"This …" Tao Qingli was rather hesitant. "Hou Feng has been by Granny's side for the longest time. Even when Granny was alive, she never touched him. He hasn't done anything out of line either."
Zhao Fei tried to persuade him again, "Times have changed. When the Old Palace Master was around, he naturally wouldn't dare to do anything out of line. But now that the Old Palace Master is gone, it's hard to say. Even if he didn't do anything out of line in the future, he couldn't be allowed to live! Can't Big Sister see the Old Palace Master's good intentions? The Old Palace Master kept his head for you, Big Sister. His head is to be used by Big Sister as a warning to others to deter thieves and rascals! Indecisiveness will only lead to chaos! "
Sikong Wuwei also advised, "Qingli, Third Brother is right. We won't harm you. It's all for your own good!"
Tao Qingli looked at the two of them, not knowing what to say. How could she not know that Grandma Tao had asked Hou Feng to stay so that she could establish her dominance?
When Granny Tao was still alive, she had once said that she had also been through a long period of bloodshed. Some people were still able to understand what she meant. Even though Hou Feng had deep roots in Traversing Water Palace, he had been living a comfortable life for far too long. He might not necessarily be a match for Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei. As long as she could rope in the two of them, they would definitely think of a way to help her get rid of Hou Feng.
Tao Qingli hadn't expected that her two sworn brothers would be able to see through the crux of the matter so quickly. Furthermore, they were so decisive. Before Granny Tao's corpse had even cooled, the two of them had already seized the opportunity to make a move!
Zhao Fei once again helped her make up her mind, "Big sister! You're still the acting Palace Lord, and Huyan Taibao didn't mention anything about this at all. If you can't stabilize Traversing Water Palace, I'm afraid the higher-ups will have their suspicions. Big sister! Everyone is watching you right now. You can't hesitate! "
Tao Qingli bit her lips, and a resolute look finally flashed in her eyes as she nodded slowly …
The night was quiet and tranquil.
Hou Feng, who was on duty, led his three Advisors and sat cross-legged on both sides of the incense burner table in the mourning hall. The white banners hanging high outside swayed in the wind, and the white muslin under the eaves swayed in the wind.
Late at night, Tao Qingli walked out from the back, accompanied by a maid carrying a tray.
After Hou Feng and the others opened their eyes, they quickly stood up and saluted. "Palace Lord!"
Tao Qingli reached out to help him up. "There's no need to be so polite. I can't thank Hall Master Hou enough for keeping watch for the Old Palace Master. I've personally brewed some tea to express my gratitude."
"We have followed the Old Palace Master for many years. Now that the Old Palace Master has passed away, it is my duty as an old subordinate to protect the Old Palace Master on his last journey. How could I dare to trouble the Palace Master! "Hou Feng and the others thanked him humbly.
A maid stepped forward. Tao Qingli personally picked up the teapot from the tray and poured four cups of tea. Then, he personally raised the cups and offered them to the four of them.
"We wouldn't dare!" The four of them took the tea and thanked him one by one before drinking it all in one gulp.
The maidservant then placed the tray on a small table at the side for the four of them to enjoy. Tao Qingli said a few words of consolation, then turned around and returned to the rear hall.
Silence returned to the mourning hall, and the four of them sat cross-legged in their original positions.
However, a moment later, one of the Advisors from Suppressing First Hall suddenly groaned and clutched his abdomen.
Hou Feng opened his eyes and turned his head to look. He frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Palace Master! There's something wrong with that tea … "It was the other Walker holding his stomach as he spoke with a pained expression.
The three of them were bleeding profusely from their mouths and noses.
Poison! Hou Feng stood up in shock. Suddenly, his body began to sway as he pressed his hand against his abdomen. He forcefully invoked his arts to suppress the poison. With a flip of his hand, he popped an antidote into his mouth.
Hou Feng's face was filled with rage, but he didn't dare to stay any longer. As if he had already realized something, he quickly dashed out in an attempt to escape.
"Traitor! Where do you think you're going?! "An angry roar suddenly rang out, shattering the silence of the night.
