Dongfang Chen's face drained of color as the horrifying truth dawned on him. He finally understood why Dongfang Hao was so determined to silence him.
"Uncle, I swear I won't ever mention her again!" Dongfang Chen desperately cried out.
Dongfang Hao regarded his nephew with chilling indifference. "You know the saying: a dead man tells no tales."
"No, Uncle! You can't do this to me!" Dongfang Chen's voice rose to a panicked shriek. "My father will never back down, and the consequences will be dire!"
"Are you attempting to dictate terms to me?" A faint smile played on Dongfang Hao's lips.
Dongfang Chen's frantic outburst subsided as he realized the futility of his words.
"You've made contributions, I won't deny that," Dongfang Hao said calmly. "However, your sacrifice is necessary for the sake of the group's future. Fear not, your demise will be swift and painless."
Hearing this, Dongfang Chen raised his hand, unleashing his power in a desperate last stand. But it was in vain. Before he could react, his consciousness slipped away, and his body collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
Dongfang Hao remained unfazed. With a casual wave of his hand, Dongfang Chen's body disintegrated into nothingness.
When his nephew was disposed of, Dongfang Hao turned to Fu Yong. He inquired calmly. "Do you know why I asked you to do this?"
Fu Yong offered a bitter smile, understanding the unspoken truth all too well. He bowed deeply. "I understand, President. Please ensure my family's well-being."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Rest assured," Dongfang Hao replied with a gentle tone. "They will live a life of peace and prosperity. I guarantee it."
"Thank you, President," Fu Yong uttered with sincerity.
Moments later, a trail of blood trickled from the corner of Fu Yong's mouth. He had chosen to sever his own heart vein.
Dongfang Hao observed Fu Yong's lifeless body for a short while before dissipating it with another wave of his hand.
Witnessing the entire scene unfold silently, Yun Lintian couldn't help but acknowledge Dongfang Hao's ruthless nature.
Dongfang Hao scanned the dungeon briefly before heading back to the elevator. Naturally, Yun Lintian followed suit.
Upon returning to the top floor, Dongfang Hao hesitated mid-step, turning with a frown toward the elevator. Despite the absence of anything visible, the sense of being watched persisted.
Observing this, Yun Lintian opted for a quick getaway, taking the stairs instead. Initially, he had intended to gather more information but decided it was too risky to linger around.
Dongfang Hao, relieved to be free of the unsettling feeling, contacted his secretary. "Have you seen anyone leaving the Left Courtyard?"
"No, President," a woman's voice confirmed on the other end.
With that response, Dongfang Hao gave the elevator one last scrutinizing glance before retreating to his room.
After leaving the central building, Yun Lintian lingered on the market floor instead of returning immediately to the courtyard. He meandered through the stalls, searching for anything that caught his eye.
A vast array of rare materials were on display. After some deliberation, Yun Lintian decided to steal a small amount of them, specifically focusing on precious herbs. The merchants, oblivious to the missing items, barely noticed as two or three pieces vanished.
Yun Lintian spent a few minutes browsing the market before returning to the courtyard.
He deactivated his invisibility and faced Yun Yi and Zhang Yu. "It's done,"
"Dead?" Zhang Yu inquired curiously.
"Yes," Yun Lintian confirmed, explaining the entire ordeal in detail.
Yun Yi and Zhang Yu couldn't help but be taken aback by Dongfang Hao's ruthless actions. They had not anticipated him prioritizing Yun Lintian over his nephew, but the outcome proved otherwise.
"Well, that's probably how someone becomes president of such a massive organization," Zhang Yu remarked with a soft sigh.
"What did the Beyond Heaven King do to leave such a lasting impression on him?" Yun Lintian pondered. "His strength at that time shouldn't have been remarkable."
Among the three of them, Yun Yi was the one who had spent the most time alongside the Beyond Heaven King. While he fully recognized his master's formidable power, he struggled to understand how he had managed to leave such a significant mark on a powerful figure like Dongfang Hao.
"He mentioned that the Beyond Heaven King was hunted after they left the God Tomb," Zhang Yu said, his expression thoughtful. "That could imply his true talent was revealed, sparking their greed for the potential secrets he possessed."
Yun Lintian turned to Yun Yi and inquired, "Did the Beyond Heaven King often display his full strength?"
Yun Yi responded, "Aside from the battle with the Primordial God Tribe, I never witnessed him utilize his full power."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Yun Lintian nodded thoughtfully. "President Dongfang mentioned being restricted from divulging details about the God Tomb. The situation there seems far more complex than we initially assumed.""Perhaps we should consult Senior Lan," Zhang Yu suggested. "There's little point in speculating further at this juncture."
Yun Lintian shook his head in disagreement. "Let's wait until we reach the Nine Heavens Realm first."
At that moment, Long Qingxuan emerged from the room and announced, "I'm ready."
Yun Lintian observed her and confirmed her full recovery.
"Let's depart," he declared. He then contacted Dongfang Xue, remembering to retract the Gate of Beyond Heaven.
A few minutes later, Dongfang Xue arrived. "Please follow me to the parking area," she instructed.
Yun Lintian and his companions calmly trailed Dongfang Xue outside.
They soon arrived at a designated parking space exclusive to Dongfang Hao. In the distance, a colossal profound ark instantly captivated their attention. Its white hull, crafted from seemingly rare celestial materials and imbued with powerful enchantments, exuded an air of grandeur.
Compared to Yun Lintian's Fleeing Cloud Profound Skyship, it was a stark contrast – not even remotely comparable.
Dongfang Hao was already waiting for them. "They've arrived, President," Dongfang Xue politely informed him.
Dongfang Hao nodded slightly and directed his gaze towards Yun Lintian's group. This time, he noticed Hei Shou and Gui Xuan, who had been playing outside and previously escaped his attention.
Suppressing his doubts, he began his explanation. "This is the celestial-class profound ark, our finest creation. Boasting powerful enchantments and diverse functions, it can traverse the Great Expanse with remarkable speed. It's also capable of withstanding all but attacks from a true god."
"In terms of control, it features an autopilot mode, allowing a single person to pilot it effortlessly."
Yun Lintian was utterly amazed by the majestic profound ark before him. It was several times better than the one in Dongfang Xue's hand...