Chapter 664: Sudden Appearance of Seven Kings Hall
While Lin Dong dealt with the scythe spirit in the sky, the two Supreme Elders below watched Lin Langtian standing protectively before Qing Tan, their expressions turning uncertain.
"Damn it. Who knows where this Shadow Guard Lin Langtian disappeared to for the past two years, for his strength to become so terrifying.
"And that girl's brother is just as frightening. What kind of clan stands behind this girl, to produce such twin monster prodigies?"
The two Supreme Elders exchanged a look and both saw unease in the other's eyes.
Today's matter clearly would not be so easily resolved.
"All we can do now is hope the scythe spirit can handle that Lin Dong…"
They sighed inwardly and looked up again—only for their gazes to suddenly harden.
"What is that?"
On Lin Dong's body, a soft white radiance had appeared. It gathered before him, forming another light silhouette.
This new figure resembled the scythe spirit somewhat, but lacked its terrifying pressure.
The elders relaxed slightly.
"Hmph. Does the boy think he can use that thing to fight the scythe spirit? He really doesn't know his limits," one of them sneered, a trace of mockery flickering in his eyes.
Every gaze in the plaza had also turned toward the two spirits in the sky.
Everyone understood that the scythe spirit was the Supreme Elders' final trump card.
If even this card failed, the elders opposing Qing Tan would face disaster.
Yan's projection stepped forward, casting the elders a mocking look before lifting a finger.
A gentle white light shot out, piercing straight into the scythe spirit's brow.
Buzz…
The scythe spirit's body trembled. White radiance burst from within it.
Dark patterns began to surface across its chest.
Under the glow of the white light, those black lines melted at an astonishing speed.
The Supreme Elders' faces suddenly changed.
Those black lines were the curse patterns they used to control the scythe spirit.
Now, they were being forced out.
"Not good!"
Their expressions twisted in panic as they tried to activate the curses—
But a faint cracking sound echoed.
The runes shattered completely.
The instant they vanished, the elders felt their control over the scythe spirit vanish as well.
"H–how is this possible…"
Their faces turned chalk‑white as they stared at Yan in horror.
They simply could not comprehend how he had undone their curse so easily.
Even pinnacle experts who had passed Samsara Tribulations could not have managed such a feat.
Yan's seals shifted. Beams of light fell onto the scythe spirit and it erupted in brilliant radiance.
Then, before countless eyes, it condensed once more into a small black bead.
Yan gestured and the bead dropped into his palm.
He tossed it lightly to Lin Dong. "Place the scythe spirit within the Dark Saint Scythe. Only then can it properly recover."
Lin Dong caught the bead and nodded.
With a flick of his finger, he sent it flying toward Qing Tan. "Catch."
Her grip tightened on the Dark Saint Scythe as it flared with black light.
The radiance swept up the bead and drew it into the blade.
The weapon shuddered violently as a terrifying wave of power blasted outward.
The elders of the council stared at the sight, faces ashen.
The entire plaza was in an uproar.
Everyone understood what this meant.
The Elder Council's coup had failed—utterly and completely.
On the altar, Qing Tan's fingers clenched around the Dark Saint Scythe, her beautiful face turning glacial.
"Supreme Elders, you hid the scythe spirit. Do you admit your guilt?"
At her icy words, both elders flinched. They drew breath to speak—
But then they saw Lin Langtian and Lin Dong descending from the sky.
Twin killing auras surged outward without the slightest concealment.
Any false move now, and the brothers would strike like thunder.
The stench of death flooded the elders' hearts.
Fear finally flashed in their eyes.
After a brief struggle, they bowed their heads. "What happened today was because we let ourselves be misled. We beg the Palace Master for mercy."
Thud!
Their pleas sent a shockwave through the Elder Council.
One by one, the other elders fell to their knees.
"Palace Master, we too were coerced by the Great Elder. We beg you to spare us!"
The tide had turned so quickly that many could barely keep up.
Moments ago, the Elder Council had been on the attack. Now, they were in full collapse.
The visiting leaders from all across the Northern Xuan Region could only sigh inwardly as they looked up at the figure on the altar.
From this day on, she would be the undisputed master of the Dark Hall.
Their gazes also drifted to Lin Langtian and Lin Dong, brimming with awe.
No one had expected the Lin Clan behind Qing Tan to have produced such terrifying twin stars.
With these two standing behind her, Qing Tan's position as Palace Master would be unshakable.
"Palace Master, this matter implicates too many. If all are punished severely, the Dark Hall will suffer greatly," one of the black‑robed elders said softly.
The Supreme Elders clearly knew how important they were to the hall; that was why they had surrendered so readily.
Qing Tan nodded gently.
She swept her hand, and dozens of black talismans flickered into existence, streaking through the air to hover before the supreme elders and the other council members.
Each symbol pulsed with deep black light.
"Elders, your rebellion today is a capital crime.
"But in light of your past merits, I will spare your lives.
"However, death may be waived, but punishment cannot.
"These are the Dark Hall's Dark Sacred Talismans.
"If you wish to live, you will swallow them," Qing Tan said coldly.
The faces of the elders shifted.
They knew the Dark Sacred Talismans well.
Once ingested, their lives would lie entirely in her hands.
Any hint of rebellion, and even their bones would be erased.
"So long as you remain loyal to the hall, these talismans will never activate.
