Qingyun Sect, Sword Forging Peak.
"Master!"
"Disciple, I have a request!!"
Nalan Yinde bowed respectfully. The barrier before the cave abode dissolved, revealing an elder within, emanating a terrifying aura. This was the Second Elder of Qingyun Sect, Xiaoyao Sanren.
He was also a man obsessed with power. If the current Sect Master had not been so strong back then, Xiaoyao Sanren would have been the Sect Master himself.
"Yinde?"
"What is it!!"
Xiaoyao Sanren had told them not to disturb him unless it was important before going into seclusion. Fortunately, he had now reached the peak of the seventh heaven of the Divine King realm and was in a good mood.
"Thump!!"
Entering the clearing, Nalan Yinde immediately knelt, his eyes bloodshot. "Master, you must uphold justice for your disciple!!"
"My father has been murdered!!!"
Hmm~~
Hearing his disciple's words, Nalan Yinde's brow furrowed. "What did you say? Your father was killed!"
"Who dares to kill the Lord of the city I protect!!"
"Master, it's like this..."
Nalan Yinde 'embellished' the conflict in Dongxuan City where his father was killed, framing it as an insult to his master. As expected, knowing his master's temperament, Nalan Yinde's provocation was successful.
"How dare he!!"
His terrifying aura of the seventh heaven of the Divine King realm at its peak exploded. Nalan Yinde felt the divine pressure and his heart was filled with sinister coldness. "The hatred for my father's murder is irreconcilable!"
"Dongxuan City, no matter who you are, even if the King of Heaven himself comes, he won't be able to protect you!!"
As his master's disciple, Nalan Yinde knew his master's strength very well. Furthermore, his master, as the disciplinary elder, controlled half of Qingyun Sect's combat power. If his master acted, no one within a radius of hundreds of thousands of kilometers, across thousands of cities, would be spared.
"However... Yinde, I cannot act now."
After venting his anger, Xiaoyao Sanren took a deep breath, reason taking over. "It's not that I won't avenge you, but I have more important matters to attend to."
"Ten thousand years ago, the position of Qingyun Sect Master should have been mine. That old bastard Gong Cangtian only managed to defeat me by a few points of strength, causing me to lose my chance at the position!"
"These years, I have cultivated diligently to one day reclaim what belongs to me!!"
"Now... the time is ripe!!"
Xiaoyao Sanren's eyes narrowed menacingly. "I have learned that a terrifying demonic creature is sealed in the forbidden area behind our Qingyun Sect. Gong Cangtian and the First Elder have entered the back mountain more than once, thinking they were being discreet."
"If I can lure them into a battle with the demonic creature in the forbidden area and leave them severely wounded, I can reap the benefits. By then..."
"Not only will I be able to kill Gong Cangtian and the other, but I can also annihilate that demonic creature. At that time, Qingyun Sect will be mine!!"
As he spoke, Xiaoyao Sanren could not help but become excited, as if that scene had already appeared before his eyes.
"Master, you... you're going to make your move now!!"
Hearing his master's plan, Nalan Yinde was also astonished. He knew very well the strength of the Sect Master and the First Elder. However, if his master could become the Sect Master of Qingyun Sect, he might very well inherit the position in the future.
After all, he was the most talented disciple under his master's tutelage!
"Good!"
Taking a deep breath, Nalan Yinde nodded heavily. "Yinde understands. I am willing to help Master!"
"Mm."
"I am very pleased that you think this way!"
Xiaoyao Sanren nodded with satisfaction and continued, "But, my dear disciple, rest assured. After I cripple those two old bastards, I will personally avenge your father. And..."
"Then, if I can absorb that demonic creature's energy, perhaps... I can break through to the eighth heaven of the Divine King realm, or even the ninth heaven!"
Nalan Yinde listened to his master's words, picturing the scenes in his mind. If it truly succeeded, it would be a tremendous boon for him.
"May I ask... when will Master make his move?"
Thinking about his future prospects, Nalan Yinde temporarily suppressed his desire for revenge for his father's murder. It had to be said that he was ruthless and knew how to make the most advantageous choices.
"Tonight!"
Xiaoyao Sanren naturally would not hide anything. After all, Nalan Yinde was his most beloved disciple. If nothing unexpected happened, the Qingyun Sect would be handed over to him after his success.
"Oh."
"Yinde wishes Master success in advance!!"
Nalan Yinde bowed and said this. His words made Xiaoyao Sanren feel even more elated, and his impression of his disciple improved significantly, his mouth almost splitting to his ears.
"Mm."
"But do not spread this matter. After all, within the sect, my faction cannot cover everything with one hand!"
"Yes, Master!!"
Nalan Yinde bowed respectfully. "Then, Master, prepare. Yinde shall take his leave!"
"Go ahead."
Xiaoyao Sanren waved his hand. With little time left until night, he naturally had many arrangements to make. After all, the sooner he acted, the more advantageous it would be for him. Of course, the sooner he could ascend to the position of Sect Master.
Time flew by, and night fell.
Gong Cangtian, the Sect Master of Qingyun Sect, and the First Elder of Qingyun Sect went to the forbidden area as usual to reinforce the seal. In the forbidden area of the back mountain, Gong Cangtian formed hand seals, and then the two of them rapidly entered. However, they did not notice that just as the entrance to the forbidden area was about to be restored, a figure ghost-like entered the forbidden area. This ghostly figure was none other than the Second Elder of Qingyun Sect, Xiaoyao Sanren.
"Gong Cangtian, I don't believe you can survive this time!!"
He let out a cold laugh, looking at Gong Cangtian and the other two as if they were already dead. Meanwhile, Gong Cangtian and the First Elder of Qingyun Sect were also conversing.
"Sect Master, the Second Elder has been a bit restless lately."
The First Elder of Qingyun Sect looked grave and then looked ahead. "If he were to find out about the sealing matter, I fear... it would cause a lot of trouble."
"Mm."
"The Second Elder still holds a grudge over the Sect Master position from back then. In recent years, his actions have become increasingly audacious. However... he controls half of the sect's powerful figures. To break with him rashly would be a significant blow to Qingyun Sect."
"Moreover, Qingyun Sect is about to be promoted to a first-rank force. If we are to settle accounts with the Second Elder, it should be after the sect becomes a first-rank force..."
Gong Cangtian said this. The First Elder wanted to say something upon hearing this, but ultimately did not. After all, he had tried to persuade him many times before. In his opinion, internal stability was paramount. With the Qingyun Sect's internal affairs still unstable, there might be many variables during the promotion to a first-rank force.
"I hope I'm just worrying unnecessarily."
The First Elder sighed and followed Gong Cangtian to the deepest part of the forbidden area in the back mountain. Upon arriving, they immediately activated their defenses to resist the surging demonic energy from the opposite side.
Above the demonic energy, a man with wings formed. However, this man's wings were as black as ink, extremely sinister. "Qingyun Sect, release this commander! Otherwise, once this commander is free, I will bathe your Qingyun Sect in blood, leaving no one alive!!"
The Second Elder also arrived at this moment. Upon sensing the sinister and evil aura from the opposite side, his expression became extremely solemn. "That... could it be the demonic creature from the Outer Realm tribes recorded in the sect's ancient texts, the Two-Winged Black Angel!!!"