196: Grand Elder Rebellion

"What's going on?!"

Su Muhuang was horrified. She felt a cold and malicious power, completely opposite to the power of the Vermilion Bird, lurking within her body. At this moment, it erupted violently, frantically corroding her Meridians, Dao foundation, and even her Divine Soul!

This was definitely not a cultivation error, but... she had been plotted against!

Right here in the Heavenly Pool!

...On the other side, in the Guest Hall where Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, and Zhao Shanhe were staying.

Shi Tian paced back and forth in the hall, his brows furrowed.

Xiao Bufan sat cross-legged on a futon, adjusting his breathing. Irritated by the pacing, he couldn't help but speak up: "I say, Senior Brother, can you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy."

"Junior Sister is cultivating in the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Pool, and Junior Brother is at home inheriting a massive fortune. It's just the two of us waiting here."

"Instead of wasting time like this, we should hurry up and Cultivate. Otherwise, they'll really leave us in the dust."

"I can't calm down!" Shi Tian stopped in his tracks, his expression grave. "Junior Brother, don't you think... everything has been going too smoothly?"

"From identifying Junior Sister as the Heavenly Maiden to bringing her back and arranging the Baptism... it's all been eerily smooth."

"I have a feeling something bad is about to happen."

Xiao Bufan scratched his head. "It is a bit smooth... but Senior Brother, aren't you overthinking it? Maybe Junior Sister just has good luck and her Opportunity has arrived?"

Zhao Shanhe had been resting with his eyes closed. Now he opened them and said in a heavy voice, "Young friend Shi Tian's concern is not without merit. I have already reported the situation here to the Sect Master again. The Sect Master said that experts from the Sect have been dispatched and should arrive in about ten days."

"I just don't know... which Mighty Expert is coming this time."

"Ten days..." Shi Tian clenched his fists. "I hope nothing goes wrong during these ten days."

Just as he finished speaking—

*Boom—!!*

"Kill—!"

"Rebel! Die!"

Deafening explosions, battle cries, the clashing of Magic Treasures, and screams... suddenly rang out from all over the Vermilion Bird Divine City.

It was like countless boulders being suddenly thrown into a calm lake!

Even from a distance, the terrifying aftershocks of the battle could be clearly felt!

"This is bad!"

The expressions of Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, and Zhao Shanhe changed simultaneously as they rushed out of the Guest Hall.

In the distant sky, everything was already in chaos!

Countless Cultivators dressed in the attire of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan were engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Flames soared into the sky, and Magic Treasures flew everywhere.

The originally peaceful and sacred Vermilion Bird Divine City had instantly turned into a battlefield.

At the very center of the chaos, atop a towering Crimson Tower, Grand Elder Scarlet Nightmare stood in mid-air. Eerie black-red flames burned around him, and a crazed, sinister smile was on his face. His voice, amplified by immortal power, spread throughout the city.

"Hahaha... those who follow me shall prosper, and those who oppose me shall perish!"

"Kill all these stubborn fools who dare to defy the Domain Lord!"

"From now on, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan shall be under my command!"

Below, his followers responded one after another, and their offensive became even more ferocious.

Many clansmen loyal to the Empress were caught off guard, suffering heavy casualties.

"It's a rebellion! The Grand Elder has rebelled!"

"Scarlet Nightmare! How dare you betray the Immortal Clan and slaughter your own kin!"

Cries of alarm and angry curses echoed through the clouds.

"Listen up, everyone!"

Scarlet Nightmare shouted harshly, his voice filled with both seduction and threat. "Stop making useless resistance! Submitting to the Domain Lord is the only way to survive! Only by following the Domain Lord can our Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan preserve its glory and move toward an even more brilliant future!"

"Opposing the Domain Lord only leads to death!"

"Scarlet Nightmare! You have quite the nerve!" Two vast and majestic pressures suddenly descended as the figures of the Vermilion Bird Empress and the Great Priest appeared opposite Scarlet Nightmare.

The Empress's phoenix eyes were filled with rage. Pure Crimson-Gold Divine Flames burned around her, and her pressure was like an abyss.

"Who gave you the courage to start a rebellion and slaughter our kin!"

The Great Priest held a Flame Scepter, her gaze beneath the hood cold as a blade: "Scarlet Nightmare, as the Grand Elder, why have you betrayed the clan to become the Domain Lord's dog?"

