Chapter 648

A series of sucking sounds rose and fell among the crowd.

Ling Tian actually admitted it openly!

Ling Xianliu's wife is the one he killed!

"Why?" a mournful voice spilled from Ling Xianliu's lips.

Although he knew clearly that Ling Tian did this for that position, they were still blood‑thicker‑than‑water brothers! He cherished Ling Tian so much; how could he commit such ingratitude?

"Why?" Ling Tian sneered coldly, his voice rising three notes, tinged with madness. "If one does not look out for oneself, heaven collapses and earth shatters! Brother, you can't possibly not understand this, can you? It's fine that we're blood brothers, but Dan Valley has only one Valley Master. I'm no less than you; why must you be destined from birth to sit in that seat? And I can only become your sidekick, your subordinate? Just because you're the eldest? Just because your talent is higher?"

The more Ling Tian spoke, the more ferocious his expression became.

Jealousy twists the mind, and it is Ling Tian who is being described.

Although they were born the same, he was always outclassed by Ling Xianliu, unable to catch his breath.

Ling Xianliu treated him quite well, but to him that kindness was undoubtedly a veiled mockery, as if reminding him that Ling Tian could never match Ling Xianliu, and would forever be Ling Xianliu's sidekick!

No!

He refuses!

He is an ambitious man; how can he bow beneath others?

Even if the other is his own elder brother, it is still unacceptable!

Since Ling Xianliu is the obstacle in his life, why not just kill him?

"Hahaha, Ling Xianliu, no matter how glorious you once were, you are ultimately a defeated foe under my command!"

Ling Tian threw his head back and laughed heartily.

"Just for that position, you mercilessly killed your sister‑in‑law and nephew?" Ling Xianliu said, his heart in pain.

"So what! I dare to kill you, let alone them," Ling Tian said, indifferent.

Ling Xianliu shook his head, "Do you know that I have never wanted to sit in that position?"

What?

Ling Tian's expression suddenly changed, the complex emotions in his eyes turning into sarcasm, "You think I would believe your words?"

Ling Xianliu, knowing Ling Tian wouldn't believe, calmly drew a yellowed paper from his sleeve.

The paper, bearing countless years, when seen, sent thoughts soaring back to bygone times.

He never imagined that when he wrote this letter, the years were still tranquil, yet when he took it out again, everything had changed.

Ling Tian took the letter with suspicion, glanced at Ling Xianliu, then slowly opened it.

Soon, his expression changed.

"Impossible, this can't be..." Ling Tian shook his head rapidly, his eyes filled with shock.

Ling Xianliu said lightly, "You know, I have always been carefree, disliking constraints and yearning for freedom, so I never intended to stay in that seat forever. I know you've coveted that position for a long time, planning to leave with them once everything stabilizes. I've written this letter ages ago, but never had the chance to give it to you."

When his father suddenly died that year and the situation was turbulent, he assumed the Valley Master position amid chaos.

Ling Xianliu's words left everyone astonished.

They did not doubt him. As he himself said, he truly is a carefree person who loves unrestrained freedom.

Bright robes, raging horses; emerald waves, drifting boats.

Poetry and wine seize the youthful years.

Ling Xianliu's easygoing nature seems etched into his bones, and everyone on Beimingzhou knows it.

It turns out Ling Xianliu never intended to remain Valley Master of Dan Valley; he planned to hand the position to Ling Tian once the situation stabilized.

Only, Ling Xianliu himself never expected his younger brother to be so eager...

"You're lying! This letter, you just wrote it, right? Its purpose is to deceive me, isn't it?"

Ling Tian gave a forceful blow, and the yellowed paper instantly turned to dust.

Ling Xianliu's eyes remained calm, as if he had long anticipated Ling Tian's reaction.

After all, he never intended to make Ling Tian repent; he only wanted to reveal the truth.

"Ling Tian, just keep persisting in your obstinacy!"

Elder Two stepped forward, his gaze as hard as iron that failed to become steel.

"We all know this matter! Ling Xianliu once refused to take the Valley Master seat; if not for the Old Valley Master's earnest urging, Ling Xianliu wouldn't have endured the Old Valley Master's untimely death, and this..."

Elder Two closed his eyes, evidently unwilling to elaborate on the past.

"Originally, if you had endured a bit longer, everything would still be yours! Why are you so impatient?"

The other Elders of the passive faction also echoed in agreement.

Ling Tian could hardly believe his ears, feeling as if five thunders struck his head.

Did Ling Xianliu truly intend to hand the Valley Master position to him?

Did he do something wrong?

No!

Impossible!

Ling Xianliu and those old deadweights of the passive faction must be lying to him, absolutely!

"Hahaha, so what? I, Ling Tian, would rather kill wrongly than let them go! I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me!"

Ling Tian's gaze shot at Ling Xianliu, filled with hatred, "Ling Xianliu, this is all your fault! Your wife, all died because of you, all because you!"

No cure!

Ling Xianliu sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Ling Xianliu, had you continued to crawl and survive, perhaps I could have spared your life. Who made you ignorant of death and dared to appear before me? Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Ling Tian waved his hand grandly, "Men, bring them all to me... and kill them!"

A ruthless murderous aura flashed in his eyes, blood‑thirsty and brutal, renouncing all kin.

"Ling Tian, do you think we are dead?"

Second Elder and the other Elders of the Passive Faction were each incensed beyond control.

"So what? You don't actually think that you few old things can hold it back, do you?"

Ling Tian sneered disdainfully and raised his voice: "Brother Nan Gong, let your men all come out!"

Nan Gong Cang, expressionless, nodded, lifted his palm, made a slight motion, and in the next instant dozens of figures fell in unison!

The crowd stared, and to their surprise it was the high‑ranking members of Huangjin City!

The radiant brilliance of each Saint shone fully, making people dare not stare directly.

A careful count showed there were over twenty of them!

"Heavens! This is almost the entire Saint combat power of Huangjin City!"

"Huangjin City and Dan Valley are really going to join forces!"

Many Academy disciples did not expect that so many Huangjin City experts were hidden in the shadows!

People have long heard that Huangjin City and Dan Valley intend to join forces; the first sign appeared when Ling Xueyao married Nan Gong Han.

Although in recent years the overt interactions between the two major forces have not been close, compared with the occasional frictions of the past, things have improved greatly.

Today, at Shenzhou Academy, the two major forces finally openly joined forces!

Huangjin City has over twenty Saints, and Dan Valley adds nine Saints, totaling over thirty.

The Passive Faction's eight Saints are already insufficient in number!

"Nan Gong Cang, Ling Tian, are you now ignoring my Shenzhou Academy?" Li Daoyun said with a half‑smile.

"Shenzhou Academy?"

Ling Tian looked at Li Daoyun with disdain, and after tearing off the pretense, he simply ignored any further feigned politeness.

"Li Daoyun, do you know how many members of your Shenzhou Academy's Elder Council are also from our Dan Valley and Huangjin City?"