158: Not a single survivor

"Use these people to threaten the Zhou Family?"

The Third Ancestor glanced at the Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect after he finished speaking, then retorted.

"Setting aside whether these people are important enough, how could a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator influence the decision-making of a Golden Core Level Faction, especially for personal connections?"

"Third Ancestor, I have already investigated clearly. That Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator of the Zhou Family is named Zhou Leren. He has immense talent and is a core member of the Zhou Family. His importance should be sufficient."

"Moreover, the situation of the Zhou Family is different from that of ordinary Family factions. The Zhou Family has no Golden Core Stage Cultivators; only the Old Ancestor Mo, the Spirit Beast they worship, is a Golden Core Stage Great Yao Beast."

"Yao Beasts are different from us of the Human Race. They don't have much need for our Human Race Cultivation Techniques, so it should be worth a try."

The Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect thought for a moment and replied respectfully.

"Just because a Yao Beast doesn't need it doesn't mean the Zhou Family doesn't need it. You also know the significance represented by these Legacies."

"If the Zhou Family hasn't noticed the connection between these Legacies, then your actions would be self-exposure, revealing the secret to the Zhou Family, which would be more harm than good."

"If the Zhou Family has already noticed, this action is even more inappropriate. What faction would give up its opportunity for further advancement for a few outsiders? The Zhou Family has probably already been investigating in secret. In that case, wouldn't we be seeking our own demise?"

"If the message truly gets out, the Zhou Family will absolutely not easily let go of the clues that have fallen into their hands. Not to mention you and these few people, even my life would probably be hard to preserve."

"Currently, the Zhou Family does not know of our existence. The enemy is in the open, and we are in the dark. Such a great advantage is being easily abandoned by you."

"Think thrice before acting. It seems you have become accustomed to ease under the protection of the Family, otherwise, how could you propose such a plan with so many hidden dangers."

The Third Ancestor's tone was calm, but everything he said caused the Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect's expression to change drastically.

He only considered the benefits, but did not realize that any choice is a double-edged sword. So-called blessings and misfortunes are intertwined; how could one only consider the advantages?

"Changmou's thoughts were not thorough, almost causing a great disaster. I ask the Third Ancestor for punishment."

The Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect took a step back, bowing deeply to the Third Ancestor with sincere words.

"Get up. When you return to the Clan, you can admit your mistake and accept your punishment yourself."

The Third Ancestor waved his hand, lifting the Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect up.

"Thank you, Third Ancestor."

"Third Ancestor, what should we do then?"

The Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect stood up, his face once again filled with worry. The time, effort, and resources the Clan had expended to find these four Legacies were already countless. Now that they had finally obtained clues and were only one step away from what generations of the Clan had sought, how could they easily give up?

The Third Ancestor did not reply. As for Elder Qingshuang and Jiang Weirou, they had long been completely restrained by his Spell, unable to hear their conversation.

"Seize it?"

"Trade for it?"

"The Five Legacies are the key. If the Five Legacies cannot be gathered, that treasure vault will never open, and our Su Family will forever guard a treasure mountain without access, and the Family's power will forever be limited to this."

"Then, is it possible to cooperate with this Zhou Family and obtain the Legacy together?"

"However, the Clan will certainly not accept sharing the Legacy with outsiders. Otherwise, why would the ancestors have gone to such lengths back then..."

"I cannot decide this matter alone. It is best to return to the Clan and deliberate at length."

The Third Ancestor pondered in his heart. However, this matter was difficult. He was a Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Based on the intelligence, he alone would definitely not be able to defeat Old Ancestor Mo of the Zhou Family, so direct action was certainly not feasible.

Moreover, the Zhou Family was too close to the Xuanqing Sect, and their relationship was extraordinary. Trying to forcefully attack the Zhou Family was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

"Let's return to the Clan first and plan carefully."

The Third Ancestor said to the Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect.

"What about these people?"

The Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect made a gesture.

