Absolute ResonanceAbsolute Resonance
Abyssal City
Qin Jiujie was standing at the top of the city, and his gaze was directed at the faraway Treasure Domain. His expression was ashen and a look of panic appeared in his eyes.
"Tan Tailan... she actually returned!"
He had witnessed Tan Tailan's descent and her battle with the Faceless Other King. This development had sent waves rocking through his heart. He had never predicted, amidst all of his calculations, that Tan Tailan would return by breaking through the World's End River and reverse the situation.
Furthermore, she had revealed eight Ten-Pillar Golden Duke Bergfrieds, making her a Greater Transcendent Duke!
This meant that she was capable of defeating a Dual Crowned King! If he were to challenge her alone, he could even be placed at a disadvantage!
"Damn it! Damn it!!!" Qin Jiujie's heart was filled with frustration and anger. He had worked hard to cause Li Jingzhe's fall, but who could have expected that after the Dragon's Fang Lineage had lost a Quasi-Triple Crown King, they would then gain a Greater Transcendent Duke? There was basically no difference between the two! Was the Dragon's Fang Lineage's fortune simply that blessed and abnormal? Qin Jiujie tightly clenched his fists. His plan had basically been completely upended.
However, at this point, his expression changed and he flickered away, appearing in the depths of one of the pavilions within the city next to a huge lake.
The water was bubbling violently and a large, white fish emerged from the depths. This fish had a strange appearance as its face was featureless.
"Faceless! You dare to come here?! Are you trying to ruin me as well!?" Qin Jiujie shouted as he glared at the weird fish with a voice full of anger.
The fish let out a cold laugh. "Qin Jiujie, the Origin Reversion Institute has supported you for countless years, yet you still wish to stay neutral?"
Qin Jiujie's eyes turned gloomy.
"When Tan Tailan appeared, you should have joined hands with me to suppress her," the Faceless Other King said bitterly.
"Even with the two of us joining hands, we might not have been able to suppress her, especially considering that you're still injured," Qin Jiujie explained with a frown. "In addition, Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong and White Elephant King Zhu Yuan were watching. If I dared to step in, they would definitely have found out that we are working together, so how could they possibly stand by idly?!"
The Faceless Other King knew that Qin Jiujie was right. Tan Tailan's sudden appearance had completely ruined their plans. Their goal was to restrict all of the other Kings, but they had not taken such a wildcard into account.
This couldn't have been foreseen.
Who would have thought that someone who had disappeared from the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent for more than twenty years would choose this very moment to return as a Greater Transcendent Duke?
"Won't we be discovered by Tan Tailan since you chose to escape here?" Qin Jiujie couldn't help but ask.
"Qin Jiujie, don't think about standing alone anymore. The final plan of the Origin Reversion Institute is to cause the World's End River to completely overturn and herald an Other Disaster with a magnitude that’s never been seen before on the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent. Originally, we wanted to use the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li's land as the nexus, but it looks like we have no choice but to use the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin’s territory now," the Faceless Other King replied.
When Qin Jiujie heard this, he was completely taken aback. "What are you trying to do?!"
"I want Abyssal City to be the anchor point where we disrupt the World's End River. This way, the Other Disaster will break out from this region," the Faceless Other King indifferently replied.
"What?!" Qin Jiujie's expression turned steely green.
"You dare to act so audaciously, Faceless?"
The Other Disasters incited by the Origin Reversion Institute were never trivial in scale. If it were to erupt from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin's territory, the casualties would inevitably be tremendous. ṜΆΝȪ𝐁Ɛŝ
It would also deal a devastating blow to the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin's reputation.
Qin Jiujie was currently the leader of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin, and he would undoubtedly lose his position if something happened during his tenure. The other Palace Masters would definitely force him to relinquish his position.
Thus, when he heard the Faceless Other King's plans, killing intent surfaced through his heart.
"Qin Jiujie, the Origin Reversion Institute has planned this for many years and the Honored Lords are closely watching the situation. If the Other Disaster fails to occur and the Honored Lords question me, who will bear the consequences? Furthermore, do you think that the Origin Reversion Institute is a charity? We have supported you all these years and assisted you in reaching the Dual Crowned King Stage. Do you think that you won't need to repay the debt? If the plan doesn't succeed, the Origin Reversion Institute will definitely confiscate everything they have given you over the years, with interest!" the Faceless Other King retorted mercilessly as if it was capable of sensing the killing intent surging within Qin Jiujie's heart.
Qin Jiujie clenched his fists, causing the space around him to distort.
He was truly infuriated with this situation. He could hear the threat in the Faceless Other King's words, and he couldn't remember just how long it had been since anyone had dared to treat him this way.
However, his fury gradually abated. He seemed to be struggling internally. The current Faceless Other King had been grievously injured by Tan Tailan, but so what if he killed it here? The Origin Reversion Institute was simply too terrifying, and he absolutely understood why.
Even if the Faceless Other King fell, there were twelve more Kings!
Above these Other Kings were the even more frightening Honored Lords from the Honored Lord Courtyard. Each and every one of them was a Heavenly Emperor. His relationship with the Origin Reversion Institute had simply become too deep over the years. If any of this information was revealed, the first one to abandon him would undoubtedly be the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin.
After which, he would become the sworn enemy of the entire Heavenly Origin Divine Continent.
In such a situation, if he were to fall out with the Origin Reversion Institute, his status as a Dual Crowned King wouldn't be enough for him to survive.
What the Origin Reversion Institute gave, they could also take away.
