“Such a mystery-monger,” Hong Ziling snorted lightly.
“Senior brother, should I prepare the info on your opponents for the upcoming competition?” Jiang Changsheng asked from the side.
“The heirs of Nine Heavens are no simple opponents. To stand out among thousands and become an heir, they must be capable.”
“Makes no difference. I’m leaving here after the Nine Heavens Grand Gathering anyway,” Xu Zimo replied.
After returning to Grand Heaven Mountain, Lin Feng was immediately taken for treatment. Hong Ziling was given her own residence.
As for Jiu You, since she was Xu Zimo’s maid, she stayed in the same courtyard as him.
Xu Zimo had just returned to the courtyard and hadn’t rested long when Lin Beisheng sent a disciple to summon him.
Xu Zimo didn’t hurry. He took a bath and changed into a new white robe.
Looking into the mirror, it was the first time since arriving in this world that he truly examined his previous self’s appearance.
Not bad, he had a bit of a handsome pretty-boy look.
A high nose bridge, messy hair slightly tousled at the top, and especially after tempering his body, his eyes now sparkled with spirit.
He made his way to the summit of Grand Heaven Mountain, where his father Lin Beisheng and a few elders were gathered.
“Father, didn’t you attend Elder Mu’s banquet?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
“With your grandfather there, I didn’t need to get involved,” Lin Beisheng replied.
He looked Xu Zimo up and down and then asked seriously, “Speak.”
“About what?” Xu Zimo asked, puzzled.
“Your brother,” Lin Beisheng said.
“What about him?” Xu Zimo frowned.
“I just saw him. He said you exposed the Heavenly Lotus, which caused him to be hunted,” Lin Beisheng said.
“There were so many people there. You could’ve asked anyone,” Xu Zimo replied. “We agreed to split up and run, but he followed me instead, clearly trying to use me as bait. I didn’t even say anything, and now he accuses me.”
“You’re brothers. There’s no need to fall out over a small issue,” Lin Beisheng said, clearly troubled.
“Then you should ask my good brother,” Xu Zimo smiled.
Then he took a box from his storage ring and placed it in front of Lin Beisheng.
“Father, this is a gift I prepared for him. Please give it to him for me, just say it’s my apology. Let him see it. Don’t peek.”
“Very well. I’m glad you’re willing to show this gesture,” Lin Beisheng smiled.
Watching Xu Zimo leave, Lin Beisheng carried the wooden box to Lin Feng’s residence.
Upon entering the room, he saw shattered vases all over the floor and a trembling maid nearby.
“Leave us,” Lin Beisheng frowned and waved the maid off.
“Father, I lost my composure,” Lin Feng lay in bed, trying to compose himself.
“Still upset about your brother?” Lin Beisheng asked with a smile.
“How could I dare be mad at him? You love him so much,” Lin Feng said coldly.
“I admit, I’ve paid more attention to your brother these years. But you know his situation. He couldn’t cultivate since childhood. He’s endured far more ridicule and pressure than you. You’re the heir, it’s different for you.”
Lin Beisheng sat by the bed and spoke earnestly.
“Your brother is not inconsiderate. He didn’t want to face you directly, so he asked me to give you a gift.”
“What gift?” Lin Feng frowned.
“Open it and see,” Lin Beisheng said with a smile, handing over the wooden box.
“He specifically told me not to peek. Take a look.”
Half skeptical, Lin Feng opened the box, and the moment he did, his eyes widened, and his hands began to tremble, unclear if from rage or fear.
Inside the box was a severed head. Though the head had been dead for some time, its face was still recognizable.
“It’s Yang Cheng,” Lin Feng’s heart skipped a beat.
That night, he had sent Yang Cheng to assassinate Xu Zimo, planning to frame the incident as a relapse of Xu Zimo’s old injuries.
He had already grown suspicious when Yang Cheng disappeared. But now, Yang Cheng had clearly been killed.
Countless thoughts surged through Lin Feng’s mind. Suddenly, he realized, he could no longer see through his younger brother.
“How could this be?” Even Lin Beisheng was stunned, taking the box with a frown.
“This is a warning, Father. He must have done it!” Lin Feng shouted.
“He knows Yang Cheng was my man. He wants to kill me.”
“Rest well. I’ll handle this,” Lin Beisheng said, then turned and left the room.
……
Meanwhile, Xu Zimo had returned to his courtyard.
The severed head wasn’t just a warning to Lin Feng, it was a reminder to Lin Beisheng as well.
Between him and Lin Feng, one had to die.
The scorching summer sun baked the earth like a giant fireball overhead.
Despite the heat, Nine Heavens Imperial Sect was still bustling with excitement.
Xu Zimo didn’t care much. Word had it that the second elder from the main sect, Qin Hansheng, had also arrived. The nine mountains had gone to greet him.
Xu Zimo had always believed that having powerful backers was fine, but real strength comes from oneself.
As for Nine Heavens Imperial Sect’s current state, only one phrase described it: barely hanging on.
No backbone. No desire to become strong. Just daydreams of miracles from the main sect.
He found a shady spot under a large tree in his courtyard and set up a reclining chair to rest.
Jiu You had just finished bathing. Her long, wet black hair draped over her shoulders as she sat quietly in a nearby pavilion.
“When do you plan to visit the God Race’s ruins?” Jiu You asked.
“When I finish my business, I’ll go,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile.
“You should give a time at least,” Jiu You said.
“No set time. I’ll go eventually. If you can’t wait, feel free to leave, I won’t stop you,” Xu Zimo said.
Jiu You snorted coldly and asked no further questions.
Lying on the chair with eyes closed, Xu Zimo’s consciousness entered the God World.
In the God World, within the Myriad Beast Realm.
The ancient nine God Beasts were still recovering their strength. The Dragon Race continued to grow larger.
Chaos was managing the Myriad Beast Race. The entire world ran smoothly.
During the spatial storm earlier, the Void Spirit Monkey had hidden inside the Great Sage Body, and Xu Zimo had also thrown that body into his True Fate World in a rush.
Now, he had entered to find the Great Sage Body.
He waved his right hand, and his figure gradually disappeared into the void, appearing in the Heavenly Dao itself.
“Eye of the Heavenly Dao, help me locate the Great Sage Body,” Xu Zimo said calmly.