191: One step too late

After Chen Xuan and Wang Er departed.

Only then did the many Cultivators in the mountain forest, who had witnessed that terrifying scene earlier, dare to take deep breaths. They felt the pressure on their bodies plummet, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Although that Man in White Robes had not targeted them—to be more precise, he hadn't even deigned to glance at them.

Yet such a figure had single-handedly suppressed and killed everyone from the Haotian Sect and the Cloud Sea Sect who had come to attack the Yin Shen Sect.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would have dared to imagine it?

"Pre... previously, that Man in White Robes couldn't be the Grand Ancestor of the Yin Shen Sect, could he?"

"What absolute nonsense! That man looks younger than old... than me! How could he possibly be some Grand Ancestor?"

"What do you know? He killed Daoist Yun Luo with a single sword strike. If he weren't some old monster who has cultivated for thousands of years, how could he have such strength? Besides... for an Immortal who has attained the Dao and achieved Immortal Ascension, what's so hard about returning to a youthful appearance?"

"So, could it be that the decline of the Yin Shen Sect a hundred years ago was because this Old Ancestor was in seclusion?"

"I want to join the Yin Shen Sect! I want to join the Yin Shen Sect!"

The surrounding Cultivators had various thoughts, but without exception, they were all filled with curiosity and awe toward the Man in White Robes who had suppressed two great Sects alone. At the same time, their outlook on the Yin Shen Sect did a complete 180-degree turn... The Haotian Sect was located about fifty thousand miles south of the Yin Shen Sect.

The sound of wind whistled past their ears as they soared through the air. The distance of fifty thousand miles shrank rapidly under the wind-riding technique of a Deity Transformation Realm cultivation base. Initially, the view below was the vast, wild mountains where the Yin Shen Sect was located, but as they traveled further south, the scenery between heaven and earth became increasingly elegant and clear.

First, the continuous grey-green mountains turned into well-arranged dark-colored peaks, with white mist like light gauze winding through the valleys. Looking down, vast stretches of emerald-green bamboo forests spread along the mountain slopes.

Clear streams meandered through the valleys, their waters so transparent the bottom was visible. Occasionally, Immortal cranes would glide through the clouds, letting out crisp cries that blended perfectly with the spiritual charm of the mountains.

Chen Xuan's gaze swept over the surroundings. He could clearly perceive that the free-floating Spiritual Qi in the air here was quite dense; even a single breath was refreshing.

"The location of this Haotian Sect is actually quite good," Chen Xuan praised.

Wang Er, who was following closely behind, heard this and explained admiringly, "Senior is right. Although I hate to admit it, among the Four Great Sects of the Flame Continent, the Haotian Sect's location is indeed the most beautiful and abundant in Spiritual Qi."

He paused and added, "Junior once heard the Sect Elders chatting that this treasure land didn't originally belong to the Haotian Sect. Back when the Haotian Sect's Old Ancestor was still in the Nascent Soul Realm, for the sake of the Sect's development, he led all the Disciples in a life-and-death battle against a small power that occupied this place. It took three months to crush the opponent and forcibly seize this treasure land.

However, it's impossible to judge whether that's true or false, as it happened too long ago.

The mountain gate of Bibo Palace also has very good Spiritual Qi and scenery, but it's still a notch below the Haotian Sect."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into an imperceptible arc.

He had finally found a place for his Sect to settle. Once they were established, he could urge his six Disciples to go into secluded cultivation.

As they spoke, the scenery ahead suddenly changed. A majestic mountain appeared in their field of vision, and the entire mountaintop was actually floating in the sky.

Wang Er pointed ahead and said, "Senior, that is where the Haotian Sect's mountain gate is!"

The two accelerated, and a moment later, they rode the wind onto the Haotian Sect's Sect plaza.

The moment they landed, Chen Xuan's brow furrowed slightly. He was somewhat surprised that they hadn't encountered any obstruction from the Mountain-Protecting Array.

