Chapter 470: This Word Will Kill Many

Xiao Family.

Council Hall.

Family Lord Xiao Tiannan sat on the main seat, gazing at the decree in his hand, his expression complex.

"Father."

The eldest son, Xiao Yuntian, whispered, "Though we have no ties with the Yin Yin Valley, the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect's move… is forcing all orthodox factions to pick a side."

"Not pick a side—submit a loyalty oath."

Xiao Tiannan set down the decree and sighed, "Yue Canglan is clearing the field. Whoever refuses this order is labeled 'in secret collusion with demonic sects.' How is the Pei family responding?"

"The Pei family lord has sent word: 'We will obey the order.'"

"Old fox…" Xiao Tiannan sneered, "He's slippery. If that's the case, my Xiao family cannot fall behind."

"Issue the order: Mobilize three hundred clan guards to assist the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect in exterminating the outer outposts of the Yin Yin Valley. Remember—only strike the periphery. Do not penetrate the Yin Yin Mountains."

"Yes."

…

Pei Family.

Secret Chamber.

Pei Family Lord, Pei Pei Yuanzong, tossed the decree into the fire brazier and watched it turn to ash.

"Yue Canglan… clever move," he murmured. "Using Zhao Yuanchen's death as cover for a purge. When the Yin Yin Valley falls, the demonic forces of Hanbei Dao will be reshuffled—and then…"

A flash of cunning gleamed in his eyes.

"Issue the order: Pei family members must fully respond to the 'Demon Extermination Decree,' but every kill must be documented—with evidence, preferably a Dragon Tiger Sword Sect disciple present as witness. Also, secretly contact the Yin Yin Valley's executive-level figures and tell them: the Pei family can offer protection, but in exchange, they must surrender the first three levels of the Yin Yin Secret Scripture."

"Lord, if the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect finds out…"

"And if they do?" Pei Pei Yuanzong smiled faintly. "In times of chaos, only those who hold leverage have the right to bargain."

Small and medium sects, martial academies, lone cultivators…

Some rejoiced—the Demon Extermination Decree meant merit, resources, a chance to rise overnight.

Some hesitated—the Yin Yin Valley was still a centuries-old demonic powerhouse; even a dying camel outweighs a horse.

Some feared—terrified of being crushed in the meat grinder between two great powers, left with nothing but bones.

But no matter what, the situation in Hanbei Dao boiled over from this day forward.

In the mountains, beyond city walls, across the wilderness, pursuit and counter-pursuit grew frequent.

Once, Yin Yin Valley disciples moved in secrecy, but now they were like rats in the streets—any trace could draw a siege.

Blood began to stain the autumn of Hanbei Dao.

…

Deep within the Yin Yin Valley.

Ice Prison Hall.

The Ice Prison Hall lay at the heart of the Yin Yin Mountains, perpetually covered in ice; its walls were carved from ten-thousand-year-old dark ice, radiating bone-chilling cold.

Once used to imprison the valley's worst offenders, it now welcomed one of its masters.

Hu Nianjing sat cross-legged on the cold jade platform at the hall's center, her face still pale, her breath weak.

The soul-burning injury could not heal overnight.

Yet the hatred in her eyes was colder than the hall's dark ice.

The hall doors burst open.

Li Yuan stepped in, clad in black robes.

His face was gaunt, his eye sockets sunken, his body wreathed in chilling deathly qi, as if he had stepped forth from the netherworld as a ghost king.

Now, he stared at Hu Nianjing, his gaze complex.

"You've returned," Li Yuan said, his voice rasping like sandpaper.

"I didn't die—were you disappointed?" Hu Nianjing sneered.

Li Yuan fell silent for a moment: "I knew nothing of the Yingchun Gorge incident."

"Knew nothing?" Hu Nianjing snapped her head up, her eyes bloodshot. "Every fifteenth day you enter seclusion, and I hold the Yinming Pearl—this secret is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me! How did the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect know? How did they ambush us so precisely?"

"Li Yuan, we've clashed for decades. I hated you—but I never once wished to kill you through others. But you?!"

Her voice shrieked, echoing through the ice hall.

Li Yuan frowned tightly: "If I wanted you dead, why would I need the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect? Three years ago, when you suffered qi deviation during your cultivation, I had my chance."

