I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God Chapter 1283: Outsmarting Oneself

As the spatial disturbances faded, Liu Runan found himself back within the inner sanctum of the Falling God Palace.

After he sent word of his arrival, several Elders materialized to escort him. They guided him through a labyrinth of deep palatial structures until he stood solitary before a colossal staircase tucked away in the sect's profound depths.

He looked up at the endless ascent, where a path paved with starlight climbed toward the firmament. At the summit, perched above the drifting mists, the silhouette of a divine hall flickered. It radiated a holy luminescence so intense that it turned the Falling God Palace and the entire floating island into a shimmering pearl amidst the darkness.

Concealed within Liu Runan's sleeve, the soul flame of Liu Changfeng watched the scene, trembling with pure shock.

"Father, is... is this the fabled Star Path that leads to the Falling God Hall?"

Liu Runan shifted his gaze downward, delivering a stern warning through a mental transmission.

"Indeed, this is the Starlight Long Path."

"When we pay our respects to the Star Lord shortly, it will be the greatest privilege of your life. You must maintain absolute reverence; do not dare to be disrespectful or speak without an explicit command. Follow my every move and react according to the circumstances!"

Liu Changfeng immediately fell silent, nodding with profound awe. As he stared at the Starlight Long Path, his eyes brimmed with fervor and dread. Despite his former status as an outer sect Elder, he had only ever seen this path from a distance. He had never dreamed of standing so close to it.

The realization that he was about to meet the Star Lord sent waves of adrenaline through his spectral form.

This supreme overlord, the ruler of Lan Star, possessed such terrifying authority and Cultivation that he could forge an ancient Starlight Path directly to his hall. He was, for all intents and purposes, the God of Lan Star!

To him, the countless inhabitants and myriad cultivators of this world were nothing more than specks of dust.

Even before the meeting began, the various legends Liu Changfeng had heard throughout his life raced through his mind. This religious fervor, akin to meeting a true deity, allowed him to finally feel a fraction of the prestige associated with a truly great figure.

In the presence of the Star Lord, any individual was utterly trivial!

Suddenly, the Starlight Long Path erupted in a brilliant glow. The clouds at the midpoint dispersed, replaced by a sky filled with auspicious rosy light and the echoes of ceremonial music. It felt as if a heavenly gateway was opening, beckoning those below.

Liu Runan offered a deep, respectful bow and began his steady ascent up the stairs!

As they climbed higher, the entire landscape of the floating island unfolded below them. Hidden in the sleeve, Liu Changfeng felt a growing sense of superiority, his internal thrill becoming impossible to suppress.

By the time they reached the summit, he no longer cared for the view of the bustling island below. His focus was entirely on the magnificent palace ahead, which sparkled with glazed light and divine splendor.

The ancient immortal gate, carved from jade, groaned as it slowly swung open.

An incredibly oppressive aura surged out from the vast interior!

Whoosh!

Even from his hiding spot, Liu Changfeng was struck by a violent gale that made his soul flicker. It felt as if torrents of Dao power were rushing past him, making it nearly impossible to maintain his focus!

In his current ghostly state, he was helpless; however, he realized that even at his peak—when his Cultivation was at the half-step Desolation Realm—he likely wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure of entering this place!

Once the initial surge of power subsided, Liu Runan walked firmly into the great hall. Many familiar Elders sat in silence on either side of the room. The entire hall was saturated with Dao power, with visible rhythms of the Dao flowing through the air. It was arguably the most potent blessed land in existence, a place where one could grasp the truths of the universe just by being present.

Inside the sleeve, Liu Changfeng was mesmerized.

He found it hard to believe such a location existed—a hall built from the very essence of Dao power, where starlight served as mere floor tiles. "Lavish" was an understatement; this was truly divine territory!

The hidden depths of the Falling God Hall were truly frightening!

At that moment, Liu Changfeng finally understood the reality of high-ranking powerhouses. He suppressed his aura entirely, staying quiet and obedient within the sleeve.

Liu Runan, being accustomed to such majesty, continued his steady pace forward.

Only when he reached the base of the nine-tiered immortal jade dragon platform did he stop. Under the watchful eyes of his peers and superiors, he bowed deeply and kowtowed with total devotion.

"Your subordinate, Liu Runan, pays his respects to the Star Lord!"

Upon the immortal platform, silver-armored guards stood like statues. No aura emanated from them, making them appear like ordinary mortals, yet the Elders didn't dare to look them in the eye.

In the center of the platform, a curtain of glazed pearls obscured the throne, shimmering with the multi-colored light of the Dao. A vague figure sat behind the veil, their features hidden by a profound and mysterious aura that defied any attempt at scrutiny.

A cold, detached voice drifted out slowly.

"What is the matter?"

Though it was only four words, a crushing pressure instantly filled the entirety of the Falling God Hall!

