Within the Ghost King Sect, the night was black as ink and the stars lay hidden. Only scattered lights glimmered within the sect, illuminating an unusually tense atmosphere.
Candlelight flickered inside the council hall, lighting Qi Tianlong's stern face. He wore a black robe embroidered with intricate ghost-face totems along its hem, and resolve and coldness flashed in his eyes.
"Elders, I summoned you tonight to discuss one important matter."
Qi Tianlong's voice was low and powerful, echoing through the hall, every word like a heavy hammer striking their hearts.
On either side of the hall, several white-haired elders sat or stood, their expressions grave. Gui Ming, the Ghost King Sect's grand elder, sat in the seat of honor!
Some held staffs, while others carried longswords on their backs. All were highly cultivated, deeply respected figures within the Ghost King Sect.
"Our Ghost King Sect's true disciple Sun Qi and our elite disciples met a murderous end in the Gloomy Shadow Forest a few days ago, their souls scattered into nothingness. How could our Ghost King Sect sit by and ignore such a blood-deep feud?
"Everyone, take a look at the information on this murderer!
With that, Qi Tianlong swept his sleeve. A streak of light shot out from within it and formed a portrait suspended in the center of the hall.
The person in the portrait had a stern face and a piercing gaze that seemed capable of penetrating the paper to stare straight into people's hearts. This was the murderer who had killed Sun Qi.
"This portrait depicts the murderer's appearance, though he very likely used a disguise. Wherever our Ghost King Sect's disciples may be, they must report to the sect immediately if they discover any trace of him.
"Furthermore, this person used the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art. He must have some connection to the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect.
"I already went to the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect and exchanged blows with Liu Ran. We fought to a draw, but they neither recognized this person nor admitted to this matter.
"I gave their Falling Rosy Clouds Sect three days to hand over the murderer. Otherwise, our Ghost King Sect will demand an accounting even if we have to wage war between the two sects!
"Also, prepare to post a commission on the underground black market. Anyone who provides accurate information will receive a mid-grade Profound-tier cultivation method and one million low-grade spirit stones from our sect as a reward!
"Anyone who provides valuable information can also become an inner disciple of the Ghost King Sect directly!"
Qi Tianlong's words conveyed unquestionable authority and generosity.
At this, the elders exchanged glances. A mid-grade Profound-tier cultivation method was exceedingly precious even to elders like them.
Was the sect master planning a major move? they wondered.
Not to mention those million low-grade spirit stones, enough to tempt countless cultivators.
"In addition, I will personally contact the Blood Kill Organization. Whatever the cost, I will make this person repay his blood debt with blood!"
A vicious edge crept into Qi Tianlong's voice, as though he could already see the murderer being executed.
The Blood Kill Organization was a notorious assassin organization within the Heavenly Star Dynasty. Anyone with spirit stones or valuable resources could post a commission! They could complete any mission, no matter who the target was.
At this point, Gui Ming, the Ghost King Sect's grand elder, frowned and said, "Sect Master, isn't the price too high? That scoundrel must have disguised himself. I'm afraid that even if we post a commission with the Blood Kill Organization, they won't have a target to strike!"
"I know that too! One more person searching means one more chance. The commission to assassinate the Shadow Pavilion's higher-ups will also be posted at the same time..."
Qi Tianlong shifted the subject, a complicated look flashing through his eyes. "But our foremost task right now is to find and execute the murderer, to avenge Sun Qi and wash away this hatred!"
"Also, this murderer is at the mid Yin-Yang Realm, on par with our sect's elders. Tell the disciples that if they learn anything, they must not act rashly. They only need to report to the sect immediately!"
The elders nodded in agreement. They knew that Qi Tianlong's actions were meant both to uphold the Ghost King Sect's dignity and to give the dead disciples an accounting.
The night deepened, and the discussion in the hall continued, but an unseen storm was already quietly brewing within and beyond the Ghost King Sect.
News that the Ghost King Sect's true disciple Sun Qi and its elite disciples had been killed in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range spread throughout the capital, Heavenly Star City!
Outside the capital, people were discussing it everywhere. "Have you heard?
"The Ghost King Sect's true disciple Sun Qi and a group of elite disciples all died deep in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range?
"And they were killed instantly, at that!
"Sun Qi was at the late Sea Transformation Realm. Did he offend a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert? Otherwise, no one among the younger generation could have killed him!"
A martial artist asked, "How do you know?"
"Hey, speaking of that distant relative of mine, he's really something!
"He's already worked his way up to inner disciple in the Ghost King Sect, so naturally, he's extremely well-informed! Just recently, he uncovered something major.
"According to him, the Ghost King Sect's grand elder used some miraculous secret art and actually identified the murderer who killed their sect's disciples!
"And guess what?" the martial artist said.
"Come on, stop keeping us in suspense!" another martial artist urged.
"The sword art this mysterious murderer used was actually the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's famous Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art! Tsk, tsk, tsk, there's going to be quite a show now."
"Hiss, I heard the Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art isn't that easy to master. Could one of the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's higher-ups have made a move?"
"Sure enough, when Qi Tianlong, the Ghost King Sect's master, heard the news, his fury blazed three feet high. Without another word, he stormed straight into the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect and fought Liu Ran.
"Both of them are renowned experts within the dynasty. One is the Ghost King Sect's master, with unfathomable strength, while the other is the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's leader, whose formidable reputation is just as widespread.
"The fierce battle lasted nearly an hour, and they fought as though heaven were collapsing and earth were splitting apart. In the end, after exchanging blows, the two actually fought to a draw!
"But Qi Tianlong is no pushover. Although he failed to subdue Liu Ran on the spot, he still left a harsh warning before departing.
"He gave the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect three days to hand over the murderer, or they would bear the consequences! After saying that, he returned to the Ghost King Sect without looking back.
"Goodness, just imagining that scene is enough to shake you to the core!
"You have to understand, battles between Tribulation Crossing Realm experts like that are rarely seen!"
Thus, when the news broke, the entire dynasty was thrown into an uproar.
Everyone speculated about who could be so outrageously bold as to dare kill the disciple of Qi Tianlong of the Ghost King Sect.
This person either possessed abilities that reached through heaven and earth or had an extremely powerful force backing him. Otherwise, how would he dare do such a thing?
As for that Ghost King Sect... heh-heh, who knew what sort of commotion it would stir up next!
Reportedly, the Ghost King Sect had already posted a commission on the underground black market to locate this murderer. The reward for anyone who could provide accurate information was: a mid-grade Profound-tier cultivation method.
One million low-grade spirit stones.
And one slot as an inner disciple of the Ghost King Sect.
Who wouldn't be tempted by such rewards? Wealth stirred people's hearts!
Once the news broke, everyone in Heavenly Star City soon knew that the Ghost King Sect was drawing on multiple forces to investigate and hunt down Sun Qi's murderer!
Some desperate outlaws headed into the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range to search for Sun Qi's murderer!
The murderer used the Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art! He must have some connection to the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect!
But the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect denied it! Yet this could lead to a war between sects! Which force did the person who dared do this belong to? Could it be someone from the imperial family?
Clouds of mystery shrouded everyone's minds! There had to be something deeply fishy going on!