Chapter 451 (2)
Li Changbo felt his body freeze completely.
His hand was mere inches away from grabbing the Palace Master of the Cold Water Palace, but he could no longer move at all.
"How is this possible?"
He roared internally, yet his body was as if frozen in midair. He couldn't move, not even his eyelids.
No matter how much he pushed his internal spiritual power, it was all in vain.
"I told you, in my eyes, you're nothing more than a slightly bigger ant."
At this moment, atop the inn, a cloud ladder suddenly formed in front of Lu Qing, extending into the sky above the Cold Water Palace.
Under countless astonished gazes from below, Lu Qing brought Xiao Yan with him, ascending step by step until they reached Li Changbo.
"Pretty Sister!"
Xiao Yan ran forward, the clouds beneath her feet supporting her steadily. She reached the Cold Water Palace Master and helped her up.The moment Li Changbo was immobilized, the suppressive force binding the Palace Master was already lifted. However, the severe injuries had left her too weak to move.
With Xiao Yan's support, the Palace Master managed to stand, bowing deeply to Lu Qing.
"Thank you, Supreme One, for your assistance."
Lu Qing nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
The Palace Master found nothing inappropriate about his indifference. Instead, she was completely convinced that the young man before her was the one from the legends—the one who singlehandedly slew two Golden Core Realm invaders from beyond the heavens.
He had even wiped out Xuankong Mountain, one of the most formidable sects among the Four Great Secret Realms, along with its hidden realm.
Sensing the peculiar look in her eyes, Lu Qing asked, "You know me?"
"Yes. The Cold Water Palace possesses a painting of the Supreme One," she answered truthfully, her heart tightening.
Lu Qing nodded again, unsurprised. After Tianji Tower's master visited Jiuli Village to inquire about Xuankong Mountain's disappearance, he had anticipated that the major forces would have some knowledge of him.
His gaze shifted to the immobilized Li Changbo. Upon seeing Lu Qing’s look, terror surged in Li Changbo's heart. He had heard every word of the earlier conversation.
This despicable woman actually knows this terrifying young man? Then I’m doomed!
Li Changbo wanted to beg for mercy, but under Lu Qing’s suppression, he couldn't speak or transmit messages with his soul. Even his brow acupoint was sealed off.
Ignoring Li Changbo's imploring eyes, Lu Qing said coldly, "Earlier, you spoke so righteously about your longing for your wife. Let's see if your feelings are truly as deep as you claim."
With a faint smile, Lu Qing extended a finger and gently tapped Li Changbo's brow.
Li Changbo shuddered. His eyes instantly became vacant.
"Supreme One, this is...?" the Palace Master asked hesitantly upon seeing Li Changbo's lifeless expression.
"Just a simple illusion. Watch, and you’ll understand," Lu Qing replied, waving her question away.
The Palace Master fell silent, observing closely.
Soon, Li Changbo's vacant eyes began to show a flicker of emotion—first struggle, then sheer terror.
"No! It wasn’t me! Xiaolin, I didn’t harm you!" he cried. "Your death has nothing to do with me!"
"You have to believe me. I truly loved you! I didn’t send you to steal that treasure!"
"Your death and the child’s... It wasn’t my fault!"
His terrified voice echoed, leaving the Palace Master thoughtful. She recalled that the name of the previous Saintess of the Cold Water Palace included the character "Lin." řΑ𐌽ȪBЁⱾ
Could the illusion relate to Li Changbo’s wife?
She was pondering what else Li Changbo might say when his terror turned to madness.
"That's right! From the very beginning, I planned it all!"
"When I first discovered you were the Saintess of the Cold Water Palace with treasures in your lineage, I began scheming!"
"Sure enough, you were naive, unable to distinguish truth from lies. With a little trickery, I had you marry me!"
"As for our secluded location being discovered, that was my doing! How else could I make you obediently follow my plan to resent that woman and agree to steal the treasure?"
"You idiot! Even after she annihilated your family, you remained loyal to her. If I hadn’t faked my injury, you wouldn’t have betrayed her!"
"After stealing the treasure, I deliberately leaked your location again, letting the Cold Water Palace capture you."
"The child? What child? Once I perfect my skills, countless women will bear my children if I so wish. That brat was nothing to me!"
"You wretch! You’re dead, so stay dead! Why haunt me?"
"You bastard child! Don’t call me your father; I’ll kill you!"
"Haha! I’m a Golden Core Realm cultivator now! What can your pathetic ghost do to me?"
His maniacal laughter resounded as the crowd in Cold Water City fell into horrified silence. Many could hardly believe these words came from a man once lauded for his supposed love and grief.
"I can’t believe this is the same Li Changbo I once admired for his deep love," one martial artist muttered.
"Indeed! He even named his sect ‘Everlasting Regret’ to mourn his wife and child. Yet they were victims of his treachery!"
...
Amid the storm of curses, Lu Qing withdrew his spiritual technique. Li Changbo awoke from the illusion, stunned.