[Vol. 6] Chapter 218: The Invitation
Walking out of the "Central Control Room" with Mo Ziqing once again and returning to the scene of the incident, the area was now under strict lockdown by the [Eastern Origin Guards], who had swiftly arrived to secure the site and clear away all unrelated personnel.
The surviving victims had already been evacuated, and the raging fire had been successfully extinguished. However, given the earlier violent explosions and intense flames, it was unlikely that anyone or anything inside the building had escaped unscathed.
Watching as the [Eastern Origin Guards] carried out charred bodies one after another, Violet remained silent, her expression unreadable.
Although there shouldn’t have been too many staff members in such a classified location, those present were likely loyalists to the upper echelons. For an incident this bizarre to occur during the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], it would undoubtedly cause chaos for the Holy Sect.
Matters like compensating the victims’ families or calming public outrage were of no concern to Violet. What intrigued her was figuring out who had hacked into the [Heaven’s Eye] system to pull off such a shocking stunt, and, more importantly, why.
Triggering hidden lines and blinding the Holy Sect’s surveillance, limiting their vision strictly to within the capital and preventing them from effectively monitoring the outside world. This act clearly had a purpose.
This kind of trick, however, could likely only be used once. The upper echelons of the Eastern Kingdom would surely become more vigilant after this. For the other side to use such a critical trump card, it meant they were determined to achieve their goal. Like stirring up a calm lake, once the ripples began, peace would not return until the event fully unfolded. This was nothing less than an open declaration of war.
The question was whether this incident was confined to the Eastern Kingdom alone, or if the other three nations were also experiencing similar turmoil at this moment...
“Miss Violet, Miss Kong? Shouldn’t you both be at the competition venue? What brings you here all of a sudden?”
Outside the ruins of the burned-out site, a figure suddenly descended from the sky, his voice carrying a hint of surprise.
The priestess paused for a moment but kept her expression steady.
“So, it’s you. Long time no see.”
The person who arrived was, of course, someone familiar to them. Mu Ze, the instructor leading the team from the [Shocking God Sect] and a master at the [Eternal Life] level of strength.
Noticing the subtle mockery in his expression, Violet casually responded.
“With all this commotion, how could we miss it? Just a little trick, that’s all. So, are you here to join the fun, or are you representing the Holy Sect on official business?”
“…It seems Miss Violet has already figured out my identity.”
“Well, it was pretty obvious, wasn’t it?”
For instance, the fact that several disciples from the [Shocking God Sect] received guaranteed spots was enough to show their close ties to the Holy Sect. Given that, it wasn’t hard to deduce that Mu Ze, their leading instructor, was also connected to the Holy Sect. He might not openly reveal his affiliation, but handling emergencies like this made him more suitable than Shangguan Qiuyue, the Saint of the Eastern Kingdom.
Mo Ziqing, the [Ink Sect]’s leader, clearly knew Mu Ze as well. Seeing his arrival, he naturally stepped forward to provide a detailed account of what had happened, including the sequence of events and the current known damage.
The fact that Mo Ziqing, with his status, reported in such a formal tone only confirmed Mu Ze’s connection to the Saint himself.
After hearing the explanation, Mu Ze’s expression grew heavy.
“[Heaven’s Eye] actually collapsed? That’s strange. But the broadcast from the competition venue wasn’t interrupted… Wait, could it be…”
His face changed slightly as if he’d realized something. After a brief moment of hesitation, he seemed to make up his mind and turned to the two girls.
“Miss Violet, Miss Kong, this sudden incident is no longer a time for us to test each other. If my prediction is correct, this could cause massive upheaval and panic. Not just in the Eastern Kingdom, but across the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm]!”
“What do you mean?”
Mu Ze stepped closer and whispered something into the priestess’s ear.
Listening to Mu Ze’s speculation, Violet exchanged a glance with Xiao Kong and raised an eyebrow.
“This kind of move? That’s quite the approach. Even so, what does this have to do with me? Or are you implying you want me to do something?”
