“Great Grandmaster!”
The surviving martial artists understood all too well that only a Great Grandmaster could so effortlessly and leisurely break through their killing formation.
Their luck was extraordinarily “good”; despite taking every precaution and deploying so many people, any Grandmaster ambushed by them would have met with death, yet their opponent just happened to be a peerless power such as a Great Grandmaster.
It was known that the Sect Hierarch had once said that there were countless martial artists in the world, but the number of Great Grandmasters wouldn’t exceed thirty, and even after certain events, it remained uncertain whether their number could surpass twenty.
Yet, they had encountered one, a stroke of luck that was downright astounding.
They were acutely aware that there was no escape from a Great Grandmaster; his might was beyond their ability to withstand.
“This time, we are defeated, but the Sect Hierarch will surely avenge us. To kill my brothers and sisters, blood debts must be paid with blood!”
After saying this, that person took his own life, falling silent forever.
“To kill my brothers and sisters, blood debts must be paid with blood!”
The others also roared out the phrase, then, without waiting for Wang Sheng to act, they all took their own lives.
Fifteen people were thus all dead!
Wang Sheng looked at these dead bodies, frowning slightly.
“It’s like I’m being made out to be the villain!”
They killed themselves without the slightest hesitation and even spouted threats as they did so.
Such a thing could only be done by fanatics of a cult.
At first, when the Grandmaster killed himself, Wang Sheng still wondered about the nature of the cult’s faith that could brainwash someone to this extent—it was certainly no small feat, requiring a tremendous amount of effort.
It wasn’t until later that he discovered something amiss.
When the life of one of those who had committed suicide was about to slip away, a wave of regret surged through his spirit.
This was in stark contradiction with his hesitation-free suicide.
Especially when they killed themselves, their firm conviction even fooled Wang Sheng, taking him by surprise.
Such firm conviction, yet at the brink of death, they felt regret.
Of course, this alone couldn’t prove anything. After all, life was precious, and regret just before death was not out of the question.
But the doubt was enough to warrant further investigation.
So, he opened his Divine Thought in full, and indeed he found problems.
These people seemed to have been under a form of spiritual suggestion, some of them deeply affected, to the extent that the suggestion had become instinctual, so even when committing suicide, there was no hesitation.
Some, however, had a sliver of leeway, hence the brief clarity and ensuing regret as life hung by a thread.
“More terrifying than I had imagined, Heavenly Sect!”
This method of brainwashing was extremely horrifying, almost transforming a person completely.
However, these people killed themselves too quickly; Wang Sheng wasn’t able to fully understand the situation, only managing to detect some issues thanks to the last flicker of “Divine” fluctuation.
The Heavenly Sect was likely more mysterious and terrifying than what the information suggested.
And it seemed he had become entangled with people from the Heavenly Sect.
“Just as well, I was planning to look for you, and you’re probably also coming for me!”
Wang Sheng had a premonition that this encounter with the Heavenly Sect would not be a simple matter.
After disposing of the bodies, leaving no trace behind, Wang Sheng returned to the carriage.
Liu Jian’an and the others couldn’t help but sneak a peek at the battle.
This was their first time seeing Wang Sheng fight an enemy and witnessed his strength.
When their opponents employed the Nine Star Kuidou Seven Killings Formation, that oppressive aura, even though not directed at them, made it hard for them to catch their breath, feeling as if they would die the next moment.
Yet, Wang Sheng had broken through that oppressive force with ease, the resolution of the battle didn’t take long at all.
The elders in the village always talked about how powerful Wang Sheng was, but they had never felt it as acutely as they did that day, not even when they saw Wang Sheng effortlessly crush that Heavenly Sect cultist in Jiangyuan City.
That mighty Blood Qi dragon alone made them want to kneel in reverence just by looking at it.
Therefore, when Wang Sheng returned to the carriage, they were still somewhat dazed.
And all of this was intentional on Wang Sheng’s part; otherwise, how could the formation have affected them right under his watch?
Seeing their expressions, Wang Sheng knew he had nearly achieved his goal and said, “You’ve seen what top-tier powerhouses are capable of. If they really wanted to come after you, it would be effortless. So keep working hard!”
With that, Wang Sheng pitched them off the carriage, leaving behind just one sentence.
“Start running!”
Only when one is impoverished do they understand the need to make money; it is only by recognizing one’s own weakness can one realize the need to strive harder.
Watching Liu Jian’an and the others run with determination, it seemed that this inadvertent spur was quite effective.
Da Bai continued towards Quanzhou.
If his predictions were right, his next opponent would be the Sect Hierarch Qiao Nian of the Heavenly Sect!
“Are you gearing up for a fight, or will you simply leave?”
Wang Sheng was curious about what Qiao Nian’s choice would be.
And as he traveled towards Quanzhou, a significant event was unfolding at the Heavenly Sect’s headquarters in Quanzhou.
One of their Grandmasters had fallen!
