There were only four dark-robed grand cultivators in all.

Now that one had fallen, it would inevitably mean a fight to the death for Xuanguang Cave.

All for the sake of one Xu family.

Great Qian and Xuanguang Cave, these two allies, had finally torn away all pretense between them.

Yet not a single person in the War Temple raised any objection.

They followed quietly behind Shen Yi, shooting off toward the Imperial Capital.

"What's the situation now?"

Xu Hongde looked over at his daughter, only to find that the moment they'd drawn near that magnificent city, Shen Yi had vanished from everyone's sight.

He'd neither discussed how to handle Xuanguang Cave's retaliation, nor made any arrangements for the Xu clansmen.

"Big Brother Shen..."

Xu Qing'er likewise looked toward the city.

By what she knew of Big Brother Shen, whenever he presented himself in this manner, there was in all likelihood more killing to come.

But wasn't this Great Qian's own Imperial Capital?

"Isn't it obvious enough?"

The Xu family's old woman turned her head. "Xuanguang Cave plainly knew all along that our whole clan was relocating. And since it wasn't the War Temple that sold us out, there must be a mole."

"Rest assured. We'll give the Xu family an answer as soon as we can."

Zhu Jue halted his form, killing intent welling up in his eyes.

The scene just now had been too astonishing; it had nearly made them overlook this matter entirely.

Had it not been for the coincidence of Junior Brother Shen returning at just the right moment—

the Xu family would truly have been wiped out root and branch.

Rather than say they owed the Xu family an answer, it would be more apt to say they owed Junior Brother Shen an accounting.

...

In the Imperial Capital, inside a temple so deserted one might have netted sparrows at its door.

A young man in a coarse hemp shirt handed over a few scattered pieces of silver with an ingratiating smile. "Please, Brother Luo — help me out once more."

"Not that it's my…