Chapter 6236 - 6240
Because the sacred mountain was no secret and many people made pilgrimages there, it was easy to find one.
The group entered the sacred mountain, following the winding mountain path deeper and deeper.
Inside the sacred mountain was a hidden world.
Within the mountain’s belly was a massive underground palace, magnificent and imposing, its walls covered with ancient runes and arrays, emitting a faint golden light.
At the deepest part of the palace was a huge altar.
Above the altar floated a massive coffin.
The coffin was entirely black, its surface covered with densely packed sealing runes, layer upon layer, densely packed.
Even from hundreds of feet away, one could feel the extremely oppressive and terrifying aura.
Yun Xi looked at the coffin, her pupils slightly contracting.
“It’s the Venerable One’s physical body.”
She could feel the throbbing originating from the depths of her bloodline, the instinctive connection of the Ghost Clan’s descendants to their ancestor.
Kai didn’t speak, but slowly walked towards the altar.
Just then, a blinding golden light suddenly shone around the altar.
A series of array patterns appeared, instantly transforming into a massive light shield that enveloped the coffin.
“A protective array,” Ming Li frowned. “The temple indeed had a backup plan.”
Kai calmly observed the light shield, sensing the terrifying power contained within.
“A True Immortal Realm level array,” he said indifferently. “If it were before, I really wouldn’t have been able to handle it.”
With that, he waved his hand.
The Demon-Suppressing Tower flew out of his storage ring, hovering in mid-air, scattering layers of light.
“Now…”
Kai’s thoughts stirred, and the Demon-Suppressing Tower suddenly enlarged, transforming into a hundred-zhang-tall giant tower, crashing down!
Boom!
The giant tower collided with the light shield, unleashing a deafening roar.
The entire underground palace trembled violently, countless fragments of stone falling from the dome.
The Demon-Suppressing Tower emitted a faint glow, gradually pressing down on the light shield.
Although the light shield was powerful, under the crushing weight of the Demon-Suppressing Tower, it ultimately couldn’t withstand it, and cracks began to appear.
Crack—crack—
the cracks multiplied, growing larger and larger.
Finally, with a deafening roar, the protective barrier shattered completely!
Kai retrieved the Demon-Suppressing Tower and slowly walked onto the altar.
He stood before the coffin, gazing calmly at the densely packed sealing runes.
“Venerable One, forgive me.”
He raised his hand and slammed a palm onto the coffin.
Boom—!
The coffin exploded, and a terrifying aura instantly swept out.
A gigantic phantom emerged from the shattered coffin.
It was a majestic man, clad in black armor, with a dignified face, closed eyes, and an aura that emanated a suffocating pressure.
It was the lingering aura of the Ghost Clan’s Venerable One, his mark from his lifetime.
The phantom hovered in mid-air, seemingly looking down upon the crowd below.
Yun Xi looked at the phantom, her eyes slightly reddening, and slowly knelt down.
Ming Li also knelt down, his expression solemn.
This was the Ghost Clan’s ancestor, their revered hero.
Kai stood quietly in place, looking at the phantom, without saying a word.
The illusory figure hovered for a moment, then slowly opened its eyes.
They were deep eyes, seemingly containing the vicissitudes of countless ages.
Its gaze swept downwards, finally landing on Kai.
There was no anger, no resentment, only a faint sense of relief.
The illusory figure opened its mouth, uttering a low, ancient voice: “Thank you.”
Those two short words seemed to have exhausted its last strength. As
the words fell, the illusory figure slowly dissipated, turning into countless specks of light, completely returning to nothingness.
At the same time, the enormous physical body began to disintegrate, turning into ashes and scattering with the wind.
Yun Xi knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
“Respectfully bidding farewell to the Venerable One,”
Ming Li said, his head bowed, his voice choked with emotion.
Kai watched all this quietly, a sense of感慨(gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, often including sadness, regret, and a touch of melancholy) welling up within him.
An ancient, powerful being had thus completely vanished from the world.
There was no grand spectacle, no earth-shattering event.
Only a single “thank you,” expressing all the relief and liberation.
After a long while, Yun Xi slowly stood up, wiped away her tears, and looked at Kai.
