In the assembly hall of Jade Mist Valley, Valley Master Linghu Tiangong tightly gripped the teacup in his hand.
The tea inside had grown cold, and the veins on the back of his hand were clearly visible.
This Valley Master, who had presided over Jade Mist Valley for twenty thousand years, was like most faction leaders in times of peace—a person who strictly followed the rules, carefully weighed his options from all sides, and acted as a mediator.
He had always been exceptionally calm and steady.
Now, however, his eyes were hollow.
His usual numerous calculations and strategic weighings were of no use.
Under the current circumstances, where the entirety of Jade Mist Valley, from top to bottom, was about to align itself with the Peerless Hall, he couldn't come up with a single viable solution.
"The Great Elder... is dead."
A look that was simultaneously sorrowful, somewhat gratified, and somewhat disbelieving appeared in Linghu Tiangong's eyes.
"The Great Elder was the oldest existence in the valley aside from the Ancestral Master.
He was profoundly versed in the valley's techniques, having cultivated six Void Refinement techniques to a profound depth, and had even mastered a Heaven-tier technique.
Even if he wasn't a match for his opponent, he had plenty of means to escape. How could he possibly be killed so easily by a junior?"
Recalling the intelligence transmitted back by his disciples, coupled with the brilliant light of the talisman array rising into the sky that could be seen from afar that day, even with his vast experience and extensive knowledge, his heart couldn't help but pound wildly.
"The Azure Cloud Li Clan only possesses a millennium of legacy; where did they get such a powerful Talisman Immortal Master?"
Amidst his thoughts, with cultivators coming and going in the hall, he was completely oblivious to the fact that two women and one man had already arrived right in front of him.
The man among them looked completely harmless, bearing a timid and cowering appearance, while the women flanking his left and right appeared exceedingly shrewd and wise.
"Junior Li Tianming greets Senior."
As Li Tianming spoke, Linghu Tiangong was finally jolted awake.
Having just been muttering about this very matter, he never expected Li Tianming to actually show up right before him.
Linghu Tiangong was stunned for only a brief moment before his pupils instantly dilated.
He leaped to his feet, uncaring of anything else, and instantaneously channeled his Spiritual power.
The ancient spatial ring on his hand flashed with light as he deployed the ultimate life-saving Dharma Treasure passed down through generations of Valley Masters.
An array formation appeared beneath him, and the brilliance of rules flashed all around.
In a mere few thoughts, the spot where he had just stood was completely empty.
"..."
Li Tianming and the two women beside him stared blankly at the empty space where Linghu Tiangong had vanished.
Soon after, Li Tianming put on a miserable face and turned to the two women, whose faces had darkened considerably.
"You two Fourth Great-Aunts, his... his reaction was so huge. What do we do? We haven't even mentioned the matter of cooperating with him to attack from both the inside and outside."
"The matter of you placing talismans under the Great Elder's chair in Grandhaven Prefecture has already spread. If he didn't run, he'd be a complete fool."
These two were entirely Li Yaowen's reincarnated avatars, acting as disciples of Jade Mist Valley.
When the two of them exchanged glances, their eyes were brimming with scheming thoughts.
"Then what do we do? Where am I supposed to find him?"
Li Tianming's face turned bitter.
The family had assigned him the task of finding traces of the Martial Academy's three Masters and the watchdog.
The 'brothers' in his mind had given him many ideas; venturing into the enemy's main base to find Linghu Tiangong—who greatly disliked the Peerless Hall and the Western Frontier—was deemed the safest option.
Who knew it would go wrong so quickly.
"He just panicked," one of Li Yaowen's reincarnated avatars waved her hand dismissively.
"Once he thinks it through, he will naturally come back."
...
[Special Event — Cooperating with Linghu Tiangong]
[Linghu Tiangong is unwilling to see his sect sink into the corruption of the Blood Moon. After being deeply startled by your descendant Li Tianming, he turns back to seek him out.]
[The matter of your descendant Li Tianming burying talismans under people's behinds has already become widespread knowledge.
When people see Li Tianming, they maintain three parts vigilance and seven parts distance.
Acquired Trait: Universally Acknowledged Scoundrel]
[After revealing himself in front of an opponent, the probability of a successful sneak attack decreases by 50%.
The other personalities within his mind are deeply annoyed by this matter and have decided to condense another personality to counter the drawbacks of being easily discovered.
Will acquire a new personality: 'Despicable Personality'.]
In a pitch-black cave in Jade Mist Valley where one couldn't even see their own fingers, Li Tianming stood a hundred meters inside.
He furrowed his brows; the 'big brothers' in his head were gathered together holding a meeting.
He didn't know what they were up to this time, but he was absolutely certain it was nothing good.
This was especially true of the primary personality, who was currently sitting cross-legged on a torture rack in his mind, sneering with a dark and sinister expression.
Deep inside the cave, about a thousand meters away and safely separated by layer upon layer of defensive array formations, Linghu Tiangong looked highly vigilant.
"Little friend Tianming, you and I can be completely honest with each other now."
Li Tianming put on an honest and simple-minded look. "Senior, you wouldn't want Jade Mist Valley to turn out like the Western Frontier either, right?"
Linghu Tiangong immediately understood. "You are asking me to betray Jade Mist Valley?"
Such brutal honesty.
Li Tianming hurriedly nodded.
"Yes. My family elders said they have long heard of Senior's astuteness. My venturing here is a sufficient show of sincerity; the rest is entirely up to Senior to decide.
Whether you kill me or choose to cooperate, this is Jade Mist Valley's final chance to avoid sinking into the Blood Moon."
Linghu Tiangong indeed fell silent, sinking into a long, profound contemplation.
"Are you certain of success?"
Li Tianming initially wanted to speak directly and honestly, but suddenly felt that would make him look too foolish.
Feigning deep contemplation, he then mimicked the exact way Xinnian used to speak to people back when he was the Family Head, stating confidently,
"Jade Mist Valley is nothing more than a handful of clowns."
"You bastard!!!"
As he was leaving, thinking back on how Linghu Tiangong, flushed red in the face with anger, had violently driven him out, Li Tianming realized he had definitely said the wrong thing.
However, every single one of the brothers in his head praised him, telling him he had spoken wonderfully.
Then he definitely must have said the wrong thing. But it wasn't a big problem.