269: Where is the leader?

Li Shengyuan withdrew his gaze from the direction of the capital, took a deep breath, suppressed the surging qi and blood within him, and turned to Ye Hangzhou and Luo Qingwan, bowing respectfully.

"Addressing Ye Xingzhou, Fairy Luo, if not for your strong assistance this time, Shengyuan alone would have been unable to cope, and the situation in Jiangnan would have been unimaginable."

"This kindness and sentiment, Shengyuan will engrave it in his heart! If you don't mind, please stay for a while, and allow me to fulfill my duties as a host and express my gratitude to you both."

Ye Hangzhou smiled, patted the dust off his Daoist robe, and Coal Ball, the black crow on his shoulder, spoke up for him:

"After a few days, you've become more polite. Exterminating demons and devils is simply our duty. After breaking through to the second rank, Chancellor teacher immediately sent me to Jiangnan, and it's a good thing I made it in time."

"Since the matter here is settled, staying for a few days would be good. I can also take a look at the scenery of Jiangnan."

After the black crow finished speaking, it was quite excited, seemingly very much looking forward to the word "hospitality."

Although following Ye Hangzhou in the Imperial Observatory meant delicious elixirs every day and the freedom to fly around, it preferred to roam freely and play.

Luo Qingwan nodded slightly, her cool voice softening a little: "Shengyuan, you exaggerate. As fellow members of the righteous path, mutual assistance is only right."

"Since that is the case, Qingwan will respectfully accept."

Her gaze towards Li Shengyuan was filled with a gentle smile. They had only recently parted ways at the Questioning Dao Sect, and she had thought it would be a long time before they had a chance to meet again. She hadn't expected to reunite so quickly and even fight side-by-side.

Just then, several graceful figures swiftly approached; it was Yue Xiyan, Shen Xinrong, and others.

Their faces still showed lingering fear and worry as they hurried to Li Shengyuan's side.

"Shengyuan Gege, are you alright? We were so scared just now!" Princess Pingyang's eyes were a little red as she tugged at Li Shengyuan's sleeve, examining him up and down, afraid he might have suffered some internal injuries.

Although Shen Xinrong and Yue Qingmeng remained silent, their autumn-water-like eyes were also fixed on Li Shengyuan. Seeing that his aura was somewhat chaotic but his spirit was still good, and there were no obvious wounds on his body, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Yue Xiyan also let out a long sigh of relief at this moment. Earlier, she had also wanted to fight alongside Li Shengyuan, but to prevent any accidents, she had to stay behind and protect Shen Xinrong and the others.

Li Shengyuan looked at the several women who genuinely cared for him, and a warm current flowed through his heart. His previous murderous aura dissipated without a trace, and he said in a gentle tone:

"I made you worry. I'm fine."

He then looked at Shen Xinrong, a hint of apology on his face: "Aunt Shen, I'm sorry. In the end, I couldn't keep Mu Weiran here and personally avenge the Shen Family in front of their ancestral temple."

The Demon Sect High Priest was too decisive in sacrificing the second-rank Mu Weiran to activate the Great Blood Refinement Array of Myriad Souls and shake the Great Qian. He must have been prepared long ago, as Mu Weiran was absorbed and sacrificed in an instant, leaving no chance to stop it... Hearing this, Shen Xinrong gently shook her head, reaching out to lightly smooth his slightly disheveled collar, and smiled faintly:

"Shengyuan, you don't need to dwell on it. The Demonic Cult has been punished, the main culprit has been brought to justice, and the Shen Family's great vendetta has been avenged. My parents' souls in heaven can rest in peace; my heart has no more regrets... Whether it was personally slain, or whether it was in front of the ancestral temple, is not important. What is important is that you are safe and sound."

Her words were soft yet firm, carrying a sense of relief and thoughtfulness, which also dissipated the slight guilt in Li Shengyuan's heart.

Just then, a steady sound of footsteps approached.

His father Li Mu and mother Wenren Qingxuan were seen walking hand in hand.

