Chapter 233: Chapter 228: She Must Not Be Dead

"Where is she?" For some reason, Xuan Yin’s impulsive emotions suddenly calmed down.

Qin Garden blinked and glanced at Lingyun. "That was definitely the spot where we laid Xuan Moqing, right?"

Lingyun’s eyes were filled with confusion, but she vaguely remembered that being the spot where Mo Qing was. After all, that was where Mu Chen had undergone his strange transformation. But why was it completely empty now?

Even Ye Shuangshuang, whose tears had already started to flow, managed to stop them. "Yeah, that’s definitely where Sister Mo Qing was lying. Look, her bloodstains are still there. But why did Sister Mo Qing suddenly disappear?"

"Could she have been disintegrated by the shockwaves from their fight?" Qing Lei asked, his face sorrowful but his tone surprisingly calm.

Qin Garden shook her head firmly. "Impossible. You were all standing in that area just now. I protected a zone with a hundred-meter radius. There’s absolutely no way any shockwaves could have entered this area. Could it be... Mo Qing isn’t dead? Or did someone take her away?"

Qin Garden’s guess was, in fact, incredibly accurate. The reason she even considered it was because the appearance of that barrier was simply too strange. It had materialized out of thin air, and not even the combined attack of three Martial Emperor Strong Persons could shatter it. Who could have done such a thing?

As befitting the ruler of a nation, Xuan Yin remained composed despite the countless questions and worries filling his heart. "Any speculation right now would be one-sided," he said. "I don’t understand the situation either. First, get Mu Chen settled. Then, tell me everything that happened from beginning to end. Let me analyze what’s going on."

Qin Garden nodded. Lingyun then said, "Little Tiger, Qing Lei, the two of you are to take Mu Chen back discreetly. Don’t alert the other students, and don’t speak of today’s events. As for the sound of that Martial Emperor’s clone self-destructing, I’ll provide an explanation for it tomorrow. Otherwise, I’m afraid it will cause a panic. Ye Shuangshuang, come with me. You’re a Fire Attribute Martial Artist. I need you to dispose of this filth."

Ye Shuangshuang’s eyes were misty, but she forced a nod. Qin Garden gave Lingyun an appreciative glance before turning to Xuan Yin and Wu Changqing. "Emperor Xuan Yin, Elder Wu, please follow me." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Xuan Yin and Wu Changqing nodded, and after a few leaping bounds, they vanished with Lingyun into the night...

In a dark corner of the academy, a figure in a black robe with a twisted expression took two quick leaps over the academy wall. Intense hatred shone from his red eyes. A hoarse roar escaped his lips, "Mu Chen! In one month, my Celestial Eagle Empire will bring down our iron cavalry and war banners! We will trample the Xuanling Empire flat and avenge my three older brothers and the Crown Prince!!!" As his voice faded, the figure vanished into the deep night.

Inside the Holy Hall’s Dean’s office, Xuan Yin, Wu Changqing, and Lingyun sat in a triangle, their expressions grim. Lingyun spoke gravely, "And that’s what happened. He Long’s appearance was the catalyst. If Mu Chen hadn’t displayed such extraordinary talent and formidable strength, arousing He Long’s wariness, this attack never would have occurred. But if He Long hadn’t deliberately provoked Mu Chen, Mu Chen absolutely would not have fought him under those circumstances. Now, Mu Chen has killed the Celestial Eagle Empire’s only Crown Prince and slain their three National Guardian Elders. The Celestial Eagle Empire will not let this go. I’m afraid our Xuanling Empire will soon face a crisis the likes of which we have never seen!"

Xuan Yin pondered for a moment. "No, this matter isn’t Mu Chen’s fault. The Celestial Eagle Empire is the strongest of the empires surrounding our Xuanling Empire, and they have long held ambitions of conquering all the territories in this region. Without Mu Chen’s appearance, our Xuanling Empire would likely have been the first they trampled. Therefore, I am not worried about their arrival. At worst, it’s a fight to the death. As long as I don’t die, as long as Mu Chen doesn’t die, and as long as the Imperial Academy doesn’t fall, then the Xuanling Empire still exists! You did the right thing. Protecting Mu Chen is the only way for the Xuanling Empire to survive. What truly surprises me, however, is how deeply Jiu’er hid her love for Mu Chen. And I never expected Mu Chen to enter Demonization for Jiu’er’s sake, killing three of the Celestial Eagle Empire’s National Guardian Elders and their only Crown Prince in one fell swoop. Hmph! Even if the Celestial Eagle Empire tramples us flat this time, we haven’t lost out. Although Jiu’er took a fatal blow for that boy, I have to praise him. Good kid. Well done!"

Wu Changqing interjected, "Emperor, Lingyun, I actually don’t think this matter is that simple. And it’s very likely the Ninth Princess is not dead."

Lingyun asked, "Elder Wu, what makes you so certain?"