“Thank you.”
Her voice was hoarse, yet utterly sincere.
Kai shook his head: “No need to thank me. Releasing the Venerable One is simply what I should do.”
Yun Xi looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
This man could have ignored this matter, could have simply done his own thing.
Yet he still came, still helped.
Not for any personal gain, but simply because he felt it was the right thing to do.
Yun Xi’s opinion of Kai deepened.
“Let’s go.”
Kai turned and walked away. Over the next few days, Kai and his group found the remaining sacred mountains of the temple and destroyed the Ghost Clan Venerable One’s physical body.
The temple was practically defunct, unguarded, making it easy for Kai and his group to destroy the Ghost Clan Venerable One’s body.
At this moment, Shen Tong was completely unaware, still hoping to use the secrets of the sacred mountains to turn the tables.
After destroying all the sacred mountains of the temple, Kai and his group stood on the ruins of the last sacred mountain.
The mountain wind howled, swirling up clouds of ashes.
The physical bodies of the Ghost Clan Venerables, sealed for countless years, had now completely dissipated into the world, turning to dust and returning to nothingness.
Yun Xi stood at the edge of the ruins, gazing at everything before her, speechless for a long time.
Her feelings were complex.
As a Ghost Clan princess, destroying the physical bodies of her ancestors with her own hands was a grave offense.
Yet, she knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do. Allowing the physical bodies of her ancestors to continue to be used by the gods was the true disrespect.
“What are you thinking about?” Kai walked to her side and handed her a pot of water.
Yun Xi took it, took a sip, and said softly, “Nothing, just some feelings.”
Kai nodded, not asking further.
He knew Yun Xi was upset; anyone would need time to process such a thing.
In the distance, Ming Li and Liu Qianqian sat on a boulder, very close together, talking about something.
Liu Qianqian wore a faint smile, while Ming Li looked utterly bewildered, making Kai shake his head.
Yun Yao squatted to the side, listlessly fiddling with the pebbles on the ground, occasionally glancing up at the two with envy in her eyes.
Kai withdrew his gaze and looked at Yun Xi: “Next, I plan to go to the Holy Land of Light.”
Yun Xi was slightly taken aback: “The Holy Land of Light? What for?”
A cold glint flashed in Kai’s eyes: “There are two scores to settle.”
“Two scores?”
“The first, the Holy Purity Sect.”
Kai’s voice was calm, yet tinged with coldness, “They kept Yun Yao captive, using her as a pawn to cultivate with those of pure blood. I cannot tolerate this.”
Yun Xi glanced at Yun Yao not far away, but remained silent.
She had heard Ming Li mention Yun Yao’s background; it was indeed pitiful.
Raised by the Holy Purity Sect from a young age, her fate was not in her own hands, but she could only be manipulated by others.
If she hadn’t met Kai, she would have lived her entire life under someone else’s control.
“And the second score?” Yun Xi asked.
“The Divine Hall,”
Kai said calmly, “Back in the Holy Domain of Light, they deceived me, causing me to lose my essence and blood. Now that I’ve recovered, it’s time to pay them a visit.”
Yun Xi was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
Kai looked at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes: “Aren’t you in a hurry to return to the Fifteenth Heaven?”
“There’s no use in being in a hurry.”
Yun Xi shook her head. “The matter of the Gate of Reincarnation still needs your help. Since you’re going to the Holy Domain of Light, I’ll accompany you.”
Kai nodded, not refusing.
Having an expert like Yun Xi was always a good thing.
“Let’s go.” He turned and walked towards the group. “Next stop, the Holy Domain of Light.”
The Holy Domain of Light, the Holy Purity Sect.
The mountain gate was majestic and imposing.
As one of the oldest forces in the Holy Domain of Light, the Holy Purity Sect occupied an entire spiritual vein, with thousands of disciples and countless experts. Within a radius of ten thousand miles, no one dared to provoke them.
But today, five uninvited guests arrived at the gate of the Holy Purity Sect.
Kai stood at the forefront, followed by Yun Xi, Ming Li, Liu Qianqian, and Yun Yao.
