Ancestral Shrine

The Thousand Mile Divine Travel Talisman is a great escape tool, but the teleportation location is never precise.

Gu Cheng had been chasing Mei Yuening all the way, and he didn't know what remote area they had ended up in.

Fortunately, Gu Cheng possessed the Carefree Wind Riding Art, which had reached the pinnacle of mastery. His movement techniques were first-class, and as he flew through the sky, he managed to return to his residence before dawn.

The morning sun pierced through the mist, casting a golden hue over Crimson Rock City.

Gu Cheng briefly washed up in his room. Just as he was about to go find Tang Lingyu, he saw Third Elder Chu Feng push the door open and enter.

The dark-faced elder had changed into a solemn, ink-black robe today. Upon seeing Gu Cheng, he quickly stepped forward a couple of paces and cupped his hands:

"Young friend Gu, did you rest well last night?"

"Thank you for your concern. I slept soundly, without a single dream."

Gu Cheng nodded calmly, his gaze sweeping over the two guards with steady auras behind Chu Feng:

"Elder Feng, what brings you here so early? Have there been any developments regarding the ancestral hall matter?"

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

A smile flickered across Chu Feng's face, and he lowered his voice:

"This matter should not be publicized. Please accompany me there in secret."

Gu Cheng nodded in understanding and then followed the 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 like fire and water. If the Demon Transformation Sect were to learn that he was meeting the Great Elder at the ancestral shrine, it would likely cause complications.

The Qingwei horse carriage carried the two of them, its wheels rolling over the stone path still damp with morning dew, arriving before an inconspicuous stone house within the city.

Chu Feng leaped off the carriage and took out a blood-red jade pendant from his embrace. He lightly tapped the stone wall. The beast head carved upon it suddenly opened its eyes the moment it touched the stone.

With a muffled sound of mechanisms turning, the stone wall parted to both sides like flowing water, revealing a deep, dark passage.

"The Chu family's ancestral shrine is built within the mountain's core. This place is not only our place of worship but also the place of inheritance for our Hundred Beasts Villa,"

Chu Feng explained as he led the way into the passage.

The stairs wound downwards, and the stone walls on either side were inlaid with luminous crystals, illuminating the various beast patterns carved upon them.

Gu Cheng's boots landed on the bluestone steps, producing crisp echoes.

The further down they went, the more concentrated the demonic aura in the air became, causing the Flood Dragon Demon Servant in his sea of consciousness to stir slightly.

After descending about a hundred zhang, the path suddenly opened up.

A magnificent underground hall appeared before them. Towering stone pillars were adorned with lifelike statues of various beasts.

The most striking feature was the dozens of golden orbs suspended in the center of the main hall.

They rotated slowly like miniature suns, illuminating the entire underground palace as bright as day.

Gu Cheng focused his gaze and saw that each orb contained a sealed Demon Servant. Some had wings on their backs, while others had three heads and six arms. Their bodies, trapped within the golden light, still maintained their attacking postures.

"These are Supreme Demon Servants refined by the ancestors of our Hundred Beasts Villa throughout the generations,"

Chu Feng explained with a smile, a hint of pride in his tone.

"Although they are not fully refined, each one contains immense power and represents the foundation of our Hundred Beasts Villa."

Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes and scanned the orbs with his divine sense, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The weakest of these Demon Servants possessed strength at the Innate Realm, while the orbs with the largest dimensions emitted a pressure comparable to the peak of the Innate Realm.

If all these Demon Servants could be fully refined, the Hundred Beasts Villa would immediately gain several top-tier combatants comparable to Grandmasters!

"No wonder the Hundred Beasts Villa, despite not having any Spirit Sea Venerables, is still considered a first-rate force by the Demon Suppression Bureau. Their foundation is truly impressive,"

Gu Cheng mused inwardly. At the same time, he noticed that the central position of these half-finished Demon Servants seemed to be empty.

Just as a thought flickered through his mind, and he was lost in contemplation, an ancient voice echoed from the back of the hall.

"Chu Feng, is this the young friend Gu from the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

A white-haired elder walked out slowly, clad in a plain white robe. His face was kind, but his eyes were sharp and piercing.

He leaned on a snake-shaped staff, the gem inlaid at its head emitting a faint spiritual glow.

"Great Elder."

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

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

Gu Cheng cupped his fist in greeting:

"Greetings, Great Elder."

Chu Guanhai nodded with a smile and looked at the Third Elder:

"Chu Feng, you may leave first. I have a few things I wish to discuss with young friend Gu privately."