"Vanish into thin air?"
Qin Feiyang’s brows furrowed. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said, "I don’t believe people just vanish into thin air. They’re either hiding in the deep mountains to recuperate, have left the State Office, or..."
At this point, a gleam flashed in Qin Feiyang’s eyes.
Yin Yuanming pressed, "Or what?"
Qin Feiyang replied, "Or they’ve already been killed!"
"Impossible!"
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"The core members of the Dong Family essentially died at Zhao He’s hands. Those remaining are just insignificant people. Who would risk universal condemnation to kill them?" Yin Yuanming furrowed his brows.
Qin Feiyang said, "It’s not out of the question. The Lu Family is a perfect example. However, this is just a supposition that still needs verification."
Yin Yuanming studied Qin Feiyang’s expression and asked, "Are you suspecting something?"
"Nothing, just speculating wildly."
Qin Feiyang chuckled, then asked, "Has Dong Zhengyang been acting unusually lately?"
Yin Yuanming replied, "That I wouldn’t know. After all, he stays in the Inner Temple, and I can’t keep tabs on him."
Qin Feiyang nodded and smiled. "Then I’ll be going."
Yin Yuanming quickly added, "Don’t disappear for another half a year."
Qin Feiyang simply smiled, summoned a portal, and swiftly departed.
「The Inner Temple!」
At this moment, both the Elixir Fire Palace and the cultivation hall were swept up in a wave of fervent discussion.
The person being discussed was none other than Lu Xingchen!
Even though Lu Xingchen had been resurrected for half a year, the news had been deliberately suppressed by the State Master, so everyone was only finding out now.
The sensation caused by someone suddenly returning from the dead was unimaginable.
And at this moment, Lu Xingchen himself was standing in the square outside the Elixir Fire Palace, chatting with others.
Of course, those able to converse with Lu Xingchen were all the prodigies of the Inner Temple, such as Wu Yan and Xui Yang.
Simultaneously, high above the Elixir Fire Palace, two beautiful figures stood out in the crowd like cranes among chickens, their elegance unparalleled.
It was Ren Wushuang and Shen Mei.
How could he have come back to life?
The two gazed at Lu Xingchen, their eyes filled with disbelief. They had witnessed Lu Xingchen’s death with their own eyes, even seeing him killed by the State Master himself. But now, he had suddenly reappeared, alive and well before them?
Had they seen a ghost?
As if sensing their gazes, Lu Xingchen turned his head to look at them and offered a friendly smile.
"Hm?"
Ren Wushuang’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.
Even though they were just looking at each other from a distance, she felt that the current Lu Xingchen seemed somewhat different from his former self.
Shen Mei’s expression also grew complicated.
During her recent period of recuperation, she had mostly moved on from the past trauma. If nothing unexpected had happened, the name Lu Xingchen would have completely faded from her memory. But his sudden return now stirred waves in her otherwise calm heart. She didn’t know how she should interact with him now. More importantly, she didn’t know if she should still hate him.
Ren Wushuang noticed her unease, and after a moment’s thought, understood what Shen Mei must be thinking.
She patted Shen Mei on the shoulder and comforted, "It’s okay, it’s all in the past."
"Mm."
Shen Mei nodded.
But inwardly, she remained unsettled for a long time.
Lu Xingchen smiled at Ren Wushuang and Shen Mei, then turned back to continue his conversation with Wu Yan and the others.
"Brother Lu, no matter how you came back to life, it’s a joyous occasion! I’ll host a welcoming feast for you at the Drunken Dream Tower later to celebrate your return," Wu Yan laughed heartily.
"Yes, yes, Brother Lu, you mustn’t refuse!" Xu Yang nodded hurriedly.
Lu Xingchen smiled faintly. "I merely took a stroll past the gates of the underworld. There’s no need for such a grand affair."
"That’s not right," Wu Yan and Xui Yang said. "Returning from the dead is no small matter. It deserves a proper celebration!"
Lu Xingchen hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Perhaps it’s best not to. As the saying goes, ’The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old ones forward.’ If we older Disciples don’t strive harder, I’m afraid we’ll be left behind."
Wu Yan’s and Xui Yang’s gazes faltered.
The others around also fell silent, their expressions uncertain.
Even though Lu Xingchen hadn’t said it outright, they all understood that the ’new waves’ he mentioned referred to Qin Feiyang. In the past, whether in cultivation aptitude or Alchemy talent, they were the cream of the crop in the Spirit State—dazzling prodigies whom others couldn’t hope to approach. But ever since Qin Feiyang’s appearance, these so-called geniuses seemed more incompetent than fools. They had thought of obstructing and suppressing him, but their efforts were utterly ineffective. The man was simply too monstrously talented; his rise was unstoppable. Although Qin Feiyang rarely appeared in public after entering the Inner Temple, his very existence was like a colossal mountain pressing down on their hearts, almost suffocating them. This sensation made them deeply uncomfortable and furious.
A cold glint flashed in Wu Yan’s eyes. He sneered, "Brother Lu, since you were able to return from death, it shows that even Heaven is on your side. As long as you dare to step forward, we will all follow your lead."
Xui Yang nodded. "That’s right! I don’t believe that all of us together can’t defeat one Qin Feiyang!"
