Chapter 23

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Chapter 23: Is This Also Part of Your Plan?

Marquis Wu’an’s voice was soft, but the horror on his face made it impossible for anyone nearby not to notice.

“Conspiracy, it’s all Bai Lian’s conspiracy!”

His words quickly spread through the crowd. One person overheard, then passed it on to another, and soon the entire area was buzzing with whispers.

Conspiracy?

Got it!

While the dull-witted were still puzzling over it, the “wise ones” were already having their epiphanies.

“So that’s how it is.”

They recalled Bai Lian’s calm demeanor just moments ago.

She had stood there quietly, as if watching the world from a rooftop, untouched by the chaos around her. At first, they had thought Bai Lian was dismissive of Kite. “How could she, a mere mortal, stand against a being who borrowed the power of the Immortal Emperor?” they had wondered. But now, those thoughts seemed naïve.

Power?

Yes, Bai Lian possessed immense power. But the true danger lay in her unmatched combination of strength and intellect.

Tao Huai and Kite had both fallen victim to her perfect blend of force and strategy. They had thought they were in control, but they were merely standing at the edge of a cliff, oblivious.

When they charged toward her in their excitement, they were horrified to realize they had miscalculated. Their next step led them straight into an abyss.

Surprised?

As they gazed at Bai Lian’s serene back, standing so confidently in the midst of the chaos, they couldn’t help but feel awe. What seemed like a conspiracy now looked like sheer brilliance.

“Great wisdom,” they murmured.

No wonder she was known as White Emperor Bai Lian. The realization hit: she was more than just a formidable force—she was a master strategist.

Marquis Wu’an, whose familiarity with Bai Lian’s movements gave him insight into her plans, was deep in thought.

When Bai Lian first made her move, he had been confused. But now, everything clicked.

“She showed up intentionally to distract us, to cover her true intentions at Canglong Garden.”

It seemed so obvious now. His mind raced. Could it be? Was Bai Lian playing a much bigger game, treating the entire East Divine Land as a chessboard? If so, then they—he—were mere pieces in her grand design.

The thought filled him with fear. Could she have planned her descent from the Immortal World? And was her presence in the East Divine Land part of that larger plan?

Marquis Wu’an shuddered at the idea. Such cunning, such wisdom—could anyone, even an Immortal Emperor, truly control everything so perfectly?

His thoughts raced further.

“Is there something in the East Divine Land that even Immortal Emperors desire?”

Suddenly, a chilling realization hit him. Bai Lian had likely noticed his possession of the Blood of the Black Dragon.

A cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He wasn’t afraid of Bai Lian—at least, not until now. Once the Gate of All Living Beings was refined, he and Xu Pan would be strong enough to kill immortals.

But Bai Lian, though powerful, was currently limited by her position in the lower realm. So long as she was unaware of their plans, they could proceed unchecked.

But what if she did know? What if she took the Blood of the Black Dragon?

No, he thought. He couldn’t let that happen. He could only pray that Bai Lian hadn’t discovered their secret.

At that moment, Bai Lian, still standing tall, shifted from her calm composure to something darker. Just moments before, she had been delivering her final words to Kite. Now, suddenly, a stranger appeared, kicking him to the ground.

“You…”

Bai Lian looked down at Kite, who was half-dragon, half-man. His body was a horrific sight—split down the middle, his tail severed in two. He was still alive, but barely, his condition worsening with every passing second.

“Ha ha ha…” Kite’s laughter was bitter, empty. No longer did he exude the confidence from before. Now, his laugh was filled with despair.

In his mind, everything had become clear. His downfall—his defeat—had all been part of Bai Lian’s plan. She had manipulated him, used him as a pawn.

The Blood of the Black Dragon… that was what had done this. The resentment within it had been magnified by his own emotions. Even now, he couldn’t stop the negative feelings from consuming him.

“The world is so unfair!” he thought bitterly, blood trailing from his lips. His eyes desperately sought Bai Lian’s form. He wanted to keep her image with him forever.

Just as Bai Lian prepared to deliver the killing blow with the Dirt Free Sword, she paused. Something stirred within her.

The Fourth Martial Sister, lying behind her, reached out and gently caressed Bai Lian’s back.

Bai Lian’s mind cleared. The meaning of the Fourth Martial Sister’s gesture was unmistakable: this was her battle.

A new task appeared before Bai Lian’s eyes.

[Task 1: Use the Dirt Free Sword to kill Kite (Reward: Iron Skull True Scripture)]

[Task 2: Use Yu Ying Sword to kill Kite (Reward: Your cultivation base can break through to the peak of the Soul Changing Stage after that)]

Ah?

Bai Lian blinked, confused. Could she really choose? After a moment’s thought, she made her decision. Without hesitation, she inserted the Dirt Free Sword into her chest and then lifted the Fourth Martial Sister into her arms.

“This is your war.”

With a sharp motion, Bai Lian thrust the sword into Kite’s chest.

At that exact moment, a woman who had been watching from the sidelines gasped.

“White Emperor Bai Lian?”

The woman had heard the name before, but only Immortal Emperors were granted the title “Emperor.”

The scene unfolding before her eyes was nothing like she had anticipated.

And then…

The sword in Bai Lian’s hands transformed into blinding light. The moment it touched Kite’s body, the light surged like a tidal wave, engulfing both of them.

The entire Canglong Garden was soon cloaked in this searing light, and a deep, ancient fear emanated from the depths of the Sansheng Stele.

The stranger, feeling the immense pressure, could barely stand.

“The Original Dragon… this is the breath of the Original Dragon!”

Her expression shifted drastically. The smile on her face vanished.

The world around Bai Lian transformed. She found herself in a desolate, sepia-toned landscape, surrounded by ominous clouds. Before her stood Kite, transformed by the Dragon’s Resentment.

But Bai Lian quickly understood—it wasn’t truly Kite. This was the manifestation of the Dragon’s Resentment, temporarily taking his form.

The Dragon’s Resentment had been suppressed within the fragment of the Sansheng Stele.

This… this was a test.

If the Fourth Martial Sister could defeat the Dragon’s Resentment, she would gain the heritage of the Sansheng Stele.

Without hesitation, Bai Lian rushed toward the manifestation of the Dragon’s Resentment, carrying the Fourth Martial Sister with her.

Outside the realm, Kite, who had been barely alive after his encounter with the Yu Ying Sword, suddenly jerked awake. His confusion turned to realization.

“I understand now… Bai Lian… you really are ruthless.”

With a laugh tinged with regret, Kite spat out a mouthful of blood.

And then, he collapsed—dead before he could even close his eyes.

The stranger woman could only stare, speechless.

Marquis Wu’an, seeing the aftermath of the battle, pressed his forehead, realizing just how much he had underestimated Bai Lian. He began to regret his earlier thoughts.

Why would someone like her become the enemy of Heluo Country?