Chapter 390: The Song of Chang Hao

Leaving the Star Ring Realm, Lin Chuan concealed his aura and entered the Demon Abyss of Mortal Earth.

The Formless God-Demon is the second‑last Reincarnation Reflection Card he can use, so he must push its effect to the limit.

Lin Chuan's thought dispersed.

He placed soul marks on the countless Red Lotuses in the Demon Abyss.

In the future, whenever he returns here, a single thought will let him gather the power of those Red Lotuses—a sort of trump card.

Having done so, the Formless God-Demon's power reached its limit.

Lin Chuan returned to Heavenly Cloud Academy.

Not long after arriving at the academy, an elder cloaked in a cloud‑mist embroidered black robe descended; such attire is usually worn by a National Protector of the Cloud Kingdom.

Currently the Cloud Kingdom has seven National Protectors.

The Grand Protector is the most mysterious, having been in seclusion for years and unseen for a long time; rumors say he has already entered the Wangxian Realm.

The remaining six protectors are all in the True God Realm of the Second Immortal Ascension.

Lin Chuan glanced at the number on the other's robe; it was five.

The Fifth Protector.

He had never crossed paths with this person, but the look on his face signaled trouble.

"Lin Chuan! Lin Yangyang!"

"Your father Lin Yan is suspected of taking part in the assassination of the Imperial Marquis Tianqing Hou; accompany me, old man, for a trip."

"Until the truth is uncovered, all your statuses will be stripped away."

"Until the truth surfaces completely."

The Fifth Protector, with a cold expression, said.

Lin Chuan was taken aback.

So the thread of fate twists like this, huh? Starting to look for reasons on me?

"Old thing, scram!"

Lin Yangyang, never one to tolerate these people, spoke bluntly, "According to Cloud Kingdom's rules, as the top prodigy of the elite tier at Heavenly Cloud Academy, I have the right to refuse your command."

"Want to capture us?"

"Let the Cloud Emperor come himself, or have the master behind you appear."

"Arrogant brat!" the Fifth Protector roared, "I bring the Cloud Emperor's edict; how dare you defy the Imperial Edict?"

"And what if we refuse?"

Lin Yangyang retorted proudly, "An unjust Imperial Edict is no edict at all; my father would never do such a thing."

These years, her father Lin Yan had acted cautiously, always on the brink of danger.

How could he be foolish enough to kill a marquis?

"Alright, alright!"

The Fifth Protector, seething, sneered, "What a brazen brat, daring to insult the Imperial Edict—do you really think this Cloud Kingdom is yours?"

"The Tianqing Marquis has long been dead; at this moment you pin the case on my father—do you truly think my brother and I are fools? Can't you see your own scheme?"

Lin Yangyang sneered, "All you know is that the great general is trapped in the Star Ring Realm with no hope of returning, which gives you the audacity to act rashly, eager to settle scores."

The Fifth Protector's expression shifted; this Lin Yangyang really dares to speak?

Just a woman— even if she is the Cloud Kingdom's strongest prodigy, without having matured, she is not truly a prodigy.

If the Cloud Emperor and Prime Minister consent, a single finger could crush the other.

Having lost its backing, the Lin Family is merely rootless floating duckweed.

Yun Zhi Yi, a supreme talent naturally attuned to the Dao of Qi Luck, is destined to marry into the royal house and be controlled by it.

The Lin Family? No matter how talented, it can only be eradicated.

Lin Chuan never expected his own sister to stand up so forcefully.

"Has my sister awakened memories from a previous life? Otherwise she wouldn't be so brazen and fearless?"

"Or perhaps the Purple Star Emperor Sect has long been covertly contacting my sister?"

Both possibilities exist.

Lin Chuan was unhurried, letting his sister continue her performance.

Continuing cultivation in the Cloud Kingdom no longer benefits his sister; she is destined to return to the Purple Star Emperor Sect.

"The treasonous daughter Lin Yangyang, who despises the Imperial Edict and insults the Cloud Emperor, her crime warrants execution!"

The Fifth Protector shouted, "Today, I uphold justice and execute the rebel!"

Boom!

The Fifth Protector struck, his towering palm descending.

But when it was three zhang above Lin Yangyang's head, it suddenly could not move.

"Protector, what a grand statement."

A mocking laugh echoed from the Heavenly Dome.

"Who is that?"

The Fifth Protector frowned, as if facing a great enemy, clearly sensing that this aura did not belong to the Cloud Kingdom but came from another force.

He thought it over and wasn't really surprised.

Given Lin Yangyang's talent, countless great beings must favor her.

These years, Lin Yangyang has turned down countless recruitment offers from Cloud Kingdom's great beings; the Cloud Emperor and Prime Minister also suspect that a powerful external faction has already taken her as a disciple.

Thus, over the years, no matter how much Lin Yangyang caused a ruckus, the royal family turned a blind eye.

After all, a Wangxian‑level great being from an external faction, plus a Cloud Town Mountain, carries enough weight that even the Cloud Emperor dares not neglect it.

Now Cloud Town Mountain is trapped in the Star Ring Realm, this is the best chance to act.

Just an external force's Wangxian is not enough to make the royal house retreat; I guess the other side also wouldn't dare to run amok.

"Which Daoist Friend? Dare you not come out to meet?"

The Five Attendants sneered, "I suppose you're a senior from Lin Yangyang's sect, huh? You want to protect her? Have you asked the Cloud Emperor?"

"I want to ask her, why ask the Cloud Emperor?"

The voice from the Heavenly Dome laughed, "Give this old man a face, how about it? Let this matter be settled here, good for everyone."

Seeing the other side not dare to reveal themselves and even voluntarily seeking peace, the Five Attendants grew even more confident.

"I've said it, Lin Yangyang has already violated Cloud Kingdom law, despised the Cloud Emperor's Imperial Edict; this matter is serious, not something you can resolve with a single sentence."

"Just leave."

"Lin Yangyang's outcome has its own predetermined fate; once the truth comes to light, you can come again to receive your disciple."

Having said that, the Five Attendants struck again, reaching for Lin Yangyang.

Snap!

In the next instant, a crisp slap rang out.

In Lin Chuan's sight, the Five Attendants covered their faces and were flung backward, a figure carrying them away into the distance.

"You, how can you not listen?"

Slap slap!

Another few slaps, violently lifted onto the Five Attendants' faces.

"I've already said, once this matter is resolved, it's good for everyone; why are you disturbing her refined mood?"

"Sigh!"

"If it weren't for the Black Mist War's influence, this old man would truly want to slap you to death."

The old man lifted the Five Attendants as if pinching a chick, completely crushing them.

The Five Attendants panicked, finally seeing the old man's face, their expression shocked as they said, "You… you are Patriarch Haoge?"

Patriarch Haoge, a legendary figure.

He became famous tens of thousands of years ago, originating from the Purple Star Emperor Sect, yet not by the sect's Merit ascending to the Wangxian Realm; his true strength has consistently ranked first in the Wangxian Realm across several eras tens of thousands of years ago.

He only waits for a vacancy in the immortal seat, and will certainly ascend as a ruthless one.

After resigning from the head of the Purple Star Emperor Sect, Patriarch Haoge has not appeared for a long time; he did not expect to show up here.

Such a person, actually acting on behalf of Lin Yangyang?

"Are you… you are Lin Yangyang's elder?"

The Five Attendants felt their hearts turn cold with fear.

Snap!

The words unfinished, another slap was violently lifted onto the Five Attendants' face.

"Elder?"

Patriarch Haoge muttered softly, "I wouldn't dare be her elder; she is my wife's great‑grandmaster."