Chapter 2289: No Possible Justification

The Celestial Frost Sect surpassed all of the other members of the four ruling powers in both numbers of powerful Progenitors, and skilled Lockbreakers.

However, objectively speaking, Shenwu's Sky did not lag far behind the Celestial Frost Sect.

When Virtue Archives’ students had been visiting the Wang family’s floating mainland, the Wang family had been intimidated by Shenwu's Sky because of Grandmaster Qiu Ling. It was not impossible for Shenwu's Sky to be the culprit behind everything.

Semi-Progenitor Chai and Mr. Yu met with each other to speak after moving away from Wu Yao. "I honestly hope that Aeternus is behind everything, as at least that won’t mean an internal war for humanity."

Mr. Yu was still considering everything. "When everything started, Bai Teng's disappearance was when Shenwu's Sky voiced their suspicions that the Celestial Frost Sect was behind things, and they convinced the rest of us to join them against the Celestial Frost Sect. It was after that that the Celestial Frost Sect brought up Forgotten Ruins God and diverted everyone’s attention. Given the information that we obtained on the rear battlefield, all of us were convinced that Aeternus was plotting something. It’s why we made it a point to gather all of the members of Star Alliance together as bait to lure out the Seven Skygods.

"Now, Shenwu's Sky is saying that they discovered that Xia Xing's clone was in the Celestial Frost Sect’s Cloudforest Tower, while Wu Yao is claiming that Shenwu's Sky is behind everything. He’s basically denying the Aeternals’ involvement. All that we can be sure about is that none of what’s happened has any connection to Aeternus. It’s either Shenwu's Sky or the Celestial Frost Sect."

Semi-Progenitor Chai replied, "Regardless of who it is, we need to work together."

Mr. Yu nodded. "Shenwu's Sky swears that Patriarch Wang Zheng and Patriarch Long Ke are in the Celestial Frost Sect’s Cloudforest Tower. Let’s wait to hear back about that for now. As for the Celestial Frost Sect, do you think that Wu Yao is still hiding something? He wouldn’t be so certain if he were only sharing some speculations, which means that he is hiding something."

"Agreed. He’s trying to prove that Shenwu's Sky is the culprit, but he still wants to keep some things hidden. What is he trying to hide from us?" Semi-Progenitor Chai grew puzzled.

The two looked over at Wu Yao in unison. "The truth will soon be revealed. I want to see who’s responsible for everything."

Over the course of the next few days, Virtue Archives’ students all trained within Shenwu's Sky. As they did, rumors started to spread throughout the Perennial World regarding the mass execution of the last few captive survivors of the Lu family. Word quickly spread throughout the Higher Realm and the Middle Realm.

Countless eyes were focused on Shenwu's Sky.

This execution was intended to lure Lu Yin out and force him to reveal himself if he really was in the Perennial World. For this reason, while the number of people who would be executed were relatively small, their deaths were going to be drawn out over as much time as possible to ensure that their deaths were agonizingly painful.

"Two months. The execution will take at least two months to finish." Xia Ziheng made it a point to visit “Yu Hao” and share this news with him.

Lu Yin's heart was overflowing with bloodlust and rage, but nothing could be seen from his face. "Isn’t this excessively cruel?"

Xia Ziheng just sneered. "It’s no more than what they deserve! Everyone from the Lu family deserves to die! Yu Hao, as you are joining my Shenwu's Sky, you should learn our history. If not for the Lu family, Progenitor Chen, whose name was Xia Shang, would have willingly surrendered to our family and not insisted on rebelling! While this part of history has been hidden, you’re entitled to learn of it. After the execution, I’ll tell you more details."

Lu Yin nodded. "I’ll thank you in advance, Semi-Progenitor Ziheng."

A short time later, the two of them and an entire group of people arrived at the border of Shenwu's Sky’s territory. There, they found dozens of people who were tied to stone pillars. "The original plan was to hold the execution at the edge of the Higher Realm, but after considering that Kui Luo might be accompanying Lu Xiaoxuan, it was instead decided to do it here. If Lu Xiaoxuan dares to show himself, he will never be able to leave."

"Lu Xiaoxuan probably won’t dare to attend the execution if it’s held here in Shenwu's Sky, so won’t that make all of this a waste?" Lu Yin wondered.

Xia Ziheng sneered. "You don’t have to worry about that. As long as Lu Xiaoxuan is in the Perennial World, he won’t miss this. We’re very familiar with the character of people from the Lu family. If he doesn’t show up this time, he definitely will the next time. We’ll just hold periodic executions of whoever’s left from the Lu family or their followers. The blood of the Lu family will drip from here into the Middle Realm, so even if Lu Xiaoxuan doesn't come himself, we’ll still force out other survivors from the Lu family. This execution will only be the appetizer."

