Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

’The Junior Sect Leader has been unconscious for half a month. Although he hasn’t woken up, his aura is gradually stabilizing, and it seems his injuries are healing. But... why haven’t we heard anything from the Sect?’

Upon learning that the Medicine King Valley had sent people, Cheng Boxuan grew extremely tense.

With Yang Xiao out of commission, he was their mainstay, and the current situation was clearly unfavorable for them.

This much was obvious from the change in the Celestial Cloud Kingdom’s Sovereign’s attitude after the people from Medicine King Valley arrived.

Before, he had been exceedingly cautious, not daring to show the slightest neglect.

Even after going to great lengths to gather a massive amount of Spirit Medicine, he hadn’t dared to utter a single word of complaint.

But now, he had grown subtly distant.

All his attention seemed to be fixed on the people from Medicine King Valley.

He even had a faint sense that this estate was being watched.

This left Cheng Boxuan deeply unsettled.

”Is Lord Cheng present?”

Just then, a voice drifted in from outside.

Cheng Boxuan and Qin Yan looked outside.

It was a young man.

The young man wore a Python Robe. He was the Crown Prince of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, Yun Chengxiao, and had come to pay his respects to them once before.

At that time, he had been extremely deferential.

However, the Sovereign of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom had always been the one to receive them personally, so they hadn’t seen the prince often.

The moment Cheng Boxuan saw the prince’s expression this time, his own face darkened.

”Ah, Lord Cheng, you’re both here. I assume you know that people from the Medicine King Valley have arrived?”

Yun Chengxiao said, his tone tinged with mockery.

His attitude caused the expressions of Cheng Boxuan and Qin Yan to darken further.

Previously, even the Sovereign of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom had addressed them warmly and repeatedly as ”Upper Envoy,” making himself appear quite humble.

But now, although Yun Chengxiao still addressed him as ”Lord Cheng,” it was a clear step down from the previous ”Upper Envoy.”

To say nothing of the fact that the Sovereign of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom hadn’t shown his face for two days.

Now, someone had finally come, but it was Yun Chengxiao—and with such an attitude.

Naturally, the expressions on Cheng Boxuan and Qin Yan were grim.

”People from the Medicine King Valley are here? That’s wonderful news. Our Purple Sun Sect is a vassal of the Medicine King Valley, and we were heading there anyway. Now that they’ve sent people, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to meet them,” Cheng Boxuan suddenly said.

As soon as he said this, the color drained from Yun Chengxiao’s face.

He clearly hadn’t expected Cheng Boxuan to respond this way.

Just then, Cheng Boxuan spoke again. ”The Yun Family has ruled the Celestial Cloud Kingdom for quite a long time, haven’t they?”

His words carried a veiled threat.

Yun Chengxiao’s expression shifted once more.

Qin Yan, understanding the play, chimed in, ”As I recall, the Medicine King Valley is ninety thousand li from here, isn’t it? They certainly arrived quickly. They must be some brilliant talents, probably senior brothers at the Martial Arts Grandmaster Level? Not like us low-level Innate Realm cultivators; a trip like that would take us two or three months.”

”Not necessarily,” Cheng Boxuan countered. ”The Medicine King Valley, like our Purple Sun Sect, should have flying Barbaric Beasts. If they were really in a hurry, ten days would be more than enough.”

”True,” Qin Yan added. ”I just wonder if the Celestial Cloud Kingdom has any such flying beasts, Your Highness?”

As Cheng Boxuan and Qin Yan went back and forth, the color drained completely from Yun Chengxiao’s face.

He was abruptly reminded of a crucial fact.

No matter what their current predicament, these people were still from the Purple Sun Sect.

And the Celestial Cloud Kingdom was under the Purple Sun Sect’s dominion.

In the past, when the Red Flame Sect was still a threat, treating the Purple Sun Sect’s members this way might have been excusable.

After all, the Red Flame Sect could have annihilated the Purple Sun Sect and taken its place.

But now... all that had happened was that people from the Medicine King Valley—those who were close to the Red Flame Sect—had arrived. They might punish these few from the Purple Sun Sect.

But no matter how severe the incident, once it was over, the Medicine King Valley would no longer concern itself with matters here.

And their Celestial Cloud Kingdom would still be under the Purple Sun Sect’s jurisdiction.

Whether they lived or died would depend entirely on a whim of the Sect.

’I’d better be more polite.’

”Emissary, what are you saying? Our Celestial Cloud Kingdom is but a small, mortal nation. How could we possibly possess such divine flying beasts?”

