PHS Chapter 101 (Patreon)

Chapter 101: Welcoming the Old Ancestor Out of Seclusion

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Blazing Flame Sacred Land.

Atop a divine peak, the sacred bell—untouched for ten thousand years—rang out today.

The resonant sound echoed between the mountain peaks like rolling thunder.

Before long, all eight elders of the Blazing Flame Sacred Land had gathered within the Sect Master's grand hall. Each possessed a steady aura and supreme might, like eight dormant volcanoes contained within the hall, ready to erupt at any moment.

At the head of the hall sat a red-robed old man. As his eyes opened and closed, rays of crimson light streamed forth. His aura was as deep as an abyss, as vast as the sea—unfathomable. Divine light flowed around his body, and he possessed a terrifying authority that commanded respect without anger.

This was a master of the highest caliber. Judging by his aura, he stood on the verge of breaking through to the Saint realm.

"Junior Brothers, I trust you are all aware of the Sacred Lord's fall," the red-robed old man spoke first.

He was the Grand Elder of the Blazing Flame Sacred Land. With the other Grand Elders in seclusion and the Sacred Lord fallen, he held the highest authority—his words carrying the weight of law.

"Senior Brother, the Blazing Flame Sacred Land absolutely cannot let this matter rest!" a middle-aged man said in a deep voice.

For their own Sacred Lord to be killed was like having their faces slapped in public.

In the past ten thousand years, the killing of young prodigies had been countless, but the murder of a Sacred Lord from a Sacred Land had never once occurred.

Killing a prodigy and killing a Sacred Lord were two entirely different matters.

Any sect with a shred of pride, upon learning of their Sacred Lord's death, would surely seek vengeance to the bitter end.

What's more, their Blazing Flame Sacred Land had lost not only a Sacred Lord but a Sacred Son as well. The most talented individuals of two generations had been snuffed out in one stroke.

No one could tolerate such a thing.

"Indeed!"

As the middle-aged man's words fell, two others immediately nodded in agreement, their faces filled with fury.

The Blazing Flame Sacred Land had kept a relatively low profile in recent years, but low-key did not mean weak. If they were to unleash their full power, few forces in this world could contend with them.

"The Blazing Flame Sacred Land will naturally not let this matter rest, but our most urgent task is to discover who was behind it!" the Grand Elder declared.

"In the past thousand years, the Blazing Flame Sacred Land has made no enemies among the other powers," an elder said, shaking his head slightly.

"I don't know who acted from the shadows, but five days ago, I witnessed the Sacred Lord and the Sacred Son piloting a divine ark toward Great Desolate City," another old man said, stroking his beard.

"Great Desolate City?"

Many expressions shifted.

In previous years, the name "Great Desolate City" might have been unknown to many elders. After all, Great Desolate City was too insignificant—so small it could be ignored.

But times had changed.

The appearance of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets had cast a layer of mystery over the small city.

Every major power was sending people to Great Desolate City, seeking to uncover the secrets hidden within the Pavilion, and many sought to purchase information. At this juncture, for their Sacred Lord to travel to Great Desolate City, he must have been heading to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.

"Five days..."

The Grand Elder's expression grew contemplative.

The Blazing Flame Sacred Land wasn't far from Great Desolate City. Five days was enough time to reach it. Based on this timeline, their Sacred Lord had very likely died near the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.

Had the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets acted?

The thought had barely formed when the Grand Elder dismissed it. Their Blazing Flame Sacred Land and the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets did not quarrel whatsoever—no interaction at all.

There was no reason for them to kill their Sacred Lord.

Moreover, the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets operated as a business. Killing a Sacred Lord would bring no benefit to the Pavilion Master, only endless trouble.

The atmosphere in the grand hall grew heavy.

After a long silence, the Grand Elder spoke again.

"Within Great Desolate City, there is only the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. The Sacred Lord's purpose—even without saying it—you Junior Brothers should understand."

"The Sacred Lord was not far from the Saint realm. His purpose in going to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets isn't difficult to guess," an elder said with a nod.

Having witnessed Ren Qingtu and Yang Qiu achieve Sainthood, it was only natural that the Sacred Lord, with his competitive nature, would want to follow suit and become a Saint.

"The Ancestor has not yet emerged from seclusion. Right now, someone needs to make a trip to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets to investigate the truth of this matter. Which Junior Brother is willing to go?" the Grand Elder asked.

This...

As the Grand Elder's words fell, many fell into contemplation.

The Sacred Lord's death was a momentous event, and he had perished near the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. Everyone knew how dangerous that place had become. Whoever could kill the Sacred Lord could naturally kill them—the elders—as well.

Unless a Grand Elder made the trip, it would be far safer. But the Grand Elders had not yet emerged from seclusion, so this burden could only fall on one of them.

"I'll make the trip," a young man volunteered. He appeared to be in his early twenties, but his eyes held the weight of ages, as if he had witnessed empires rise and fall.

"I must trouble you, Third Junior Brother. Be careful on your journey," the Grand Elder instructed.

The one who had killed the Sacred Lord might not have gone far, or might not have left at all. For the Third Junior Brother to venture forth, his fate was uncertain.

"I understand, Senior Brother," the young man replied, then turned and departed.

After watching him leave, the Grand Elder rose and declared in a deep voice:

"Junior Brothers, please follow me to the rear mountain to welcome the Ancestor out of seclusion!"

This time, no matter who had acted against the Sacred Lord in the shadows, their Blazing Flame Sacred Land would not let the matter rest!

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