301: No. 8

But why would the other party act this way?

It couldn't possibly be that they've discovered my true identity, could it?

Or perhaps... did our Dao Seeking Sect inadvertently offend Number Eight, so they're planning to throw some mud at us?

Chen Xuan continued thinking along this line of reasoning.

What consequences would arise from turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to this matter?

Number Three thought Number Eight would lead experts to rush to the aid of the Rain God Continent, but after waiting in vain with no results, if the Rain God Continent were to be occupied by the Demon Race Continent, and if certain individuals were to use this incident to stir up trouble...

Our Dao Seeking Sect would very likely become the target of public criticism.

Moreover, Number Three would naturally develop quite a bit of ill will towards the Dao Seeking Sect as a faction.

Damn it!

Upon careful consideration, Chen Xuan couldn't help but feel like cursing.

With just a casual promise, this Number Eight can throw mud right at our doorstep. They truly are a complete old schemer.

Number Two's warning was wrong; it shouldn't have been 'beware of Number Four.'

It should be 'beware of Number Eight' instead.

Although our Sect doesn't need to pay any mind to those rumors and false accusations, being tricked for no reason still left Chen Xuan feeling very displeased.

He withdrew his contemplative gaze and looked towards Ye Hao and Li Pingan, speaking in a steady tone: 'Report to me, your Revered Master, every detail of your experiences during this training in the Rain God Continent.'

Although Ye Hao didn't know why his Revered Master suddenly asked about this, he didn't dare hesitate in the slightest and immediately spoke in a solemn voice.

From the opportunities encountered upon entering the Rain God Continent, to befriending Yun Xuanxuan, participating in the Demon Suppressing Tower arena battles, getting involved in conflicts with the Chusheng Sect, and sneaking into the Chusheng Sect to destroy the demon transformation pills—he recounted all these details clearly and methodically.

Li Pingan timely supplemented from the side, filling in all the missing key points one by one.

After a short while, the two finished their report and sat quietly to the side.

After listening, a flicker of approval flashed in Chen Xuan's eyes. He nodded and said, 'Well done. You remained calm in the face of events, understood how to assess the situation, and didn't disgrace your Revered Master.'

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on Ye Hao's face. He then took out a palm-sized black iron seal from his storage ring.

The seal's body was covered in mysterious runes. Even just lying quietly in his palm, it gave off a heavy, mountain-like pressure, as if he were holding not a Magic Treasure, but a slumbering ancient mountain.

This was one of the greatest gains from this training!

Holding the seal respectfully with both hands, he presented it to Chen Xuan and said solemnly, 'Revered Master, this is the heaven-rank magic treasure that Senior Brother Li seized during the Demon Suppressing Tower battle—the demon suppressing black iron seal. Please take a look, Revered Master.'

Chen Xuan lifted the black iron seal, casually weighed it a few times in his hand, then tossed it into the air. Watching it circle halfway above his palm, he lightly tossed it back to Ye Hao and said in a calm tone:

'You can keep this for your own use. It'll also save me some trouble.'

Ye Hao hurriedly caught it steadily and put it back into his storage ring.

Currently, within the Sect, there are already five heaven-rank magic treasures and seven Disciples. With just two more, each Disciple could have one to use temporarily, avoiding any favoritism.

After gathering his thoughts, 'Yun Che Daoren...' Chen Xuan muttered this name twice under his breath, his brow slightly furrowed.

Seeing this, Ye Hao couldn't help but ask curiously, 'Revered Master, do you know this person's background?'

Chen Xuan slowly shook his head, his expression calm. 'I wouldn't say I know, but this title sounds somewhat familiar, as if I've seen or heard it somewhere before. Hmm... it might also be that I heard it mentioned casually by Qin Tianxing while drinking and chatting with him earlier.'

He didn't delve deeper and instead instructed, 'You two go rest first. Stay and recuperate at the Guiyan Inn for three days. After three days, we'll decide when to return to the Sect based on the situation.'

'Yes, Revered Master!' Ye Hao, Li Pingan, and Yun Xuanxuan responded in unison, respectfully bowing before turning and exiting the room, leaving the space to Chen Xuan alone... A day passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Guiyan Inn, Ye Hao stayed behind closed doors, sitting cross-legged in meditation in his room. Now that his inner turmoil was resolved, his secluded cultivation returned to its previous unstoppable state.

After taking the soul refining primordial pill, Yun Xuanxuan also quietly nursed her damaged Divine Soul. The pill's gentle spiritual energy circulated within her body, nourishing her fragmented soul Origin, making her overall vitality and spirit appear much better.

Meanwhile, the news that the Chusheng Sect's main hall had been leveled by a single sword strike spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of the Rain God Continent, sparking heated discussions among countless Cultivators, with various speculations boiling over.

'Have you heard? The Chusheng Sect's centuries-old main hall was reduced to dust by a single strike from a white-clothed sword immortal!'

'That news has already spread everywhere! In my opinion, it must have been the Tianque Sect! Tianque Sect Cultivators are the most opposed to the Yao Race. What the Chusheng Sect did was simply insane and against the natural order.'

'Bullshit!'

A gray-robed Cultivator nearby slammed the table in refutation. 'I agree that the Tianque Sect is utterly opposed to the Yao Race, but the Tianque Sect has always acted openly and honorably. If they were really going to take action, they wouldn't hide it! I think it was the work of the Five Elders Gate. Remember, one of the Five Elders has exceptional swordsmanship.'

'Whoever did it, it's a cause for celebration!'

A white-haired old man stroked his beard, his eyes full of satisfaction. 'The Chusheng Sect enslaved Half-Demons and killed innocents indiscriminately. How many innocent commoners did they harm for the sake of refining demons? This outcome is purely deserved. Someone should have dealt with them long ago!'

'That Sword Qi was too terrifying. I felt its pressure from a hundred miles away; my Divine Soul was trembling. It definitely wasn't something an ordinary Cultivator could unleash.'

Others had different views on the matter.

'Right now, we're in the midst of a fierce battle with the Yao Race. All factions should be united against the enemy. Who would dare undermine our own side at such a time?' A bearded Cultivator indignantly took a gulp of wine. 'No matter how despicable the Chusheng Sect was, they still had tens of thousands of Cultivators who could fight on the battlefield. With their main hall destroyed and leaderless, isn't this like cutting off our own arm?'

'Exactly!'

'These past few days, the Yao Race's attacks have grown increasingly fierce. Many second-rate factions have suffered, with their entire mountain gates flattened and Disciples heavily casualties. I think, perhaps it was done by Yao Race spies, deliberately stirring up internal conflict among us humans to break through our defenses!'

'That makes sense!'

Someone nearby agreed. 'Didn't the Qingfeng Gate and Luoyun Valley fall just like that? Their mountain gates were leveled, not a single survivor left—exactly like the Chusheng Sect's main hall! It might be the Yao Race's unified handiwork!'

'I remember the Tianjian Sect also seemed to have encountered an attack, but for some reason, they narrowly escaped disaster.'

Regardless of the discussions, the fact remained that the Chusheng Sect's main hall had been leveled by a single sword strike.

Everyone understood!

From then on, in the Rain God Continent, the Chusheng Sect would no longer be a significant force.

Meanwhile, Chen Xuan, the mastermind behind all this, was currently at the Tianque Sect's mountain gate with Li Pingan, preparing to ascend.