589: Chapter 99, Volume Five, The End!

The news of the Ghost King Sect's destruction fermented over time, spreading like the wind.

Whether in the wine shops and tea houses of bustling towns or the fields of remote mountain villages, everyone who heard of it discussed it.

Some said the Ghost King Sect's ambition was too great, and their attempt to resurrect the Beast God ultimately backfired; others praised the power of the three righteous Schools joining forces, calling it a blessing for all living beings; still others embellished the description of the earth-shaking battle on Mingling Peak, praising Meng Li as if he were a god.

When the news reached the headquarters of the Blood Refining Hall, Old Nian was sitting on his tiger-skin chair, playing with a newly refined Magic Treasure.

Hearing his subordinate's report, he stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"The Ghost King Sect... was destroyed?"

The reporting Blood Refining Hall Disciple replied tremblingly, "Yes, Hall Master. It is said that the three great righteous Schools—the Qingyun Sect, Fenxiang Valley, and Tianyin Pavilion—joined forces and fought a massive battle against the Ghost King Sect on Mingling Peak. In the end, the Ghost King Sect's headquarters was demolished, and even the resurrected Beast God was destroyed by Meng Li of the Qingyun Sect."

Old Nian paced back and forth, his brows tightly furrowed.

He knew the strength of the Ghost King Sect only too well; a single Wan Wanwang was enough to keep him in check.

Beneath him, there were also the three great experts: Ghost Master, Azure Dragon, and You Ji.

Whether in terms of the number or quality of their Disciples, they surpassed the Blood Refining Hall.

Such a colossus was actually wiped out by the Righteous Path in one fell swoop, failing to even protect its own base.

From this, it was evident that the current strength of the Righteous Path had reached a terrifyingly powerful level.

Old Nian's heart sank as he continued to calculate.

Of the five sects of the Demonic Path, the Changshang Hall had long since vanished, its whereabouts unknown.

The Wandu Sect and the Ghost King Sect had both been destroyed.

All that remained were the Blood Refining Hall and the Hehuan Sect.

The Blood Refining Hall and the Hehuan Sect had always been on good terms due to the relationship between their Ancestral Masters, the Black-Hearted Old Man and Madam Jin Ling. Now that the two Ancestral Masters were still alive, the two sects could only treat each other as equals, with neither able to stand above the other.

In this way, his goal of unifying the Demonic Path had completely vanished into thin air.

Even if he found a way to subjugate the Hehuan Sect, and then exhausted his efforts to find and subjugate the Changshang Hall to complete the great cause of unifying the Demonic Path, with the Demonic Path's current strength, how could they possibly be a match for the Righteous Path?

The strength displayed by the three righteous Schools in the battle of Mingling Peak was far too terrifying.

Especially that Meng Li who had suddenly appeared; he could actually destroy the Beast God with ease.

No one in the Demonic Path could possibly match such a figure.

For a moment, Old Nian felt disheartened and dejected.

He had spent years scheming and calculating every step, all for the sake of one day unifying the Demonic Path to rival or even replace the Righteous Path. But looking at it now, all of it had become a joke.

He sat back dejectedly on his tiger-skin chair, his eyes dimming as he lost his former spirit.

Seeing this, Taoist Wild Dog, who was nearby, hurried forward to advise him, "Hall Master, you cannot let yourself fall into such despair!"

Old Nian lifted his eyelids and said weakly, "What's the use of cheering up?"

"If even a power as great as the Ghost King Sect met such an end, how long can our Blood Refining Hall last?"

Taoist Wild Dog said earnestly, "Hall Master, have you forgotten the principle that 'prosperity brings decline, and extreme misfortune brings luck'? Although the Righteous Path is powerful now, the situation in this world is never unchanging. Back when the Demonic Path was at its peak, wasn't the Righteous Path once in a precarious position as well?"

"But in the end, the Demonic Path still turned from prosperity to decline, and the Righteous Path rose again."

"This is the inevitable trend of the times."

He paused and continued, "The Righteous Path is strong now, but one day, they too will face their moment of decline. Perhaps internal strife will arise, or maybe some other unexpected change will occur. When that time comes, it will be the perfect opportunity for our Demonic Path to reverse the situation."

"Therefore, Hall Master, you should not be dejected now, but should instead secretly accumulate strength, reorganize internally, develop our power, and wait for the opportunity."

"As long as we are prepared, once the opportunity arrives, we will surely soar to the sky and complete your great cause of unifying the Demonic Path and standing above the Righteous Path!"

Taoist Wild Dog's words were like a clap of thunder exploding in Old Nian's heart.

He snapped his head up, light reigniting in his eyes.

Indeed, prosperity brings decline and extreme misfortune brings luck; this was an eternal truth.

Despair now would only mean waiting for death. Only by being prepared could he firmly grasp the opportunity when it arrived.

Old Nian took a deep breath and patted Taoist Wild Dog's shoulder. "You're right, I was being foolish. Pass down my orders: from this day forward, the Blood Refining Hall must maintain a low profile and avoid any conflict with the Righteous Path. At the same time, intensify your Cultivation, accumulate strength, and wait for the opportunity."

