Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique

Chapter 399: Chapter 398: Preparing for Action

It was noon, and a scorching sun hung high in the sky, pouring down blinding sunlight. The blistering heat made the plants in the dense forest droop, appearing listless. The incessant drone of cicadas echoed through the mountain woods.

And yet, in a valley dozens of miles from Divine Martial City, lanterns burned bright despite it being high noon. This valley was the home of the Hehuan Sect. Due to its topography, sunlight never reached it, which had earned it the name Jueyang Valley.

The Hehuan Sect had gone to great lengths to find Jueyang Valley, considering it an ideal location. While most people preferred to live in the sunlight, the disciples of the Hehuan Sect were the exact opposite. Their Cultivation Technique involved absorbing Yin Qi to supplement their yang, so their Cultivation was most effective in places with dense Yin Qi.

Right now, the Hehuan Sect in the valley was already festooned with lanterns and red carpets. The various powers from around Divine Martial City were gathering in an endless stream. Less than six hours remained until the Grand Elder of the Hehuan Sect’s wedding!

Inside the Celestial Martial Auction House in Divine Martial City, Shen Haoran walked out of the Alchemy Room. After five or six days of ceaseless refinement, he had finally finished all the elixirs the Martial Artists needed.

Seeing Shen Haoran come out, Luo Xiaowen stepped forward and said, "Little Brother Haoran, the Hehuan Sect has sent an invitation, requesting the presence of the Celestial Martial Auction House!"

"Good." Hearing Luo Xiaowen’s words, Shen Haoran immediately gave his orders. "You go gather the Martial Artists. I’ll lead them over. You and Wanqing will go inside, and when you give the signal, I’ll lead the Martial Artists to charge in and completely eradicate the Hehuan Sect!" They had been preparing for this day for a month. Finally, it was time to complete their mission!

After a few words of caution, Luo Xiaowen took Murong Wanqing and headed for the Hehuan Sect first. Shen Haoran, meanwhile, led the twenty recruited Martial Artists along a hidden path and set up an ambush somewhere inside the valley.

"I say, young man, what exactly is it you want us to do?" one of the Martial Artists asked doubtfully upon arriving in the sunless little valley.

"This looks like the Hehuan Sect’s headquarters. And isn’t today supposed to be their Grand Elder’s wedding?" another Martial Artist added, frowning as he looked down at the brightly lit complex of buildings in the distance.

Hearing this, a stir went through the surrounding Martial Artists. They were now even more suspicious of Shen Haoran’s mission.

"Everyone," Shen Haoran said coldly, gazing at the twenty Martial Artists before him. "My teacher has brought you all here today for one task. As you can see, this is the headquarters of the Hehuan Sect. Your job is to kill every last disciple within it!"

Here, Shen Haoran hid the fact that he himself was the Alchemist, fabricating a fictitious teacher instead. These Martial Artists were all hardened men who lived and died by the sword. If they decided not to cooperate, this mysterious "teacher" would be a powerful deterrent.

"What?!" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, the expressions of the Martial Artists soured.

"I say, young man, this is the Hehuan Sect!" a burly Martial Artist said, his expression troubled. "They have several hundred disciples at the very least, and the strength of some of their Inner Sect Disciples far surpasses our own. How could the twenty of us possibly succeed? Besides, the Hehuan Sect is a second-rate power with one Spirit Emperor Powerhouse and six Spirit Aspect Powerhouses. Isn’t sending us in just a suicide mission?"

"He’s right. The disparity in strength is too vast," the others chimed in, their expressions grim. "Even though we’re considered powerful at the Spirit Marquis Tier, we’re nothing compared to a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse, let alone the Hehuan Sect’s Spirit Emperor Powerhouse!"

"Rest assured, everyone," Shen Haoran stated flatly, ignoring their murmurs. "Your only task is to take care of the ordinary disciples. As for the Spirit Emperor and Spirit Aspect Powerhouses, someone else will deal with them!"

"Young man, forgive me for asking," one of the Martial Artists said quietly, "but why does your teacher want to eradicate the Hehuan Sect? They are a second-rate power, after all. They’ve certainly done their share of evil, but does it warrant the entire Sect being wiped out? Besides, Fallen Valley is backing them. Isn’t this a bit... reckless?"

"Hmph," Shen Haoran declared domineeringly. "A disciple from the Hehuan Sect dared to lay a hand on my teacher’s daughter. Naturally, they cannot be spared! Rest assured, my teacher has invited one Spirit Emperor and six Spirit Aspect Powerhouses for this. The Hehuan Sect will be wiped from the face of the Northern Domain! And if Fallen Valley dares to make trouble, my teacher wouldn’t mind wiping them from the Northern Domain either!" He was also hiding his connection to the Celestial Spirit Sect. ’Since I’ve invented a teacher,’ he thought, ’I need to give them a reason they’ll believe.’

The Martial Artists were stunned by Shen Haoran’s words. They finally understood what people meant when they said you must never provoke an Alchemist, especially a High Tier Alchemist. This young man’s teacher could create elixirs with Pill Patterns, so his rank had to be extraordinary. An Alchemist like that was a hornet’s nest you didn’t kick.

While some were convinced, others were naturally skeptical. "Hmph, shameless boasting," one Martial Artist snorted. "You’re probably just saying all this to trick us into marching to our deaths at the Hehuan Sect!"

"Believe it or not," Shen Haoran said indifferently. "If you complete the mission, my teacher will reward you generously."

"Complete the mission?" the same Martial Artist sneered. "Hah! The moment we step inside the Hehuan Sect, we’ll be surrounded and killed. How are we supposed to collect your reward if we’re dead? A clever little scheme you’ve got there. Brothers, only an idiot would believe his words!"

At his words, the other Martial Artists faltered, their faces once again filled with hesitation.

Seeing their hesitation, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. He turned to the dissenting Martial Artist and said, "If you are unwilling to participate, then please leave!"

"Leave?" The Martial Artist retorted resentfully when he heard Shen Haoran tell him to go. "You made me waste an entire month waiting, and now you expect me to leave empty-handed? Impossible! Give me the elixirs you promised. If you don’t, I’ll tell the Hehuan Sect your whole plan!"

At those words, Shen Haoran’s face darkened, and a faint killing intent began to radiate from him.

"My teacher also said," Shen Haoran began, his eyes narrowing as he stared coldly at the man, "that if anyone attempts to sabotage this operation... they are to be killed as well!"

"Killed? Haha, by you? A mere Tier Five Spirit Marquis?" the Martial Artist scoffed with disdain. His own strength had reached Tier Nine Spirit Marquis, so he naturally looked down on Shen Haoran.

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Shen Haoran gave a cold snort and vanished. The instant he disappeared, a sense of crisis washed over the Martial Artist, and he instinctively tried to retreat.

But it was too late. Before the Martial Artist could even move, Shen Haoran abruptly reappeared in front of him. A pitch-black flame materialized into a Sharp Sword pointed at the man’s chest. A cold glint flashed in Shen Haoran’s eyes as he whispered in the man’s ear, "In your next life, try to be born into a better family, one that teaches you some manners." His voice was ice-cold and devoid of emotion, like a Demon emerging from Hell.

The moment Shen Haoran finished speaking, the Flaming Longsword plunged into the Martial Artist’s chest. The intense heat instantly incinerated his heart, and the man’s life was extinguished in a flash.