The Prodigies War-Chapter 2891 Trap

Yuan Changtian asked, “Tell me, in the entire Origin Sect, who is closest to Lin Xun?”

Yuan Xiliu pondered for a moment before replying, “Li Zhen should be one, and Tao Leng should also count.”

Yuan Changtian nodded slowly. “If we’re to deal with Lin Xun, we’ll have to start with those two. Old Ancestor, please go in person. Tell Fu Wenli and the others to find an opportunity to send Tao Leng out on a mission.”

Yuan Xiliu blinked in surprise. “Why Tao Leng?”

“Li Zhen is an elder of the Origin Clarity Pavilion.” Yuan Changtian explained. “Although Tang Qiu is its deputy pavilion master, he’s still kept in check by the other two deputy pavilion masters, Fang Daoping and Yu Xing. If Tang Qiu were to send Li Zhen out, it would immediately draw suspicion.”

He paused, then added, “But Tao Leng is different. In the Origin Sky Pavilion, he’s merely a deacon. Both Fu Wenli and Qi Xiaoyun can dispatch him as they please without attracting any attention.”

A faint smile touched Yuan Xiliu’s lips. “As expected of Young Master...always thinking three steps ahead.”

Yuan Changtian sighed softly, “Tao Leng alone may not be enough to threaten Lin Xun...but there’s no better choice. In the whole Origin Sect, he’s the only one who fits the role.”

Yuan Xiliu bowed and swiftly took his leave.

......

Half an hour later.

“Young Master,” Yuan Xiliu reported upon his return, “everything has been arranged. We’re simply waiting for the right opportunity to lure Tao Leng out of the sect.”

Yuan Changtian nodded lightly. “Good. But be careful, Old Ancestor. Leave no traces. If this leaks out, it won’t end well for either of us.”

Yuan Xiliu smiled faintly, “Rest assured, Young Master. I’ll make sure nothing leads back to you.”

......

Seven days later.

“Young Master, Tao Leng has left the Origin Sect!”

Yuan Xiliu strode in with barely concealed excitement. “What a coincidence...just a few days ago, he accepted a mission from the sect. He’s gone out to find a promising young seedling to take as his disciple. That means if something happens to him...no one will suspect us!”

Yuan Changtian’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Such a coincidence?”

Yuan Xiliu chuckled. “Heaven itself must favor us. Fu Wenli and the others were still planning how to send him out, and before they could act, the news came that Tao Leng had already taken the mission. Even the heavens lend us a hand!”

Yuan Changtian’s expression remained solemn. “Don’t celebrate yet. Capturing Tao Leng is only the first step. The second is far less certain.”

Yuan Xiliu asked, “Young Master, you mean...Lin Xun?”

Yuan Changtian’s voice turned low and thoughtful. “Think about it. Once Lin Xun learns that Tao Leng has been captured, what will he do? If I were him, I’d immediately suspect a trap aimed at me. It’s obvious enough. At that time, do you think he’ll still risk going out to rescue Tao Leng?”

Yuan Xiliu hesitated for a moment before replying, “That depends on how much Tao Leng means to him.”

Yuan Changtian nodded. “Exactly, the key to the next move lies entirely in Lin Xun’s decision. If he thinks Tao Leng isn’t worth saving and stays holed up in the sect, our plan fails.”

“And if he does go to save him?” Yuan Xiliu asked quietly.

Yuan Changtian replied, “Then he’ll surely be well-prepared. Which brings us to the real question...how can we make sure that Lin Xun goes alone, without the protection of those old monsters from the Origin Sect?”

Yuan Xiliu frowned. “Then we tell Lin Xun that if anyone other than him shows up, Tao Leng dies!”

Yuan Changtian shook his head slowly. “That’s far too naive. Nothing ever goes exactly to plan. We must prepare contingencies.”

“Young Master, please explain,” Yuan Xiliu urged.

“Tell Fu Wenli and the others to mobilize all forces!” Yuan Changtian’s tone hardened as his eyes gleamed coldly. “If Lin Xun shows up, whether alone or with reinforcements, he must be killed. Leave no chance for trouble to rise again!”

A chill ran down Yuan Xiliu’s spine. “Lin Xun is only at the initial Transcendence Stage. Is such preparation truly necessary?”

Yuan Changtian’s voice turned icy. “When we joined the Immortal Dao Battle, you asked me the same question. And what happened? Even with Old Ancestor Xukun’s Will Dharma Form, Lin Xun still lived!”

Yuan Xiliu quickly cupped his fists. “Young Master is absolutely right.”

Yuan Changtian’s brows furrowed slightly. “There’s only one thing that worries me...Lin Xun’s martial uncle, Kong Jue. Although Eternal Stage beings can’t act directly here without suffering backlash from the heavens, they can send a Will Dharma Form. If Kong Jue sends his again...our entire plan will crumble.”

Yuan Xiliu smiled faintly. “Young Master, rest assured. Every time an Eternal Stage expert expends a Will Dharma Form, it takes at least a month to condense another. It’s only been eight days since Lin Xun returned to the sect. It’s impossible for him to possess another.”

At that, Yuan Changtian’s eyes brightened. “Good, then things will proceed smoothly.”

......

Before Lin Xun’s abode, a disciple who guarded the ancient teleportation array approached respectfully and presented a jade slip. “Elder Lin, someone asked me to deliver this to you. They said that you’ll understand once you read it.”

