Demon Sect Protector: Elder Mu

After speaking, Clan Chief Baihe and Hong Meigui, who knelt below, bowed their heads deeply. They had truly been terrified by how Zhou Qiong had wiped out Qian Sihai and the other three with just a few simple words. His true martial realm cultivation had shattered their composure even further.

One had to know that Elder Mu was the only person in the entire Black King City in the true martial realm, and even he was only at its first level. Since his true form was a plant, he was fundamentally unsuited to combat, so he generally ranked at the bottom among those of the same realm. Now that Zhou Qiong had broken through to the true martial realm, he would surely become Black King City's next city lord.

Zhou Qiong's temperament was completely different from Elder Mu's. He clearly would not tolerate the existence of eight factions, and now he had killed the leaders of four major factions in one go. No, counting Long Chang of the One-Eyed Clan, who had already been beaten into a cripple, the leaders of five major factions had fallen at Zhou Qiong's hands.

"My Heavenly Demon Peak still lacks some flowers and plants for decoration. Would your Flower Clan be willing?"

Hearing Zhou Qiong finally speak, Clan Chief Baihe below breathed a sigh of relief. "Sect Master, our clan is willing. This subordinate is willing to lead my clan to settle on Heavenly Demon Peak."

"Good!" Zhou Qiong nodded and walked into the gate of light with Liansheng. Behind him, Baihe and Hong Meigui hurriedly rose and entered the gate as well.

At that moment, in a cultivation chamber in the City Lord's Manor, an old man in white robes was cultivating. An enormous peach tree appeared above his head, constantly flickering with light. Its trunk kept growing larger, but as though restrained by something, it immediately shrank back each time it expanded.

After this repeated many times, the old man slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the completely empty porcelain bottle in his hand, he sighed. A trace of regret flashed through his eyes before he became happy again.

This was none other than Elder Mu, who had obtained the Immortal Spirit Marrow. After everyone entered the secret realm, he had immediately begun cultivating. He had originally hoped to use the Immortal Spirit Marrow to break through the limitations of his true form in one stroke, but there had been too little marrow, and he had still failed. However, it had opened the door to a breakthrough. From now on, he only needed to cultivate step by step, and he would break through in less than one or two thousand years.

It seemed like a long time, but it was still acceptable for a true martial realm cultivator, much less a wood-type being like Elder Mu, whose lifespan was already longer than that of ordinary cultivators.

Suddenly, Elder Mu looked toward the waterfall. His pupils contracted sharply, and his figure vanished from the cultivation chamber in an instant.

Beside the waterfall, four figures walked out from within it, while everyone from the other four factions, leaders and disciples alike, had been buried in the secret realm.

Elder Mu's figure slowly appeared before the waterfall. He looked at the four people before him-no, to be precise, he looked only at Zhou Qiong, who wore the Demon Dragon Battle Robe. His eyes were filled with disbelief.

Only after a long silence did Elder Mu cup his hands toward Zhou Qiong. "Congratulations on your great advancement in cultivation, Sect Master Zhou, and on entering the true martial realm! From now on, you may roam freely through heaven and earth."

Zhou Qiong nodded and glanced around. "How long have you stayed in Black King City, Elder Mu, and how long have you served as its city lord?"

"I have cultivated around Black King City ever since I gained awareness. Only five hundred years ago, when my cultivation broke through to the true martial realm, did I become city lord!"

"I am very fond of this Black King City. Would you be willing to yield it to me, Elder Mu?"

"Uh..." Elder Mu frowned. Although Zhou Qiong had just asked for his opinion, his tone brooked no argument. Zhou Qiong really was just as the rumors described: so overbearing that he acknowledged no one above him.

Elder Mu pondered for a long while, then seemed to come to a realization. He cupped his hands toward Zhou Qiong again. "Since Sect Master Zhou likes Black King City, I shall naturally hand it over!"

"There is still a vacant protector position in my Demon Sect. Could you fill it, Elder Mu?"

"What? Don't take a mile when given an inch!" Elder Mu glared in anger. He was a dignified true martial realm expert. He merely was not particularly skilled at fighting. At most, he would hand Black King City over to the other party, but what was this supposed to mean now? Zhou Qiong wanted to take him in as a subordinate!

Even if I can't beat him, can't I at least hide from him? At worst, I'll leave Black King City and make my way in another city. Even if I can't become a city lord, I can at least lead a faction. Wouldn't that be far better than lowering myself beneath someone else?

At this thought, Elder Mu shifted his body, about to tear through the air and leave directly.

"You have yet to answer me. Are you thinking of leaving?"

An indifferent voice reached Elder Mu's ears. At the same time, he felt a heaven-shaking saber intent lock onto him, as though he would be cut down on the spot if he moved even half a step away.

Elder Mu did not doubt his instincts. He had been born with exceptional intuition and had relied on those keen instincts to avoid countless dangers in the past. But ever since his cultivation reached the true martial realm, he had rarely felt this sense that he might die at any moment.

The last time had been three hundred years ago, when a peerless great demon flew swiftly over Black King City and glanced at him, giving him this same feeling-as though he were an ant in its hands, something it could casually crush to death. Zhou Qiong had clearly only just broken through to the true martial realm. How could he be so powerful?

After a long silence, Elder Mu bowed as though resigning himself to his fate. "I am willing to submit to the Demon Sect and serve as a protector." As soon as he finished, he felt the saber intent locking onto him disappear and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Very good. Qian Sihai and the other three are dead, so there is no need to leave their clansmen alive either. Apart from the Flower Clan and Sword Sect, wipe out the others as well. I will leave this matter to you, Elder Mu."

"Yes, as you command!" Elder Mu bowed in salute. By the time he straightened again, Zhou Qiong had already vanished with Liansheng.

Before long, a mass of armored soldiers rushed out of the City Lord's Manor and headed toward the major factions, instantly throwing all of Black King City into turmoil.

"Damn, what's going on? Why have the City Lord's Manor's soldiers mobilized? Wasn't their last deployment over a hundred years ago?"

"Did someone offend the City Lord, so he sent soldiers to arrest them?"

"Holy shit, why does it look like they're heading toward our Blue Rain Clan's compound?" A member of the Blue Rain Clan seemed to notice something and quickly ran off.

"Has the Blue Rain Clan offended the City Lord? Are they courting death? The City Lord is a true martial realm expert. He could wipe out their Blue Rain Clan with a single word."

By then, swords were already drawn and bows bent at the Blue Rain Clan's compound. The soldiers from the City Lord's Manor had surrounded it outright, sealing off every escape route.

The Blue Rain Clan still did not know that their clan chief, Lan Yukong, had died. Lanyu Wu, who was handling affairs, walked out. Looking at the soldiers surrounding the clan compound, he solemnly cupped his hands toward the treant leader. "May I ask how our Blue Rain Clan has offended the City Lord's Manor? Please inform us, my lord. Our clan will certainly make amends!"

"No need. Elder Mu has ordered that the Blue Rain Clan be struck from existence starting today." With that, he waved his hand and shouted, "Elder Mu's orders: leave not a chicken or dog alive in the Blue Rain Clan!"