Chapter 596: Tuoba Yan!

"Mr. Ling Feng, aren't you being too suspicious?" The grand elder shook his head repeatedly, unwilling to believe it. "Lay Practitioner Qingling and I have known each other for over ten years. He has no reason to harm me."

"He may not, but that doesn't mean others don't."

Ling Feng raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Tuoba Cheng once told me that the Tiance Clan is divided into two factions. Elder Hei Yu from the other faction has likely long desired to eliminate the grand elder. If Lay Practitioner Qingling has colluded with Elder Hei Yu..."

"Impossible!" The grand elder firmly denied it. "Hei Yu has always disliked outsiders. Even though Lay Practitioner Qingling has stayed on Wangduan Mountain for twenty years, he's still considered an outsider."

"Nothing is impossible. I've said what needs to be said." Ling Feng continued indifferently, "Grand Elder, you should continue feigning illness. Whether or not Lay Practitioner Qingling harbors ill intentions, it will be revealed soon enough."

"

Sigh...

" The grand elder let out a soft sigh, his expression turning somber. "In truth, whether it's me or Hei Yu, our ultimate goal is simply to preserve the teachings of the Tiance Clan. It's unfortunate that we cannot reach a consensus when it comes to opening the imperial tomb."

"Elder Hei Yu is narrow-minded! Our ancestors left behind a prophecy, yet he insists on defying the heavens!" Tuoba Cheng clenched his fists, his voice filled with resentment.

"Hei Yu has always been stubborn. It's not entirely unreasonable that he doesn't want to see the ancestors' teachings fall into the hands of outsiders," The grand elder said in a heavy tone. "Now that you’ve has brought Mr. Ling Feng back, I fear that Hei Yu will not let this go so easily."

"Even if he's unwilling, it won't change anything!" Tuoba Cheng gritted his teeth. "The timing of our return couldn't be better. In three days, it will be the ancestral ceremony. Once my master opens the imperial tomb, Elder Hei Yu won't be able to cause any trouble!"

"Master?" The grand elder looked slightly surprised. "Tuoba Cheng, have you already taken Mr. Ling Feng as your master?"

"No, no, it's just a joke." Ling Feng quickly denied it.

"What joke? Master, I lost to you in a gambling match, and I swore to wholeheartedly acknowledge you as my master!" Tuoba Cheng declared with determination. "Whether or not you accept, in my heart, you're already my master!"

"..."

Ling Feng felt a headache coming on. There was no getting rid of this persistent guy.

"You rascal!" The grand elder chuckled and shook his head. "Mr. Ling Feng, once Tuoba Cheng sets his mind on something, it's hard to change. Despite your young age, your character and wisdom are more than enough to be his master."

"See, Master? Even the grand elder agrees!" Tuoba Cheng grinned.

"..." Ling Feng remained speechless.

"

Oh,

right!"

Suddenly, Tuoba Cheng seemed to remember something. He leaned in close to the grand elder and whispered a few words. The grand elder's pupils shrank sharply, and he looked at Ling Feng with shock before bowing down reverently in front of him, saying, "I, Tuoba Ce, pay my respects to the Tiance Sacred Master!"

"

Huh?

"

Ling Feng was taken aback, completely confused.

When did I become the Tiance Sacred Master?

...

Meanwhile, in the west city region of Wangduan Mountain, within the territory overseen by Elder Hei Yu.

Inside a grand and majestic hall, a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe sat cross-legged. Suspended beside him was a black lantern, flickering with eerie light. Inscriptions circled around him, seemingly resonating with some profound principles of the Great Dao. They were mysterious and unfathomable.

This black lantern was a unique weapon of the Tiance Clan, known as the Tianheng Mystic Wheel. With it, one could calculate heavenly secrets and predict the future. It was also a powerful tool for the Tiance Clan to perform their secret arts. The wheel's color varied with different attributes, corresponding to the true qi attributes of the five elements, the three mysteries, and other rare special attributes.

For instance, Elder Hei Yu's Tianheng Mystic Wheel was black, indicating the rare dark attribute.

"Master, there's a report from the City Patrol Department!"

At that moment, a knocking sound came from the door, but before Elder Hei Yu could respond, the person outside entered.

Elder Hei Yu opened his eyes slightly to see a young girl, around seventeen years old, dressed in a green gauze dress. Her bright eyes and white teeth, along with her eyebrows like distant mountains, gave her an icy and distant aura..

"Yan'er."

Elder Hei Yu slowly withdrew his energy. The black inscriptions around the Tianheng Mystic Wheel merged into his body, and the wheel itself dimmed before being absorbed into his spatial magical treasure.

"Master, the City Patrol Department reports that Tuoba Cheng, the Grand Elder's confidant, has returned."

Tuoba Yan's expression remained indifferent and as cold as eternal ice, showing no emotion.

Her physique was that of the extremely rare Yin Body, which naturally made her quiet and reserved. After Elder Hei Yu discovered her talent, he took her as a disciple and personally taught her martial arts.

"Tuoba Cheng has returned!"

A cold glint flashed in Elder Hei Yu's eyes, and he said coldly, "Does that mean he has found the prophesied one?"

"The City Patrol Department only reported that Tuoba Cheng brought back a young man and a black donkey. However, Tuoba Longchuan intercepted them first. They couldn't intervene, nor did they dare to get too close, so they couldn't gather more valuable information," Tuoba Yan replied calmly.

"A young man,

hmm...

"

Elder Hei Yu snorted softly and said, "It seems highly likely that this young man is the prophesied one. And he returned at such a critical moment? How interesting!"

Tuoba Yan's expression remained unchanged as she replied, "I can go and kill him."

"Don't worry, this person is still useful for the time being." Elder Hei Yu stroked the small mustache on his lips and said wickedly, "I've already placed a mole near that old fool, Tuoba Ce, the Grand Elder. No matter how hard he tries, the prophesied one will end up serving my plans in the end!"

At that moment, a five-colored luminous barrier suddenly flickered on a bronze mirror in the hall. Soon, the face of Lay Practitioner Qingling appeared clearly on the screen.

"Li Qingling, didn't I tell you not to contact me through the Elemental Light Mirror unless it's important?"

Elder Hei Yu walked up to the bronze mirror while speaking coldly.

"Elder Hei Yu, since I've contacted you, it must be something important!" Lay Practitioner Qingling squinted and smiled. "I believe it's something that will greatly interest you."

"

Oh?

Speak." Elder Hei Yu stood with his hands behind his back, speaking indifferently.

"The Grand Elder has found the prophesied one. His name is Ling Feng!"

"I've known about this for some time," Elder Hei Yu said coldly, his gaze sharp as he stared through the Elemental Light Mirror at Lay Practitioner Qingling. "Li Qingling, I partnered with you hoping you'd provide valuable information and eliminate Tuoba Ce before the ancestral ceremony. But you've done nothing but delay, you useless fool!"

"Calm down, Elder Hei Yu!"

Lay Practitioner Qingling then cursed silently, “

You old fox, it's easy for you to talk when you're not the one taking risks!”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Lay Practitioner Qingling smiled faintly and said, "There's something else that I'm sure you don't know yet!"

Elder Hei Yu's eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Lay Practitioner Qingling. He said slowly, "What is it? Speak!"