Chapter 252: The Ling Clan's Scheme

Five days later.

Giant trees hundreds of feet tall stood in neat rows like guards along the roadside, golden leaves drifting down from the sky; under the blowing of the breeze, the dancing posture of the falling leaves presented a certain aesthetic beauty.

However, such a beautiful scene was as if nothing in the eyes of the few people present.

Yi Huang stepped forward to gently smooth the wrinkles on Xiao Han's clothes, took a step back, and nodded as if satisfied; the smile she revealed made Xiao Han dazed for a moment.

Sensing the burning gaze from in front, Yi Huang could not help but flash a hint of shyness, and with a slightly reproachful air, she lightly patted Xiao Han's chest, "What is there to look at!"

Unexpectedly, Xiao Han said without any concealment: "Can't I look at my own wife?"

The sadness of parting was immediately dispelled quite a bit.

At this moment, an untimely voice rang out, "Sigh, sigh, sigh..."

"Let's stop it now!"

Xiao Han secretly cast a fierce glare at the owner of the voice.

Ye Jianxin caught a glimpse of Xiao Han's resentful gaze and felt a little guilty, then continued: "You two are going on a long journey, yet you're still showing off your affection to me, all lovey-dovey."

"That's going too far!"

"Heh!" Xiao Han sneered without a word, not knowing who it was that had been showing off about being a grandfather in front of him just a while ago.

If it weren't for the fact that he still remembered that this Ye fellow was his, Xiao Han's, life-and-death brother, he would surely have left a hundred or eighty holes in the former.

Turning to Yi Huang, Xiao Han's gaze softened much more, mixed with a little guilt and anticipation; these days of meeting little and parting much were also about to end.

"Then... everything is entrusted to you!"

Yi Huang rolled her eyes, "Isn't this always my job?"

Xiao Han could only offer an apologetic smile on the side.

"It's fine!" Ye Jianxin walked up, patted his brother's shoulder, and said solemnly:

"As long as you don't fall, Langya Pavilion will never have any trouble!"

Xiao Han was silent for a while, then smiled easily: "Rest assured! How could I possibly fall!"

"Even if I fall, Langya Pavilion will not fall!" Xiao Han added silently in his heart.

After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, under the concerned gazes of the two, Xiao Han casually tore open a rift and turned to step into it...

"It won't take too long!" Xiao Han said in his heart.

Compared to the reluctant atmosphere of parting in Langya Pavilion, a certain Ancient Race far from the Central Plains appeared somewhat nervous at this moment.

Spirit Realm.

Millions of Ling Clan descendants were still practicing and producing as usual, working diligently like worker bees in a hive, tireless; from time to time, some people would look up.

Casting longing and envious gazes toward the tallest and most spectacular mountain range in the Spirit Realm—the Spirit Clan Holy Mountain.

For everyone in the Ling Clan, the Spirit Clan Holy Mountain was an absolute holy land; only the tiny handful of top-tier people in the Ling Clan were qualified to stay upon it.

If they and their descendants could obtain the qualification to enter the Spirit Clan Holy Mountain in this life, it would be an absolute honor to their ancestors.

However, at this moment, on the Spirit Clan Holy Mountain, which symbolized the highest status of the Ling Clan, the gray-haired and wrinkled Ling Yuexian was like an ordinary old woman, her eyes, revealing shrewdness amidst their turbidity, filled with worry.

Staring somewhat distractedly at the numerous ant-like figures in the distance, the distance could not block her vision as a late-stage Six-Star Dou Sheng.

In everyone's eyes, Ling Yuexian was a stubborn and pedantic old woman; the clansmen feared her more than they respected her, let alone liked her.

It was just that... living in the Ling Clan, this declining Ancient Race, the glory of the ancestors had long since become a shackle.

Perhaps Ling Yuexian knew that some things needed to change, but she, or rather the Ling Clan, could not change; only in this way could the people of the Ling Clan continue to believe that they were still that powerful Dou Emperor Family, and the Ling Clan's years of closure were merely to fabricate an illusion of prosperity.

Although it was a mirror flower and water moon that would shatter at a touch, every time Ling Yuexian saw the scene of Ling Clan children being naughty and elders reprimanding them with displeasure, she felt an indescribable satisfaction in her heart; these were the things she had always wanted to protect, unswervingly until death!

However...

Ling Yuexian's expression carried a hint of coldness and indignation; she had racked her brains to maintain the status quo of the Ling Clan, yet now there were people who were unwilling to leave even this tiny bit of hope for her.

Then...

"My Ling Clan is not made of mud!" Ling Yuexian thought with chilling killing intent.

"Clan Leader!" A voice as crisp as a lark sounded behind Ling Yuexian.