“Yu Hao” was impressed. "That’s true. Who came up with such a cruel and effective plan?"

A smile spread across Xia Ziheng's face. "It was me, of course."

“Yu Hao” grunted. "This junior will need to learn a great many things from you from now on, Semi-Progenitor Ziheng."

Xia Ziheng looked over at the young man, happy with such adoration. "I can hear how much you approve of this. You’re making the right choice—let go of all past hatreds. You will always belong to my Shenwu's Sky. In the future, Shenwu's Sky will help you to reach ever higher levels. Your surname might not be ‘Xia,’ but you are already more valuable than most of the Xia family members. You need to remember this, Yu Hao."

Lu Yin nodded. "I understand."

The next day was the formal start of the execution of the surviving members of the Lu family. In addition to the people from Shenwu's Sky who had arrived with Lu Yin, an audience had formed from people from the rest of the four ruling powers, as well as the students from Virtue Archives. Everyone stared at the members of the Lu family who were tied to stone pillars. It was impossible to determine what anyone was thinking as they observed the scene.

Soon, terrifying wails would echo through the air, while blood would stain the ground below. The entire event would last for two months.

Shenwu's Sky would not allow any of the captives to die peacefully. Just as Xia Ziheng had said, this execution was just the appetizer.

A short distance away, Xia Xing looked over at Lu Yin. Not only did the sect master see that the young man was calm, but he also saw approval.

Xia Xing felt chills run over his body. Lu Xiaoxuan had completely changed. The former Lu Xiaoxuan would have been desperately attacking at this moment, but the current Lu Yin was not merely composed; he also put on a show of contentment at watching the execution. He looked as though he was not seeing anyone from the Lu family. Such control and perfect acting was disturbing for Xia Xing to watch. He had not been at all concerned about Lu Xiaoxuan in the past, but Lu Yin was terrifying.

The sect master looked away, his mind wandering to Progenitor Chen's blood. As long as he could get his hands on Progenitor Chen's blood, he would immediately be able to draw the broken saber, and then he would reveal everything to the Progenitor and ask the man to remove the restriction from his body. Lu Xiaoxuan would die.

After all, how could Xia Xing, patriarch of the Xia family, truly be willing to be Lu Xiaoxuan's puppet?

***

Far away from Shenwu's Sky, a person held a mirror as a white fog carried them towards the center of the Higher Realm. This person was Lu Yin. Liu Shaoge had taken on the role of Yu Hao to observe the execution of the members of the Lu family. After being replaced, Lu Yin was making his way to Crimson Garden. Since he could not save the members of Star Alliance, he would have to be content with saving the people imprisoned in Crimson Garden for the time being.

Wu Yao had already learned a portion of the truth about “Yu Hao,” and it was only a matter of time before everything was exposed. Lu Yin did not actually plan to return to Shenwu's Sky. It was time to put an end to his time as Yu Hao.

***

At the same time, in the Celestial Frost Sect’s Cloudforest Tower, a bit of light that shrouded Long Ke’s body began to fade away. He staggered and collapsed while looking around. Just where was he?

He searched until he found the entrance to the pagoda. He cautiously opened the door and stepped out.

The moment Long Ke emerged from the Cloudforest Tower and stepped outside, a spy from Shenwu's Sky noticed. Nei Ying had been told to keep watch on the Cloudforest Tower, and his expression instantly changed when he saw Long Ke, and a message was instantly sent to Shenwu's Sky.

In Shenwu's Sky, Xia Ziheng was still admiring the tragic sight of the condemned members of the Lu family. Of course, they were not truly survivors from the Lu family, and he was well aware of that.

The execution had originally been intended to feature true members of the Lu family, but Xia Ziheng had been approached by Xia Xing, who had proposed to conduct the execution several different times so that they could not only lure out Lu Xiaoxuan, but also other survivors from the Lu family. Xia Xing suggested that it would be better to keep the true members of the Lu family hidden, as they could be brought out and used at a critical moment to deal with some hidden survivors of the Lu family or their vassals.

Suddenly, the Semi-Progenitor’s communication crystal trembled, and his eyes flickered as he answered the call right in front of Semi-Progenitor Chai, Mr. Yu, Wu Yao, and the God of Food. "What's wrong?"

"Ancestor, Long Ke was found in the Celestial Frost Sect’s Cloudforest Tower," someone hastily reported.