He gazed calmly at the majestic mountain gate before him, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“The Holy Purity Sect…this is it.”
Yun Yao stood beside him, her body trembling slightly as she looked at the familiar gate.
She had lived here for a hundred years, raised in captivity from childhood, taught how to serve men, how to sacrifice her primordial yin.
Countless times she had thought of escaping, yet she had never dared to take that step.
Now, she had returned.
Not as a pawn, but as an avenger.
“Don’t be afraid,” Kai glanced at her, his voice gentle. “I’m here.”
Yun Yao took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.
“Let’s go.” Kai lifted his foot and walked towards the mountain gate.
Just as they reached the gate, several figures rushed out from within, blocking their path.
Leading them was a middle-aged man in a blue robe, his face arrogant; he was clearly a disciple in charge of the Holy Purity Sect.
His gaze swept over Kai and his group, his brow furrowing as he coldly said, “Halt! This is sacred ground of the Holy Purity Sect. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter!”
Kai stopped, looked at him, and said calmly, “Get out of the way.”
“What did you say?”
The managing disciple was stunned, then flew into a rage, “Insolence! Do you know where you are? How dare you cause trouble here? You’re asking for it!”
Kai didn’t bother arguing with him and waved his hand.
A golden light flashed, and the managing disciple didn’t even have time to scream before he was sent flying backward, crashing into the mountain gate, spitting blood, and falling unconscious.
The other disciples were shocked and drew their swords, shouting, “Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
Kai didn’t even glance at them and walked straight into the mountain gate.
The disciples tried to stop him, but Ming Li stepped forward, his ghostly energy surging, directly blasting them away.
“Those who block the way shall die,” Ming Li said coldly.
The group entered the Holy Purity Sect without hindrance.
Inside the mountain gate, chaos had already broken out.
The alarm bells rang, and countless disciples surged in from all directions, surrounding Kai and his companions.
Leading them was an elderly man with white hair, his aura overwhelming; he was a peak ninth-grade Upper Immortal.
“Who dares to trespass into the Holy Purity Sect!” the white-haired elder roared.
Kai stopped, looked at him, and said calmly, “Summon your sect leader.”
The white-haired elder was furious: “Arrogant brat! Who do you think you are? Do you even deserve to see our sect leader?”
Kai smiled.
He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers forming a fist.
In an instant, golden dragon energy soared into the sky, and a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire Holy Purity Sect.
The surrounding disciples felt breathless, their legs went weak, and they all collapsed to their knees.
The white-haired elder’s face changed drastically, his eyes filled with shock: “An Upper Immortal… a fourth-grade cultivator with such strength? This… how is this possible!”
He had lived for thousands of years and seen countless geniuses, but he had never seen, or even heard of, anyone who could unleash the power of a True Immortal at the fourth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm!
Kai ignored his shock and simply said, “Now, can you call your sect leader out?”
The white-haired old man trembled, gritted his teeth, and turned to run.
Kai didn’t chase after him, but simply stood there, hands behind his back.
Inside the mountain gate, everything was in ruins.
The disciples of the Holy Purity Sect, kneeling on the ground, trembled, not daring to raise their heads.
The pressure emanating from Kai was tangible, making it hard for them to breathe.
Kai stood calmly in place, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the depths of the Holy Purity Sect.
Yun Xi stood beside him, surrounded by ghostly energy, her expression indifferent.
Ming Li and Liu Qianqian stood side by side, while Yun Yao stood behind Kai, looking at the familiar mountain gate, her eyes filled with both fear and anticipation.
A moment later, several powerful auras soared into the sky from the depths of the Holy Purity Sect.
The leader, dressed in a white robe embroidered with golden lotuses at the hem, possessed a refined face and a gentle smile. He was none other than the Vice Leader of the Holy Purity Sect, True Person Qingxu.
Behind him followed more than ten elders, the weakest being at the ninth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, and the strongest reaching the True Immortal Realm.
True Person Qingxu landed before Kai, his gaze sweeping over Kai and the others before finally settling on Yun Yao. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a hearty laugh.
“So it’s you, young friend Chen.”