"Ling Yi is back?" Ling Yuexian turned around slowly, and what met her eyes was a pleasing scene.

The light yellow, elegant long dress set off the woman's skin, making it appear extremely fair; a pure and ethereal temperament rushed toward her, and white ribbons passed through her straight back, casually winding around her forearms; as the breeze blew, they lifted lightly, as if she were a fairy who had wandered into the mundane world.

Even in front of the Ling Clan Chief, while she appeared motionless and extremely serious, her lively eyes revealed playfulness and willfulness.

Seeing Ling Yi's arrival, the usually stern Ling Yuexian's tone softened unconsciously, and she asked with concern: "How did that matter go?"

Hearing Ling Yuexian's inquiry, Ling Yi said solemnly: "Please rest assured, Clan Leader!"

Although she did not understand why, in such a situation, the Clan Leader still wanted to send her, an important combat force, out just to store an unremarkable black stone.

But Ling Yi still meticulously completed the task.

"Hmm!" Ling Yuexian nodded with satisfaction.

"Right, Ling Yu, come along too!" Ling Yuexian glanced casually and said.

"Great Elder!" Suddenly noticing Ling Yu's presence, Ling Yi hurriedly bowed.

"Now is not the time to care about those cumbersome rituals." Ling Yuexian said as if unintentionally, then leaned on her cane and walked slowly toward a great hall on the Spirit Clan Holy Mountain.

Ling Yi and Ling Yu looked at each other, speechless, and could only follow cautiously behind.

Arriving inside the great hall, Ling Yuexian reached out and pinched a seal, her finger swiping, and a drop of blood exuding intense pressure dripped down, landing exactly on the wave patterns in the center of the hall.

Hearing a soft sound, a pitch-black entrance suddenly appeared beneath the hall; Ling Yuexian walked straight in, and Ling Yi and the other, who followed closely behind, despite being full of doubts, could only bury them deep in their hearts.

When all three had entered, the great hall returned to its original state; even if a Dou Sheng powerhouse came in person, they would be unable to discover the mystery within.

With the entry of Ling Yuexian and the others, this space revealed its full appearance; faint candlelight was lit, and the entire secret chamber appeared black.

Ling Yi and the other subconsciously released their Soul Power to perceive, but were shocked to find that their Soul Power disappeared instantly like a clay ox entering the sea.

"Ling Yu, tell me, to what extent has our Ling Clan been infiltrated." Ling Yuexian did not give the two too much time to be shocked, and said without joy or sorrow.

Since the Soul Clan wants to take action against the Ling Clan, there must certainly be some unusual existences within the Ling Clan; if there were no preparations, that would be one thing.

But since the direction is already clear, it would not be too difficult a matter to find the answer. Therefore, for a very long time, Great Elder Ling Yu has been investigating in secret.

Hearing Ling Yuexian's words, Ling Yu revealed a troubled expression, and only after observing the former's gradually darkening complexion did she say somewhat reluctantly: "This subordinate is incompetent; among the high-level members, I have only found one."

Low-level existences have no influence whatsoever on the great war between the two clans; the only ones who can truly play an important role are the high-level members. However, this result is not very satisfactory!

However, Ling Yuexian did not reveal any dissatisfaction.

She merely said indifferently: "Who?"

Ling Yu gritted her teeth and said: "Ling He!"

"How is that possible?!" Before Ling Yuexian could speak, Ling Yi, who was to the side, exclaimed instead.

Ling He, a veteran of the Ling Clan, one of the few Two-Star Dou Sheng level powerhouses of the Ling Clan, could be said to be the direct line of the direct line of the Ling Clan, sharing in its glory and its ruin.

The other party's betrayal was clearly not only extremely infuriating, but also caused intense shock; what exactly could have made Ling He willing to risk dealing with a tiger to betray the clan that raised him?

Subsequently, Ling Yu detailed the investigation results. Originally, Ling Yu had gained absolutely nothing, yet for some reason, Ling He had recently had sudden unusual movements and even secretly left the Spirit Realm.

Although the other party's actions were extremely covert, how could this be hidden from Ling Yu, who was constantly monitoring the high-level members of the Ling Clan?

"Sigh!" After listening to Ling Yu's description, Ling Yuexian merely sighed and said helplessly: "It is finally about to begin!"

The traitor who had always been hidden in the shadows had suddenly appeared; while it was partly due to the other party letting their guard down, it also proved from the side that the time for the final showdown was approaching.

"Stay put for now; just keep him under surveillance."

"Yes!" Although Ling Yu was puzzled, she did not refute.

After the two left, Ling Yuexian's voice rang out once more in the secret chamber:

"Your Excellency, I leave Ling Yi in your care from here on out."