The shadow of a gigantic hammer, accompanied by a thunderous rumble, smashed towards Hou Feng. Sikong Wuwei had been waiting for him outside.
In the hands of a Red Lotus cultivator, this Mountain Suppressing Hammer possessed extraordinary might.
Hou Feng was greatly alarmed. With a flip of his hand, a pair of glowing red melon hammers appeared in his grasp. He brazenly met the glowing blue hammer in the air.
Boom! A deafening explosion resounded. The Mountain Suppressing Hammer was sent flying. Hou Feng, who had already been poisoned, spat out a mouthful of blood. However, he didn't care about it at all. Instead, he leaped into the air and fled. He knew that his body wasn't in the best condition to engage in battle. If he didn't escape, only death awaited him.
Inside the mourning hall. Tao Qingli walked out with Granny Tao's Dragon-Head Scepter in hand. The handmaidens beside her swiftly dashed out, unsheathing their swords. In the blink of an eye, three struggling Adepts clutching their stomachs were slain. Three bloody heads rolled on the ground.
A figure flew down from the roof of the hall. It was Zhao Fei, clad in a Third Grade Python Armor. His entire body was glowing red. He wielded a Reverse Scale Halberd as he descended from the sky, furiously hacking down at the fleeing Hou Feng. It was a full-powered attack.
Another figure emerged from the darkness below. It was Sikong Wuwei, also clad in a Third Grade Python Armor. His entire body glowed red as he furiously brandished his Reverse Scale Halberd and soared towards Hou Feng.
Although Hou Feng was poisoned and his strength was greatly affected, his cultivation was still there. On top of that, he also wielded a pair of Third Grade Transcendent Artifacts. In an instant, he swung his hammer up and down to meet the attack head-on.
Boom! Boom! Two explosions rang out. Zhao Fei was sent flying, while Sikong Wuwei fell to the ground and staggered backwards.
Just as Hou Feng was about to escape, Zhao Fei, who had been sent flying, suddenly shook his Heavenly Halberd.
The dragon-shaped curved blade on the Heavenly Halberd suddenly came to life. It leaped out from the halberd and instantly transformed into a one-zhang long flying dragon. Shaking its head and tail, it chased after Hou Feng.
Sikong Wuwei, who was still retreating after landing, spun around and swung his axe. The broad-headed axe immediately split into nine pieces, which flew through the air in an instant.
The flying dragon was extremely agile. Hou Feng was already having a hard time dealing with it by swinging his hammer repeatedly. Now that he saw nine flying axes flying towards him, how could he possibly deal with them? From the corner of his eyes, he saw Tao Qingli walking towards the eaves with her walking stick. He could be said to be filled with grief and anger. "Slut …"
Pu pu pu! Hou Feng's body was pierced through several times by the axes. The nine flying axes combined as one and flew back, chopping off Hou Feng's head.
Below, Sikong Wuwei raised his axe again. Dang! The flying axes returned to their original positions!
The flying dragon instantly soared into the sky again, circling around the spearhead in Zhao Fei's hand. Its body became smaller and smaller, and in the blink of an eye, it had turned into a small dragon with its head and tail. It landed beside the spearhead and reappeared as the Heavenly Halberd.
Swoosh! Zhao Fei descended from the sky and stood beside Tao Qingli with his halberd in hand, his face expressionless.
Streaks of red light shot down from the surrounding mountains and landed on the ground. The Hall Masters and Advisors, who had been alerted by the commotion of the battle, stared at the scene before them in astonishment.
Standing beside Tao Qingli, Sikong Wuwei casually tossed a head at the crowd's feet and shouted, "The old Palace Master's corpse hasn't even gone cold yet, yet Hou Feng has taken advantage of his power to act arrogantly against the new Palace Master. Since he has spoken rudely, he shall be executed on the spot! If there are any more accomplices, Hou Feng's fate will serve as a warning! "
The frightened crowd exchanged glances with one another. The Suppressing Tenth Hall Master, Shen Huaixin, swept his gaze across Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei, who stood to Tao Qingli's left and right, with a complicated expression on his face.