His smile was radiant, his tone warm, as if he were seeing an old friend he hadn’t seen in years. “Young friend Chen, what are you doing? I kindly betrothed Yun Yao to you, and not only are you ungrateful, but you’ve also come to attack my Holy Purity Sect?”
Kai looked at him calmly, without speaking.
Master Qingxu continued with a smile, “Young friend Chen, you possess a Saint-grade bloodline, and I have genuine feelings for you. If you don’t like Yun Yao, I can find you another one. There are plenty of female disciples in the sect; you can choose any you like. Why resort to violence and damage our harmony?”
Kai remained silent.
Master Qingxu’s smile froze slightly before returning to normal.
“Young friend Chen, I’m giving you one last chance. Surrender, offer up your bloodline, and I might spare your life, even allowing you to join my Holy Pure Sect as a protector, enjoying endless resources. What do you say?”
Kai finally spoke.
He said calmly, “Finished?”
Master Qingxu was taken aback.
Kai’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“Finished? Then die.”
Before the words were finished, his figure vanished instantly.
The next instant, he appeared before an elder of the ninth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm.
The elder was shocked and hurriedly raised his hand to block, but his movements were as slow as a snail in Kai’s eyes.
Kai raised his hand and struck down with a palm.
“Bang!”
The elder’s head exploded instantly, blood splattering everywhere, and his body crashed to the ground.
“What?!”
The other elders were horrified and retreated hastily.
Kai gave them no chance.
His figure was like a ghost, weaving through the crowd.
With each palm strike, an elder died.
With each punch, an elder was sent flying.
In just a few breaths, more than ten elders at the ninth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, and even the True Immortal Realm, all lay in pools of blood, lifeless.
Kai stopped, stood with his hands behind his back, his robes spotless.
He looked at Qingxu Zhenren and said indifferently, “That’s it?”
The smile on Qingxu Zhenren’s face froze completely, replaced by endless fear.
He stared wide-eyed at the corpses on the ground, his body trembling violently.
“You…you…how is this possible?! You’re only a fourth-grade Upper Immortal, how could you…”
He tried to escape.
He turned and ran, his spiritual power surging wildly, transforming into a streak of light as he desperately fled into the depths of the Holy Pure Sect.
Kai watched his retreating figure without moving.
He simply raised his hand and casually pointed.
A golden sword aura shot out from his fingertip, as fast as lightning, instantly catching up with True Person Qingxu.
“Pfft!”
The sword aura pierced through his back, directly penetrating his dantian.
True Person Qingxu let out a shrill scream, falling from mid-air and crashing to the ground with a “bang,” spitting out blood, his aura instantly weakening.
Kai stepped forward, slowly walking up to him, looking down at him.
True Person Qingxu collapsed to the ground, trembling all over, his eyes filled with fear and despair.
“No…don’t kill me…I…I can give you everything…resources, cultivation techniques, women…I’ll give you whatever you want…”
Kai didn’t speak, but simply turned his head to look at Yun Yao.
“Yun Yao, come here.”
Yun Yao was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly stepped forward.
She looked at Qingxu Zhenren, who was slumped on the ground. This man, who had once been high and mighty and controlled her destiny, was now crawling on the ground like a dead dog, his eyes filled with fear and pleading.
“Yun Yao! Yun Yao!”
Qingxu Zhenren hurriedly crawled towards her, his voice trembling, “You…you must speak for me! I…I’ve been good to you! All these years you’ve eaten my food and used my things, I’ve never mistreated you! Please plead for me, let him spare my life!”
Yun Yao looked at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Good?
She remembered the days she was kept in captivity, the arranged Daoist partners, the pills she was forced to swallow.
“You’ve been good to me?”
she repeated softly, her voice eerily calm.
“Have you ever considered me a human being?”
Qingxu Zhenren was stunned.
Yun Yao continued, “You treated me like a tool, a pawn, a commodity. You never asked if I was willing; you only knew how to arrange, force, and threaten. You said it was for my own good, but do you know how many times I wanted to die?”
Qingxu Zhenren opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but couldn’t utter a word.
Looking at him like this, Yun Yao’s last shred of hesitation vanished.