"That's because you needed me to balance the three Grand Elders!"

Hu Nianjing rasped, "Now all three Grand Elders have passed. Only you and I hold power in the valley—Li Yuan, dare you say you never entertained the thought of ruling the Yin Yin Valley alone?"

Li Yuan said nothing.

He had indeed thought of it.

But not this way.

"Hu Nianjing," Li Yuan said slowly, "I, Li Yuan, have always acted with open honesty. If I wished to kill you, I would do it myself—not through outsiders, and certainly not let the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect reap the benefit."

"Ha… open honesty?" Hu Nianjing sneered. "Then tell me: how did the Dragon Tiger Sword Sect know I'd be at Yingchun Gorge? How did they know you'd be in seclusion? How did they know the Yinming Pearl was in my hands?!"

Li Yuan had no answer.

It was precisely what he could not fathom.

His monthly fifteenth arrangement with Hu Nianjing was their deepest secret—even their personal attendants did not know.

Unless…

A flash of cold light gleamed in his eyes: "There's a traitor in the valley."

"A traitor?" Hu Nianjing laughed as if hearing the greatest joke. "Who else, besides you, could know this secret? Li Yuan, stop pretending. Today, since I've returned, I never intended to leave alive—but remember this: before I die, I'll drag you down to the netherworld with me!"

Before her words had even faded, her entire body erupted with dark yin true qi—she was going to fight to the death!

"Enough!"

Li Yuan suddenly raised his hand; a vast aura surged from his sleeves, forming black chains that instantly wrapped around Hu Nianjing's entire body.

"Soul-Binding Chains?!"

Hu Nianjing's pupils shrank sharply, "You actually carry this thing on you… you've long planned to move against me!"

Li Yuan's expression was icy. "I'll say it once more—the incident at Yingchun Gorge was not my doing. The Dragon-Tiger Sword Sect has issued a Demon-Extermination Order; the northern Han region is surrounded by wolves. Xuan Yin Valley stands at the brink of destruction. If you cause further trouble, the valley will collapse."

He stepped forward; the black chains tightened, pinning Hu Nianjing firmly to the cold jade platform.

"Until the truth is uncovered, you will remain here to reflect on your sins. The Xuanming Pearl… I am reclaiming it."

As he spoke, he reached out with a grasping motion.

From within Hu Nianjing's arms, a pearl the size of an egg, entirely deep blue, with swirling ice mist inside, slowly floated out and landed in Li Yuan's palm.

Xuanming Pearl.

Core of the Xuanbing Cave's seals.

"Li Yuan!!"

Hu Nianjing's eyes bulged with rage; she struggled but could not break free of the Soul-Binding Chains, only screaming hoarsely, "You dare take the Xuanming Pearl… I will kill you! I will kill you—"

Li Yuan's face remained expressionless as he turned and walked out of the Ice Prison Hall.

The hall doors slammed shut with a thunderous boom.

Outside, he held the cold Xuanming Pearl, gazing at the blizzard beyond the hall, a deep weariness flickering in his eyes.

"Traitor…"

He muttered under his breath, "If there truly is a traitor who could set up this scheme between us… then Xuan Yin Valley is already riddled with holes."

The howling wind and snow swallowed his words.

Inside the hall, Hu Nianjing's curses and hatred echoed repeatedly through the ice and frost, lingering long without fading.

…

…

The black market in Xingzhou extends beyond its visible stalls.

Deeper still lies the "Ghost Market," hidden beneath the city's drainage tunnels.

Here, no one asks about origins or identity—only money and goods matter.

Chen Mu changed into coarse hemp clothing, smeared ash on his face, and hunched his back as he blended into the crowd.

As he passed a stall selling "information," he dropped a heavy, bulging money bag.

The old man behind the stall didn't even lift his eyelids; he reached out, pressed the bag, weighed it, then spoke in a hoarse voice.

"What's the price?"

"Three thousand taels of gold—for one sentence," Chen Mu said, lowering his voice with deliberate rasp.

"Speak."

"Li Yuan practiced the Xuan Yin True Scripture and suffered qi deviation; his yang essence has collapsed—he is impotent."

The old man's fingers trembled slightly.

He lifted his head, his cloudy eyes fixed on Chen Mu; after a long silence, he slowly said, "That statement… will kill many people."