Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

’Senior Sister Lian Shuang knows Xu Zitao, but why would she help me?’ Ling Fei was filled with suspicion.

Xu Zitao’s words couldn’t have been clearer. They were on the same side, yet for Ling Fei’s sake, Lian Shuang had chosen to betray them.

Below the Array Platform, the atmosphere was rather strange.

All eyes on the North Spirit Platform were fixed on Lian Shuang.

They were all waiting for Lian Shuang’s answer.

"Senior Sister is part of Xu Zitao’s clan?" Fang Yuan was even more baffled.

"Betray your clan?" As Xu Zitao continued his interrogation, a self-deprecating look surfaced in Lian Shuang’s eyes. "In your opinion, I should be cold and unfeeling, submissively carrying out the clan’s orders, is that it?" She raised her head, looking up at Xu Zitao as he stared down at her.

’Is Lian Shuang admitting it?’ Her words sent the crowd into an uproar.

"How could this be?" The disciples from the various sects exchanged glances in dismay.

Even Yuan Huaitian’s expression turned grim. He never would have imagined that the Little Sword God under his tutelage, a source of such pride, was hiding such a secret.

Though surprised, they were even more eager to learn the details.

So, everyone from the various sects focused on Xu Zitao and Lian Shuang, hoping they would reveal more.

"Is that not the way it should be? The Xu Clan nurtured you for this very purpose." Xu Zitao’s expression was cold and unyielding as he looked down at Lian Shuang. "Your destiny is to serve the Xu Clan. Isn’t that what you have always done? Why the sudden change? Could it be... so-called love? That doesn’t seem like you at all!"

Xu Zitao was astonished.

Lian Shuang was famously cold and ruthless, like an assassin for the Xu Clan. She was a low-ranking member, with no freedom to speak of.

The Xu Clan had cultivated many such people, and every single one was obedient.

The Xu Clan had left a special Forbidden Pattern in each of their souls. As long as someone held a specific Plaque, they could control that person’s life and death.

However, that Plaque was not in Xu Zitao’s possession.

Although Xu Zitao’s status was high, it wasn’t high enough to be entrusted with it.

After all, Lian Shuang’s circumstances were also highly unusual.

"Hah... Why did I change?" At his words, Lian Shuang’s gaze turned glacial. "As a child, I was an orphan. The Xu Clan adopted me, gave me a name, and even allowed me to learn their Martial Arts. For that, it’s true that I never once disobeyed their commands."

"But... hah, it was all nothing but a lie. A powerful expert from the Xu Clan sealed my memories, making me forget my past. I imagine none of you ever thought the Seal left behind by that peerless master would one day loosen, allowing some of those memories to return to me." Lian Shuang laughed, but her laugh was laced with derision, self-mockery, and a hint of self-pity as her past resurfaced, piece by piece.

The Xu Clan weren’t her benefactors—they were her enemies!

They only cultivated her because her innate talent was extraordinary, giving her the potential to become a peerless expert. They wanted to forge her into a sword for the Xu Clan.

Upon learning the truth, Lian Shuang had nearly despaired of the world.

Countless thoughts raced through her mind. She wanted to change her fate, but the Xu Clan’s expert had left a Soul Seal in her very soul.

Her life and death were completely in the hands of the Xu Clan.

Therefore, if the Xu Clan ever discovered her betrayal, she would face certain death.

But now, Lian Shuang no longer cared about any of it.

Ever since remembering parts of her past, she had long lost her will to live.

That was why she had become even more cold and heartless than before.

"What? Senior Sister Lian Shuang has a history like that?" Fang Yuan looked on in astonishment, then murmured, "No wonder she’s so cold and heartless. To think the Xu Clan were her enemies, not her saviors... anyone would despair knowing that. And to make it worse, she’s still under her enemies’ control."

Now, the disciples from the various sects looked at Lian Shuang with expressions full of pity.

At last, they were beginning to understand the details of the situation.

"So Lian Shuang is one of the Xu Clan’s people!" Beiming Huahai was also stunned.

