31: Chapter 31 Hidden Dangers in the Headquarters: A Single Palm Strike Decides the Fate of the World

"Is this the general headquarters of the Heavenly Eagle Sect?" Lu Chen asked calmly, looking at the mountain before him.

"Yes, Brother Chen." Yin Susu's tone still carried a hint of unease.

The group alighted from the carriage. Lu Chen looked up and saw a magnificent mountain standing towering and lofty, its peak shrouded in mist, resembling a majestic eagle about to spread its wings and take flight.

At the foot of the mountain, the members of the Heavenly Eagle Sect had long been waiting. They wore uniform martial attire, held blades and swords, and had sharp gazes and an extraordinary Aura.

"Young Miss, you have finally returned!" A middle-aged man in grey martial attire walked up to Yin Susu and said with an excited expression, "The Cult Leader has been missing you!"

"Junior Martial Uncle Li, I am truly embarrassed to have troubled you to wait here for me." Yin Susu looked at him and smiled, "Is my father's health well?"

"The Cult Leader is in excellent health. He practices his martial arts every day without fail, just hoping for the Young Miss's early return," Li Tianyuan said with a smile.

"And who is this?" Li Tianyuan looked at Lu Chen with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"This is Sect Master Lu Chen of the Xiaoyao Sect, and he is also my..." Yin Susu's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, and she did not continue.

"This Sect Master Lu is an honored guest of our Heavenly Eagle Sect," Prince Yinye said while personally supporting Xie Xun, who was wearing a black cloak, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

"So it is Sect Master Lu. My apologies, my apologies!" Li Tianyuan quickly cupped his hands, his attitude very courteous.

Li Tianyuan asked Prince Yinye again, "Prince Yinye, is the person you are supporting..."

"Junior Martial Uncle, that is correct. Let's wait until we see my father to discuss it." Prince Yinye gave a meaningful look.

"Very good, Susu. You have performed a great service this time. Let's go; the Cult Leader must be waiting anxiously." After saying this, Li Tianyuan walked up the mountain first.

The group followed behind Li Tianyuan, ascending the steps.

Along the way, the members of the Heavenly Eagle Sect bowed and greeted Yin Susu one after another, to which she only nodded slightly in response.

Soon, the group arrived at the general headquarters of the Heavenly Eagle Sect. They saw a grand hall situated on the mountaintop, magnificent and imposing.

"Susu, Susu, you have finally returned!" A loud, resonant voice full of Qi came from ahead.

An old man in white robes, with white hair and beard but a vigorous spirit, walked out of the hall.

The old man was the leader of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, the White-Browed Eagle King, Yin Tianzheng.

Seeing Yin Susu, Yin Tianzheng's face revealed a kind smile.

"Father!" Yin Susu walked quickly to Yin Tianzheng, her tone filled with a hint of excitement, "Your daughter has returned."

"It is good that you are back, it is good that you are back!" Yin Tianzheng looked at Yin Susu, his eyes filled with love, "Have you suffered during these few months away?"

"Your daughter is perfectly fine, Father, please do not worry." Yin Susu said with a smile.

"And who is this?" Yin Tianzheng looked at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

"Father, this is Sect Master Lu Chen of the Xiaoyao Sect," Yin Susu quickly said, "Your daughter was able to return safely this time thanks to Sect Master Lu's rescue... Daughter..."

"So it is Sect Master Lu. This old man greets you." Yin Tianzheng cupped his hands toward Lu Chen, his tone carrying a hint of courtesy, "Thank you, Sect Master Lu, for saving my Susu."

"Eagle King, you are too kind." Lu Chen bowed to Yin Tianzheng.

"I wonder, Sect Master Lu, what kind of sect is this Xiaoyao Sect? This old man has never heard of it." Yin Tianzheng looked at Lu Chen with a hint of curiosity.

"Xiaoyao Sect? This old man has never heard of it." Yin Tianzheng frowned slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

Just then, a voice came from the crowd, "Old Eagle, it has been many years. Upon seeing an old friend, you only chatter away here; how impolite!"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a hulking figure in a black robe walking out from the crowd.

The figure was none other than Xie Xun.

"Xie... Xie Xun?!" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun and immediately exclaimed in surprise.

"It is indeed me, Old Eagle." Xie Xun slowly took off his cloak, revealing his fierce and menacing face.

"Stinky Lion, why are you here?" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his eyes filled with shock.

