The Miserable Lie Tianxiong

"Isn't it because Fentian Palace and Wanfa Pavilion clashed."

Xuanyangzi smacked his lips, changing the subject with a smile.

"It's quite funny, actually. After Fentian Palace left our Qingxuan Sect that day, they were beaten up four times in one night. It was truly miserable! I heard their whole group is still lying in bed, unable to even crawl up."

Shi Wanshan nodded repeatedly at the side.

"Yes, I heard about it too. It seems Wanfa Pavilion's people did it. This Wanfa Pavilion really does whatever it wants just because of its formidable strength."

Gu Changge's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, a flash of understanding passing through his eyes.

He quietly watched the two chime in with each other, putting on expressions of either indignation or schadenfreude, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

If he hadn't known that these two had secretly followed them that day, changed their outfits, and beaten up the people of Fentian Palace, outsiders might really have been fooled by their acting.

"And now?"

Gu Changge asked calmly.

"What else could happen?"

Xuanyangzi curled his lips.

"The two sides have already fought several great battles. Fentian Palace has suffered no small loss. They lost a few Purple Mansion Realm elders, and I heard three Cave Heaven Realm protectors also perished there.

Wanfa Pavilion fared better; only a few of their Cave Heaven Realm experts were injured, and only two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators died.

Most importantly, a spirit stone mine belonging to Fentian Palace was forcefully snatched away by Wanfa Pavilion. Fentian Palace must be going mad with anger now."

Shi Wanshan also sighed along.

"I just don't know how long this will go on. It's best if we involve ourselves as little as possible."

Hearing this, Gu Changge recalled the palm strike he had dealt to the people of Fentian Palace earlier, wondering how they were doing.

With a slight shift in his thoughts, his divine sense spread out like an invisible net, crossing countless mountains and rivers to silently envelop Fentian Palace.

In a sleeping chamber deep within Fentian Palace, Palace Master Lie Tianxiong was lying askew on his bed. His originally majestic face was now written with haggardness, and a few strands of white hair had appeared out of nowhere at his temples.

He would let out a muffled groan from time to time, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Whenever that tricky energy surged within his body, he would curl up into a ball, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his internal organs.

Standing around the bed were three elders in blue-grey medicinal robes, with a lifelike Lingzhi mushroom embroidered on their cuffs. They were none other than the elders of the Medicine King Valley's Baicao Hall.

The three had been examining Lie Tianxiong's pulse for quite a while, their brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a mosquito.

"Strange, truly strange!"

The leading white-bearded elder withdrew his fingers, stroking his beard and shaking his head repeatedly.

"This energy within Palace Master Lie's body is incredibly tyrannical, yet it hides extremely deeply, like maggots attached to the bone.

We have used seven types of detoxifying pills and three types of force-dissolving powders, but we couldn't even touch the edge of it."

Lie Tianxiong was panting heavily from the pain, and hearing these words only made him angrier.

"Can you cure it or not? If this drags on any longer, my life will be completely drained by it!"

The three elders looked at each other in dismay, and finally, the white-bearded elder sighed.

"Palace Master Lie, it's not that we are incompetent, but this energy is simply too tyrannical and the injury too bizarre. Our skills are insufficient, and we have no way to deal with it."

"As for the compensation, we have no face to accept it. Farewell."

The three elders of the Medicine King Valley cupped their hands and took their leave. As soon as they walked out of the chamber, the atmosphere inside grew heavy.

The First Elder of Fentian Palace looked at Lie Tianxiong's pain-twisted face, his voice carrying a bit of hesitation.

"Palace Master, why don't we... just lower our heads and go beg that old fogey from Wanfa Pavilion?

I heard that Wanfa Pavilion's Pavilion Master, Yun Canghai, has a 'Misfortune Breaking Pill' in his hands that might be able to cure your strange injury. As long as he is willing to help, even if we have to give up some mine profits..."

"Bullshit!"

Lie Tianxiong abruptly raised his voice, which agitated the energy in his body. He instantly groaned in pain, the cold sweat on his forehead pouring down even more fiercely.

"You want me to go beg that old scoundrel? He'd love nothing more than to see me dead! This injury might very well be his secret doing!"

The Second Elder, Lie Yan, stood to the side with an ashen face and slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"What nonsense is the First Elder saying! Wanfa Pavilion has been bullying us too much these past few days. Not only did they rob one of our mines, but they also killed three of our Cave Heaven Realm protectors at the border! This is an irreconcilable enmity, how can we go beg them?"

