Greetings, My Lord!

Seven days later,

News of the destruction of the Crimson Yang Sect and the Tyrant Saber Sect spread throughout the Eastern Continent. Some clapped their hands in approval, while others worried for their own safety.

After all, leaving the Crimson Yang Sect aside, the Tyrant Saber Sect had been the second strongest of the ten great sects!

Beneath the holy lands, its strength had ranked among the very best! Now it had been destroyed, and even its territory had become a giant pit.

The remaining nine of the ten great sects were probably unable to sit still by now.

Inside an inn in Clear Wind City,

People came and went in bustling crowds, all talking about the destruction of the two sects.

"Hey, do you think the deaths of those Crimson Yang Sect disciples in the inn a few days ago had anything to do with this?"

"Who cares? The Crimson Yang Sect did so many things that outraged heaven and reason. They deserved to die!"

"Now that you mention it, I just remembered that after the city lord came out that day, no one saw the people from the Crimson Yang Sect again!"

"The city lord's residence suddenly held a banquet afterward, too!"

"Maybe the city lord really does have some ability!"

"Then what about the Tyrant Saber Sect?"

"Well..."

Everyone joined in, one voice after another, and discussions filled the air. Clear Wind City was peaceful once more.

In the same corner,

Ye Zichen downed his cup of wine.

"Tsk, it seems I'm not used to this wine anymore."

"Oh? It looks like someone familiar has arrived."

Ye Zichen curled his lips. The next second, he vanished, leaving only a few copper coins on the table.

Outside the city, Sect Master Ye Ling arrived at the gates with two of his sect's disciples.

"Master, we still don't have any clues about the Crimson Yang Sect's destruction, and the holy lands haven't made any progress investigating the Tyrant Saber Sect's territory either. We've been traveling day and night. Why don't we go into the city and rest first?"

The disciple at the front offered his master some comfort.

"That's right, Master. Don't wear yourself out. Let's go into the city and have a look. Maybe we'll find something there."

A playful, adorable female disciple spoke up.

With the sect assembly approaching, the holy lands attached great importance to such a major incident. They had expressly warned the nine great sects to unite and cause no further trouble, and had dispatched the Sword Sect to investigate the Crimson Yang Sect case.

The Taiyuan Holy Land and the Flawed Light Holy Land would send people together to investigate the Tyrant Saber Sect.

"Ah, all right. You two, change your clothes. Let's go into the city!"

The speaker was none other than Sect Master Ye Ling.

"Yes!" the two disciples answered in unison.

Before long, the group entered the city...

Meanwhile, the Taiyuan Holy Land Holy Lord and the Flaw Light Holy Lord were investigating the Tyrant Saber Sect's territory.

The Xiaguang Holy Lord, Ji Yaoguang, had no leads. She sighed. "Alas, a feat like this is simply beyond the strength of people like us!"

Looking at the enormous, deep pit stretching for a thousand li, Ji Yaoguang felt a wave of pressure.

Lin Feng also felt as though a mountain were pressing down on him. "Yes. I wonder if those half-immortals in the Central Continent could accomplish something like this?"

"If that really is the case, then there's no need for the two of us to pursue this any further."

The two flew several circles over the Tyrant Saber Sect's territory and searched it once more before returning to their respective holy lands.

Back in Clear Wind City,

"Wow! Master, look, it's so lively!"

The only female disciple ran around happily. She hadn't expected such a remote place to be so lively.

"Be careful. Don't run," Ye Ling called out.

Of Sect Master Ye Ling's two personal disciples, the female disciple, Jian Ningshuang, was especially lively.

By contrast, the other disciple, Xie Lingyun, was much quieter.

"Lingyun, you've had that formation for quite some time now. Have you gained any insights?"

Ye Ling and Xie Lingyun were walking one behind the other when Ye Ling suddenly spoke.

"Master, your disciple has made some progress," Xie Lingyun answered, cupping his hands.

