Chapter 326 - 295: The Venerables Gather

Chapter 326: Chapter 295: The Venerables Gather

Before they entered the Secret Realm, he had repeatedly instructed that man, Gu, not to bring any fifth-tier Spirit Beasts inside.

He thought the matter was foolproof.

But who could have known? Not only did that man Gu bring in a fifth-tier Spirit Beast, but he brought in three of them. It was simply unimaginable.

What they had thought to be a perfect plan was instantly shattered by the man’s unexpected attack.

Except for his uncle, Qian Ming, who managed to escape, every other member of the Helian Clan had been killed at the hands of that man, Gu.

’But how could that man, Gu, be so audacious? Does he not know the Patriarch is a powerful cultivator of the Manifestation Realm?’

’Does he really think he can escape from a Venerable of the Second Realm of Manifestation?’

Helian Yuyang’s brow furrowed.

Judging by the lightning-fast ruthlessness he’d shown—killing six members of the Helian Clan in an instant to silence them—this person was no reckless fool.

’Could it be that he has another backer?’

’Does the Hidden Clan he belongs to also have a powerful Manifestation Realm cultivator?’

A chill went down Helian Yuyang’s spine.

After some thought, he decided to pay You Changheng a visit.

"Young Master Helian, what brings you here at this hour?"

It was nighttime, and You Changheng had been meditating in his cultivation.

"Elder You, regarding Master Gu’s origins... do you truly not know, or are you merely feigning ignorance?"

Helian Yuyang said slowly.

"Oh? Did something happen in the Secret Realm?"

You Changheng detected something unusual in Helian Yuyang’s tone and asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Something did happen."

"In fact, shortly after they entered the Secret Realm, Master Gu launched a sudden attack and killed everyone inside!"

"Before he died, Changpeng used our clan’s secret technique to send a message back."

Helian Yuyang decided to stop holding back.

After all, the man named Gu would be out soon, and You Changheng would find out everything then anyway.

"Impossible! Few in the Three Flowers Realm are a match for Miao Yongshan!"

"There’s no way Master Gu could have killed him!"

Shocked, You Changheng couldn’t help but blurt it out.

"That may be true for a Three Flowers Realm cultivator, but what about fifth-tier Spirit Beasts?"

"By some unknown means, Master Gu brought three fifth-tier Spirit Beasts in with him!"

"Three fifth-tier Spirit Beasts?"

Even You Changheng couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

With three fifth-tier Spirit Beasts, forget Miao Yongshan—even he would have died in there.

"As for why Master Gu attacked, I believe you have a pretty good idea, Elder You."

"In truth, my Helian Clan had the same idea."

"However, that man Gu’s actions were highly unusual. I suspect a powerful Manifestation Realm cultivator will arrive when he emerges."

"So, Elder You, if you know something, it would be best to tell me now."

"Preparing in advance will benefit us both."

You Changheng fell silent as he listened to Helian Yuyang.

’Master Gu’s backing is the Divine Wood Sect. If a Manifestation Realm cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect were to come, it would surely be He Daozhen, who is in the Third Realm of Manifestation.’

’The Helian Clan’s Patriarch, Helian Shiping, is only in the Second Realm of Manifestation. He is no match for He Daozhen.’

’Our Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s Leader, Huyan Sea, will be coming as well, but he too is only a cultivator of the Second Realm of Manifestation.’

’The Helian Clan doesn’t know they’re about to face He Daozhen, so they probably won’t make any extra preparations.’

’But Huyan Sea knows He Daozhen is likely to appear, yet he still decided to make a move. He must have other preparations.’

After some consideration, You Changheng began to silently transmit his voice, communicating with the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect disciples who were lying in ambush nearby.

Helian Yuyang did not press him, merely waiting in silence.

After a long moment, You Changheng finally spoke.

"Young Master Helian, the truth is, Master Gu has a deep connection to the Divine Wood Sect."

"The Divine Wood Sect?"

Helian Yuyang’s expression changed.

Though it was said the Divine Wood Sect was suffering from a lack of new talent, He Daozhen was a powerful cultivator on the verge of ascension. His strength was not to be underestimated.

Putting the Divine Wood Sect aside, He Daozhen alone was not someone the Helian Clan could afford to provoke.

"What, is the Helian Clan getting cold feet?"

You Changheng said with a faint smile.

"A powerful cultivator on the brink of ascension... Who in this world would dare say they are not afraid?"

Helian Yuyang retorted coolly.

