Millions of li away, on the Summerpeak mainland.
Only seven Golden Core cultivators and a single Spiritual Body phase cultivator remained In the grand hall of the Huoyan Sect. A deathly silence pervaded the assembly.
“They’re all dead!” The lone Spiritual Body cultivator broke the silence bitterly.
“The sect master and the late-stage elders, they’re all dead.” Fear consumed the Golden Core elders.
Just as all immortal cultivators in the Middle Land had watched the clash between Wu Yuan and the Huoyan Sect’s army through the voidrealm, the remaining other higher-ups of the Huoyan Sect also viewed the battle in real-time on the distant Summerpeak mainland.
Wu Yuan learned about the existence of the Huoyan Sect’s voidrealm from Daoist Long. Thus, he understood that their sect possessed a voidrealm for communication spanning the entire worldlet.
Unless a surprise attack wiped out the entire army immediately, or overwhelming force instantly killed the army, they were bound to receive reports about the incident.
This, too, was why Wu Yuan never intended to hide his own strength from the immortal cultivators of the Middle Land.
It would make little sense for his enemies to know of his strength while his own subordinates didn’t.
The power Wu Yuan displayed deeply shocked the remaining eight elders of the Huoyan Sect.
The Divine Flame Array along with the Heavenly Flame Bow were simply swept aside? What kind of enemy was this!?
“How can a Spiritual Body cultivator be this strong?” The only late-stage Golden Core elder, Elder Yun, shook his head, his voice filled with bitterness.
“Elder Yun, should we report this to our ancestor?” One of the Golden Core elders couldn’t help but ask.
“There’s no need to report it.” Elder Yun shook his head with a sigh, speaking solemnly, “The ancestor is already aware of the outcome of this battle, and has issued an order for us to escape from the Summerpeak mainland immediately.”
“We are to hide and wait for the ancestor to return, then we’ll return to the sect.” Elder Yun’s voice was low, his gaze sweeping over the elders present.
“Hide?” The elders of the Huoyan Sect were all stunned.
“Otherwise? This Wu Yuan has a grudge against our Huoyan Sect, he’s already killed a dozen or two of us, do you think he’ll show mercy?” Elder Yun shook his head, “Only eight of us are left. With his power, he can easily break through our mountain gate.”
“As long as we flee, it’ll be tough for him to find us given the size of Summerpeak.”
“The ancestor is a cultivator from the higher world. He is currently looking for a way to deal with Wu Yuan, but we need to act quickly. With the speed that Wu Yuan exhibited in his last burst, he can reach our location in two hours.” Elder Yun said grimly.
The other seven elders all turned pale. Two hours?
In less than a quarter of an hour, the eight remaining elders of the Huoyan Sect had fled the headquarters, some even leaving the Summerpeak mainland entirely.
A large number of Qi Sea immortal cultivators from the Huoyan Sect also started to flee in panic.
At this point, the news could no longer be covered up. Daoist Long even hinted to his subordinates to spread the details of the battle throughout the Summerpeak mainland.
This news shook the whole Summerpeak mainland.
Wu Yuan’s name left countless immortal cultivators throughout the entire mainland dumbstruck. They all understood that another peak powerhouse had been born in the Summerpeak World – Wu Yuan!
…
In a spacetime region far from the Summerpeak World, majestic halls hung suspended in space, with many creatures coming and going from the buildings.
Standing on the flank of the hall cluster, one could overlook the vast cosmos. This expanse of space was home to innumerable worlds, each rivaling the size of Summerpeak World.
These worlds adhered to some immutable cosmic rule, continuously rotating in motion.
On the outskirts of the hall cluster stood an inconspicuous hall.
Whoosh! A young man in black robes swiftly descended, arriving outside the hall. This palace was strangely calm, devoid of any puppet soldiers on patrol.
“Protectorate! I, Huo Yan, have urgent matters to discuss,” the black-robed youth respectfully bowed, his voice deep as it echoed into the palace.
A moment of silence.
“Huo Yan, why are you here instead of cultivating and patrolling?” A cold voice retorted.
“Protectorate, I have an urgent matter to report that could earn you great merits,” Reverend Huo Yan humbly bowed his head.
