"On the Cultivators' Guild's side, those without an invitation are ordinarily still allowed to attend so long as their strength suffices—I'm sure Elder Dongfang knows this as well. And we had no knowledge of the killer's identity beforehand; we did not even know who the killer was, or how many there were. Nor did we know who Dongfang Jian was—it was only after several days of investigation that we learned his identity, and we notified the Dongfang clan at the first opportunity!" President Li said. "And now that you have no leads at all, how can you speak of revenge?" "President Li, I keep feeling there is something odd about this affair. To say Vice President Ouyang knew nothing at all—that should be impossible, no? When Heaven-rank experts do battle, with a commotion that great, would he not go and take a look? And if he truly hid himself away out of fear for his life, that too is a little hard to justify. Could a craven coward of that sort really serve as vice president?" Dongfang Badao was trying to find a breach through this Vice President Ouyang, so round and round he went, all to make President Li loosen his tongue and let the Dongfang clan go question Vice President Ouyang directly. "Elder Dongfang, to be honest, this matter leaves me somewhat puzzled as well. Either Vice President Ouyang knew and failed to report it, or he is derelict and unfit in his duties as vice president. But there is nothing I can do about it either!" President Li gave a bitter smile and said, "I do not mind telling you, Elder Dongfang: though Vice President Ouyang is my subordinate, he has an uncle who is the honorary supreme elder of our Cultivators' Guild—and moreover the number two supreme elder. Even I would not dare do anything to him..." "So that is how it is..." Dongfang Badao nodded. Good thing he had not acted rashly; otherwise, going straight after this Vice President Ouyang would have been kicking a hornet's nest! The number two honorary supreme elder—that must surely be an expert at the peak of the late Heaven rank, at consummate mastery! "And so we too are powerless. If Elder Dongfang wishes to find the killer, you may conduct your own investigation in secret," President Li said. "Very well. In that case, thank you, President Li!" Dongfang Badao nodded. It seemed this matter would indeed have to be investigated by the Dongfang clan themselves—but in this way, Dongfang Badao had found his pretext for letting the clan's experts move freely through the secular world! To investigate the cause of Dongfang Jian's death, sending out one young clan-head successor and one clan elder could hardly be called a grand display; no one would suspect anything. And should small frictions or minor clashes arise with people of the secular world along the way, no one would say much either—after all, such things were unavoidable! After hanging up, Dongfang Badao handed the phone to Dongfang Yinxing, then raised his head to look at Dongfang Jinxing and said, "Jinxing, this time let Buruo and Dongfang Cha openly investigate the cause of Dongfang Jian's death. In secret, they may do whatever they please—that way, we will not be violating the ancient covenant! But beforehand, you must first send word to the Xuandan Sect and the other major sects, tell them our purpose, and only then act, lest we hand anyone a pretext against us!" "Yes. Father, I understand!" Dongfang Jinxing's eyes lit up; he too grasped Dongfang Badao's meaning. In this way, two birds would be struck with one stone: the cause of Dongfang Jian's death would be investigated, and Dongfang Buruo could go deal with Xu Shilan—neither task delayed. "Good, you may withdraw. I shall continue my cultivation!" Dongfang Badao said. "I have already touched the barrier of consummate mastery; I expect some progress within the coming half year. By then, with an expert at the peak of the late Heaven rank, at consummate mastery, our Dongfang clan will be able to rank among the first-rate ancient sects!" "Yes, Father. Then you and my younger brother continue your cultivation. If you both break through, our Dongfang clan will be all the more formidable!" Dongfang Jinxing said hastily. "Mm, Yinxing is still a little short. If Bushu had not fallen... I fear his strength would already be no less than Yinxing's. Ah, he was the genius of our Dongfang clan, and to fall just like that! Hmph—once this old man succeeds in charging through to the peak of the late Heaven rank, at consummate mastery, I will go settle accounts with the Mingri Fumingri Sect and make them give me an explanation!" Dongfang Badao sneered. "Indeed. For now, we can only swallow our anger," Dongfang Jinxing nodded. "Jinxing, your strength is in fact not bad either. Cultivate diligently, and raising your strength to the peak of the late Heaven rank should be no problem. You simply spend too much time thinking about clan affairs. Your aptitude is not much inferior to Yinxing's," Dongfang Badao instructed. "Yes, Father, I will do my best!" Dongfang Jinxing smiled bitterly. Previously he had set his heart on becoming the young clan-head, but once he had the position he realized how much it hindered one's cultivation! Of course, if Dongfang Yinxing had not voluntarily yielded and had competed with Dongfang Jinxing instead, then Dongfang Jinxing likely would not have thought this way—things obtained too easily are never treasured. Had it been like the ancient Feng family, the picture would surely have been quite different. After withdrawing from Dongfang Badao's room, Dongfang Jinxing went to make preparations for Dongfang Buruo's and Dongfang Cha's venture into the secular world. Holding to the principle that a good meal is worth the wait, they would have to prepare thoroughly, lest casual comings and goings in the secular world invite censure! The Dongfang clan was not yet powerful enough to disregard others. If both Dongfang Badao and Dongfang Yinxing successfully advanced to the peak of the late Heaven rank, at consummate mastery, then the Dongfang clan would no longer have to tread so timidly.

……………………

The Dark Night Palace.

The Supreme Elder's expression was incomparably grim, for this morning she had received bad news: when the palace master, Ye Wan'er, took qi-gathering pills to charge at the Heaven rank, she had not obtained the inheritance—that is, Ye Wan'er had failed to obtain the inheritance! One had to know that Ye Wan'er, having already lost her virginity, would find it incomparably harder to receive the inheritance, and the instant of breaking through to the Heaven rank was the best opportunity to perceive it. If even then she had not sensed the opportunity for the inheritance, then there would essentially be no hope for the next few years. So the Supreme Elder's heart shattered in that moment—and the Dark Night Palace's dream of soaring shattered with it! What the Supreme Elder had counted on was that she and Ye Wan'er would together become experts at the peak of the late Heaven rank, at consummate mastery, then together become participants in the Cloud-Rank Island plan, and together set foot upon the heavenly dao. In that way, the Dark Night Palace's strength would undergo a qualitative leap! Otherwise, the Dark Night Palace would only sink into obscurity, growing worse and worse, until at last it might even fall out of the ancient tier and become one of the ordinary sects of the hidden tier! Such a state of affairs was not what the Supreme Elder wished to see; she absolutely could not let the Dark Night Palace decline in her hands! (To be continued...)