Inside the room.
Yun Jin and Di Ying were flicking a few beads around like children at play, while Di Xiao sat on the side watching. He felt an overwhelming urge to complain.
These two... could they be any more idle?
Especially Yun Jin.
Did she not realize that Lin Xiao was already plotting her death behind her back?
With a Holy Land Master targeting her, instead of thinking of ways to resolve the crisis, she spent her days doing such meaningless things!
And the worst part—because of their bet, he could not even speak directly to Yun Jin!
Di Xiao's eyes shifted, and he suddenly said to Di Ying, "Younger Sister, tell Yun Jin that Lin Xiao seems to want me to join hands with him to put her to death."
Di Ying's eyes widened. "Lin Xiao? The one who invited us to drink? He's that bad? Master, did you hear that? That old villain wants to harm you!"
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "Di Ying, tell your brother this. Lin Xiao will surely try harder to draw him over soon. He is a Holy Land Master, and he has plenty of treasures. If he offers gifts, just take them."
Di Ying blinked in surprise, then quickly looked toward Di Xiao. "Brother…"
Di Xiao frowned deeply. "Di Ying, ask Yun Jin what exactly she wants to do?"
"Master…" Di Ying turned back to Yun Jin.
Yun Jin replied calmly, "Di Ying, tell your brother this: when the opportunity comes, agree to Lin Xiao's proposal of an alliance. Lin Xiao has always wanted to kill me, and when have I ever not wanted to kill him?"
A flash of cold light glinted in Yun Jin's eyes.
Before, compared to Lin Xiao, her strength was far too weak.
To kill a Pavilion Master of a Holy Land, she lacked the capital.
But now—her power had advanced greatly, and she had Di Xiao as an ally.
If prepared properly, the chance to kill Lin Xiao had finally arrived.
She had been on the defensive long enough. Now, it was time to strike back.
"Brother…" Di Ying looked helplessly at Di Xiao again.
Honestly.
The two of them could hear each other just fine—why make her run back and forth like this?
Di Xiao narrowed his eyes. "From the moment you entered Sky City, you had already started plotting against Lin Xiao. You made him believe I want you dead, so naturally he came to me seeking an alliance. But in truth, you and I are the real allies. If he arranges a trap based on this false information, the moment I turn against him, you and I together will have the chance to keep Lin Xiao here forever."
Yun Jin smiled lightly. "Senior Di, why didn't you have Di Ying pass that along?"
Di Xiao's face darkened. "Can't I talk to myself if I want to?!"
Yun Jin chuckled. "Well, that is indeed what I was planning. It seems everything is unfolding smoothly."
Di Xiao sneered. "You've calculated all this, but have you thought I may not actually help you against Lin Xiao?"
Yun Jin arched a brow. "No, you will."
"Oh?" Di Xiao narrowed his eyes.
"First of all, the disaster in the Spirit Beast Forest mainly happened in the Qingxiao region. For so many years, such widespread slaughter could not have remained hidden without someone covering it up. Whoever did this must have influence that blots out the sky.
Disciples of Qingxiao Pavilion had previously been exposed as tainted with demonic qi. Later, they merely pushed out a few scapegoats to quell suspicion. The other three Holy Lands have been wary of Qingxiao Pavilion ever since, suspecting ties to the Demon Clan."
Yun Jin's gaze was steady. "This time, both the Spirit Beast Forest and the Beastmaster Sect encountered problems, and it was Lin Xiao who pointed me to the Spirit Beast Forest. Had I failed to save the Tongtian Hou cub, or had you killed me outright when I asked about those two stones, I would already be dead or crippled. Meanwhile, the Beastmaster Sect and Spirit Beast Forest would surely be at war.
Such a chain of coincidences... don't you find it strange?"
Di Xiao's tone was slow. "You're implying Lin Xiao is the mastermind behind it all. But there's no direct evidence. I cannot casually attack a Holy Land Master."
Yun Jin laughed softly. "Senior Di, you needn't pretend anymore."
Di Xiao bristled. "Pretend? When did I ever pretend!"
"Before Sky City, perhaps you still hesitated. But now…" Yun Jin's voice was cool. "The way he knew so much about the Xuan Yin Crystal and Tian Zhao Stone—more than you expected, isn't it?"
Di Xiao's expression shifted slightly.
Lin Xiao had given a plausible excuse, but Di Xiao was no fool.
What was certain was this: Lin Xiao firmly believed he would make a move against Yun Jin. But what gave Lin Xiao such confidence?
From an outsider's view, Yun Jin had helped the Spirit Beast Forest greatly. As its king, what reason did he have to harm her?
Yet from the beginning, Lin Xiao was certain of his hostility—certain to the point of assuming he would kill Yun Jin. And it was Lin Xiao who guided her to question him about those two stones.
The only explanation was that Lin Xiao knew exactly what those stones were—and that her inquiry would drive an irreconcilable wedge between them.
Knowing of the stones was one thing.
But knowing they were tied to his very life and strength—that was the true problem. Those stones were his source of power, his weakness and his trump card. How could such knowledge be tolerated?
Yes. Because of that, he had already birthed killing intent toward Lin Xiao.
"You and I together can erase Lin Xiao. The secret will remain buried forever. And since he is clearly an important figure for the Demon Clan, his death will strike them a heavy blow." Yun Jin pressed coldly.
Di Xiao stared at her deeply. "And yet, you also know this secret."
"I don't count," Yun Jin said carelessly. "You don't even need to consider me human."
Di Xiao was so enraged he almost laughed.
But after a moment's thought, his voice calmed. "During our stay in Sky City, I will play along with Lin Xiao, feigning alliance. Then I will lure him to a certain place. That place must be one where no one can sense or spy."
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "Isn't such a place already waiting?"
Di Xiao's voice was low. "The Divine Palace."
Yes.
The Divine Palace.
There, divine sense could not penetrate. If Lin Xiao was killed within, no one would ever know.
The hardest part had always been luring Lin Xiao alone.
But now, Yun Jin herself had volunteered to act as bait.
If Lin Xiao's urge to kill her was strong enough, there was a high chance he would personally walk into the Divine Palace.
Di Xiao and Yun Jin exchanged a long look, tacit understanding forming between them.
Yun Jin's voice grew colder. "The best moment to strike will be after we obtain the palace orb and seal our contract with the Divine Palace. Lin Xiao is no simple opponent. Without an Immortal artifact's aid, even the two of us may not be able to keep him. But with the Divine Palace, then it will truly be foolproof."
Her words dripped with killing intent.