Thus, after calming himself down, he felt a looming sense of powerlessness within him. He realized that he had been ensnared too deeply in the web spun by the Origin Reversion Institute and could no longer separate himself.
"Qin Jiujie, now that you've been dragged through the mud, don't be so naive to think that you can wash your hands of this. The Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin cannot hold you back and your Heavenly Emperor can barely protect himself. Perhaps you might soon receive news of his death... Without Heavenly Emperor Qin, can the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin be considered a Heavenly Emperor power any longer? They can no longer give you anything, but the Origin Reversion Institute can. You can still improve yourself and perhaps even become a Heavenly Emperor one day. One choice leads to a setting sun, while the other possesses unlimited potential. Is it really that hard to make a decision?" the Faceless Other King cajoled coolly. His words were like the temptations of the devil as they resounded throughout the area.
Qin Jiujie fell silent for just a moment before the struggle in his eyes dissipated. He looked around the majestic city and sighed softly.
"Who would have expected that I, Qin Jiujie, the leader of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin, would be the one to betray it."
"You were never qualified to reach this stage. The Origin Reversion Institute was the one that gave you this right." The Faceless Other King sharply pointed out.
Qin Jiujie's expression remained indifferent and he didn't retort in any way. Instead, he raised his head and glanced into the air above Abyssal City. "You are truly despicable. You've purposely left traces behind so that you could attract everyone's attention."
The Faceless Other King's actions had left him with no other choice.
In the sky above Abyssal City, numerous silver streams of light could be seen in the void as a tall figure strode across space. Behind her were the numerous individuals from the different powers.
Who could it have been but Tan Tailan?
Furthermore, the people from the different powers were looking at the scene before them with disbelief in their eyes.
Tan Tailan overlooked the city from high above, her eyes focused on the pavilion with a lake. She then focused on a particular individual.
"Qin Jiujie, hand over the Origin Reversion Institute's Faceless Other King."
Her cold declaration rang out throughout the entire area.
The entire city could hear her resounding voice, and looks of shock appeared on their faces.
What had they just heard?
The Origin Reversion Institute's Faceless Other King was hiding here, in Abyssal City? Furthermore, Qin Jiujie, the Dual Crowned King, was connected to it?
How could this be?
Countless confused eyes turned towards the skies above the city. If it weren't for the exceptionally pure and vast undulations of resonant power coming from the lady, they might have even assumed that she was an Other.
Before anyone in the city could react, those who had followed her from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin with Qin Baiyan at the lead couldn't help but to speak up. "Duke Lan, could this situation have been orchestrated by the Faceless Other King to sow discord amongst the four Heavenly Emperor powers to create an opportunity for it to escape? Palace Master Qin is the leader of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin; how could someone of his stature possibly be in cahoots with the Faceless Other King?"
Tan Tailan indifferently replied, "Wasn't it people from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin who were heavily corrupted and caused great change within the Treasure Domain?"
Qin Baiyan paused. That was indeed strange. Shen Yunge and Qin Lian, two important chess pieces that served to control the situation, had both spent time in Abyssal City before everything happened.
Despite that, saying that Qin Jiujie was working together with the Faceless Other King was a little too much.
Li Luo stood beside Tan Tailan, and his gaze turned icy. The damnable Origin Reversion Institute and the damnable Qin Jiujie had harmed Li Jingzhe and caused his fall. This bloody enmity could not be forgiven. As they spoke, the void shook and two figures pierced through, appearing in the skies above Abyssal City as well.
The might of a King swept over the area, causing the heavens and earth to shake.
One was sitting atop a ferocious tiger and the other atop a glazed white elephant. They were none other than Zhu Yuan and Zhao Zong.
The two Kings immediately turned their eyes towards Tan Tailan, and looks of surprise surfaced in their eyes. It was only after a few moments that they raised one hand before their bodies and respectfully greeted her.
"Greetings, Duke Lan. Congratulations on becoming a Transcendent Duke."
Their expressions were uneasy, especially Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong’s. It was important to note that just twenty years ago, Tan Tailan was merely a member of the junior generation. However, she had surpassed him. Zhao Zong and Zhu Yuan were both Single Crowned Kings, and in terms of strength, were incomparable to the Greater Transcendent Duke Tan Tailan. They had started cultivating before her. Yet despite their seniority, she was much stronger than them and thus they had no choice but to address her respectfully.
Only Transcendent Dukes were worthy of being treated as equals by Kings, and the two Kings’ actions did not go unnoticed by the people below. An uproar ensued.
There were many who could no longer even remember Tan Tailan's appearance. Thus, they simply didn't understand why the Kings were treating this lady with so much courtesy.
"Duke Lan, do you have any proof of your claim?" Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong asked solemnly.
Zhu Yuan nodded in agreement. They were taken aback when they first heard her declaration. They never could have imagined Qin Jiujie would be working together with the Origin Reversion Institute's Faceless Other King.
This was something that would send shockwaves throughout the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent.
Furthermore, the situation within the four Heavenly Emperor powers would change as a result of this.
Their lineages had suffered crippling losses within the Treasure Domain, and if Qin Jiujie was responsible for this, they would not let this go.
When faced with the Kings’ questions, Tan Tailan calmly looked towards the Abyssal City, which resembled a gigantic beast. Her nonchalant voice rang out, causing the hearts of everyone present to sink.
"Is it not proof of your involvement that you, Qin Jiujie, have chosen to not come out of Abyssal City despite everything?"