Xuan Yin also looked at Wu Changqing curiously. He felt a similar inkling in his heart; for some reason, he too was convinced that Mo Qing was not dead. Wu Changqing lowered his head in thought before speaking. "First, there are several suspicious points in this matter that haven’t been clarified. Point one: who was it that erected this barrier that not even the combined attack of three Martial Emperors could break? If I remember correctly, Lingyun, you just said that each of those three Martial Emperors had surpassed the Fifth Environment Realm, with the strongest being a Ninth-Ring Martial Emperor. In that case, the person who set up this barrier must have a Martial Artist Realm of at least a Three-Ring Martial Venerable. Otherwise, the barrier they created could never have withstood such a heavy blow! And that fellow Di Cang has been gone from the Xuanling Empire for a week. Plus, his Martial Artist Realm is only a One-Ring Martial Venerable, so it definitely wasn’t him who created this barrier."

Xuan Yin and Lingyun nodded. They naturally knew this as well, they just hadn’t thought about it so deeply.

Wu Changqing continued, "But thinking about it now, this expert set up the barrier for two reasons. First, to prevent the three National Guardian Elders and the sole Crown Prince of the Celestial Eagle Empire from escaping if their first strike failed. Second, they feared that Mu Chen, having lost his reason after Demonization, would unleash his Combat Skills without restraint and harm innocent people, especially those in the Imperial Academy! Therefore, this expert is either someone from the Xuanling Empire... or someone with deep ties to it. In any case, their appearance means they are a friend, not a foe."

Xuan Yin nodded repeatedly. "Elder Wu’s analysis is very reasonable. If that’s the case, I have an even bolder guess..."

"This mysterious expert is most likely hiding within the Imperial Academy!" Lingyun and Wu Changqing shouted in unison.

"Exactly," said Xuan Yin. "And now I understand why Elder Wu is so certain Jiu’er isn’t dead. Since Jiu’er was inside the barrier when the expert created it, and no one within the barrier had the ability to pass through it, tell me... who else could have taken Jiu’er away at that moment?"

"..." Lingyun said nothing, because she now understood as well.

"Correct. It must have been that expert. And if Jiu’er had truly died, that expert would have had no reason to take her away. Since they took her, it means Jiu’er can still be saved! Now, Lingyun, tell me. Where was Jiu’er injured? And how severe was it?"

This was something Xuan Yin had been wanting to ask, but Lingyun had avoided saying, afraid that he would fly into a rage upon learning the extent of Mo Qing’s injuries. But there was no need to hide it anymore. She said, "Emperor Xuan Yin, actually, the Ninth Princess’s injuries are extremely severe. Her entire left chest was pierced by the Ninth-Ring Martial Emperor’s materialized Primordial Power. You could say that none of her left-side organs exist anymore, including her heart."

"Haha..." Upon hearing Lingyun finish describing Mo Qing’s injuries, Xuan Yin actually started to laugh. "If I only had a feeling that Jiu’er wasn’t dead before, now I’m certain of it."

Wu Changqing also smiled faintly. "Hehe... I am certain as well. Don’t forget, I was the one who determined that Jiu’er’s heart is on her right side."

Lingyun was stunned. "You’re saying the Ninth Princess’s heart isn’t on the left?"

Xuan Yin said, "Mm, Jiu’er’s constitution is different from ordinary people. Her heart is on the right side. So, the moment I heard her injury was to her left chest, I knew she wouldn’t die. And we can also be certain that the expert discovered this as well, which is why they took her."

Wu Changqing let out a sigh of relief. "We don’t need to worry about Jiu’er now, but the Xuanling Empire’s crisis is imminent. One can only imagine the mood of the Celestial Eagle Emperor when he learns he lost his only son and three National Guardian Elders in a single day. Tearing the Xuanling Empire to shreds wouldn’t be enough to calm his rage. I’m now worried whether the Xuanling Empire will even exist on this continent a month from now."

Xuan Yin’s brow furrowed at this. He then said, "We can only take it one step at a time. Our Xuanling Empire has always been short on manpower and resources. We’ve never had the opportunity to connect with larger nations, so we have no backing whatsoever. Escaping this calamity will be difficult! Therefore, the only thing we can do is evacuate as many of our people as possible before disaster strikes, to preserve some of the Empire’s bloodline."

Wu Changqing’s eyes filled with admiration. He smiled, "Mm, the fact that you can consider the future so clearly, Emperor, makes me believe that the heavens will not allow our Xuanling Empire to perish. Besides, don’t we have a mysterious old man protecting us? If he truly has ties to our Xuanling Empire, then he will surely appear when the Empire is in peril."

Xuan Yin gave a hearty laugh. "Let’s hope so. I’ve had enough of these days living on edge. Now that I know a calamity is coming, I actually feel more relaxed. It seems I’m not a very good emperor."

Lingyun and Wu Changqing rose to their feet at the same time. "No, Your Majesty is a good emperor! I am now more certain than ever that the Xuanling Empire has its own destiny and will surely overcome this trial!"

Meanwhile, as the three of them were talking, down in the basement of the academy’s Library Pavilion, Elder Mu was sweating bullets and cursing up a storm. "Damn it! I’m an old man! I’ve had to save two little brats in the span of a single month, and they’re even a little couple! My own kindness is starting to move me to tears!"

"But this treatment is such a pain. It’s a good thing this old master has reached this realm, otherwise, hmph, I wouldn’t have bothered with you lot. What a hassle. The whole reason I secretly ran off in the first place was because academy matters were too troublesome. I never thought I’d run into something even more troublesome. I hate this!"

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