Chapter 72: Crimson Sun Sect Comes Knocking

Fang Hao suppressed his injuries, concealed his aura all the way, and carefully snuck out of the ruins of the Wolong Mountain Range.

He did not return directly to the Azure Cloud Sect, but instead detoured to a secluded valley to carefully check himself, confirming that no tracking marks were left behind.

After repeatedly washing the Storage Rings of Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove with Chaos Qi to completely erase any potential hidden dangers, he took a Medicinal Pill, adjusted his breathing for a moment, and then embarked on the journey home.

Several days later, Fang Hao quietly returned to the Azure Cloud Sect.

He did not alert many people and returned directly to his own Immortal Cave, activating all protective Formations to begin closed-door cultivation to heal his injuries.

This trip to the ruins yielded huge gains, but the cost was equally heavy.

His internal and external injuries were not light, his golden puppet was severely damaged and required nurturing, and more importantly, he had personally killed two Late Golden Core Stage Elders of the Chiyang Sect.

If this matter were leaked, it would surely bring about a monstrous disaster.

Meanwhile, Liang Ling and Lin Wan had already returned safely to the Sect and reported most of their experiences in the ruins (omitting the details of Fang Hao obtaining the chaos pill furnace and ultimately killing Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove).

Fang Hao’s astonishing performance in the ruins, especially his attainments in Formations and that mysterious "trump card" Puppet, shocked the Inner Sect once again, and his reputation was second to none.

Liu Yiyi had also returned safely to the Flowing Cloud Sect and sent a message to report her safety, feeling immensely grateful for Fang Hao’s life-saving grace.

Everything seemed to return to calm, and the joy of the harvest diluted the thrilling memories of the ruins.

However, a storm was quietly brewing.

In the Chiyang Sect, inside the Chiyang Hall.

The atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

The Chiyang Sect Sect Master—a Middle Nascent Soul Stage great Cultivator, Lieyang Zhenjun, sat on the main seat with a face as dark as water.

The aura around him was like a volcano about to erupt, scorching and violent, while the few Disciples kneeling below trembled.

"Speak! Where did Elders Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove go in the end? Why did their Soul Tablets shatter at the same time!" Lieyang Zhenjun’s voice echoed in the hall like rolling thunder.

A Disciple trembling with fear replied: "Reporting to the Sect Master... this Disciple... this Disciple was on the outskirts of the Wolong Mountain Range at the time and once saw Elder Blazing Evil and Elder Gloomy Dove from afar, seemingly... seemingly chasing a Azure Cloud Sect Disciple named Fang Hao..."

"Fang Hao?" Cold light exploded in Lieyang Zhenjun’s eyes, "That winner of the Five Sect Martial Competition? A Foundation Establishment Middle Stage junior?"

"Yes... yes. Later, the two Elders chased into the depths of the ruins, and this Disciple never saw them come out again... until today, when the Soul Hall sent news..." The Disciple’s voice grew smaller and smaller, filled with fear.

"Absurd!" Lieyang Zhenjun slammed the armrest of his seat, causing the entire hall to shake, "Two Late Golden Core Stage Elders, chasing a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage junior, only to have their Soul Tablets shatter and perish? How is this possible!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But he knew clearly in his heart that the shattering of the Soul Tablets meant that Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove had indeed fallen!

And their last appearance was with that Azure Cloud Sect Disciple named Fang Hao!

This matter definitely had something to do with Fang Hao!

Even if he didn’t kill them personally, he must know the inside story!

Perhaps, this child definitely possessed a Heaven-Defying secret or a heavy treasure!

"Azure Cloud Sect... Fang Hao..." Killing Intent was sharp in Lieyang Zhenjun’s eyes, "I want to see how your Azure Cloud Sect will explain this! If you do not give an explanation, do not blame me for being impolite!"

The next moment, a terrifying Nascent Soul pressure soared into the sky from Chiyang Peak, and Lieyang Zhenjun transformed into a crimson streak of light tearing through the sky, heading straight towards the direction of the Azure Cloud Sect!

He was going to personally confront them!

The news spread rapidly like a gale!

Two Late Golden Core Stage Elders of the Chiyang Sect had fallen, suspected to be related to the Azure Cloud Sect’s Genius Disciple, Fang Hao!

The Chiyang Sect Sect Master, Lieyang Zhenjun, personally set out to head to the Azure Cloud Sect to demand an explanation!

