Chapter 348: Rumormongering (2/2)

The gathering instantly focused their attention on him. The one who’d looted the palace was Lu Yun? Really?!

Is he bluffing? Maybe this is an excuse to attack Dusk Province in the near future…. Lu Yun’s head spun with racing thoughts. Where had he gone wrong? ...Xue Daozi!

His heart sank upon the realization. Before the palace treasury raid, Xue Daozi had fought Beigong Xuan without concealing his identity.

Lu Yun’s Shapeshifting Talismans were ineffective on his ghostly servants. Xue Daozi’s earlier appearance on Immortal Sky Island—stomping a number of Ling Clan immortals underfoot—had helped him intimidate onlookers at the time. However, that ended up becoming his downfall in the end.

Alas, Lu Yun hadn’t any other options at the time. Failing to daunt the potential criminals there would’ve only made him a joke.

At the end of the day, he was still too wet behind the ears. His two lifetimes added together, plus the time spent in hell, were barely a fraction compared to some of the oldest immortals. He was maturing with the passage of time, but his plans were rarely perfect.

“Hahaha—” The young man walked out from Situ Zong’s protection with a confident laugh.

Ray after ray of killing intent instantly locked onto him. Even Donglin Biying, standing off to the side, made no attempt to veil her murderous inclinations for him. Her clan’s last patriarch had died in Dusk Province under Lu Yun’s machinations.

“The North Sea court? We already have a bitter grudge between us. Why should I return your dragon vein to you?” Lu Yun’s words caused another wave of gasps.

Many in the audience had initially been doubtful of the North Sea’s claims. Had Lu Yun really robbed their palace blind?

What the young man had said just now was a much clearer admission.

“The North Sea and the Donglin Clan both lost a dao immortal. Is that your reason for collecting a toll? Should the faction who lost their own dao immortal to the tomb’s restriction outside do the same thing, then?”

Lu Yun didn’t care about the Donglin Clan or the North Sea court. Both were his enemies; it was even quite possible the former hated him more than the latter.

“Ah, I get it now. You two just want the treasure inside all to yourselves. You guys aren’t stupid enough to believe Beigong Xuan won’t kill all of you just ‘cause you paid up, right?” he cackled to the crowd.

“I’ll let you all in on a little secret. Beigong Xuan’s already picked his ninth arcane dao fruit without anyone realizing it! He’s even figured out how to pluck an origin dao fruit, too!

“Make no mistake, he’ll get there as soon as he’s strong enough. I just wonder, which major—which land—or which immortal sea will lose its heavenly mandate to him?” The young man spoke in an even tone, clearly articulating his words into everyone’s ears.

There was an involuntary shiver from the audience.

“Absolutely absurd!” The aether dao immortal reddened with anger. Lu Yun was rumormongering! This was slander, pure and simple!

“Absolutely absurd?” Lu Yun shook his head slightly. “Plucking an origin dao fruit involves fighting those strange, long-haired monsters. Tsk tsk, I’ve fought them myself, you know! When I met Beigong Xuan, I sensed a power from him that could counter them.