"I have no desire to harm our own strength without cause," she continued.
Her gaze swept across the wavering elders. "What is this?
"Do you still harbor rebellious thoughts?"
"We do not dare!"
Teeth grinding, the elders swallowed their talismans.
The Supreme Elders hesitated a moment longer, then let out a long sigh and did the same.
What a ruthless move.
Above, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong exchanged a look, both with a bitter smile.
The innocent little girl they once knew had become a decisive queen.
Who knew what she had suffered these past years?
A pang of guilt stirred in Lin Langtian's heart.
He had once been assigned by Bo Xuan to protect Qing Tan as her Shadow Guard.
Yet circumstances had forced him to leave the Northern Xuan Region, abandoning her to struggle alone in the Dark Tribunal.
Seeing the brothers' expressions, Qing Tan pursed her lips.
She waved her hand, dismissing the Dark Tribunal's enforcers.
Once the others had withdrawn, she lowered her head slightly and walked over.
She tugged lightly at both of them with her small hands.
Lin Langtian chuckled and ruffled her hair.
Lin Dong only shot her a sidelong glance and snorted. "Quite the methods you've picked up. Where did you learn them?"
Her lips quivered as she muttered, "I didn't want to wear these masks.
"But you both left me. No one was there for me.
"As long as it helps my two big brothers, I don't care what I have to become—even if it's someone you don't like."
Lin Dong froze.
He looked down at the girl in his arms and sighed deeply.
She knew exactly where to strike his heart.
After those words, how could he blame her for anything?
Lin Langtian shook his head as well.
No matter what, this little sister of theirs had grown up.
…
The Dark Hall's rebellion ended as swiftly as it had begun.
With Lin Langtian and Lin Dong's intervention and Qing Tan's perfectly balanced mixture of punishment and mercy, the hall passed through the crisis without crippling itself.
Instead, she gained complete control over its forces.
From now on, she would be the true master of the Dark Hall.
Given the hall's standing in the Northern Xuan Region, it would not be an exaggeration to call her its empress.
With the festival concluded, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong stayed in the City of Darkness for a few days.
The hall had only just stabilized, and Qing Tan had countless matters to settle.
They could hardly just drag her away by force.
They would have to wait until she had everything in order.
A tranquil bamboo grove.
Two or three small bamboo houses nestled among the green, the clear air soothing to the spirit.
Lin Langtian knew the place well.
He had first met Bo Xuan here.
In just two years, everything had changed.
The former ruler of the Northern Xuan Region had fallen to the Samsara Tribulation.
Sitting inside one of the bamboo houses, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong shared fine tea from the Northern Xuan Region as they gazed out over the swaying grove.
It was a rare moment of peace.
"Brother Dong, it's been a long time since we've had a day this relaxed," Lin Langtian murmured, savoring the rich yuan power in the tea.
"It really has.
"Once we bring Qing Tan home, Father and Mother will be overjoyed," Lin Dong said with a stretch and a smile.
His family was everything to him.
Knowing she was safe at last finally eased his heart.
Lin Langtian felt a pang of envy for such warmth.
He opened his mouth to speak again—then he and Lin Dong both stiffened.
Their eyes rose to the bamboo outside.
On a distant stalk, a black silhouette stood motionless, its eyes like twin pits of darkness.
Both brothers' pupils tightened.
"Hehe. So you're the Lin Langtian and Lin Dong that Four Kings Hall mentioned?"
The figure lifted its head. Under the moonlight, a face crisscrossed with demonic markings emerged.
He grinned, showing rows of pale teeth that radiated a chilling malice.
"I am Seven Kings Hall of Abyssal Prison.
"I've come specifically for you."
Seven Kings Hall.
The brothers exchanged a heavy look.
Within Abyssal Prison, the Kings Halls were its highest echelon—its mightiest forces.
Even Four Kings Hall's avatar had once nearly overwhelmed them.
Now, Seven Kings Hall had come in person.
"To think Abyssal Prison would send a figure of your level just for us," Lin Dong said slowly, eyes locked on the newcomer.
"Hehe.
"You two rank rather high on our must‑kill list.
"Sending me is only fitting," Seven Kings Hall replied with a mild smile.
Lin Dong snorted. "But if someone of your level starts a battle here, the commotion will be enormous.
"Aren't you afraid that the awakened Thunder Master will sense you?"
Seven Kings Hall's smile tightened for a moment.
Then he said softly, "Thunder Master once slept here in the Northern Xuan Region.
"That is why we have seldom come here.
"But since he has now left, if I finish this quickly, he will not have time to notice."
"Is that so?"
Lightning and darkness flickered in Lin Dong's eyes as a vast aura quietly spread out from him.
Beside him, golden thunder danced across Lin Langtian's body as the oppressive might of the Dragon Kun surged into the air.
Facing such a foe, neither dared to be careless.
Seven Kings Hall smiled faintly at their wariness, then swept his gaze around.
"Still, this is not the best place to fight.
"I'll have to trouble you to come along," he said lightly.
He waved his hand.
The surrounding space twisted as five black silhouettes silently stepped forth.
Each aura was as heavy as a mountain.
Lin Langtian and Lin Dong's faces hardened.
Every one of the newcomers was at the Demon King level.
For the sake of killing the Lin Clan's twin stars, Abyssal Prison had truly gone all‑in.
(END CHAPTER)
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