Chapter 22

"Red Moon will remember!" Liu Hongyue’s eyes reddened, and she nodded silently.

A sharp snap echoed.

Just as Liu Hongyue bowed her head in silence, she suddenly heard a crisp sound. Her heart jolted, and she quickly looked up at Chu Tianhe, only to see that he had already fastened the ancient martial restriction bracelet onto his wrist!

In an instant, the red light on the bracelet flickered—its effect activated. Ninety percent of Chu Tianhe’s martial energy was immediately suppressed!

"Palace Master, you…"

Liu Hongyue was stunned. She had resolved to face death, but never imagined that Chu Tianhe would put on the bracelet himself!

"Now is not the time to go to war with the Six Palaces." Chu Tianhe patted Liu Hongyue’s shoulder, signaling her to rise, and spoke: "All these years, you have been lurking within the Star River Palace. One false step would mean eternal doom. Danger lurked at every turn—it has not been easy. I will never allow you to die because of this matter."

"Palace Master…" Liu Hongyue could no longer hold back. Tears silently traced down her cheeks. So, all her efforts had been known to Chu Tianhe; the Palace Master had always cared about her plight!

"It is Red Moon’s incompetence, unable to ease the Palace Master’s worries."

"You have done your utmost. There is no need for self-blame." Chu Tianhe smiled gently, shook his head, and asked, "The matter I instructed you to investigate—have you uncovered the truth?"

The Battle of the Seven Kings had ended; the Pantheon collapsed, the Seven Palaces suffered heavy losses and fell into decline. Only the Star River Palace’s power soared, instantly becoming the foremost among the Seven.

There was surely something amiss!

"Palace Master, it has been confirmed—just as you suspected. The mastermind behind the Battle of the Seven Kings years ago was none other than the Palace Master of the Star River Palace!"

Liu Hongyue hurriedly replied. A cold gleam flashed in her eyes, thick with hatred, as she continued: "Not only that—twelve years ago, Elder Ye was ambushed, his legs crippled, and his sight lost. That was also orchestrated by the Star River Palace Master!"

"They acted with extreme secrecy. It was only yesterday that I finally uncovered the truth."

"It was truly him!" Chu Tianhe’s murderous aura surged, his eyes bloodshot as intense fury and killing intent flooded his heart. "I have long suspected him, but I never imagined even Elder Ye’s tragedy was their doing!"

After the Battle of the Seven Kings, the Chu family’s old steward took charge in the crisis. He protected the infant Chu Tianhe, preserving the family line, while secretly rallying the remnants of the Pantheon, plotting a resurgence.

This devoted steward was now one of Chu Tianhe’s two great shadows, famed alongside Yue Linglong, known as Shadow Martial Daoist—Ye Qingxuan!

"Palace Master, what should Red Moon do next? Please instruct me!"

"If they wish to play tricks with Chu, then I shall show them what it means to wage war with cunning!"

A chilling gleam flickered in Chu Tianhe’s eyes as he spoke coldly: "Return and report. Tell the Six Palaces that I have donned the bracelet and, for the foreseeable future, will remain by my daughter’s side as an ordinary man."

"Also, inform Elder Ye—it is time to activate the Reaper Plan!"

"In three years, I will annihilate the Six Palaces to the last!"