"A dog? Humph!"

Scarlet Nightmare sneered, showing no shame. "In my eyes, you are the ones who have betrayed the clan!"

"To dare to secretly collude with outside forces and attempt to oppose the supreme Domain Lord... you are simply beyond foolish!"

"Oh, by the way..."

As if suddenly remembering something, a malicious and triumphant smile appeared on his face. He said slowly, "I forgot to tell you—that little girl from the Lower Realm you've pinned your hopes on, the so-called Heavenly Maiden... by now, she should have already turned into pus and blood in the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Pool, her Divine Soul completely extinguished!"

"Hahaha... the 'Immortal-Eroding Nether Poison' bestowed by the Domain Lord, does it taste good?"

Hearing this, the pupils of the Empress and the Great Priest constricted, and their minds were deeply shaken!

"What?!"

"The Heavenly Maiden has fallen?!"

They never expected Scarlet Nightmare to be so malicious as to even tamper with the Heavenly Pool!

"Scarlet Nightmare! You dog of the Domain Lord! This Empress will tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

The Empress was completely enraged. Crimson divine flames soared into the sky, transforming into a massive phantom of a Vermilion Bird that could burn the heavens and boil the seas, as she lunged fiercely at Scarlet Nightmare!

"Great Priest! Leave this place to me! Hurry to the Heavenly Pool! Save the Heavenly Maiden!"

The Empress shouted. She didn't believe the Heavenly Maiden would fall so easily; they had to race against time!

"Don't even think about it!"

Scarlet Nightmare laughed wildly. The black-red flames around him also transformed into a hideous Demonic Bird to meet the Empress. At the same time, an eerie black light shot toward the Great Priest, who was trying to break away. "Neither of you will leave today! Watch obediently as your last hope is destroyed!"

*Boom—!!!*

Three Half-step Golden Immortal experts standing at the pinnacle of the Shenhuang Celestial Domain instantly clashed!

A terrifying energy storm swept across the sky, clearing a large space in the chaotic battlefield below.

From a distance, Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, and Zhao Shanhe watched with eyes nearly splitting with rage.

"Junior Sister!"

Shi Tian roared and charged recklessly toward the Heavenly Pool.

Without a word, Xiao Bufan followed him.

"Be careful!"

Zhao Shanhe was burning with anxiety. The people sent by the Sect Master would take ten days to arrive, but could the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan... wait that long?

Right now, he had no time to think about anything else. The most important thing was to ensure Su Muhuang's safety.

With a flash of his figure, he also quickly headed toward the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Pool.

"That is..."

Just as they arrived outside the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Pool, they saw Scarlet Plume engaged in a life-and-death struggle with two True Immortals under the Grand Elder's command.

Sword light and flames intertwined, turning the surrounding rocks into dust.

Seeing Shi Tian and the others arrive, Scarlet Plume's spirits lifted. She fended off an attack with all her might and said urgently, "Quick! The Heavenly Maiden is in the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Pool! I'll hold them off, you take the Heavenly Maiden and leave quickly!"

Shi Tian and the other two didn't waste any words and unhesitatingly rushed into the area of the Heavenly Pool.

The pool water had turned pitch black, with ominous bubbles churning and a foul stench. Su Muhuang was slumped by the poolside, her face deathly pale, black blood staining the corners of her mouth. Her aura was so weak it was almost imperceptible.

"Junior Sister!"

Shi Tian's eyes were nearly splitting as he rushed forward to support her.

Zhao Shanhe checked her condition, and his expression changed drastically. "What a domineering poison! It corrodes the Dao foundation and destroys the Divine Soul!"

"Their internal strife has caused Junior Sister to suffer this undeserved calamity!"

Looking at the murky pool water, Xiao Bufan was also seething with rage.

"Say no more!"

Shi Tian suppressed his grief and anger, lifting Su Muhuang onto his back. "This place is dangerous, let's go quickly! To the Chen Family!"

The Chen Family was Yang Hao's original family and the only place currently capable of providing protection and treatment.

Just as the three of them rushed out of the Heavenly Pool area with Su Muhuang, one of the True Immortals besieging Scarlet Plume noticed them and grinned cruelly: "Trying to run? Stop them!"

The other person immediately abandoned Scarlet Plume and lunged toward them like a streak of black flame!