Chapter 683: Chapter 676: Soul Lamp

“Elder Zuo? Is it Zuo Yunxiao? What, his Soul Lamp has completely extinguished?”

Seated cross-legged on the ground, with a face as calm as a light breeze and clear skies, Shangguan Hong, who had just been admonishing the middle-aged man in the blue robe to maintain composure even if “Mount Tai collapses in front of him,” exclaimed in shock, already unable to contain himself and swiftly stood up.

Within the Huayun Sect, although there were six or seven Earth Immortal-level powerhouses, as the strongest in the sect, he was still a little short of truly becoming a Heavenly Immortal.

This Elder Zuo, whose strength could not compare with Shangguan Hong’s, was still ranked within the top three of the sect.

For such a pivotal member of the sect to suddenly have his Soul Lamp extinguished was, without a doubt, a disaster capable of puncturing the heavens for the Huayun Sect.

Always cultivating his demeanor and considering himself to possess profound sagacity, even Shangguan Hong found it impossible to stay calm.

“Yes, indeed, it is Elder Zuo Yunxiao who has met with disaster.”

“If it weren’t for the matter being so grave, and I myself didn’t know how to deal with it, I wouldn’t have recklessly come here to disturb your secluded cultivation, Sect Master!”

The man in the blue robe nodded affirmatively and replied.

His real name was Li Qingfeng, and he held the position of Deputy Sect Master within the Huayun Sect.

Sect Master Shangguan Hong, over these past years, had largely focused his efforts on cultivation in hopes of advancing to become a true Heavenly Immortal.

The affairs of the Huayun Sect were generally managed by Deputy Sect Master Li Qingfeng.

In terms of strength, he was certainly not weak; he had successfully stepped into the realm of Earth Immortals, though he had only just entered this realm and was far weaker compared to not only Shangguan Hong, the strongest in the sect, but also compared to Elder Zuo Yunxiao.

Both Shangguan Hong and Li Qingfeng had taken part in the downfall of the Bloodthirsty Sect.

However, unlike Elder Zuo, who pursued the escapees, they had returned to the Huayun Sect.

The extinguishment of the Soul Lamp meant that Elder Zuo Yunxiao had indeed perished completely.

On the day the Bloodthirsty Sect was annihilated, the only remaining Earth Immortal of its sect had also lost his life on the spot.

With power like Elder Zuo’s, that he perished unexpectedly while merely pursuing escapees…

The moment this fact was confirmed, numerous thoughts flooded into the mind of Shangguan Hong, the strongest in the Huayun Sect.

“Come, take me to the Soul Hall…”

With various thoughts swirling in his mind, still unconfirmed, an extremely agitated Shangguan Hong, his face grim, teeth clenched, rushed towards the direction of the Soul Hall.

A short time later, within a grand hall in the Huayun Sect.

While the sun shone brightly outside, the inside of the grand hall was dotted with lights.

The Soul Lamps stored inside the hall were few in number, only about several dozen.

These Soul Lamps, crafted from ten-thousand-year-old copper mother infused with Soul Nourishing Sand and blended with dozens of precious spiritual materials, were not meant for battle but were exceedingly valuable and precious.

To equip every disciple with a Soul Lamp? Even a sect as wealthy and powerful as the Huayun Sect could not afford such luxury.

The dozens of Soul Lamps in the hall each represented a cultivator above the level of a True Immortal or True Demon.

If the owner of a Soul Lamp was in good health, the light would naturally be bright. If a disaster occurred or severe injury was suffered, the lamp would dim. Only when the owner died completely would the corresponding Soul Lamp extinguish.

“Sect Master, the third row from the left, the second position, that is the Soul Lamp corresponding to Elder Zuo.”

Just as he entered the Soul Hall, Li Qingfeng pointed to a Soul Lamp that had already been extinguished, its body covered in cracks, and introduced it to Shangguan Hong.

“Um,” Shangguan Hong nodded gravely.

Truth be told, even without Li Qingfeng’s introduction, his gaze had already fallen on the Soul Lamp representing Zuo Yunxiao.