Yun Chengxiao’s attitude instantly became servile.

”Alright, there’s no need to be so humble,” Cheng Boxuan said, waving it off. ”Just tell us. Why did you come looking for us?”

Cheng Boxuan paid little mind to such a sycophant.

It was enough to put people like him in their place and remind them of their limits.

Cheng Boxuan couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him.

”To answer the emissary, the envoys from the Medicine King Valley wish to see you. It seems to be related to the matter with the Red Flame Sect,” Yun Chengxiao said.

This time, there was not a hint of gloating in his voice.

At least, none that could be perceived on the surface.

”The Red Flame Sect? Very well. Qin Yan, you stay here and look after the Junior Sect Leader. I’ll go meet with our senior brothers from the Medicine King Valley.”

Cheng Boxuan instructed.

Then he left with Yun Chengxiao.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the main hall of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom.

A large crowd had already gathered there.

The royals and nobles of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom were present, most of whom Cheng Boxuan had met over the past few days.

An Innate Realm Martial Artist’s memory was excellent.

They possessed an almost photographic memory.

So naturally, he recognized everyone.

In addition, there were some people Cheng Boxuan didn’t recognize.

These individuals wore dark, greenish-black robes embroidered with the words ”Medicine King.”

The design was quite imposing.

They were, without a doubt, disciples from the Medicine King Valley.

”Royal Father, Emissary Cheng is here.”

The two entered the hall, but no one paid them any attention.

Yun Chengxiao spoke up, somewhat awkwardly.

Clearly, the earlier words from Cheng Boxuan and Qin Yan had made an impression on him.

He didn’t want to create a true feud with the Purple Sun Sect.

”Emissary? A member of the mere Purple Sun Sect dares to be called an emissary?”

However, before he could finish, one of the Medicine King Valley disciples cut in arrogantly.

The moment he spoke, Yun Haitian forced a placating smile. ”Emissary Zou is correct. The Purple Sun Sect is a vassal of your esteemed Sect. With disciples of your great Sect present, he naturally cannot be called an emissary.”

”Royal Father, the Purple Sun Sect is, after all, the Dominator Sect of our Celestial Cloud Kingdom; it would be unwise to neglect them. Of course, compared to the Medicine King Valley, Emissary Cheng is indeed of a lower station than Emissary Zou. Your son feels it would be best to address Emissary Zou and his fellows as ’Venerable Emissaries.’ What do you think?”

Yun Chengxiao’s words made Yun Haitian furrow his brow.

He didn’t understand what was going on with his son.

But after a glance and a moment of thought, he immediately understood the boy’s intention.

He quickly nodded and said, ”Indeed, my son is quite thoughtful. Venerable Emissary Zou, you see that Emissary Cheng has arrived. What instructions do you have?”

”Instructions? Of course. You, Cheng! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re in?” the disciple surnamed Zou said coldly.

”I do not,” Cheng Boxuan replied coolly, his displeasure at the other’s condescending attitude evident.

”Quite the attitude,” another Medicine King Valley disciple sneered. ”I wonder if you’ll still have it once we get to the Medicine King Valley.”

”Go to the Medicine King Valley?”

”That’s right. You killed Elder Yan and so many of our martial brothers. Did you think you could escape? Besides, from what I hear, you were heading to the Medicine King Valley anyway, weren’t you?”

The disciple surnamed Zou let out a derisive laugh.

”Elder Yan? What Elder Yan? This is a matter I must report to my Sect before any decision can be made…”

Cheng Boxuan knew this was bad news and was naturally unwilling to agree.

”A decision? What decision is there to make? We’ve already sent a message to the Purple Sun Sect. Otherwise, after such a major incident, why do you think no one has come forward? Now, pack your things and come with us. If you try any funny business…”

”...you’ll live to regret it!”

The Medicine King Valley disciples chimed in one after another, causing Cheng Boxuan’s expression to turn grim.

Now, however, he finally understood why the Purple Sun Sect hadn’t responded.

His heart sank.

’So be it. The odds are against us this time. But no matter what, I have to protect the Junior Sect Leader first.’

Having made up his mind, Cheng Boxuan could only agree.

Soon, the group from the Medicine King Valley was leading the trio of Yang Xiao, Cheng Boxuan, and Qin Yan south toward the Valley.

All this time, Yang Xiao remained unconscious.

「Seven or eight days later.」

Just as they were about to enter the Medicine King Valley.

Yang Xiao’s finger twitched.

At that same moment, his consciousness returned.