"Except for these few Cultivators related to the Zhou Family, leave no one else alive."

The Third Ancestor spoke indifferently. Keeping these few people was merely to leave a fallback option.

Although the Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect's consideration was not thorough, it was still an option.

"Yes."

The Sect Master of the Brilliant Flame Sect respectfully assented.

On this day.

In Qianmo Valley, the Crescent Moon Sect and the Huiyan Sect were engulfed in a great fire.

Their Sect foundation, Legacies, and Disciples were all buried in the sea of fire, leaving no bones.

Xu Ruobai and the newly appointed Lieyan Peak (Blazing Flame Peak) Peak Master of the Crescent Moon Sect met the same fate.

Flames soared into the sky, and there were no survivors in Qianmo Valley.

The four great Sects of Qianmo Valley were completely annihilated, becoming history... "What?"

Jade Moon Peak, within the Zhou Family.

Zhou Leren suddenly stood up, once again pressing the Jade Slip in his hand to his brow to confirm, but the look of disbelief on his face did not lessen; instead, it deepened.

A moment later, Zhou Leren's mind stirred, and he took out a complete Jade Talisman from his Storage Pouch. His Divine Sense spread out, carefully examining it.

"What on earth happened that they couldn't even crush the Jade Talisman for help?"

Zhou Leren could not hide the shock in his heart.

The information transmitted to the Zhou Family was precisely within this Jade Slip. The Jade Slip stated that the Crescent Moon Sect and the Huiyan Sect in Qianmo Valley had been annihilated, and not a single Disciple from either Sect survived.

"Master..."

"How am I going to tell Jing Ya..."

After a long time, Zhou Leren sighed deeply.

Several hours later, Zhou Leren and Jing Ya flew out of the Zhou Family together, heading towards Qianmo Valley.

Outside Qianmo Valley.

Zhou Leren and Jing Ya's figures appeared. Looking at Qianmo Valley, which had already lost its original appearance, Jing Ya's vision went black, and the pain in her heart became unbearable. Her body went limp, and just as she was about to fall from the sky, Zhou Leren reached out in time and held Jing Ya in his arms.

The Master-Disciple bond between Jing Ya and Elder Qingshuang for so many years was far beyond what Zhou Leren, who had only been her Master for half a year, could compare to.

Even he was somewhat at a loss, let alone Jing Ya.

"Let's go, let's go in and take a look first."

Zhou Leren held Jing Ya in his arms, speaking softly.

After a while.

Jing Ya recovered and was the first to fly towards the Crescent Moon Sect's location.

The location of the Crescent Moon Sect's Spirit Peak.

At this moment, it was a barren expanse. The former scenery, spiritual land, and buildings of the Crescent Moon Sect were now just ruined debris.

The spiritual land was destroyed; it would likely take countless years to recover.

Jing Ya's eyes were vacant, while Zhou Leren's Divine Sense spread out, searching every inch.

However, this place had already been plundered by Loose Cultivators or factions who had heard the news. Anything of value had already been snatched away.

What remained were just useless items.

After a long time.

Zhou Leren retracted his Divine Sense, having found nothing.

"Alas~"

Zhou Leren sighed deeply.

Looking at the Crescent Moon Sect at this moment, it could no longer be described as things remaining but people changed.

It was things changed and people gone.

The two were unwilling to give up. They left the Crescent Moon Sect and searched all the other areas of Qianmo Valley, including the Huiyan Sect.

"I didn't find the token and Jade Talisman I left behind. Perhaps Master and the others are still alive, just having left this place."

Looking at Jing Ya, Zhou Leren felt a pang of heartache and comforted Jing Ya.

But this was merely self-deception.

The greatest possibility was that they had been picked up and taken away by other Cultivators.

Upon hearing this, Jing Ya's eyes regained a glimmer of light, and she looked at Zhou Leren with a strange hope in her eyes.

Zhou Leren nodded with a solemn expression.

"Let's go home first, then slowly inquire."

Zhou Leren spoke firmly.