Chapter 46: The Realm of a Thousand Faces (Second Update)

“Hoo…” Bing Changtian exhaled deeply, casting a glare at Nie Long. “Nie Long, you really have gone too far, killing indiscriminately without understanding the situation.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Did you really come here to discuss with me and the Thousand Dragon Sect how to execute your youngest daughter?”

Clearly, the death of Left Minister Yu at Bing Muer’s hands had soured Nie Long’s mood considerably.

“Of course!” Bing Changtian nodded. “If Muer is not dealt with, the City Lord’s Manor of the Southern Domain will face a great calamity. Muer herself is not the real threat—the one to fear is the young Master Chen behind her.”

“That young Master Chen—I’ve heard about him as well. Let’s talk frankly. What exactly is the story with this young Master Chen?”

The two descended to the ground, heading straight for the main hall of the Thousand Dragon Sect.

“Nie Long, I truly don’t know the details about this Master Chen. I wasn’t present at the Tomb of the Demon Emperor,” Bing Changtian said, shaking his head. “All I’ve heard are rumors. They say that when the Demon Emperor was resurrected, Muer produced a painting and instantly suppressed the Demon Emperor. That very painting was a gift from the mysterious Master Chen.”

“I’ve heard as much myself.” Nie Long’s face remained dark and forbidding as he spoke in a low voice. “Clearly, your little princess from the City Lord’s Manor relies on this Master Chen to act so audaciously and force my son to his death. What I want to know now is—who is this Master Chen, really?”

“He’s a most enigmatic figure. Some claim he’s a hidden master, but I know little beyond that,” Bing Changtian replied, shaking his head. “My concern is whether we can arrange matters so that her death appears unrelated to us. We must guard against him. If Master Chen discovers that we were the ones who killed Muer, and he flies into a rage, the consequences could be disastrous.”

“You’re right,” Nie Long agreed with a nod. “That Master Chen is indeed fearsome. If we could kill him as well, that would be ideal.”

“I was thinking the same thing. That’s why we need to lay a careful trap,” Bing Changtian said, his eyes bright with resolve.

“Indeed, we must plan this meticulously.” Nie Long frowned and sank into thought.

This Master Chen, who had suddenly appeared in the Southern Domain, was unsettling. With a single painting, he had subdued the Demon Emperor. Just the thought of it was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Such an existence must be eliminated, even if the Tomb of the Demon Emperor incident hadn’t occurred. Otherwise, in time, the entire Southern Domain, the Spring and Autumn Kingdom, or even the whole Snowbound Realm would be forced to bow to him.

“Perhaps we should report this to the Sacred Emperor. With a figure like this, let’s see what his majesty decides,” Nie Long suggested, his brow furrowing.

“We cannot disturb the Sacred Emperor lightly,” Bing Changtian replied, shaking his head. “If we can deal with Master Chen ourselves, that would be best. But to eliminate someone like him will be a daunting task. It might even shake the balance of the Southern Domain.”

“Do you have a plan in mind?” Nie Long’s interest was piqued.

“I have a rough idea,” Bing Changtian nodded. “But I’ll need the help of the Thousand Dragon Sect. Rumor has it that your sect possesses the remnant soul of a demon dragon—is that true?”

“It is. The demon dragon’s remnant soul has been with us for countless ages. It is sealed within our sect’s supreme treasure,” Nie Long replied, frowning. “You want to use the demon dragon’s remnant soul to kill the little princess and Master Chen?”

“Exactly!” Bing Changtian rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Next, I need to visit the Sacred Emperor’s court to borrow something.”

“What is it you wish to borrow?”

“The Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation.”

“The Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation?” Nie Long was taken aback. “That’s the Spring and Autumn Holy Nation’s national treasure. Will the Sacred Emperor lend it to you? And what do you intend with it?”

Bing Changtian smiled. “Nie Long, only with the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation can I make this plan flawless. How I will use it, you’ll see in due time. For now, I need your sect’s supreme treasure. Don’t misunderstand me—I only want the demon dragon’s remnant soul, not your treasure itself.”

“Hmph!” Nie Long snorted in disdain. “As if you would dare! Someone—bring the World of a Thousand Visages, our sect’s supreme treasure, and lend it to the Lord of the Southern Domain!”

Right now, all he wanted was the death of the little princess and Master Chen, to avenge his son. If it meant sacrificing the power of the Thousand Dragon Sect, he would do so without hesitation, let alone merely lending their treasure.

Soon, someone brought over the World of a Thousand Visages.

It was an enormous, gilded tome—a book covered entirely in gold.

“This is your sect’s supreme treasure, the World of a Thousand Visages?” Bing Changtian was astonished.

“It is,” Nie Long nodded. “The World of a Thousand Visages has a thousand pages. Each page marks a transformation of our ancient dragon bloodline, and each contains a pocket realm.”

Bing Changtian drew in a sharp breath. The World of a Thousand Visages contained an overwhelming amount of power. A single page represented a transformation of the ancient dragon bloodline—there were a thousand such transformations in all. No wonder the Thousand Dragon Sect was a heaven-ranked sect. It would only be a matter of time before it was elevated to a holy sect. The name “Thousand Dragon” no doubt came from this very tome.

More astonishing still, each page held an entire pocket realm—a thousand realms within a single book!

Nie Long was very pleased with Bing Changtian’s shocked reaction, and spoke slowly, “Our demon dragon’s remnant soul has always been sealed within this tome. So do not open it lightly—the consequences would be yours to bear.”

“Understood!” Bing Changtian nodded quickly, now looking at the golden tome with a hint of dread. At this moment, he held a demon dragon’s remnant soul in his hands—it made his skin crawl.

“Well, since you must still visit the Sacred Emperor’s court, I won’t keep you. Go and bring back good news,” Nie Long said, waving him away.

“Very well. I hope, when the time comes, you will attend a celebration in the Southern Domain’s City Lord’s Manor,” Bing Changtian replied with a faint smile. “I won’t trouble you further. Farewell!”

“No need to see you out,” Nie Long said, watching Bing Changtian’s departing figure with a subtle smile.

He knew perfectly well that Bing Changtian’s invitation to the so-called celebration was simply to have him witness the deaths of the little princess and Master Chen.

He looked forward to it. Both the little princess and the man behind her had to die!

He was very curious to see what means Bing Changtian would employ to kill them. Still, he believed the man could accomplish it. After all, the ability to become Lord of the Southern Domain was proof enough of Bing Changtian’s extraordinary methods.