45: Demon Altar Open

"What happened?" the Grand Elder immediately stood up and asked with a serious expression.

"Grand Elder, it seems some of the Loose Cultivators who came to Tianquan Peak for the Secret Realm have gone missing. They are causing a scene right now and demanding an explanation from us."

The Grand Elder's brows furrowed as he said to Elder Yang, "Come, follow me to Tianquan Peak to take a look."

Without waiting for a response, he immediately rose and flew toward Tianquan Peak.

Elder Yang ignored the anxious Disciple and immediately followed the Grand Elder, flying toward Tianquan Peak.

The two arrived outside the Tianquan Peak Secret Realm. The small market spontaneously organized by the Loose Cultivators was no longer active. Instead, many Loose Cultivators had drawn their weapons and were confronting the Spirit Realm Sect Disciples.

Many prodigies from major Sects stood to the side, watching.

A Loose Cultivator with a thick beard shouted, "Enough nonsense! The person went missing right here in your Spirit Realm Sect. Hand them over quickly! Do you really think we Loose Cultivators are easy to bully?"

The Spirit Realm Sect Disciples looked at each other in bewilderment, repeatedly urging the Loose Cultivators to put down their weapons.

The Grand Elder and Elder Yang suddenly descended from the sky. The aura of the Peak Nascent Soul stage instantly spread out, and the terrifying pressure forced the lower-level Loose Cultivators to their knees.

With a face cold as frost, the Grand Elder questioned, "Who dares to cause trouble in my Spirit Realm Sect?"

The bearded Loose Cultivator leading them was intimidated by the pressure. Covered in sweat, he still forced himself to stand straight, took a step forward, and said, "Your Spirit Realm Sect has done something shameful, and now you want to use your power to suppress us?"

The Grand Elder scanned the Loose Cultivator before him, retracted his pressure, and asked, "Oh? I'd like to hear what exactly our Spirit Realm Sect has done."

Seeing the Grand Elder withdraw his pressure, the Loose Cultivator breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his fists, and asked, "May I ask, are you the one in charge of the Spirit Realm Sect?"

"Hmph, I am the Grand Elder of the Spirit Realm Sect, Great Elder Qiu Yang. If you have something to say, speak plainly."

"Fine, then I'll be blunt." The bearded Loose Cultivator gritted his teeth and continued, "We came to participate in your Tianquan Peak Secret Realm, but in just a few days, many people have mysteriously disappeared. Shouldn't the Spirit Realm Sect give us an explanation?"

The Grand Elder frowned and turned to ask a nearby steward, "Are you certain they went missing on Tianquan Peak?"

The steward nodded slightly. "As of now, a total of nine people have gone missing."

The bearded Loose Cultivator continued his questioning, "My brother and I were inseparable. Last night, I happened to see him being taken away by someone in black! That person's cloak had your Spirit Realm Sect's emblem! I tried to pursue but couldn't catch up. I found it strange, and upon asking around today, it turns out my brother isn't the only one missing!"

"What exactly is your Spirit Realm Sect doing by kidnapping people?"

After hearing the Loose Cultivator's description, the Grand Elder's frown deepened. He could only say loudly, "As a leading School of Righteous Path Cultivators, my Spirit Realm Sect would never indiscriminately kidnap people."

He waved his hand and said, "Give me some time, and I will investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Turning to a nearby Disciple, he ordered, "Call the Peak Masters of the other three Peaks. Have them each bring 200 Disciples to search the mountain!"

"Surround Tianquan Peak for me! Not a single corner is to be overlooked. Search everywhere for anything out of the ordinary!"

Seeing the Grand Elder take such a stance, the bearded man also stated his position, "Very well, I will wait here and see what kind of explanation you give." With that, he sat cross-legged on the ground.

The Second Prince, watching the commotion from the side, asked the elderly man beside him with interest, "What do you think?"

"Your Highness, it's best to leave for now. It was already unusual for the Spirit Realm Sect to suddenly open the Secret Realm. Now that this has happened, who knows how things will turn out?" the accompanying elder said with a bow.

"No rush. Let's see what happens. The Spirit Realm Sect is a prestigious Righteous Path School, after all; they likely wouldn't do something so foolish," the Second Prince said, stroking his chin.

Soon, the Peak Masters of the other three Peaks arrived with their Disciples and immediately began a comprehensive search of Tianquan Peak as instructed by the Grand Elder.

