The four Martial Emperors condensed dark evil attributes that, though chilling to the bone, were thoroughly suppressed before Scarlet Star Absolute Flame—this supremely yang and righteous fire.
“The Sect Master is amazing!”
Xiao Zuiji’s eyes overflowed with intense worship.
Ye Xingchen wasn’t surprised.
If the Sect Master unleashed the power from before—that punch that collapsed the ground for dozens of miles—these four Martial Emperors would have long since kicked the bucket.
He was referring to the Armed Wing’s combat form.
Jun Changxiao was too lazy to use it, because Scarlet Star Absolute Flame alone was enough to solve the problem.
So spending twenty thousand contribution points to achieve instant kills of several Fourth and Fifth-Grade Martial Emperors at peak King level was extremely worthwhile!
A Martial King crossing levels to battle Martial Emperors was absolutely fantastical.
However, Jun Changxiao was an exception.
Because of the system—this special existence—he absolutely couldn’t be understood with normal thinking.
If one day the shop refreshed with a nuclear bomb that could directly destroy the entire world, that wasn’t impossible either.
The Martial Emperor who’d been struck down lay on the ground in pain, but didn’t dare move an inch, because that heavy great blade was right next to his neck.
“This seat’s patience is limited.” Jun Changxiao said coldly.
He could easily kill these four Martial Emperors, but he had to figure out exactly what their identities were and what their purpose was!
“If I tell you, can I be spared death?” that Martial Emperor said weakly.
“Naturally.”
Jun Changxiao said coolly.
“Good.”
That Martial Emperor said: “Let me catch my breath.”
Taking a direct hit from flame power infused with Scarlet Star Absolute Flame had injured him gravely.
Jun Changxiao said: “Don’t play tricks, otherwise…”
Bang!
Before he finished speaking, that lying Martial Emperor suddenly vanished, leaving only a puff of white smoke that then dispersed with the wind.
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
Damn it, I hadn’t even finished talking and he still played tricks!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Just then, the other three Martial Emperors lying in the distance also vanished on the spot, leaving only faint white smoke.
“Sect Master.”
Ye Xingchen transmitted: “These people must have executed some kind of escape technique.”
“Careless.”
Jun Changxiao said quite regretfully.
……
A thousand miles away.
The four Martial Emperors appeared out of thin air in the void, then stumbled and fell to the ground, their faces appearing even paler.
As Ye Xingchen had said, they’d activated an escape technique. Though they’d escaped danger, their bodies had fallen into even worse condition.
“I… never thought this Myriad Ancients Sect’s Sect Master would be so formidable… the four of us weren’t even a match for a single exchange…” the leading Martial Emperor said with difficulty.
“If that guy didn’t have Scarlet Star Absolute Flame—that Divine-Grade flame—we… we might not have been defeated so miserably.”
“This mission has failed. After returning, we’ll inevitably be punished by the Master.”
Hearing the word ‘punishment,’ everyone’s facial expressions became even more pained, and a chill rose up their backs.
“Let’s… let’s go.”
The leading Martial Emperor struggled to rise: “First find a place to heal these injuries.”
……
On a huge boulder, Jun Changxiao sat cross-legged, supporting his chin: “Could they be sent by Devil Fiend Sect and God-Slaying Hall?”
“Possibly.” Xiao Zuiji said.
The evil cultivator forces with grudges against Myriad Ancients Sect were currently only these two—it was easy to make the connection.
Ye Xingchen said: “Devil Fiend Sect and God-Slaying Hall just took a loss. Would they be foolish enough to brazenly send Fourth and Fifth-Grade Martial Emperors?”
“True.” Jun Changxiao said.
Having just paid spirit stones to redeem peak Martial Emperors, the two evil sects should know his strength. Sending several middle-tier Martial Emperors now—wouldn’t that be the same as delivering food?
“Moreover.”
Ye Xingchen said: “To capture us, they directly sent four Martial Emperors. Third-rate evil sects might not be able to do that.”
