Chapter 605 - 258: Grotto Heaven

Chapter 605: Chapter 258: Grotto Heaven

The crowd snapped back to reality, their brows furrowing. The disciples from the Shadowless Sect, in particular, had a hostile glint in their eyes.

But no one spoke up.

The young man said no more. With a single word, the five disciples of the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect transformed into streaks of Gang Light and flew off in their chosen direction.

"Hmph. The Golden Rainbow Sword Sect was the first to arrive. They must already have some intel."

Just then, someone from the Shadowless Sect spoke up.

He was a young man with a plain appearance but a chilling glint in his eyes.

...’The Shadowless Sect... I’ve heard they specialize in training assassins. All their disciples are trained to that standard, and they seem to favor recruiting people of average build and unremarkable looks.’

After speaking, the young man seemed to wait for a response.

But the disciples from the other sects just stared at him, none showing any intention of replying.

The young man waited for a moment. His expression stiffened, a look of embarrassment flashing across his face. With a cold snort, he said curtly, "We’re leaving."

With a word, the five other Shadowless Sect disciples—all of a similarly average build and unremarkable appearance—followed him. They chose a direction and shot through the air, disappearing from sight.

Only when they were long gone did someone sneer, "The Shadowless Sect was put in their place by the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, and now they want us to join them in ganging up on them... What a joke. Everyone, since we’re all here, there’s nothing more to be said. We all have sect missions to complete, so let’s not dally. My sect will head this way."

The speaker was from the Ten Thousand Valleys Songtao Sect.

After he spoke, the young man cupped his fist to the crowd. Then, regardless of whether anyone responded, he signaled to his fellow disciples, and they too chose a direction and flew off.

"We will go this way."

A cool female voice rang out.

It was a disciple from the Bi Luo Cloud Palace. Of all the sects, Bi Luo Cloud Palace had the most female Martial Artists.

In their group this time, there were four female disciples and only one male.

And each of these female disciples was exceptionally beautiful, with an extraordinary air about them.

"Wait, Fairy Han! Our two sects are neighbors. Why don’t we travel together?"

A clear laugh rang out. Turning to look, the speaker was a handsome young man with a sword on his back... from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion.

The Lingyun Sword Pavilion was located in Lingtian Prefecture, which was adjacent to Yunyao Prefecture, the home of the Bi Luo Cloud Palace. The two sects interacted frequently.

The woman addressed as "Fairy Han" furrowed her brow slightly, however, and shook her head. "Young Master Lin, I’m afraid not. This trip is to scout a path for our sect; it would be improper for our two sects to travel together. Let us part ways here."

After speaking, she gave a signal and led the other disciples from the Bi Luo Cloud Palace away, flying off into the distance.

The sword-bearing "Young Master Lin" was taken aback for a moment, but then he broke into a relaxed smile. "Very well. In that case, we shall take our leave as well. Everyone, until we meet again."

He gave a signal, and the five of them flew off, taking a completely different direction from the sects before them.

After they left, a lavishly dressed young man from Fuling Hidden Dragon Hall said, "Our Hall will head this way."

He also chose a direction and shot off into the sky.

In the blink of an eye, the members of the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, the Shadowless Sect, the Ten Thousand Valleys Songtao Sect, the Bi Luo Cloud Palace, the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, and the Fuling Hidden Dragon Hall had all departed.

All that remained were the disciples of the Nanming Li Fire Sect and Qin Fang’s group from the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect.

The leader of the Nanming Li Fire Sect group was a man who appeared to be middle-aged. He smiled and said, "Senior Brothers, it’s been a long time."

He cupped his fist in salute to Zhuang Yao and the others, as if they were old acquaintances.

Zhuang Yao nodded slightly. "It has been a long time. Several years have passed, yet Senior Brother Li, you seem as distinguished as ever."

Hearing this, a realization dawned on Qin Fang. ’That’s right. I wasn’t there, but some of the other sects, like the Nanming Li Fire Sect, had sent disciples to the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect before. It’s only natural they would know my senior brothers and sisters.’

"If I’m not mistaken... this must be the Hall Master’s True Inheritance of the Guiyuan Lineage, Junior Brother Qin Fang... Qin Linyuan?"

Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Li was looking right at him.

Qin Fang raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "You know me, Senior Brother?"

"We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting, but I heard much of Junior Brother Qin’s fame as a genius during my stay at your esteemed sect."

Senior Brother Li looked at Qin Fang in awe. "Junior Brother, your Talent is truly astonishing... If what I heard is true, you only joined the sect a little over ten years ago, correct? And you have... already reached the Condensing Gang realm?"

As he spoke, the Nanming Li Fire Sect disciples behind him instinctively turned to stare at Qin Fang, their eyes wide with shock.

’Ten years... to reach Condensing Gang?’

’What kind of Talent is that?’

’The fastest among them had taken nearly forty years to reach the Condensing Gang realm!’

’This...’

They all stared at Qin Fang, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Qin Fang had long grown immune to such stares. His expression remained perfectly calm. "You flatter me, Senior Brother. It was just a bit of luck."

Senior Brother Li shook his head and then smiled. "Junior Brother, your Talent is truly astounding. That’s not something you can chalk up to luck... My apologies, I spoke out of turn. I meant no offense, I simply admire your abilities and wished to make your acquaintance. My name is Li Fuxue. If we should meet again inside the Grotto Heaven, I hope that Junior Brother Qin and the esteemed brothers of your sect might look out for us."

A flicker of light passed through Qin Fang’s eyes, but his voice was calm. "Senior Brother Li, you are too kind. As we are all members of the Nine Sects, it is only natural that we should look out for one another."

Senior Brother Li chuckled. "Of course, of course... Well then, I won’t keep you any longer. My sect will head in this direction. Everyone, until we meet again."

With that, he nodded, gave the word, and led the disciples of the Nanming Li Fire Sect away as they soared into the sky.

And then, only the disciples of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect were left.

"Junior Brother, which way should we go?"

Zhuang Yao and the others asked Qin Fang after watching the last group disappear over the horizon.

The Sect Leader had said that they were to decide on everyday matters, and only consult Qin Fang’s opinion for critical, decisive moments.