Seeing Old Nian regain his spirit, Taoist Wild Dog was overjoyed and hurried off to carry out the orders.

Old Nian walked over to a map, his gaze scanning across it before finally stopping near the Azure Fire Celestial Ice Lake.

He murmured to himself, "A wily rabbit has three burrows; only then can one be prepared for any eventuality."

Afterward, he summoned several confidants and gave them low-voiced instructions.

After receiving their orders, these confidants immediately disguised themselves and left the Blood Refining Hall's headquarters.

Their task was to find and establish several secret strongholds outside of the Azure Fire Celestial Ice Lake to serve as a way out for the Blood Refining Hall. Should the Righteous Path ever truly attack, they would have a retreat and wouldn't be completely wiped out overnight like the Ghost King Sect.

...

Inside the Jinxiu Workshop.

Jin Binger sat by the window, watching the falling leaves outside.

After listening to A Cheng's report on the destruction of the Ghost King Sect, there wasn't much expression on her face, but her heart became even more set on the idea of staying out of trouble in her own corner.

She instructed A Cheng, "Pass down the order: from today on, the Disciples are not to participate in Jianghu disputes. Everything must be done with a low profile."

"If anyone dares to stir up trouble without permission, they will be severely punished."

...

Qingyun Sect, Xiaozhu Peak.

"Xueqi."

Water Moon True Person looked at Lu Xueqi, who had just finished her sword practice, and spoke slowly, "Some time ago, your Senior Martial Uncle Zeng told me he wanted Shushu and you... to try spending some time together."

"Do you have any feelings for that child, Shushu?"

Lu Xueqi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then she shook her head and said with a firm tone, "Master, your Disciple is dedicated to the Dao and only wishes to focus on her Cultivation. I have no interest in matters of romance. Please tell Senior Martial Uncle Zeng that I must decline."

Water Moon True Person saw the firm look in Lu Xueqi's eyes and understood.

She sighed and said, "Very well, matters of the heart cannot be forced. Since you have no interest, then I shall reply to your Junior Martial Uncle Zeng truthfully."

Lu Xueqi bowed, "Thank you for your understanding, Master."

"Between us, Master and Disciple, there is no need for such formalities."

Water Moon True Person made a slight gesture of supporting her up, then chatted for a few more moments before heading to Feng Hui Peak.

Upon arriving at Feng Hui Peak, Water Moon True Person found Zeng Shuchang and informed him of Lu Xueqi's decision.

Zeng Shuchang showed a hint of regret upon hearing this, but didn't say much.

"Forget it, matters of the heart depend on mutual consent. Since Xueqi has no interest, then let it be."

Afterward, Zeng Shuchang called Zeng Shushu over and informed him of the situation.

Zeng Shushu had been rejected by Lu Xueqi before, and more than once, but at this moment, he still couldn't help but feel dejected.

Looking at his son, who was usually carefree but now seemed a bit lost, Zeng Shuchang sighed and offered words of comfort, "Shushu, don't take the matter with Niece Lu too much to heart. Feelings cannot be forced."

Zeng Shushu nodded without saying a word.

Zeng Shuchang continued, "There is one more thing. Your maternal grandfather's health is declining day by day, and Yudu City cannot be without someone in charge. It is time for you to leave the Qingyun Sect and go to Yudu City to take over as City Lord."

Zeng Shushu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

Soon, thinking of Wei Qiong's aging body and the people of Yudu City, he nodded slightly, "Father, I understand. I will go to Yudu City."

After leaving the main hall of Feng Hui Peak, Zeng Shushu felt extremely troubled and flew on his sword to the Dream Field Garden on Dazhu Peak.

Meng Li was in the courtyard accompanying Tian Linger for tea.

Seeing Zeng Shushu's dejected face, he was somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong? You look like you've been beaten up."

Tian Linger laughed, "Could it be that you were hit by Senior Sister Lu?"

Zeng Shushu sighed and explained everything about being rejected by Lu Xueqi and having to go to Yudu City to take over as City Lord.

After hearing this, Meng Li patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "It's no big deal! If you're disappointed in love, then go find success in your career. As a man, you should achieve something in either love or your career, right? Otherwise, wouldn't that be too much of a failure?"

He paused and continued, "Yudu City is bustling and lively; there are many things you can do there. Go there, display your talents properly, and you might just build a great career. By then, you might even meet the right person."

Zeng Shushu felt that Meng Li's words made a lot of sense.

He nodded, light reigniting in his eyes, "You're right, I can't just stay dejected like this."

"I'll go to Yudu City tomorrow and I must achieve something great!"

Early the next morning, Zeng Shushu packed his bags, said goodbye to the elders and fellow Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, and set off on the road to Yudu City.

As for Meng Li, he continued to live a leisurely and carefree life on Dazhu Peak.

Time flies like a white horse passing a gap, and in the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed.

Meng Li once again experienced the cycle of friends and family passing away one after another, and welcomed his Heavenly Tribulation..."}],