Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

「Northern Wilderness Forest.」

「Profound Celestial Sect Encampment.」

Xuan Shangqing’s expression was grim, as dark as the bottom of a pot.

The aura around him was oppressive.

A number of people stood by his side.

A quick count revealed at least twenty or thirty of them.

The auras of these people were surprisingly no weaker than those who had gone to kill Yang Xiao; they were all experts at the High-Tier Martial Saint level.

This just went to show the Profound Celestial Sect’s deep foundation.

”Elder Yun, Qinghan, and Jiuhe—three True Tier Ninth Layer experts—are all dead. So are the ten late-stage True Tier experts who followed them. What do you all make of this?”

Xuan Shangqing said somberly.

Although he was only at the Peak of Profound Tier—equivalent to a Half-Step Martial Saint—he was the Sect Leader. And with the backing of a Half-Step Law Realm ancestor, these Sect experts, themselves equivalent to High-Tier Martial Saints, were all extremely respectful toward him.

Of course, Xuan Shangqing was usually very tactful in his interactions.

The reason for his harsh tone today was simple: a plan, one a century in the making, had been ruined.

”With the strength of Elder Yun and his group, only two powers in the entire Celestial Cloud Region could have annihilated them.”

A white-robed elder stepped forward.

At the sight of this elder, a trace of reverence appeared in everyone’s eyes, Xuan Shangqing being no exception.

Like the deceased Elder Yun, he was an expert equivalent to a Martial Saint Peak, and in many respects, he was even a cut above Elder Yun.

He could almost be considered the number one person beneath the ancestor.

”Elder Lin, please speak.”

Thus, when he saw the man step forward, even Xuan Shangqing swept away his gloomy expression and spoke respectfully.

”The first, naturally, is the Pure Yang Sword Sect. Although the Pure Yang Sword Sect has suffered losses in recent years, those losses have only been to their absolute top tier and their younger generation. Their mid-to-high-tier strength, however, remains intact. Therefore, if they were dead set on taking down Elder Yun and his group, it would have been no problem at all.”

”And for not even a single person to escape, as was the case this time, I’m afraid the Pure Yang Sword Sect must have either used their Sect-guarding treasure, the Celestial Yang Sword, or that old fellow himself made a move.”

”Elder Lin is correct, but according to our Sect’s spies, the Pure Yang Sword Sect has been very quiet lately. There’s no sign of any of their experts having left.”

Xuan Shangqing said.

Elder Lin glanced at him but didn’t argue, continuing, ”Besides the Pure Yang Sword Sect, there is only one other power capable of this: the Lu Family.”

”The Lu Family?”

At these words, everyone’s expression changed.

The Lu Family was a name unfamiliar to ordinary people, and even to those in Martial Dao sects like the Pure Yang Sword Sect. To the Profound Celestial Sect, however, they were very familiar.

As a hidden Immortal Dao Sect, its Immortal Cultivators had to constantly guard against being discovered and killed by the Lu Family.

Fortunately, the Lu Family rarely appeared in the world, which was how the Profound Celestial Sect had managed to remain undiscovered.

Now, upon hearing Elder Lin suggest that the Lu Family might be responsible, everyone felt a dark cloud hanging over their heads.

”Hmph! So what if it was the Lu Family? Look at you, all spineless. As long as we succeed this time, open the northern passage, and lead the Immortal Dao Powerhouses from the outside in, what’s there to fear about dealing with the Lu Family?”

Xuan Shangqing felt fear in his heart as well, but as the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect, he couldn’t possibly show it.

Even more, he couldn’t let these men shrink back in fear.

”The Sect Leader is right. Compared to this little place of ours, the outside world is incomparably vast. Once we open the passage, the entire Celestial Cloud Region will belong to us Immortal Cultivators. We won’t have to hide anymore, and as for the Lu Family, their doom will be certain.”

”Exactly! So the most urgent task now is to proceed as planned. With Elder Yun and his group gone, our strength has been reduced by thirty percent. The plan against that old fellow from the Pure Yang Sword Sect can be postponed, but the plan involving the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion must be carried out. As long as this plan succeeds and the northern passage is opened, why would we fear a mere Pure Yang Sword Sect? Why would we fear the Lu Family?”

Xuan Shangqing’s words instantly jolted everyone present to their senses.

However, it was clear they were still afraid of the Lu Family.

No one suggested avenging Elder Yun and the others.

They even shelved the plan to assassinate the Pure Yang Sword Sect’s old ancestor.

Instead, they proposed to first proceed with the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion plan.

This was because that plan was under the full authority of Xuan Tianzhan and only involved young people under the age of thirty.

They wouldn’t have to lift a finger.

But if it succeeded, the benefits would be enormous. Not only would it solve all their crises, but it would also allow them to leave this small place.

Naturally, they were more than happy to agree.

Xuan Shangqing frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing more.

But soon, a sudden thought struck him.

His expression changed drastically.

”The Northern Wilderness Sword Order! One of the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders was in Elder Yun’s hands!”

At these words, the expressions of everyone present changed once again.

They all turned to look at Xuan Shangqing in unison.

Their eyes held clear dissatisfaction.

”What do we do now?”

someone asked.

”What else can we do? Go get it back! If we can’t retrieve it, the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion plan can’t proceed. When the Immortal Lord holds us accountable, how will we bear the consequences?”

”That’s right.”

”Sect Leader, you were in charge of this matter. That token Elder Yun had...?”

Even Elder Lin spoke up.

Xuan Shangqing glanced at him, gritted his teeth, and said, ”I will personally send someone to handle this matter. It will absolutely not delay the plan.”

”Good. With the Sect Leader’s assurance, we can rest easy.”

Elder Lin nodded.

Then, he left.

His attitude prompted the others to take their leave as well.

Seeing these men so obviously afraid of confronting the Lu Family, Xuan Shangqing was filled with bitter resentment.

But the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders had always been in his custody. Now that a problem had arisen, he had no choice but to solve it himself.

’Looks like I have no choice but to deploy Dark One and his team.’ Xuan Shangqing sighed softly, having made up his mind.

Not long after, several figures once again flickered out from the Profound Celestial Sect’s encampment.

This time, however, their departure wasn’t as grand and conspicuous as the last.

Instead, it was utterly silent.

Apart from a very few powerful individuals, no one noticed them at all.

「And at this very moment.」

Yang Xiao had already cleaned up the battlefield.

He had gone through the contents of the thirteen Storage Rings, sorting out the items that were useful to him.

There were also Spirit Medicines, materials, and other such things.

It had to be said, the people from the Profound Celestial Sect were truly wealthy. The loot from these thirteen Storage Rings was surprisingly greater than what Yang Xiao had gained from wiping out the Medicine King Valley.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much inside that Yang Xiao could use directly, like Star Secret Patterns or Ancient Spirit Medicines.

However, it was all excellent for developing the Carefree Sect.

Of course, Yang Xiao didn’t plan to keep it all for himself; he was prepared to give half to Lu Fangliang.

But Lu Fangliang refused.

Only after Yang Xiao insisted several times did Lu Fangliang finally nod, indicating he would pick out a few items.

But as he was picking,

his eyes suddenly lit up.

He selected a token from the pile.

It was, in fact, the Northern Wilderness Sword Order.