The Men in Black

Half an hour earlier.

The back mountain of Jingyun Sect.

In the darkness, two blurred figures flashed into view. After confirming that no one was around and they wouldn't be spotted, they immediately stopped.

"Isn't it a little reckless for just the two of us to venture deep into enemy territory?" one of the men in black asked. "The core of Jingyun Sect's spirit vein is heavily guarded, and it's not far from the innate expert's residence. If we make a single sound, we won't get out of here!"

"What's there to be afraid of? It's true that Old Lady Xu is an innate expert, but she's also near the end of her lifespan. Besides, we're both Ninth Grade. Even an innate expert at their peak would have to work hard to kill us, let alone one who's half-dead. They'd be lucky to manage half their strength," the other man in black said coldly.

"Hey, Third Elder, to be honest, I don't know why, but ever since we entered Jingyun Sect, I've been feeling uneasy. Somehow, it feels like dark clouds are gathering overhead..." Fourth Elder hesitated before speaking.

"Shut up! Keep those ridiculous fortune-telling tricks to yourself. When have they ever been right? Stop making a fuss over nothing."

The man in black, Third Elder, scolded him. After thinking for a moment, he added, "I understand your concerns. They're not unreasonable. But this time, we brought the sect's precious treasure with us. With its power, the two of us working together won't have to fear someone who's just entered the innate realm, and we can even outrun an old hand. If we really run into Old Lady Xu, it's anyone's guess who'll come out on top!"

"Besides, our mission is only to seize the spirit vein core. We're not here to fight an innate expert!"

"Even if we charged in openly instead of sneaking around, we'd still have a decent chance. Jingyun Sect is short on experts these days!"

These two were none other than two guardian elders of the Blood-Oath Sect.

Heaven-Killer, Earth, Jue, Mei, Wang, and Liang.

Elder Earth and Elder Jue.

Ninth Grade powerhouses could establish their own sects if they went out into the world!

Even among the Ten Great Sects, teeming with experts, they were pillars of their sects.

"But..."

Fourth Elder wasn't convinced. He still felt uneasy, and that feeling was growing stronger, as if disaster were about to strike.

"You're a Ninth Grade powerhouse, for heaven's sake. Stop dithering!"

Seeing that Fourth Elder was still hesitating after all he'd said, Third Elder grew furious. "I'm warning you not to lose your nerve at a time like this. This matter is of great importance. Whether we can seize Jingyun Sect's spirit vein core will determine whether the Blood-Oath Sect can rise to a two-star sect! If you ruin everything, do you think the sect master will let you off?"

At the words "sect master,"

Elder Jue shuddered, his face turning pale.

Though he still felt something was wrong, he fell silent. Seeing this, Elder Earth nodded in satisfaction.

According to the Ten Thousand Alliance's rules, for a one-star sect to rise to two stars, it had to have a Foundation Establishment Venerable in residence, as well as meet one other requirement—a middle-grade spirit vein!

The spirit veins of one-star sects were all low-grade. Although the Blood-Oath Sect had deep foundations, its spirit vein was only top-tier low-grade.

But a middle-grade spirit vein was essential for a sect to advance.

Across the land, the Five Elements Sect was the only two-star sect in the Southern Region, and it had a Foundation Establishment Venerable in residence. Wouldn't it be suicide for them to try to seize its spirit vein?

That left only one option.

Seize another one-star sect's spirit vein and let their own spirit vein core devour it!

The Blood-Oath Sect was powerful, but it wasn't invincible. The theft of a spirit vein core had to be carried out in secret. After repeated deliberations, the higher-ups had chosen Jingyun Sect, ranked at the very bottom.

Pick on the softest persimmon.

Everyone knew that principle.

In terms of overall strength, Jingyun Sect ranked last among the Ten Great Sects, and its innate expert was in poor condition. There couldn't have been a better target.

"This is it!"

After casually killing the elder on guard, Elder Earth couldn't be bothered to spare him another glance. He was only Sixth Grade, an ant-like creature. Elder Earth had killed too many of them to count!

The two stared at the formation before them. After making their preparations, they exchanged a glance and nodded together. "Attack!"

They struck with their fists in unison!

A thunderous boom shook the entire spirit-vein mountain. Countless people awoke from their dreams, and the elders whipped around to look into the distance.

"Hurry up!"

Knowing that breaking the restriction would surely alert countless people, Elder Earth hurriedly urged him on.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn.

"Let's go!"

The mission was complete. The two stowed away the spirit vein core and turned to leave!

"Haha! Mission accomplished. Jingyun Sect was nothing special!" A flash of satisfaction crossed Elder Earth's eyes. He pictured the Blood-Oath Sect becoming a two-star sect before long and couldn't help smiling. Perhaps one day, I'll even break into the innate realm!

Two-star sects had access to more resources.

By then, they were bound to have treasures that could help someone enter the innate realm.

With the merit he'd earned today, that position was practically his!

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became!

"Bold thieves! How dare you steal our sect's spirit vein! Surrender at once!" Powerful auras rapidly approached from afar.

