CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56 INTRUSION_1

"Does the Sect Leader want us to temporarily leave Tianyou City?"

In the hall, Gu Ming had summoned Zhou Chen, the Azure Dragon Hall Master of the Blood Robe Sect, and Wei Yuan, the Tiger Crouching Hall Master.

When they learned from Gu Ming that they needed to lie low, both were stunned.

"What happened?"

"With the current power of our Blood Robe Sect, do we still need to hide?" Hall Master Zhou asked, looking puzzled.

"The Shen Family... they are allegedly aided by a cultivator."

"Hall Master Xue has already been slain, and Gu Zhao has been captured and is currently being held in the Shen’s mansion," Gu Ming said solemnly, emphasizing each word.

What?

A cultivator!

Hall Master Zhou and Hall Master Wei looked at each other, their hearts shaken. They too understood the weight carried by those words.

However, they remained doubtful.

"In Tianyou City, how many years has it been since a cultivator last appeared?"

"The Shen Family is just an aristocratic family of martial arts; how could they have a distant relative who is part of an immortal sect? In my opinion, this news might not be true. It could be that the Shen Family, fearing the strength of the Blood Robe Sect, deliberately spread false information," Hall Master Wei pondered for a moment before speaking.

He was an old guard of the Blood Robe Sect; after waiting for five years, the Blood Robe Sect had finally been rebuilt. Just as it seemed the Sect’s former divine might was about to be restored and they could finally avenge their past blood debts, he was truly unwilling to flee with the sect members, their tails tucked between their legs.

Hall Master Zhou shared this sentiment. "Sect Leader, don’t panic too much. Cultivators are rare, and not every cultivator possesses great skills like a Superior Master. Even if that Shen Family relative is truly a cultivator, they are probably just a low-level rogue cultivator. It’s likely they aren’t very capable; otherwise, they would have led the Shen Family to glory long ago. Why would they wait until today?"

After hearing the opinions of the two hall masters, Gu Ming’s brows furrowed.

He thought they made some sense. But... even if there was only a one percent chance that the Shen Family’s relative was a True Immortal Master, he could not take the risk! Xuanzhi Superior Master had repeatedly warned him not to reveal any news of the Blood Sacrifice. If a cultivator was encountered, they must be wary and avoid contact! If he were to ruin Xuanzhi Superior Master’s important plans, he would be to blame for his own death and could not escape responsibility.

"Withdraw."

"Hall Master Zhou, Hall Master Wei, inform our members. We are temporarily withdrawing from Tianyou City."

After a moment of silence, he finally made up his mind; he could not afford to take the risk.

But it was already too late.

At that moment, Shen Mo had already stormed the Blood Robe Sect’s headquarters.

"Halt!"

"This is the territory of the Blood Robe Sect! Trespassers will be killed!"

As Shen Mo arrived at the main mountain gate, he was stopped by the members responsible for guarding it.

Shen Mo responded with his fist.

"BOOM!"

A wave of Fist Energy descended, and the man blocking his path instantly exploded into a blood mist.

Shen Mo’s strength was considered relatively low within a major immortal sect like the Riverside Sect. However, in the outer regions and cities of the Red Flame Country, and certainly among mortals, he possessed a commanding presence, like a mountain overlooking the world, unmatched by any.

When other members saw an intruder trespassing and killing their fellow members, the bell to summon the Blood Robe Sect members immediately rang. The members responsible for guarding the mountain gate swarmed out, attempting to stop this reckless intruder who dared to trespass on sacred ground.

Every single one of them was easily dealt with by Shen Mo’s casually thrown punches.

After more than twenty corpses, their faces obliterated by immense force, lay strewn across the ground, these Blood Robe Sect members finally felt their courage fail. They scattered and fled, heedless of the sect’s rules and punishments.

Shen Mo didn’t pursue these small fry. He continued up the main path from the mountain gate, heading straight for the main hall area.

"The Immortal Master has gone inside!"

A short while later, the martial artists who had followed Shen Mo finally arrived, albeit late. Seeing the corpses strewn everywhere and the panicked Blood Robe Sect members, they too, fearing they would miss out, hurried towards the hall.

「...」

"Sect Leader, someone has broken into the headquarters!"

"That person is exceptionally strong! Protector Yin and the others tried to stop him, but they were no match for him at all and were killed on the spot!"

"He’s heading towards this hall right now!"

One of the members hastily reported this news to Gu Ming, who was about to confer with the two hall masters.

It’s that cultivator! Gu Ming’s face turned deathly pale.

Before he could issue any orders, the main doors to the hall were blasted open with a punch. Amidst the flying splinters of wood, a tall, upright figure appeared before the hall.

Shen Mo had arrived!

"Who is the Bright King?" Shen Mo’s cold voice rang out.

Gu Ming managed to force a smile onto his stiff face. "That would be me. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner, Immortal Master. May I ask the purpose of the Immortal Master’s visit to our mountain gate?"

"I am a member of the Shen Family. I was cultivating under my master, uninvolved in worldly affairs," Shen Mo stated, looking at Gu Ming earnestly. "But a few days ago, a kinsman sought me out, saying our family faced imminent destruction. They said the Blood Robe Sect had threatened to exterminate the entire Shen Family. Since I am also a Shen, I naturally had to come and see for myself."

"A misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding!" Gu Ming quickly said. "Although the Blood Robe Sect and the Shen Family have grievances, they are not irreconcilable. Since the Immortal Master has personally intervened, my Blood Robe Sect is naturally willing to yield."

Although Gu Ming didn’t feel the same oppressive aura from Shen Mo as he did from Xuanzhi Superior Master—the pressure of a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator—he suspected this person had not yet truly stepped onto the Immortal Path. Yet, his attitude remained humble, not wanting to provoke Shen Mo.

"No, merely yielding is not enough. I must kill you and all these Blood Robe Sect members," he said to Gu Ming, his face devoid of expression. "Otherwise, who knows what trouble might arise after I leave?"

The Blood Robe Sect has a cultivator backing them. Although I don’t know their underlying motive, I can vaguely sense there’s more to this than meets the eye. My presence might deter them for a few years, but if Gu Ming’s cultivation breaks through in the future, he might cast aside all scruples and slaughter the Shen Family. To prevent future troubles, the best way is to cut grass and kill roots.

Therefore, Shen Mo told him with grim sincerity, "Today, the Blood Robe Sect will be annihilated, and you will die."

"Immortal Master... why must you be so aggressive!" The smile on Gu Ming’s face gradually froze. "I have already offered to yield. If you still refuse to let this go, and we are forced to fight, the outcome might be something the Immortal Master does not wish to see."

Shen Mo was a cultivator, and exceptionally strong; Gu Ming was acutely aware of this. As a mere mortal, even one who had reached the peak of martial arts and stepped into the legendary Myth Realm, Gu Ming was still extremely wary of the man before him. However, having had much contact with Xuanzhi Superior Master, he knew that cultivators who hadn’t yet advanced to the Qi Gathering Realm couldn’t be considered true experts. Shen Mo clearly hadn’t truly gathered Qi; the gap between him and mortals wasn’t yet insurmountable to the point of despair. Gu Ming prided himself on having entered the Myth Realm; if he fought with his life on the line, he might not be without a chance. Besides... he still possessed the treasure Xuanzhi Superior Master had given him!

At this thought, Gu Ming’s hand, hidden within his sleeve, subtly caressed a small flag. This item was his greatest trump card, his ultimate reliance.