For the next several hours, the Yang-Dao Sphere was buzzing with frenzied activity. Thousands of Yang-Dao Sect, Sword-Dao Sect, and Mage-Dao Sect Elders worked tirelessly to investigate the assassination attempt, hoping to find out the truth of the matter.
While they investigated, the news of the assassination attempt spread like wildfire, shocking everyone who heard of it. Who was crazy enough to attempt such a thing in the Yang-Dao Sect? Such an action was an outright insult to the Yang-Sovereign. If the Yang-Sovereign ever caught the one responsible, their fate would no doubt be incredibly miserable.
Several hours after the assassination attempt, a knock appeared at the door. After checking who it was, Naelia let in the Yang-Sovereign himself, surprising everyone that he would show up personally.
The Yang-Sovereign greeted the group, then explained what they had found.
"Unfortunately, we were unable to catch the one responsible," he said with shame. "I ask for your forgiveness in this lapse of protection. I had not thought anyone would be bold enough to attempt such a thing in my sect."
"It's fine," John replied calmly, slightly disappointed in the outcome of the investigation, but not surprised either. Whoever it was, they were skilled enough to attack him and leave unnoticed by anyone. It was obviously not a rank and file cultivator who had attacked him.
"You should stay in this room until the finals tomorrow," the Yang-Sovereign said while glancing about the room.
"I plan on doing just that," John nodded, then decided to ask the question burning in his mind. "Do you know where the Prime Shadow is?"
Based on what had happened, John would have expected the Prime Shadow to show up right away. Since he had yet to arrive, John could only wonder what was keeping the Prime Shadow occupied.
"After your semi-final, the Prime Shadow said he had some matters to attend to, and left the Yang-Dao Sect. I am uncertain of his current location," the Yang-Sovereign said, to which John thanked him.
Flash!
As if summoned by his name alone, a flash of darkness appeared in the room a moment later, followed by the Prime Shadow stepping out of the smokey darkness surrounding him.
"What happened?" he asked firmly while hastily stepping towards John. He quickly inspected John's body, then shot an angered gaze towards the Yang-Sovereign.
"You assured me John would be protected during my absence!" the Prime Shadow said, a tinge of simmering anger in his voice.
"I apologize for my lapse in judgment," the Yang-Sovereign said, appearing apologetic for the events that had unfolded. "I had assumed no one would dare to make an assassination attempt within my sect grounds. It appears my hubris has clouded my judgment."
The Prime Shadow gave the Yang-Sovereign a firm stare for quite some time before looking back towards John.
"I'm fine, really," John assured the elderly man, who finally sighed a breath of relief. "Have you found anything?" the Prime Shadow asked the Yang-Sovereign, who shook his head from side to side.
"Tch," the Prime Shadow clicked his tongue. "Please leave us for now," he said to everyone. The others followed his orders and left the room, while the Yang-Sovereign lingered for a moment, apologized once more, and then left.
The door closed behind him, leaving only John and the Prime Shadow in the room. Before John could speak, the Prime Shadow's power flared, enveloping them in a cocoon of darkness.
"What happened? Truly. Leave no details out," the Prime Shadow instructed John, who quickly explained the events in as much detail as he could remember.
Silence filled the cocoon of darkness for some time as the Prime Shadow thought over the matter. "Where were you?" John eventually asked, drawing the Prime Shadows gaze back towards him.
"I was…out," the Prime Shadow said, a grim look on his face. "I sent Grandmaster Darkcloud on a mission to seek out the truth regarding Azurae."
"Azurae!" John repeated, his brows furrowing. That woman was responsible for the death of Zuri's father and siblings, and who knows what else. She was currently in the Sword-Saints entourage, casting doubt on the Sword-Saint once more.
"What did you find?" John asked curiously.
"Nothing," the Prime Shadow said with a low voice. "Grandmaster Darkcloud went silent quite some time ago, and I have no idea why. His last mission report was that he was in Jagged Cliff City, following a lead regarding Azura. After that, he stopped sending sound transmissions."
John's eyes went wide with surprise. Grandmaster Darkcloud, a Half-Step Holy Manifestation cultivator had gone silent like that? There were only two explanations. Either he had been captured, or he was dead. "I left after your fight to seek him out, but didn't find anything. While searching the city, I received word of the assassination attempt, and made my way back here as fast as possible."
"I see," John replied, his question finally answered. Silence filled the cocoon of darkness for some time before the Prime Shadow spoke again.
"I'm afraid there's much I do not know about the events surrounding this tournament. Whoever is in charge is incredibly careful. They've left no clues whatsoever, and my ability to move throughout the sect is limited as well. There are far too many eyes around. Powerful eyes that would notice any movement from the Guild," the Prime Shadow said, a deep frown on his face.
"Do you think something's going to happen tomorrow?" John asked curiously.
"Perhaps. I'm not certain what's going on, but I'm certain something is going on," the Prime Shadow replied. "I will keep looking for answers, but all I can say to you right now is be on guard at all times. I will handle the rest."
John nodded firmly, his thoughts swirling with the chaos that was unfolding. 'Just exactly what is going on? Azurae is with the Sword-Saint, but the Sword-Saint doesn't seem to be the one who tried to assassinate me. It's all so…conflicting,' John mused as the Prime Shadow undid his darkness cocoon and vanished, most likely to investigate the assassination location himself.
John remained in place for some time, thinking over everything that had happened. After a while, he shook the thoughts from his mind and walked to the training room to focus on what was truly important at the moment; winning the tournament. The hours quickly passed by as he trained. The training room door opened the next day, with Zuri stepping in to greet him. She studied his condition for a moment, then smiled and gestured for him to approach.
"Come. Its time for you to clean up and restore your energy. The grand finals starts in an hour," she said.
John looked at her, nodded, and then smiled.
It was finally time. Time for him to battle Ji'Han. Time for him to embarrass the Sword-Saint. Time for him to win Lilian's freedom. Time for him to battle to his heart's content. With the assassination attempt and everything else that had happened, John felt his blood and battle lust ignited to a level far greater than normal.
His smile turned into a look of firm resolve as he walked over towards Zuri, his thoughts swirling on the battle to come.
With his blood and battle lust ignited, even if he didn't use his Asura Transformation, he was not going to hold back at all. While he might not transform into an Asura for the battle if Ji'Han was not strong enough to force him to do so, he was sure as hell going to fight like one.
It was time to reveal to the Nine-Dao World what it truly meant to be a pinnacle, heaven-defying genius. Hey everyone. Apologies for the lack of chapters over the last few weeks. The end of last year was incredibly busy for me, leaving me almost no time to write.
