Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 166 The Dark Fragrance Pavilion is on the move

Inside Tingtao Garden, after Li Jingyun left, Xia Linxian stood under the spirit bamboo, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

The appearance of the Central State Cauldron and the news that the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Dynasty was about to be established weighed heavily on my mind. If the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land were to successfully complete its integration, the Dao Academy and the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty's plans in the Central State would be put in an unprecedentedly passive position.

"Yin Qianshang, come see me."

Xia Linxian condensed a wisp of secret sound transmission at his fingertips and sent it directly to the location where the Dark Fragrance Pavilion was stationed.

In less than an hour, a dark figure silently landed in the courtyard. It was Yin Qianshang, the master of the Dark Fragrance Pavilion of Guishun Dao Academy.

The man who once led the top assassin organization in Central China has now shed his arrogance and is only respectful: "Greetings, Chief Xia."

Xia Linxian turned around, her eyes cold. "The Heavenly Spirit Holy Land will send envoys to integrate the various forces that have submitted to it, and at the same time send cultivators to settle in the mortal kingdoms to reform and establish new kingdoms."

Yin Qianshang nodded: "Tianling was prepared long ago. Their people are now spread throughout the Central Plains and their actions are extremely swift."

"Alright." Xia Linxian said calmly, "I order you to mobilize all the elites of the Dark Fragrance Pavilion to secretly intercept and kill the envoys sent by the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to various places. Remember, the operation must be secretive and leave no trace."

A hint of surprise flashed in Yin Qianshang's eyes, followed by understanding. He replied in a deep voice, "Understood! As long as they are integration envoys sent by Tianling, we will ensure they do not return! We will absolutely not allow Tianling Holy Land to successfully complete its power integration!"

"That's not all," Xia Linxian added. "Let's leave the mortal cultivators alone for now, and first cut off the arm that helps them consolidate their cultivation forces. This will make Luo Tianming preoccupied with his own problems, and also make those forces that have submitted to him panic and dare not wholeheartedly obey the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land."

"Yes, sir!"

Yin Qianshang accepted the order, his figure flickered, and he once again turned into a black shadow and disappeared into Tingtao Garden, as if he had never appeared.

Anxianglou was originally the top assassin organization in Zhongzhou. Assassination, stealth, and tracking were their specialties. Now, they were ordered to target Tianling Holy Land, so their actions were naturally extremely ruthless.

Meanwhile, earth-shaking changes have taken place throughout the mortal realm of Zhongzhou.

Cultivators dispatched by the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land, clad in holy robes, descended upon various mortal kingdoms, either standing atop imperial cities or appearing in bustling marketplaces, surrounded by celestial light and imposing spiritual energy.

Zhongzhou is not like Qingzhou. The Great Yan Immortal Dynasty of Qingzhou has long established Daoqi on a large scale, recruited disciples widely, and sent cultivators to improve the feng shui of various places, benefiting all living beings.

Therefore, the gap between immortals and mortals in Qingzhou is not that deep, and there are cultivators stationed in every mortal town with flourishing flowers.

Most of the mortals in Zhongzhou had never seen a real immortal before. Upon seeing this, they all knelt down and kowtowed in fear and awe, daring not to disobey in the slightest.

Holding the imperial edict from Luo Tianming, the cultivators immediately deposed the old emperor, changed the country's name, established the Tianling Immortal Dynasty as the ruler of the world, abolished the old system of the mortal realm, and promulgated the "Tianling Immortal Dynasty Law".

They even popularized basic cultivation methods among ordinary people, telling them that if they believed in the Celestial Dynasty, they could obtain the protection of the immortals and gods.

Ordinary people thought it was a deity descending to earth to change the world, and they all bowed their heads and obeyed.

In just a few days, dozens of kingdoms in the mortal realm of Zhongzhou changed their flags, and the banners of the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Dynasty were hung in every street and alley. Mortal fortunes flowed continuously toward the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land, echoing the Central Continent Cauldron.

The integration of the mortal realm went smoothly, but the envoy teams from the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land targeting various sects and families encountered one misfortune after another.

