novelraw Chapter 1165 - 1164 - Sin of Pride
Chapter 1165 - 1164 - Sin of Pride
Lind was reviewing the various offers with a deep frown in his office. He was inside the Emerald Haven so no one could spy on him. Chu was his guard now. Haro was too risky to be exposed to the current situation.
While Peng had revealed a stunning amount of information. It was not just on Fiends but various murky powers and actions going on in the background. He had found tendrils of the Shandor Syndicate so far west for instance!
There were more Fiend agents but none as senior as Peng. Still, his bait had garnered far more fish than expected. Still, he had only been able to really process it once he met with the remaining envoys.
The meeting left him concerned too.
The Night Flame Immortal was from the Golden Vermillion Inn but she seemed to want to keep him at a distance despite his previous contact with them. Had something come up since then?
He pushed onto the Bloodmoon Sect but the contradictory nature of the pair of demons left him more confused than worried.
They had seemingly been battle maniacs but later were clever while still playing at aggravating the Dawn Imperium.
It might seem like the rivalry was going strong but he quickly noticed it was Adan, himself, they were against.
He did not like the man either but Lind knew at a glance his power was earned. There was no pill weakness nor shallow foundation sensed. He also, despite his clear arrogance, was never unguarded.
Even when he was denigrating beasts or women, he was always ready for an attack. Lind had tested it and his instincts had screamed of danger.
It was several artifacts as well as something he could not quite place but it was clearly from a peak Crystal Tier.
Adan was only a Sliver Tier but he was getting to the peak of that as well.
Still, why would such an expert be so idiotic? Why aggravate so many so often?
"Too much pride?" He felt it was way off but he could not comprehend any other reason for going so far.
Cultivators generally suffered from all 7 of the sins Earth held as prime sins.
Taken too far, heart demons were the most common result but Adan clearly did not suffer from such an issue. Lind found it concerning but pushed it aside as he saw the jade slips from the Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect.
The Divine Sword Sect sent gratitude for revealing the spies and dangers in their members but there was also a cold arrogance to it. It was almost as if he should be grateful for their gratitude!
With what Oz had told him, it seemed the sect master was against him.
The Heavenly Maiden Sect was not much better. While expressing gratitude for revealing the various agents in their ranks, it felt like they were telling him to kindly jump off a cliff!
Lind had not exactly broadcast the identities of all the agents he had found but many would notice the sudden disappearance of various elders and disciples.
Communication was hampered but the sheer volume of the network left him staggered that anyone could still operate once it was all over.
Conservatively, he estimated that most powers he had learned about for the spies and agents lost close to 30% of their members! It was insane so many had been infiltrated so deeply!
The shockwave was spreading outward but by then he knew any that had slipped through were long gone. He had made the Fiends and other wicked powers feel the pain but he doubted they could grasp that a single interrogation led to that cascade of destruction.
He pushed it all aside as he cleared his mind. He had his goals for his body still and a tribulation to prepare for. He was about to resume his methodology for the upcoming tribulation when he froze.
He quickly shifted through the jade slips until a report finally came up from the interrogation.
{Adan had a wife but very little is known about her. The couple was arranged by his father, the Emperor Dawn.}
It was just a line but it was all there was. No name, description, or even a mention of the ceremony!
Adan was not a minor member of the Imperium! How could there be nothing on such an event?!
Lind narrowed his eyes as his instincts warned him it was dangerous to ignore such a blatant oddity.
He twisted the lock on the Emerald Haven and emerged to the surprise of Chu.
[Oz, come to my room please.] He held up his hand to prevent Chu from asking questions but she felt his grim aura.
The old man came running but Lind pointed to the aperture behind him and all 3 entered before he sealed it off.
"Why does Adan hide his wife?" His question made both look confused but Oz was stroking his beard as he pondered before shaking his head.
"Master, he does not hide his wife. He is quite violent with those that accuse him of abusing her or ignoring her. It is actually well known even before my fall." Lind looked at him as if he was being deliberately dull.
"What does she look like?" Oz opened his mouth but then his eyes slowly went wide as nothing came out. "What family is she from? What sect? What realm is she?"
Lind listed off more questions but Oz became only paler as he had no answers. Chu never knew but she slowly began to grasp Lind's grim aura.
Why did no one know such an important person?
"Why don't I know her? I mean not meeting her is one thing but not knowing anything is impossible!" Oz was truly troubled which only confirmed Lind's fears.
"I will be right back. Do not leave our courtyards." he unlocked the Haven and launched into the air. He quickly crossed the grounds to the area where the Dawn Imperium was living. The guards had a literal sun sigil on their right breasts in a half circle.
It was the dawn, as it were.
Nothing seemed out of place but Adan was sleeping alone in his quarters. No wife and no mistress. In fact, Lind noticed there was no one near him at all.
Lind hid his presence entirely as he breached their defenses.
He entered and examined the wards, formations, and even a few weavings. Nothing was standing out but Lind then examined Adan, himself. He looked for any signs of mental manipulation but there was nothing.
Was he wrong?
Lind then did something he despised in others. He took advantage of a junior's weakness.
His power shot throught the roof as he was about to strike Adan, an aura finally manifested. It was far more powerful than anything he had encountered before.
[YOU DARE?!] Lind was nearly sent flying but his own power dispersed the wave of force thrown at him. His eyes narrowed as he acknowledged the truth of the power behind it.
[Senior, I am an enemy of the Fiends. If you are one as well, I am willing ot help, but if you are a foe, I will kill this man without hesitation.] Lind was direct but then the world went black as even more force was thrown at him!
The force was far above Crystal Tier!
[Your words are empty! You dare threaten my host!] The words confirmed Lind's assumptions.
Adan's wife was not what she appeared!
[My words may seem empty, but I will not kneel!] Heaven suddenly rumbled but he had not called it! Another Divine bloodline?!
No! It was something else!
His body had called it! His desire to protect himself put his progress over the final limit!
He was not ready!
His damned pride had landed him in hot water! He had believed he knew better and could face whatever figure was hiding behind Adan!
He instantly shot into the sky. It was the only safe place! The city was too large for him to escape before his stamina ran out! His Qi was critical to his survival so he could not waste it!
Black clouds were gathering and likely alarmed the entire kingdom since they were spreading like a plague on the wind!
The once sunny sky was blotted out by the broiling clouds of a tribulation!
Lind tried desperately to at least return near his own quarters but pressure slammed into him from above! Heaven would not indulge him on that front!
He had truly pushed things too far! He was slammed into the open grounds between buildings and the guards were coming running!
[NO! ALL FLEE THIS PLACE! A TRIBULATION IS COMING!] His thoughts made several guards bleed from their eyes or ears but all obeyed. It was not the same feeling as a normal tribulation as body cultivators usually faced such trials in the usual course of cultivating.
Lind quickly set up weavings to protect as much as he could but the rumble of thunder gathered above him.
He was in the midst of preparing when Adan suddenly appeared enraged near him.
"How dare you spy on me?!" Lind swore and summoned his tail to send the idiot flying away. How dense could somomne be?!
He had no time to spare as sparks of lightning began to spread!