Chapter 830: Gathering from All Sides
Protected by Elder Huo's Primordial Qi, Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling were swiftly flying toward Divine Moon Peak. The little fox was curled up on Zhu Bufan's shoulder, while Emperor Yan had already returned to the sword. As for the mounts of the two young girls, Little Silver, they were following close by Huo Ling, as though a big dog trained by her.
Recalling Elder Huo's words from earlier, Zhu Bufan couldn't help but wryly smile. Elder Huo had emphasized again and again that should anyone dare to provoke them, they must be beaten down. Although Zhu Bufan agreed with a bitter smile, his heart was also throbbing with excitement. Divine Moon Peak, after being away for two years, Zhu Bufan could finally return.
"Hmph, I hope you all don't come provoke me, otherwise..." Thinking about his past treatment at Divine Moon Peak, Zhu Bufan revealed a cold smirk. After mastering Emperor's Hatred, Zhu Bufan no longer evaded the memories of his past at Divine Moon Peak. Not evading didn't mean he had forgiven them; on the contrary, Zhu Bufan wished he could crush them severely - Emperor's Hatred was all about harboring resentment!
Under Elder Huo's extraordinary cultivation, they, along with Silver Charm, quickly arrived at Divine Moon Peak. Seeing their distinct black-and-gold Dark Sect robes, some disciples of Divine Moon Peak immediately stepped aside.
"People from the Dark Sect; I heard that this time, the Dark Sect is actually sending two to participate in the sect conference," one of the Divine Moon Peak disciples whispered to his companion upon seeing Elder Huo, Zhu Bufan, and Huo Ling.
"Yes, I heard the people from the Dark Sect are ruthless. What kind of people come to attend a sect conference?" another disciple of Divine Moon Peak hurriedly chimed in upon hearing his peer.
"But that woman from the Dark Sect is really beautiful, almost comparable to the Purple Moon Fairy," one disciple of Divine Moon Peak, admiring Huo Ling in her aqua blue dress, suddenly exclaimed in wonder.
"Tsk, how does being beautiful matter? Still a person from the Dark Sect, don't forget, they are all unblinkingly murderous!" another disciple rapt by Huo Ling's beauty quickly shook his head after hearing the previous comment.
Despite the quiet whispers of the Divine Moon Peak disciples around them, Zhu Bufan's acute senses caught their words. Hearing them paint the Dark Sect as something akin to a disastrous beast, Zhu Bufan's brows furrowed.
"Hehe, you find their nonsense annoying, don't you?" With a chuckle, Elder Huo suddenly turned to Zhu Bufan and spoke.
"Indeed." Not hiding his feelings, Zhu Bufan nodded.
"Hey! Actually, they are not wrong. Our Dark Sect exists for the purpose of killing. And between earning respect and instilling fear, I prefer the latter!" After speaking, Elder Huo revealed a smile, followed by a cold snort!
Like a sudden strike on a giant bell, Elder Huo's cold snort made the gossiping Divine Moon Peak disciples feel as if their hearts were smashed, causing them to stumble several steps backwards, then a surge of blood overflowed, and a trace of blood flowed from their mouths.
"Ha ha ha ha hmph! You lot dare discuss us? If you don't want to die, better recognize your own abilities!" A cold voice suddenly made the injured Divine Moon Peak disciples tremble in fear, their bodies shaking, Elder Huo's cold snort injuring them all, and more importantly, completely disregarding generational seniority which rendered them speechless.
Disinterested in fussing with these irritating nuisances, after Elder Huo and the three with Silver Charm passed through a small forest trail, they finally arrived at the Ming Sect of the Heavenly Sword Sect. On a massive marble archway over ten meters high, hung a giant golden plaque of the Heavenly Sword Sect right in the center with three bold and unrestrained characters, grandiose and free-standing, creating an awe-inspiring effect.
Passing through the archway, they entered a vast Martial Arts Square laid with hard bluestone, surrounded by waist-high fences, and every hundred meters stood tall triangular war flags of the Heavenly Sword Sect with black-and-gold characters, extending from both sides of the square. With hundreds of flags fluttering in the mountaintop Gang Wind, the sound was striking and the sight spectacular.
Between the flags, one could see stone steles of the same size, about two meters tall, inscribed with the history of the Heavenly Sword Sect, notable cultivators it produced, and other distinguished disciples, a point of pride for all disciples of Divine Moon Peak and the entire Heavenly Sword Sect to have their names carved on these steles.
Looking far into the distance, thousands of miles away stood the main hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect, built with white marble walls and jujube-red glazed tiles. Enormous flags fluttered in the wind. Even from such a distance, the majestic aura emanating from the main hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect was palpable, surpassing even the imperial palace, with clouds swirling around the mountaintop; from afar, it indeed resembled a celestial palace.
"I spent ten years at Divine Moon Peak, yet this is my first time at the Heavenly Sword Sect Martial Arts Square, and ironically, I am here as a disciple of the Dark Sect," Zhu Bufan said with a self-mocking smile as he looked at the vast Martial Arts Square in front of him.
