The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1106: Kill You for Him!

Kill You for Him! . . .

"Since you desire my presence so fervently and have orchestrated these elaborate performances to ensnare me, why don't I oblige you by revealing myself as the former Prime Master of Sky Ice Palace?" Her heart pulsed with a growing thirst for vengeance.

Why should she squander her time observing these individuals when she had pressing matters on her agenda?

The men, still engrossed in their casual conversations, remained oblivious to the looming threat. Their chosen location was a concealed pit surrounded by towering trees, creating an environment where the sun's rays struggled to penetrate.

It was a covert setting, enabling them to engage in unhurried and muted dialogue.

However, a sudden change occurred when one man, in the midst of his speech, was struck with disbelief. It was as if he had witnessed the inconceivable.

This abrupt reaction prompted the others to turn their heads and discern the cause.

Their initial observations were of white attire, but what followed was a cascade of silver swordplay, a breathtaking display that left a lingering dazzle in their eyes. Before they could even react, seven spurts of blood soared skyward.

Seven lives were extinguished in an instant. Their reactions were too sluggish; one of them had merely touched his sword hilt.

The spectacle was a massacre.

They were slain instantaneously by a single sword stroke.

Even the likes of the Xiao Monarch would be gravely injured when facing her formidable power during her deliberate sneak attack, let alone these ordinary cultivators who had been employed as decoys.

The cold gleam of the sword flickered once more. The blade's icy point was nestled against the throat of the sole survivor, its edge delicately pressing into his flesh.

This survivor happened to be the man who had been narrating the story earlier. His demeanor had shifted drastically, morphing from perky to incredulous and panic-stricken. He had no idea how to react, paralyzed and uncertain, with eyes darting every which way.

He had watched in astonishment as the seven of his comrades had perished simultaneously when they turned their heads. The sword's deadly incision of their necks occurred in eerie silence.

Seven lives snuffed out in an instant.

Fear had rattled him to his core, rendering him incapable of rational thought.

"Who are you?" Jun Yinglian's gaze was icy. "Who ordered you to set this trap? To which organization do you belong?"

The sword remained poised at his throat as blood trickled down.

In his state of panic, he stammered, "I am..."

Yet, he halted after uttering those two words, his expression suddenly taking on a resolute quality. He opened his mouth, seemingly prepared to divulge crucial information.

However, before he could do so, his throat was ruthlessly slashed open.

When she observed the resolve in his eyes, Jun Yinglian deduced that he had chosen to meet his end without revealing any valuable information. Thus, she eliminated him without hesitation, fearing that he might transmit vital details to his comrades before his death.

With a casual swing of her sword, she raised a substantial section of grassland, approximately a dozen meters wide, creating an opening in the earth.

The eight lifeless bodies were carefully relocated beneath the lifted earth, and Jun Yinglian gently lowered it to conceal them. Every trace of the conflict, including the scent of blood in the air, was stealthily concealed.

The tranquil meadow resumed its idyllic appearance, devoid of any indication that eight Dao Origin Stage cultivators rested beneath the surface.

With the agility of a wisp of cloud, Jun Yinglian glided silently through the dense forest, her movements concealed within the upper reaches of the trees' canopy. She neither ascended to the highest branches nor descended to the lower trunks, maintaining her mid-level trajectory and gradually vanishing from sight.

Upon a mountainside path.

The counterfeit Xiao Monarch proceeded cautiously, warily scanning his surroundings. He had played a pivotal role in orchestrating the trap meant to ensnare Jun Yinglian. To lend authenticity to the ruse, he had not feigned all the attacks.

For him, carelessness could prove perilous, potentially resulting in injury or even death. Thus, he maintained his vigilance, remaining prepared for any impending assaults.

Yet, he found himself perplexed.

[The leaders have unequivocally confirmed Jun Yinglian's presence in this region, have they not? We executed the plan to perfection, generating sufficient commotion to beckon her.]

[In order to ensure Jun Yinglian's demise, our leaders deployed hundreds of elite assassins within the area. Even in the event of a failed performance, these assassins possess the power to eliminate Jun Yinglian. This grand performance, supported by a vast capture network, should have concluded already.]

[But it has not.]

The counterfeit Xiao Monarch was firmly convinced that Jun Yinglian must have departed the area prior to the commencement of his performance.

According to their meticulously devised plan, if all had transpired as expected, he would have soon been able to rest. This was the only respite he was permitted during the operation, as the location where he would consume his meal was destined to become the stage for yet another performance. Resting at this point was not an option.

It would mark the initiation of a fresh performance designed to lure Jun Yinglian.

As an assassin, the counterfeit Xiao Monarch found himself deeply wearied by days such as these. However, he would persist in following orders until the leaders instructed otherwise.

He released a weary sigh and leaned against a tree, preparing to steal a moment of rest. Slowly, he closed his eyes.

Indeed, this rare moment was his sole opportunity to find reprieve.

As his eyelids descended, granting him a brief respite, a sudden impulse jolted him awake.

Moments before he closed his eyes, a disturbing white figure had loomed at the periphery of his vision.

Upon reopening his eyes, he was confronted by the presence of a woman, seemingly materializing before him without his awareness.

She was a woman of exceptional beauty, possibly the most beautiful he had ever beheld. But her allure was not her sole attribute; she exuded an undeniable air of peril.

Her hand gripped a sword, its menacing point poised against his throat. The sword's blade emanated an icy chill, a bone-deep cold that appeared ceaseless.

With an immediate recognition, he understood the identity of the woman who had materialized before him.

Jun Yinglian.