"In a real fight, few in the Cultivation Realm would be a match for He Daozhen."

"However, there is more to the Cultivation Realm than just fighting and killing."

"Our Sect Leader has sent word. He is willing to join forces with your Patriarch to stand against He Daozhen."

"Unless the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast isn’t in Master Gu’s possession. If it is, then no matter what, the Divine Wood Sect will have to pay a steep price to claim it."

You Changheng said coldly.

"I cannot make the decision on this matter. I must discuss it with my father before deciding."

Helian Yuyang didn’t dare agree lightly.

He clasped his hands in a salute and walked out.

Not long after, a vast aura suddenly descended upon the area.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

The surrounding Helian Clan Members all fell to their knees.

Helian Shiping no longer concealed his presence, appearing directly on the scene.

A moment later, another, incomparably powerful aura descended.

This person’s aura surpassed even Helian Shiping’s.

A burly, middle-aged Daoist was seen slowly descending from the sky.

This was none other than the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, Huyan Sea.

"Fellow Daoist Huyan, it has been a long time."

Looking at Huyan Sea, Helian Shiping couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He considered his own aptitude to be no worse than Huyan Sea’s, and their cultivation had once been on par.

But now, Huyan Sea had clearly surpassed him.

Though they were both in the Second Realm of Manifestation, Helian Shiping knew that if they were to truly fight, he would be no match for Huyan Sea.

The gap that had formed between them was, of course, largely due to their respective cultivation environments.

This was precisely why Helian Shiping now wanted the Helian Clan to return to the Cultivation Realm.

By remaining cooped up within their hidden Secret Realm, no matter how talented the Helian Clan’s disciples were, the best they could ever hope for was to reach his level.

And his own path of cultivation was already nearing its end.

Although he had reached the Second Realm of Manifestation, the prospect of reaching the Third Realm was hopelessly distant.

If not for this desperation, he would never have dared to join forces with Huyan Sea to bargain with He Daozhen.

Huyan Sea, on the other hand, had a very real hope of cultivating to the Third Realm.

’Now, as he prepares to face off against He Daozhen, who knows what other schemes he is plotting in the shadows.’

Still, no matter what Huyan Sea was planning, Helian Shiping was not afraid.

Worst case, the Helian Clan would just retreat back into their Secret Realm and wait a few hundred years.

"Sect Leader He, show yourself!"

Huyan Sea merely nodded at Helian Shiping before calling out to the sky in a resonant voice.

’What?’

’He Daozhen is already here?’

’How can I not sense him at all?’

Helian Shiping was inwardly shocked.

’Is the gap between me and them really this vast?’

CRACK!

As Huyan Sea’s voice faded, the trunk of a large tree a hundred meters in front of them suddenly split open.

A figure slowly emerged from within.

Upon seeing this, both Huyan Sea and Helian Shiping felt a profound sense of awe.

The two were certain that, until that very instant, the tree had been nothing more than an ordinary tree.

But by some unknown means, He Daozhen had used the tree to appear before them, traversing a distance of ten thousand miles in an instant.

They both possessed the ability of a Ten Thousand Miles Manifestation, but compared to He Daozhen, they were not in the same league.

"You two, are you preparing to fight me?"

"I haven’t fought anyone in a long time, not since I broke through to the Third Realm."

"If I were to accidentally injure you... no, wait. Another fellow Daoist is arriving. Who called for them?"

He Daozhen was mid-sentence when he suddenly looked up at the sky.

A streak of fiery red light shot from the distant sky, landing before the three of them in the blink of an eye.

It was a gaunt, red-robed old man.

"Venerable Red Fox!"

He Daozhen narrowed his eyes as he stared at the newcomer.

He paid Huyan Sea and Helian Shiping no mind.

Even if the two of them joined forces, they were far from being his match.

But Venerable Red Fox was different.

This was a Venerable who had lived for nearly one thousand five hundred years.

Rumor had it that Venerable Red Fox had long possessed the strength to ascend to the Upper Realm.

But for some unknown reason, he had chosen not to ascend during the last Ascension Conference, opting to remain behind.

Faced with such a powerhouse, even He Daozhen wouldn’t know who was stronger without a fight.

Huyan Sea and Helian Shiping were even more stunned. They exchanged a look, each assuming the other had summoned him.

But after that one glance, they both instantly knew that was not the case.

Neither of them had summoned Venerable Red Fox.

So why, then, had Venerable Red Fox appeared at this very moment?