Meanwhile, in a cave beneath a cliff on the back of Tianquan Peak, Earth Lan Peak Master Yin Zhenyang laughed wildly, "Now that there are enough blood sacrifices, it's time to activate the altar and open the teleportation Formation!"

Before him lay a heap of twisted corpses, their flowing blood covering the altar.

"Hahaha, just wait! My Demon Race army is about to arrive!" Yin Zhenyang laughed maniacally as he used his spiritual power to guide the blood to cover every demonic rune around the altar.

Just as the last demonic rune was covered by warm blood, the entire altar suddenly began to shake violently, and the Formation in the center of the altar began to operate slowly on its own.

The commotion here naturally did not escape the notice of the search party, who immediately reported the situation to the Grand Elder.

Upon hearing the news, the Grand Elder rushed into the cave. He saw Yin Zhenyang covered in blood and the corpses at his feet—the missing Utility Disciples and Loose Cultivators. Their blood had been drained, and they lay scattered on the ground like a pile of mummified remains.

"Yin Zhenyang, what on earth are you doing?! How dare you commit such acts?" The veins on the Grand Elder's forehead bulged as he roared.

"Hahaha, Great Elder, stop shouting at me. At this point, I don't mind telling you: I am actually a Vanguard Protector of the Demon Race. My undercover mission in your Spirit Realm Sect was all for this day!"

The Grand Elder was pale with shock after hearing Yin Zhenyang's words, and he also noticed the Demon Race Altar behind him.

"Haha, Great Elder, before long, my Demonic Path army will make a comeback. Let's see how you'll withstand us this time!" Yin Zhenyang laughed crazily.

He suddenly pulled a dagger from his robes, sliced open his own chest, made a cut on his still-beating heart, and flung the heart's blood toward the center of the altar.

"I, Earth Lan Peak Master Yin Zhenyang, Vanguard Protector of the Demon Race, use my heart's blood as a guide to break the Formation of All Laws. I invite the Demon Lord to descend!"

Yin Zhenyang looked at the small statue in the center of the altar with fanatical eyes and shouted.

As soon as he finished speaking, the statue suddenly exploded. A massive amount of Devilish Qi rose from the Formation, and the entire Tianquan Peak began to vibrate.

The Grand Elder's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He hurriedly stepped forward to attack Yin Zhenyang, hoping to interrupt the activation of the Formation.

Yin Zhenyang neither dodged nor avoided the Grand Elder's attack. Spitting out blood, he laughed loudly, "It's useless! Once the Formation starts running, you can't interrupt it. Wait for the revenge of my Demon Race army!"

After saying this, his face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground, clearly dead.

The commotion here startled everyone in the Spirit Realm Sect. The Loose Cultivators and the Sect's Prodigy Disciples looked in horror at the Formation that was constantly emitting Devilish Qi, not knowing what to do for a moment.

The Grand Elder did not give up. He said to Elder Yang and the other three Peak Masters, "Come here quickly and attack the Formation with me! Interrupt it!"

Hearing the Grand Elder's words, they immediately reacted, stepped forward, and attacked with all their might.

But the Formation was completely unaffected. Instead, a surge of towering Devilish Qi erupted, forcing them back.

A continuous stream of massive Devilish Qi poured out of the Formation, spreading at an extremely fast pace.

Several Disciples who couldn't dodge in time were tainted by the Devilish Qi and instantly fell unconscious.

Elder Yang shouted, "Run!"

The Loose Cultivators and Sect Disciples finally snapped out of it and used various means to try and escape the area.

"Damn it, it's too late! This Devilish Qi is spreading too fast!" Peak Master Lie Huo shouted in despair.

The Grand Elder had a sudden inspiration and immediately shouted, "Everyone listen! Enter the Tianquan Peak Secret Realm! The Devilish Qi can't get in. Hide there for now!"

Having no other choice, the crowd followed the Grand Elder's instructions and filed into the Secret Realm entrance one after another.

Just as the Grand Elder was about to be overtaken by the Devilish Qi, he finally plunged into the Secret Realm. When he opened his eyes, he saw a Girl in Green standing before him, smiling at him.

The girl said to him with a smile, "Hello there, Adventurer! Today is also a day full of hope!"

Grand Elder: "..."