"You old fellow, you are still just as rude!" Xie Xun looked at Yin Tianzheng and burst into laughter, "It was your daughter who picked me up from overseas!"

"Good, good, good!" Yin Tianzheng said "good" three times in a row, a gratified smile appearing on his face, "Susu, you have done well to actually be able to bring this stinky lion back!"

"Old Eagle, you fellow, don't be happy too soon!" Xie Xun looked at Yin Tianzheng and said with a smile, "I have come this time to bring you three big gifts!"

"What big gifts? Is it the dragon slaying saber?" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his eyes gleaming.

"Old Eagle, so you are indeed coveting this dragon slaying saber?!" Xie Xun said slowly.

"Could it be that the dragon slaying saber is truly in your hands?!" Yin Tianzheng exclaimed again.

"That is correct. The dragon slaying saber is in this old man's hands! This is the first big gift!" Xie Xun slowly drew the dragon slaying saber from his waist. A blade with a dark body, emitting waves of cold air, appeared before everyone.

"It really is the dragon slaying saber!" Yin Tianzheng looked at the dragon slaying saber, his eyes filled with shock.

"Old Eagle, you fellow, decades have passed, and you are still the same! Just hearing your voice, I can tell that your greed is almost spilling out!" Xie Xun's tone carried a hint of mockery.

"Stinky Lion, you..." Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly discovered that Xie Xun's eyes were actually blind.

"Your... your eyes?!" Yin Tianzheng pointed at Xie Xun's eyes, his tone filled with shock.

"Sigh!" Xie Xun sighed, his eyes carrying a hint of helplessness, "This old man's eyes were blinded thanks to your precious daughter!"

"Susu?... What on earth is going on?" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his tone filled with confusion.

"This is a long story." Xie Xun shook his head, "This old man does not want to bring it up again. Let the grievances be put to rest."

"Sigh! The ways of the world are truly unpredictable!" Yin Tianzheng sighed, his eyes filled with lament, "Back then, how glorious we brothers were? Now, we have become like this!"

"Old Eagle, it is better not to mention the past." Xie Xun looked at Yin Tianzheng and said calmly, "This old man has long since let go of the events of back then."

"Good, good, good!" Yin Tianzheng said "good" three times again. He looked at Xie Xun, his eyes filled with emotion, "Since that is the case, let us brothers resolve our past grievances!"

"Let this dragon slaying saber stay in my Heavenly Eagle Sect as a treasure to guard the sect, and you come to my Heavenly Eagle Sect to be a Guardian King, how about that?!" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his eyes filled with expectation.

Xie Xun laughed upon hearing this: "Hahaha, Old Eagle, you still cannot forget about this dragon slaying saber. It is certainly fine for this dragon slaying saber to serve as a sect-guarding blade, but it will not be guarding your Heavenly Eagle Sect!"

Yin Tianzheng's expression darkened. He looked at Xie Xun and asked, "Brother Xie, what do you mean by this?"

Xie Xun stroked his beard and said with a smile: "As a Guardian King of the Ming Cult, since I have obtained this treasure blade, it is naturally the treasure of my Ming Cult. If you and I both return to the Ming Cult, wouldn't this blade become our treasure to guard the sect!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianzheng's face instantly turned livid. He looked at Xie Xun and said angrily: "Brother Xie, are you making fun of me? I have long since left the Ming Cult to establish my own sect."

"The Heavenly Eagle Sect is thriving here in Jiangnan. Cult Leader Yang has been missing for many years, and the Ming Cult has long since fallen apart. Why bother mentioning the Ming Cult?"

"Old Eagle, you are wrong about that!" Xie Xun looked at Yin Tianzheng, his eyes carrying a hint of seriousness, "Although the Ming Cult is temporarily in decline, its Foundation remains. As long as someone can revitalize the Ming Cult, it can still flourish once again!"

"Brother Xie, what do you mean by this? Do you actually want to return to the Ming Cult?" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his tone filled with confusion.

"This old man does indeed have this idea." Xie Xun nodded and looked at Yin Tianzheng, saying, "Old Eagle, you were forced to leave the Ming Cult back then. Now, the Ming Cult needs old members like you and me to return to the Ming Cult and restore its former glory!"

"Brother Xie, you are truly crazy!" Yin Tianzheng looked at Xie Xun, his eyes filled with disdain, "Now that my Heavenly Eagle Sect has a vast influence in Jiangnan, why would I return to the Ming Cult?!"