She was the intended prey of his intricate trap, but now, the hunter had become the hunted.

[No! I cannot permit her to end my life! Though I cannot defeat her, I possess this countenance! Is it not a substantial blow to her? It must grant me clemency!]

Panic gripped him for a few seconds, followed by shock. And then, with deliberate intention, he attempted to convey a sense of longing as he uttered, "Lian Lian?"

He had been coached by the organization he served, a method meticulously researched to allow him to impersonate the true Xiao Monarch convincingly. It was designed to sow doubt in Jun Yinglian's belief in Cha Eun Xiao's demise.

But Jun Yinglian's gaze remained chilling and unmoved. She regarded the familiar face with a mocking sneer. "Impressive performance. Your resemblance is uncanny, as are your mannerisms. Yet, there is one facet you cannot replicate. You cannot replicate authenticity."

Despite the pain, the fake Xiao Monarch continued to murmur plaintively, "Lian Lian... Do you still hate me..."

Jun Yinglian sneered, determined to sever any further discourse with this imposter. [Who does he think he is? How dare he masquerade as my beloved?]

[How dare he engage in a facsimile of him conversing with me?]

The spiritual energy within her sword muted his vocal cords, and with a swift motion, she severed the entire face of the counterfeit Xiao Monarch. The sight was gruesome and horrifying, leaving a man writhing in indescribable pain. However, he could not even scream; he could only tremble.

"How could another person's face be grafted onto your body?" Jun Yinglian remarked coolly, the process of flaying accompanied by excruciating agony for the man. "Especially not the body of an imposter who intended to harm me under the guise of my beloved."

The counterfeit Xiao Monarch's eyes held a mixture of terror, fear, and bewilderment.

[My face, my posture, my words, my mannerisms... everything is perfect. How did she detect that I'm a fraud?]

[How is this even possible?]

"You must be curious," Jun Yinglian declared with an air of pride and self-assuredness, her confidence unshakeable. "Let me clarify things for you before you depart for the afterlife. No matter which organization you hail from, you're undoubtedly well-versed in Cha Eun Xiao. His face, his physique, his actions, his speech, his mannerisms, his martial arts—you emulated them with remarkable precision."

"You must have been exceedingly self-assured, almost to the point where even Cha Eun Xiao himself would consider you a mirror image if he were present."

"Yet I detected discrepancies. Why?"

Her demeanor exuded supreme satisfaction, as though she stood upon a lofty pedestal. "It's simple. No one can replicate his aloofness, his distinctiveness, the apathy he harbors toward life and death. You cannot emulate it. His sense of superiority, the way he gazes down at the world from his exalted position—these are attributes you cannot feign."

"Most importantly, the remorse and guilt buried deep within his heart and soul over me are sentiments you could never counterfeit."

Jun Yinglian wore a cold smile. "Did you honestly believe you could deceive me? Have you lost your mind entirely? Do you comprehend now? Are you prepared to meet your end?"

"I'm ending you not because you attempted to end my life or set a trap to capture me, but because... you dared to impersonate him!"

"There is only one Cha Eun Xiao in this world!"

"If he were alive, he would terminate you!"

"Then I shall eliminate you on his behalf!"

The man's eyes transformed into a chilling shade of gray as he comprehended his fate.

[I understand.]

[I deserve this. Cha Eun Xiao was an exceptional cultivator. Successfully impersonating him was a formidable challenge. Deceiving the woman who loved him and knew him intimately was an insurmountable task.]

[This plan was destined to fail.]

Slowly, he shut his eyes. Was he surrendering?

However, an unexpected movement of his throat indicated he wasn't giving up. Rather, he was reaching a crucial decision.

Jun Yinglian urgently clutched his throat, attempting to halt whatever he was about to do. This man was the linchpin of the trap and possessed vital information about the enigmatic organization.

But it was too late. A torrent of black smoke billowed from his mouth, followed by a surge of dark blood. His head fell to the side, lifeless.

Jun Yinglian snorted in disdain. She felt no remorse for him. As she began to search his body, a rapid decomposition overcame him. In a matter of moments, he transformed into a wisp of cyan smoke.

Jun Yinglian had secured a spatial ring, but when she opened it, all she found was a solitary sword.

She had lost the trail.

Furrowing her brow, she deduced the relentless pursuit could only be the work of the three major factions.

"Ha!" Jun Yinglian scoffed coldly, speaking in hushed tones. "There is always a hierarchy of priorities. You are fortunate, as I shall permit you a temporary reprieve. Once I fulfill my commitment to Yue Gongxue, I shall seek closure with you!"

With a graceful motion, her slender form ascended into the sky on a gentle breeze. Afterward, she left a wake of turbulence in her wake, a white cloud speeding northward with the speed of lightning. The echoes of thunder rippled across the landscape long after she had vanished.

For an extended period, Jun Yinglian had hounded the three factions, prompting them to fortify their defenses. Even if she had remained, the opportunity to launch an all-out assault would have eluded her.

The only path forward was to engage in a direct confrontation, but she understood the odds were not in her favor. Her successful evasion of the trap this time had not been as straightforward as she'd suggested to the counterfeit Xiao Monarch. Given the three factions' hiring of a clandestine assassination organization to eliminate her, they would undoubtedly pursue alternative methods. Prolonging her harassment would only perpetuate their attempts on her life. Thus, she decided to withdraw for a time, allowing their vigilance to wane.

Impatience was not conducive to her quest for vengeance. To alternate between tension and relaxation was the most effective strategy.

[I shall honor my commitments.]

[Although I am a woman, I will uphold my word, a feat that eludes many men.]

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