Three Families Relocate, Righteous and Demonic Forces Converge
The same scene was unfolding across the other nine great sects of the righteous path.
Though Qin Changqing had repeatedly warned them, some disciples couldn't withstand the pressure from their elders and spilled the secret.
"A mysterious black-robed figure? Capable of freely traversing the secret realm?"
"This person has done our Taixuan Sect a great service. We don't know his true identity, but he rescued so many righteous disciples—could he be one of ours from the Ten Sects?"
"His cultivation is unfathomably deep. Even a Soul Transformation Heavenly Lord couldn't enter the secret realm without shattering it, yet he comes and goes at will. Could it be... hiss!"
Every sect was speculating about the black-robed man's identity, but none could guess who he truly was.
Meanwhile, the higher-ups of the four demonic sects had gathered at Ghost King Sect.
"This black-robed bastard is infuriating! He slaughtered so many of our disciples—I want to flay him alive, grind his bones to dust, and scatter his ashes!"
"Moon Demon Sect suffered the heaviest losses. Sect Master, this guy must be from the Ten Sects. If we don't eliminate him, he'll be a major threat down the line!"
"Exactly, Sect Master. We have to kill him!"
The demonic cultivators brimmed with murderous intent, shouting one after another.
Ghost King Sect's Sect Master sneered. "Kill him? Do any of you even know who he is or where he is right now?"
The room fell silent, a wave of helplessness washing over them.
They were all talk—no one had a clue about the enemy's identity.
For now, the matter had to be set aside.
Suddenly, an elder from Moon Demon Sect sent a transmission. "Sect Master, I discovered something intriguing during this grand competition."
Moon Demon Sect's Sect Master raised an eyebrow. "Speak!"
"Our spies embedded there reported that many of the Ten Sects' genius disciples share the surname Qin. I've already sent people to investigate—they all hail from a small cultivation clan in Jing Kingdom: the Qin family of Xianyang Mountain!"
"Such a thing exists?" Moon Demon Sect's Sect Master perked up with interest.
"Most of these Qin disciples possess upper-grade spiritual roots, some even top-grade. They're exceptionally talented. This Xianyang Mountain Qin family must have something extraordinary to produce so many premium immortal seedlings. Why not capture them all? It would cut off the Ten Sects' roots from another angle."
Moon Demon Sect's Sect Master lit up with joy. "Well said, Elder!!"
His ecstatic expression drew puzzled looks from the others.
With the demonic path currently at a disadvantage, the four sects banding together against the righteous Ten Sects, he didn't hide it and shared the full story.
The others grew excited too. "This is a crucial discovery. No time to waste—let's send people immediately!"
Each sect promptly dispatched a few elders and stewards. Wiping out a minor cultivation family didn't require a massive force; making a big show would only draw unwanted attention.
Ever since the trial ended and the sects departed, Taiclear Sect had been monitoring their movements closely. They knew the grand competition had exposed some clues, piquing the interest of the other nine sects.
"Sect Leader Martial Brother, something's off near the three families lately. There seem to be more unfamiliar cultivators lurking in the shadows—I'm afraid we've been exposed!"
Elder Cao Feng stepped forward to report.
Liu Qinghui frowned. "It seems they've grown suspicious. We can't delay any longer. Send people at once to bring all three families into the sect. Qin Changqing's abilities must remain hidden from them at all costs!"
"Those three families are utterly foolish! If they'd just sent all their children to Taiclear Sect from the start, none of this would have happened."
The elders fumed in frustration, but with things as they were, they could only clean up the mess quickly.
Soon, a streak of flowing light shot from Taiclear Sect's gates, vanishing into the distance.
Xianyang Mountain, Qin family.
"What's going on? Why has the family head called everyone together?"
"No idea, but the family head looked a bit tense."
The crowd gathered in the rear courtyard, buzzing with speculation.
Suddenly, several streaks of light descended into the yard. Led by Cao Feng, six Taiclear Sect elders appeared alongside Qin Zhengyang.
