strictlysupreme Chapter 174 Undercurrents in the Demon Palace, Yao Nu Breaks the Situation
Chapter 174 Undercurrents in the Demon Palace, Yao Nu Breaks the Situation
The night was as dark as ink, and the Demon Palace was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.
Dai Yao admired the jade pendant in her hand. The jade pendant was warm and smooth, cool to the touch, and full of spiritual energy. It was clearly not an ordinary item.
"This gift... isn't it a bit too expensive?" She raised an eyebrow, but before she could finish speaking, the person pulled her into their arms.
In the blink of an eye, a sharp sword aura flew past Dai Yao's nose and embedded itself deeply into the wall behind her!
"Holy crap! What's going on?!" Dai Yao was still in shock. If this person hadn't reacted quickly, she probably would have died on the spot.
The newcomer was dressed in pristine white, exuding an otherworldly air, but his brows were furrowed and he emanated a chilling aura, clearly indicating that he was genuinely enraged.
He carefully checked Dai Yao and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that she was not injured. His tone was tinged with lingering fear: "Thank goodness you're alright."
The attack came suddenly and left quickly, leaving only the sword deeply embedded in the wall as evidence.
The sword was entirely black, exuding a chilling aura; it was clearly not a respectable weapon.
Dai Yao narrowed her eyes, her gaze deep: "It seems someone is eager to see me die."
In the following days, the atmosphere in the Demon Palace became increasingly eerie.
Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the Demon Palace.
Some say Dai Yao's reforms are undermining the foundation of the Demon Palace; others say she has ulterior motives and intends to control the entire Demon Palace; still others say she is colluding with external enemies and betraying the interests of the Demon Palace.
In short, the more outrageous the better, Dai Yao felt as if she had become a sinner of the evil cult overnight, hated by everyone.
"This generation of netizens... no, this generation of Demon Palace disciples is no good, they're too easily swayed!" Dai Yao complained while subtly using her cheat ability to sense the flow of fortune.
Sure enough, behind these rumors lurked several murky forces, like venomous snakes, waiting in the shadows to strike.
Dai Yao's lips curled into a cold smile. Instead of directly exposing their conspiracy, she secretly instructed Ling Feng: "Go, help me find out who is spreading these rumors. Also, focus on the recent movements of those elders, especially their... financial situation."
Lingfeng understood immediately and began investigating.
A few days later, he brought back a whole bunch of "melons".
It turns out that those spreading rumors were remnants of the old forces. They were dissatisfied with Dai Yao's reforms and feared losing their vested interests, so they secretly incited the uninformed masses in an attempt to create chaos and force Dai Yao to step down.
"Good heavens, they're just a bunch of old parasites!" Dai Yao looked at the evidence in her hand and sneered. "It seems they won't know how many eyes Lord Ma has until they've been taught a lesson!" Just as she was about to take further action, she suddenly heard an old voice from outside the door: "Palace Master, the Grand Elder requests an audience."
The Grand Elder of the Demon Palace strode in with steady steps, a solemn expression on his face.
“Palace Master, I have heard about the rumors that have been circulating in the palace recently.” He stroked his beard, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. “Palace Master’s actions are perhaps too radical, which in turn gives others a handle to use against you.”
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow, calmly poured a cup of tea, and handed it over: "Elder, please sit down. Radical? This junior thinks this is called decisive and efficient, like scraping the bone to remove poison." She took a sip of tea, a sly glint in her eyes, "Some chronic illnesses, if not treated in time, will only get worse and worse, eventually festering and causing a disaster."
The Grand Elder took the teacup but didn't drink from it. Instead, he placed it on the table and said in a deep voice, "Palace Master, I know you are wholeheartedly concerned for the Demon Palace, but some things still need to be considered carefully. We must not be hasty." He paused, then added, "Those who spread rumors are certainly despicable, but for the Palace Master to investigate in such a grand manner is perhaps making a mountain out of a molehill and will only cause panic within the palace."
Dai Yao smiled and did not refute, but turned to Ling Feng: "Ling Feng, take what I gave you to the Grand Elder to see." Ling Feng responded and handed a stack of documents to the Grand Elder.
The elder took the documents and began to carefully read through them, his expression gradually becoming solemn.
At the same time, Dai Yao handed another set of documents to Zi Xing.
After reading it, Zi Xing's expression changed drastically, and he asked incredulously, "This...this is all true?" Dai Yao nodded, her tone calm, "What do you think?" Zi Xing took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes, "Palace Master, rest assured, I will go and clarify the facts right away!" With that, he turned and left, his steps hurried.
After reading the information, the Grand Elder's face turned terribly grim. He raised his head and looked at Dai Yao, his tone complicated: "Palace Master... you knew all along?" Dai Yao did not answer, but only smiled meaningfully.
The Grand Elder sighed and shook his head. "Fine, I'm too old to keep up with you young people." He stood up to leave, but stopped at the door. With his back to Dai Yao, he said, "Palace Master, I hope... you can give everyone a reasonable explanation for tomorrow's elders' meeting." With that, he left without looking back.
As Dai Yao watched the Grand Elder's departing figure, a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
She turned to Lingfeng and said softly, "Get ready, tomorrow... there's going to be a good show." Lingfeng smiled knowingly, "Understood." Dai Yao stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky, and murmured to herself, "This game... has only just begun." She suddenly turned to Lingfeng and said, "Oh, right, there's one more thing..."