Inside the hall, Granny Tao continued to sit cross-legged on the Palace Master's throne with her head slightly lowered. It was hard to tell if her spirit in heaven was witnessing this scene …
At the same time, the combined forces of Suppressing Second Hall and Suppressing Third Hall had already invaded Suppressing First Hall's territory under the cover of the night. How could a herd of sheep possibly stand against the forces that Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei had trained for so long? Most of them surrendered. Meanwhile, Hou Feng's trusted subordinates, who had been under his command for many years, were massacred. Not a single one of them was spared …
When this matter was reported to the Fifth Earthly Branch's Overlord, Jade Capital Peak did not give any response.
As per the Celestial Sage Mu Fanjun's wishes, Tao Qingli personally sent Granny Tao's body to the Realm Beyond Heaven for burial.
When Tao Qingli returned from the Realm Beyond Heaven, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei hurried over to Traversing Water Palace to meet her.
In front of the vermillion railings on the precipitous cliff, Zhao Fei asked, "Did the Celestial Sage mention anything about you officially taking over Traversing Water Palace?"
Tao Qingli bit her lip and replied, "The Celestial Sage only said some kind words to console me. She didn't mention anything about me taking over Traversing Water Palace. She only said that if I didn't like Traversing Water Palace, I could go to the Celestial Sage's Realm Beyond Heaven to serve her. However, it wasn't my place to bring this up!"
The two of them were shocked. Sikong Wuwei anxiously asked, "Didn't the Celestial Sage promise Granny Tao that you would take over?"
"She did!" Tao Qingli gritted her teeth and said, "Perhaps she just didn't remember."
Sikong Wuwei said angrily, "You personally delivered the Old Palace Master's body. You even appeared in front of her. How could she not remember?"
Tao Qingli didn't say a word …
Three months later, the Fifth Earthly Branch's Overlord, Yue Tianbo, finally summoned Tao Qingli to Jade Capital Peak to meet with her. Then, he officially announced the appointment of Tao Qingli as the Traversing Water Palace Lord.
Yue Tianbo had clearly stated that this was the Celestial Sage's grace … but this grace had come a little too late!
Tempest Tavern. Miao Yi was shocked when he received the message from the spirit eagle. He couldn't sit still any longer, and with the jade archive in hand, he paced back and forth in the storeroom.
Miao Yi looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh, "Traversing Water Palace is in trouble! Raincloud Manor is in danger! "
When Granny Tao passed away, Mu Fanjun had sent her eldest disciple to pay her respects. Then, she buried Granny Tao's body in the Realm Beyond Heaven. She even appointed Granny Tao's adopted granddaughter to succeed her as Palace Lord. Such preferential treatment of an old official left no one with any complaints.
However, the problem lay in the delayed appointment of Granny Tao over the past few months. Whether it was because Mu Fanjun had forgotten about it or on purpose, it was a subtle message to the outside world that there was still a gap between Tao Qingli and Granny Tao. At the very least, Tao Qingli wasn't that important to the Celestial Sage Mu Fanjun!
Miao Yi could even guess why Mu Fanjun would do such a thing. Granny Tao was an old friend of Mu Fanjun's. If Granny Tao took over the position, no one could say anything about it. After all, they would still have to give Mu Fanjun face. However, Tao Qingli was different. She was only Granny Tao's adopted granddaughter. She was inexperienced and had a low cultivation. She didn't have the right to take advantage of her seniority like Granny Tao did. If Mu Fanjun were to forcefully bypass her subordinates and make arrangements for her directly, many people would probably be displeased.
However, Mu Fanjun couldn't go back on her promise to Granny Tao. Thus, she hinted for Tao Qingli to go to the Realm Beyond Heaven to serve the Celestial Sage Mu Fanjun. She wanted Tao Qingli to know her place and give up on this opportunity. She was basically giving Tao Qingli a way out, and also giving Granny Tao an explanation.
The delayed appointment of Granny Tao for the past few months was undoubtedly because Tao Qingli didn't know what was good for her.
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