Chapter 206: Chapter 203: The Two Major Sects’ Condemnation
"Qingqiu, my granddaughter, no matter who killed you, I will find them and avenge you!"
A heaven-shaking roar echoed out.
A gray-robed elder was seen holding Cai Qingqiu’s body, his expression a mask of grief and fury. A boundless killing intent radiated from him, blanketing the area.
"Grand Elder, please quell your anger! We will do our utmost to find the culprit," the other disciples from the Fire Cloud Sect who had followed him said, trembling with fear.
Their Grand Elder had always been ill-tempered and unpredictable, and he had doted on Cai Qingqiu more than anyone. But now, Cai Qingqiu was just a cold corpse.
"Damn it! The Fire Cloud Sect swears we will hunt this person to the ends of the earth!"
The other Elders were also seething with rage. The ones who died here were all elites.
The Fire Cloud Sect’s losses this time were truly disastrous. Five of their top-tier experts had died, making every one of them feel as if their hearts were bleeding.
The younger generation of disciples was the foundation for a Sect’s continued prosperity. Without an injection of new blood, even the most powerful Sect would eventually decline.
"Huh? Why haven’t we found Shangguan Yang?"
Meanwhile, the people from the Star Sword Sect were searching for Shangguan Yang.
"Elder, we found something! Senior Brother Shangguan is over here!"
A cry of alarm drew everyone’s attention.
"My boy, you’re still alive."
An old man rushed over. This was the Star Sword Sect’s Third Elder, Shangguan Yu, who was also Shangguan Yang’s grandfather—a Primordial Spirit Realm expert.
As an Upper Grade Sect, the Star Sword Sect had more than ten experts at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, far surpassing any Middle Grade Sect.
"The killer is Meng Daoyi!"
Shangguan Yang stood there in a daze. After uttering this sentence, the light in his eyes dimmed, and he breathed his last.
At the same time, a talismanic rune emerged in his mind.
"No!"
Shangguan Yu lunged forward.
"What an arrogant method! To actually leave a name behind after killing someone."
The other members of the Star Sword Sect exchanged glances. The words Shangguan Yang had just spoken had been deliberately left by the killer.
The killer was making it clear to them: ’I, Meng Daoyi, killed him.’
Who was this person? So arrogant! Was this a provocation aimed at the Star Sword Sect?
"Meng Daoyi... who is that? You dared to kill my grandson? I’ll make you pay with your life!" Shangguan Yu ground his teeth.
"Third Elder, this technique... why do I feel like it’s something an expert of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm would use?" someone asked with a frown.
Leaving a rune in someone’s mind to convey a message strongly resembled the use of Primordial Spirit Power.
"It can’t be someone from the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm. Everyone killed here was wounded by a Weapon. If it were a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert, they could have killed them using Primordial Spirit Power alone," Shangguan Yu said, shaking his head.
An expert at their level, a Primordial Spirit Realm expert, could shatter a person’s soul with a single attack of Primordial Spirit Power.
However, the traces of battle left here, including the wounds on all the corpses, were clearly sword injuries.
"This was the work of a Sword Cultivator, whose Cultivation should be at the Spirit Realm."
After their investigation, they reached a conclusion.
"Meng Daoyi, a Sword Cultivator at the Spirit Realm... these clues alone aren’t enough. Qing Province is too vast. Finding someone like that would be like finding a needle in a haystack."
The entirety of Qing Province was enormous, with a countless population. Finding Meng Daoyi would be harder than ascending to the heavens.
Moreover, if Meng Daoyi went into hiding, they would be completely helpless.
"Elder Shangguan, we might find some clues about this matter from the Yanyue Sect. My Sect’s disciples came here to compete with the Yanyue Sect for a Spirit Vein, but we don’t see any of their people now," someone from the Fire Cloud Sect said.
"Let’s go!"
Without any hesitation, Shangguan Yu gave the order, and they set off for the Yanyue Sect.
...
Yanyue Sect.
"Sigh, I can’t believe we actually failed to win the Spirit Vein this time."
"There was nothing to be done. The Fire Cloud Sect is stronger than us to begin with."
At the foot of the mountain, a few Mountain Guard Disciples lamented their loss.
Just yesterday, Ning Jiang and the others had returned to the Yanyue Sect, bringing back news of their failure in the fight for the Spirit Vein.
For this reason, countless disciples of the Yanyue Sect felt it was a great pity.
"Huh? Who are those people?"
Just then, a Mountain Guard Disciple looked up and saw a group of people flying rapidly toward the Yanyue Sect from the sky.
"How audacious! I’ll go stop them."
Seeing this group about to fly directly into the Yanyue Sect, the Mountain Guard Disciple’s face filled with displeasure.
"Don’t go getting yourself killed!" Someone nearby grabbed him, their face pale with shock. "Why are people from the Fire Cloud Sect and the Star Sword Sect here?"
"Hmm?" The Mountain Guard Disciple was startled. Only then did he realize that their clothes indeed belonged to the two Major Sects.
"Hiss... their robes, they must all be Elders... one, three, ten..."
"We’re done for. The two Major Sects are here with such aggressive momentum. Are they here to cause trouble for us? But why would the Star Sword Sect come?"
Soon, the large group swaggered into the Yanyue Sect’s territory as they flew.
In just a short while, news of the arrival of the two Major Sects had alarmed the entire Sect.
Reception Hall.
Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng and the others wore grave expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Honored guests, forgive us for not coming out to greet you." Meng Nanfeng stepped forward and clasped his fists, addressing Shangguan Yu. "Elder Shangguan, it has been many years. You seem even more impressive than before. May I ask what brings you to my Yanyue Sect today?"
"Hmph, cut the crap."
