Chapter 346: Chapter 345: Accepted on His Behalf
"The Hehuan Sect!" Hearing Tian Ao’s words, the Second Elder cried out in alarm, his brows immediately knitting together.
"The Hehuan Sect is a small, emerging power within the territory under our Celestial Spirit Sect’s jurisdiction. They’ve developed rapidly, reaching the level of an average second-rate power in just two short years."
Hearing this, the Third Elder’s brows furrowed slightly. "They’ve developed that quickly?"
An average second-rate power has at least one Spirit Emperor and five experts at the Spirit Aspect Tier within its sect. It also requires countless cultivation resources, as well as cultivation techniques and martial skills. To grow from its founding to a second-rate power in just two years is nearly impossible.
"There are two reasons for their rapid development. First, their Cultivation Technique. They practice a form of dual cultivation. The sect is composed mostly of men, and their dual cultivation partners are women they forcibly abduct from the common folk. They then absorb the women’s Yin Essence to fuel their own cultivation. We only noticed this sect after receiving reports from nearby villagers."
"The second reason is that they have the clandestine support of Fallen Valley—one of the Two Valleys as renowned as our Celestial Spirit Sect. We discovered that the Hehuan Sect’s Sect Leader has had contact with an Elder from Fallen Valley. We believe the Hehuan Sect is a pawn that Fallen Valley placed within our territory. It’s just that this pawn has been too conspicuous, and we’ve found them out!" Tian Ao added from the side.
"So you want Shen Haoran and the other two to remove this hidden pawn of Fallen Valley?" Jun Luohua asked softly.
"Yes. You know as well as I do that we’ll never shut up that bunch of old geezers in the Elder Council unless we do something that benefits the Sect," Tian Ao said with a nod.
"Fine. I’ll accept this mission on behalf of Shen Haoran and the other two," Jun Luohua said decisively after a moment of thought.
"Third Elder, you should think this through! The Hehuan Sect is not to be trifled with. An Outer Elder previously led a team of Law Enforcement Disciples to investigate, and not a single one returned. Now you’re sending three disciples to eradicate the Hehuan Sect? Isn’t that just sending them to their deaths?" the Second Elder reminded her, shocked that the Third Elder had actually accepted the mission.
At his words, Jun Luohua glanced at the Second Elder and said coolly, "If the three of them can’t even handle a small matter like this, then they are not worthy of being my disciples."
’A small matter...’ Hearing such a perilous affair being called a "small matter" by Jun Luohua, both Tian Ao and the Second Elder’s mouths couldn’t help but twitch. In the entire Celestial Spirit Sect, only the Third Elder, Jun Luohua, had the audacity to say something like that.
"Is there a time limit?" Jun Luohua asked.
"Get it done within two months. If they really manage to eradicate the Hehuan Sect, I will absolutely secure those three spots for you, Third Elder," Tian Ao said with certainty.
"Alright," Jun Luohua replied, then turned and left.
Watching Jun Luohua’s departing figure, the Second Elder’s brow furrowed. He then looked at Tian Ao and asked doubtfully, "Can the Third Elder’s three disciples really pull this off?"
"Let’s wait and see," Tian Ao said with a light chuckle, his eyes narrowing.
...
「Outside the Celestial Spirit Hall...」
A crowd of disciples was gathered in front of the Celestial Spirit Hall, their jaws hanging so wide you could have stuffed two duck eggs in them. Inside the hall, not a single person could utter a word. The silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.
"How... how long has it been?" a disciple asked with a trembling voice after a long moment.
"I think... it’s been about two incense sticks’ time," another disciple nearby said, swallowing hard as he stared at the still-shut doors of the hall.
"Two incense sticks’ time! He actually stayed in the Level Eight Earth Demon Gang Wind for two whole incense sticks’ time! Is that guy even human?" the surrounding disciples began to exclaim in disbelief.
The Gang Winds in the Celestial Spirit Hall were graded. The Earth Demon Gang Wind was divided into eight levels, and the Celestial Spirit Gang Wind was divided into five. Shen Haoran had now been inside the Earth Demon Gang Wind for the duration of two incense sticks.
At the entrance to the hall, Ling Feng stared at the doors with an expression of utter despair. He then turned to Murong Wanqing and Han Xu, his face a mask of misery, and said, "Wanqing, was your Brother Haoran sent by the heavens just to crush our spirits?"
Hearing this, Murong Wanqing looked completely baffled. "Crush our spirits? What’s so discouraging about this? Didn’t he just stay in a little longer?"
"’A little longer’? My dear Young Miss, that was two incense sticks’ worth of time! We’re talking about the Level Eight Earth Demon Gang Wind! Even a Fifth or Sixth-Rank Spirit Beast would be instantly shredded into meat paste if it walked in there, let alone a person! Do you have any idea who in the entire Sect dares to enter the Level Eight Earth Demon Gang Wind? Only Xue Shitian and the Elders! Your Brother Haoran not only went in, but he stayed for so long that he completely shattered Xue Shitian’s record! I’m starting to suspect he’s a Spirit Beast in disguise!" Ling Feng exclaimed, on the verge of a breakdown.
CREAK...
Just as Ling Feng’s words fell, Shen Haoran walked out of the hall.
"Brother Shen, how was it? The Earth Demon Gang Wind should be a great help for Body Refinement, right?" Seeing Shen Haoran emerge, Ling Feng and Murong Wanqing immediately went up to him and asked.
Shen Haoran clenched his fists, then shook his head. "The Earth Demon Gang Wind is still a bit weak. Sigh... do you think the Celestial Spirit Gang Wind might be a little stronger?"
"Er..." Hearing this, Ling Feng’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch. He finally understood. This Shen Haoran was definitely sent by the heavens to crush them. The Level Eight Earth Demon Gang Wind was a place that even Inner Sect Disciples wouldn’t dare set foot in, yet Shen Haoran was complaining that the wind inside lacked power. For those words alone, Ling Feng really wanted to punch him!
It wasn’t just Ling Feng. The other disciples in the hall were also staring at Shen Haoran as if he were some kind of monster. They all wore expressions of utter despair, and some even looked like they were restraining the urge to go up and beat him.
But Shen Haoran paid them no mind. He glanced around the hall, pointed toward the back, and asked, "Senior Brother Ling, is the... trial for the Celestial Spirit Gang Wind that way?"
Hearing Shen Haoran’s question, Ling Feng felt like he was about to cough up a mouthful of blood. With a miserable look, he said, "Dude, are you really going?"
"I just want to give it a try. This Earth Demon Gang Wind is just too weak..." Shen Haoran said casually with a shrug.
"Fine, fine, fine. I’ll take you..." Ling Feng was completely and utterly convinced of Shen Haoran’s insanity. He prepared to lead Shen Haoran toward the hall for the Celestial Spirit Gang Wind.
"Are you Junior Shen Haoran?" But just as they were about to leave, a voice called out from behind them.
Shen Haoran turned around and looked at the dashing young man before him. "I am. And you are?"
"Oh, I’m Chen Xuan," the dashing young man said. "The Third Elder sent me to call you back. She said she has something to discuss with you."
"The Third Elder is summoning me?" Shen Haoran was a bit puzzled, but he had no choice but to drop what he was doing and hurry toward Hua yuan...!
