Righteous-Demonic Alliance

Qingzhou, Heaven-Forging Stronghold Headquarters.

As a renowned weapon-forging sect in the Ten Lands of Jiuzhou, in order to facilitate the forging of powerful Magical Artifact, Heaven-Forging Stronghold established its headquarters on a boiling Active Volcano. After a thousand years of transformation, the disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold used their wisdom to tame and transform this Active Volcano into a natural Heaven and Earth Furnace for the sect to forge weapons.

Leaving aside the densely packed workshops and warehouses, the sect buildings of Heaven-Forging Stronghold do indeed look like a dock, except that the fluid beneath this dock is slowly flowing volcanic lava.

Huangfu Feng arrived at Heaven-Forging Stronghold with a heavy expression. He entered through the Mountain Gate and, after showing his Identity Proof, was led by the disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold to the Sect Master's Study Room.

Inside the Study Room, many people had already arrived before Huangfu Feng. He glanced around and found that, apart from the Sect Master Yue Qianlian sitting at the head of the table, they were all new generation Righteous Path masters he had dealt with before. Elder Xu Xuelin of the Profound Law Academy, Zhang Ruifei, the Battalion Commander of the Black Armor Battalion of the Divine Martial Heavenly Army, Elder Danqinglou of the Cinnabar Hall of Immortal City Jade Tower, and the Li Pengfei, but he did not see any of his peers. Judging from the progress of Righteous Path figures, these old guys were probably in seclusion preparing for their Tribulation Crossing.

Originally, Yue Qianren should have been able to Tribulation Crossing soon...

Huangfu Feng sighed inwardly and stepped into the room.

Upon seeing this leading figure of the Demonic Path, the other people in the room reacted with varying expressions. Elder Xu of the Profound Law Academy had his eyes shining with a deep thirst for knowledge, as if he wished he could dissect Huangfu Feng on the spot for research. Zhang Ruifei, the Battalion Commander of the Divine Martial Heavenly Army, had a deep fighting spirit in his eyes. Elder Li the Immortal City Jade Tower, who had the worst relationship with the Heavenly Demon Sect, looked as if he had seen a walking dung beetle.

Huangfu Feng ignored them and walked straight to Yue Qianlian, saying, "Little Yue, I'm here. Da Yuezi...?"

"It's okay, I understand."

Yue Qianlian wasn't in high spirits, but he still calmly said, "Since Brother Huangfu has arrived, please take a seat. That way, only the Azure Nether Sword Sect, Heavenly Saint Buddhist Sect, Hehuan Sect, and Yin Ling Sect are missing from both sides."

"Don't worry, Xiao Yue, the person from the Azure Nether Sword Sect should be the Sword Ancestor."

Huangfu Feng comforted Yue Qianlian, saying, "With his help, he'll definitely be able to save Da Yuezi."

"But Old Demon Huangfu."

Elder Xu of the Profound Law Academy couldn't help but speak up, "If the Sword Ancestor were here, given his speed, he should have arrived long ago, right? Are you just guessing?"

Zhang Ruifei coughed, while Elder Li of Immortal City Jade Tower couldn't help but step on his foot.

"Why are you stepping on me, Lao Li? I'm just stating the facts."

Elder from the Profound Law Academy, who wasn't very good at socializing, asked without realizing it.

"Because I went to inform the rest of the people."

Someone outside answered his question. Bai Qiuran pushed the door open and entered, followed by Su Xiangxue, who was wearing a veil, and another hunched figure in a black cloak whose face could not be seen. They all walked into the room together.

"The person from the Heavenly Saint Buddhist Sect this time is Dust Zen Master. He will be gathering intelligence on his way here, so he won't be coming this time. We can meet up with him after we finish discussing things here."

Bai Qiuran looked around at everyone, then suddenly clasped her hands and bowed to Yue Qianlian.

"Xiao Yue, I'm sorry!"

His sudden action startled those around him who knew his identity. Yue Qianlian jumped up from his chair, dodging Bai Qiuran's bow, and asked, "What makes you say such a thing, Sword Ancestor?"

"I may bear the primary responsibility for the disappearances of the Heaven-Forging Stronghold Disciple, the disappearance of your elder brother Yue Qianren, and Elder Liu's serious injury."

Bai Qiuran straightened up and recounted to everyone present the whole story of how he and Huangfu Feng went to the Savage Lands to investigate the mysterious Stone Stele. Then he said, "I asked Huangfu Feng to guide me. If we hadn't activated the Stone Stele, this Ancient City wouldn't have appeared. So the main responsibility lies with me, and I will do my best to resolve this incident."

"The Sword Ancestor is too fond of taking responsibility upon himself."

Yue Qianlian shook his head and said, "Since that Stone Stele is already accumulating power, it means that its activation is only a matter of time. Sword Ancestor just happened to encounter it; the responsibility does not lie with you. But Yue Qianlian still begs Sword Ancestor to help me rescue my brothers and disciples."

"I will."

Bai Qiuran walked to the side and stood with the other three representatives of the Righteous Path, while Su Xiangxue and the Black-Robed Figure came to stand behind Huangfu Feng. At Yue Qianlian's invitation, the two groups took their seats and began to discuss important matters.

"Let me first tell you the whole story of the Ancient City incident."

Yue Qianlian Consciousness scratched the table, then continued, "About half a month ago, Heavenly Harmony after Sword Ancestor and Brother Huangfu explored the Savage Lands, and according to the Illustrated Book, an Ancient City shrouded in darkness suddenly appeared in a mountainous area in the northwest of the Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom. This Ancient City aroused the covetousness of Martial World practitioners in the vicinity. Subsequently, the King of the Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom and several nearby Cultivation sects also received the news and dispatched their troops and disciples, totaling five thousand soldiers, sixteen Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, and two Golden Core Stage Cultivators, to explore the Ancient City. We don't know what happened at the time, only that all of them disappeared along with the Ancient City. Afterwards, the King of the Eastern Mausoleum Kingdom asked me for help, so I notified the Righteous Path Alliance and sent Elder Liu and his disciples to investigate. Later, they received the news and went to the Western Mausoleum Kingdom. My brother Yue Qianren heard about it on his way back and also went there. Then they encountered the mysteriously appeared Ancient City there, and only Elder Liu returned severely injured."

Where is Elder Liu?

Elder Li of the Immortal City Jade Tower asked.

"His Spiritual Sense was severely damaged, and he fell into a coma after returning."

Yue Qianlian replied, "Fortunately, we at Heaven-Forging Stronghold have a habit of carrying Recording Stone with us while working. Among the Recording Stone he carried, we still saw some useful things."

As he spoke, Yue Qianlian took out Recording Stone and played the recorded Projection on it in the open space in the center of the Study Room.

The Projection showed Elder Liu leading his disciples to the Ancient City, ending with two horned Dark Monsters leading thousands of Golden Core Stage monsters as they rushed towards the Heaven-Forging Stronghold Disciple. After watching the video, everyone present remained silent.

After a long silence, Su Xiangxue sighed and spoke up, "Everyone, it seems we've reached our much-anticipated segment of [abandoning prejudices]."

She looked up and glanced around, then asked, "This time, the Righteous Path Alliance and the Demonic Sect Alliance are cooperating again. Does anyone have any objections?"