Without waiting for a response, the disciple was about to hurry away. Lin Xun blinked, then set the jade slip aside. He retrieved ten Sun Moon Immortal Pills and handed them over.

“Take these,” he said gently. “Cultivate well.”

The disciple froze in disbelief. He had never expected that a simple errand would earn such a reward. Moments later, his face lit up with excitement. “Thank you, Elder Lin! I won’t let you down!”

He turned and sped off like a beam of light. Only then did Lin Xun pick up the jade slip and scan its contents. His pupils constricted sharply. After a moment, he put the jade slip away.

Instead of returning to his abode, he stepped straight into the void, his figure streaking toward the distant horizon.

“Elder Lin, where are you headed?” A surprised voice echoed across the void.

Lin Xun turned and saw Yuan Xiliu gliding through the void toward him.

“Just going for a walk.” Lin Xun replied indifferently.

Even as he spoke, his figure faded into the void.

“Heh...I didn’t think Lin Xun would be this sentimental. For Tao Leng’s sake, he’s actually going alone...” Yuan Xiliu chuckled under his breath.

Without another moment’s delay, he turned and sped off toward Yuan Changtian’s abode to deliver the news.

Buzz!

The ancient teleportation array leading beyond the Origin World flared with a rain of strange light, and Lin Xun vanished in an instant.

......

Three hours later, in a remote stretch of the starry void far from the Origin World. A flash of radiance tore through the darkness, and Lin Xun stepped forth amid the drifting starlight. The jade slip in his hand quivered faintly, letting out a low hum, as though responding to an unseen call.

Shua!

His eyes blazed like lightning, instantly locking onto a distant star. However, that star was utterly barren, desolate and devoid of even the faintest breath of vitality. Even so, Lin Xun descended upon the star. Before long, he arrived before a bare hill.

Boom!

He flicked his sleeve, and the barren hill before him erupted with a muffled boom. From the explosion shot a streak of azure light. Lin Xun reached out and caught it with ease. It was another jade slip and upon it lay a map, marked by a single striking blood-red dot.

“They’re cautious.” A cold sneer tugged at Lin Xun’s lips.

Without the slightest hesitation, he set off again, following the path shown on the slip. In this manner, he journeyed onward. Each destination led to another jade slip, and within it, another map.

Anyone else would have grown suspicious long ago. After all, he had been traveling for a full day through unfamiliar stars and strange, silent worlds. However, Lin Xun remained perfectly calm. He understood all too well why his enemies were so cautious.

Two days later, deep in the boundless starry expanse, a colossal vortex of flowing light hung suspended in the void, swirling in eerie silence. Before the vortex stood a lone figure, hazy and indistinct, like smoke drifting through mist.

“Lin Xun, you finally came.” The figure’s voice was low and hoarse, and his black robe shrouded him in a murky aura so dense that even his face was lost to shadow.

Lin Xun hovered in the air, his expression calm. “Where is he?”

The black-robed figure replied coldly, “Hand over the Divine Rank law, and Tao Leng will be returned to you alive.”

“I’ll see him first,” Lin Xun said flatly. “Otherwise, I leave.”

A silence fell. Then the black-robed figure spoke again. “Behind this vortex lies a special secret realm. Should an Eternal being approach, this portal will collapse and vanish. Tao Leng is inside. Do you dare to come in with me?”

Lin Xun’s brows lifted slightly. “Your preparations are thorough.”

“Do you dare or not?”

“Lead the way.”

However, the black-robed figure didn’t move. He merely fixed his gaze on Lin Xun for a long moment, then let out a low, humorless laugh. “Good. Now I can finally be sure you didn’t bring any Eternal Stage helpers this time.”

“You were testing me?” Lin Xun’s brows knit together.

The black-robed figure replied, “Caution never hurts.”

A flicker of frost glinted in Lin Xun’s gaze. “My patience is limited. Let Tao Leng out now.”

“I’m afraid that won’t do. You’ll have to wait.”

“How long?”

“Three days, at most.”

Lin Xun inhaled slowly. “And why is this?” 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“You don’t need to know.”

Lin Xun gave him a long, steady look, then said, “Fine, I’ll wait.”

“A wise choice.” The figure sneered.

Lin Xun sat cross-legged in the air, his breath calm and his presence utterly still, like an ancient monk sunk deep in meditation.

The black-robed figure let out a hollow laugh. “At a time like this, you can still sit there so calmly? Truly unexpected.”

Lin Xun gave no response. The black-robed figure found himself talking to the air and fell silent.

Time passed. Three days slipped away like drifting dust.

Swoosh!

A streak of light whistled across the void and landed in the black-robed man’s palm, condensing into a jade slip. He gave it a quick glance. The tension in his shoulders eased and his entire being seemed to relax.

From afar, Lin Xun, who had sat motionless for the past three days, opened his eyes and asked coldly, “Feeling relieved now?”

“Haha, I can hear the anger in your voice.” The black-robed figure gave a dry chuckle. “Then allow me to tell you that the jade slip you’ve waited three days for was only to confirm one thing.”

“And what might that be?”

The black-robed figure said indifferently, “That you came alone, without any helpers.”

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed. “Did that message come from the Origin Sect?”

“That...isn’t something you need to know.” As the black-robed figure spoke, he flicked a jade talisman into the vortex of flowing light behind him.

Moments later, shadows stirred within the vortex, and then, one after another, figures emerged from the whirling light.