Inside the Great Elderâs castle, the high-ranking members of the Skeleton Sect were holding a meeting in one of the halls. Present were the Four Great Elders, Deputy Sect Master Zhuge Qing, Sect Masterâs Guard Captain Xue Wu, and even Great Elder Wu Jiâs daughter, Wu Qingxia.
"Sect Master Ye has been out for two days now, no idea how heâs faring. A Hundred-Year Monster Beast has appeared at Frostbite Cliff, and the scouts report that the battle there is intense. Many strong figures from Tong City have arrived, with four or five flying chariots alone."
The Fourth Elder reported the news from the scouts to everyone: "Additionally, the Liew Family, who have been eyeing us, are involved in external vigilance. They deliberately released four Wild Wolf Kings and nearly a thousand wild wolves, causing considerable harm to both us and the surrounding civilians. However, the entire wolf pack was eventually wiped out by the strong ones. Furthermore, my scout team leader Gui Wu reported encountering Sect Master Ye and said he was heading to Frostbite Cliff, asking us to be on guard!"
"Could Sect Master Ye be trying to escape? After all, the strength behind the Liew Family is terrifying, with just a young man, itâs not like he has much to do with our Skeleton Sect." Xue Wu whispered.
"Impossible, Ye Fan isnât that kind of person. He always keeps his promises. If he says heâll return, he definitely will."
Zhuge Qing had gone through life and death with Ye Fan and completely trusted his character.
"I also believe Elder Brother Ye wouldnât abandon us! Heâs a hero, not someone who would flee."
Wu Qingxia spoke, having interacted with the new sect master in the battle against the Blood Vultures the day before yesterday. In her heart, Ye Fan had become a heroic figure.
"Hmph, youâre one to talk. If you hadnât offended Miss Liew, would we be this worried? Ultimately, youâre the instigator of all this."
Xue Wu said to Wu Qingxia contemptuously, having heard of the young ladyâs affairs before, he was even more displeased with Wu Qingxia now.
"Xue Wu! What do you mean? Youâve been sarcastic for two days. Donât think you can bully me just because youâre an elder!"
Wu Qingxia said angrily to Xue Wu.
"What? Shouldnât mistakes be pointed out?"
Xue Wu retorted towards Wu Qingxia.
"Report... Elders, Deputy Sect Master, Captain Xue, Sect Master Ye has returned, and he brought back a young lady."
Gui Wu entered to report, immediately defusing the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Ah, Sect Master Ye has returned. Where has he gone?"
Zhuge Qing asked Gui Wu happily.
"They are about to enter the castle gates."
"Alright, everyone, letâs hurry and go out to welcome the sect master." Zhuge Qing stood up and led the way outside. Ye Fanâs return meant he finally had the backbone he needed.
"Gui Wu! You mentioned he brought back a young lady, what kind of person is she?"
After everyone went outside, Wu Qingxia asked Gui Wu.
"I donât know her, but she is a beauty!" Gui Wu answered truthfully.
"Oh? So... is she prettier, or am I?"
"Ah, of course... of course, itâs Miss Wu. Where else is there a girl prettier than Miss Wu?"
"Hehe, youâre good at talking, hereâs some gold for you." Wu Qingxia tossed a gold ingot to Gui Wu and then ran outside.
At that moment, everyone, led by Zhuge Qing, arrived outside the castle gate, just as Ye Fan and the young girl Xia Mengqing arrived.
"Zhuge Qing and the entire Skeleton Sect welcome the Sect Master!" Despite being curious about Xia Mengqingâs identity, Zhuge Qing loudly addressed Ye Fan.
As his voice fell, everyone followed Zhuge Qing and exclaimed, "Welcome back, Sect Master."
Xia Mengqing remained expressionless, seemingly used to such scenes, while the small black dog in her arms lazily opened its eyes for a glance before closing them again.
"Ah! Brothers, weâre all from the same sect, you donât need to be so formal!" Ye Fan wasnât fond of such displays and said to everyone.
"Oh, thatâs the former sect masterâs rule. If Sect Master Ye dislikes it, we can remove it in the future."
Zhuge Qing also disliked these rituals. Hearing Ye Fanâs objection, he replied accordingly.
"Sect Master, who is this young lady...?" Wu Qingxiaâs eyes were fixed on Xia Mengqing. That foolish Gui Wu, flattering aimlessly, this woman is much prettier than I am.
"Haha, youâre Wu Qingxia, Miss Wu I presume? Iâm Xia Mengqing, Elder Brother Yeâs... sister. Iâll call you Sister Qingxia from now on!"
Xia Mengqing abandoned her cold demeanor from the journey and addressed Wu Qingxia.
"Alright, alright, Mengqing sister, your little dog looks adorable, can I hug it?"
Wu Qingxia had been eyeing the small beast for a while; it was so cute that it had captured all her attention.
"You mean Sirius? Itâs Elder Brother Yeâs pet, not raised by me. As for whether itâll let you hug it, Iâm not sure."
As she spoke, Xia Mengqing extended the puppy in her hand to Wu Qingxia, but unexpectedly, the puppy barked at Wu Qingxia and suddenly jumped onto Ye Fan, disappearing.
"Hmph, such a big temper. I donât even care, Mengqing sister, Iâll take you inside," Wu Qingxia pouted at Xia Mengqing and said.
Ye Fan also walked into the Great Elder Castle with everyone. After some small talk, they began to discuss serious matters.