"But the Palace Master's injury..." The First Elder stomped his foot anxiously. "If we drag this on, I'm afraid..."

Lie Tianxiong curled up in pain, his knuckles turning white from clenching.

"Go find me more formidable apothecaries! If there are none in Xuan Province, then go search in other provinces. I refuse to believe that without Wanfa Pavilion, there is no other way to treat my injury."

Lie Tianxiong gasped from the pain, but his mind wasn't idle.

These past few days, he had repeatedly recalled the encounters after leaving the Qingxuan Sect.

Four severe beatings, each more ruthless than the last. Especially the final one—that palm strike descending from the sky was fierce and domineering. It was precisely this palm technique that left him with this intractable root cause of his illness.

At first, he insisted it was Wanfa Pavilion's doing. After all, looking across the entire Xuan Province, the sects with such strength could be counted on one hand.

But when he calmed down and pondered over it, he felt something was off.

Those people from Wanfa Pavilion thought very highly of themselves and had always disdained using such sneak attack methods, let alone striking four times in a row. It simply didn't fit their style of doing things.

Perhaps only the last palm strike was Wanfa Pavilion's doing; the first three times seemed more like someone taking the opportunity to vent their anger.

Moreover, those four attacks looked more like a premeditated and organized joint operation.

To be able to dispatch four experts of such strength, it couldn't be that Wanfa Pavilion alone sent out four King Realm cultivators, right?

They weren't that extravagant.

Could it be... several other sects joined forces?

Lie Tianxiong's heart skipped a beat.

A few days ago, he had gone door-to-door to challenge them, offending sects like Qingxuan Sect and Pozhen Sect one by one. On the surface, those sects were not as strong as Fentian Palace, but who knew if they were hiding some old monsters?

It might very well be the patriarchs of those sects who took action.

This bunch of despicable scoundrels! If they can't win in a fair fight, they play dirty!

At this thought, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in Lie Tianxiong's eyes.

The energy in his body seemed to sense his anger and began to surge again, causing him to cry out in pain twice.

"This debt cannot be left unsettled!"

Lie Tianxiong gritted his teeth, his voice a bit hoarse from the pain.

"Wanfa Pavilion is strong, and I can't fight them for now, but dealing with the other sects is still as easy as pie for my Fentian Palace!"

He looked at the First Elder beside him with a firm gaze.

"I suspect they were also involved that night. First Elder, I must trouble you to secretly make a trip to the Qingxuan Sect and the Pozhen Sect.

If I find out who is playing tricks behind the scenes, I will definitely make them pay the price!"

Hearing this, the First Elder cupped his hands and replied, "Yes, Palace Master. I will go handle it right away."

The Second Elder also stepped forward, squeezing out a somewhat solemn expression on his face, but secretly sighing in his heart.

He spoke slowly, "Palace Master, what about Wanfa Pavilion..."

"Put it aside for now."

Lie Tianxiong waved his hand, taking a deep breath from the pain.

"The most important thing right now is to investigate what happened that night and find someone who can cure my injury. As for Wanfa Pavilion, we will hold our ground for the time being. Once my injury is healed, we will slowly settle the score with them!"

The Second Elder's heart skipped a beat. Well, it seemed there wouldn't be a show to watch after all.

He stealthily glanced at Lie Tianxiong, who was grimacing in pain, and muttered to himself.

Originally, he had wanted to watch the Burning Heaven Palace and the Myriad Law Pavilion fight until both were crippled, allowing the Azure Profound Sect to reap the spoils. He never expected this old man to suddenly change his tune.

It seemed he needed to hurry and send a message to the Azure Profound Sect, telling them to make preparations in advance so they wouldn't be bitten by this big oaf.

Inside the bedchamber, Lie Tianxiong's groans of pain continued intermittently, but his gaze now held a bit more calculation and ruthlessness.

Meanwhile, the Second Elder standing to the side wore a worried expression, yet his fingertips were secretly forming a communication seal hidden within his sleeve, one that only the inner circle of the Azure Profound Sect would understand.

The Third Elder, who had remained silent nearby, was also secretly sending a message, though heaven knew where it was headed...

Over at the Purple Bamboo Peak, Gu Changge's divine sense took in the entire farce unfolding within the bedchamber.

This Burning Heaven Palace certainly hid quite a few interesting characters.

It seemed this storm would be far more lively than Gu Changge had anticipated.

Just as he withdrew his divine sense, Gu Changge happened to meet Xuanyangzi's gaze.