Chapter 426: The Fall

"Daddy?"

Xiao Bing woke up in a start. Looking at the empty room around her, she put on her shoes and left the room.

Her small body shivered in the cool night breeze.

"Daddy?"

Xiao Bing called out incessantly.

Just then, Lin Chao's figure appeared. He looked at Xiao Bing, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

Xiao Bing also saw Lin Chao, a look of pleasant surprise appearing in her eyes: "Daddy!"

She hugged Lin Chao tightly, like an octopus, as if afraid that Lin Chao might leave.

Lin Chao sighed inwardly and asked slowly: "Xiao Bing, do you know the Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang?"

This Xiao Bing's background was mysterious and unfathomable, and in Lin Chao's observation, Xiao Bing truly seemed like an ordinary human girl, without anything strange about her—a very normal little girl.

However, this normality was precisely the most abnormal thing.

"Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang?" Xiao Bing wore a thoughtful expression. "I don't know..."

Just then, Xiao Bing suddenly clutched her head, a look of pain appearing on her small face.

Seeing this, Lin Chao could not help but become worried.

"Headache..." Xiao Bing's voice was somewhat pained, yet her breathing became steady, and she actually fell asleep in Lin Chao's arms.

"Strange..."

Lin Chao watched the changes in Xiao Bing's body, somewhat unable to understand.

Xiao Bing's body was completely normal.

"Perhaps, Xiao Bing is truly related to the Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang.

It's just..."

Lin Chao decided that he would mention the Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang less in Xiao Bing's ear in the future; otherwise, Xiao Bing would end up like she did today, suddenly falling into a deep sleep after suffering pain.

"Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang..."

Lin Chao looked thoughtful.

The identity of this Divine Emperor of the Ancient Tang truly made him somewhat curious.

It seemed it was not that simple.

The next day.

The Second Puppet Academy was plunged into a tense atmosphere.

Many Yingtian Guards entered the academy, seemingly investigating something.

The Yingtian Guard was the violent apparatus of the Ancient Tang Empire, possessing the power to supervise and investigate cases.

This time, the Yingtian Guard entering the Second Puppet Academy was to investigate the matter of Liu Gaoyang's disappearance.

This caught Lin Chao quite by surprise; the Ancient Tang Empire's official response was fast.

He had just dealt with Liu Gaoyang yesterday, and today the Yingtian Guard had already come knocking.

This efficiency could certainly be called high.

However, Lin Chao did not take it to heart.

At this moment, Senior Sister Wang Lu watched the Yingtian Guard members leave, a look of schadenfreude in her eyes: "That Liu Gaoyang, having done all sorts of evil, has finally met his retribution."

Regarding Liu Gaoyang, Wang Lu knew quite a lot.

It could be said that if not for his good background and high talent, Liu Gaoyang would have been assassinated long ago for those behaviors of his.

Liu Gaoyang not only lusted after men but also kept young boys to amuse himself.

For those he took a fancy to, even if they had a clean background, he had plenty of ways to ruin their families and then keep them in his residence.

The Senior Brother narrowed his eyes: "I hope there are no hidden motives behind this matter, and that it isn't targeting the Legendary Project."

The people present heard this and their expressions changed slightly.

Although the Legendary Project had the support of a County Prince, there were also many voices of opposition within the Ancient Tang Empire.

These voices of opposition all forbade the creation of a Legendary Puppet.

Now that Liu Gaoyang had disappeared inexplicably, there might be a reason for it.

Wang Lu's expression also tightened as she looked at Lin Chao: "Junior Brother Lin Gui, what do you think?"

Lin Chao chuckled: "Liu Gaoyang committed many evils; perhaps he offended someone."

"That makes sense." Wang Lu nodded. "It's just... with Liu Gaoyang dead, I'm afraid the progress of the Legendary Project... will be much slower."

Although Wang Lu disliked Liu Gaoyang, Liu Gaoyang had already become one of the three Main Administrators of the Legendary Project, playing a crucial role in it.

Last night, her father had also told her that Liu Gaoyang was not what he used to be, having pushed the progress of the Legendary Project forward by one-tenth just a while ago, which was why he was highly valued by the County Prince.

Several academies believed that with Liu Gaoyang presiding over the big picture, a Legendary Puppet would appear in the world in three years at most.

Now that Liu Gaoyang had disappeared inexplicably, the Legendary Project would likely be delayed, which was not a good thing for the several academies.

"Sigh, if only Lin Gui had achieved Awakening of the Puppet Heart.

With Lin Gui's talent, achieving Awakening of the Puppet Heart would certainly far surpass that Liu Gaoyang." Beside them, Wang Lu suddenly sighed.

Hearing this, Lin Chao only smiled.

However, Wang Lu immediately realized she had made a slip of the tongue and showed a look of apology to Lin Chao.

After all, this was exposing Lin Chao's shortcomings.