"Senior, look..."

Chen Xuan followed the direction of Wang Er's gaze. The Sect plaza, which should have been tidy, had now become a living hell.

Severed limbs and remains were everywhere, and tattered Daoist robes were soaked in dark red blood. Some corpses were curled up in corners with their eyes wide open, expressions of terror still lingering on their faces; others lay by the stone pillars in the center of the plaza, still clutching broken Magical Artifacts in their hands, clearly having been killed in battle.

A thick scent of blood permeated the air.

These Disciples were indeed Daoists of the Haotian Sect, but... "I didn't expect someone to have made a move before us. Come, let's go to the main hall to take a look; perhaps we can find some answers." After Chen Xuan finished speaking, he walked toward the Haotian Sect's Sect Main Hall.

Wang Er followed behind, the shock in his heart yet to subside. However, he also instantly understood the meaning behind Senior's words, his expression solemn: "Someone attacked the Haotian Sect... just who could have done this?"

Although most of the Haotian Sect's experts had followed Daoist Yun Luo to the Yin Shen Sect and were subsequently wiped out by a single slap from Senior Chen, the Haotian Sect's Foundation was still there!

The Sect Master had a cultivation base of the fifth level of Deity Transformation, and there were several Elders presiding. Not to mention the Sect's Mountain-Protecting Array that had been passed down for centuries—even if a seventh-level Deity Transformation Cultivator came, they might not be able to break it easily.

Without strength at the eighth level of Deity Transformation or above, it would be impossible to quietly destroy the Mountain-Protecting Array and annihilate the entire Haotian Sect so thoroughly!

"Do you have any clues?" Chen Xuan's voice came from ahead, interrupting his thoughts.

Wang Er hurried to catch up, and after a moment of pondering, he said, "Junior... Junior guesses it might be Cultivators from another continent. After all, within the Flame Continent, besides the Four Great Sects, no other power has such strength. It's just that I don't know the reason."

After all, for Cultivators, many actions are simply done on a whim.

There was such an incident over sixty years ago. A Nascent Soul Stage Expert named his Sect the Invincible Sword Sect. As a result, only a few days after the Sect was established, a passing Out-of-Body Stage Cultivator felt the name was too arrogant and directly split the Sect Main Hall with a single sword strike, breaking the entire Sword Sect apart.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, looked ahead, and stopped walking. By now, the two had reached the entrance of the damaged main hall. Faint blue smoke was still rising from the broken beams, and shattered tiles and wood chips were scattered all over the ground.

"Then you must have guessed wrong."

Wang Er was stunned. Following Chen Xuan's gaze, his eyes instantly widened, and he sucked in a breath of cold air.

On the left wall of the main hall, a white-robed figure was pinned. A pitch-black spear had pierced through his chest, the tip embedded deep into the stone wall. Blood meandered down the spear shaft, pooling into a dark red puddle on the ground.

"It's... it's the Haotian Sect Master. To think even he didn't escape."

Amidst his shock, he couldn't help but look at Senior Chen beside him. From beginning to end, this Senior's face remained calm, as if the tragic scene before them was just an ordinary sight. Unable to suppress the doubt in his heart, Wang Er asked cautiously:

"Senior, what did you mean when you said I guessed the wrong person? Could it be that the one who acted wasn't a Cultivator from another continent?"

Before Chen Xuan could speak, a sudden "Boom!"—a massive sound echoed!

A burly figure fell from the damaged roof like a meteorite, crashing heavily onto the bluestone floor of the main hall. The ground instantly cracked into several spiderweb-like fissures, with rubble flying and dust filling the air.

As the dust settled slightly, the person's appearance became clear.

He had a back like a tiger and a waist like a bear, with Evil Qi fully displayed around him. It felt as if one were facing not a Cultivator, but an Asura who had crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Chen Xuan said indifferently, "Because the opponent is not human!"