Mingyue gently held the Sky Puppet Spirit Token, and spiritual light instantly converged, dazzling like stars.
Immediately after, Dragon Guard Puppets, as if summoned by an invisible force, flew in from all directions and disappeared into the Sky Puppet Spirit Token, including the two substitute Puppets.
After completing all of this, Mingyue flew up and landed in front of the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's corpse, packing away the massive Fire Kirin corpse along with his scattered spoils of war.
The next moment, Mingyue looked back at the Wanbao Pavilion crowd, smiled mysteriously, then her figure flickered and vanished from the spot.
Wan Ziliang stood rooted to the spot, unable to recover for a long time, his heart a mix of emotions: relief that the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord, a major hidden danger, had been eliminated, temporarily freeing Wanbao Pavilion from crisis; but also deep apprehension, as Fellow Daoist Mu's terrifying strength sent shivers down his spine—if he harbored ill intentions towards Wanbao Pavilion, no one would likely be able to stop him.
The Guest Elders beside him exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
Such powerful Puppets, such a terrifying sword Formation; the combination of the two could so easily slay a Great Ascension Immortal Lord—such methods were simply unbelievable!
"This Fellow Daoist Mu is truly terrifying, where did he come from?" one Elder couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"I've never seen such a powerful Puppet Master, truly amazing!" another Elder exclaimed.
"Indeed! This person appeared out of nowhere, his origins a mystery."
...
The Guest Elders looked at each other, and with their experience and knowledge, not a single one could explain Fellow Daoist Mu's origins.
This mysterious strong Cultivator seemed to have appeared out of thin air, his strength unfathomable, and his methods unheard of.
Wan Ziliang shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Lady Mingyue has already made it very clear that Fellow Daoist Mu's identity is not for us to inquire about.
Today's events, we'd best pretend nothing happened, otherwise..."
He didn't continue, but everyone understood his meaning.
Fellow Daoist Mu's strength was unfathomable, and being too talkative might invite unnecessary trouble.
At this moment, Elder Qin thought of something and sighed worriedly, "Pavilion Master, although today's events were dangerous, they can be considered a blessing in disguise.
However, with the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death, the Immortal Spirit Realm will certainly not let it go.
If the other Immortal Lords pursue this, we may not be able to withstand their wrath."
Upon hearing this, Wan Ziliang's brows furrowed, and his mood became exceptionally heavy.
The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord was renowned in the Immortal Spirit Realm, a top-tier strong Cultivator of the Qilin clan, with immense backing.
Now that he had fallen here, the Immortal Spirit Realm would certainly not let the matter rest easily.
"Elder Qin is absolutely right."
Wan Ziliang pondered for a long time, then sighed helplessly and said in a deep voice, "The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death will inevitably cause a stir in the Immortal Spirit Realm.
We must be prepared, otherwise, Wanbao Pavilion might fall into eternal perdition."
Elder Qin frowned, looked at Wan Ziliang, and suggested, "Pavilion Master, should we immediately report this matter to the Immortal Spirit Realm?
Perhaps proactively explaining the situation might buy us some room to maneuver."
Upon hearing this, Wan Ziliang pondered for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly.
This time, the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord had learned of their transaction for the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Cauldron' Artifact Refining diagram and came for it; actively confessing would be akin to delivering goods to their doorstep… Furthermore, this Fellow Daoist Mu's origins were mysterious…
"Report?
How do we report?
Are we to tell them that the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord was slain by a mysterious strong Cultivator whose origins we don't even know?
Will the people of the Immortal Spirit Realm believe us?
Even if they do, they might think we colluded with that Fellow Daoist Mu, and then our situation will only become more dangerous."
Wan Ziliang sighed heavily and said with a bitter smile.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Indeed, the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death was too bizarre; the people of the Immortal Spirit Realm would never easily believe their explanation.
Moreover, Fellow Daoist Mu's strength was so terrifying that the people of the Immortal Spirit Realm might also be wary of him, and could even vent their anger on Wanbao Pavilion.
"That's right!
If we knew this Fellow Daoist Mu's identity, it would be fine, but we know nothing about his origins, and even his name might be fake."
Elder Qin sighed, his tone full of helplessness.
Wan Ziliang pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Everyone, this Fellow Daoist Mu is exceptionally mysterious, preferring to use Puppets rather than reveal his identity.
Could it be that some reason prevents him from appearing before others?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Qin's expression suddenly tightened, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He whispered, "Pavilion Master, everyone, do you still remember… that Li Jianxian who was jointly wanted by the Immortal Spirit Realm and the Demon Abyss World?"
"Li Jianxian?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, then their expressions changed dramatically.