The formation spirit had already acknowledged Xie Lingyun as its master, and with its help, Xie Lingyun felt himself growing stronger and stronger.

"Good, good. Keep it up."

Ye Ling patted Xie Lingyun on the shoulder, greatly gratified.

After a while of noisy activity,

The group came to a small restaurant. Although they had all reached Grain Avoidance, since they had come to a city of ordinary people, it would be wonderful to have a taste of the food.

"Oh? Disciples of the Crimson Yang Sect came here once, and no one knew where they went afterward. They're suspected to have died here?"

Ye Ling had heard another table loudly discussing interesting events from recent days. Hearing this news, Ye Ling looked puzzled.

"Although the Crimson Yang Sect was weak, could just a few Foundation Establishment cultivators in this city have killed several of its disciples?"

Xie Lingyun also found it suspicious.

Ye Ling looked at Ningshuang, who was focused solely on eating, and rubbed his forehead. "We'll visit the city lord at his residence in a little while and find out what happened."

At that moment, Ye Zichen was high above Clear Wind City. He learned what Ye Ling and the others were there for, then disappeared.

Before long, the three arrived at the gates of the city lord's residence.

Before they could step forward and knock, a richly dressed young woman came out to greet them.

"Greetings to our guests from the Sword Sect. My father invites you inside."

Zhang Lingyao carried herself with grace and composure as she invited the three into the city lord's residence.

The three were astonished. We haven't even revealed our identities, yet they already know who we are?

Strange. Very strange. Even so, the three followed Zhang Lingyao into the city lord's residence.

Inside, City Lord Zhang Xu was waiting.

When he saw the three arrive, he greeted them courteously. "I am Zhang Xu, the city lord of Clear Wind City. It is truly an honor for our city to receive guests from the Sword Sect. Come, please, have a seat."

"Greetings, City Lord Zhang." The three then took their seats.

"I am Ye Ling, sect master of the Sword Sect. These two are my disciples, Jian Ningshuang and Xie Lingyun."

Ye Ling introduced them to Zhang Xu and Zhang Lingyao.

Zhang Xu was instantly surprised.

That lord had told him that people from the Sword Sect would be coming, but had not said that one of them was a sect master. Zhang Xu could hardly help being surprised by such a grand occasion.

"May I ask how you knew we were coming, City Lord Zhang? As I see it, you and your daughter are only at Foundation Establishment. Neither of you seems capable of such a thing."

Ye Ling went straight to the point and asked.

"Ah, that. Indeed, the two of us don't have that ability, but my lord does. He has been waiting for you for quite some time. Please, follow me."

Zhang Xu gestured for them to follow.

Just as I thought. There's an expert behind this.

Ye Ling thought to himself.

The three then followed Zhang Xu and Zhang Lingyao to Ye Zichen's residence.

On the way, Ye Ling also asked Zhang Xu whether the Crimson Yang Sect disciples had died in Clear Wind City a few days ago.

Zhang Xu did not answer, saying only, "Once you arrive, you'll understand everything."

Seeing that the city lord was still being deliberately mysterious, Ye Ling said no more and continued walking.

At last, they arrived outside Ye Zichen's courtyard.

Zhang Xu said respectfully, "My lord, I have brought them to you."

"Come in, all of you," Ye Zichen instructed.

The light, effortless voice reached Ye Ling's ears, making his whole body tremble. He would never forget that voice!

Yes, absolutely! It's that lord!

Before the stone pavilion, at the foot of the steps.

Ye Zichen spoke first. "We meet again."

"Junior Ye Ling greets you, my lord!" Ye Ling sounded extremely excited. For all this time, the Sword Sect and the Taiyuan Holy Lord had never known where this lord had gone to wander the mortal world at his leisure.

Now, upon seeing Ye Zichen again, Ye Ling was visibly excited.

Ye Ling also understood why Zhang Xu had just said that he would know everything once he met that lord!