"What's this? Who are they?"
"Never seen them before. Why have even the old ancestors come out? And they're acting so deferential and fearful toward them?"
Cao Feng said calmly, "Is everyone here?"
"Reporting to Elder Cao—all family members are present!" Qin Zhengyang bowed respectfully.
Bitter resignation filled their hearts. The Taiclear Sect elders had already explained everything. Refusing to go meant forcing Taiclear Sect to silence them.
Qin Changqing's secret was something Taiclear Sect would never allow other sects to learn.
Wasting no time, Elder Cao Feng waved his hand. A massive white jade flying boat expanded rapidly, hovering in the air above the courtyard.
"Everyone, board immediately—quickly!" Elder Cao Feng barked.
Chaos erupted among the Qin family members. "Why do we have to board? Where are they taking us?"
Qin Zhengyang and the Foundation Establishment elders shouted coldly, "Obey Elder Cao's orders! Everyone, board the ship now!"
Most didn't know the newcomers' identities. In times like these, the family head and ancestors' words carried more weight. The murmurs died down as everyone boarded.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from midair.
"Brother Cao, where are you taking all these low-level cultivators?"
As he spoke, the Qin family's grand protective array shattered in an instant. Five figures materialized overhead.
Cao Feng and the others paled. "Yuan Zhen!"
Yuan Zhen was an outer sect elder of Taixuan Sect, also a Nascent Soul True Lord like Cao Feng—their strengths were evenly matched.
"Heavens, who are these people? Their spiritual pressure is terrifying—I can barely breathe!"
"Even the Huang family's Core Formation ancestor wasn't this scary last time. Could they be... Nascent Soul True Lords?!"
"Why would Nascent Soul True Lords come to our Qin family? This doesn't make sense!"
The Qin family members looked up, faces drained of color.
Cao Feng's mind raced. He cupped his hands with a smile. "These people share some ties with me. Brother Yuan knows the demonic cultivators have been stirring again lately—I'm just taking precautions."
Yuan Zhen let out an oh, smirking faintly. "No matter how brazen the demonic cultivators get, do they really warrant targeting a tiny cultivation family? Isn't Brother Cao being a bit overly cautious?"
Cao Feng's brow furrowed as he prepared to explain. Then, dozens more streaks of light shot in from all directions, hovering above the Qin family and sealing off the area.
Damn it!
Cao Feng and his group realized things had gone south—these guys had arrived far too quickly.
Little did they know, the other nine great sects had long stationed watchers here. Sensing something amiss, they'd rushed to intercept.
Already present were representatives from five major sects, all led by their elders and stewards—clearly treating this with utmost seriousness.
"Brother Cao, the demonics make a little noise and you panic like this? That's not like you."
"Sigh, Brother Cao's concerns aren't unfounded. Since we're all here, why not have us escort you together? More protection that way—what do you say, Brother Cao?"
The five sects' elders exchanged glances, piecing together each other's intentions. They'd only suspected before, but Taiclear Sect's frantic relocation of the Qin disciples confirmed their hunch.
How could Cao Feng not see through their scheme? They just wanted to tag along under the guise of protection to probe the Qin family's secrets and uncover what Taiclear Sect was hiding.
"This is my personal matter. No need to trouble you all, fellow daoists—please make way."
Cao Feng moved to activate the white jade flying boat and depart.
"We're doing this out of goodwill, Brother Cao. Turning us down like this is a bit ungracious, don't you think?"
Yuan Zhen's face darkened slightly. He flicked his sleeve, and the four behind him spread out. The other four sects' elders signaled each other, subtly encircling Cao Feng.
Cao Feng's expression turned ugly, anxiety gnawing at him, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
Suddenly, a mass of blood-red mist hurtled in from the distant horizon, arriving above the crowd in a blink. Eerie laughter echoed through the air.
"Kekeke, what a lively gathering! Greetings, everyone—hope I'm not intruding!"
The blood mist dispersed, revealing over a dozen demonic cultivators clad in garish robes.