Chapter 221: A Name in Name Only
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At the Heavenly Dao Pavilion, Shangguan Rou had just learned that her master had actually sent someone to kill Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao, the two sisters!
And what did he say? That this time, it would definitely succeed!
Shangguan Rou was now too restless to sit still. She instructed Su Muchan to wait in the room while she went alone to meet Cheng Liang!
But as soon as she arrived at the Main Hall, she saw several elders gathered together, and Cheng Liang seemed particularly pleased.
"Master, your foresight is truly remarkable! That brat from Su City must surely be headless by now!"
"Hmph. He was nothing but an ignorant fool. All things in this world follow the laws of cause and effect. Above them lies the Way of Heaven. How could anyone dare to challenge Heaven's Way with mere human strength and not meet their end?"
"Now that Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao have been snatched away by that immortal, and Su Cheng can barely save himself, the ambitions of Lingxian Hall end here! Ha ha!"
Shangguan Rou stepped forward as well: "Rou'er greets the Sect Leader and the Elders."
"Rou'er, you've arrived." Cheng Liang smiled warmly as he waved her forward. Today brought much good news, and he was overjoyed!
According to the latest reports, Su Cheng had already clashed with that immortal. Even the Dragon King was no match for him and had been painfully slain by Su Cheng!
Meanwhile, news had also arrived from Mo Chenfeng: both of Su Cheng's disciples had been captured by the immortal's avatar!
The Lingxian Hall now existed in name only!
It must be understood that although the immortal from the Northern Domain was only at the Immortal Realm, he commanded four puppets possessing the strength of immortals. Even with Su Cheng's formidable power, how could he possibly fight four opponents alone?
Even if he somehow escaped, heh, his two disciples would already be long gone!
Heh, even if he did escape, he'd still be a commander without troops!
"What's got you so cheerful, Master?"
Shangguan Rou didn't mince words, plopping herself into Cheng Liang's embrace, ready to coax some information out of him!
Though she had some understanding, it was far from complete!
Before long, Shangguan Rou grasped the general situation. Truthfully, she felt some unease…
Could those two immortals truly be a match for Master Su?
"Master, do you think those two immortals can handle Su Cheng?"
Cheng Liang glanced at the assembled elders, exchanged a knowing smile, and spoke with confidence!
"Su Cheng is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage—not even as strong as her two disciples. Even with the magical artifact left by her master, how could she possibly stand against two Immortals?"
"Ruo'er, rest assured. Everything is under my control!"
By all logic, such a force should be more than sufficient to deal with a sect of only five people.
This isn't the Immortal Realm—which sect leader could possibly stand toe-to-toe with Immortals?
On one side lay the ambush set for Su Cheng, waiting for him to walk right into it.
On the other, the claws reaching out for the two disciples. But how could two mere Foundation Establishment disciples possibly stand against them?
Shangguan Rou certainly wasn't idle enough to feel sympathy for Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao. Her unease now stemmed solely from doubt—could these two immortals…
Were they truly Su Cheng's match?
As for Ye Qinghan's strength, she had some understanding. Even without magical treasures, he could still hold his own against a Core Formation cultivator.
Judging Lingxian Hall's strength solely by cultivation level was somewhat naive.
Just then, a clamor erupted outside. Dozens of disciples had gathered in the courtyard, all gazing toward the horizon…
Shangguan Rou seized the opportunity to ask her master to go investigate what was happening.
As she approached the palace entrance, she spotted her junior sister from the outer sect rushing toward the crowd and quickly intercepted her.
"Junior Sister, what's happening?"
The younger sister in white robes slowly turned around: "Senior Sister? Look at the sky."
She hadn't realized until she looked…
The sight left Shangguan Rou feeling utterly disheartened…
That direction… must be the Northern Realm…
Su Muchan arrived too, tilting her head as she spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Master Cheng, it seems your calculations may have been off."
"Muchan, have you come to mock your elder sister?"
"I just meant, sis, you know Master Cheng's efforts are futile. Why didn't you stop him?"
"This time, it seems we've truly stirred up trouble…"
Shangguan Rou could only pin her hopes on that strange phenomenon on the horizon—that it was the work of immortals, that they truly could kill Su Cheng.
Otherwise, if Master Su discovered his disciple had been targeted by his own master's agents…
Shangguan Rou dared not imagine what fate awaited the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
"Master Su seems quite reasonable. I think as long as the Heavenly Dao Pavilion doesn't target Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao, it shouldn't come to that."
Su Muchan spoke honestly. Truthfully, Su Cheng had always struck her as quite approachable, without that aloof, superior air.
But upon hearing this, Shangguan Rou felt even more helpless…
Su Muchan stared at Shangguan Rou's expression, utterly dumbfounded!
"Sis, you're kidding, right…?"
"Don't ask. You shouldn't say things like that."
"Didn't you see what happened to those dozen or so Holy Realms in the North? Why didn't you stop Master Cheng? Don't you know how protective Master Su is?"
"I told you not to speak recklessly. I have no idea what you're talking about."
Though she said this, no secret remains hidden forever.
Some rejoice while others grieve—much like the eunuch fretting over the emperor's affairs. The Heavenly Dao Pavilion and Lingxian Hall faced a similar predicament: without their First Disciple, both sects would crumble!
But Shangguan Rou could see that Lingxian Hall's Master Su was slowly regaining consciousness, while her own master remained deeply immersed in his sweet dreams.
Just as that sly fox had said, placing hope in others would only lead to despair.
"If Mu Chan ever joins Lingxian Hall, please speak well of me to her. I ask for nothing else—only that my family be spared."
Su Muchan glanced at Shangguan Rou with a hint of confusion, then merely smiled.
"Sister Rou, I recently heard a new word."
"What word?"
"Someone like Sister Rou is what you'd call love-struck."
"Love? Brain?"
"I can't explain it clearly, but basically, it means once you fall for someone, your brain stops thinking."
Shangguan Rou had been somewhat curious, but upon hearing this, she understood.
"Oh, you dare laugh at me?"
Su Muchan dodged the jade-like hand aimed at her backside and laughed back.
"Hey, hey! I didn't say that—Master Su did! She said Sister, Ye Qinghan, and me all have love-addled brains."
"Is that so?"
"But I don't think I'm love-struck. I think all men are the same!"
"Heh, I think Master Su sees people pretty accurately."
Su Muchan chuckled and turned back toward the Main Hall. She knew full well that even if she explained the strange phenomenon on the horizon, they'd stubbornly insist it was divine power from immortals. Su Cheng was as good as dead…
At Sword Resonance Peak, following Yu Lan's preferred method, the Immortal Maiden was also bound tightly!
Here, they borrowed Ye Qinghan's jade pendant and exchanged all the sacred treasures of the Holy Domain for system points.
A tough battle was likely coming next, and the enemy held a hostage!
Su Cheng reckoned this immortal was a tough nut to crack!
But even if it cost him his teeth, Su Cheng would rescue Li Shiyao before that bastard made his move!
"Qinghan, keep an eye on her. I still have questions for her."
"Master…"
Ye Qinghan wasn't stupid. How could she not see this was just Su Cheng's excuse for not wanting her to make up an excuse?
Su Cheng ruffled Ye Qinghan's hair, his pupils once again tinged gold as he pinpointed the location of his 'First Disciple'!
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