Just then, Wang Lu saw something, a look of surprise appearing in her eyes: "Lin Gui, why did you buy some little girl's clothes? What is this for?"

The inner academy students present also looked at Lin Gui, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Almost everyone present had never started a family, and seeing the little girl's clothes in Lin Gui's hands, they were all somewhat surprised.

"These are Xiao Bing's clothes; I bought them for Xiao Bing," Lin Chao answered truthfully.

"Xiao Bing? Who is Xiao Bing?"

"Junior Lin Gui, did you bring a relative to our Academy?" Wang Lu's face revealed a curious expression.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned, looking at Wang Lu with a sharp gaze that vanished as quickly as it appeared: "Yesterday, when I brought Xiao Bing in, didn't you already see her, Senior Sister?"

"What? Did I see her?" Wang Lu was somewhat puzzled, "Yesterday, didn't you just bring a servant back?"

"That's right, Junior Lin Gui, you only brought a servant back yesterday." Beside them, the Senior Brother also revealed a curious expression.

The others present also began to discuss it, as if they truly had not seen Xiao Bing yesterday.

Hearing this, Lin Chao revealed a thoughtful expression: "Perhaps... I remembered wrong."

"Junior Lin Gui, remember to balance work and rest; being too diligent every day is bad for your health.

By the way, when will you bring the relative you brought, Xiao Bing, for me to see?" Wang Lu said from the side.

"Okay."

Watching the few of them, Lin Chao nodded.

However, his gaze became even more profound.

This... what on earth is going on?

Why is it that in everyone else's memories, Xiao Bing no longer exists?

Bidding farewell to the others, Lin Chao's figure appeared once again.

Returning to the courtyard, Lin Chao saw Xiao Bing again.

At this moment, Xiao Bing was still in a deep sleep, a sweet smile hanging on the corner of her mouth, as if she were having a good dream.

"Zero."

Lin Chao began to contact Zero.

"Young Master." Zero's voice came through.

"Where have you reached now?"

"Reporting to Young Master, I have already arrived at the Western Continent, and Zero is currently contacting the organization the Young Master previously interacted with."

"Mm." Lin Chao nodded with satisfaction; Zero's efficiency made him very pleased. He lowered his head to look at the sleeping Xiao Bing and asked, "Zero, do you still remember Xiao Bing?"

"Xiao Bing?"

On the other end, Zero's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Reporting to Young Master, I do not know of any Xiao Bing."

"Mm, alright." Receiving this answer, Lin Chao was somewhat surprised, "Proceed according to the original plan; if there are any accidents, contact me."

"Understood."

Lin Chao looked at Xiao Bing, the doubt in his eyes deepening.

"Even Zero cannot remember you?

Then... why does Liu Gaoyang remember you?"

Lin Chao's eyes held a look of doubt.

He was even more curious about Xiao Bing's identity.

Especially the strange phenomena surrounding Xiao Bing, which also made him feel a trace of weirdness.

Zero was a God-Tier Puppet he had created; aside from a lack of Spirituality, in other aspects, it could be considered a deity.

This meant that even a deity... could not remember the existence of Xiao Bing.

This made Lin Chao quite surprised.

"It seems I should take a trip to the County Prince's mansion." A trace of curiosity flowed in Lin Chao's eyes.

After all, in this world, there were not many things that could pique his interest.

In the Ancient Tang Empire, at first it was the Forging Heaven Art, and now there was an additional Xiao Bing.

Of course, regarding Xiao Bing, his current emotions were complex.

The two had not known each other long and did not have very deep bonds.

Amidst the rockery, the Water flowed slowly, and a white goose spread its wings, suddenly splashing water.

The Prince of Leisure sat in the pavilion with a brush and rice paper placed beside him; he held the brush and was painting, and the subject of the painting was precisely the goose in the pond.

But suddenly, the Prince of Leisure put down his brush.

"A guest has come to visit, why not reveal yourself?" The Prince of Leisure spoke to the air.

"As expected of the Prince of Leisure, to have hidden so deeply all this time.

I originally thought Your Excellency the Prince of Leisure was merely a Heavenly Court Disciple, but now it seems that the Prince of Leisure... is also a powerhouse within the Heavenly Court."

Following the aged voice, an old man appeared before the Prince of Leisure.

The old man's appearance was plain and unremarkable; at first glance, one could not remember his face.

Seeing the visitor, the Prince of Leisure's eyes revealed a look of intense wariness: "Has the Western deity's... infiltration of the Heavenly Court... already reached this depth?"

The Prince of Leisure's eyes revealed a look of helplessness.

"Prince of Leisure, I also did not expect that you would be the person chosen by the Ancient Tang Empire."

The old man spoke, his voice inscrutable.

The Prince of Leisure sighed: "Before I die... can you tell me... who exactly is the Master of Light?"

Although the Prince of Leisure was strong, he had self-awareness.