She drew her long sword from her waist, the tip pressed against Qingxu Zhenren’s throat.
Qingxu Zhenren trembled violently, tears streaming down his face: “No…no…Yun Yao, I beg you…I…I can give you freedom…I can give you everything…”
Yun Yao ignored him.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them.
A flash of sword light.
Qingxu Zhenren’s head rolled to the ground, blood gushing out.
Yun Yao gripped the sword, standing there, her body trembling slightly.
She looked at the head, that once high and mighty face, now filled with terror and resentment.
After a long while, she raised her head, looked at Kai, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Young Master Chen…I…I’ve taken my revenge…”
Kai walked over and gently patted her shoulder.
“Yes, you did a good job.”
Yun Yao threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Yun Xi stood aside, watching this scene without saying a word.
Ming Li and Liu Qianqian exchanged a glance, but remained silent.
A moment later, Yun Yao finished crying, lifted her head from Kai’s embrace, and wiped away her tears.
“Young Master Chen, what’s next…”
Kai turned around, looking towards the depths of the Holy Purity Sect, his gaze icy.
“What’s next?”
A slight smile curled at the corners of his lips.
“What’s next, of course, is to destroy this Holy Purity Sect.”
He took a step forward, walking towards the depths of the Holy Purity Sect.
Yun Xi and the others followed behind him.
Along the way, countless Holy Purity Sect disciples surged forward, trying to stop him.
Kai didn’t even glance at them.
He simply walked forward step by step.
With each step, a sword light would slash out.
With each sword light, several disciples would die.
He moved through the Holy Purity Sect as if strolling in a garden.
Those disciples were utterly vulnerable before him.
Whether they were eighth-grade or ninth-grade Immortals, whether they were ordinary disciples or guardian elders, as long as they came within a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) of him, they would be instantly killed by his sword energy.
Blood stained every inch of the Holy Purity Sect’s land.
Screams echoed throughout the mountain.
Just then, a terrifying aura surged from the deepest part of the Holy Purity Sect.
Its power far surpassed that of anyone before it.
True Immortal Realm, Second Rank.
A golden light flew out from the depths of the sect, landing before Kai.
It was an old man with white hair, a dignified face, and a terrifying pressure emanating from him.
He wore a golden robe, a jade crown, and held a golden longsword; he was the Holy Purity Sect’s leader, whose Daoist name was Qingxuan.
Looking at the corpses scattered on the ground, his face was ashen, his eyes filled with rage.
“You audacious madman! How dare you slaughter my Holy Purity Sect disciples! You’re courting death!”
he roared, his golden light surging, the terrifying pressure of a True Immortal Realm Second Rank descending upon Kai like a mountain.
Yun Yao’s face turned deathly pale, and she instinctively took a step back.
Yun Xi frowned slightly, her ghostly aura surging, preparing to attack.
Kai, however, smiled.
He looked at the Qingxuan Sect Master, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a hint of amusement.
“Second Rank True Immortal?”
he repeated softly, his tone flat. “Interesting.”
The Qingxuan Sect Master roared in fury: “Arrogant brat! I’ll show you what the True Immortal Realm is!”
He raised his hand and unleashed a sword strike.
The sword light, like a rainbow, carried a world-destroying force, slashing down towards Kai.
This single strike was enough to cleave mountains and sever rivers.
Kai calmly watched the sword light, neither dodging nor avoiding it.
Just as the sword light was about to strike, he raised his hand and threw a punch.
The fist’s energy was like a dragon, radiating golden light.
“Boom—!”
The fist and sword collided, unleashing a deafening roar.
A terrifying shockwave swept in all directions, instantly collapsing surrounding buildings and filling the sky with dust.
When the dust settled, Kai stood motionless.
The Qingxuan Sect Master, however, staggered back several steps, his expression drastically changing.
“This… how is this possible?!”
He stared wide-eyed at Kai as if he were looking at a monster.
He was a True Immortal Realm Second Grade!
This young man before him was merely an Upper Immortal Realm Fourth Grade; how could he possibly force him back with a single punch?
Kai looked at him and said calmly, “Is that all?”
The Qingxuan Sect Master’s face turned ashen. He roared and attacked again.