Wan Ziliang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Elder Qin, are you saying… that peerless strong Cultivator known for cultivating the Chaotic Great Dao, proficient in Artifact Refining, Formations, and sword Formations, who could even fight against several Mahayana Cultivators by himself, and was hunted down by Demon Gods and Immortal Emperors?"
Elder Qin nodded, his expression solemn, "Precisely that Li Jianxian!
It is said that not only is his sword Dao unparalleled, but he is also skilled in Artifact Refining and Formations.
And today, the Puppets Fellow Daoist Mu commanded, whether it was the Dao armor on their bodies or the Dao swords in their hands, were all extraordinary, and the sword Formation he set up was also extremely extraordinary.
This… could it just be a coincidence?"
Another Elder's face changed drastically upon hearing this, and he whispered, "Elder Qin's meaning is… this Fellow Daoist Mu might be related to Li Jianxian?
Or even… could he be Li Jianxian himself?"
Elder Qin shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I dare not say for certain.
But Li Jianxian has been wanted by the Immortal Spirit Realm and the Demon Abyss World for hundreds of years, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
With his methods, changing his appearance and hiding his identity would not be difficult.
Moreover, the methods Fellow Daoist Mu displayed, the numerous Dao swords and Dao armor used by the Puppets, and the sword Formation, are all very similar to the legends of Li Jianxian."
Upon hearing this, a complex look flashed in Wan Ziliang's eyes, and he whispered, "If that's truly the case, then this Fellow Daoist Mu's identity is probably even more terrifying than we imagined.
Li Jianxian has been wanted by two top-tier forces for so long without any further news, and his prestige still circulates throughout the Three Realms.
If he has truly been secretly plotting, then today's events might just be one part of his plan."
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts were stirred with tumultuous waves.
If Fellow Daoist Mu was truly Li Jianxian, then his appearance was probably not just to slay the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord, but had a deeper purpose.
Just then, an Elder suddenly asked in a low voice, "But, is Li Jianxian also proficient in Puppet arts?
Could it be a mistake?"
"It shouldn't be wrong.
Previously, that Puppet that came to our Pavilion for a transaction easily escaped from our Pavilion's Nine Locks Spirit Sealing Formation in a very short time!
Besides Li Jianxian's methods, who else could it be?"
Elder Qin remembered something and said with certainty.
Wan Ziliang listened to Elder Qin's words, his brows furrowing even deeper, and said bitterly, "If it's really Li Jianxian, then things are even more complicated.
Li Jianxian is jointly wanted by the Immortal Spirit Realm and the Demon Abyss World.
If his identity is exposed, the entire Wanbao Pavilion might be drawn into this storm.
By then, we will face not only the wrath of the Immortal Spirit Realm, but the Demon Gods of the Demon Abyss World will probably not let us off either."
At this point, Wan Ziliang sighed deeply.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel some regret, regretting dealing with Fellow Daoist Mu and coveting the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Cauldron' Artifact Refining diagram, as it could potentially cost him his life.
"The Pavilion Master is absolutely right.
Li Jianxian's identity is too sensitive; if it's leaked, it will surely bring about a catastrophic disaster.
In my opinion, regarding today's matter, we'd best stop here and not delve further into Fellow Daoist Mu's identity."
Elder Qin agreed.
Another Elder also echoed, "Elder Qin is right.
Since Fellow Daoist Mu doesn't wish to expose his identity, we don't need to speculate too much.
The most important thing now is how to deal with the Immortal Spirit Realm's accusations.
The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death will surely incur the Immortal Spirit Realm's wrath; we must quickly come up with a countermeasure."
Wan Ziliang took a deep breath and slowly nodded, "You all make sense.
Fellow Daoist Mu's identity aside for now, the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death is the urgent matter at hand.
The Immortal Spirit Realm will not let this go easily and will send people to investigate…"
Wan Ziliang paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and instructed, "He said in a deep voice, 'Everyone, there's no time to lose.
Quickly clear the battlefield and ensure no traces are left.
Also, the news of the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death is to be temporarily sealed and not spread.
If the people of the Immortal Spirit Realm ask, just say that the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord left after a battle with someone here, and as for his whereabouts, we know nothing.'"
Elder Qin frowned, "Pavilion Master, this probably won't last long.
The Immortal Spirit clan's methods are extraordinary; they will sooner or later find out the truth of the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's demise…"
Wan Ziliang gave a bitter smile, "We'll hide it for as long as we can.
At least, we can't let them immediately make trouble before we find a countermeasure."
Upon hearing this, everyone's brows furrowed, and they fell silent.
They knew in their hearts that the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death had pushed Wanbao Pavilion to the forefront of the storm; even a slight misstep or mishandling would lead to their eternal perdition.
...
