What?
Wu Tian’s two sons are dead as well?
Several Saint-level powerhouses exchanged glances, the same chilling thought rising in all their minds at once. Could it be that every genius who entered the Undying Mountain this time has perished?
An Zaitian suddenly spoke. “Do you think it might have been the work of someone from Chaos Holy Land?”
Toppling Cloud Crane shook his head. “We are allies with Chaos Holy Land. They have no reason to kill our people.”
“Moreover, the disciple Chaos Holy Land sent into the Undying Mountain this time was Yao Meng. That girl could never have defeated my grandson Toppling Xiong…”
Before he could finish, a rift tore open in the void. A beautiful middle-aged woman stepped out silently.
She wore a sheer, onion-green silk gown that revealed generous expanses of skin. On her feet were soft-soled shoes embroidered with pearls, exquisitely delicate. A red jade hairpin was thrust at an angle through her hair, and she held a round peony ruyi fan. A smile played on her lips, and her waist swayed enticingly as she walked, still radiating mature charm.
“Lady Nangong of Chaos Holy Land has arrived!”
While reminding the others, Toppling Cloud Crane’s eyes remained fixed on the woman, a strange glint flashing across them.
When the woman saw Infinite Heavenly Venerable and the other Saint powerhouses, surprise flickered in her eyes. Then her face blossomed into a radiant smile. “I never expected the supreme opportunity of the Undying Mountain to draw out all you old monsters.”
“Nangong Jingyun greets the Heavenly Venerable and all fellow Daoists.”
With that, she bent slightly in courteous salute.
The instant she bowed, a deep, pale valley appeared at her neckline. Even the ever-expressionless Infinite Heavenly Venerable felt his heart jolt, half-afraid the magnificent pair might leap free.
“It has been far too long, Immortal Lady. You grow more beautiful by the day,” An Zaitian said.
“Brother An flatters me. I am already old. The word ‘beautiful’ no longer has anything to do with me.” As Nangong Jingyun spoke, she lifted a slender finger, playfully twirling a lock of hair by her ear, striking a coy pose.
Toppling Cloud Crane stepped forward. “Immortal Lady, you mustn’t be modest.”
“When you were young you ranked on the Heavenly Immortal List. Though you are a little older now, you have gained the refined elegance that only time can bestow. No young girl today can compare.”
“In my heart, you are forever the most beautiful.”
Nangong Jingyun rolled her eyes at him and laughed seductively. “You old rogue. After all these years your tongue is still honeyed. I wonder how many more girls you’ve sweet-talked.”
“You wound me, Immortal Lady. My heart has room for you alone,” Toppling Cloud Crane declared shamelessly.
“Hmph. If I am the only one in your heart, then why did you marry another woman?” Nangong Jingyun gave a delicate snort, then continued. “If I remember correctly, your grandson Toppling Xiong entered the Undying Mountain this time. Tell me, did he obtain the supreme opportunity?”
She had to mention the sorest spot.
Toppling Cloud Crane instantly fell silent, his expression turning cold.
“Did I say something wrong?” Nangong Jingyun asked, puzzled.
At that moment, Infinite Heavenly Venerable turned to her. “Why have you come?”
Nangong Jingyun did not dare act presumptuously before him. “Heavenly Venerable may not know, but Chaos Holy Land sent one female disciple into the mountain this time. Her name is Yao Meng.”
“Not long ago, the elder guarding the soul lamps reported that Yao Meng’s lamp had gone out.”
“Since the supreme opportunity of the Undying Mountain has appeared, I came to investigate.”
An Zaitian exclaimed in shock, “Yao Meng is dead?”
“Yes,” Nangong Jingyun replied. “I don’t know which brazen junior dared to kill the holy maiden of our Chaos Holy Land. Hmph. They had better pray I never catch them, or I’ll flay them alive.”
An Zaitian was stunned.
He had previously suspected Yao Meng herself might be the culprit. Now it seemed she had met the same fate as An Ruoxi and the others.
Frowning deeply, An Zaitian said, “Just who possesses such terrifying strength to slaughter all the geniuses of our various sects?”