With this old man having arrived, he had absolutely no chance of survival.

This old man held an extremely high status within the Heavenly Court and was also one of the strongest individuals in the Heavenly Court.

The Prince of Leisure was simply no match for him, and in fact, could not escape at all.

"The Master of Light is the Master of Light, not anyone else."

A radiance burst forth from the old man's eyes: "King Xiaoyao, your lineage... it is time for it to be severed!"

The old man stretched out his hand and pressed it upon King Xiaoyao's skull.

King Xiaoyao was completely unable to resist, watching helplessly as that palm landed on his skull, shattering his Divine Soul completely.

A look of relief even appeared in King Xiaoyao's eyes, and just like that... he fell.

The old man squinted, and his figure vanished.

Appearing once more, he was startlingly in the collection room of the Prince's Mansion.

A portrait appeared before the old man.

The portrait did not seem complete; one half had been cut away, and the remaining portion was, shockingly, a little girl.

The old man glanced at the little girl, his eyes revealing endless apprehension.

"Princess Ji... thirty-two portraits have now been gathered; these past few thousand years, we cannot say we have had no harvest."

The old man thought of something, a look of heartache appearing on his face.

"It seems this avatar of mine must also be lost.

Otherwise... how could I annihilate this... person of great ominousness!"

A look of deep apprehension flowed through the old man's eyes.

Even though he was a deity with Strong Divine Power, already standing at the pinnacle of this world.

Yet, in this world, there were still those who made him fearful.

The first was that legendary Father God, and the Ancient Gods forged by the Father God's own hands.

The second was that young girl in the painting, the person of great ominousness.

If this person of great ominousness were allowed to continue existing in this world, one day, the God Generals would no longer be gods, and all deities would face a catastrophic disaster.

As a deity, how could he accept such a thing?

The old man looked at the portrait, and a light suddenly appeared in his hand.

That light had been bestowed upon him by the Master of Light.

The light shone upon the portrait in that instant, and the portrait burned up in that moment, finally disappearing completely.

The old man also raised his own hand, endless Divine Power surging, finally striking his own body.

In an instant, this avatar of his also vanished, or rather... perished.

Within the God Kingdom, a majestic figure had calm eyes; his left eye was the day, and his right eye was the night.

Day and night rotated within his eyes.

The majestic figure murmured: "Divine Emperor Gutang, the contingency has been removed; you have lost.

Evil will eventually be defeated by justice.

That seed... will now create me."

Although it was a murmur, the joy in the majestic figure's voice was still hard to hide.

"An Qian... is she your companion?

Back then, I was able to defeat you; this time, naturally, I can defeat her too.

Fate... stands on my side.

All demons from outside the realm shall be annihilated."

The majestic figure's hand grabbed, and a porcelain doll before him shattered instantly, turning into ashes.

"It is just... what exactly is the meaning of 'Fate-Controller'?"

"Daddy, don't leave me behind."

Xiao Bing's forehead was burning hot, and sweat flowed continuously.

Her complexion was extremely pale, and she looked incomparably weak.

However, her hands were clutching Lin Chao tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, Lin Chao would vanish.

A trace of reminiscence appeared in Lin Chao's eyes.

In Xiao Bing, he saw the shadow of Die Niao.

Back then, with the help of the Dao Ancestor's power, Die Niao awakened, and her final moments were just like Xiao Bing's.

Always clutching him tightly, unwilling to let go.

Even when she occasionally woke up, she would embrace Lin Chao, staring at him, terrified that Lin Chao would disappear from her sight.

At this moment, Xiao Bing was like a frightened rabbit, or perhaps a little girl who had lost all her kin, constantly clinging to Lin Chao.

As if Lin Chao were her everything.

Lin Chao patted Xiao Bing's back with his hand and spoke slowly: "Daddy is here; Daddy won't leave you behind."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bing seemed to gain a bit of security and slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

"What happened? How did Xiao Bing end up like this?" Lin Chao was puzzled. "It seems... I should leave here and go find... King Xiaoyao."

The Second Puppet Academy no longer had the things he needed.

He did not need to stay here either; he decided it was time to leave.

He would continue toward the Ancient God Temple to craft a God-Tier Puppet, and at the same time, figure out the situation with Xiao Bing and the whereabouts of the Forging Heaven Art.

One day later.

Fengdu City.

Lin Chao held the young Xiao Bing in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the heavily guarded Prince's Mansion, a trace of surprise appearing in his eyes.

"King Xiaoyao... is dead."

"A god with Strong Divine Power did this?"

"This matter... is somewhat suspicious."

A god with Strong Divine Power, even for Lin Chao as he is now, would be somewhat troublesome to deal with.

Of course, it would only be troublesome.

Every day, Lin Chao's strength is increasing; it will not be long before even a Strong Divine Power is nothing more than a defeated opponent under his hand.

(End of chapter)