As soon as they entered the area where the enemy might appear, the group grew visibly tense, treating every rustle in the grass as a potential threat.
Before Yi Feng could speak, the plump Elder Wang raised his hand to halt the disciples behind him and issued a stern command.
"All disciples, heed my order."
"To avoid alerting the enemy, conceal your auras immediately, change into plain attire, and cease all unauthorized flight!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two elders began changing their clothes without hesitation.
The disciples followed suit, donning simple garments in perfect unison, as if this were a well-rehearsed drill. Their movements were swift and efficient, leaving no room for doubt.
Yi Feng was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected the members of Moon God Pavilion to be this cautious.
While it made sense to stay low-key while gathering intelligence, they hadn’t even spotted a trace of the enemy yet. Wasn’t this level of preparation a bit excessive?
Seeing Yi Feng still unmoving, the portly Elder Wang bowed solemnly, his tone carrying a hint of impatience."Elder Yi, we are here on a mission for our sect—to scout the enemy’s movements. There is no room for recklessness. The Crimson Heaven Sect is formidable, and we must proceed with utmost caution. You may not know of their strength, but we have heard the tales and are familiar with this terrain. I urge you to heed our advice!"
Yi Feng wasn’t bothered by Elder Wang’s stubbornness, but the urgency in his voice piqued his curiosity.
If even the elders of Moon God Pavilion were this wary, even going so far as to repeatedly emphasize caution, then the Crimson Heaven Sect must indeed be a force to reckon with!
The thought lit a spark in Yi Feng’s eyes.
"Elders, is the Crimson Heaven Sect truly that powerful?"
Elder Wang’s expression darkened, and the lean elder stepped forward with a grave bow.
"Elder Yi, do not underestimate them. The Crimson Heaven Sect’s strength may very well rival our Moon God Pavilion! We will follow your lead in the coming actions, but we implore you to proceed with extreme caution!"
A sect on par with Moon God Pavilion?
If that were true, their leader must be at least as strong as the Moon God Pavilion’s master!
Yi Feng’s eyes gleamed with interest.
He finally followed suit, changing into his own plain attire.
Only when they saw him take action did the two elders exhale in relief. They then ordered the thirty disciples to prepare, arming themselves with an array of magical artifacts and weapons until they were practically equipped to the teeth.
Perhaps fate didn’t want their vigilance to go to waste—a small flying vessel soon appeared on the horizon!
But the moment they saw the banner fluttering at the prow, the two elders paled.
"It’s them! The Crimson Heaven Sect!"
"All disciples, suppress your auras at once!"
The group crouched at the edge of the dense forest, their faces tense as they stared at the distant flying vessel, bracing for battle.
Yi Feng frowned in confusion and whispered,
"That just looks like an ordinary vessel. There probably aren’t any major figures aboard, right? Do we really need to be this careful?"
He had come to the Crimson Heaven Sect to seek out true experts.
If they were already on edge at the sight of a single small vessel, Yi Feng couldn’t muster much enthusiasm. Their excessive caution baffled him.
But the plump elder beside him wore a look of deep apprehension.
"Elder Yi, you don’t understand. The Crimson Heaven Sect is ruthless—their strikes are swift as lightning. Just two days ago, they annihilated the Ten Thousand Peaks Sect in less than a night. No one knows how they did it."
The lean elder nodded grimly.
"Exactly."
"The Crimson Heaven Sect’s power may exceed our worst fears. We must treat even a single vessel with extreme caution!"
That impressive?
Hearing this, Yi Feng straightened and focused his gaze on the distant sky.
Far in the distance, the flying vessel cut through the clouds, its modest size—no more than a few dozen zhang—making it almost inconspicuous against the vast heavens. Had it not been for their recent rise in infamy, and the fact that Yi Feng and Moon God Pavilion were here specifically to gather intelligence, they might have missed it entirely.
To an uninformed observer, it would seem like nothing more than an ordinary vessel.
But in truth...
This vessel carried over a dozen terrifying figures!
Inside the vessel...
Luxurious chairs were occupied by cloaked figures, their faces hidden beneath black hoods. The once-elegant chamber was now shrouded in dim light, thick with suffocating pressure.
The hooded figures seated along the walls remained utterly silent, as if in deep slumber.
Then, a voice echoed from outside the chamber.
"Reporting to the Sect Master and esteemed elders."
"Our vessel will soon enter Moon God Pavilion’s territory. Within half a day, we will reach their gates!"
Instantly—
The hooded figures slowly raised their heads, dark mist swirling around them as unfathomable auras radiated from their forms. Their pupils gleamed with an eerie, blood-red light!
As one, they turned and bowed toward the throne.
Seated upon it was an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard, his sharp eyes gleaming with cold amusement. Despite his advanced age, his skin was smooth and youthful, as if time had reversed its course.
This was the enigmatic master of the Crimson Heaven Sect—Tu Daofang.
Shrouded in black mist, his true presence was indiscernible, leaving only a faint outline of his face visible to the elders. His ancient eyes burned with terrifying killing intent!
Resting his hands on the armrests of his obsidian throne, he spoke in a voice as deep as the abyss.
"This time, we will eradicate Moon God Pavilion without fail, cementing our Crimson Heaven Sect’s dominance and prestige—and securing our reign over the Southern Li Heavenly Domain!"
The shadowed elders clasped their fists in unison.
In the dim light, their faces twisted with ambition, their grins bordering on monstrous as they responded with venomous loyalty.
"As the Sect Master commands!"
As the decree was issued, hushed discussions filled the chamber.
"The Sect Master’s wisdom is peerless! Moon God Pavilion will never expect our sudden assault!"
"What of Moon God Pavilion? They are but another sect. How many sects have we crushed beneath our heels already?"
"The remaining major sects are nothing but scattered stragglers. Once Moon God Pavilion falls, the western reaches of the Southern Li Heavenly Domain will be ours—and we shall ascend as the supreme overlords!"
"All hail the Sect Master! May his reign endure for eternity!"
Sinister laughter reverberated as the black mist thickened.
The killing intent was so palpable it seemed to freeze the air, the elders’ auras intertwining in a display of overwhelming might. Even a Heaven-tier expert would tremble in their presence!
These terrifying figures had already settled their plans.
All their secrets were concealed within the seemingly ordinary vessel—an unseen calamity, swift and unstoppable.
Meanwhile, Yi Feng and his group remained hidden, watching the vessel from afar.
But deep within the forest where they lurked, another group of formidable figures glared at the sky with a mix of dread and fury, their patience wearing thin.
As the vessel glided through the clouds, nearing the forest’s canopy, a burly man with a thick beard clenched his fists and turned to his companions.
"The Crimson Heaven Sect’s dogs are here. Shall we strike?!"