Chapter 1848: Chapter 1848: Leader of the Hidden Forces

The rain in the corridor was pouring heavily, heavily.

In the city, martial artists either sought shelter from the rain or temporarily entered taverns and eateries to avoid it.

Of course, there were martial artists, demon hunters, Wind Masters, or Asura Warriors from various factions braving the rain.

The Central Region remained the Central Region.

The news of Vice Master Xiao Yi, or the little thief Xiao Yi who once shocked the Central Region, having died, spread throughout the Central Region in just a few days.

This was naturally explosive news.

But, after the explosion, the Central Region remained as always.

Martial artists from all sides continued to walk across the vast Central Region.

Some marched forward for their Martial Arts Dao, while others, driven by their own missions, wandered in the rain.

But for some reason, the torrential rain fell on the corridor, and its dense patter made one’s heart agitated.

The humid atmosphere inevitably gave people a sense of melancholy.

...

Within the Black Cloud Region, inside the Black Cloud Academy.

That sky-covering black cloud still floated above the academy as always.

The droplets falling like rain seemed to descend from the Black Cloud.

Inside a certain disciple’s quarters.

Mo Youu checked Mo Youh’s condition several times and breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Youh was already fine.

"Brother, Senior Luoo’s skill is truly remarkable."

"Even with Yi Xiao’s malicious methods, he still couldn’t kill me, humph."

Mo Youh boasted with a smile.

"Oh right, after I woke up, I heard Brother Yu say that the little thief Xiao Yi is already dead."

"Tsk tsk, this is the retribution for evildoers."

"Now that the little thief Xiao Yi is dead, only that malicious Yi Xiao remains."

"Brother, in the future, you must help me avenge, kill that malicious Yi Xiao and vent my anger."

Mo Youh smiled as he looked at Mo Youu with raised eyebrows.

Mo Youu, however, remained silent, with a face full of complex and inexplicable indifference.

"Youh, I don’t know much about that Yi Xiao, but it’s best not to provoke him anymore."

"As for Junior Brother Xiao Yi..." Mo Youu’s face suddenly became melancholic.

"Do not mention Junior Brother Xiao Yi again in the future."

"He was my junior brother after all."

"I know his temperament well."

"If not for..." Mo Youu hesitated, "if not for various unforeseen events, I think he would have been my lifelong closest friend."

Having said this, Mo Youu sighed heavily and turned to leave.

Behind, Mo Youh was momentarily speechless, stunned.

Outside the quarters.

A figure dashed forward like a wild horse freed from its reins.

The wild horse ran a few strides, creating a few afterimages in the air before stopping inside a cool pavilion.

"What’s with this ghostly weather, raining incessantly."

The wild horse, no, that figure, was naturally Qing Lin.

Beside him, the vice dean’s figure appeared out of thin air, a lewd yet kind smile on his face.

"Able to run and jump, it seems you’re fine now," the vice dean chuckled.

"However, although your injuries have healed, your full potential and Martial Soul level have only recovered to 80%."

The vice dean’s tone became increasingly severe, "After listening to Tong Ye and the others’ report, I know how perilous it was back then."

"Speaking of which, Xiao Yi is truly remarkable."

"If it weren’t for him preserving the power of the Green Flood Dragon Core for you to the best of his abilities, you might not have even recovered to 80% now."

"If you dare to be so reckless again in the future, let’s see if this old man spares you."

Upon hearing this, Qing Lin pouted, "80% talent, 80% Martial Soul, that’s enough."

"Enough?" the vice dean glared at him, "This old man has turned half my hair white thinking of a way to help you fully recover, and you’re speaking sarcastically?"

"Honestly, in the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb, what benefits did you gain?"

"If they’re useless, you might as well offer them to this old man."

"Humph." Qing Lin snorted, "Old man, I can’t be bothered to spar verbally with you."

"I ask you, what exactly is this Holy Moon Sect?"

"Also, will the Wind and Asura Two Halls stand up for Junior Brother Xiao Yi?"

"What exactly?" The vice dean’s face twitched, "Ordinary people like you naturally wouldn’t know."

"But for us old folks, especially those above major powers, we can access some secrets."

"The Holy Moon Sect is the leader of the Hidden Forces."

"Even I don’t know much about them."

"However, to say the Two Halls will stand up for him, that’s unlikely."

"Hmm?" Qing Lin’s expression turned furious.

"Your anger is useless," the vice dean waved his hand, "I’ll say this to you, if the Eight Palaces go to war with the Holy Moon Sect, suffering major losses would be the least of it."

"Unless it’s a fight to the death."

"If half of the Eight Palaces are lost, at least four Palaces would be destroyed, but the Holy Moon Sect would perish."

"Otherwise, it’s all for naught."

"It’s that fierce?" Qing Lin was startled.

The vice dean rolled his eyes at Qing Lin, "Do you think being the leader of the Hidden Forces is for show?"

"In terms of antiquity and years of inheritance, the Holy Moon Sect might even surpass the Eight Palaces."

"And that’s just the beginning; over half of the Hidden Forces support the Holy Moon Sect."

"Which of these Hidden Forces aren’t ancient powers?"

"Once war breaks out, the entire Central Region would fall into chaos, possibly even comparable to the Ancient Demon Beasts’ calamity war."

"The Two Halls and the Holy Moon Sect, they won’t end up fighting."

The vice dean spoke with a gradually complexed and melancholic face, pointing to a stone not far away.

The rain drummed on the stone as if to cleanse away any traces of the past. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

But the vice dean knew those traces would never fade from his heart.

"Back then, I sat on that stone, also asking that Xiao Yi kid."

"I asked him why he always acted so old and heavy-hearted, what burden he bore."

"He didn’t say then."

"I said if he told, perhaps I could help solve it."

"Now I know, his burden was the mighty Holy Moon Sect."

"No wonder he never spoke, no matter what."

"Alas," the vice dean sighed heavily.

Qing Lin chuckled, "But no matter how heavy the burden, how old he seemed, how burdened with cares, Junior Brother Xiao Yi always wore a confident look."

"Hmm?" the vice dean glanced at Qing Lin, frowning slightly.

Seeing Qing Lin’s full smile and indifferent attitude, the vice dean was taken aback.

"You boy, always had a great rapport with him."

"Now that he’s supposedly dead, why do you seem so unconcerned?"

"Why should I care?" Qing Lin shrugged.

"Unconcerned?" the vice dean frowned.

"Unconcerned," Qing Lin’s tone was firm.

"His death is merely news, and news can be true or false, but I don’t believe it."

The vice dean frowned, "If the Wind and Asura Two Halls are certain of his death, how could they take such enormous action?"

"Do you think the methods of the two Masters of the Main Hall would be mistaken?"

"I don’t think so," Qing Lin shook his head, "The two Masters of the Main Hall must have confirmed many things before concluding Junior Brother Xiao Yi is dead."

"But not believing is simply not believing."

"They say villains live a thousand years, and Junior Brother Xiao Yi is not so easily killed."

Qing Lin smiled confidently, "He promised me he’d come out alive."

"He has never lied to me."

"Whatever he promises, he will surely fulfill."

"Junior Brother Xiao Yi must still be alive, and when he reappears, all you old folks will be astounded."

Qing Lin spoke with confidence and a smile.

But the vice dean noticed that Qing Lin’s fists were clenched tightly, even trembling slightly.

...

The third change.