While everyone was discussing countermeasures, Mingyue had already returned to the Spirit Valley, appearing in a courtyard within the Spirit Valley, where Li Mu stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly having been waiting for her.
"Master, the matter has been handled."
Mingyue stepped forward and respectfully handed two storage rings to Li Mu.
"Mm!"
You've worked hard."
Li Mu smiled and nodded, taking the storage rings.
His Divine Sense swept through them, confirming the numerous high-grade spiritual objects and the spoils of war from the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's demise.
At this moment, Li Mu's Divine Thought, like an invisible large hand, still covered a radius of several hundred miles.
Every move of Wan Ziliang and the others, even the content of their whispered discussions, clearly appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.
Li Mu couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise that they could guess his identity so quickly, but he merely smiled faintly and didn't take it to heart.
These people from Wanbao Pavilion were merely small pawns in this game of chess; their worries and schemes held little significance to him.
"Mingyue, let's go!" Li Mu said with a smile, looking at Mingyue.
This transaction allowed Li Mu to gather all the high-grade spiritual materials needed to refine the Seven Absolutes Dao Pill, and also quite a few items that could be used to set up sealing Formations to seal the remaining nine-rank divine objects, so there was no need to stay near Tianyuan City anymore.
Mingyue nodded, immediately composed herself, and respectfully nodded, "Yes, Master."
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Mu waved his hand, taking Mingyue into the Painting World Treasure Mansion.
Then, he casually put away his portable dwelling Magic Treasure—the four directions house.
The unique four-courtyard mansion standing in the center of the Spirit Valley suddenly floated, then shrunk at a visible speed, finally transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into Li Mu's sleeve.
The Spirit Valley instantly became empty, as if that courtyard had never existed.
The next moment, Li Mu's figure vanished from the spot like a phantom, as if he had never appeared.
Before long, a fifth-rank demonic beast—a White Feather Spirit Eagle—flapped its wings fiercely and swiftly flew out of the Spirit Valley, streaking towards the southeast.
A touch of emerald green on the White Feather Spirit Eagle's neck—inside the Painting World Treasure Mansion, a Grotto-heaven Treasure, within the Alchemy room of the Five Elements Spirit Palace, Li Mu plunged into it, beginning his closed-door Alchemy, dedicating himself to the refinement of the Seven Absolutes Dao Pill.
Outside the Spirit Realm, on Yanling Star, Celestial Phoenix Emperor Palace.
The Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor sat on the throne in the main hall of the Emperor Palace, surrounded by faint immortal light, exuding immense majesty.
Her face was stern, and her brows held a sharp killing intent.
Below the main hall, several Immortal Lords knelt trembling on the ground, not daring to look up.
"The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's Immortal Lord token shattered?"
The Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's voice was as cold as frost, as if it had frozen the air in the entire hall, and the Immortal Officials present dared not respond.
"Reporting to Immortal Emperor, that is indeed the case."
An Immortal Official looked up cautiously at the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor and confirmed, "The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's token suddenly shattered not long ago, and its spiritual light completely vanished, indicating that he has fallen."
A cold glint flashed in the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's eyes, and her fingers gently tapped the armrest of the throne, making a low sound.
The Fire Kirin Immortal Lord was a top-tier strong Cultivator of the Qilin clan and one of the important pillars of the Immortal Spirit Realm.
His demise not only meant that the Immortal Spirit Realm had lost a Great Ascension Immortal Lord, but also that there were still many people in the Spirit Realm who dared to openly challenge the authority of the Immortal Spirit Realm.
"Was it a Demon God from the Demon Abyss?" the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor asked sharply, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Reporting to Emperor Lord."
The Immortal Official bravely replied, "According to the intelligence we have gathered so far, the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord seems to have engaged in a battle with someone in a hidden place.
The opponent was not one of the Demon Gods from the Demon Abyss, but… an unidentifiable Cultivator."
"An unidentifiable Cultivator?"
The Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's brows furrowed, her expression showing clear displeasure, and she questioned, "A Cultivator capable of slaying a Great Ascension Immortal Lord is certainly no ordinary person.
Have you ascertained his origins?"
"Not yet confirmed."
The Immortal Official lowered his head, responding with a slight tremor.
"Investigate!
Immediately find out who killed the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord!" the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor ordered coldly, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Yes!"
Several Immortal Officials quickly responded and swiftly withdrew, mobilizing their subordinates to fully investigate the cause of the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's death.
The Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's gaze penetrated the dome of the main hall, as if it pierced through the endless Void Realm, falling upon a distant place.
She felt a faint unease in her heart; she knew the Fire Kirin Immortal Lord's strength all too well, and anyone capable of slaying him was certainly no ordinary person.
(End of Chapter)
