The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 148 The Last Dance

At this time, several of the Feng Shui Academy's most famous elders had gathered in the main hall, each standing solemnly with their disciples.

Elder Xuantian stood at the front of the Tianji Pavilion disciples, with an upright posture and a sharp gaze.

His eyes did not wander at all, but were always fixed on the headmaster on the stage opposite him, his face full of determination and a hint of suppressed anger.

In contrast, the four elders, namely, Medicine King Elder, Formation Elder, Three Origins Elder, and Star Elder, seemed somewhat uneasy.

They looked at each other, with confusion and inquiry in their eyes. They obviously didn't understand why the "Holy Golden Bell" in the hall suddenly rang today, symbolizing a major change in the academy.

The four of them exchanged glances again, as if trying to get an answer from each other.

However, the answer did not come. He looked up at the Sect Leader on the high platform, only to find him still sitting upright on the lotus pedestal, his eyes tightly closed, as if nothing in the outside world had disturbed him in the slightest.

Finally, Elder Sanyuan could no longer suppress his inner doubts. He took a step forward, ready to ask the Sect Master for advice directly. However, just as he took a step, he was interrupted by a sudden, high-pitched voice.

"Elder Chanxin has arrived!"

Following this announcement, the hall fell silent for a moment, and then everyone turned to look towards the hall door.

Elder Chanxin was seen sitting upright on a chair carved from white wood, his entire body wrapped in white tape, but a few patches of tender white skin that had just healed were faintly visible under the tape.

He looked calm, but his eyes still held hatred and fierceness.

The chair was carried steadily by his two disciples, Zheng Ziyi and Master Qu Ling. With solemn expressions and steady steps, they carried Elder Chanxin to the front row of the Chanyi Hall.

"What! Elder Chanxin is here?"

The four elders were suddenly shocked. They had originally thought that Elder Chanxin was unable to attend due to his serious injury and bedridden, but they had not expected that the sound of the Holy Golden Bell would even startle him, and he would even come to the hall in this state.

Elder Xuantian raised his lips slightly when he saw Elder Chanxin approach. He glanced at Elder Chanxin from the corner of his eye, exchanged glances, and then nodded, as if there was already a tacit understanding between the two.

The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly solemn.

The headmaster slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were like lightning, scanning the entire room, finally landing on Elder Xuantian, and then he slowly stood up.

"I've met the leader!"

Everyone knelt and bowed, but Elder Xuantian was an exception, standing straight and unmoved. Elder Chanxin, on the other hand, only nodded slightly and said respectfully, "Master."

The headmaster waved his hand gently, signaling everyone to stand up.

His gaze shifted, landing once again on Elder Xuantian, his tone slightly questioning, "Xuantian! Why exactly did you send someone to ring the Sacred Golden Bell? Do I need to explain its importance to you again?"

As the headmaster finished speaking, a powerful pressure from the Dingsi realm emanated from his body, enveloping the hall.

The four elders suddenly understood what was going on. Their original doubts instantly became clear, and they all turned their eyes to Elder Xuantian, wanting to see the intention behind his action.

However, Elder Xuantian remained expressionless, unmoved. He slowly took a step forward, facing the Sect Leader's pressure, and raised his head, saying, "Sect Leader! Of course I know the significance of this bell. If I weren't completely helpless, why would I ring this bell?"

"Speak!" A cold light flashed in the leader's eyes, and there was a hint of coldness in his tone.

Elder Xuantian placed his hands behind his back, staring directly at the headmaster. His voice was deep and powerful: "Today, I want to accuse someone in the academy of injustice! I accuse someone of betraying their master and ancestors! I accuse someone of killing fellow disciples and forcing their fellow disciples away!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar!

The disciples were all shocked and whispered to each other, trying to guess the dark truth behind Elder Xuantian's words.

At the same time, Elder Xuantian suddenly exuded a pressure of the Dingsi realm, competing with the aura of the head of the sect!

Seeing this, the four elders were stunned at first, and then looked at each other, and each of them saw each other's intentions.

Elder Sanyuan smiled bitterly and said softly to Elder Xingchen beside him, "Xuantian is indeed well prepared."

When Elder Chanxin heard Elder Xuantian's accusation and felt the pressure emanating from him, a relieved smile suddenly appeared on his originally pale face.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, knowing that Xuantian never fought a battle without confidence.

The headmaster's eyes darkened slightly, but a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He said slowly, "It seems that you are here to force the emperor to abdicate today?"

The atmosphere suddenly became stagnant, as if a huge rock had been placed upon the entire hall, making it difficult to breathe. The disciples held their breath, not daring to utter a single sound, as if a catastrophic storm were about to erupt.

Elder Xuantian walked slowly, his steps firm, to the center of the hall, and stood under the gaze of all the disciples and elders.