Beside them, Fire Cloud Sect’s Grand Elder Cai Lin snorted coldly. "Meng Nanfeng, did your Yanyue Sect not just compete with my Fire Cloud Sect for a Spirit Vein?"
Meng Nanfeng’s expression darkened as he retorted angrily, "What is the meaning of this, Fire Cloud Sect? Wasn’t winning the Spirit Vein enough? Must you chase us back to our Sect to humiliate us?"
"The Fire Cloud Sect has gone too far!"
The other Elders of the Yanyue Sect all showed angry expressions.
They weren’t acting; they truly didn’t know what had happened.
After Ning Jiang returned yesterday, he had only told them that they had failed to win the Spirit Vein, saying little else.
Nearby, Ning Jiang watched all of this in silence.
’I deliberately concealed the truth. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Otherwise, if these Elders knew, their expressions would betray the slightest unnaturalness when the two Major Sects question them, and they would be found out immediately.’
’An expert of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, with their keen Primordial Spirit Power, wouldn’t miss even the slightest flicker in their eyes.’
"It seems you truly are unaware," Shangguan Yu said at this moment.
"Hmm? What do you mean, Elder Shangguan?"
"My grandson, Shangguan Yang, along with a group of Core Disciples from the Fire Cloud Sect, were all killed at the Spirit Vein Land."
As he spoke, Shangguan Yu carefully observed everyone’s expressions. At the same time, a wisp of Primordial Spirit Power emanated from between his brows, filling every inch of space. If any of the Elders showed even a hint of deception, he would immediately detect it.
"What!"
Meng Nanfeng and the others were visibly shaken, their pupils contracting.
Seeing their expressions, Shangguan Yu sighed inwardly. It seemed these people were truly ignorant of the matter.
"The killer is a man named Meng Daoyi. If the Yanyue Sect has any information about him, provide it to my Star Sword Sect, and we will reward you generously. Let’s go."
Shangguan Yu shook his head and led the members of the Star Sword Sect away.
"Fire Cloud Sect, you are not welcome here. Please leave."
Towards the people of the Fire Cloud Sect, Meng Nanfeng’s attitude was not nearly as good. His voice was cold.
"Hmph, let’s set aside the matter of the killer for now. Besides that, my Fire Cloud Sect has another score to settle with you."
Cai Lin’s gaze was sharp as a hawk and fierce as a wolf, his aura imposing. "A month ago, three Elders of my Fire Cloud Sect perished outside the Sect!"
"What does that have to do with my Yanyue Sect?"
"You’ll soon find out whether it has anything to do with you. Qiu Hai, come out."
As Cai Lin’s voice fell, a woman stepped out from the group behind him.
’Just as I thought. Failing to kill her back then has indeed become a hidden danger,’ Ning Jiang thought to himself.
This woman was none other than Qiu Hai, the handmaiden who had betrayed Yue Lianxi. Back when he had killed the three Fire Cloud Sect Elders and returned to the ship, Qiu Hai was already long gone.
"Qiu Hai, tell them everything, from beginning to end."
"Yes." Qiu Hai glanced at Ning Jiang and pointed at him. "A month ago, the three Elders invited this man to join the Fire Cloud Sect. After he refused, a conflict arose. The three Elders pursued him, and they were never heard from again."
"Yanyue Sect, did you hear that? The disappearance of my Fire Cloud Sect’s three Elders is related to him!" Cai Lin stared at Ning Jiang aggressively.
"Ridiculous. The Ninth Elder’s Cultivation is merely at the Innate Realm. Could he really have killed three Elders from your Fire Cloud Sect?"
Although Meng Nanfeng knew the truth, he would never admit it.
Moreover, they had long anticipated that this day might come and had been preparing for the past month. Right now, their expressions revealed no flaws.
"Hmph, my Fire Cloud Sect now suspects him. He needs to cooperate and come to the Fire Cloud Sect to undergo an investigation. If he’s proven innocent, my Fire Cloud Sect will naturally release him," Cai Lin said arrogantly.
"In your dreams!" the crowd roared in anger.
"If you don’t hand him over, we will start a massacre in the Yanyue Sect today!" A flash of killing intent glinted in Cai Lin’s eyes.
Behind him, the other Fire Cloud Sect Elders also wore menacing expressions.
Having lost so many disciples this time, everyone in the Fire Cloud Sect was furious and looking for a way to vent their anger. To them, the Yanyue Sect was the perfect target.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Just as a great battle was about to erupt, an aged figure charged in and immediately attacked the members of the Fire Cloud Sect.
"Sect Leader."
This figure, with disheveled hair and a muddled consciousness, was none other than Yue Wenfu.
Although Yue Wenfu’s Primordial Spirit was injured, he still possessed a basic instinct to protect the Yanyue Sect. He had sensed enemies here and acted out of pure instinct.
BOOM.
Cai Lin clashed palms with Yue Wenfu, his face paling slightly as he retreated a step.
His Cultivation was only at the First Realm of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm. As for Yue Wenfu, although he had failed to break through to the Fourth Realm and his strength had plummeted, he could still rival an expert of the Second Realm.
"Enough. Since you want me, how about this? In one month, I will personally go to the Fire Cloud Sect to atone for my ’crimes’," Ning Jiang said finally.
"One month? Fine. If you dare not show up, the Fire Cloud Sect will launch an all-out war and annihilate your Yanyue Sect."
Cai Lin threatened viciously. With a total of four experts at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, the Fire Cloud Sect indeed had the power to wipe out the Yanyue Sect.
"We’re leaving."
The people from the Fire Cloud Sect departed.
After they left, Meng Nanfeng’s brow furrowed. "Ninth Elder, are you really going in a month?"
"Go? Of course, I’m going! And when I do, I’ll give them a grand gift!" Ning Jiang said with a cold smile.