The first envoy team heading to the Qingxuan Sect, consisting of five people, lost contact completely in a dense forest just a hundred miles into the sect's territory.

When the Qingxuan Sect sent people to search, they found only five cold corpses, with no wounds on their bodies, their souls had been obliterated, and the scene was clean and tidy, without even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

The second group of envoys heading to the Murong family died suddenly in an inn one night, their deaths mirroring those of the first, as if they had been instantly swallowed up by an invisible malevolent force.

Then, the third, the fourth, the fifth...

The envoys sent by the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to various forces were assassinated one after another, none of them escaping unscathed.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the central region of Zhongzhou, reaching all the allied forces and causing an uproar. People were filled with fear and unease.

The sect leaders and family heads were terrified. If the Heavenly Spirit Saint Lord Luo Tianming blamed them for the envoy being killed in their own territory, they would have no way to defend themselves.

At best, their spiritual veins will be severed; at worst, their entire clan will be wiped out.

Immediately, all major powers closed their gates and strengthened their defenses.

While sending people to the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to clear his name, he lived in constant fear, lest disaster befall him.

All the forces that had submitted to the Central Plains were plunged into a state of fear and insecurity, and the previously smooth integration of forces came to an abrupt halt.

The sacred land of Heaven, within the Qionghua Palace.

Luo Tianming sat in the main seat, with dozens of trembling elders kneeling below him. The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive.

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

Luo Tianming slammed his hand on the table, and the entire jade table shattered instantly, sending fragments flying everywhere.

His face was ashen, and his eyes were blazing with fury. His long-planned integration strategy had been completely disrupted by a series of assassinations. How could he not be angry?

"In just three days, dozens of envoy teams were all assassinated! Not even a trace of the killers could be found! What use are you people, in charge of the Holy Land's intelligence?!"

The elders below trembled with fear, and none dared to respond.

The leading intelligence elder replied in a trembling voice, "Holy...Holy Lord, the murderer's methods are too bizarre, leaving no clues whatsoever, and the techniques are extremely professional."

"I suspect it was the work of the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, but the Dark Fragrance Pavilion has already been subdued by the Dao Academy, and other assassin forces simply don't have that kind of strength..."

Before he could finish speaking, the elder dared not say another word.

Everyone present understood that, apart from the Dark Fragrance Pavilion under the Dao Academy, no other force in the entire Central Continent had the audacity and means to repeatedly intercept and kill envoys from the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land.

Luo Tianming was well aware of this, and his eyes blazed with murderous intent: "Dark Fragrance Pavilion truly has no regard for its own life!"

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his teeth clenched, his anger almost burning away his reason: "You truly intend to be enemies of my Heavenly Spirit Holy Land, and the entire Heavenly Spirit Immortal Dynasty!"

"My Lord, the situation is critical. All the forces that have submitted to us are filled with fear and are sending messages to explain themselves. If we do not find the culprit and stabilize the people's hearts as soon as possible, our integration plan will have to be put on hold!" A trusted elder said urgently.

Luo Tianming suppressed his surging anger, his gaze turning icy cold:

"Pass on my orders: First, immediately dispatch more elite troops from the Holy Land to escort the subsequent envoys. Maintain full vigilance throughout the journey. If attacked again, kill them without mercy."

"Second, announce to all the forces in Zhongzhou that the attack on the envoy was unrelated to them and that the Holy Land would not pursue the matter, thus stabilizing public sentiment."

"Third, pursue the Dark Fragrance Pavilion with all our might. Once we pinpoint their location, wipe them out completely, leaving no one alive!"

"We will obey the Holy Lord's decree!"

Once the order was given, Qionghua Palace was abuzz with activity. Everyone knew that this silent battle had officially begun.

Xia Linxian used the Dark Fragrance Pavilion as a blade to sever the arm that enabled the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to integrate the Central Plains.

As for Luo Tianming's anger, Xia Linxian received a message from Yin Qianshang, learning that the assassination operation was a great success and the integration of Tianling Holy Land had stalled. Her tense brows finally relaxed slightly.

"It won't be easy for the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to establish a nation smoothly."

Xia Linxian looked towards the direction of the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land, his gaze cold.