"Today, I will make the truth known to the world!" He took a deep breath, his eyes swept around sharply, and his voice was loud and clear, "This Feng Shui Academy is no longer the holy place we all protect together, but a tool for certain people to pursue their own selfish interests!"

There was an uproar all around, and the disciples looked at each other, some even whispering to each other, obviously finding Elder Xuantian's words incredible.

Elder Xuantian snorted coldly and waved his hand to stop the discussion. He raised his hand and pointed at the headmaster, his tone mixed with anger and contempt:

"First," he paused, then continued, "The first place winner of the academy's martial arts competition has never been awarded a spot at Tianshu Academy! It just so happened that when Lin Jiao's strength had reached its peak and it was becoming difficult for her to improve within the academy, this spot became available. And in the end, it fell to Lin Jiao! Everyone knows that Lin Jiao is your master's most prized student!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples erupted in excitement. Many showed expressions of sudden enlightenment, while others could hardly conceal their anger, whispering, "Is that really the case? To be so partial!"

Elder Xuantian glanced coldly at the whole audience and continued:

"Secondly," he said, his voice rising a few notches, his tone sharper, "the academy's two secret techniques, 'Twin Mirror Images: Martial Arts Reflection' and 'Illusionary Body Techniques: Imitating Phantom Moves,' suddenly vanished after the martial arts tournament, just before Taoist Siqi left! These techniques are the academy's treasures, and now they're inexplicably gone! I'm convinced you traded them with Taoist Siqi for a spot at Tianshu Academy, simply to help your disciple, Lin Jiao, achieve her future!"

The uproar in the arena intensified. The four elders' expressions became complicated, their eyes filled with disbelief and deep thought, while the Sect Leader remained silent.

"The third one!" Elder Xuantian suddenly turned around, his eyes wide with anger, pointing his finger at the headmaster and sternly saying, "The sweeping monk on the sixth floor of the Sutra Repository, our Junior Brother Xuanle, has lived in seclusion there for years, solely to protect these two secret techniques. Yet, now he has vanished along with the techniques! Could anything be more coincidental than this? Junior Brother Xuanle must have refused to hand over the techniques, and yet you, in order to strike a bargain, murdered him! This is the truth behind your infighting and driving away fellow disciples!"

The words were like thunder, exploding in the hall.

The headmaster remained silent, his face calm, but a wave of emotion flickered in his eyes. He gently closed his eyes, as if trying to calm his anger, or perhaps to contemplate a strategy.

The four elders looked at the headmaster with a hint of doubt in their eyes, and the disciples were so shocked that they were speechless.

Elder Chanxin sneered, his voice faint but clear: "Does the Sect Leader have any rebuttal to what Elder Xuantian said?"

...

At the same time, in the middle layer of the ancient forest, Ye Xuan was in darkness, the ice dragon under his feet was suspended in the air, and the Dragon Roaring Sky Halberd was flashing with cold light and held in his hand.

He stared at his surroundings with alert eyes, his body moving with the ice dragon under his feet, constantly dodging the light blades attacking from all directions.

Zhang Ning's "Heavenly Secret Star Change" is like a hunter's giant net, with dense and swift light blades, pressing forward step by step.

"Zhang Ning, or Ji Chenying?" Ye Xuan said as she dodged, "You two are the only two people in Tianji Pavilion who can use this move!"

Before he finished speaking, a sharp beam of light shot out from behind him. At the critical moment, the ice dragon under his feet seemed to have a spirit, suddenly twisting its body and taking Ye Xuan away from the fatal blow by a hair's breadth.

"Zhang Ning!"

Ye Xuan's eyes flashed, finally confirming the enemy's identity. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and said coldly, "How dare you sneak attack me!"

Zhang Ning did not respond, but merged into the darkness again, waiting for the next opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

Ye Xuan sneered, a plan already in mind. He lightly tapped the Dragon Roaring Sky Halberd in his hand, sending a chill emanating from it. Then, he formed seals with his hands, and a stream of icy energy condensed out, transforming into an ice figure identical to Zhang Ning—his "Twin Mirror Image: Martial Arts Reflection" already unleashed.

The ice man formed seals with his hands and cast a spell, also performing the "Heavenly Star Changes". Countless light blades emerged and automatically sensed Zhang Ning's breath.

Zhang Ning, who was hiding in the darkness, was suddenly startled and thought to himself, "Oh no!"

Before he could make any move, Ye Xuan curled up her lips into a smile, raised the halberd with both hands, and suddenly the cold air surged, and a move called "Ice Cone Storm" appeared out of nowhere, and dense ice cones suddenly slammed towards Zhang Ning's exposed position like a storm.

In the forest, ice, snow and starlight are intertwined, and murderous intent is everywhere.

