C18 Destroying the Green Mountain Sect
In the past, they were the most steadfast allies of the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect.
But who could have predicted such a betrayal?
"The audacity of the Green Mountain Sect! They surely must have bought into the false news of our Sect Master's demise to entertain such treacherous thoughts," Mooh Chenyi fumed, his hand crashing down on the table, his face contorted with anger.
He was well aware that Ren Qingfeng had merely hidden his breakthrough to the Void Refining Stage, leading outsiders to believe he had perished.
In truth, Ren Qingfeng was lying in wait, biding his time to root out traitors and ill-intentioned factions.
To think that the Green Mountain Sect, which had always garnered the utmost trust from the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect, would commit such an act!
Naturally, Mooh Chenyi's expression was grim, and Lou Haitian's was no better.
He declared with fury, "It appears that many now disregard the might of our Profound Heaven Taoism Sect. It's high time we showed them our true strength!"
Upon hearing Lou Haitian's declaration, the disciple responded with deep concern, "But the Green Mountain Sect has sought refuge with the Golden Sun Sword Sect!"
His concern stemmed from being misled by Ren Qingfeng.
He believed that Ren Qingfeng had either been gravely wounded or had fallen.
The Golden Sun Sword Sect already boasted two Cultivators at the Deification Stage.
With the addition of another Deification Stage Cultivator from the Green Mountain Sect, their number rose to three.
Now, excluding Ren Qingfeng, the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect had only two Cultivators at the Deification Stage.
Facing the combined forces of the Golden Sun Sword Sect and the Green Mountain Sect would put the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect at a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Wai Jiang overheard the exchange between the disciple and the two Vice Sect Masters while he was near the main hall, attending to his daily chores.
His cultivation at the middle stage of the Void Refining Stage meant that the conversation did not go unnoticed by him.
Yet, he harbored no worries.
He was acutely aware that Ren Qingfeng had already ascended to the early stage of the Void Refining Stage.
Whatever the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect faced, Ren Qingfeng's intervention would be more than sufficient.
The Golden Sun Sword Sect and the Green Mountain Sect had only three cultivators at the Deification Stage between them.
Moreover, not one of these cultivators had reached the pinnacle of the Deification Stage.
Ren Qingfeng alone could suppress them with ease!
Therefore, Wai Jiang peacefully completed his duties as a miscellaneous affairs disciple and left the vicinity of the hall.
With plenty of time left in the day, he intended to further his cultivation of the Ten Thousand Sword Technique and the Profound Heaven Record, preparing for the late phase of the Void Refining Stage.
Meanwhile, the conversation inside the hall continued.
Upon noticing the elders' worried expressions, Ren Qingfeng confidently strode into the hall.
He had been secretly listening at the door all this time.
But he was well aware that it was time to make his presence known to the world!
Otherwise, as time went on, other cultivators might start to believe that the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect was an easy target.
"Elders, there's no need for concern. We can simply eliminate the insignificant Golden Sun Sword Sect and Green Mountain Sect!"
As he entered, Ren Qingfeng exuded the powerful aura of one at the Void Refining Stage.
The elders in the hall were immediately taken aback by his presence.
"You've reached the Void Refining Stage? Congratulations, Sect Master!"
"Hahaha, our Profound Heaven Taoism Sect is truly blessed!"
"Wonderful! Our Sect Master is unharmed!"
...
It was a fact that not even the Nascent Soul Stage elders of the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect were aware of Ren Qingfeng's breakthrough to the Void Refining Stage.
Now that they had their answer, everything clicked into place.
This had all been part of Ren Qingfeng's strategy!
Among the select few privy to this secret, Elder Lin stroked his white beard with a sense of contentment.
As the most senior among the Nascent Soul higher-ups, nothing would be kept from him by the Sect Masters.
That very afternoon, all three Sect Masters of the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect mobilized.
Their target was the Green Mountain Sect.
In a mere moment, the once illustrious Green Mountain Sect was utterly destroyed.
The Profound Heaven Taoism Sect, while assertive, did not act with excessive cruelty. They only eliminated the Deification Stage Cultivators from the Green Mountain Gate.
