CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 248: POWER OF THE EVIL SUMMONING BANNER

At this moment, aside from some members of the Medicine King Hall, only the president of the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association remained in the hall.

Fu Baicao solemnly spoke after Chen Ku sat down, "Now that you’re here, we can speak openly. There’s a significant matter happening at Qiu Dragon Mansion... What has become of Grandmaster Qin?"

Chen Ku was with Qin Yu at that time, but now he has returned alone, which naturally arouses suspicion.

Chen Ku, upon hearing this, had long prepared for inquiries about Qin Yu, should he return to Qiu Dragon Mansion in his true form.

Fortunately, others had no knowledge about his and Qin Yu’s mission.

Taking a deep breath, he said:

"When the news of the Hero King Treasure spread, I intended to accompany Grandmaster Qin, but due to my weak strength, I couldn’t enter, and we had to part ways. Hence, I also don’t know how the grandmaster is faring now."

"Weren’t you together...?" Yang Luochen curiously asked.

Chen Ku looked at his master, yet even with his master, he couldn’t reveal the truth, saying, "I could only wait outside then, and shortly after, I saw the Hero King Treasure vanish; hence, I could only speculate the grandmaster is still inside."

The secret of the Hero King Treasure is too vast for him to admit that he claimed it.

Even not to his master.

Not because he feared Yang Luochen and Monk Yunfang would leak it, but revealing it would unavoidably implicate them.

Moreover, he didn’t expect this narrative to last long, as he was prepared to retreat into the Hero King Realm in case of trouble.

"It’s said that the Hero King Treasure was crafted by the Mountain-Lifting Heavenly King Xiong Ying, a feat of a Fourteen Realm Heaven King—it’s understandable you couldn’t enter."

Fu Baicao didn’t doubt Chen Ku much, considering if even a Seventh Realm Grandmaster couldn’t emerge, Chen Ku couldn’t have survived its depths.

Yet his eyes were filled with concern, saying:

"Throughout history, there’s been no shortage of mighty ones venturing into relics of predecessors, never to return—though Grandmaster Qin was an influential grandmaster, he might not be an exception. His unique status within the Qiu Dragon Mansion’s Thirty-Six Martial Association kept it united, but now his whereabouts are unknown, causing unrest among various factions. If ten more days pass without his return, a power shuffle could occur within the Thirty-Six Martial Association."

"Doesn’t the grandmaster have the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting and Twelve Guardians under him to maintain control?" Chen Ku softly inquired.

Fu Baicao shook his head, stating, "Do you know how profound the waters of the Thirty-Six Martial Association in Qiu Dragon Mansion are? In our Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association, despite me being an old peak Sixth Realm Array Veins elder, along with ten core members at Sixth Realm later stages, we rank only eighteenth... The top ten associations each have Seventh Realm Gang Control masters, deep-rooted in legacy.

Even the grand elder of the top ’Hongwu Meeting’, back in the day, was subdued by the grandmaster, only after losing half a move to him."

"Do the top ten associations truly have Seventh Realm Gang Control practitioners?" Chen Ku was shocked, asking, "How did the grandmaster unify the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting then?"

"These thirty-six associations are like thirty-six sects in the Jianghu. They collectively chose Grandmaster Qin as the ’Alliance Hierarch’ for his uncontested reputation and strength."

Fu Baicao sighed, saying:

"Yet, without the grandmaster’s suppression, this alliance may only yield two outcomes: either someone will aspire to replace Master Qin Yu, continuing the unification, or revert to previous mutual battles."

Chen Ku pondered.

He recalled the token Qin Yu entrusted to him.

"Could it be... my senior intends for me to oversee the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting during his absence? To stabilize Qiu Dragon Mansion’s heroes?"

But does he have the strength now?

Against Sixth Realm masters, he might barely contend, slaying a few early to mid-Sixth Realm experts isn’t beyond him, but against Seventh Realm foes... unless... luring them into the Hero King Realm.

The hall fell into silence.

"Regarding your past ventures with Grandmaster Qin, rest assured, our association will keep your secret." Fu Baicao stated: "Currently, the rest in Qiu Dragon Mansion are unaware of your last encounter with the grandmaster."

Chen Ku considered his master Yang Luochen’s gaze, indicating he could trust the elder, albeit reluctantly.

"Alright, now you’ve returned to the main association, after this perilous journey, you should rest." Fu Baicao expressed:

"However, remain prepared, for once other associations confirm the grandmaster’s fate, Prefecture City might erupt into chaos, likely targeting you and our Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association."

Chen Ku took a breath, saying, "I understand, elder."

Stepping out from the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association’s hall.

Chen Ku walked alongside his two masters again, inquiring, "Can the president truly be trusted?"

Yang Luochen nodded, affirming: "Yes, but beyond trusting, he’s relying on your prowess to aid our Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association during the imminent turmoil in the martial associations."