Ancestral Shrine

The Thousand Mile Divine Movement Talisman was a lifesaving treasure, but it had never been precise about where it sent you.

After chasing Mei Yuening all that way, Gu Cheng had no idea what remote place he had ended up in.

Fortunately, Gu Cheng had mastered the Carefree Wind Riding Art to the point of ultimate mastery. His movement technique was unmatched, and he flew through the sky, finally making it back to his lodgings before daybreak.

The morning sun pierced the thin mist, gilding Crimson Rock City.

Gu Cheng washed up quickly in his room. Just as he was about to go find Tang Lingyu, Third Elder Chu Feng pushed open the door and entered.

The dark-faced elder had changed into a dignified ink-black robe that morning. At the sight of Gu Cheng, he hurried forward two steps and cupped his hands.

"Little Friend Gu, did you rest well last night?"

"Thanks to your care, I slept without a single dream."

Gu Cheng nodded without revealing anything, his gaze passing over the two steady-breathed guards behind Chu Feng.

"Elder Feng, you've come so early. Is there news about the ancestral shrine?"

"The Grand Elder has agreed to your request. However..."

A smile appeared on Chu Feng's face as he lowered his voice.

"It would be best not to let this matter be known. Please come with me in secret."

Gu Cheng nodded knowingly, then followed Third Elder out of the courtyard.

The Hundred Beasts Villa was rife with internal factional strife. The Demon Taming Sect and the Demon Transformation Sect were sworn enemies. If the Demon Transformation Sect learned that he was meeting the Grand Elder at the ancestral shrine, it could stir up trouble.

A green-curtained carriage carried the two of them over the dew-covered stone road, arriving at an unremarkable stone house in the city.

Chu Feng jumped down from the carriage and took a blood-red jade pendant from his robe. He tapped it lightly against the stone wall. The carved beast head on it suddenly opened its eyes the moment it touched the wall.

With a muffled rumble of turning mechanisms, the stone wall parted like flowing water, revealing a deep passageway.

"The Chu family's ancestral shrine was built into the mountainside. Besides serving as our place of worship, it's also where the Hundred Beasts Villa's legacy is kept."

As he explained, Chu Feng stepped into the passage first.

The stairs wound downward. Luminous crystals embedded in the stone walls on either side lit up the various demonic beast carvings.

Gu Cheng's boots struck the bluestone steps, ringing crisply.

The farther down they went, the thicker the demonic baleful aura in the air became, making the flood dragon demon servant in his sea of consciousness stir restlessly.

After descending roughly a hundred zhang, the space before them suddenly opened up.

A magnificent underground hall came into view. Statues of various demonic beasts coiled around towering stone pillars, lifelike in every detail.

Most striking of all were the dozens of golden spheres of light floating in the center of the hall.

They revolved slowly like miniature suns, illuminating the entire underground palace as brightly as day.

Gu Cheng looked closely and saw that each sphere contained a sealed demon servant. Some had wings growing from their backs, while others had three heads and six arms. Even trapped in the golden light, their bodies remained poised to pounce.

"These are Supreme Demon Servants crafted by the ancestors of the Hundred Beasts Villa throughout the generations."

Chu Feng introduced them with a smile, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Though the refinement hasn't been completed, every one of them contains tremendous power. They are also part of the Hundred Beasts Villa's foundation."

Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes and swept his divine sense across the spheres, a flicker of surprise passing through his gaze.

Even the weakest of these demon servants possessed the strength of the Innate Realm. The largest few spheres radiated pressure comparable to the peak of the Innate Realm.

If all these demon servants were fully refined, the Hundred Beasts Villa would instantly gain several top-tier fighters on par with grandmasters!

No wonder the Demon Suppression Bureau considered the Hundred Beasts Villa a first-rate faction, even without a Spirit Sea Venerable. This foundation was the real deal.

As Gu Cheng mused, he noticed what seemed to be an empty space among the unfinished demon servants.

Just as a thought stirred in his mind, an aged voice came from behind the hall.

"Chu Feng, is this the Little Friend Gu from the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

A white-haired elder walked out slowly. He wore a plain white robe and had a kindly face, but his eyes shone brightly.

He leaned on a snake-shaped cane, a gem set in its head glowing with a faint spiritual light.

"Grand Elder."

Chu Feng bowed respectfully, then introduced him to Gu Cheng.

"This is the Grand Elder of our Hundred Beasts Villa, Chu Guanhai."

Gu Cheng cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

Chu Guanhai smiled and nodded, then looked at the Third Elder.

"Chu Feng, you may leave. There are a few things I'd like to discuss with Little Friend Gu alone."