Li Mu first nodded to Ye Hangzhou and Luo Qingwan in thanks, then looked at Li Shengyuan with a solemn gaze and asked in a deep voice:

"Shengyuan, the demonic fiend's avatar, before its death, raved about something called the 'Great Blood Refinement Array of Myriad Souls,' causing celestial phenomena and blood-red light to envelop the four poles..."

"What exactly is going on? I have fought battles for half my life, and I have never seen such a strange and terrifying array that could actually trigger changes in the qi of the entire Great Qian heaven and earth?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone's gaze converged on Li Shengyuan, clearly all very concerned about this.

The blood-red network that enveloped the heavens and earth, and the immense resentment and destructive aura it contained, truly left a lingering fear in their hearts.

Li Shengyuan, however, looked at Ye Hangzhou and smiled slightly, "Ye Hangzhou should know more about this matter. Let him tell us."

Ye Hangzhou's expression became serious, and he organized his thoughts. The black crow on his shoulder stood up solemnly:

"Everyone, this is a long story. According to Chancellor teacher, this array is called the 'Great Blood Refinement Array of Myriad Souls,' and it is a shocking conspiracy that the Demon Sect High Priest began in the previous dynasty and has been brewing for over a thousand years."

He scanned the crowd with his gaze and continued to explain: "This array uses the blood and souls of countless living beings as sacrifices to steal the power of the origin of heaven and earth, intending to forcibly break the rules of heaven and earth and reverse the creation of the universe."

"Its ultimate goal is, firstly, to break the shackles of the realm above the first rank, allowing figures like the Demon Sect High Priest to transcend the limits of this world."

"Secondly, it also seeks to use the power of this array to destroy the foundation of the Great Qian's destiny, and even the entire righteous path's destiny, allowing demonic flames to engulf the world."

"The previous anomalies and Demonic Cult offensives in the Western Regions, Southern Border, Northern Territory, and other places were probably all to tie up our forces and, at the same time, provide cover and blood sacrifice energy for the activation of this core array."

The black crow on Ye Hangzhou's shoulder spoke with a hint of pride and satisfaction: "Fortunately, Chancellor teacher had long seen through their treachery and laid out plans across the world. This time, the Great Blood Refinement Array of Myriad Souls was broken, its core damaged, and the Demonic Cult's millennium-long scheme ended in failure. Even if its Demon Sect High Priest is not dead, he will surely suffer a backlash from the array and be severely wounded!"

After listening, everyone suddenly understood and also felt a wave of lingering fear.

If this array had truly fully formed, the consequences would indeed have been unimaginable.

Li Mu sighed deeply, exclaiming, "So that's how it is... Chancellor, truly a pillar of the nation, with infallible foresight!"

"After this battle, although the main force of the Demonic Cult has collapsed, the world is in turmoil, and everything needs to be rebuilt."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Then, Li Shengyuan looked at Addressing Ye Xingzhou and Luo Qingwan, a smile reappearing on his face:

"Addressing Ye Xingzhou, Fairy Luo, please! Let's return to the city first and rest for a while. Although Jiangnan has suffered a calamity, fine wine and delicious food still exist. I must let you both experience the local customs of Jiangnan, to thank you for your assistance."

Ye Hangzhou smiled slightly, and the black crow excitedly responded, "Then we shall impose!"

It then flapped its wings excitedly twice.

Luo Qingwan also bowed slightly: "I appreciate Shengyuan's arrangements."

Only then did everyone suppress the shock in their hearts, compose themselves, and under Li Shengyuan's guidance, leave the ruined battlefield, heading towards the distant city.

But a doubt always lingered in Li Shengyuan's heart.

The Demon Sect High Priest's scheme had failed, and he had already met several Demonic Venerables, but the Cult Master had never appeared.

It was said that the Demonic Cult's Cult Master was a royal descendant of the previous dynasty, but he had never shown himself, and the previous dynasty was also brought down by the Demon Sect High Priest.

Could it be that this Cult Master was merely a puppet of the Demon Sect High Priest?