll help you hold these people back! I hope in the future... we will meet again."

Jiang Ning, wielding the Startling Feather Sword, turned with the Song siblings and faced the group of court martial cultivators.

"Crack!" Taishi Yu cracked his glowing long whip, striking the beast pulling the carriage. The carriage sped away.

Li Weiyi did not sit inside the carriage but remained beside Taishi Yu, silent, pondering whether to reveal all the secrets he knew. His only remaining concern was Yao Qingxuan.

Taishi Yu was also distressed, staring straight ahead. "I'm in pain too; how can the court be so weak? But I can also understand the Third Palace Lord's helplessness. I suspect there's definitely a top-tier figure from the Demon Nation in the Six Thoughts Zen Temple, someone who absolutely cannot be killed."

"It's estimated that some people in Empyrean City have already pledged their loyalty, seeing the Demon Nation as their fallback. That's why they arranged for people to assassinate you, to capture you—all to curry favor to the extreme."

"Furthermore, with troubles rising in the Western Realm, Eastern Realm, among the demon clan, and from evil cults, I suspect there are only two or three transcendent beings stationed in Empyrean City."

"Countless external enemies, and internal disunity. How can they dare to fight?"

Suddenly.

Li Weiyi said, "I have indeed been designated as the Divine Son of the Rice Cult."

Taishi Yu looked at him. "I guessed! You said you were 'designated', which shows your helplessness. Don't worry, what Taishi Yu promises, he will definitely do."

Li Weiyi pondered for a long time before saying, "The Taishi family must guard the city-protecting formation well and not allow those who shift with the wind to get involved. In fact, the younger generation of the court is still full of vigor and hope, all with great ideals and ambitions."

"What exactly are you trying to say? This isn't good..." Taishi Yu narrowed his eyes, staring at the end of the long street.

He saw.

Yao Qian, dressed in official robes, stood in the center of the street with his hands clasped behind his back. In the air, snowflakes materialized, extremely sharp, blocking the carriage's path.

"Boom!"

A large contingent of Luan Platform soldiers rushed out from various streets and alleys, surrounding Li Weiyi and Taishi Yu. Yao Qian walked step by step through the suspended, motionless snowflakes. The Dao Heart manifestation of the Longevity Realm giant suppressed the beast pulling the carriage, making it shriek in agony, tremble, and finally lie prostrate.

"Yao Qian, Deputy Minister of the Luan Platform, is here to apprehend the evil cult's Divine Son. I ask Taishi Jia Shou to facilitate this." He spoke with an air of condescension, clearly not taking Taishi Yu seriously.

Taishi Yu said, "Yao Qian, do you know the consequences of offending the Taishi family?"

"You don't represent the Taishi family! If Taishi Jia Shou wishes to conspire with the evil cult's Divine Son, I can also apprehend you first and imprison you in the Luan Platform's great dungeon," Yao Qian stated.

Taishi Yu pulled out a handful of talismans and transmitted a message to Li Weiyi: "This Yao Qian is a mad dog. I can only get you this far! I can help you stall him for a moment. Use your Prefectural Official Robe to escape and go find my father at the City Guard Camp; the old man is reasonable and will surely help you leave the Immortal Cloud Plain."

Taishi Yu jumped out of the carriage and walked forward. "Deputy Minister Yao, do you have any evidence? Don't try to scare me."

Yao Qian stood rigidly, his figure like a spear planted between heaven and earth. "We've already captured several major figures from the evil cult, and some have confessed, confirming that he is the Fourth Divine Son of the evil cult..."

"Whoosh!"

Taishi Yu unleashed the thick stack of talismans in his hand; some transformed into electric pythons, others exploded into fire clouds, completely engulfing Yao Qian. But in an instant, Yao Qian broke through the talismans' attack energy. With a thunderous boom, the carriage behind Taishi Yu was shattered by his palm strike.

Taishi Yu turned around and, seeing that Li Weiyi had already transformed into a purple mist cloud and escaped through space, finally let out a sigh of relief. He then cursed loudly, "You damn bastard, you have the guts to be ruthless against martial cultivators below the Longevity Realm, but do you have the guts to deal with the Demonic Child? Or are you afraid?"

Yao Qian released his spiritual sense, quickly detected spatial fluctuations, and his figure vanished from the spot, giving chase.

"This carriage is worth ten million Spring Coins! You must compensate me. This matter is not over..." Taishi Yu roared, his eyes filled with worry. Facing pursuit from a Longevity Realm giant, could Li Weiyi possibly escape? Taishi Yu immediately rushed towards the City Guard Camp.

Li Weiyi leaped out of space and quickly activated a disguise technique, attempting to blend into the crowd. He had just changed his face when a soft, icy jade hand seized his wrist. The next instant, his vision blurred, and his body moved sideways at an incredible speed, darting into a moving carriage.

Li Weiyi focused his gaze and saw a woman in white lay attire sitting opposite him, holding prayer beads, staring at him coldly. The one holding his wrist and pulling him into the carriage was Yao Qingxuan, now seated beside him.