Chapter 1036: Mastermind

"Sister Xue, don't do it! Give him another chance..."

"Shut up! I've given him plenty of chances, which is why so many innocents are now dead. That foul demon has to be put down now, before he brings about an even greater disaster!

"Sister Xue, it's really not him, but the one under him..."

"Who acted in his stead!"

Murong Xue and Shangguan Qingyan were fighting while walking for Sea Bright Sect's Main Hall. Shangguan Qingyan pleaded while Murong Xue would always throw her reasons aside, flaring in anger, "He is a plague. His end will settle everything. You've been infatuated with him and can't see him for who he is. You even had me go along with this charade. But there's no point talking about this. I shall do the world this favor, for the greater good!"

She shrugged Shangguan Qingyan's hand off and stormed into the Main Hall. Shangguan Qingyan was looking erratic as she followed after her.

They, however, were left speechless as they came in, no longer saying a word.

The mood was tense and heavy. The thick air was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

There was not a single sound, not even from a random animal...

Sect Leader Ling Yuntian had a dark look on his face, his usual smile no longer seen. Ouyang Lingtian, Murong Lie and Exalted Double Dragon and many others were tense too.

Before them were four elders, stricken with guilt and lowered heads in shame. On the ground were the two disciples that worked with Bali Yuyu in passing the report.

They were brought in under suspicion of being spies.

Murong Lie looked confused at the heavy mood, no longer thinking of reporting Zhuo Fan and instead whispering to Murong Lie, "Uh, brother, what happened? Why..."

"A true disaster."

Murong Lie sighed, actually looking mournful, "Xue'er, you sensed it too, the third explosion came from the sect barrier..."

"Yeah, I did. Did someone get in?"

"On the contrary, someone got out. They took the northern lands' Heaven Sealing Sword as well..." Murong Lie shuddered and his sigh was longer.

Murong Xue's eyes widened and cried out, "The Heaven Sealing Divine Sword's gone? How?"

"Yes, it's gone, that's the only reason why the strongest barrier in the lands could break." Murong Lie felt utterly powerless then. His hand flashed and revealed a golden longsword traced by golden flames, "That means we only have the Decimating Sword as the only weapon against Invincible Sword. We now have no hope at all."

Everyone lowered their heads, feeling the heavy loss.

Shangguan Feixiong glanced at the heavy toothpick Soaring Sword had become with gnashed teeth. Exalted Double Dragons looked at each other in guilt.

They might've had a chance against Invincible Sword now, if they hadn't let Danqing Shen run off with the Vaulting Sword. They could only blame themselves for being soft on their disciple.

Though no one knew that the disciple did not have it. This issue led to Exalted Double Dragons and Danqing Shen coming to a huge misunderstanding, courtesy of Zhuo Fan.

"Sect Leader, it's our fault we let Frigid Rain Sword King take the sword. Sect Leader, we will accept any punishment you'd inflict upon us without remorse."

Looking at their dark faces the Four Snow Peak Elders' guilt only grew, to the point they even gave a deep bow with tears on their faces, "For any damage that our neglect has caused the sect, we deserve nothing less than execution!"

Ling Yuntian returned the bow and helped them up, not blaming them in the least, "Venerables, you've always held yourself with responsibility and diligence. Everyone in the sect knows this. It's all the thief's fault for using such a loud distraction to hide the truth while bringing false reports. Anyone would've fallen for it in such desperate moments. The more one is loyal to the sect, the easier it is for them to believe such treachery. Venerables, there's no need to blame yourselves."

"I have looked into these two disciples and they're not traitors, ending up controlled with a bewitching demonic art."

Exalted Hei Ran's brow shook, "The bewitching art isn't some incredible skill, for strong experts would not usually fall for such guile. And even if it worked, the target would end up dull-minded and easy to spot. To pull off such a trick on four peak Genesis experts shows how daring the user was, and skilled."

Exalted Bai Mei sighed, "It's not just daring, but calculative. The skill is minor, easily seen through, yet highly effective in the created circumstance. Repeated confirmation makes it believable. Once they took it as real, they were tricked. Then it was just a matter of pouncing with utmost speed at the right moment to get the elders on the wrong foot and steal the sword."

The others nodded and sighed.

"I've heard that the Nine Sword Kings are beyond strong, and that includes Frigid Rain Sword King. I just can't believe one woman can be so vile and of such twisted cunningness. She's a true master in strength and mind!"

Ling Yuntian eased a long breath, "Invincible Sword has yet to come and one woman Sword King had us running around in panic. Then when we face Invincible Sword, how will we fight back?"

"Right, what will we do..."

"Who says there's anything we can do..."

Everyone was wrought with worry, looking bleak and downcast at the doomed and imminent future.

Only Shangguan Feixiong spoke, "Sect Leader Ling, do not be distressed. The thief might be Bali Yuyu, but it might not be her who devised this strategy. From how I see it, the only one among our lands that can come up with such a cunning tactic to control the enemy can only be Sword Star Empire's Baili Jingwei. He must've planned this before. We have faced him in the central area and he almost destroyed us with his strategies. It was a very close call. He is truly dangerous."

"Even if it is Baili Jingwei's plan, can't we do anything about it? Shangguan Clan Head, how do you intend to soothe my worries?"

"Ha-ha-ha, I meant to say that she's too far away from the central area and not with Baili Yutian. Once fighting starts, anything can happen and he's too far to give advice. So for now, our opponent is still just Invincible Sword."

"Oh, Shangguan Clan Head is right." Ling Yuntian nodded and sighed, "Although Invincible Sword is an immense threat to us all, he finds any sort of strategy beneath him and would give us a breather."

Ling Yuntian saw the others nod and relax as well, feeling relieved from their talk.

Murong Xue stepped in just then, cupping her hands, "Sect Leader Ling, I have a report!"

Shangguan Qingyan didn't stop her, shaking her head in anxiety.

"Miss Murong, why the sudden courtesy?"

Ling Yuntian had regained his kind smile.

Murong Xue spoke heavily, "Sect Leader Ling, the mastermind behind the theft isn't from the central area, but the imprisoned Qian merchant, Qian Fan!"

Ling Yuntian looked dumbfounded, "What did you say?"

"Xue'er, what's going on? Just tell us!" Murong Lie urged her.

Murong Xue began, "The leader of the Qian caravan is Steward Qian Fan, but I have met him before in the central area. He's the same one who caused the calamity in the central area, the demon Gu Yifan!"

"Gu Yifan?!" Shangguan Feixiong reacted instantly, his eyes looking hopeful, "Gu Yifan is here, now?"

Murong Xue nodded, "Wherever the foul Gu Yifan goes, disaster is soon to follow. I met him in the northern lands as I was coming here and he also had a strong female guard that matched my brother. He may be in jail, but I have just confirmed that he's behind the devious plan to steal the sword. You can ask sister Yan'er if you don't believe me. She was there. And she knew he was here long before I did."

"Yan'er, is what Xue'er said true?" Shangguan Feixiong stared at his daughter.

Shangguan Qingyan's face shook and relented a nod.

"Foolish girl, why haven't you said anything? You know I've been trying to find him all this time." Shangguan Feixiong ignored everything and even forgot to salute the rest as he stormed outside, roaring, "Gu Yifan, you bastard! What did you do to my sword? Fix it this instant! Uhm, where is the Sea Bright Sect's jail again..."