In the Heavenly Sect, martial artists who had reached Grandmaster Level could leave a Life Lamp in the headquarters—a living person’s lamp shone brightly, but when the person died, the lamp would be extinguished.
This was a unique secret technique of the Heavenly Sect, something not even an Overlord Level power possessed.
Thus, over a dozen Life Lamps burned continuously at the Heavenly Sect headquarters, watched over by someone at all times.
Indeed, if not for the Grandmaster-level fighters, perhaps the Life Lamps would burn even longer than their lifespans.
But just today, the person on watch discovered that one of the Life Lamps had gone out.
A major incident had occurred!
Their Heavenly Sect had lost a Grandmaster Level Martial Artist to death, something that had not occurred for a very long time, given their notorious reputation. Even Overlord Level forces were reluctant to provoke them.
As a result, a Grandmaster had perished.
The person on watch did not dare hesitate and immediately reported the news to the Sect Hierarch Qiao Nian.
This was the privilege of the one who watched over the Life Lamps, to meet with the Sect Hierarch directly.
In fact, before the guardian could say anything, Qiao Nian had already guessed the matter.
“My child has fallen, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, Sect Hierarch.”
Within the Heavenly Sect, only those who reached the Grandmaster Level could call themselves the children of the Sect Hierarch.
“I understand, you may leave!” Qiao Nian’s voice seemed somewhat sorrowful, “Call for the Great Protector.”
The Great Protector Qiao Fan was in charge of all assignments within the sect, and Grandmaster Level Martial Artists had to report any actions to Qiao Fan.
It wasn’t long before Qiao Fan arrived at the main hall where Qiao Nian was.
“Heavenly Father!” Qiao Fan said with great respect, “I have become aware of all matters.”
“Tell me, what was my child doing?”
“Somebody killed our believers in Shuzhou, and he went to take revenge. Now it seems he has failed!”
“So it is, he died avenging his brothers and sisters, did he?”
“Yes, Heavenly Father!” Qiao Fan nodded, “He did not disgrace you!”
There was no change in Qiao Nian’s expression, he merely said, “Investigate where the person who killed my child is, and find his location!”
“I will do my utmost!”
Qiao Fan took his leave, leaving Qiao Nian alone in the main hall.
“One less child, I will have my revenge, the revenge of the obstructed path!”
His path was not that of Qi Blood Martial Arts, and the loss of each child weakened his own cultivation path.
Such enmity could not possibly be left unanswered!
A day later, Qiao Fan returned.
“Heavenly Father, all has been clarified. The one who killed our brother and sister is heading towards Quanzhou, and it seems he has even broken the Nine Star Kuidou Seven Killings Formation.”
Yesterday, Qiao Fan had only a superficial understanding of the matters, but after a day’s time, he had ascertained all the causes and consequences and even uncovered the location of the sibling’s killer.
That person had made no attempt to conceal his location and was easy to find. Moreover, he was heading towards Quanzhou.
Was this a challenge to their Heavenly Sect?
“Heavenly Father, I am willing to lead a team to strike down that person!”
Such acts were absolutely intolerable!
But—
“No need, let him come in. Moreover, do not hinder him on the road; he will come here!”
Qiao Nian had almost instantly understood the intent of the person who had slain his child.
He had a feeling that this person was coming specifically for him, and that peculiar whim…
“Heavenly Father, this…”
Qiao Fan had also understood the person’s intent, which filled him with indignant rage.
The Heavenly Father was the person he revered most; how could he allow someone to defile him.
“It’s fine, let him come. Perhaps this time…”
Heavenly Father Qiao Nian did not continue, and Qiao Fan did not know what he meant.
But since the Heavenly Father had emphasized it, he dared not obstruct and could only say, “I will pass on the instructions!”
After bidding farewell, the Heavenly Father Qiao Nian spoke the words he had left unspoken.
“Perhaps, that person is also a seeker of the path?”
The likelihood was slim, but for some reason, a faint anticipation stirred in the Heavenly Father’s heart.
It was a contradictory sentiment.
That person had killed his own children, becoming an obstacle in his path, and he sought revenge; yet as the killer approached him directly, he hoped that the person was like him, a seeker of the “path.”
That is, a fellow Daoist!
“A world full of martial artists, yet finding a Daoist companion is so difficult!”
“If you are a Daoist, I will bury you with the highest honors.”
Qiao Nian murmured to himself.
His path was destined to be solitary, not permitting a second person, yet he still longed for that possible “Daoist companion.”
He only hoped that this whimsy, occurring once in decades, was not some sort of misfortune.
Time flowed; a few days later, Wang Sheng entered the territory of Quanzhou.
He had not been in Quanzhou for long before he realized that he was being watched again.
A very distinct hostility emanated from his surroundings, yet this hostility lacked any aggressiveness.
It seemed to simply watch quietly.
“It seems my whereabouts were exposed long ago; such a grand welcoming ceremony indeed suggests that they have been waiting for me!”
He glanced at a location, and there laid the headquarters of the Heavenly Sect.