The hall suddenly fell into silence.
After a long time, the expression on Red Lion Daoist's face twitched fiercely, demon qi surged, his imposing presence was overwhelming, and he swept his fierce gaze across the dark hall, saying coldly, "Who is it, if you have the ability, come out! Sneaking around, what for?"
With Red Lion Daoist's cold voice echoing, the hall plunged once again into silence.
"Heh heh, sneaky? Red Lion, it seems you really think you're still in your uninjured state, huh? Dare to speak to me like this, do you believe I could twist your head off with one hand right now? Let your apprentices outside see..."
After a long silence, a ball of black mist mysteriously emerged from the shadows in the hall, then hovered within, emitting a strange laugh. Shortly after, an elderly figure slowly appeared.
The slowly advancing elderly figure had skin that turned green-gray, crisscrossed and glowing brightly, resembling the scales of a snake, giving a slithery impression. It invoked a shocking sense of unease and some discomfort within.
His eyes, resembling snake-like pupils, were eerie, flashing with icy colors, coldly fixed on Red Lion Daoist, and he chuckled as he extended a long tongue to lick his lips...
"Qing She, is that you?"
Red Lion Daoist's face twitched sharply, staring at the other, not expecting the opponent to be the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Loose Cultivator, Green Snake Elder.
Afterward, a sinister look flashed in his eyes as he coldly glared at the other, saying grimly, "I must admit, you have quite the courage, just a mere Qi Refining Ninth Layer, dare to speak to me like this."
"Moreover, do you believe, even though I'm injured now, dealing with you would be a piece of cake. Do you want to try feeling worse than death?"
"Piece of cake? Worse than death? Ha ha, ha ha ha..."
At those words, the black mist around Green Snake Elder surged violently. Accompanied by his laughter, it instantly filled the entire hall, engulfing Red Lion Daoist completely.
"Red Lion, as far as I know, even without injuries, your peak is just a Second Level Beast, right? With such cultivation level, you dare to boast in front of me, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when the wind gets strong?"
Green Snake Elder laughed, and a terrifying aura slowly emanated from his body.
The aura, along with the swirling black mist, appeared extremely frightful, especially when it locked onto Red Lion Daoist, whose eyes and face changed dramatically.
"Peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer!? You..." Red Lion Daoist's eyes narrowed sharply, exclaiming in surprise.
He couldn't imagine that Green Snake Elder actually possessed the cultivation level of Peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Even without injuries, it would be hard for him to counter such formidable power.
The problem is, why?
Why does Green Snake Elder possess the cultivation level of Peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer?
Shouldn't he be in the usual Qi Refining Ninth Layer Realm?
Moreover, even his current appearance didn't seem like he'd just broken through suddenly?
Could it be that he had hidden it for a long time? But why... everything seemed strange here.
"Who exactly are you? What is your background?" Thinking of this, Red Lion Daoist couldn't help but gloomily fix his gaze on the other, asking.
Now, even if he were foolish, he would certainly guess that either Green Snake Elder wasn't the same as the one he knew, or this guy had some unspeakable background or secret, otherwise why hide like this?
"Heh heh, you are quite smart. You should recognize this, right?" With these words, Green Snake Elder coldly chuckled, casually tossing a gray light toward Red Lion Daoist.
"Hmm?" Seeing that gray light, Red Lion Daoist couldn't help but narrow his eyes again. Because fleetingly, he seemed to see some familiar trace on it.
Clang!
After catching the gray light, Red Lion Daoist opened his hand and found the gray light turned out to be a palm-sized token. The back of the token was imprinted with a vivid image of an eerie flame, while the front had a chilling double-sided, six-corner demon pattern.
And upon seeing the pattern, the expression on Red Lion Daoist's face drastically changed, swiftly raising his head with disbelief toward Green Snake Elder, saying, "Purple Flame Fierce Ghost, are you from Purple Flame Palace? Patrolling Ghost Messenger?"
Clearly, he never thought Green Snake Elder would have such a background. Purple Flame Fierce Ghost, exclusive to the Patrolling Ghost Messenger of Purple Flame Palace.
In this world, there is light and dark. Just like the Thirteen Caves under Purple Flame Palace affiliated with it, though he's 'in the light,' what about the dark? In the shadows, Purple Flame Palace is ruled by Patrolling Ghost Messengers.
There aren't many Patrolling Ghost Messengers, probably at most fewer than both hands in number, but! But each eligible Patrolling Ghost Messenger is an extremely formidable character! Not inferior to any Cave Master level individuals of the Thirteen Caves.
Meaning, these Patrolling Ghost Messengers, even the weakest among them, possess top-notch Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivation and combat power! Anything stronger, like Green Snake Elder standing before Red Lion Daoist now, the Peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer!
The significance represented by these six words is already thoroughly enough!
More importantly, every Patrolling Ghost Messenger is a trusted aide of the three Palace Masters of Foundation Establishment True Person Realm in Purple Flame Palace!
They are entitled to act against the Cave Masters of the Thirteen Caves, just like now...
"Heh heh, at least your mind is clear." Green Snake Elder chuckled, looking at Red Lion Daoist, his sinister voice resounding again, "Now, can you tell me about the Black Profound Copper Vein in Enlightened Deity Cave, what is the situation with that? Don't tell me you exerted so much effort just to attack Enlightened Deity Cave once?"
Green Snake Elder's words suddenly rose, looking at Red Lion Daoist, his eyes were filled with cold laughter and an intriguing hint, saying, "It seems there really are secrets hidden in the Black Profound Copper Vein of Enlightened Deity Cave? Otherwise, why would you take such a risky gamble..."
"Lord Envoy Green Snake, what do you mean by this, I don't quite understand." But at this moment, Red Lion Daoist interrupted him, his eyes avoiding.
Indeed, all the actions he'd taken previously were truly risky. If successful, the rewards would be rich, if not... it'd be like now, being targeted by Purple Flame Palace's Patrolling Ghost Messenger, seemingly wanting to deal with him.