Cultivating with Top Enlightenment

Chapter 282: Chapter 162 Grand Elder

This time is different from the previous incident at the Southern Border Qing State base. Back then, whether it was the disguised Lei or the Fatty Elder, they were essentially among the top-ranking individuals, so there was no need for excessive interaction. They only needed to display a high-status demeanor to avoid most troubles.

However, this time, quite a few people at the Demon Sect headquarters can converse with Ghost Mask.

Ning Qi was mentally prepared and had asked Ghost Mask a lot about this matter. Nevertheless, the more one talks, the more mistakes one might make. Unexpectedly, before he had the chance to step into the Ten Thousand Flames Cave, he encountered someone.

Moreover, it was a candidate Saint Heir of considerable status.

He could only stop, for avoiding would seem deliberate.

The eyes under Ning Qi’s mask appeared somewhat indifferent, and he did not speak.

Jiang Tianlong had already approached, slightly cupping his hands, with a respectful smile: ”Why must Vice Sect Leader Ghost Mask be like this? I wonder what you think about the matter we discussed last time?”

Ning Qi was startled.

How could anyone know what exactly you talked about with Ghost Mask!

But then he quickly realized that, if Qin Yun was counted earlier, there were three candidate Saint Heirs in the Demon Sect. Now that Qin Yun had fallen from power, only Ye Qin and Jiang Tianlong remained to compete, and it had reached a feverish point. Naturally, Ghost Mask, who originally supported Qin Yun, became a coveted figure.

He still did not speak, but his gaze showed some slight changes and was no longer so indifferent.

Sure enough.

Jiang Tianlong immediately seized the opportunity: ”After all, Qin Yun is an outsider, so why are you so adamant about supporting him? If you are willing to help me ascend to the position of Saint Heir, should I become the Sect Leader in the future, the position of Grand Elder will be yours.”

He smiled and painted a rosy picture.

Ning Qi laughed coldly: ”Qin Yun is someone valued by the Grand Elder.”

He spoke very simply, but Jiang Tianlong’s expression immediately changed.

Ning Qi stepped forward, continuing downwards.

An immediate heat wave swept through, as a faint black aura emerged from his body, completely blocking it out. Within the cave, various fire-attributed exotic flowers and herbs glowed, providing little use but illuminating the intolerable heat.

Looking ahead, the cave was vast and high, with numerous crisscrossing passages leading everywhere, ingeniously designed.

Ning Qi was slightly amazed in his heart. He recognized the distinctive markings left by the Demon Sect, constantly discerning directions, occasionally stopping to wait, avoiding erupting flames. Although it was his first visit, he seemed quite familiar with the routes.

Jiang Tianlong followed beside him, and after a few times, he began to take the lead.

This was the custom of the Demon Sect, that if entering together, regardless of status, everyone had to show the ability to identify the markings, which was one of the measures to prevent outsiders from infiltrating.

Jiang Tianlong whispered: ”Vice Sect Leader, I know that your departure this time was for the matter of Lin Ruhua. Since you have returned alone, there must have been some setbacks. Why not reconsider and help me suppress Ye Qin? State your terms.”

He subtly revealed his own resourcefulness, as this matter was supposed to be extremely confidential.

Ning Qi raised an eyebrow, suddenly realizing that this candidate Saint Heir might not have encountered him by chance, but was specifically waiting here.

Ning Qi was about to speak.

Another wave of fluctuations came from the front, Jiang Tianlong’s expression changed, and he saw a bald young man striding forward from another direction. With a few black lines on his head, he looked full of murderous aura and was the other candidate Saint Heir, Ye Qin.

Ye Qin laughed in a deep voice: ”What a coincidence, I didn’t expect Younger Brother Jiang to return together with Vice Sect Leader Ghost Mask. It seems my sincerity still lacks.”

He implied something, while Jiang Tianlong merely snorted lightly.

The three moved forward.

Ye Qin respectfully bowed to Ning Qi, then said: ”Was Vice Sect Leader’s journey smooth? Did you meet the Elder of my Ye Family?”

He casually mentioned, also showing his strength. This was indirectly informing Ning Qi that he already knew the full plan this time, including Elder Ye leading the capture of Lin Ruhua and Jiang Baishan, Qin Yun’s assistance, and Ghost Mask’s secret supervision.

The two were here now, likely wanting to inquire about the outcome of this matter, as if Qin Yun returns, the competition among the three would continue, increasing variables.

They simply did not know that Ghost Mask had long been secretly replaced by Ning Qi.

Ning Qi glanced at the two emotionlessly: ”Do the two Saint Heirs want me to report to you? If that’s the case, why not join me in seeing the Grand Elder?”

Hearing the implicit cold anger in his words, the two hurriedly bowed: ”We wouldn’t dare.”

After all, Ghost Mask is now the Vice Sect Leader. Besides a few individuals, others must show respect when seeing him.

Ning Qi snorted coldly and marched ahead.

Having traversed such a long distance by now, it was estimated they had delved tens of miles underground. Occasionally, fierce flames flared up, but after passing through a particular turn, it became gradually safer. This was the safe area excavated by the predecessors of the Demon Sect through generations.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared before Ning Qi’s eyes, with dazzling crystal stones suspended from the ceiling like luminous pearls, resembling stars. The expansive underground world emerged before him, revealing meticulously regulated underground palaces, majestic and splendid, in close succession, becoming more luxurious as they approached the center.

He had already heard the description from Ghost Mask before, but seeing it firsthand still left him somewhat astonished.

The view before him resembled a subterranean Imperial Capital.

There were many people inside, rather than few.

Seeing the arrival of Ning Qi and the others, people immediately came forward to greet them. These were not the core high-ranking members of the Demon Sect but their servants. Their ancestors were initially brought to this place, forbidden to leave, and through generations of reproduction, most people by now did not know what the outside world looked like, or even that there was an outside world at all.