The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1020: Is It Him?

Chapter 1020: Is It Him?

Is It Him? . . .

Furthermore, Cha Eun Xiao had mentioned that he possessed more than one Regeneration Ink Lotus. He claimed to have collected numerous of them from the third layer of the mountain. Li Clan believed that Cha Eun Xiao's lotuses were superior to the typical Regeneration Ink Lotus. In essence, anyone who garnered support from Cha Eun Xiao would be highly esteemed by Misty Cloud Palace.

This was why Li Clan attached such immense importance to Cha Eun Xiao, to the point of being willing to sacrifice almost anything to secure his cooperation.

In the event that everything unfolded according to their designs, merely replacing Cha Clan's standing in the martial world would be the least of their gains. Li Clan stood to considerably enhance their power, potentially emerging as one of the most influential clans in Oracle District. For Misty Cloud Palace, elevating a clan to such a stature was a relatively straightforward task.

However, some within Li Clan couldn't help but berate Li Qingzhou's oversight. After conversing and even striking a deal with Cha Eun Xiao, he had failed to ask for the man's name.

"Enter the third layer first. Once we gain access, that young man will be trapped. Everything on the mountain and everything he possesses will be ours!"

"But let's not alert him."

On the opposite side of the equation, when Cha Liangchen and his brothers returned to Cha Clan and relayed the events, they received a severe scolding.

"Incompetent fools! You are nothing more than pretentious incompetents! He was a heaven-sent opportunity, and you let it slip through your fingers. What were you thinking? Do you wish to bring ruin to Cha Clan?"

Cha Liangchen endured the harsh chastisement from the clan's elders throughout the night.

"At first, he was on our side. He bears the Cha name as well. All those named Cha are considered part of the same extended family. We may have shared the same lineage hundreds of years ago. You squandered a golden opportunity that may lead to Cha Clan's collapse. Like father, like son..." The elder's anger was so intense that he nearly spat blood.

"But it's not over yet. We may still have an opportunity to rectify this. We just need to make our way there. Their meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. We have a chance to alter the outcome."

"That's right! Send all our capable men. We must do everything in our power to change the course of events."

"We need to act quickly!"

"Quickly!"

"Umm... What about the first and third branches... should they accompany us?"

"You imbecile! Have you also lost your mind? Bring them with us? Do you wish to give them an opportunity to rise again?"

"You're right, Elder..."

Cha Clan likewise assembled a group of skilled individuals to set off towards Cha Eun Xiao.

As expected, they encountered Li Clan's forces on the way. Li Clan was waiting, determined to prevent Cha Clan from passing. They would not yield an inch.

Both Cha Clan and Li Clan were prepared to go to any lengths in this impending clash. They were determined not to let this golden opportunity slip away.

The impending clash was nothing short of a spectacle. It was a battle that unfolded under the cover of the night, and the dark sky served as a dramatic backdrop for the events that were about to unfold.

...

The night was long for Cha Eun Xiao, for Li Clan, and for Cha Clan. However, it wasn't just these parties that endured a long night. Elsewhere in the realm, another person also experienced a night fraught with intrigue.

That person was Jun Yinglian. She stood atop a mountain, her attire pristine white, and her eyes filled with wonder.

During the daytime, as she fled from her pursuers after eliminating several disciples from the three factions, she briefly glimpsed a man who nearly left her dumbstruck.

The man, who appeared to be casually strolling through the forest, was located about a thousand meters away, and he remained unaware of her presence. He seemed to be in search of someone.

The sight of this man, however, profoundly affected Jun Yinglian. His visage and features appeared strikingly familiar.

It was as if she were gazing upon Cha Eun Xiao!

Jun Yinglian was overcome with astonishment at the sight of this man. The resemblance was uncanny. But by the time she collected her wits, he had vanished from her line of sight.

Had she made the effort to track him down, she could have succeeded easily. Having attained the peak of the ninth level of Dao Origin Stage, her formidable spiritual awareness could reach a distance of a thousand miles. Locating the man within a thousand meters would have been a trivial task.

Furthermore, given his proximity, he couldn't have traveled far in a matter of seconds.

But she hesitated. Her mind was in turmoil.

"Is it him?"

"Could it really be him?"

"Was it merely a figment of my imagination?"

Over the years, she had dreamt of him countless times, only to awaken to crushing disappointment. The prospect of being let down once more deterred her from immediately setting out to find the man.

"He's dead. His death was witnessed by numerous high-level cultivators. His body was shattered, and his soul was obliterated. There's no way he could have survived. There's no way he could have appeared before me again."

"Nobody would fabricate news of his death. What just happened?"

"Perhaps that man merely resembles Cha Xiao in appearance."

She stood there in silence, her eyes betraying her grief.

Regardless, she was determined to uncover the truth. She yearned to know if the man she had glimpsed was truly Cha Eun Xiao. Her desire, though she struggled to admit it, was unmistakable.

"What if... Cha Xiao didn't perish back then? What if he was gravely injured and has been recovering in secret all this time?"

Such thoughts coursed through her mind.

It was an irrational notion, and she was acutely aware of its implausibility. Yet the mere notion that it might be true caused her heart to race.