Although Ye Fan returned, he brought back bad news. The battle at Frostbite Cliff had already ended, and the flying war chariots and airships had already flown back to Tong City. The Liew Family hadnât left; it seemed they were going to make a move against the Skeleton Sect.
Xia Mengqingâs origins are mysterious, and Ye Fan didnât know where she came from. However, there was no family with the surname Xia among the prominent families of Tong City.
Ye Fan had injured her in the hot spring yesterday, and she was unable to use her True Qi, which made Ye Fan feel very guilty, so he brought her back.
As for why the black little beast was named Sirius, it was indeed a name given by Ye Fan. Last night, after Ye Fan woke up, he found the little beast had eaten quite a bit of the Spirit Grass he had obtained from the Sirius Ancient Tomb from his Hundred Treasure Bag. Ye Fan was furious yet helpless, but it seemed to like Xia Mengqing, so he no longer let it enter the Hundred Treasure Bag, allowing it to follow Xia Mengqing, naming it Sirius.
Quickly, many of Liew familyâs vassal forces gathered outside the Great Elder Castle, and some of them were also Fifth Grade forces like the Liew family. Actually, these forces came to assist the Liew family, looking at the Zhong familyâs influence, as the Zhong family was a Fourth Grade power on this continent, so they seized the opportunity to cling to the Zhong familyâs powerful support.
It began to rain outside the castle, and the people inside were unable to sleep peacefully. Hearing the chariots and airships flying overhead, they would be scared for a long time, fearing powerful warriors from the Zhong family would come to attack.
The night passed, and the great battle didnât break out. Inside the castle was still very calm, and the guards were all waiting for the final moment to come, like the calm before dawn that made everyone uneasy.
The sky cleared up, the opposing forces outside the castle didnât make a move, and by the afternoon, several more flying war chariots and airships flew away, roaring past the castle without stopping.
At dusk, as the sky began to darken, it seemed like it would rain again. All the civilians inside the castle returned home early, hastily ate dinner, and gathered together, anxiously waiting.
All households inside the castle shut their doors, even the small tavern that used to be bustling was closed. The once lively castle fell into a deathly silence.
On the open ground outside the castle, suddenly many Martial Artists appeared. Dressed in various battle armor, they gathered silently without a word.
Five people, ten people, fifty people, eight hundred people...
The gathering Martial Artists on the open ground outside the castle formed into several phalanxes, under the black night sky, like a deathly army from hell.
These people gathered in silence, without making a sound, even their footsteps were light. The weapons in their hands gleamed coldly, murderous intent evident in their eyes, frightening the castleâs people hiding in the dark.
One thousand people, one thousand five hundred people, three thousand people.
The Martial Artists outside the castle continued to gather, with more people continuously pouring in from afar.
These Martial Artists stood silently, arranged into several phalanxes, all eyes fixed on the Great Elder Castle of the Wu family ahead, which would become their battlefield tonight. If victorious, the Skeleton Sectâs wealth would be theirs for the taking, treasures to plunder at will, women to possess freely.
If they failed, how could they possibly fail? Under such an onslaught, the Skeleton Sect had no chance of winning.
It started to drizzle again, the raindrops falling on the over three thousand pieces of battle armor, creating a strange sound. Yet, no one moved, waiting for the leaders of various forces to emerge.
The rain fell heavier, no more Martial Artists came to the open ground, a total of over three thousand eight hundred people assembled into six phalanxes.
Six people came forward, among them two elders and four middle-aged men. Each of them walked steadily like four beasts, their entire bodies exuding killing intent, unsettling all the Martial Artistsâ hearts with unease.
Each of the six people stood before a phalanx. The Martial Artists in the phalanx stood upright, awaiting orders from the six, who simply looked towards the back, silently waiting for something.
The rain intensified, soaking everyoneâs battle armor, drenching the Martial Artistsâ underclothes, yet no one moved, everyone still waiting quietly.
"Whoosh..."
A light appeared in the distance behind, flying straight towards the castle in the darkness, all six leaders standing in front of the six phalanxes lifted their heads, eyes seemingly shining, especially the Patriarch of the Liew Family, whose gaze was the brightest.
"Here he comes, itâs Young Master Zhong!"
Liew Bin, standing behind the Liew family Martial Artists, became excited. Without Young Master Zhong, todayâs battle couldnât proceed, all of Liew familyâs preparations would be in vain.
Zhong Wushangâs arrival sealed the outcome, impossible to alter.
"Wu Qingxia! Youâre doomed! But before you die, I must humiliate you thoroughly!"
Liew Bin thought to himself with gritted teeth. Even if the incident with Wu Qingxia hadnât occurred, the Liew family would still target the Skeleton Sect, as only the Liew family could rule the Northern Wastelands Great Python Mountain area, all other forces must become vassals. However, Wu Qingxiaâs past remark, "How can a tiger girl marry a dog husband!" left him with deep enmity towards her.
Tonight, heâs determined to prove Wu Qingxia wrong, to show heâs not a dog husband! He plans to slaughter everyone from the Wu family and the Skeleton Sect to quench his hatred.
Whoosh...
The flying war chariot finally reached the open ground before the castle, hovering in the air. There werenât many people inside, only three. The chariot lacked a roof but had a transparent protective barrier, keeping the rain out.
A black-clothed young man sat inside, exuding a grand demeanor, holding a beautiful young woman. If observed closely, the young woman bore some resemblance to Liew Bin.
A burly man equipped with heavy armor stood at the chariotâs front, head covered in a heavy helmet, only emotionless eyes exposed.
"Greetings, Young Master Zhong!"