“You mean these people might come from first or second-rate evil sects?” Jun Changxiao said.
Ye Xingchen speculated: “Perhaps they’re not from evil sects, but from Dark Sects.”
“Dark Sects?”
Jun Changxiao was hearing this for the first time.
Ye Xingchen said: “Forces that hide in the shadows and aren’t well-known are collectively called Dark Sects.”
Dark Sect forces didn’t like showing their faces, and there were no legends about them in the martial world.
The most representative Dark Sect was the former Shadowless Gate.
This was a force similar to assassins that had developed in secret for thousands of years. Though its members weren’t numerous, their strength was extremely formidable—completely comparable to first and second-rate sects.
Unfortunately.
Later they offended Ye Xingchen from his previous life and were directly exterminated.
The process was extremely difficult.
Our great Night Emperor had spent several full years before finally achieving complete annihilation.
That a Martial Emperor had to expend such great effort showed how concealed Dark Sect forces were.
Jun Changxiao rubbed his temples, thinking silently: “I still understand too little about this world.”
It wasn’t little.
Apart from top experts, not many people knew about Dark Sects.
……
Ye Xingchen didn’t continue challenging Earth tier talents, but instead followed the Sect Master back to the sect.
If the four Martial Emperors came from a Dark Sect force, it meant Myriad Ancients Sect was being targeted, and there might be further actions next.
To avoid trouble.
Well, better to continue cultivating in the sect for now.
Whoever dared call Night Emperor cowardly, I’d give them a thumbs up in return!
Swish!
Wings spread, flying at extreme speed.
Before long, Jun Changxiao brought Ye Xingchen and Xiao Zuiji down to the sect’s training grounds, summoned the disciples, and instructed them that when going out on missions, they must be careful and immediately contact the sect if they encountered danger.
Regardless of which force the four Martial Emperors came from, since they dared move against his disciples, they might very well come again. Being a bit more careful had no drawbacks.
It was just that.
This kind of existence hiding in the shadows made Jun Changxiao extremely uncomfortable.
“Sect Master.”
Li Luoqiu walked in: “You summoned me for what matter?”
Jun Changxiao said: “This seat wants to vigorously develop the intelligence network. What good suggestions do you have?”
The intelligence organization had been continuously expanding, but progress was relatively slow. He planned to spread it at maximum speed and form an extremely large scale.
As long as there were sufficient information sources, even Dark Sect forces hiding underground might not be impossible to find.
This thinking was very correct.
Back then, though Night Emperor hadn’t relied on intelligence, he’d released his spiritual sense to blanket half the world, painstakingly unraveling threads until finally locating the Shadowless Gate hiding in the shadows.
Jun Changxiao couldn’t spread spiritual sense across half of Xingyun Continent, but if he had enough intelligence sources, it would be equivalent to countless additional pairs of eyes.
Li Luoqiu said: “I’ve been considering this problem recently. Actually, we can emulate Devil Fiend Sect and God-Slaying Hall by establishing branch halls in various provinces and commanderies, having them collect intelligence within designated areas.”
“This method is good.”
Jun Changxiao said: “It can be implemented.”
Li Luoqiu said: “Establishing branch halls not only requires many intelligence agents but also needs people with relatively high strength to sit in command. With our Myriad Ancients Sect’s current manpower, I’m afraid it will be quite difficult.”
“Do you think the people in Devil Fiend Sect and God-Slaying Hall’s branch halls are all sect disciples?” Jun Changxiao said.
Li Luoqiu understood: “The Sect Master means recruiting martial cultivators externally, using employment relationships to have them work for our sect?”
“Correct.” Jun Changxiao said.
Jiang Xie wasn’t a Devil Fiend Sect disciple either, yet he’d worked for them for many years.
If Myriad Ancients Sect established branch halls in various provinces and commanderies, there was no need to personally send disciples—they could recruit others externally to work.
—