After all, he had occupied the position of Sect Master of the Huayun Sect for over a hundred years. Only in recent years, after he had grasped the Unity of Heaven and Man, had he settled down to focus on cultivation and handed over the sect affairs to Li Qingfeng to manage.

With only a few dozens of Soul Lamps placed in the Soul Hall, how could Shangguan Hong not know which one represented Zuo Yunxiao?

“Have you activated the Divine Soul Imprint left by Elder Zuo in the Soul Lamp and seen the scene before his death?” Shangguan Hong, with furrowed brows, turned back and asked Li Qingfeng.

“The moment I noticed the Soul Lamp was extinguished, I checked the scene retained in Elder Zuo’s Divine Soul Imprint immediately.”

“Unfortunately, I found absolutely no clues on my end.”

“Through that imprint, the images I saw contained no clues related to the murderer at all.”

Li Qingfeng sighed with a wry smile and explained.

“Is that so? No clues could mean you didn’t look carefully enough.”

“Never mind, I’ll do it myself. I’ll activate the imprint and take a look at what exactly Elder Zuo’s situation was before his death!”

Shangguan Hong scoffed and pursed his lips.

He walked a few steps to the Soul Lamp that represented Zuo Yunxiao, now extinguished, took a deep breath, and with both hands forming seals, he executed dozens of Seal decisions onto the lamp.

Guided by the residual imprint of Zuo Yunxiao in the Soul Lamp, the next moment, fragmented images began to unfold continuously in Shangguan Hong’s mind.

He saw Zuo Yunxiao drenched in blood, his arms and legs broken, his facial features shattered…

The images were brutally painful to behold, an extreme situation for Zuo Yunxiao.

Regrettably, the murderer himself was nowhere to be seen, only a cold gleam streaking across the void, engulfing him entirely, flew through Shangguan Hong’s mind.

“Sect Master, what happened?” Seeing that Shangguan Hong seemed to have come back from that momentary distraction, Li Qingfeng quickly spoke up, asking.

“The person who killed Elder Zuo is very strong. Elder Zuo hardly had any chance to fight back in his hands.”

“We both know well the strength of Elder Zuo.”

“The one who could so easily massacre him is either a Heavenly Immortal or an Earth Immortal with the power of a Domain.”

“With Elder Zuo’s caution, he should not have been foolish enough to enter someone else’s Earth Immortal Domain to do battle.”

“So, the answer to who killed Elder Zuo is almost apparent!”

This simplistic conclusion, and yet Li Qingfeng could not deduce it, Shangguan Hong glared at him fiercely, clearly very disappointed in him.

“Among those who participated in the annihilation of the Bloodthirsty Sect, the only Heavenly Immortal was from the Holy Fire Sect.”

“Sect Master, are you suggesting…”

Li Qingfeng’s face turned to shock; his mind swiftly arrived at the answer.

Regrettably, he still harbored some confusion, “Sect Master, we joined forces with that person and did not seem to offend him.”

“His merciless act of killing Elder Zuo seems utterly meaningless.”

Sadly, this remark only served to increase Shangguan Hong’s dissatisfaction, “Great achievers do not bother with trifles.”

“That person will join forces with us for benefits and will also make a move against us for benefits.”

“If I remember correctly, the Gathering Spirit Stone that treasure’s whereabouts are still unknown, right?”

“If Elder Zuo happened to find the Gathering Spirit Stone while pursuing the remnants of the Bloodthirsty Sect and the murderer made his move then, would that be strange?”

“Between sects, there are no friendships, only interests. How can you still not see through even this much?”

Disappointed, Shangguan Hong sighed.

“If this is indeed the case, Sect Master, what should we do? Directly go to war with the Holy Fire Sect?” Li Qingfeng scratched the back of his head awkwardly and asked again.

“The Holy Fire Sect has a Heavenly Immortal in place; can we match them?”

“This matter requires long-term consideration. Everything will be discussed after my successful breakthrough.” After a pause, Shangguan Hong instructed.