Elder Qian's self-destruction was like throwing a heavy boulder into a calm lake. The ripples rapidly spread to the entire Alliance high level. Panic and suspicion like invisible vines coiled around everyone's hearts. The atmosphere already tense due to demonic spot chaos and resource allocation issues became razor-thin.
Tang Xiaoqi deeply knew this was not the time to lose composure. He strictly sealed Elder Qian's self-destruction scene details, only announcing his death from cultivation, personally appeasing Elder Qian's faction forces, temporarily stabilizing the situation. He instructed Mu Qingfeng, Liu Yun, and Luo Feng to move internal investigation into deeper concealment, focusing on people closely associated with Elder Qian who held important positions.
However, the demon head or rather its moles were more alert and cunning than they anticipated.
Just five days after Elder Qian's "accidental" death, a more shocking message—Senior Elder Situ Ming, responsible for Alliance diplomatic liaison affairs, left behind a vague jade slip message, then along with several trusted disciples, disappeared without a trace overnight! Also missing were core secret jade slips concerning Alliance recent troop deployments, resource reserve points, and partial space formation research progress within his access permissions!
This was no longer self-destruction but naked!
The news. Situ Ming was a highly respected veteran Nascent Soul cultivator, extremely senior in the Alliance, having managed diplomatic affairs for years. His defection's impact far exceeded Elder Qian's "accidental" death.
"How could Elder Situ...?""Even Elder Situ... to what extent has our internal infiltration progressed?""Those secrets he took... if they fall into the demon head's hands, consequences are unimaginable!""Is the Alliance still safe? Who around us can still be trusted?"
Various discussions throughout Alliance headquarters. Human cultivators first experienced intense turbulence. Other races' representatives showed deeper doubt and scrutiny. The delicate balance already existing due to three-clan co-governance became precarious.
Xiaoqi's face gloomed almost. He first personally examined the jade slip Situ Ming left behind. The content was extremely brief, full of contradictions: "The Dao differs, cannot be served together... Not what I wished, truly forced by circumstances... Darkness will eventually shroud all, struggling is futile... Future successors, take heed..."
Between the lines were both determination and some coercion and unwillingness, more like a product of strong spiritual interference or control.
"It's the demon head's! Elder Situ must have been controlled!" Mu Qingfeng's tone was heavy, with pain. He had worked with Situ Ming for years and knew his loyalty was unquestionable.
Liu Yun focused on practical issues: "The secrets he took, especially space formation research progress and troop deployments, if known by the demon head, our upcoming actions will be completely exposed! All plans must be adjusted immediately!"
Luo Feng's voice transmitted from the jade pendant: "I tracked their possible escape routes. The other party made extremely sophisticated counter-tracking measures. Spatial traces were disturbed multiple times, finally disappearing toward the Southwest Miasma Lands, with some overlap with the previously hypothesized Shadow Plane entrance area. Moreover, I discovered that three months ago, under the pretext of 'researching ancient sites,' Elder Situ personally approved a large resource allocation with unclear usage, including several types exactly needed to maintain and stabilize high-intensity space passages!"
All clues pointed to one conclusion: Situ Ming did not defect on sudden impulse but had been targeted and influenced by the demon head or its moles long ago. Moreover, within the Alliance, there might still exist a higher-level network assisting his defection and covering traces!
"What a 'truly forced by circumstances'!" Xiaoqi coldly snorted. "What a 'darkness will eventually shroud'! This clearly is the demon head's usual trick—first tempt with power or desire, then terrorize with despair, finally completely control!"
Situ Ming's defection was like a heavy hammer the Alliance's already fragile trust foundation. It confirmed the mole's existence and showed this mole's level was so high, concealment so deep, harm so great, far exceeding imagination.
Heavy suspicions, crises on all sides.
Xiaoqi knew any overreaction could trigger the Alliance's complete split. He suppressed the urge for immediate large-scale purge, convening an emergency Alliance high-level meeting.
At the meeting, he made public the Situ Ming defection event, acknowledging the Alliance truly had problems, but emphasizing this was the dying struggle scheme of demonic head remnants, aimed at dismantling them from within.
"Panic and suspicion are exactly what the demon head most wants to see!" Xiaoqi's gaze swept across everyone, his voice. "The more so, the more we must unite! Trust is indeed precious, but extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. I propose immediately establishing a 'Wartime Supervisory Department,' directly commanded by me, granted authority for immediate decisions, to investigate all suspicious personnel. All core secret access permissions are temporarily recalled."
The meeting concluded in a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
The defection event. Xiaoqi stood at the Stargazing Pavilion's top, his heart. Internal must be cleared quickly, but the Shadow Plane's demon head was even more urgent. He must fight on two fronts, and must act fast! Before the Alliance was completely hollowed out from within, before the demon head recovered strength and returned!
The storm had not ended. It had merely changed form, hidden beneath this sky of false peace and blood-and-sacrifice-purchased prosperity. Undercurrents were already surging. The true contest might just be beginning.