"...!"
Hua Yuntian's face turned ashen in an instant.
Fine!
So that incident was just going to hang over him forever, wasn't it?!
Ye Qingshuang turned her head, a flicker of curiosity appearing on her small face.
What exactly had Second Senior Brother done?
He was always being used by Master as a negative example to lecture First Senior Brother.
Sensing her gaze, Hua Yuntian's face darkened to the color of a charred pot.
This lousy sect!
Let whoever wants to stay here stay!
He'd had enough!
Hua Yuntian ground his teeth in fury, dying to storm off in a huff. Yet the sect token at his waist did not seem to hear his inner cries, remaining completely motionless.
On the other side, Scarlet Sun Demon Sage and Black Rock Demon Lord exchanged a glance. A strange light flickered in both demons' eyes at the same time.
This formation's aura was even deeper and more imposing than before, as if a layer of the earth's own fetal membrane had been draped over the entire sect.
It was absurdly tough!
Jiang Ling stood with his hands behind his back before the main hall steps, his green robe fluttering in the light breeze.
His cultivation at the second layer of the Nascent Soul now felt unfathomably deep and vast, as if he had merged with the hundred li of expanded mountains and rivers.
His gaze swept over the completely renewed sect territory. Jiang Ling spoke calmly, his voice like a great bell, resounding in everyone's ears:
"The sect's domain has just been stabilized. This is a foundation of rock, unshakable for eternity! A little external trouble is no more than a breeze brushing the hills—hardly worth mentioning. Settle in and cultivate in peace."
The immense confidence and domineering bearing in his words were deeply engraved in everyone's hearts at this moment.
Yet the existence of Black Wind Ridge still loomed like a heavy mountain over their heads.
Except for Jiang Ling, the three disciples and the two great demons all felt a storm approaching in their hearts.
The Shadow Demon Sect was destroyed—it felt good. But the retaliation that might come in three days hung like a sword above their heads.
A larger territory was a good thing.
But could this formation withstand the towering wrath of a First-Rank sect?
This was a colossus guarded by many Tribulation Transcending quasi-emperors!
...
Walls have ears.
The news that Jiang Ling, Sect Master of the Primordial Beginning Sect, had led a night attack on the Shadow Demon Sect and wiped it out spread like wildfire across the Northern Border Wasteland.
The entire region exploded!
"Hiss! The Primordial Beginning Sect? That ragged little sect on the verge of collapse? Destroyed the Shadow Demon Sect? You're pulling my leg!"
"It's absolutely true! Someone saw them coming back with a group of half-dead people!"
"Ancestor Bloodshadow of the Shadow Demon Sect was a newly-advanced Nascent Soul! How could the Primordial Beginning Sect have that kind of power?!"
"Power my ass! If they were this strong, why didn't they act sooner? I say they used some dirty trick!"
"That's not the point! Who's backing the Shadow Demon Sect? Black Wind Ridge! The Primordial Beginning Sect is digging its own grave!"
"..."
Those in the know, like the Nether Valley not far from the Shadow Demon Sect, rejoiced. Valley Master Yin Li Zhenren clapped his legs in delight when he heard the news, letting out night-owl-like cackles.
"Jie jie jie! Excellent!
Those lackeys of Black Wind Ridge, the Shadow Demon Sect, bullied others with their backing and stole my Yin Sha lands! Good death! Well died!
You fools of the Primordial Beginning Sect think you got a bargain?
Hahaha, just you wait!
When the big shots of Black Wind Ridge arrive, one breath and that lousy sect will be wiped off the map.
And then… hehehe…"
He was already scheming to seize the Primordial Beginning Sect's lands after it was destroyed.
The three-day deadline passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, above Falling Sparrow Ridge, the originally clear sky suddenly darkened.
A suffocating pressure descended like a tangible force.
Space twisted slightly, and a figure in black robes, with an arrogant and gloomy face, appeared out of thin air. The aura radiating from his body was as deep as an abyss, as cold as a prison—he was unmistakably a Union Realm Venerable!