Sword light surged continuously, each strike containing earth-shattering power.
Kai remained standing, neither dodging nor avoiding.
He simply raised his hand and unleashed punch after punch.
Each punch landed precisely on the sword light.
Each punch shattered the sword light.
The Qingxuan Sect Master grew increasingly alarmed and terrified with each blow.
This young man was not human!
He turned and ran.
But after only a few steps, a golden light caught up with him.
Kai appeared before him, raised his hand, and struck down with a palm.
“Bang!”
The Qingxuan Sect Master’s body flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out blood.
Kai walked up to him, looking down at him.
The Qingxuan Sect Master trembled all over, his eyes filled with fear and despair.
“You…who exactly are you…”
Kai looked at him and said calmly, “My name is Kai.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he struck down with his palm.
The Qingxuan Sect Master’s head instantly exploded, his life force extinguished.
A second-grade True Immortal Realm expert had died.
Kai withdrew his hand, stood with his hands behind his back, his robes still spotless.
He turned to look at Yun Xi and the others.
“Let’s go, let’s destroy this Holy Qing Sect.”
Yun Xi nodded.
Ming Li and Liu Qianqian exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.
Yun Yao looked at Kai, her eyes filled with admiration.
Half an hour later, within the Holy Qing Sect’s mountain gate, not a single survivor remained.
Those wicked disciples, those elders who aided and abetted the evil, were all dead.
Blood flowed like rivers.
Bones piled up like mountains.
Kai stood outside the mountain gate, glancing back.
That once majestic mountain was now a ruin.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Let’s go.”
He turned and, leading Yunxi and the others, disappeared into the distance.
Behind them, thick smoke billowed and flames soared into the sky above the ruins of the Holy Pure Sect
. The once invincible Holy Pure Sect had been annihilated.
Meanwhile, at the foot of Holy Light Peak in the Holy Domain of Light,
in a simple stone house, Shen Tong sat cross-legged on a futon, meditating with his eyes closed.
Since being assigned to patrol at the foot of the mountain, he had lived in this stone house.
The house was small, with only a bed, a table, and a futon—pitifully simple. Compared to the magnificent palace of the former Temple Master, this was worse than a doghouse.
But Shen Tong didn’t complain.
He endured it.
These past few days, he and the Temple disciples had patrolled on time every day, handing over duties on time, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
People from the Temple would come to inspect from time to time, looking them down with condescending eyes, occasionally even making a few critical remarks.
Shen Tong endured it all.
He was waiting.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Once the Divine Hall lowered its guard, once his injuries healed, and once he found the right opportunity, he would lead his disciples away to seek another way out.
As for the secret of the Holy Mountain… that was his last trump card.
As long as he had those resources and the physical bodies of those Venerables, he would have leverage.
Whether negotiating with the Divine Hall or making a comeback in the future, those things would be his capital to turn the tables.
Shen Tong opened his eyes and looked out the window.
Outside the window, several temple disciples sat on stones, staring blankly into the distance.
Their eyes had long lost their former sharpness, replaced only by numbness and weariness.
Shen Tong felt a pang of pain in his heart.
It was all because of his incompetence as temple master that these disciples suffered.
“Just bear with it a little longer,” he murmured softly, “Just bear with it a little longer, there will always be a chance…”
Before he could finish speaking, the door to the stone house was pushed open.
Shen Tong frowned and looked up.
Entering was one of his few remaining elders, surnamed Zhou, an old man who had followed him for thousands of years.
At this moment, Elder Zhou’s face was filled with anxiety, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and his lips trembled.
“Palace Master…Palace Master…Something terrible has happened!”
Shen Tong’s heart tightened, and he quickly stood up. “What happened? Is the Divine Hall going to attack us?”
“No…no…” Elder Zhou gasped for breath, his voice trembling. “It’s…it’s the Holy Mountain…our Divine Hall’s Holy Mountain…” Shen
Tong’s pupils shrank. “What happened to the Holy Mountain?!”
Elder Zhou knelt on the ground with a thud, tears streaming down his face. “All destroyed! Several Holy Mountains are all destroyed! The Venerable One’s physical body…is also completely destroyed!”
