263: Chapter 263 The Order of Crimson Sky

The next day.

Within the Ganglei Sect.

"Sect Master, a Disciple has reported that the two Yao Beast Kings in Red Copper Mountain, a hundred miles away, have suddenly vanished!"

Elder Yuan Zhan of the Ganglei Sect bowed as he spoke.

In the center of the discussion hall, Ganglei Sect Master Murong Xiao sat atop a cloud-patterned stone throne, his body surrounded by a faint Qi of Thunderous Astral Wind, his eyes as sharp as lightning.

He did not speak immediately upon hearing this, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. The crisp tapping sounds were exceptionally clear in the silent hall, causing the breathing of the several Disciples on duty to turn light.

"Vanished?" After a long silence, Murong Xiao finally spoke slowly. "Are they dead, or did they leave? When the Disciple investigated, did they find bloodstains, signs of a fight, or any residual aura of the Yao Beasts?"

Yuan Zhan's tone grew increasingly solemn: "Reporting to the Sect Master, I took Disciples to carefully investigate the entirety of Red Copper Mountain. There was residual blood from Second-Order Demonic Beasts, and the ground was covered in cracks from a fierce battle; it was clearly a fight to the death."

"However, aside from the aura of the Yao Beasts, there were no other Spiritual Qi imprints from Cultivators at the scene, as if the person who acted deliberately erased all traces."

Murong Xiao's tapping abruptly stopped. He narrowed his long, thin eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

He analyzed in a deep voice: "Red Copper Mountain is remote and desolate. Only the perilous Broken Bone Cliff hides a small spirit ore mine, which our Sect sent people to investigate long ago."

"But because those two Second-Order Demonic Beasts were entrenched there, and since the location is sandwiched between our Sect and the Lingxiao Sect, acting rashly would have easily triggered friction between the Sects. Thus, it was shelved until now."

"Now that the Yao Beasts have been mysteriously removed, someone must have set their sights on that hidden Opportunity."

Yuan Zhan couldn't help but ask: "Sect Master, could it be the people from the Lingxiao Sect? Haven't they always coveted the surrounding Spiritual Veins? Perhaps they secretly dispatched elites this time to quietly kill the Yao Beasts and swallow the benefits for themselves!"

"Not necessarily."

Murong Xiao shook his head decisively: "If the Lingxiao Sect did this, it would only cause conflict with me. I doubt he has the courage to offend this venerable one."

Yuan Zhan thought for a moment and suddenly said: "Then... could it be a nearby force of Loose Cultivators, or perhaps some aristocratic families?"

"But Second-Order Demonic Beasts are incredibly powerful; ordinary Loose Cultivators are simply no match for them, and aristocratic families lack such courage and combat power."

Murong Xiao's voice was cold as ice: "Loose Cultivators and aristocratic families? In a one-on-one fight, a Second-Order Demonic Beast is enough to crush a rabble. If they acted as a group, such a grand-scale slaughter could not have escaped the notice of the hidden sentries our Sect placed around the area, much less have left no aura behind."

Yuan Zhan's expression darkened: "The Sect Master is absolutely right; I was inconsiderate. Aside from a few Yao Beasts rioting and fighting those Yao Kings, we didn't see a single Cultivator. Could it be that those Yao Beasts were being driven by someone?"

Surprise flashed in Murong Xiao's eyes, and he clenched his fist: "If that is truly the case, who could possibly command the strength to battle two Early Stage Second-Order Yao Kings?"

"Could it be... a hidden expert passing through this place who removed the Yao Beasts in passing?"

"Removed them in passing?"

Murong Xiao sneered: "There are no such coincidences in this world. The inner cores and essence blood of Second-Order Demonic Beasts are supreme treasures for Cultivation, and the hidden spirit ore in Red Copper Mountain is a tangible Opportunity. Why would an expert hand over such benefits for nothing?"

"This person erased all traces of Spiritual Qi, clearly not wanting to reveal their identity, intending to lie in wait or swallow the Opportunity of Red Copper Mountain alone."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the various expressions of the Elders and Disciples below, and ordered in a deep voice: "Yuan Zhan, you are to immediately lead ten elite Disciples, disguised as ordinary hunters, to investigate Red Copper Mountain again."

"There is no need to make a scene this time. Focus on investigating clues near Red Copper Mountain and keep an eye on the surroundings. If you encounter people from the Lingxiao Sect, avoid them if possible."

Murong Xiao knew very well that since two Second-Order Yao Kings had died for no reason at Red Copper Mountain, it was possible the Lingxiao Sect would think it was their doing.

This happening at the border of the two Sects was also extremely troublesome.