Mu Ze’s gaze briefly swept over the girl’s waist, carrying a deeper meaning, before he spoke bluntly.
“We need a pillar. A beacon to guide the way in the darkness. Miss Violet, would you be interested in meeting His Holiness, the Saint?”
“Huh? Now? Is this your idea, or is it Shangguan Qiuyue’s?”
“It’s my own decision. But I believe that once His Holiness understands the full context, he will come to the same conclusion. Although he can be arrogant and demanding at times, he is undoubtedly a wise leader who prioritizes the greater good. If His Holiness’s actions offend you, Miss Violet, I am willing to apologize on his behalf.”
At this moment... go meet the Saint of the Eastern Kingdom?
To be honest, Violet had always been indifferent toward this weird Saint. While he had tested and provoked her a few times, none of it had been enough to anger her or make her take him seriously. As long as he didn’t interfere with her participation in the ceremony to ascend to Immortal Island, she had no interest in his affairs.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to pay him any attention. Perhaps just winning the finals to show him her strength would suffice. However, since Mu Ze had formally extended this invitation...
Maybe this was an opportunity worth considering.
……………………………
The headquarters of the East Origin Holy Sect, located in Xingyuan City, was a massive fortress as imposing as a mountain.
It lacked extravagant decorations, with its iron-grey stone walls stacked in a way that gave off an ancient and unadorned feel. This starkly contrasted with the ornate venue of the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony].
After leaving Mo Ziqing in charge of overseeing the search and rescue operations, Mu Ze personally escorted Violet and Xiao Kong, who had received the special invitation, straight from the incident site in the city’s west to this towering fortress.
To be honest, although the Holy Sect is technically considered a sect, its structure has far surpassed what that label traditionally represents. Once they stepped into the fortress, the priestess could sense the presence of many different factions.
In the training grounds and various halls, disciples clad in the sect’s signature blue uniforms were bustling about. Some were discussing their cultivation practices, while others gathered in small groups to talk about the ongoing [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony] finals or the recent explosion in the city’s west, both hot topics of conversation.
This was the lively atmosphere one would expect from a functional sect, rather than the cold, militarized impression outsiders might get from the [Eastern Origin Guard] and other forces that protect the sect like a nation’s war machine.
These outer disciples clearly didn’t recognize Mu Ze, but a few of them did recognize “Miss White Rainbow” and “Miss Silver Cat”, the two standout competitors making waves in the finals.
Seeing these two famous contestants suddenly appear inside the sect, the disciples were naturally surprised. However, perhaps due to certain rules, they didn’t dare approach or strike up a conversation. Instead, they watched the pair intently, their eyes filled with curiosity and admiration, until they disappeared from sight.
Feeling uncomfortable under their intense gazes, Violet, who was naturally intolerant of such attention, spoke up.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen disciples or key figures from the Holy Sect, like the strong members of the [Eastern Origin Guard], participate in the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony]. You’ve got plenty of experts here, so why not? Is there a reason for that?”
Hearing this, the middle-aged man with short greyish hair walking silently ahead turned back with a faint smile.
“There’s no complicated reason, really. It’s simply to avoid suspicion. Spirit Veil Immortal Island, despite its lofty status and deep foundations in the [Ancient Spirit Realm], rarely interacts with the lower realms. It’s a mysterious and exclusive entity, fundamentally different from the Holy Sect.”
“Sending a few exceptional disciples, like Shangguan Hong and others, for advanced training is one thing. But do you think His Holiness the Saint would allow all of Eastern Kingdom’s best talents to flow outward unchecked? This is about the art of governance. It’s the foundation for maintaining the stability of power.”
“In fact, the [Shocking God Sect] exists precisely because of this strategy. His Holiness hopes to reduce Eastern Kingdom’s dependence on Immortal Island as much as possible, drawing a clear line between the sect-island faction and the national faction, and then assigning responsibilities to each accordingly.”
“After all, no matter how sharp a blade is, it’s only a good blade if it’s held firmly in your own hand.”