Chapter 246: Something Has Happened

Upon hearing this, the two elders said no more; immediately, the Abbot of Luoshen Peak did not linger, leading his two senior uncles down the mountain toward Bailian City.

At the same time, on a hill dozens of li from Bailian City, the Xuan Yin Three Elders from Taiyin Yuan Zong, two commanders from Tianxia Alliance, their subordinates, and the Silver Moon Sword Lord of Taiyan Sword Sect all gazed toward Bailian City.

The entire hill was steeped in deep night, utterly silent, not a single sound uttered from start to finish.

After a long while, the two commanders of Tianxia Alliance retracted their gazes, exchanged a glance, then hesitantly turned toward the white-robed elder and asked in low voices:

“Elder, what is the situation inside Bailian City? Why, after the vast sea of fire vanished, did everything fall almost completely silent?”

Upon hearing this, the white-robed elder slightly furrowed his brows, gazing at Bailian City, now fallen into stillness far away, but gave no reply.

At that moment, one of the Xuan Yin Three Elders suddenly spoke up:

“Since Luoshen Peak has dispatched Chi Huo Zunzhe, the outcome is beyond doubt—he has personally eliminated the great expert of the Great Li court.”

The two commanders nodded slightly; though they were far from Bailian City and could not witness events within, nor sense Chi Huo Zunzhe’s aura,

after having witnessed the earlier shocking spectacle, they held the same belief as the Xuan Yin Three Elders: such a powerful being wielding such extraordinary abilities could hardly have any opponent.

Among them, only the Silver Moon Sword Lord remained silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his expression thoughtful.

Though he too believed Chi Huo Zunzhe could not possibly have failed, he still felt something was off.

“Luoshen Peak has four Zunzhe stationed there; the Great Li Tianjin Guard will surely be defeated this time.”

At this, one of the Xuan Yin Three Elders continued, squinting:

“This journey of ours has not been without gain—we have witnessed a Luoshen Peak Zunzhe who had never before acted, and seen the true depth of Luoshen Peak’s strength.”

“Moreover, after this battle, the Great Li court has suffered heavy losses; now is the opportunity for our martial sects. Perhaps Great Li will become the next Great Wu.”

Upon hearing this, the two commanders of Tianxia Alliance stirred visibly; it was well known that in Great Wu, the martial sects were strong and the court weak.

If what the Xuan Yin Three Elders said were true, then in the future it would not be the Great Li martial world bound by the court, but the Great Li court forced to bow to the four major sects.

Thinking of this, both men felt a surge of heat—but then the white-robed elder turned his head, glancing at the Xuan Yin Three Elders with a cold laugh:

“Earlier you planned to unite three sects to destroy Luoshen Peak; now you’re turning your eyes to the Great Li court. Your ambitions are great, but have you even checked whether you possess the strength to back them?”

At this, the Xuan Yin Three Elders’ expressions darkened; one of them hissed:

“Circumstances change. Luoshen Peak’s depth and strength clearly exceeded our expectations, and after tonight, the Great Li court and Luoshen Peak will be irreconcilable enemies.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my ally; our previous plan must be abandoned. From now on, if our four sects unite, the entire realm of Great Li will be ruled by the martial world.”

The white-robed elder’s eyes narrowed slightly, but said nothing further.

For some matters were beyond his authority to decide—the alliance of the four sects must be deliberated and decided by the sect master and elders of Taiyan Sword Sect.

Thus, he had no grounds to refute the Xuan Yin Three Elders’ words.

Moreover, for the vast majority of disciples in the four sects, this outcome would be welcomed; he would not go against the tide.

Thinking this, the white-robed elder shook his head, glanced once more at Bailian City, then retracted his gaze and prepared to leave.

Though he vaguely sensed something amiss near Bailian City, he still knew deep down: with a Zunzhe-level expert stationed there, the Great Li Tianjin Guard’s extermination plan was doomed to fail.

There was little reason now for him to remain; better to return swiftly and report the events to his sect.

But just then, one of Tianxia Alliance’s disciples suddenly cried out, pointing toward Bailian City:

“What is that?”

At this, everyone—including the two commanders—turned their heads simultaneously toward Bailian City.

Soon, all on the hilltop changed expression.

In their line of sight, the dark clouds far on the horizon surged like a rushing river, gathering rapidly above Bailian City at a visible pace.

In moments, black clouds loomed over Bailian City, dark and lightless, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring between them.

In stark contrast to the earlier scene of fire burning the heavens and blazing light illuminating the sky, this was an entirely opposite spectacle.

“This… could it be the Luoshen Peak Zunzhe who controls wind and the Luoshen Peak Abbot who controls lightning and thunder?”

One of the Xuan Yin Three Elders spoke, voice filled with shock and doubt.

Such a shocking celestial phenomenon had come without warning—it was clearly not normal weather.

This made them recall the other powerful beings in Luoshen Peak, like Chi Huo Zunzhe, who wielded strange abilities.

At this, the left commander of Tianxia Alliance frowned deeply and asked in confusion:

“Just now, Chi Huo Zunzhe should have already eliminated the Great Li expert in Bailian City. Logically, there should be no remaining threat to Luoshen Peak—so why has the Luoshen Peak Abbot suddenly acted now?”

At these words, everyone who had been gazing at Bailian City—including the white-robed elder—suddenly turned to stare at the left commander of Tianxia Alliance.

In an instant, the entire hilltop fell utterly silent in the night.

After a moment, the white-robed elder’s expression shifted, then he spoke suddenly:

“No wonder I felt something was off earlier. If I were that Chi Huo Zunzhe, forced to act after losing a Peak Seat—”

“Then after eliminating the Great Li mastermind, I would never stop. I would surely follow through and eradicate the entire Tianjin Guard, to quench my rage and uphold Luoshen Peak’s prestige.”

“But after Chi Huo Zunzhe acted, Bailian City grew unnaturally quiet—even no sign of his departure…”

At this, the Xuan Yin Three Elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and doubt; the two commanders of Tianxia Alliance also wore uncertain expressions.

Clearly, they found the white-robed elder’s words plausible.

At this moment, the white-robed elder suddenly raised his head toward the sky and continued:

“If it truly is the Luoshen Peak Abbot and other Zunzhe acting, then there is only one possibility…”

Saying this, he turned to survey them all and said:

“That Chi Huo Zunzhe has likely already met with disaster.”

(End of Chapter)