This was Venerable Yin Gu, the deacon sent by Black Wind Ridge to "collect the goods".
"Hm? What is the meaning of this?"
Venerable Yin Gu's divine sense swept over the ruins of the Shadow Demon Sect like a storm. Surprise flashed in his eyes, then turned into towering rage.
"Whoever you are, dare to slaughter a branch of Black Wind Ridge and abduct my blood livestock and cauldron maidens… your entire clan shall be executed!"
Muscles twitched on Venerable Yin Gu's face, his killing intent almost solidifying. His voice cut through the sky like the bitter wind of the netherworld.
His eyes flashed like lightning, instantly locking onto a spy hiding his aura and trembling in the distance.
A huge hand grabbed at him through the air!
"Aah!"
The spy was lifted into the air like a chick, scared out of his wits.
"Speak! Who did this?!"
Venerable Yin Gu's voice was icy cold.
The spy burst into tears, his words tumbling over each other: "I-it was the Primordial Beginning Sect! Venerable, have mercy, this has nothing to do with our Nether Valley!"
"Primordial Beginning Sect?"
Venerable Yin Gu's killing intent exploded. "Good! Very good! A mere ant dares to touch Black Wind Ridge's property! Today, this sovereign will flatten your Primordial Beginning Sect—not a chicken or dog will be left alive!"
He casually tossed the terrified Nether Valley spy aside like trash, took a step forward, and vanished on the spot.
Venerable Yin Gu's arrival and his undisguised, terrifying pressure had long alerted all cultivators within a thousand li.
Countless visible and invisible eyes converged from all directions. Many bold cultivators flew straight toward the Primordial Beginning Sect, ready to watch this utterly one-sided massacre up close.
"It's over! A Venerable from Black Wind Ridge has come personally! Union Realm! The Primordial Beginning Sect is doomed!"
"Hmph, overestimating their own strength, provoking Black Wind Ridge—they brought ruin on themselves!"
"Look! The Primordial Beginning Sect's formation is activating!"
"I bet one spirit stone that lousy shield won't even last one finger strike from the Venerable!"
Venerable Yin Gu moved fast. In an instant, he arrived outside the Primordial Beginning Sect's mountain gate.
In everyone's eyes, the entire sect was completely undefended. The two mountain-protecting spirit beasts lay lazily under the archway, completely oblivious to his arrival.
Only the mountain-protecting grand formation silently activated, shrouding the entire sect. That black-and-yellow light barrier was plain and unadorned, even a little shabby-looking.
"The Primordial Beginning Sect is dead meat! They don't even know an enemy is at their door. This battle will be without suspense."
"A Union Realm expert makes a move—the whole sect will be razed to the ground. What a waste, just when they were starting to get somewhere…"
"The Primordial Beginning Sect got too arrogant. They killed Fellow Daoist Yu Jizi and Ancestor Bloodshadow by some means and thought they were invincible. Now they've brought a massacre on their own heads. They deserve it."
Voices rose from the distance—some regretful, some gloating, all kinds.
Venerable Yin Gu sneered arrogantly.
Black Wind Ridge was the overlord of the entire Border Wasteland, its orders obeyed by all! Who dared defy them?
He folded his hands behind his back, stepped forward, and landed before the Primordial Beginning Sect's mountain archway.
Looking at the calm, unmoving sect before him, and the two small-bodied mountain guards that did not even notice his arrival, Venerable Yin Gu's eyes flickered with disdain.
Not even sensing his arrival—this sect clearly had no experts. He could erase it with a wave of his hand.
"Who is the Sect Master of the Primordial Beginning Sect? Come forth and die!"
Venerable Yin Gu shouted coldly.
Yet…
Only silence answered him.
The two gate-guard spirit beasts seemed to be asleep, not moving an inch. Not even a ripple stirred on the mountain-protecting grand formation.