The entire West Province cultivation world was shaken!

Countless gazes were cast towards the Azure Cloud Sect.

In the Azure Cloud Sect, inside the Qingyun Hall.

Sect Master Yun Qingyang frowned, with Liang Ling, Lin Wan, and several core Elders standing below.

The atmosphere was equally heavy.

"Tell the details of the incident again," Yun Qingyang said in a deep voice.

Liang Ling and Lin Wan recounted the process of the conflict with Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove in the ruins (omitting the details of Fang Hao’s counter-killing), emphasizing that the other party had started the robbery first and that Fang Hao had only used his trump card Puppet to force them back in self-defense.

"In other words, Fang Hao relied on a Nascent Soul Level Puppet to force back Blazing Evil and Gloomy Dove? But afterwards, he led the two away alone, and you left first?" Yun Qingyang confirmed.

"Yes, Sect Master," Liang Ling said respectfully, "Junior Brother Ning did it so we could leave safely... as for what happened afterwards, this Disciple and the others truly do not know."

Yun Qingyang and several Elders looked at each other, their eyes filled with gravity and a trace of disbelief.

Forcing back and killing are two completely different concepts!

If it was just forcing back, why would Blazing Evil and the other die?

If it was really done by Fang Hao... a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, relying on a Puppet to kill two Late Golden Core Stage?

This is simply shocking!

What kind of Heaven-Defying Puppet could that be?

If this news spreads, the Azure Cloud Sect will surely become the target of public criticism!

But regardless, Lieyang Zhenjun has already arrived!

This matter must be dealt with!

Just at this moment, a vast Nascent Soul pressure like the sea enveloped the entire Azure Cloud Sect!

The sky seemed to be dyed crimson, and the scorching aura made all low-level Disciples feel suffocated!

"Yun Qingyang! Come out! Hand over Fang Hao! Otherwise, I will flatten your Azure Cloud Sect mountain gate today!" Lieyang Zhenjun’s incomparably overbearing voice, like rolling thunder, spread in all directions!

He has arrived!

Yun Qingyang’s expression turned stern, and a flash of fierce light flickered in his eyes.

Regardless, Fang Hao is a Azure Cloud Sect Disciple and the hope of the Sect’s future; he must never be handed over easily!

"Activate the Sect Protection Formation! All Elders, follow me to welcome our guest!" Yun Qingyang stood up, his Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation exploded, and he transformed into a cyan streak of light, soaring into the sky!

Above the Azure Cloud Sect, the two great Nascent Soul Cultivators confronted each other from afar!

The atmosphere was tense, and a great battle was on the verge of breaking out!

Yun Qingyang cupped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant: "Fellow Daoist Lieyang, what has made you so angry that you would want to flatten my Azure Cloud Sect mountain gate?"

Lieyang Zhenjun was full of Killing Intent: "Yun Qingyang! Stop playing dumb! Your Sect Disciple Fang Hao caused my Chiyang Sect’s two Late Golden Core Stage Elders to fall! If you do not hand over this child today, and let my Sect perform soul-searching for verification, my Chiyang Sect and your Azure Cloud Sect will be enemies until death!"

Yun Qingyang said coldly: "Fellow Daoist Lieyang, without proof or evidence, just based on speculation, you want to soul-search the Genius Disciple of my Sect? That is too overbearing! As far as I know, it was your Sect’s Elders who started the robbery first, and Fang Hao only forced them back in self-defense. Who can know what happened afterwards? Perhaps they triggered a terrifying Restriction in the ruins; what does that have to do with my Sect’s Disciple?"

"Sophistry!" Lieyang Zhenjun laughed in extreme anger, "Forced back? If this child did not possess heavy treasures and use strange methods, how could Blazing Evil and the other have fallen? Today, will you hand him over or not?"

As he spoke, several powerful Golden Core auras flew over rapidly from the direction of the Chiyang Sect, clearly reinforcements from the Chiyang Sect!

Inside the Azure Cloud Sect, the Elders also flew into the air, and the atmosphere was tense to the extreme!

Everyone’s gaze was focused on Yun Qingyang, waiting for his decision.

And the center of the storm, Fang Hao, who was currently in closed-door cultivation in his Immortal Cave, did not yet know that a Nascent Soul Level confrontation, which started because of him, had already erupted.

His fate, and even the safety of the Azure Cloud Sect, were hanging by a thread.