Zhang Ning roared, formed seals with his hands and cast a spell. In an instant, a huge light shield appeared above his head, blocking all the "Ice Cone Storm" released by Ye Xuan.

The ice cone hit the light shield, splashing out brilliant light, but the light shield did not move at all.

Ye Xuan smiled coldly, and when Zhang Ning was concentrating on defense, she raised the Dragon Roaring Sky Halberd in her hand high, spun her hands, and the cold air immediately condensed into a dragon. "Ice Dragon Strike!" With a loud shout, the ice dragon let out a deafening roar and rushed towards Zhang Ning with a tremendous chill.

boom--

Before Zhang Ning could react, the ice dragon had already crashed into his protective light shield, shattering it. He flew out like a kite with a broken string and crashed heavily into a towering tree behind him.

The branches and leaves of the big tree fell off, and the trunk was even cracked, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of Zhang Ning's mouth.

Zhang Ning gritted his teeth and stood firm, then suddenly shouted into the air, "Don't attack yet!"

As the voice echoed, the "Heavenly Secret Star Change" light blade released by Zhang Ning quickly dissipated, and the darkness around Ye Xuan was gradually filled with light.

He looked up and saw a massive black shadow slowly emerge from the treetops, meeting his gaze. It was the Shadow Monkey King, shrouded in a thick demonic aura, its eyes revealing a bloodthirsty and cold expression.

Ye Xuan clenched the ice halberd in her hand, her eyes as cold as ice as she shouted angrily, "You actually colluded with the demonic beast! Is this how the Tianji Pavilion operates?"

Zhang Ning wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, revealed a cold smile, and slowly stood up, "So what? Today is the day you die!"

Ye Xuan pointed the ice spear at the Shadow Monkey King, and the ice dragon under her feet roared with great momentum.

However, the Shadow Monkey King was not afraid. He waved a mace in his hand and smashed it towards Ye Xuan at an extremely fast speed. The sound of the mace breaking through the air was as loud as thunder.

Ye Xuan's eyes fixed on the flying mace, and she quickly formed seals with her hands, and a thick ice shield appeared in front of her.

However, the ice shield shattered in an instant. Seeing the mace approaching, Ye Xuan could only block it with her halberd.

Bang!

The immense force of the impact sent Ye Xuan flying, sending him crashing to the ground, sending up clouds of dust. He had created a deep crater, staining the surrounding ground red with blood.

Zhang Ning saw Ye Xuan fall to the ground and was about to step forward, but suddenly stopped. He was surprised to find that Ye Xuan was lying in the pit with a chilling smile on her face.

Suddenly, an icy breath hit Zhang Ning from behind. He turned around suddenly and saw a popsicle silently piercing his heart. The cold air was so intense that it made his hair stand on end.

"Oh no!" Zhang Ning was horrified and dodged sideways, but the popsicle still pierced his protective spiritual power and penetrated deeply into his chest. He stumbled back, pressing his chest with one hand, and the blood kept flowing.

Inside the pit, Ye Xuan had already grasped the situation. He knew the Shadow Monkey King was far beyond his reach. Using his last remaining strength, he unleashed the "Twin Mirrors: Martial Arts Reflection" technique, summoning an Ice Monkey King to attack Zhang Ning, killing him.

The Ice Monkey King appeared quietly, locked onto Zhang Ning's position, and condensed a popsicle in one hand to stab Zhang Ning.

At the critical moment, the Shadow Monkey King snorted coldly, and the mace was condensed in his hand again, smashing towards Ye Xuan with the force of thunder.

boom--

The moment the mace fell, Ye Xuan was smashed to pieces. Blood splattered, and Ye Xuan's body was smashed into a pulp.

At the same time, the Ice Monkey King dissipated, and the popsicle that stabbed Zhang Ning's heart turned into ice chips just before it missed him by a hair's breadth.

Zhang Ning knelt on one knee, his face pale and sweat pouring down. Trembling, he pulled a Heart Protecting Pill from his sleeve, quickly swallowed it, and sat cross-legged on the ground to refine it. The wound gradually healed.

The Shadow Monkey King slowly landed beside Zhang Ning, his eyes filled with disdain, "Waste!"

It raised its hand and injected a demonic energy into Zhang Ning's body. Zhang Ning's complexion immediately returned to normal, and the wound on his chest healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He stood up and bowed respectfully to the Shadow Monkey King, saying, "Thank you, Monkey King, for saving my life!"

The Shadow Monkey King waved his hand indifferently, "I saved you only to fulfill the promise we made to each other."

After saying that, it turned and headed towards the outskirts of the forest, leaving behind a cold remark: "Go quickly! Otherwise, your master will be beaten to death."

Zhang Ning was stunned when he heard this, and then his face changed drastically. He exclaimed in his heart: "Not good!" He quickly stood up, followed the footsteps of the Shadow Monkey King, and rushed into the depths of the forest.