Boom—!
Shen Tong felt a deafening explosion in his mind, his whole body froze on the spot, his face instantly turning ashen.
“You…what did you say?”
He grabbed Elder Zhou’s collar, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse. “Say it again! What happened to the Holy Mountain?!”
Elder Zhou cried. “Palace Master, I just received a message from the spies left in the Fourteenth Heaven, saying…saying that someone broke into our Holy Mountain, destroyed all the protective formations, and…destroyed the Venerable One’s physical body! Not a single one was left!”
“Who?! Who did this?!”
“It’s…it’s Kai!”
Kai!
These two words exploded in Shen Tong’s mind like thunder.
That reincarnation of the Dragon Emperor, the culprit who brought ruin to the temple!
Destroying the temple wasn’t enough for him; he also destroyed the Holy Mountain, destroying his last hope!
“Ah—!”
Shen Tong roared to the sky, unleashing a palm strike. A violent burst of spiritual power erupted, instantly shattering the entire stone house, sending rubble flying and dust billowing everywhere.
He stood amidst the ruins, trembling, his eyes bloodshot, his spiritual power in complete disarray, nearly driven mad.
“Kai! Kai!!!”
he screamed, his voice like that of a wounded beast, filled with rage, despair, and resentment.
“You destroyed my temple! Killed my disciples! Now you won’t even spare my last trump card! I, Shen Tong, am sworn enemies with you! We will fight to the death!!” He unleashed
another palm strike, the ground cracking and rubble flying everywhere.
Several temple disciples rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing their master’s state, they knelt in terror, too afraid to move.
Shen Tong, having vented his anger for so long, finally collapsed, kneeling on one knee, gasping for breath.
His eyes were bloodshot.
His heart was filled with despair.
It was over.
Completely over.
The Holy Mountain was destroyed, the Venerable’s body was destroyed, and his last bargaining chip was gone.
What could he use to negotiate with the temple?
How could he rise again?
How could he avenge his fallen disciples?
Elder Zhou crawled to his side, weeping, “Temple Master, please take care of yourself! We…we haven’t reached the end of the road yet…”
Shen Tong looked up at him, a bitter smile on his face: “Not at the end of the road yet? Tell me, what road is left?”
Elder Zhou opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Yes, what road was left?
The temple was gone, the Holy Mountain was gone, and only two hundred disciples remained.
Now they were living under someone else’s roof, being treated like dogs.
Once the Divine Hall learns that the Holy Mountain has been destroyed, that they have no more bargaining chips…
Shen Tong trembled.
The Divine Hall!
If Yao Chen knew that the Holy Mountain had been destroyed, that they had no more leverage, what would that ruthless guy do?
He remembered Yao Chen’s gentle smile, the way he casually killed his elders, and his words, “Wait until they’ve squeezed all their value dry.”
Now, the value is gone.
Then… what reason do they have to exist?
“No… no…”
Shen Tong suddenly stood up, his face ashen. “He can’t know! Absolutely not!”
He turned to the elders who had surrounded him, lowering his voice, his tone urgent and fierce: “Listen! The news of the Holy Mountain’s destruction must not be leaked! No one is allowed to tell! Especially the people from the Divine Hall!” The elders
were shocked: “Palace Master, this… can this be kept secret?”
“We have to keep it secret even if we can’t!”
Shen Tong gritted his teeth. “As long as Yao Chen doesn’t know, we have time! We have a chance!”
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes.
“We can’t stay here any longer.”
“What does the Palace Master mean…?”
“Go.” Shen Tong said slowly and deliberately, “Leave the Holy Domain of Light and continue our escape.”
Elder Zhou said in a trembling voice, “But…but Palace Master, where can we go? We can’t go back to the Temple, we can’t stay in the Holy Domain of Light, are we supposed to go to the Fifteenth Heaven? It’s more dangerous there than here!” Shen
Tong was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Go to the Demon Realm.”
Upon hearing this, several elders were shocked.
“The Demon Realm?! Palace Master, those are a bunch of lunatics! We have a grudge against them!” ”
So what if we have a grudge?”
