CHAPTER 449 (2)

Upon hearing these words, Li Changbo sneered coldly.

"Despicable wench, have you forgotten how your Cold Water Palace forced my wife and child to their deaths back then? Today, you have two choices: face me in a battle to the death or watch as I set Cold Water City ablaze.

Let this entire city of your Cold Water Palace's people serve as a burial offering for my tragically deceased wife and child!"

"Us, buried with his wife and child?"

"The Sect Master of the Everlasting Regret Sect has gone mad!"

"Run!"

As Li Changbo's menacing declaration reverberated, panic erupted across Cold Water City.

Many martial cultivators regretted their decision to come watch the drama unfold. Who could have anticipated that the Sect Master of the Everlasting Regret Sect, a Golden Core Realm cultivator, would stoop so low as to sacrifice innocent lives in retribution for his long-dead wife and child?

"Li Changbo, don't push your luck!"

The icy voice from the palace grew colder. "Since you insist on dredging up the past, let's discuss it thoroughly today.

Have you forgotten? It was you who drove your wife and child to their deaths!"

Her words brought an abrupt silence to the previously chaotic city. All eyes turned to the figure in the sky.

Could there be a hidden truth behind the death of his wife and child?

"Rubbish!" Li Changbo roared in fury. "My wife and child were clearly forced to their deaths by you! If you dare spout such nonsense again, I will tear you to pieces!"

"Me, spouting nonsense?" The icy voice let out a cold laugh. "Li Changbo, don't think that just because so many years have passed, you can twist the facts.

Back then, you used sweet words to deceive the Holy Maiden of my Cold Water Palace, coaxing her to marry you during her travels.

When my mother learned of this, she sent someone to hold you accountable.

But you were cunning and played the role of a deeply devoted couple facing life and death together.

My mother, moved by pity, let you go, merely expelling the Holy Maiden from the secret grounds and leaving you two to fend for yourselves.

Who would have thought that all of this was part of your calculated scheme?

You fooled the Holy Maiden into marrying you and feigned loyalty to her, making her utterly devoted to you.

In the end, she even followed your treacherous plan to pretend to be abandoned, exploiting my mother’s compassion to allow her re-entry to the secret grounds.

But not long after she returned, she took advantage of an unguarded moment to steal an ancient treasure passed down through our Cold Water Palace!

When the Holy Maiden was apprehended, the treasure was nowhere to be found.

Even under the harshest interrogations, she refused to reveal the treasure's location.

She ultimately perished, taking her unborn child with her.

Before her death, she even begged my mother to spare your life if you were ever found.

Li Changbo, tell me, wasn’t it you who drove your wife and child to their deaths?

Do you think founding the Everlasting Regret Sect means my Cold Water Palace is ignorant of your actions?

My mother’s promise to the Holy Maiden was the only reason we let you live this long.

Who would have thought that sparing your life would allow you to grow strong enough to come back and bully my Cold Water Palace!"

As the Cold Water Palace Master's words filled the air, the entire city fell into deathly silence.

No one had expected such a convoluted backstory behind the tragic deaths of the Everlasting Regret Sect Master's wife and child.

If her story were true, it was not wrong to say that Li Changbo had indeed brought about their deaths himself.

"Lies! You despicable wench, how dare you twist the truth!"

Li Changbo bellowed angrily, "That treasure was originally my wife’s ancestral heirloom!

She was a direct descendant of your Cold Water Palace's lineage.

It was your poisonous mother who schemed against her bloodline, ultimately seizing the palace master position for herself!

What’s wrong with my wife reclaiming what was rightfully hers?

Do you think your venomous mother was so kind-hearted?

She gained her position through deceit, spilling the blood of countless lives.

The guilt in her heart made her want to appease my wife’s lineage for her own peace of mind.

But heaven sees all. Such hypocrisy cannot conceal the truth.

Her failure during her tribulation was the greatest proof of divine justice, her ultimate retribution!"

Hearing this, the icy voice from within the palace fell silent.

After a long pause, it sighed. "Yes, my mother did wrong the direct bloodline. Her failure during her tribulation was indeed due to the guilt she bore."

The entire city, at this revelation, suddenly understood. Even the mighty Cold Water Palace had not been without its internal strife.

At least in its history, a monumental upheaval had occurred that resulted in the change of its palace master.

"However!"

The icy voice sharpened again, carrying a fierce edge.

"My mother’s guilt was directed towards the main lineage.

But you, Li Changbo, schemed for the treasure, deceived the Holy Maiden, and ultimately caused her tragic death. That is also the truth!

Do you think I can’t distinguish between the two?

Li Changbo, you’ve come to my doorstep, taking advantage of my mother’s failure in her tribulation and assuming my Cold Water Palace is defenseless.

Since you are so aggressive, very well! I will battle you myself.

Let us see whether your newly attained Golden Core Realm makes you invincible!"

"Palace Master, you mustn't!"

A gasp echoed as a figure suddenly flew out of the Cold Water Palace, stopping a short distance from Li Changbo.

The Cold Water Palace Master had accepted the challenge!

The crowd widened their eyes, gazing intently at the figure. Even the citizens of Cold Water City were no exception, as few had ever seen their palace master’s true face.

Then, as they saw her clearly, every breath seemed to halt.

Her appearance was simply breathtaking.

Draped in flowing white robes exuding an aura of cold elegance, her face was a masterpiece of unparalleled beauty, leaving all who saw her utterly stunned.

"What a beautiful sister," whispered Xiao Yan from the top of a tavern, awe-struck.

In her heart, this white-robed lady even surpassed Hu Zezhi in beauty.

"So young," muttered Lu Qing, also surprised by the sight of the Cold Water Palace Master.

With his cultivation, he discerned that her youthful appearance was not due to some transformation but was indeed her actual age.

As for her stunning looks, while remarkable, they did not waver his Dao heart. At his level, outer appearances held little weight.

Li Changbo, however, paused briefly upon seeing her beauty, a glint of strange emotion flashing through his eyes before he quickly suppressed it.

"You wretch, so you finally dare to appear?" he sneered.

"Li Changbo, state your terms. However you wish to fight, I will take all your moves," said the palace master coolly, standing atop a shuttle-shaped artifact.

"It’s simple. Survive three moves from me. If you do, this challenge is yours.

Fail, and don’t blame me for destroying a delicate flower!"

Li Changbo declared.

"Three moves? Very well. But not here. Let us take this fight outside the city to avoid harming the innocent," the palace master said as she began to steer her artifact towards the outskirts.

But Li Changbo suddenly sneered, "There’s no need. They’re just ants. Why care about them? Take my first move right here!"

With that, he thrust his arm forward, sending a blast of azure flames hurtling towards her!