Even he had been completely unaware.

Xu Zitao and his people had acted in utter secrecy.

’I never thought Senior Sister Lian Shuang and the Xu Clan would have such a complicated relationship!’ Ling Fei thought, listening to everything from the side.

’No wonder she said those things before.’ He recalled Lian Shuang’s words from that evening at dusk.

Back then, Lian Shuang had hinted that something was going to happen at the North Spirit Ruins.

"Your Seal loosened, and you remembered your past?" Hearing this, Xu Zitao’s pupils suddenly contracted, a hint of surprise on his face.

This seemed to be completely beyond his expectations.

By all rights, the Seal was extremely subtle; an ordinary person would never have detected it. Yet Lian Shuang had.

"That’s right." Lian Shuang smiled, but it was a smile filled with bitterness and helplessness.

"When did this happen?" Xu Zitao asked.

"Back in the Divine Demon Sea," Lian Shuang said. "An accident there caused my Seal to loosen."

"It seems the Power of Heaven and Earth there loosened your Seal," Xu Zitao murmured.

"Since you’ve remembered your past, you obviously won’t be cooperating with me anymore. In that case, you have no further value." After murmuring to himself, Xu Zitao’s eyes flashed. With a flip of his hand, a round disc appeared, floating in the air. Mysterious Light Patterns swirled across its surface.

Upon closer inspection, one could see what looked like the Five Elements interwoven on it, and an esoteric ripple emanated from its surface.

"The Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc!" Lian Shuang’s eyes flashed. Of course, she knew what this was.

It was a Supreme Treasure used to shatter the Array on the Sealing Demon Platform. The Xu Clan had expended immense effort to find it, specifically to break this very Array and free the Kunpeng.

"Then release all of your Five Elements Spiritual Essence for me!" Xu Zitao’s eyes flashed as the Power of Heart and Soul surged into the Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc.

Instantly, Light Patterns flared across the Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc.

He formed a hand seal and injected it into the disc.

HUMMM!

The Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc burst with brilliant light, manifesting a Qi Vortex that enveloped Lian Shuang as she lay on the ground.

The Light Patterns invaded her body, intending to extract the Five Elements Spiritual Essence from within her.

WHOOSH!

The Five Elements Power within Lian Shuang’s body was being drawn out. This was the Five Elements Spiritual Essence she had spent years cultivating, all for the purpose of fully activating the Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc and shattering the Array. Now that she had betrayed the Xu Clan, Xu Zitao had no choice but to extract the Five Elements Spiritual Essence by force.

Five Elements Spiritual Essence was far more than simple Five Elements Essence Qi; it required a special constitution and had to be nurtured by the Five Elements Spirit Veins within the body.

And Lian Shuang, as it happened, possessed just such a special constitution.

Activating the Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc required this exact type of Spiritual Essence.

WHOOSH!

An immense amount of Spiritual Essence was drawn out and poured into the Five Elements Sky-Splitting Disc.

Lian Shuang’s body trembled, her face contorted in agony. She looked as if her very sinews were being torn from her bones.

"Senior Sister Lian Shuang!" Fang Yuan cried out in anguish from the North Spirit Platform.

"That Xu Zitao is despicable!" The prodigies from the other sects were also filled with indignation.

In their eyes, Lian Shuang’s fate was pitiful, but her integrity commanded their respect.

Her life had been full of hardships, yet in the end, she had been willing to step forward to expose Xu Zitao’s hand for Ling Fei.

Yet she hadn’t said a word, simply doing what needed to be done in silence.

"Senior Sister Lian Shuang!" Ling Fei roared. His eyes flashed, and a Light Pattern between his brows began to writhe as a Divine Gaze took shape.

A vast, soul-shaking Dragon’s Might radiated outwards.

Ling Fei had been trying to master the True Dragon’s Eye, and he was finally beginning to control some of its Power.

"This..." As this might spread, Xu Zitao’s eyelid twitched involuntarily. He felt an aura that made his heart pound with dread.

"Destruction Divine Gaze!" A deep voice suddenly boomed from Ling Fei.