"What do you mean by that?" the white-robed elder's expression changed drastically as Lin Ran spoke.
Lin Ran sighed. "Since you've already ended up in such a sorry state, aren't you going to tell the truth? There's probably nothing left to fear, is there?"
"After all, you won't get the chance to realize your grand ambitions anymore. Isn't it better if we just lay all our cards on the table?"
Kanna Gūji, who had already resigned himself to his fate, looked towards his once-close master with a questioning gaze upon hearing Lin Ran's words, as if asking for the reason behind it all.
However, the white-robed elder seemed to value his reputation, showing no intention of admitting to Lin Ran's interrogation. He remained defiant:
"I don't understand what you're talking about!"
Lin Ran scoffed. "Oh really?"
"I never expected that an old monster like you, who has lived for countless years, would be such an incompetent wretch who dares not admit to his actions!"
"Since you're unwilling to reveal the truth to your disciple, then allow me to answer his doubts!"
"First off, your initial intention when you feigned a chance encounter with your precious disciple was none other than soul possession, wasn't it?"
"It's just that you, the old monster, happened to encounter the current Emperor of Sakura..."
"So, to play the long game and catch a bigger fish, you pretended to be a cultivator of great virtue and tricked him into becoming your disciple."
"Then, following your own planned route for the future, you led him step by step forward."
"When the time was ripe, you would directly possess him and ascend, thus achieving your long-conceived grand plan! Am I right?"
As Lin Ran spoke, he walked up to the white-robed elder, who was being restrained by Luo Qingyan, and mockingly patted his head.
"You... you... you... you're slandering me!"
The white-robed elder never expected that even such a secret could be exposed. His mind was in utter disarray, and he could only stubbornly deny it, continuing to argue with weak words.
Of course, at this point, anyone with a brain could easily see from his immense panic that he had been hit where it hurt the most.
But Lin Ran felt it wasn't enough and delivered an even heavier blow.
"Heh, slander?"
"Then you secretly changed the supreme commander of the Undead Legion to yourself; you secretly placed moles within the major families to make them act against the Emperor of Sakura; you secretly colluded with major organizations domestically and internationally to form a rebellion alliance; you secretly used your unknown silver light power to erode your disciple's mind..."
"Oh right, this doesn't seem to be an unknown power after all. Tracing its origin, it should be the power of the Shrine organization!"
"After all, a significant part of your painstaking efforts is due to your lover within the Shrine organization!"
"Coincidentally, she also planned to possess her own disciple. How fitting for you two scoundrels!"
Upon hearing Lin Ran's words, let alone the white-bearded elder, even Kanna Gūji's expression became quite remarkable.
He never imagined that his master was playing such a grand game, essentially digging his own grave!
And he, up until now, had been completely unaware, his intelligence not just simply outmatched, but utterly defeated.
He never expected that not a single person in this world was truly on his side...
Kanna Gūji, his heart turned to ashes, finally broke down completely. He collapsed on the ground, unmoving, unable to even lift his head. It could truly be said that there is no sorrow greater than a broken heart.
As for the white-robed elder on the other side, his breakdown was no less severe than Kanna Gūji's.
However, his reaction was much more intense.
The white-robed elder's old face turned completely red, blood vessels filling his eyes. He tilted his head back and roared at Lin Ran:
"Tell me! Did that woman tell you all of this?!"
"Yes! It must have been her! Only she could have known! Because only she knew all of this!"
"She must have told you about my existence and my weaknesses too!"
"This damned woman! I was tricked by her and lost my physical body before. I let her go only after she begged repeatedly..."
"I never expected her to betray me again, pushing me into an endless abyss!"
"Ah! Bitch! If I ever get a chance to live again, I will skin you alive and scatter your ashes to the wind!"
"Ahhhhhh!!! Bitch!!!"
It was evident that the white-robed elder, believing he had been betrayed once more, was extremely agitated, his entire body, even his beard, trembling. He looked as though he was about to die on the spot from rage.
And the most amusing part was that Lin Ran, from his omniscient perspective, knew very well that he was wrongly accusing his lover...
However, Lin Ran had no intention of explaining for that person. Instead, he patted the white-robed elder's head again with feigned pity.
"There, there, it's not that big of a deal. Why are you yelling so loud? Just be more careful in your next life..."
"Remember, after you reincarnate, don't be a simp anymore, okay!"
As he said this, Lin Ran once again activated his Tsukuyomi, continuing his soul invasion of the white-bearded elder.
The white-bearded elder, after his outburst of anger, understood that his end was near and began to accept his fate of disappearance in silence.
Seeing the white-robed elder so unhappy, and thinking it would be good to cheer up a dying person, Lin Ran smiled and said,
"Don't worry, your lover will be sent to the underworld by me not long from now."
"You two can settle your grievances on the way..."
Hearing this, the white-bearded elder finally regained a little spirit, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
"Is that true?"
Lin Ran nodded.
"Why would I lie to a dying man?"
"That person is also a major obstacle on my path to deal with Ye Yun. I can't let her continue to live so carefree while committing evil deeds."
"So, it's estimated that you'll be able to reunite in the underworld before long."
The white-bearded elder laughed heartily.
"Good! Very good! Excellent!"
"Since you're willing to help me avenge such a great wrong and make that bitch hoist herself by her own petard, you may take this life of mine!"
With that, he no longer resisted Lin Ran's invasion instinctively and lay down, allowing Lin Ran to take his spiritual energy and soul.
Lin Ran rolled his eyes.
This fellow was making it sound as if he needed his help to kill him...
But in reality, even if the white-bearded elder had resisted with all his might, he could have only delayed the process by about half a minute at most. It was no big deal.