Xia Ziheng’s eyes went wide, and he shot a glare at Wu Yao, as did Mr. Yu.

In fact, everyone who had overheard the message was staring at Wu Yao.

Wu Yao was taken aback. What had he just heard? Long Ke had been found in the Cloudforest Tower? It had to be a dream! Wu Yao personally guarded the Cloudforest Tower, so how could Long Ke have entered it?

"Wu Yao, can you provide an explanation for the Celestial Frost Sect?" Xia Ziheng demanded in an icy voice. "Return our sect master’s clone!"

Mr. Yu shouted, "Senior Wu Yao, was our patriarch really in the Cloudforest Tower?"

The God of Food was completely stunned. What in the world was going on?

Wu Yao quickly recovered, and he glared straight back at Xia Ziheng. "Your Shenwu’s Sky is quite scheming. You want to frame my Celestial Frost Sect? Luckily for us, I knew of your intentions long ago. You claim that Long Ke appeared in the Cloudforest Tower? Where is your evidence?"

Semi-Progenitor Chai and Mr. Yu looked back at Xia Ziheng. Neither of them had seen any evidence, so they would not easily believe Xia Ziheng's words.

Xia Ziheng became furious. "Long Ke was in the Cloudforest Tower! Don’t try to cloud the matter! Someone from my Shenwu's Sky saw Long Ke with their own eyes!"

He looked over at Mr. Yu. "You don't believe me? The Celestial Frost Sect has been behind everything!"

"Xia Ziheng, the scheme that Shenwu's Sky has tried to carry out has been exposed! You deliberately caused Xia Xing's clone to disappear, and then you were the ones who captured Wang Zheng, Long Ke, and Bai Teng. Your Shenwu’s Sky is responsible for everything!" Wu Yao roared.

Xia Ziheng had not expected Wu Yao to snap back. It even seemed like the man had come to some sort of earlier agreement with Semi-Progenitor Chai and Mr. Yu. Xia Ziheng had assumed that the Celestial Frost Sect would be completely unable to argue about anything after Long Ke was discovered inside the Cloudforest Tower.

"Brother Xia, is Long Ke really within the Celestial Frost Sect? Do you have any evidence?" Semi-Progenitor Chai asked in a deep voice.

Xia Ziheng pointed to his communication crystal. "One of my people saw it with his own eyes! He is currently right in front of the Cloudforest Tower."

An image appeared from the communication crystal, and it was possible to make out both Long Ke and the Cloudforest Tower.

Wu Yao's eyes grew large. This was impossible! How could this be? How could Long Ke have been inside the Cloudforest Tower? Could his sect really have been responsible for so much? If so, why had he been left in the dark?

Mr. Yu's expression grew terrible. "Senior Wu Yao, your Celestial Frost Sect has been very manipulative, but are you really confident that you can face all three of us at once?"

Wu Yao stared at the image from the communication crystal in a daze. He had no answer to what was happening. Was someone disguising themselves as Long Ke? That was not very likely.

Xia Ziheng spoke up in a cold tone, "Fortunately, our sect master was able to sense the location of his clone, so we’ve been keeping an eye on the Cloudforest Tower. If not for that, no one would have ever learned about your Celestial Frost Sect’s actions."

As he watched the Semi-Progenitors arguing, Xia Xing remembered how Lu Xiaoxuan had released Long Ke while visiting the Celestial Frost Sect. Once again, Xia Xing could not help but mourn the fact that Lu Xiaoxuan had become so calculating. He had enacted a scheme that not even the Celestial Frost Sect could unravel.

Wu Yao was being targeted, and Mr. Yu might attack the man at any moment. Wu Yao knew that he had no hope of escaping from Shenwu's Sky, so he suddenly pointed at the nearby Yu Hao. "I have evidence of my own that proves that Shenwu's Sky is behind everything! It’s him!"

Everyone turned to look at Yu Hao with pure confusion. Yu Hao? What did anything at all have to do with him?

The God of Food frowned and moved to stand in front of Yu Hao. "Wu Yao, what’s this nonsense you’re spouting now?"

Liu Shaoge remained perfectly calm.

Wu Yao shouted, "Yu Hao is an imposter! He is not Grandmaster Gu Yan’s apprentice, and he never was! He’s a member of Shenwu's Sky!"

Wu Yao could no longer worry about trying to recruit whoever was pretending to be Yu Hao. Regardless of who this person truly was, Wu Yao would lay everything on Shenwu’s Sky. Otherwise, he might not be able to escape with his life.