After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 80
The sudden attack by the Artifact Hall Elder, accusing Ye Li’s Profound Ice Sword of involving the theft of the Artifact Hall’s secret blueprints, was a malicious and aggressive smear campaign. It was clearly intended to completely ruin her reputation before she could participate in the ruin exploration. As soon as the news broke, the sect was again rife with discussion, with many eyes focused on Cloud Pill Peak, waiting to see how Ye Li would respond.
However, Ye Li’s reaction was unexpectedly calm. She did not rush to defend herself. Instead, she immediately submitted detailed evidence to the Enforcement Hall using her elite disciple privileges. This included the recorded process of the Profound Ice Sword’s refinement (omitting the part where she referenced the Venerable Xuanhuan’s spatial concept), the sources of the materials used (some from secret realm harvests, some purchased through Ghost Pavilion channels, with clear accounts), and a joint appraisal statement from Layman Mu Yun and two other highly respected artifact refiners. The statement certified that while the Profound Ice Sword’s refining technique was exquisite, it differed fundamentally from the Artifact Hall’s stolen blueprint in core rune structure and energy guidance.
The ironclad evidence was logically sound. The Artifact Hall Elder’s accusation instantly appeared weak and baseless, and he was, in turn, reprimanded by the Enforcement Hall for presenting false charges. The storm came and went quickly, with Ye Li easily resolving it once again through thorough preparation and a firm stance. Nevertheless, these continuous harassments made Ye Li even more certain that the Situ Kuang faction was resorting to all means to suppress her.
Just as she was about to refocus her energy on the ruin exploration, a top-secret piece of intelligence from the Ghost Pavilion made her sense an unusual danger—a threat far colder and deeper than factional infighting.
The intelligence came from an extremely secretive new mole developed by Sun Xiaohou—a disgruntled outer disciple from the War Maniac Peak. Due to his dissatisfaction with the arrogance of the Situ Kuang faction and Gao Sheng’s oppression, he secretly joined the Ghost Pavilion under the codename “Shadow Fang.” In a chance encounter, Shadow Fang overheard snippets of a drunken conversation between Gao Sheng and a confidant in a secret room. The fragments were disjointed but chilling:
“…Hmph… that bitch Ye Li… won’t be smug for long… once she enters the ruins… ‘Lord Shadow Devil’ will take care of her…”
“…Master’s (referring to Situ Kuang) cooperation with ‘that side’… is something she can’t imagine…”
“…As long as we find… the ‘Key’… forget the Mysterious Cloud Sect… the entire Northern Domain…”
“…I heard that thing… is related to… the couple from Black Water City… a decade ago…”
“Lord Shadow Devil,” “that side,” “the Key,” “the couple from Black Water City”… these keywords exploded in Ye Li’s mind like thunder!
The title “Shadow Devil” instantly reminded her of some vague memories of powerful figures from the Demon Race in her previous life! And “the couple from Black Water City” directly struck the deepest secret in her heart—that was exactly where her missing parents had last carried out a mission!
Her parents’ disappearance in Black Water City has always been a mystery and an obsession for her. She had suspected the Ye family’s internal affairs, and she had suspected the mission itself, but she had never thought it would be connected to Situ Kuang of War Maniac Peak, or even the more mysterious “Shadow Devil” and “that side”!
Could her parents’ disappearance have not been an accident, but a conspiracy? And this conspiracy seems to involve an important item called the “Key”? What exactly is this “Key”? Is it related to the Reincarnation Mirror?
Ye Li’s heart involuntarily raced. She forced herself to calm down and carefully analyze the intelligence. Although it was only fragments of a drunken conversation, its authenticity needed verification. However, combined with previously gathered clues—the secret contact between War Maniac Peak and the Scarlet Flame Sect, Situ Kuang’s excessive “concern” about her actions in the Northern Territory, and the various doubts surrounding her parents’ disappearance—a vague and terrifying thread seemed to be emerging:
Situ Kuang, or rather the War Maniac Peak faction, is very likely in secret collusion with some external mysterious force (possibly the Demon Race or a related organization)! The purpose of the collusion might be related to finding an important “Key.” This “Key” might have a connection to the Reincarnation Mirror, and her parents’ disappearance back then was highly likely because they unintentionally stumbled upon this secret!