Originally, the rules of Divine Moon Peak were very strict and meticulous; without reaching the Body Tempering Third Layer Heaven in cultivation, one simply did not qualify to cultivate here. When Zhu Bufan was saved or humiliated back then, he was merely at the mid-way station on the mountainside. This was, in fact, his first time setting foot on the summit of Divine Moon Peak.
"Hahaha, fortunately, you didn't come up here, otherwise, where would I have found such a good disciple like you? Haha." It turned out that during this time, Elder Huo often came to ask Zhu Bufan for Jade Talismans and other items, ostensibly to expand the influence of the Dark Sect and prevent it from being bullied.
Of course, although it is understood that if you don't bully others, others will be relieved, Elder Huo called upon him. Zhu Bufan had no choice but to refine them, also consolidating his artifact refining skills. Zhu Bufan often thought that if Wang Hui hadn't been forcibly recruited into the Dark Sect, he might have had to provide elixirs too.
"Haha Elder Huo, what makes you so happy?" Just at this moment, a boisterous voice came, followed by Elder Chi Yan, who arrived at the Martial Arts Square with Lin Qingfeng and a few disciples, like a fire cloud in the sky.
"So it's you, old ghost Chi Yan. How come? You seem very confident this time?" Laughing heartily, Elder Huo also patted Elder Chi Yan on the shoulder, nearly knocking him into the ground of the Martial Arts Square with his strong pat, contorting Elder Chi Yan's face.
"Elder Huo, please spare me, indeed, I was somewhat confident before, but after looking at this kid, I'm already feeling disheartened now. I finally understand why Qingfeng said he needs to become stronger." Seeing Huo Ling, Elder Chi Yan showed a bitter smile because he felt that Huo Ling's cultivation had reached the peak of the Bone Forging Third Layer Heaven, an unquestionable champion among his peers.
"Haha, now you know how formidable my lovely granddaughter is, right?" The words of Elder Chi Yan pleased Elder Huo, "Your disciple isn't bad either, also at the Bone Forging Realm, quite rare for his age."
"Brother Chi Yan, Elder Huo, what's so lively to talk about? Count me in as well." A faint scent of medicinal herbs drifted by as the sage-like Elder Cang Yun arrived with Han Ziyue and disciple in tow. Seeing Elder Huo and Elder Chi Yan talking, he laughed and joined them.
"Elder Cang Yun, when will you refine a hundred Heavenly Dragon Life Returning Pills for me… Eh?" Before he finished speaking, Elder Huo's gaze fell on Han Ziyue. "Good heavens, this girl is also at the Bone Forging Realm? What's going on? How many years has it been since such an occurrence in the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Not only was Elder Huo surprised, but Elder Cang Yun was also startled upon seeing Huo Ling and Lin Qingfeng, obviously both had far exceeded his expectations.
"Is this year not a bit too exaggerated?" Smiling bitterly, Elder Cang Yun hadn't finished speaking when a blast of Thunder Light flew from afar, an old man in Taoist robe, looking like a celestial figure, arrived with Zhu Zizhen, not far from the crowd.
"Elder Lei Heng, you're still not dead?" Seeing the man in the Taoist robe, Zhu Zizhen's master, Elder Huo suddenly revealed a cold smile, very different from how he interacted with Elders Chi Yan and Cang Yun, clearly quite disdainful of Elder Lei Heng.
"Hehe, Elder Huo is joking; by age, Elder Huo is much older than me. If anyone is to ride the crane to the western paradise, it's more likely to be Elder Huo first," said Elder Lei Heng with a gentle touch to his long beard, smiling lightly.
"Is this your disciple? Also at the Bone Forging Realm? Unbelievable!!" Seeing Zhu Zizhen also reached the Bone Forging Realm, not just Elder Huo, but Elders Chi Yan, Cang Yun, and just arrived Elder Lei Heng started to sweat. Such an occurrence had not happened in many years; to know that entering the Bone Forging Realm before the age of eighteen is very rare. Yet today, there were already four at the scene, including one more whom the three elders couldn't sense due to the Golden Silk Robe, though the three elders couldn't sense it, Han Ziyue, Lin Qingfeng, and Zhu Zizhen were very aware, only keeping silent.
Suddenly, a sharp breeze blew by, and a pitch-black flag of the Heavenly Sword Sect showed a slight tear. Then, those present felt an odd sensation in the air, as if filled with a chilly aura.
"Hey, the Heavenly Sword has arrived, that guy is still so extravagant, but this Sword Qi is really incredible, at least I can't reach it," Elder Chi Yan shook his head and laughed upon feeling the icy sharp presence in the air.
"Child's play, just for show." With a light sweep of his dust whisk, the area was suddenly enveloped by faint static electricity, dispersing the invisible chilly aura. Then, everyone saw two figures slowly walking from afar, it was the real person of Heavenly Sword and Ye Gucheng.
"Haha, the sect conference in three days will certainly be very interesting ha" After glancing at Ye Gucheng next to the real person of Heavenly Sword, Elder Huo immediately burst into hearty laughter.