"Exactly!"
"Senior Brother Lu, we can’t let him continue his rampage!"
"We need to take him down a notch, show him who’s really in charge of the Inner Temple!"
The others in the crowd chimed in, their eyes glinting coldly.
Despite their encouraging words, they were clearly trying to use Lu Xingchen. They didn’t dare confront Qin Feiyang themselves, so they urged Lu Xingchen to take the lead.
But Lu Xingchen was no fool. Especially the current Lu Xingchen; even Qin Feiyang found him difficult to read, a testament to his profound shrewdness.
These flattering words sounded like a complete joke to him.
However, he neither agreed nor refused, merely maintaining a faint smile.
Wu Yan frowned. "Brother Lu, what do you mean by this? Are you afraid of him?"
Lu Xingchen shook his head without speaking.
Xui Yang said, "If you’re not afraid, then what are you hesitating for?"
Lu Xingchen sighed deeply. "It is better to resolve enmity than to prolong it. Why make such a fuss over trivial matters?"
"Trivial matters?" Wu Yan and the others stared at Lu Xingchen in disbelief. "Brother Lu, are you out of your mind? The destruction of the Lu Family was single-handedly caused by Qin Feiyang, and you call that a trivial matter?"
"If you don’t dare to act yourselves, you try to incite others. Have you no shame?"
Just then, a crisp and pleasant voice rang out from above. But the voice was not only cold but also filled with intense mockery!
"Huh?"
Wu Yan and the others frowned. Looking towards the source of the voice, their expressions immediately turned hostile.
The speaker was a woman dressed in black. Her figure was shapely, and her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. Standing in the air, she resembled an ice fairy descended to the mortal world, her garments fluttering, her beautiful face as cold as frost.
"Who are you?" Wu Yan and the others demanded. "Do you have any right to speak here?"
The woman in black said disdainfully, "I just can’t stand your conduct. If you genuinely dislike Qin Feiyang, you’re free to challenge him. Why do you have to goad Lu Xingchen?"
The faces of Wu Yan and his companions darkened.
Lu Xingchen curiously glanced at the woman in black and whispered, "Who is she? How come I’ve never seen her before?"
A Disciple nearby replied, "She’s new. I think her name is Leng Ruoshuang. She’s apparently from a small city and is a Six Star War Emperor."
Leng Ruoshuang...
Lu Xingchen mused for a moment, then smiled. "Miss Leng, you seem to have misunderstood. They aren’t goading me; they’re just joking around."
"You still defend them?" Leng Ruoshuang mocked. "Ask anyone here, who didn’t see that they intend to use you? It seems dying once has addled your wits."
However, faced with such humiliating words, Lu Xingchen merely shook his head and chuckled, not taking them to heart at all.
This surprised many, especially Ren Wushuang and Shen Mei.
But Wu Yan and his companions were thoroughly enraged.
Xui Yang bellowed, "Leng Ruoshuang, if you spout any more nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth off!"
Leng Ruoshuang touched her burning cheek, her eyes blazing with an intense, cold light!
This Xui Yang has really gone too far,
Ren Wushuang grumbled, her brow deeply furrowed.
Leng Ruoshuang didn’t say anything particularly wrong, yet he struck so cruelly. He’s not fit to be called a man,
Shen Mei thought, her expression one of disgust.
Yet Xui Yang felt immensely pleased with himself. Leng Ruoshuang had spoken up for Qin Feiyang. Even though this woman had no apparent connection to Qin Feiyang, hitting her felt like slapping Qin Feiyang in the face. However, Leng Ruoshuang’s glare made him a bit uneasy.
"What?" he sneered. "Unconvinced?" He looked down his nose at Leng Ruoshuang, his posture reeking of arrogance, as if he were the sole supreme being in all existence.
"If you’re really so capable, go act this arrogantly in front of Qin Feiyang," Leng Ruoshuang sneered. "But I doubt you have the courage."
Her words undoubtedly struck a nerve with Xui Yang.
Indeed! Although he acted arrogantly in front of others, whenever he saw Qin Feiyang, a deep-seated fear would uncontrollably well up inside him. This feeling infuriated him to the core.
His gaze darkened instantly. He took another step forward, intending to slap Leng Ruoshuang again.
"Stop!"
Just then, Ren Wushuang shouted.
"Huh?" Xui Yang frowned, his hand, poised to strike Leng Ruoshuang’s face again, froze in mid-air.
Treading air, her beautiful long hair flowing, Ren Wushuang resembled a celestial fairy descending to the mortal realm. She moved to Leng Ruoshuang’s side and said to Xui Yang, "Don’t go too far."
"’*I’m* going too far?" Xui Yang laughed in fury. "She was the one who provoked me first, and now you claim *I’m* going too far? Are you deaf or something?"
"Even if she provoked first, she wasn’t wrong," Ren Wushuang said. "If you have the guts, go directly to Qin Feiyang. What’s the point of acting so arrogantly here?"
"You...!" Xui Yang was livid.
But Ren Wushuang was not Leng Ruoshuang.
Although Ren Wushuang’s cultivation might be weaker, she was the State Master’s granddaughter. Who would dare to lay a hand on her?

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