Hearing the furious cries, Elder Earth's smile grew wider.

Surrender?

In your dreams!

"Fourth Elder, break through!"

Elder Earth laughed loudly. The auras of two Ninth Grade powerhouses burst forth, making the air tremble. The Jingyun Sect elders rushing over turned pale.

Ninth Grade!

Two of them!

"Quick, call the Grand Elder!" someone roared at the top of their lungs.

"Hmph! Die!"

Elder Jue scoffed. So what if an innate expert came? It was already too late. He clenched his hand, drawing the faint power of heaven and earth around him. A giant palm took shape and slammed down at the people ahead.

An Eighth Grade elder blocking their path looked solemn and raised both palms to meet the attack.

He hadn't expected to be defeated in a single blow. He spat blood and was hurled backward.

"How can they be this strong!?" Seeing that an Eighth Grade elder couldn't even withstand a single palm from their opponent, the onlookers were shocked and bewildered.

The gap between Eighth and Ninth Grade couldn't possibly be this great!

It shouldn't be!

"These two aren't normal!" an elder shouted.

"You only figured that out now? Too late!"

Elder Earth gave a strange laugh. A delicate furnace suddenly appeared in his hand. Once he activated it, an invisible force enveloped the two of them, and the power of heaven and earth around them surged wildly. Their combined aura was actually on par with an innate expert's!

"This is bad! Run!"

Seeing that things had taken a turn for the worse, the Jingyun Sect elders were scared out of their wits!

Innate!

The two of them could join forces to unleash power comparable to an innate expert's!

Below the innate realm, all were ants!

They had no hope of resisting. They had to wait for the Grand Elder to arrive, or Jingyun Sect would be in grave danger today!

"Bloodthirsty Fist!"

"Nether Palm!"

Two more terrifying attacks burst forth from the Blood-Oath Sect elders!

"You dare!"

Just as everyone was giving in to despair, the Grand Elder's voice rang out from afar like a savior's call. In a few breaths, he covered several hundred meters in the blink of an eye. Everyone's eyes lit up, and they let out a heavy sigh of relief.

The Grand Elder had arrived just in time at last.

Those two thieves were finished!

"Break!"

Old Lady Xu's expression was icy. She thrust out her cane, and the power of heaven and earth surged wildly, crushing the fist imprint and giant palm. The force kept going, striking toward the two men in black!

With a thunderous boom,

the two were driven back again and again by a single move.

"What!" Third Elder and Fourth Elder cried out.

They hadn't expected Old Lady Xu to be so powerful.

They exchanged a glance and retreated!

"You're not getting away!"

Seeing that the two thieves who'd stolen the spirit vein core were trying to escape, Old Lady Xu refused to let them go. She drew upon her true energy and gathered the power of heaven and earth, but suddenly let out a muffled groan as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

In the time it took to hesitate, the two men in black had vanished from sight.

"Grand Elder!"

"Grand Elder, are you all right?"

Everyone was shocked. They didn't even spare a thought for the fleeing men in black, rushing instead to ask about the Grand Elder's injuries. Every face was filled with worry. The Grand Elder had little time left as it was, and now she'd used her full strength. Her injuries were likely to worsen.

The atmosphere grew tense in an instant.

Everyone stared anxiously at Old Lady Xu.

"I'm old..." Old Lady Xu watched the men in black disappear into the distance, her heart filled with sorrow.

There was a time when she wouldn't have given such petty thieves a second glance.

Even if they relied on a spirit artifact to barely match an innate expert, they would have been no match for her.

But now...

Old Lady Xu suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit.

"Grand Elder, please don't worry. Your health comes first! For your own sake and for the sect's, you absolutely mustn't fall!" An elder hurried forward, speaking with heartfelt concern.

Jingyun Sect had only managed to hold on to its current standing because the Grand Elder, an innate expert, protected it.

If she fell, all of Jingyun Sect would be finished.

Hearing this, Old Lady Xu gently shook her head and sighed.

Her frail body stooped even further, and her gaze grew cloudy.

As for the two men in black who'd escaped and the spirit vein...

It could only be said that it was the way of time, the will of fate!

Old Lady Xu walked away slowly with faltering steps, her vitality fading further and further. "I'm powerless. I couldn't protect the foundation our ancestors left behind... Perhaps Jingyun Sect was fated to suffer this calamity."

"No!"

"This isn't your fault. We were useless, leaving all this crushing pressure on your shoulders!"

"We, your disciples, have failed you!"

The elders were heartsick, their mouths bitter as they reproached themselves for their own weakness.

If only there'd been another innate expert, things would never have come to this!

The Grand Elder left, leaving behind a crowd with complicated feelings.

Just then, Elder Hao, a plump elder in the crowd, stepped forward. Without even tending to his wounds, he shouted, "What's everyone standing around for? Move out at once! Lock down the whole sect. We must find the thieves who stole the spirit vein and execute them on the spot!"

"Yes!"

With someone taking the lead, everyone's spirits lifted. They shouted in unison.