This deduction sent a shiver down Ye Li’s spine. If true, it meant that the Mysterious Cloud Sect had already been infiltrated, and she herself, because she possesses the Reincarnation Mirror (perhaps the so-called “Key” or something related to it), has long been the target of that mysterious force! Situ Kuang’s previous attempts at suppression might not just be due to factional conflict and Gao Sheng’s personal grudges. A deeper reason might be to eliminate her, the potential “Key” holder, or to force her to expose a weakness!
“The ‘Heart-Seeking Mirror’… I fear it’s not just Situ Kuang’s idea…” A cold light flashed in Ye Li’s eyes. That mysterious “Shadow Devil” or “that side” might also have hoped to confirm something through the Heart-Seeking Mirror!
The severity of the matter had far exceeded the scope of internal sect rivalry. This involved a possible Demonic Path conspiracy, the truth behind her parents’ disappearance, and her own greatest secret!
She immediately issued a top-level command to Lin Feng via the Reincarnation Mirror’s sub-mirror:
“Activate the ‘Deep Dive’ plan! Use all available resources, regardless of cost, and focus on investigating the following matters:
- All abnormal movements of Situ Kuang and his core confidants over the past two decades, especially their itineraries and contacts related to the Black Water City mission timeframe.
- Any secret ties between War Maniac Peak and external forces, particularly with the Demon Race, or organizations whose names contain the character ‘Shadow,’ or unfamiliar forces from outside the Northern Domain.
- Collect all legends, records, or rumors about the ‘Key,’ regardless of their veracity.
- Thoroughly re-examine the duplicate of the mission scroll for my parents’ Black Water City mission, looking for any overlooked details.
- All Ghost Pavilion members are to enter a state of silent, deep-cover operation. Non-essential activities are prohibited. Ensuring personal safety is the top priority!”
“Understood!” Lin Feng felt the gravity of Ye Li’s command and executed it without hesitation.
After issuing the orders, Ye Li sat alone in her quiet room, her heart unable to settle for a long time. She had initially thought it was just internal sect disputes and a struggle for opportunity, but she never expected such a shocking conspiracy to be hidden beneath the surface. Her parents’ vendetta, her own crisis, and the secret of the Reincarnation Mirror seemed to be connected by an invisible thread.
She recalled the betrayals she faced in her previous life, Ling Hao, Mo Shang, Xuan Cong… were there similar black hands like the “Shadow Devil” behind them? Were the shattering of the Reincarnation Mirror and her rebirth also connected to this?
The fog was thick, but Ye Li’s Dao heart grew even firmer. No matter who her opponent was—a scoundrel within the sect or a devil hiding in the shadows—she was determined to uncover the truth, seek justice for her parents, and carve out a path to survival for herself!
“Situ Kuang… ‘Shadow Devil’… ‘the Key’…” Ye Li muttered to herself, her fingertip unconsciously tracing lines on the tabletop, her eyes as cold as ten thousand years of profound ice. “No matter what you are plotting, since I’ve detected you, don’t think you can easily succeed. The Profound Ice Palace ruins… might not only be a place of opportunity but also the stage for the exposure of your conspiracy!”
She realized that the danger of the upcoming ruin exploration had escalated once again. She not only had to face the unknown risks of the ruins and the internal sect’s overt and covert attacks but might also directly confront the mysterious “Shadow Devil” force.
The pressure was immense, but it also ignited an even stronger fighting spirit. She needed greater power! The Star Silence sword technique must be perfected as quickly as possible, and she must also strive to advance her cultivation further before the exploration, even if it was just to touch the threshold of the Peak Condensation Realm.
Simultaneously, her strategy for dealing with the “Heart-Seeking Mirror” needed adjustment. Before, she only guarded against Situ Kuang using it to make trouble. Now, she had to consider the possibility of deeper exploratory intentions. She must ensure the secrets of the Reincarnation Mirror and the Star Core remain absolutely safe.
A greater storm was brewing beneath the seemingly calm surface of the Mysterious Cloud Sect. And Ye Li, the young woman bearing a secret and struggling at the center of the vortex, had already become the most crucial piece in the eye of the storm. But she would never be content to be a mere chess piece; she intended to become the one holding the board and completely overturn this mysterious game!
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