Those Nascent Soul Stage Elders who were willing to submit to the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect were spared. However, for those cultivators who remained defiant, the sect showed no mercy.
For the ordinary sect disciples, the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect was not harsh. Those eager to join were granted the status of disciples, while those who chose not to were free to leave.
Confronted with Ren Qingfeng, who had achieved the Void Refining Stage, the Golden Sun Sword Sect dared not resist.
Yet, the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect refrained from annihilating them, recognizing their status as a significant force. Even if Ren Qingfeng had desired their destruction, the entirety of Leizhou and the neighboring sect forces would never have consented.
It was common knowledge that the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect's forerunner was the esteemed Profound Heaven Holy Land. The saying goes, "When a whale falls, life abounds." No one wished to see the resurgence of the Profound Heaven Holy Land.
Thus, the local sect forces were resolute in preventing the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect from reclaiming its former splendor.
Nevertheless, through these maneuvers, the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect had risen to become the undisputed leading power in Leizhou. Neither the Burning Mountain Temple nor the Holy Light Valley could any longer challenge its dominance.
Wai Jiang was certainly aware of the day's significant events. Yet, he remained indifferent, choosing instead to seclude himself in the Sword Tomb for solitary cultivation.
Meanwhile, Ren Qingfeng's name had become renowned throughout Leizhou and its surrounding areas. The emergence of a Void Refining Stage Cultivator was indeed a momentous occasion, sparking widespread discussion.
Some reveled in excitement, reminiscing about the days when the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect was a preeminent force, now potentially on the cusp of a renaissance with Ren Qingfeng's breakthrough to the Void Refining Stage.
Others, however, were filled with apprehension about what the future might hold.
They harbored a considerable fear of the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect.
Previously, the presence of merely three Deification Stage cultivators wasn't intimidating.
But now, with the emergence of a Void Refining Stage Cultivator, the threat was magnitudes greater!
Naturally, the most infuriated was the Demon Lord.
He had just advanced to the early stages of the Void Refining Stage.
He was overjoyed and planned to recuperate for a few days before launching an assault on the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect to free the Old Demon Lord.
But before he could set out, he learned of Ren Qingfeng's breakthrough to the Void Refining Stage.
This left him feeling utterly powerless and seething with rage.
"Curse it, how can a mere Profound Heaven Taoism Sect produce a Void Refining Stage powerhouse? It's maddening!"
Fury consumed him, and in his wrath, he crushed a Core Formation Stage demon to death.
Witnessing his explosive anger, several Nascent Soul Great Demons around him proposed,
"Demon Lord, it seems impossible for us to rescue the Old Demon Lord with our current forces."
"Perhaps we should seek the aid of other allies?"
"Indeed, besides a Void Refining Stage expert, the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect also boasts two Deification Stage cultivators. We stand no chance against them!"
Upon hearing their counsel, the Demon Lord's brow furrowed as he inquired, "So, whom shall we approach to ally with us?"
At this, the gathered demons hesitated.
They were uncertain about where to find such allies.
To liberate the Old Demon Lord, they would need the support of at least three Deification Stage outsiders.
Without them, penetrating the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect would be futile.
Besides, the sect was not only guarded by a Void Refining Stage and two Deification Stage cultivators but also protected by a formidable sect defense formation.
Its power was not easily countered by cultivators of equivalent realms.
Either the Demon Lord's own cultivation needed to advance to the mid-stage of the Void Refining Stage, or they required the addition of three more Deification Stage demons to achieve their objective.
Otherwise, even a forceful incursion into the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect would result in a fruitless retreat.
If they were unfortunate, many demons might perish in the process. This very risk led the Demon Lord to abandon the planned operation. Consequently, the demons once again retreated into seclusion. In the realm of cultivation, time is inconsequential. Before one knew it, two years had flown by.
At this juncture, Wai Jiang had advanced his cultivation to the peak of the Void Refining Stage. Moreover, he had been at this level for a full six months! Today marked another day for him to continue his routine check-in at the Sword Tomb. The Sword Tomb truly was the most profound repository of the Great Dao Truths within the entire Profound Heaven Taoism Sect.