Nangong Jingyun asked, “Brother An, what do you mean by that?”
The Grand Elder of Primordial Holy Land, Li Chaohui, explained. “Immortal Lady Nangong, you arrived late and do not yet know. Jiang Wudao of the Yin-Yang Sect, Li Beihai of Primordial Holy Land, the grandsons of Brother An and Brother Toppling, and both of Wu Tian’s sons, all perished inside the Undying Mountain.”
What?
Nangong Jingyun’s expression changed.
Li Chaohui continued. “Add your Chaos Holy Land’s Yao Meng, and now the disciples of the Yin-Yang Sect, the Heaven-Mending Sect, and the three great holy lands have been completely wiped out.”
Nangong Jingyun immediately asked, “Then who obtained the supreme opportunity?”
“We do not know,” Li Chaohui said. “What we do know is that the disciples of our major sects are dead, and the supreme opportunity has fallen into someone else’s hands.”
Nangong Jingyun’s face grew grave. “Toppling Xiong, An Ruoxi, Jiang Wudao… they were all outstanding talents of the younger generation.”
“Who on earth killed them?”
“Heavenly Venerable, what are your thoughts?”
Infinite Heavenly Venerable answered, “This seat has three conjectures.”
“First, the culprit comes from Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
“Second, the culprit is from the demon race or the devil race.”
“Do not forget, every time the Undying Mountain manifests, demons and devils also enter.”
“It is even possible that the young powerhouses of the demon and devil races joined forces and picked off the geniuses of our sects one by one.”
Li Chaohui said, “I am more inclined to the Heavenly Venerable’s second conjecture.”
“There are many young powerhouses among the demons and devils, and they bear deep hatred for the human race, especially for our sects.”
“After all, for millions of years, whenever demons and devils were exterminated, our sects have never been absent.”
The others nodded repeatedly, finding Li Chaohui’s reasoning sound.
“As for the Heavenly Venerable’s first conjecture, I believe it requires further discussion.”
Li Chaohui continued. “Our sects have provoked Azure Cloud Sword Sect many times, yet they have remained huddled inside their gates. With that kind of timidity, they would not dare confront our combined forces.”
“Moreover, the leader Azure Cloud sent this time was Yun Xi. Although her cultivation is respectable, she is far from being a match for Jiang Wudao, An Ruoxi, and the others.”
“This matter should not be the work of Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
“By the way, Heavenly Venerable, your third conjecture is…”
Infinite Heavenly Venerable said, “This seat’s third conjecture is that Azure Cloud Sword Sect has already betrayed the human race and allied with the demons and devils.”
The moment he spoke, the entire area fell deathly silent.
“Although Azure Cloud Sword Sect is the foremost great sect of the Eastern Desolation, in recent years our sects have risen rapidly, and their position has become precarious. In order to preserve their status as the number one sect of the Eastern Desolation, it is highly likely they have joined forces with the demon and devil races.”
“Their goal is not only to seize the supreme opportunity of the Undying Mountain, but also to contend against our sects.”
“If this is truly the case, then our sects must strike first and raze Azure Cloud Sword Sect to the ground!”
For a time, Li Chaohui, An Zaitian, Toppling Cloud Crane, and Nangong Jingyun kept exchanging meaningful glances.
Then Li Chaohui spoke. “Heavenly Venerable, this is an extremely grave matter. I believe we must investigate thoroughly.”
“I have a proposal.”
“We remain here and wait. The moment anyone emerges from the Undying Mountain, we capture them immediately and interrogate them in detail to discover exactly what happened inside.”
“What do the rest of you think?”
An Zaitian said, “I find it feasible.”
Toppling Cloud Crane said, “I support Brother Li’s suggestion.”
Nangong Jingyun said, “I also think it workable.”
Wu Tian, who had been standing to the side, added, “When the time comes, all the seniors may remain here. I shall go and seize the person.”
Infinite Heavenly Venerable declared, “Since you all agree, then we shall proceed thus.”
At once, the several Saint-level powerhouses fixed their gazes upon the spatial rift of the Undying Mountain and waited in solemn silence.
