"Who did you say?" the Clan Spirit asked again.
The third clan elder knew that, with the Clan Spirit's Body Integration Realm cultivation, he could not possibly have misheard. He was only asking again to make certain.
So the elder stepped forward, cupped his hands once more, and said, "Long Chuan is dead."
"He's dead?" The Clan Spirit frowned. He drew back his right sleeve with his left hand, then stroked the long beard on his chin.
"That shouldn't be. I've never examined his fate, but I've read his face. He was no short-lived man."
"Besides, he survived perfectly well in the Southern Demonlands before returning to the clan. Why would he die the moment he came back?"
The Clan Spirit turned slightly toward the third clan elder. "How did you determine he was dead? Have you seen his body?"
"Well... no. His Soul Lamp in the Founders' Hall went out," the third clan elder said truthfully.
"A Soul Lamp can go out for many reasons. It doesn't necessarily mean he's dead. Investigate the cause first."
The Clan Spirit waved a hand, dismissing him.
The third clan elder nodded his assent and dissolved into a wisp of clear wind.
If the Clan Spirit had not previously instructed him to report any news concerning Long Chuan at once, the third clan elder would not have come so quickly today.
After returning to the Founders' Hall, he found the matter rather strange himself.
How had Long Chuan's Soul Lamp gone out just after he left?
Surely the Horned Dragon Clan's enemies had not struck. That seemed unlikely. Long Liuli had sent word a few days ago that Long Chuan had a Dao companion from the Qilin Clan.
That made it even less likely anyone on the Demon God Continent would dare touch