Shen Tong said coldly, “Ning Zhi and the Demon Dragon lineage are powerful now. Since they can run rampant in the Fourteenth Heaven, they must have a place in the Demon Realm as well. Let’s go find them and seek refuge with them!”
“But…but they killed so many of our people!”
Shen Tong closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I know.”
He opened his eyes, his eyes filled with bitterness and determination.
“But do we have any other choice now? The Divine Hall can’t accommodate us, and we can’t go back to the Divine Temple. Only the Demon Realm, only Ning Zhi’s side, might offer a glimmer of hope.”
“That Ning Zhi…” an elder hesitated, “Will he take us in? He even killed the Grand Elder when we were negotiating the cooperation.”
Shen Tong remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “I don’t know. But it’s better than waiting to die here. Besides, this time it’s not cooperation, but surrendering to him.”
He turned around and looked at the disciples of the Divine Temple who had gathered around him. Seeing the confusion and fear in their eyes, his heart ached.
“Gentlemen,” he said in a deep voice, “I know I’ve made you suffer with me. The temple is gone, the holy mountain is gone, and I, as the temple master, have given you nothing.”
“But now, we still have a path. A very dangerous path, one that may lead to death, one that may lead to a fate worse than death. But at least, it’s a path.”
He paused, enunciating each word clearly: “Those who are willing to follow me, gather outside the mountain gate at midnight tonight. Those who are unwilling… stay and fend for yourselves. I don’t blame you.”
The disciples looked at each other, remained silent for a moment, and then knelt down in unison.
“We swear to follow our temple master to the death!”
Shen Tong looked at them, his eyes reddening, and nodded heavily.
“Good! Good! You’re all commendable!”
He turned around, looked into the distance, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
Kai, you wait.
And Yao Chen, you wait too.
As long as I, Shen Tong, live, this debt will be settled sooner or later!
Meanwhile, at the summit of Holy Light Peak, in the main hall of the temple,
Yao Chen sat on his throne, holding a communication jade slip in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.
“Kai… destroyed the sacred mountains of the temple?”
Below, a guardian elder bowed and said, “Yes, Hall Master. We just received news that Kai led his men and destroyed all the remaining sacred mountains of the temple. The physical bodies of those Venerables have also been reduced to ashes.”
Yao Chen was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
“Interesting.”
He put down the jade slip, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
“This Kai is quite a character. The temple besieged him, but he turned the tables and wiped out the temple’s stronghold. That old codger Shen Tong, he probably can’t even cry now, can he?”
The guardian elder probed, “Hall Master, should we… still keep Shen Tong and the others? With the Holy Mountain destroyed, they’re worthless now.”
Yao Chen glanced at him and said calmly, “What’s the rush?”
He stood up, slowly walked down the steps, and stood with his hands behind his back.
“Shen Tong is probably more panicked than anyone else right now. He knows that once I find out the Holy Mountain is destroyed, they’ll be useless. He’ll definitely try to escape.”
“Then we…”
“Let them escape.”
A cold smile appeared on Yao Chen’s lips. “Send people to follow them and see where they’re going. If we can follow the clues and find other things they’ve hidden, wouldn’t that be even better?”
“Hall Master is wise!”
Yao Chen waved his hand, and the guardian elder bowed and withdrew.
Only Yao Chen remained in the hall.
He gazed out the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
“Kai…”
he murmured softly, the smile on his lips growing increasingly meaningful.
“Interesting, truly getting more and more interesting.”
Night fell at the foot of Holy Light Peak.
Shen Tong, leading over two hundred disciples, silently departed their camp under the cover of darkness.
They dared not use the teleportation array, fearing discovery by the Divine Hall. They could only proceed on foot, traversing mountains and valleys, rushing towards the border of the Holy Light Domain.
Shen Tong led the way, his eyes wary, his spiritual energy subtly circulating.
Behind him, the disciples followed closely, not daring to make a sound.
The night wind blew, swirling fallen leaves.
Shen Tong’s figure appeared exceptionally lonely in the moonlight, yet it exuded a stubborn resilience.
And behind Shen Tong and his companions, a faintly visible figure followed closely behind!