Chapter 80: The Gathering Storm: The Grand Summit of the Ages (4)

After the interruption Ruler White's voice cuts through the silence like a whisper in the night as he continues with his explanation. "The 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes' «Tyrant's Usurpation Secret Art» has been successfully deciphered," he reveals, his words carrying an air of ominous significance. The room stirs with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, the revelation only serving to deepen the mystery that enshrouds this clandestine power.

A chorus of questions erupts from the cultivators, their voices a cacophony of curiosity and bewilderment. "Who is this 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes'?" Demon Emperor É inquires, his tone a mix of apprehension and fascination. "And what exactly is the nature of this «Tyrant's Usurpation Secret Art»?"

Amidst the growing sea of uncertainty, Ruism Holy Man's voice rises, his tone laced with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Could this be related to the same force that attempted to thwart my ascension to the role of Heavenly Way?" he inquires, his eyes narrowing with intrigue.

The revelation catches most others off guard, their surprise evident in their widened eyes and raised eyebrows. The notion that someone had conspired against Ruism Holy Man, preventing his rightful ascent, challenges their understanding of the world they inhabit.

"But... didn't you lose to the Current Heaven in battle during the eight Vying of the Heavenly Way?" Heavenly Aspiration interjects, his voice dripping with skepticism. "How can you claim that it was due to the intervention of an unknown entity?"

Ruism Holy Man's lips curl into a faint smile, his gaze piercing through the doubts that surround him. "I lost on purpose," he responds, his voice resonating with a quiet confidence. "There were unseen forces at play, manipulating the outcome of our confrontation."

"Lost on purpose?" Demon Emperor É interjects, his voice tinged with skepticism.

A shiver runs down the spines of those present, the revelation casting a veil of uncertainty over their perceptions. The intricate web of power and influence that weaves through their world reveals itself to be far more complex and enigmatic than they ever imagined.

The mysterious woman draped in black that stands beside Zenith Heaven Emperor once again raises her voice, and it cuts through the skeptical murmurs that fill the chamber. "It's true," she affirms, her words infused with a resolute certainty. "The interference of the 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes' played a pivotal role in Ruism Holy Man's failed ascension to the position of Heavenly Way."

The cultivators, their skepticism still lingering like an oppressive cloud, turn their gaze towards her. Demanding proof, they question her identity and motives, their voices laced with doubt and suspicion. "Who are you?" the Demon Emperor asks again, the frustration evident in his tone. "How can we trust the words of someone who hides behind a mask?"

The mysterious woman remains unfazed, her presence exuding an air of quiet authority. "My identity is inconsequential," she responds, her voice carrying a hint of mystery. "What matters is the knowledge I possess, the truth I bring."

Undeterred, the woman raises her voice to be heard above the cacophony of doubts. "Heavenly Way White also fell victim to the «Tyrant's Usurpation Secret Art»," she reveals, her words cutting through the skepticism like a knife. "He sold his rightful position as the Sixth Heaven to Daoist Karmic Virtue, due to him sensing something is wrong. However, in the next competition, he won the position of Heavenly Way once again. Although at that time he too was affected, but he ascended too quickly for the «Tyrant's Usurpation Secret Art» to take affected, due to it being cast too late."

The cultivators exchange glances, their expressions a mixture of surprise and intrigue. The revelation strikes a chord within them, challenging their preconceived notions of Heavenly Way White's ascension and the forces that shaped his journey.

The words hang heavy in the air, each syllable landing with a weight that sends ripples of disbelief through the gathered cultivators. "Nonsense!" Heavenly Aspiration exclaims, his voice filled with incredulity. "How can someone sell the position of Heavenly Way? It's impossible!"

But amidst the disbelieving voices, Ruler White interjects, his voice cutting through the skepticism like a cold blade. "Heavenly Way White truly sold his position," he asserts, his tone unwavering. "I am the living proof of it."

His words spark a mix of astonishment and curiosity among the cultivators, their eyes widening as they consider the implications.

Ruler White continues, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Normally, when a Heavenly Way ascends, a new Nine Serenities Ruler is born, which acts as their counterpart in the Nine Serenities," he explains. "However, in the during the Sixth Heavenly Way's reign, no such counterpart emerged. It was because I had already been born during that time, when Daoist Karmic Virtue bought the Mandate of Heaven."

"Later I the Sixth Nine Serenities Ruler became the Seventh Nine Serenities Ruler," Ruler White adds, his voice resolute, "my power doubled when White ascended and became the Seventh Heavenly Way. He is my counterpart, I have all his memories until the moment I split from him."

A hushed silence falls over the room, the weight of this revelation settling upon the cultivators like a heavy shroud. The boundaries between truth and fiction blur, as the intricate tapestry of power and destiny unravels before their eyes.

Yet doubt still lingers, clinging stubbornly to the minds of the cultivators. It is only when Zenith Heaven Emperor interjects, his voice commanding silence, that they begin to consider the veracity of the woman's claims. "Silence!" he booms, his tone carrying an air of authority that brooks no argument. "What she says is true."

As the murmurs of disbelief gradually subside, Zenith Heaven Emperor takes center stage once again, his voice cutting through the lingering doubts. "But let's return to the main topic here," he declares, his tone grave yet resolute. "The 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes' is none other than the Fourth Heaven."

Reincarnation Blade, her eyes glinting with a newfound understanding, nods in agreement. "If it is him," she admits, her voice filled with a mix of hate and apprehension, "then it truly is plausible."

The acknowledgement from Reincarnation Blade lends credence to Zenith Heaven Emperor's revelation, reinforcing the weight of the truth revealed. The other cultivators, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution, hang on every word, their minds racing to comprehend the implications of this revelation.

With a nod of affirmation from Zenith Heaven Emperor, the attention once again turns to Seventh Nine Serenities Ruler White. His presence, shrouded in an aura of darkness and malevolence, captivates the room as he prepares to continue his explanation.

"Uncle White," Zenith Heaven Emperor addresses him, the familial title hinting at a deeper connection between them. "Continue with your explanation."

Seventh Nine Serenities Ruler White, steps forward. His voice, infused with an eerie calmness, resonates with an otherworldly weight as he begins to unravel the intricate web of secrets and machinations that lie before them.

"In our research of the 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes' and the «Tyrant's Usurpation Secret Art»," he begins, his words carrying a chilling edge, "we have uncovered the true extent of the Fourth Heaven's manipulations and the far-reaching consequences of this insidious art."

As his words weave a tapestry of intrigue and danger, the cultivators find themselves drawn deeper into the enigma that surrounds the 'Dark Hand Behind the Scenes.' The path ahead grows increasingly treacherous, and the stakes higher than they ever could have imagined.