"Stop!"

Just when Hua Wushuang was about to make a move, a stern voice rang out.

Hua Wushuang and the Sakura Falling members looked up, all with a puzzled expression: "Second Elder?"

It was indeed the Second Elder.

The Second Elder, with no expression on his face, looked at the Sakura Falling members, then at Ye Guichen and his companions: "The Holy Daughter has questions for them. They cannot be killed!"

"Second Elder, what do you mean by this?" Hua Wushuang anxiously asked upon hearing this.

She knew the Second Elder seemed to have secret dealings with An Shengtian, so she kept signaling with her eyes, trying to dissuade him from interfering.

However, the Second Elder seemed blind to this, waved his hand, and ordered, "Everyone stay outside. Without the permission of the Holy Daughter or the old leader, no one is to enter."

Then, he turned and re-entered the wooden villa.

Ye Guichen and his companions were somewhat puzzled but followed him inside.

Since they had been discovered, stealing was no longer an option, so they would have to play it by ear.

The Second Elder led Ye Guichen directly to the bedroom where the old leader was staying.

An Shengtian's expression changed slightly upon seeing Yuan Shao, but he pretended to know nothing and asked, "Second Elder, who are they?"

The Second Elder ignored An Shengtian and bowed respectfully to Holy Daughter Shang Hongye: "Holy Daughter, I have brought them as you requested. The one who set the fire has been poisoned and is still unconscious. These three seem to be with that woman."

Shang Hongye, still sitting by the bed, holding the old leader's hand, didn't move and asked softly, "Elders, since our master fell ill, Sakura Falling has relied on your support. Hongye is deeply grateful. Today, I have gathered everyone to discuss the future development of Sakura Falling and the appointment of a new leader."

"Holy Daughter, what do you mean by this?"

"Yes, the old leader is still present. Isn't it too early to discuss this?"

"There's no need to discuss at all. You are the Holy Daughter and the old leader's last disciple. Naturally, you should be the next leader of Sakura Falling!"

The elders looked at each other and spoke unanimously.

An Shengtian, however, found it very strange.

He had a nagging feeling that something was off today.

Since he came to Sakura Falling, he had never seen the elders gathered like this.

And previously, An Shengtian had secret dealings with the Second Elder. It was the Second Elder who informed him of the old leader's illness. But today, the Second Elder seemed different.

"Have we been discovered?" An Shengtian felt uneasy but quickly said, "Yes, Hongye, the elders are right. The old leader is still here. There's no need to discuss this."

Shang Hongye trembled slightly upon hearing this and said, "The old leader exhausted himself studying the Wuyin Array. I'm afraid there's no hope for him."

"What?"

"Wuyin Array?"

"Holy Daughter, are you joking? The old leader became like this because of the Wuyin Array?"

Upon hearing the term "Wuyin Array," everyone present, except the Second Elder, was taken aback.

The other elders were especially shocked, looking incredulous.

This Wuyin Array was created at the founding of Sakura Falling by the first leader.

However, the Wuyin Array in the first leader's hands was incomplete and ineffective.

It was passed down through generations, with each leader dedicating themselves to its study.

The Wuyin Array was one of the ten legendary killer arrays, with immense power.

If mastered, not even an Innate master could break it, ensuring the safety of Sakura Falling, eliminating the need to rely on Azure Dragon Commerce for survival.

This array was crucial for Sakura Falling.

Clearly, aside from the Holy Daughter and the Second Elder, no one else knew the old leader's condition was due to studying the array.

The Holy Daughter continued, looking at the old leader on the bed, "Master said that Sakura Falling originated from the Wuyin Sect, and the Wuyin Array was its foundation. As the sect declined over centuries, disciples fled from enemies to the Devil's Forest, where they established Sakura Falling, changing their identities."

"But every leader wished to return and revive the Wuyin Sect, which required fully restoring and mastering the Wuyin Array."

"It was said that whoever restores and masters the Wuyin Array would become the sect leader of the Wuyin Sect and thus the leader of Sakura Falling."

"Every leader of Sakura Falling has had this wish. Master never gave up on it. But his dedication to studying the Wuyin Array led to his downfall."

The Holy Daughter sighed, "Master often said that the darkest thing in the world is the human heart. Though we number less than a thousand, internal strife has never ceased. Many outsiders covet Sakura Falling, wanting to turn it into a tool for killing."

An Shengtian shuddered.

Her words seemed to target him.

But Shang Hongye didn't name him and continued, "Master told me before falling ill that if he died, Sakura Falling would descend into chaos, and our people would fight, which he didn't want to see."

She stood up slowly and turned around, "I didn't believe Master, but today I understand his foresight. The previous fire was deliberately set, wasn't it?"

With that, Shang Hongye stared at An Shengtian, a mocking smile on her lips, as if seeing through everything.

Upon seeing Shang Hongye's face, Ye Guichen shuddered, eyes wide in disbelief, "Bai Qinghe?"

The Holy Daughter looked identical to Bai Qinghe.

No!

Ye Guichen quickly rejected the thought.

The Holy Daughter, though resembling Bai Qinghe, was a young maiden, her eyes innocent, unlike Bai Qinghe's worldly gaze. Her chest, though promising, hadn't developed like Bai Qinghe's.

"Could it be, she's Bai Qinghe's long-lost daughter?"

Ye Guichen took a deep breath.

What luck to find her here!

No wonder Bai Qinghe couldn't find her daughter. Hidden here in Sakura Falling, it wasn't surprising.

Though excited, he showed no sign of abnormality.

He quietly listened.

Ye Guichen sensed the Holy Daughter was not as inept as the rumors suggested.

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