Within the Lingxiao Sect.

While pacing and pondering, Fan Lang looked at Patriarch Li Xiuhe, who was standing respectfully to the side, and simply asked: "Is what you said true?"

Patriarch Li Xiuhe hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the Sect Master, my worthless son encountered the Cultivator who killed the two Yao Kings. It was an old man of unknown strength, riding a horned Silver Dog that appeared to have First-Order strength or higher!"

Fan Lang pondered for a moment. He felt this was sudden and immediately associated it with the Ganglei Sect, but then felt that was absurd.

He said: "Have your Li Family send a few people to investigate the vicinity."

"Yes!" Patriarch Li Xiuhe complied.

"Wait." Fan Lang suddenly called out to Patriarch Li Xiuhe.

This left Patriarch Li Xiuhe at a loss: "Does the Sect Master have further instructions?"

"Head of the Li Family, have you still not taken over Tiangong Market?"

Fan Lang's seemingly casual question made Patriarch Li Xiuhe feel as if he were facing a great enemy. He panicked: "Sect Master, this is because that Ye family suddenly rose up, and the Qingyun Sect is secretly supporting them. I am truly... finding it difficult to move!"

"That Ye family clearly comes from a rural background, but who knows what Opportunity they obtained; their cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds, and they've gathered a group of experts around them. Most of the merchants in Tiangong Market have now sided with the Ye family. Our Li family's businesses have been squeezed out one after another, and even several sources of goods have been cut off!"

He grew more anxious as he spoke, almost pouring out all his grievances and difficulties, fearing that Fan Lang would take his anger out on the Li family and sever their Foundation as dependents of the Lingxiao Sect.

One must know that he had betrayed the Qingyun Sect and brought his entire family to rely on the Lingxiao Sect. If they were abandoned, the Li family would be instantly wiped out by the Qingyun Sect to serve as a warning to others.

Fan Lang stopped pacing, turned around, and stared at Patriarch Li Xiuhe with a heavy gaze. After a long while, he spoke, his tone indifferent but every word cutting to the heart.

"This Sect wants results, not excuses. Tiangong Market controls the flow of half the Artifact Refining and alchemy resources in the surrounding area. If it all falls into the hands of the Qingyun Sect, our Lingxiao Sect's future supplies will be controlled by others. Can you calculate the cost of that?"

He paused, his tone shifting to reveal a bit of calculation: "It just so happens that this strange thing occurred at Red Copper Mountain. The Ganglei Sect must be like me, sending people out to investigate."

"Go back and arrange for people to track down that mysterious old man—I want him found, dead or alive. As for that Ye family... the Qingyun Sect has truly played a good hand!"

Yun Ling didn't have many aristocratic families left under him, so he immediately designated the Ye family, which had the most shops in Tiangong Market, as a subordinate family.

The competition between businesses had also turned into a gambit between two aristocratic families.

Fan Lang narrowed his eyes. That Ye family only had two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the Li family had a deep heritage with countless Foundation Establishment members under them; they should be more than enough to handle the Ye family.

Fan Lang's fingertips rubbed the Black Jade Pendant at his waist, a cold light flashing in his eyes, his tone unmasking his calculation: "The Ye family is nothing more than a pawn thrown out by the Qingyun Sect, with shallow Foundations and lack of confidence."

"Your Li family has accumulated wealth for generations and has no fewer than five Foundation Establishment Cultivators under its command. If you can't even suppress a bunch of rural upstarts, what use is there in keeping you?"

Patriarch Li Xiuhe's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. His knees weakened, nearly causing him to collapse to the ground as he replied tremulously: "Sect Master, please calm your anger! I will go back immediately to mobilize my people and will definitely give the Sect Master an explanation! Even if we have to fight to the death, my Li family will take back control of Tiangong Market!"

"Fighting to the death isn't necessary." Fan Lang waved his sleeve, his tone softening but his pressure increasing.

"The Ganglei Sect is currently focused on Red Copper Mountain and has no time to worry about the trivial matters of Tiangong Market. Even if the Qingyun Sect wants to intervene, they have to weigh whether they can afford to offend both my Lingxiao Sect and the Ganglei Sect at the same time."

"Just go ahead and do it. No matter how big a commotion you cause, this Sect will back you up."

He paused and added: "As for that mysterious old man and the Silver Dog, just send trusted aides to investigate secretly; do not alert the enemy."

"If we can figure out this person's background and recruit them for our use, the mere Tiangong Market will be nothing but a prize in our pocket."

"If this person gets in the way, then remove them as the Opportunity arises; it can be considered as adding some trouble for the Ganglei Sect."