“Earn great merits?” The cold voice scoffed, “You are a mere Amethyst Cradle, what could you possibly do to earn me great merits?”
“Speak,” the cold voice continued, “If you are deceiving me, you will pay dearly.”
“I dare not deceive you, Protectorate.” Reverend Huo Yan respectfully replied, “I heard that the High Immortal is troubled over the selection of Bloodforge Seeds.”
“Indeed. But what does this have to do with you?” the cold voice asked, “Don’t tell me your skills have greatly improved and you are capable of becoming a Bloodforge Seed?”
“I am incapable of such a feat.” Reverend Huo Yan quickly replied, “However, I am from the Summerpeak World, which I believe you are aware of.”
“Ah, that ruined world, it seems to have just recovered.” the cold voice replied nonchalantly.
Immortal cultivators had excellent memories. Although he didn’t pay much attention to Reverend Huo Yan, he was still aware of Huo Yan’s general background.
“Yes. I have just received a message from a sect disciple in the worldlet.” Reverend Huo Yan respectfully said, “A peerless genius has been born in the Summerpeak World.”
“Though he is a Spiritual Body cultivator with only fifty years of cultivation, he appears to possess a third-degree immortal root, with combat prowess comparable to a fifth-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator!” Reverend Huoyan declared. “I presume, he qualifies to be a Bloodforge seed?”
“What?”
Whoosh! A man dressed in purple robes flew to the entrance of the hall in an instant. His aura was powerful, and his eyes gleamed with fervor as his gaze locked onto Reverend Huoyan, “Is everything you spoke of true?”
“Without a shadow of a doubt. This is the battle projection. Protectorate, please observe.” Reverend Huo Yan promptly responded.
He waved his hand.
Swish~ Countless points of light converged, forming a huge light screen. The display showed Wu Yuan battling the grand army of the Huoyan Sect.
The purple-robed man quietly watched the recording.
When the sect leader of the Huoyan Sect was slain, the projection ended.
“Indeed, a monstrous prodigy. Only fifty years of cultivation? He’s more than qualified to be a Bloodforge seed, there’s even hope for him to be a seed of the first-tier division. However, isn’t he an enemy of your Huoyan Sect?” The purple-robed man asked with an ambiguous smile.
An immortal continent division was a second-tier division. An immortal nation division was a first-tier division.
With his sharp mind, he could swiftly infer Wu Yuan’s strength from the attacks unleashed by the army of the Huoyan Sect.
“Protectorate is wise.” Reverend Huoyan’s forehead was beaded with sweat.
“No worries. Now I understand why you are in such a hurry to return to the Summerpeak World, turns out you want to eliminate this great enemy.”
“Unfortunately, our Bloodforge Devil Hall has its rules. Your application was denied by the other protectorates, not me.” The purple-robed man said indifferently.
“I understand.” Reverend Huoyan respectfully replied.
“You’ve got guts, and you’re ruthless. Seeing that you can’t kill him, you’re hoping the Bloodforge will do the trick? My Bloodforge Devil Hall is perfect for cold-blooded people like you,” the purple-robed man looked down at Reverend Huo Yan, “But aren’t you worried he’ll come back alive?”
“With his talent, if he comes back alive, you’re likely doomed.”
“I can’t return to Summerpeak. If he joins the Devil Hall and gains a higher status, I’m just as dead,” Reverend Huo Yan laughed bitterly, “Protectorate, I’ll be honest. This is my only option.”
“I hope you will save me, Protectorate.” Reverend Huo Yan bowed deeply.
“Save you? My Bloodforge Devil Hall has always abided by the principle of ‘every man for himself’. We do things by the book,” the purple-robed man shook his head, “According to the rules, the Devil Hall will reward you for providing this information.”
“If he passes the evaluation, I estimate that you’ll earn at least one hundred thousand merits, up to a million,” the purple-robed man said.
“However, you’ll have to settle your grudge with him by yourself. Life or death, as long as it’s according to the rules of my Devil Hall, it’s all the same.”
“By the way, what’s his name?” the purple-robed man asked.
“Wu Yuan,” Reverend Huo Yan replied.
“Wu Yuan? Never heard of him, but he’s exceptionally talented,” the purple-robed man muttered, “Summerpeak, Wu Yuan.”