The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 871: Murder!

Murder! . . .

Cha Eun Xiao contemplated his own cultivation prowess, believing he stood on par with Jun Yinglian. Nevertheless, should she decide to sacrifice herself for the sake of vengeance, there existed at least an eighty percent probability of her success.

Indeed, even a mere twenty percent chance posed a risk too substantial for Cha Eun Xiao to contemplate undertaking.

The prospect of his own demise was far from trivial; it was a grave concern.

"It seems that woman has reemerged," Cha Eun Xiao muttered with a pallid visage, his voice trembling. "I've never felt inclined to harm the Xiao Monarch. Now, it appears that retribution has come knocking."

Curiosity struck Wu Huitian, who abruptly turned and yelled in a specific direction, prompting astonishment among those present.

The three Dao Origin Stage cultivators accompanying Wu Huitian synchronized their attacks, releasing three brilliant streams of sword lights that pierced the air with accompanying thunderclaps. The world quaked as the trio of top-level Dao Origin Stage cultivators unleashed their power, astonishing all who beheld it.

Although they executed three separate strikes, the thunderclaps resounded just once—a testament to their flawless coordination.

The sword lights hurtled toward a massive tree located hundreds of meters away, where Cha Eun Xiao and his fellow disciples concealed themselves.

The Dream Origin Stage disciples were left in a state of shock, overcome by a dense aura of impending doom. Paralyzed, they watched the sword lights approach, unable to flee or even react. The sheer force of the attack had rendered them motionless.

The calamity did not stop there. An anguished cry arose from the crowd as the sword lights penetrated each of the hiding disciples, mercilessly continuing their trajectory toward the distant mountains. A cascade of blood followed in their wake.

The three sword lights pierced every disciple in their path, leaving a trail of death in their wake. Ultimately, they struck a mountain thousands of meters away, causing it to crumble and scatter debris in all directions.

Cha Eun Xiao had lingered at the back of the crowd, a sense of unease already nagging at him. It hardly seemed appropriate to peek at the visiting guests. As he considered slipping away, the disciple brother who had held him in place earlier refused to release his grip, advising, "Chongxiao, you can't fathom the rarity of this sight; it might be your only chance to witness such an event in your lifetime."

Just as those words left his companion's lips, the deafening crash of the sword lights resonated. Cha Eun Xiao's heart raced, and he broke into a cold sweat. It was as though he had been ensnared in an inescapable web, his very thoughts locked in place by the overwhelming suppression.

A feeling of profound inflexibility consumed him.

Yet, Cha Eun Xiao was no stranger to this sensation. He had experienced it before, during his previous death.

In that moment, he surmised, "It's a trap!"

The entire scenario had been meticulously orchestrated, a nefarious plan devised for murder.

Cha Eun Xiao harbored a deep-seated belief that Disciple Brother Cao was the malevolent figure behind the sinister turn of events.

["Cao Daqi, should I survive this ordeal, I shall exact vengeance upon your entire clan!"]

Cha Eun Xiao seethed with anger, his entire being consumed by an unyielding determination. He emitted a muffled shout as he strained to twist his body.

The effort seemed as if it might snap his waist in two, yet despite his herculean exertions, his body budged only minimally—just a fraction.

Simultaneously, a chilling sensation swept over his neck and chest as two sword lights penetrated his flesh. It was a narrow escape; his slight maneuver had saved him, though it exacted a grisly toll, claiming a portion of his flesh and bone. He lived to tell the tale, but the discomfort in his chest and the frigid gust of air against his neck made each breath a struggle.

Another sword light punctured his chest and exited through his back, vanishing into the distance with a resounding thunderclap.

Of the three sword lights unleashed, he narrowly avoided two but succumbed to the third, which bored through the center of his chest.

It was an unmistakable strike aimed squarely at Cha Eun Xiao.

The realization left him reeling, incredulous as he gazed at the gaping hole in his chest.

[Am I... to meet my end once more?]

[I... No... I refuse to accept it...]

Cha Eun Xiao cast a bewildered glance toward Disciple Brother Cao, whose chest bore a matching wound.

He, too, had perished—his life extinguished before Cha Eun Xiao could seek answers.

All around, the disciples met the same fate.

Not one of the forty-six individuals present had been spared.

A wry smile touched Cha Eun Xiao's lips.

[What if I had vehemently refused to come?]

[Cao Daqi would have doubtless coerced my presence... Escape was impossible... Zhan Yunfei had already departed by then.]

[This was an intricately plotted scheme, tailored to ensure my demise.]

[They intended for me to die.]

[Cao Daqi, driven to complete his mission at any cost, remained ignorant of the fact that he had sealed his own doom. Those who sought my death would never allow him to live, for there could be no witnesses to their crime. In the end, Cao Daqi is as good as dead.]

[Is he a spy in service to the Saint Sunlight Sect—a spy willing to lay down his life?]

His strength waned, and darkness encroached upon his vision, causing him to crumple to the floor.

Blood welled forth from the chest cavity, forming a grim pool upon the ground.