Chapter 1271: Wager
Qi Jiaoyao was not very familiar with Lingshan’s main peak, yet she was unusually familiar with Elder Yao’s palace, as if she had studied a detailed guide beforehand. Fortunately, Qi Xuansu knew the other areas well. Thus, they had avoided many detours and bypassed numerous traps working together and finally reached the depths of Elder Yao’s palace.
Under Qi Jiaoyao’s guidance, the two entered the corridor leading to the altar area. It was extremely dim, with shadows swirling about.
However, Qi Jiaoyao walked ahead holding the Bone-Illuminating Mirror high, and not a single shadow dared approach. Just like that, the two passed through the corridor and arrived at the altar area.
Just as Qi Xuansu had seen in his dreams, there were nine altars supported by Great Witches here, each corresponding to one of the nine Great Witches.
With only a moment’s thought, Qi Xuansu realized which two Great Witches were missing—Wu Yang and Wu Xian.
Wu Xian required no explanation, as she was the leader of the Wuist Sect.
As for Wu Yang, aside from her relationship with the Daoist Order, she was never one of the Ten Witches of Lingshan. She was not subordinate to Wu Xian but answered directly to the Heavenly Emperor, so betrayal was out of the question.
Among the nine traitorous Great Witches, five had established their own faction, forming the Six Enlightened Witches together with Wu Yang. The remaining four did not break away but instead conspired to assassinate Wu Xian.
The nine altars were arranged from left to right, with a throne made of stone at the far end of the area.
Above the previously empty throne, a figure gradually materialized, first as points of light, then outlines connecting those points, until the image filled in to reveal a complete figure.
Qi Xuansu suppressed the urge to turn and run. He asked in barely a whisper, “Is that the Earthly Preceptor?!”
Qi Jiaoyao stared fixedly at the figure. “No, it’s Elder Yao.”