C1354 Return
C1354 Return
Yet, the individual they were now facing appeared to be at the pinnacle of Emperor Level—a rarity even within the ranks of the Devil Cloud Sect. They found themselves with limited options to counter such a powerhouse.
Unless this individual ventured to the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters, they would have to dispatch several of their own peak Emperor Level Martial Cultivators. The last time the other five major forces banded together to assault the Sect's base, they were caught in an ambush. The Devil Cloud Sect's protective formation decimated over half their numbers, a grim testament to the Sect's fearsome might.
Since that decisive battle, no Martial Cultivator from the other forces dared to come near the Devil Cloud Sect's stronghold. Yet, this very incident had also deepened the other five forces' loathing for the Devil Cloud Sect, their resentment boiling over.
Normally, Emperor Level Martial Cultivators would be countered with adversaries of equal standing. However, should the Grand Elder dare to leave the Sect's headquarters, the five forces would surely not squander such a golden opportunity. If a one-on-one confrontation proved insufficient, they would resort to outnumbering and besieging the target.
Thus, despite their rage, the Devil Cloud Sect's leaders had to temporarily contain their fury and plan their next move. They needed to ascertain the whereabouts of their adversary before considering alternative strategies.
Meanwhile, the other five forces were dispatching their underlings to forge alliances, recognizing the value of a peak Emperor Level cultivator. The excessively brutal martial arts of their opponent, akin to the Demon Force, were conveniently overlooked by all six forces.
The Devil Cloud Sect was universally acknowledged as the embodiment of the Demon Force. The other five forces, while claiming the mantle of righteousness, did so only in comparison to the Devil Cloud Sect. In truth, they were not the paragons of virtue they claimed to be, but rather occupied a middle ground, slightly less brutal. Nonetheless, they remained aloof, indifferent to the lives of the common people and lower-level Martial Cultivators.
The conflict that erupted here was a clear indicator of how the five major powers would perform. Among them were high-level martial artists who practiced the Demon Force, which was not an uncommon sight. Lin Xuan's approach was hardly surprising to anyone; as long as he aligned himself with their interests, that was all that mattered. Yet, what they hadn't anticipated was that Lin Xuan wouldn't be taking sides this time around. Instead, he intended to have everyone join forces with him.
Lin Xuan moved with incredible speed, showing little concern for the other forces' intentions, and consequently, he made no contact with the five major powers. In under two hours, he had reached the Tianyuan Palace, the new power he had established in the Southern Warm Mountain Range. This was the utmost speed he could achieve. Even if Lin Xuan were to rip through the Void or propel a High-grade Emperor Level Flying Ship to its limits, he couldn't travel any faster.
A year ago, the journey from Fengwu State to the Elemental Spirit Sect took several days, despite crossing only half of the continent. The distance wasn't much different, but their cultivation levels at the time were worlds apart. Back then, they were merely at the Elemental Sea Stage, several major realms below the Martial King Stage. Upon leaving Fengwu State, they went from being mid-tier to lower-tier. Without the guidance of Murong Xingyue, a core disciple of the Elemental Spirit Sect, traversing such an immense and perilous distance would have been impossible.
Despite Murong Xingyue's esteemed position as a disciple of the Peak Master, with the Elemental Spirit Imperial Order in hand to command respect from all quarters, their influence was limited. Ultimately, they lacked the presence of a King Level Martial Cultivator and were not at liberty to do as they wished. They had to abide by the rules, queuing up and proceeding one by one in each city they visited. If they encountered a particularly welcoming host, they were obliged to stay awhile. Back then, they were in no position to turn anyone away.
Consequently, a great deal of time had been squandered.
But now, Lin Xuan had no interest in idle chatter or forging new friendships. His prowess on the Dongyuan Continent was such that he feared no martial cultivator or power. Such connections were superfluous to him.
Upon arriving at any location, he would command his Martial Puppet to exert the peak Emperor Level pressure, swiftly subduing everyone present. He made forceful use of the teleportation formations, encountering virtually no delays.
Even the six great forces could not hinder his progress. This approach ensured maximum efficiency.
They made it back in just over an hour.
Shortly thereafter, Lin Xuan located the unnamed valley.
Shrouded by a spell formation, the valley appeared indistinguishable from any ordinary one from the outside, its true nature completely concealed within.
Of course, this ruse could only fool those at the King Level. An Emperor Level Martial Cultivator would see through it in an instant.
Lin Xuan had never intended to deceive those of the Emperor Level. Compared to the Dongyuan State, where the Elemental Spirit Sect resided, this region was exceedingly remote. Here, King Level Martial Cultivators were scarce, let alone those of the Emperor Level.
Before departing, Lin Xuan had even captured several King Level Demonic Beasts from deep within the Southern Warm Mountain Range to stand guard in the vicinity, ensuring the area's security.
Indeed, everything was as Lin Xuan had anticipated. The valley remained tranquil, unchanged from when he had left it. It seemed untouched by the wars ravaging the continent.
Yet Lin Xuan was aware that this peace was fleeting. The Devil Cloud Sect's relentless onslaught would inevitably reach this place. Moreover, throughout his journey, Lin Xuan had made no effort to conceal his tracks, prioritizing speed above all else. His actions, especially at the peak of the Emperor Level, had drawn the attention of the six great forces. It was unlikely that this tranquility would last.
However, Lin Xuan had made his choices with the resolve to restore order. He was determined to snuff out the flames of war before they could spread any further. Now, he possessed the strength required to achieve just that.
"Roar! Roar!"
"Chirp! Chirp!"
A thunderous cacophony of beastly roars echoed through the air. Three gargantuan demonic beasts, each spanning dozens of meters, charged from beneath the earth, across the land, and down from the heavens. They were the Violent Mighty Ape, the Gale Wind Eagle, and the Scarlet Flame Mountain Rock Lizard—all King Level demonic beasts.
These formidable creatures had been captured by Lin Xuan before his departure, specifically to serve as guardians of the Tianyuan Palace. Now, with Lin Xuan's return, they revealed themselves. Yet, before he could even approach, while still hundreds of meters away, the trio was already prostrate on the ground, shivering with terror, exuding an air of utter submission.
Unbeknownst to them, Tian had stealthily swept across the sky and perched atop the Gale Wind Eagle. Possessing the True Dragon Bloodline and standing at the pinnacle of the Emperor Level, Tian exerted an overwhelming dominance over the three Emperor Level demonic beasts, who found themselves utterly incapable of resistance.
Lin Xuan, observing the scene, allowed himself a smile and chose not to intervene. As long as Tian refrained from devouring the three King Level demonic beasts, all was well. It could have its fun. The disturbance, of course, did not go unnoticed, drawing the attention of everyone within the valley.