Meeting Up with Lü Yang

After carefully avoiding several dangers, Shen Ge and Li Xue finally returned to the shore. However, they did not linger but left the territory of the Spirit Moon Sect directly.

A few days later, the two arrived at Lü Yang's cave abode. As soon as they landed, Lü Yang came out to greet them with a big laugh, saying, "Brother Shen, Sister Xue, you're here earlier than I expected!"

"Something went wrong inside. That secret realm is ruined. Also, don't go to the South Sea or the Spirit Moon Sect's territory for a while. Just focus on your cultivation," Shen Ge instructed.

Upon entering the cave abode, Shen Ge discovered that there was another person sitting inside—it was Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao looked at Shen Ge and Li Xue, a slight smile playing on his lips, and greeted them, "Fellow Daoists, we meet again."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you're too kind," Shen Ge returned the greeting.

Li Xue simply nodded in response, then found a seat and sat down.

Lü Yang explained, "It's like this. When I came out earlier, I encountered a third-tier Demon Beast on the sea. As you know, I've only just broken through to the Golden Core, and my strength is very weak. If I hadn't happened to meet Brother Zhang, I might have already perished in the fish's belly. So I invited Brother Zhang to return to my cave abode and host a banquet to express my gratitude."

"Is there something important you want to discuss?" Zhang Hao stood up and said, "I can take my leave now. I've already bothered Fellow Daoist Lü for quite some time, so it's time to say goodbye. You two continue your conversation, I'll be going now."

"No, fellow Daoist, please sit down. We're not here to talk about anything," Shen Ge said. "I only came here specifically for the banquet. After all, Brother Lü just broke through to the Golden Core not long ago, and he said he wanted to throw a banquet to celebrate. If it weren't for this banquet, I would have gone back to recuperate long ago."

"In that case, adding me wouldn't be a problem, would it? Brother Lü, it shouldn't bankrupt you, right?" Zhang Hao slowly sat down, turned to look at Lü Yang, and asked with a smile.

"No, no, Brother Zhang, you staying is giving me Lü Yang, face. You should know you're my savior."

After chatting for a while, Zhang Hao turned to Shen Ge and asked, "Brother Shen, I wonder what exactly happened in the secret realm? You're so solemn in saying not to go near the South Sea recently. Could it be that something from inside has come out?"

Shen Ge shook his head and said, "I don't know if they've come out or not. We escaped early and didn't go back to check, so we don't know. But we'll probably find out soon enough, and we'll understand by observing the movements of the Spirit Moon Sect."

"However, Brother Zhang, your premonition was indeed sharp. Not long after you left, a great trouble occurred in the secret realm. A Evil Demon appeared, and Evil Demon strength was so formidable that it was already close to the Nascent Soul. It killed seven or eight of our fellow cultivators before it was finally killed by our combined efforts."

At this point, Shen Ge's lips twitched, and a dull ache rose in his chest. "I must mention that Senior Uncle Yang Feng of the Spirit Moon Sect's sword strike was truly astonishing. One strike decapitated, already displaying the power of Nascent Soul cultivator."

"Although it was achieved by combining the strength of seven people, the fact that he was able to do this demonstrates his formidable personal strength."

Li Xue curled her lip in disdain, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "To be honest, he's just so-so. After all, he didn't even kill you."

Shen Ge smiled awkwardly and said, "Sister Xue, it's different. Please don't bring this up again."

"Okay, okay, I won't mention it again."

Zhang Hao, who was standing to the side, didn't say anything, but his eyes became deep.

Although he didn't know much about Evil Demon, he did know some things, such as the Gods and Devils Abyss, the largest forbidden area in the Southern Barbarian Lands, which was left behind during a battle with Evil Demon.

Moreover, the Evil Demon seem not to exist in this world, or rather, they don't exist in this region. They seem to exist in some kind of secret realm or small world, and each of them is terrifyingly powerful.

In the main hall of the Spirit Moon Sect, the slightly aged Shangguan Ouyang reported on everything that had happened in the secret realm.

"Sect Leader, the Sea Demon Sect was destroyed by the Evil Demon. Although Junior Brother Yang Feng sacrificed his life to kill the Evil Demon, there seems to be an even more terrifying giant octopus inside. The South Sea is likely to be turbulent lately, so we must be on guard."

"Understood. I will personally be vigilant and will never allow the South Sea matter to affect our Spirit Moon Sect," Ziyang nodded.

"Furthermore, I am deeply saddened by the death of Junior Brother Yang Feng. However, he died for a greater cause, and his death can be considered worthy. Remember to give him a proper burial at Azure Jade Peak, and take good care of his disciples and descendants in the mortal realm."

Shangguan Ouyang glanced at Mo Qingyu beside him, hesitating whether to bring up Shen Ge's matter.

Mo Qingyu glanced at Shangguan Ouyang indifferently and said, "Senior Brother Ouyang, just say what you want to say. Why are you looking at me? Or is what you're saying something to do with me?"

"Sigh." Shangguan Ouyang sighed. Before he could speak, the elder of the Pill Hall said indignantly, "Sect Leader, we found a complete sixth- Moon Spirit Pill in the secret realm. We were about to get our hands on it when Qingyu Sister Qingyu's disciple, Shen Ge, suddenly appeared and smashed it into pieces, sharing it with that group of Rogue Cultivator. He even almost killed Junior Brother Wang while trying to avoid the pill!"

"We originally planned to bring the elixir back to help the Supreme Elder further improve his strength, but it's all ruined now."

"Sect Leader, this is an extremely rebellious and disrespectful disciple of the sect. We urge you to punish him severely, and ideally issue a kill order to hunt him down!"

Elder Pill Hall's voice was deafening, his anger undisguised.

Seeing Mo Qingyu's terribly gloomy face, Shangguan Ouyang quickly stepped forward to calm her down and said, "Sect Leader, this matter should be severely punished. Shen Ge went too far this time. However, he is, after all, Qingyu Sister Qingyu's personal disciple. How about letting Qingyu Sister Qingyu handle it herself?"

Ziyang looked at Mo Qingyu beside him and asked expressionlessly, "Qingyu, what do you think of this matter? Can you handle it yourself?"

Mo Qingyu took a deep breath, her expression returning to its previous icy demeanor. "Don't interfere in this matter; I'll handle it myself."

Ziyang nodded, his face still expressionless, but he sighed inwardly. It seemed that the kid had guessed it; things were getting a bit tricky now.

"Alright, since Qingyu Sister Qingyu said she'll handle it, let's leave this to her. Do any of you have anything else to report?"

Shangguan Ouyang shook his head and said, "That's all."

"Alright, then you should go back and get some rest. Go to the Pill Hall to collect the medicine you need for your injuries."

After everyone left, Ziyang looked at Mo Qingyu, who was standing to the side, and was about to say something when Mo Qingyu spoke up, "Sect Leader, since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now. My traitorous disciple has committed such a heinous crime; I'll go and kill him."

"Junior sister..."