Walker Of The Worlds-Chapter 2835: Grave News

Lin Mu glanced at Daoist Chu and Monk Hushu, whose expressions mirrored his own grim anticipation.

The temple—the peace, the routine—it was all suspended now in the space between heartbeats.

Whatever Elder Jin had to say, it would change everything.

And deep down, Lin Mu already suspected:

Their peaceful time at the Green Lotus Temple might just be over.

As much as he had hoped it might last a little longer, that hope was rapidly slipping away.

They all watched with bated breath as Elder Jin finally spoke.

"The Thunderfall War Emperor... has died," he revealed.

"Who?" Lin Mu asked, confusion flashing across his face.

The name meant nothing to him. But from the gravity of Elder Jin's words and the solemn expressions of the others, he could tell this was no ordinary individual.

"He died?!" Daoist Chu, however, was visibly stunned.

"When?" Monk Hushu asked immediately.

"The official report we received from his empire's representatives states that it occurred approximately three months ago," Elder Jin replied.

"But that's not the truth... is it?" Daoist Chu pressed, his sharp gaze focused on the elder.

"Indeed. We suspect the death occurred even earlier," Elder Jin admitted with a nod.

"Who exactly is he?" Lin Mu asked again, still trying to grasp the magnitude of the situation.

"I'll explain," Daoist Chu said, drawing in a steady breath. "The Thunderfall War Emperor is—was—one of the prominent Immortal Emperors of the Immortal Realm. More importantly, he was a Transcendent Immortal who had overcome three Transcendent Immortal Tribulations."

"Three tribulations? That's extremely powerful," Lin Mu remarked, eyebrows raised.

"Not just powerful," Daoist Chu continued. "He was also a staunch ally of the Southern Immortal Court and played a critical role in battles against the enemies of the Immortal Court. Although he wasn't an official member of the Court, he contributed greatly and frequently participated in high-level missions when called upon."

"No wonder his death is so significant," Lin Mu murmured, the pieces falling into place.

Still, one thing didn't quite fit.

"But if he was associated with the Southern Immortal Court, why is the Western Immortal Court getting involved?" he asked, his tone cautious.

While the Thunderfall War Emperor's death was surely impactful, there were other powerful figures allied to the Immortal Courts. It wasn't unusual for each region to have its own strong allies.

Daoist Chu gave a solemn nod.

"It's because… the Thunderfall War Emperor Murong and the Western Immortal Court's Leader and Head, Huwan Bai, are sworn martial brothers," he revealed.

Lin Mu's eyes widened.

So it wasn't merely a political concern—it was personal.

'It's not just an internal matter… it's a bond of brotherhood,' Lin Mu realized.

"His death would devastate Head Huwan Bai. He won't take this lightly. He'll investigate it thoroughly," Daoist Chu said gravely.

"I see…" Lin Mu muttered. "And from how carefully this is being handled… I'm guessing there's suspicion of foul play?"

"Indeed," Elder Jin confirmed. "The official records claim the death occurred three months and five days ago. But we have proof that it actually happened three months and seven days ago."

"How can we be certain?" Daoist Chu asked, frowning.

"The Western Immortal Court Leader verified it himself," Elder Jin replied. "He possesses a personal Soul Lamp linked to the Thunderfall War Emperor."

"A Soul Lamp?" Lin Mu asked, recognizing the term.

Soul Lamps were sacred instruments that recorded the life status of a cultivator. Some rare variants could even track their exact location. Creating one required a wisp of the individual's true soul, and only elite sects or clans used them for their most vital members.

"Are others aware of the existence of this Soul Lamp?" Daoist Chu asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Only a handful within the Immortal Court—and now the individuals in this room—know of it," Elder Jin answered.

"But there is something even more concerning," he added.

"What is it?" Monk Hushu inquired.

"The Soul Lamp did go out…" Elder Jin paused. "But a day later, it lit up again."

"What?!" Daoist Chu and Monk Hushu exclaimed simultaneously, their composure breaking for a moment.

"How's that even possible?" Lin Mu asked, stunned. Even he knew this defied the known laws of cultivation.

When a Soul Lamp extinguished, it was final. It meant the soul wisp had been destroyed. Even if a cultivator's body perished but their Nascent Soul survived, the lamp would only dim—not extinguish completely.

"We don't know either," Elder Jin admitted. "When Head Huwan Bai discovered the lamp had gone out, he attempted to contact the Thunderfall War Emperor immediately. Nothing worked. He withheld the information at first, hoping it was a false reading. But just as he began making preparations for confirmation... the lamp suddenly reignited."

"This…" Monk Hushu muttered, thoroughly confounded.

"That shouldn't be possible," Daoist Chu said, shaking his head. "Even if the lamp malfunctioned, reigniting it would still require a new soul wisp from the Thunderfall War Emperor himself."

"Exactly," Elder Jin agreed. "That's why Head Huwan Bai is taking matters into his own hands and leading a personal investigation. After receiving the report, he grew suspicious and contacted other channels—multiple sources. But they all said the same: the Thunderfall War Emperor had died."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the weight of the situation pressed down on them.

"How… how did he die?" Daoist Chu finally asked.

"The official account claims it was during a Transcendent Immortal Tribulation," Elder Jin said.

"That's absurd," Daoist Chu retorted, shaking his head. "Everyone knows the Thunderfall War Emperor overcame his last tribulation just ten thousand years ago. That grants him at least ten thousand more years of stable cultivation. There's no logical reason he would undergo another tribulation so soon."

Even Monk Hushu, who rarely showed strong emotion, looked disturbed.

Lin Mu now understood there was certainly some scheme in all this. Something much darker than could be seen.

The timing of it all was wrong, not to mention the Western Immortal Court Leader knew the Soul Lamp was still working.