Liu Runan pressed his body closer to the floor and began his "truthful" report of his recent failures.

"I report to the Star Lord."

"This subordinate has proven incompetent. Sun Er was seized by an unaffiliated cultivator, and my own useless son was brutally attacked, leaving him as nothing but a remnant soul. My son, overestimating his strength, sought help from several outer sect Elders to seek justice, but they were nearly wiped out!"

"I have brought shame upon the divine palace's reputation. Several Elders have perished at the hands of this vicious villain. Because I lack the power to claim vengeance and restore our honor, I beg the Star Lord for punishment!"

With a few calculated sentences, Yi Feng was transformed into a bloodthirsty monster.

The shameful behavior of Liu Haotian and his son, as well as the real circumstances of the Elders' deaths, were completely ignored. Every sin was placed squarely on Yi Feng’s shoulders.

Liu Runan's cunning was on full display as he attempted to use the Star Lord as a borrowed blade.

The surrounding Elders, hearing this account, glared with fury. As they exchanged looks, a palpable killing intent began to permeate the air.

Regardless of who the culprit was, to repeatedly slaughter disciples and Elders of the Falling God Palace was an act of extreme audacity—an unforgivable sin that could only be washed away in blood!

However, despite the collective rage, no one dared to speak. The Elders remained seated, waiting for the Star Lord to give the word.

Finally, a voice tinged with a hint of curiosity came from behind the curtain.

"Did this truly happen?"

Liu Runan quickly adopted a look of grief and indignation. He bowed again, pulling the remnant soul from his sleeve to show as evidence.

"This subordinate would never dare to lie. The outer sect Elders have already met their end in the Northern Desert Barren Region. This matter is undeniable!"

Liu Changfeng’s remnant soul added nervously, his voice dripping with false humility.

"May the Star Lord see the truth. My own weakness has brought disgrace to the Falling God Palace, and I deserve death ten thousand times over. But to allow such a person to remain free is a slight against our sect!"

Though he was less experienced than his father, Liu Changfeng was no fool. He knew they had to commit to the lie. The truth—that the Elders died during a botched possession attempt—could never be revealed. It all had to be Yi Feng's fault.

Since those dead Elders hadn't reached the peak of the half-step Desolation Realm and hadn't formed a second soul, they couldn't come back to contradict him. Dead men tell no tales.

The plan seemed flawless.

The father and son waited in silence for the Star Lord’s decree. While they kept their faces neutral, their hearts were racing with anticipation. A scandal of this magnitude was rare; the Star Lord surely wouldn't let it slide.

Once the Lord gave the order, the wrath of the divine palace would be unleashed. Killing a lone cultivator would be as simple as crushing an insect.

In the midst of their hopeful waiting, a calm voice spoke from behind the pearls.

"Oh?"

"A rogue cultivator actually has such power? This is quite intriguing. Bring this person to the divine palace. Perhaps he can be of use in the future."

Liu Changfeng’s heart nearly stopped in terror.

This wasn't supposed to happen!

The Star Lord didn't seem to care at all about the dead Elders. His tone suggested their loss was trivial, and he was more interested in the man who killed them.

Was the law of the jungle truly this absolute? The Star Lord was even more cold-blooded than his father!

Liu Runan was equally stunned, standing frozen in place. This was the one outcome he hadn't prepared for. If Yi Feng actually came to the Divine Palace, his own lies and shameful secrets might be exposed. That possibility alone would destroy his life.

Panic surged through Liu Changfeng.

He tried to speak up, his voice cracking with feigned sorrow. "Star Lord..."

But before he could even begin his plea, the calm voice from behind the curtain cut him off.

"Brother Nangong, both of you are to depart for the Northern Desert Barren Region immediately. Locate this individual and escort him back to the Divine Hall."

The voice was steady, yet it carried a weight that no one could challenge. The entire hall fell into a heavy silence. Despite his numerous objections, Liu Runan was forced to swallow his words.

The Star Lord was absolute; no one on Lan Star dared to disobey him.

The command was as final as destiny itself.

The two silver-armored guards bowed in unison before their forms simply dissolved into the air.

"As you command."

They moved so fast that no one saw them leave; the two powerhouses had already stepped into the void.

Left with this unchangeable reality, Liu Runan remained prostrate on the floor of the Starlight Grand Hall. He didn't dare to stand, his mind churning like a stormy sea.

Liu Changfeng was in a state of total shock. Their "perfect" plan had backfired in the worst way possible. He had essentially dug his own grave.

What if that cultivator actually impressed the Star Lord? If his mortal enemy became a fellow disciple, how could he ever feel safe again?

Retreating back into the darkness of the sleeve, Liu Changfeng grew more terrified by the second. He began to pray desperately to any god that would listen, begging that the cultivator would refuse to join the Divine Palace.