That's right—the visitors at Raymond Lei's home were none other than Ian Song and Snow Yue.
After some polite greetings, Raymond Lei led Ian Song into the study.
"You two are way too bold. If word gets out that you’ve arrived in the Holy City, Elder Chu and Elder Nian will definitely send people to hunt you down!" Raymond Lei said, his face full of worry.
Ian Song just smiled. "That’s only if they’ve got the skills. If I want to leave, who in the world could possibly stop me?"
"True enough. Your Art of Great Teleportation is just too heaven-defying!" Raymond Lei nodded, then suddenly had a thought. "You came at the perfect time. I’ve run into a problem—can you help me analyze it and figure out what I should do?"
Raymond Lei then explained how he’d been sent by the Military Council to serve as envoy to Heavenly Melody Sect.
After thinking for a while, Ian Song said, "I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you try this..."
After hearing Ian Song’s suggestion, Raymond Lei’s eyes lit up.
The next day, Raymond Lei led his team as envoy to Heavenly Melody Sect. But just as they left the Holy City, they were ambushed by a group of Martial Saints. Raymond was seriously wounded, and his entourage suffered heavy casualties.
With such severe injuries, Raymond Lei naturally couldn’t continue serving as envoy to Heavenly Melody Sect.
After deliberation, the nine elders decided to send Victor Zhang as the envoy to Heavenly Melody Sect.
Lei Residence.
Raymond Lei lay in bed, the bandages on his chest still stained with fresh blood, but his face wore a smile.
"Little Huang, your plan really was brilliant!" Raymond Lei said happily.
"Don’t get too happy just yet. The elders of the Military Council aren’t fools. There’s no way they won’t suspect something fishy, and they’ll definitely test you!" Ian Song said with a cold smile.
Just as Ian Song predicted, someone soon came to check on Raymond Lei.
Some even brought a doctor. But Raymond Lei’s injuries were real—and serious enough that no one could find a flaw, no matter how hard they tried.
Ian Song and Snow Yue didn’t linger in the Holy City. Early the next morning, they left.
Now that Heavenly Melody Sect had openly broken with the Military Council, Snow Yue could answer them directly and openly.
Grace Gao even appointed her as deputy sect master, and once she steps down, Snow Yue will become the new sect master of Heavenly Melody Sect.
You had to admit, Grace Gao’s move was truly brilliant—not only did she win Ian Song’s trust, she also gained his goodwill.
"Young Master, how should we deal with the Military Council’s envoy?"
In the rear hall of the Sect Master’s Hall, Grace Gao respectfully sought Ian Song’s advice.
Ian Song replied coolly, "Naturally... tell him to get lost and go back to the Holy City."
"Won’t that enrage the Military Council?" Grace Gao asked worriedly.
Ian Song said coldly, "That’s exactly what we want—to enrage the Military Council! Right now, countless eyes across the land are watching Heavenly Melody Sect. If the sect falls, the Military Council’s prestige will soar even higher. But as long as we withstand their first wave of attacks, all the ambitious people out there will rise up. At that point, the Military Council will be stretched thin. Besides, my South Domain will soon be unified, and we’ll echo Heavenly Melody Sect from afar!"
As he spoke, Ian Song’s eyes gleamed with sharp light. It was half a soliloquy, half a declaration: "The Military Council has ruled the Human Race for so many years—it’s time for a change of dynasty!"
Grace Gao was shocked to hear Ian Song actually wanted to overthrow the Military Council and take its place. But soon, her eyes blazed with excitement. If Young Master succeeded, as his loyal supporter, her status would rise with the tide. And as Snow Yue’s master, having just named Snow deputy sect master, all she had would eventually belong to Snow Yue. For that alone, Young Master would never treat her unfairly.
With that thought, she knelt down. "I pledge my life to serve Young Master!"
The next day at noon, a group arrived at the mountain gate of Heavenly Melody Sect.
At the front stood a middle-aged man clad in a dark-brown robe. His face was broad, his ears large, but his eyes were so narrow they looked like slits.
This was Victor Zhang, the envoy sent this time to Heavenly Melody Sect.
"I am the envoy of the Military Council. Go and tell Grace Gao to come out and receive the decree!"
Victor Zhang looked down on the disciples guarding the mountain gate, his face full of arrogance.
"Sir, our Sect Master said she’s unwell and won’t be seeing any guests. Please return." The gatekeeping disciple replied blandly, with a hint of mockery in her tone.
Victor Zhang’s face twisted with anger at these words. "What? Grace Gao actually dares to avoid me? Does she even know who I am?"
"I don’t care who you are. No means no!" the female gatekeeper shot back coldly.
Victor Zhang’s gaze turned icy as he stared at the girl. "Insolent! You, a mere gate disciple, dare talk back to me? Men, seize her and slap her mouth!"
Immediately, a late-stage Grandmaster-ranked guard stepped forward and reached out to grab the female gatekeeper.
That gatekeeping disciple was named Chen Linlin. Her cultivation had just reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, so how could she possibly resist a Grandmaster? As the guard lifted his palm, she was pulled toward him, completely helpless.
"How dare you! Attacking my sect’s disciples at the Heavenly Melody gate—do you think our sect doesn’t exist?"
A streak of violet sword energy flashed like lightning, forcing the Grandmaster to abandon Chen Linlin and leap backward in fright.
But that violet sword energy didn’t let him off. Its radiance surged, accelerating as it shot forward even faster.
"Outrageous! You dare injure a Military Council envoy!"
One of the Martial Saints in Victor Zhang’s entourage couldn’t stand it anymore. He threw a blazing red fist to meet the violet sword energy head-on.
"You’re the outrageous one!"
A cane appeared out of thin air. With a thud, the fist energy was shattered, but the cane’s momentum didn’t slow—it shot straight for the Martial Saint’s chest. Behind the cane was an elderly woman, so old she looked ready for the grave.
"Ah!"
With a miserable scream, the Grandmaster who attacked was sliced clean in half by the violet sword energy. A middle-aged woman with a sword appeared, glanced coolly at the bisected corpse, then turned to Chen Linlin. "Are you alright, Chen Linlin?"
"Thank you, Elder Wang, for saving me!" Chen Linlin hurriedly bowed, her face still flushed with excitement.
"Think nothing of it. You’re a disciple of Heavenly Melody Sect—protecting you is my duty," Elder Wang replied calmly.
On the other side—
With a bang, the Martial Saint from the Military Council was sent flying by the cane, crashing dozens of meters away. He barely managed to stand before coughing up blood, his aura collapsing.
Seeing this, Victor Zhang was absolutely furious. Heavenly Melody Sect had gone too far—they dared to kill and injure his people right in front of him! He swept his gaze over the old woman and Elder Wang, grinding his teeth. "Are you Heavenly Melody Sect trying to rebel?"
"So what if we are?"
Just then, Grace Gao arrived with a group of Grandmaster-ranked disciples, walking calmly. Instantly, the gate disciples all knelt and greeted her as Sect Master.