Dai Yao smiled, a sly glint in her eyes: "Go check out that newly opened 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' in the city. I suspect... someone's putting on a show there." Ling Feng understood immediately: "Your subordinate will take care of it right away!"
The following day, the atmosphere inside the Demon Palace was tense and fraught with danger.
The elders all looked solemn, with the First Elder's face turning ashen, clearly showing his dissatisfaction with Dai Yao's "radical" approach.
Dai Yao, however, remained calm and composed, as if she were detached from the matter.
"Palace Master, what place do you place the Demon Palace by acting like this? What place do you place me?!" The Second Elder slammed his fist on the table, his eyes wide with anger, and his spittle almost landed on Dai Yao's face.
Dai Yao chuckled softly, slowly took out a recording stone, and tossed it gently. The recording stone floated in mid-air, projecting a series of images.
The image clearly shows evidence of several elders colluding with external forces to plot the overthrow of the Demon Palace!
"Second Elder, it's such a waste that you're not a performer with your singing, acting, and martial arts skills," Dai Yao added with a smile. "Your acting is even better than the leading actors at Zuixianlou!"
Upon seeing the irrefutable evidence, the Grand Elder's expression changed. He took a deep breath, looked at the other elders, and asked in a heavy tone, "Gentlemen... do you have anything else to say?"
The elders turned pale and were speechless.
They never expected that Dai Yao had already obtained evidence of their crimes!
The First Elder looked at Dai Yao, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which finally turned into a sigh: "Palace Master, I... admire you!" Then, he turned to the other elders and said sternly: "Men, seize them!"
The meeting of the Demon Palace's top officials ended with an unexpected "drama".
With swift and decisive action, Dai Yao not only thwarted the old forces' conspiracy but also further consolidated her position, winning the complete respect of the Grand Elder and others.
In the stillness of the night, Dai Yao leaned against the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, but her heart was far from calm.
A warm, large hand gently grasped hers, conveying a reassuring strength.
Dai Yao turned her head and saw a pair of gentle eyes, and all the unease in her heart vanished.
"Thank you for your hard work." The deep voice carried a hint of heartache.
Dai Yao gently shook her head, rested her head on his shoulder, and felt this rare tranquility and warmth.
“Everything… has only just begun,” Dai Yao said softly.
He held her tighter and whispered in her ear, "I'll always be by your side."
Suddenly, Dai Yao's eyes sharpened. She shoved him away, looked out the window, and said coldly, "Who?!"
Dai Yao's eyes were sharp as she stared intently at the dark night outside the window.
That faint, almost imperceptible aura just now was definitely not an illusion!
She didn't believe in ghosts; it was just that someone was spying on her.
Moreover, the newcomer's cultivation level is definitely not low, perhaps even...
Above her!
"Yaoyao, what's wrong?" Lingfeng's concerned voice sounded behind her.
The intimate gesture just now made his heart flutter, as if he had already seen spring in his heart, since he had always secretly loved Dai Yao.
Dai Yao withdrew her gaze, turned to look at Ling Feng, and put on her signature smile again: "It's nothing, probably just a lost night owl." Although she said that, she was even more vigilant in her heart.
To be able to bypass her senses and approach silently is something no "night owl" could do.
Lingfeng clearly didn't believe it and wanted to ask more, but Daiyao interrupted him: "Lingfeng, go and investigate immediately to see if any suspicious people have appeared near the Demon Palace recently. Remember, investigate quietly and don't alert them."
"Yes!" Although Lingfeng had doubts in his heart, he still accepted the order and left.
Dai Yao walked to the window again, her gaze sharp as if trying to pierce through the layers of night to see the enemy hidden in the darkness.
She gently stroked an antique bracelet on her wrist, the very bracelet that had given her a special advantage after she traveled through time—the "Heavenly Fortune Bracelet".
This bracelet can not only sense the flow of energy, but also warn of danger.
It was the slightest vibration it emitted that made her realize something was wrong.
"It seems the waters of this Demon Palace are deeper than I imagined..." Dai Yao murmured to herself.
She originally thought that once she got rid of a few stubborn old men, she could have some peace and quiet for a while, focus on her career, and lead the Demon Palace to glory.
Unexpectedly, just as things were calming down for a short while, a new challenge arose.
"Want to play big? I'm ready to play along!" A cold glint flashed in Dai Yao's eyes.
She's not some innocent little rabbit; you think you can pinch her?
Then be prepared to be bitten back!
Just then, the Heavenly Fortune Bracelet vibrated again, and even more intensely than before!
Dai Yao's expression changed drastically, and a strong sense of unease rose in her heart.
She suddenly pushed open the window, leaped, and jumped onto the roof.
Looking around, one could see plumes of black smoke rising from the outer perimeter of the Demon Palace!
Thick smoke billowed straight into the sky, obscuring the originally bright moonlight.
"Oh no!" Dai Yao's heart sank, and she knew something was wrong.
She immediately realized that this was definitely not an ordinary fire, but...
Someone deliberately set the fire!
"Zixing! Immediately gather all disciples and prepare to meet the enemy!" Dai Yao's voice echoed in the night sky, carrying an undeniable authority.
From afar, a slightly panicked voice drifted over: "Palace Master... I'm afraid... it's too late..."