In just a few days, the branch masters of two provincial altars have been killed, Soul‑Split experts slaughtered, and all branch disciples crippled. This isn't just a provocation against the Prime One Church—it's like landing two hard slaps right across their face.
As the sect master, Master Mingtan felt his cheeks burning with humiliation.
"Investigate! We must find out who did this!"
At the Prime One Church high council meeting, a late Fusion-stage elder roared loudly.
Master Mingtan's face was dark as water as he slowly swept his gaze over the senior elders. "Any opinions?"
Another elder spoke up: "Right now, the most important thing is to ensure the safety of the remaining branch altars. If another branch gets wiped out, our Prime One Church will lose all its prestige!"
The Prime One Church high council settled on two key decisions.
First, core elder Rhett Stone will lead a team of twenty true‑disciple elders and two hundred true‑disciple disciples to investigate and hunt down the culprits who destroyed the two branch altars.
The culprits can't be allowed to die easily—they must be executed in front of the entire cultivation world to restore the Prime One Church's authority.
Second, notify the remaining 106 branch altars as quickly as possible, ordering them to go on full alert and guard against further annihilation.
After the meeting, Master Mingtan returned to his private quarters.
A mysterious figure, cloaked entirely in black robes, suddenly appeared.
Master Mingtan wasn't surprised at all. In a cold voice, he ordered, "Send people to infiltrate the Fourth Prince Residence. As soon as Ian Song shows up there, capture him immediately. Also, assign two more to secretly follow the Saintess!"
"Yes, sir!"
The black-robed figure flickered and vanished.
Staring at the now-empty quarters, Master Mingtan couldn't help but recall that handsome, still-youthful yet determined face. For some reason, he had a strong feeling that the destruction of both the Dragon-God Province and Taiyin Prefecture branch altars was directly related to that little thief.
Several days passed in a flash.
Rhett Stone led a group of true-disciple elders and disciples to Dragon-God Province and Taiyin Prefecture. Their initial investigation determined that three people were responsible for destroying the two branch altars—a middle-aged man, a young man, and a teenager.
Among them, the teenager's appearance perfectly matched Ian Song, the one being hunted by the Prime One Church.
Unfortunately, even though they've identified the culprits, they can't track their whereabouts. Not even the best diviners can find a single clue.
Little did they know, after Ian Song's system devoured so many other systems, it had leveled up several times. Not even Immortals could deduce any information about him.
Meanwhile, news of the destruction of the Prime One Church branch altars spread rapidly across the Tang Dynasty.
At first, everyone doubted the news, thinking it impossible—like hearing that two states in the world-dominating United States had been overrun by some unknown force.
But soon, experts who had personally visited both provinces confirmed the news.
For a time, the entire world was shaken. Some even declared that the Prime One Church, which had stood for a hundred thousand years, was finally in decline.
Every top-tier power held emergency meetings in response.
On this land, two superpowers reign supreme: the Tang Dynasty and the Prime One Church.
To survive here, every sect, clan, and force—no matter the size—must pay taxes to these two superpowers.
Over time, these two powers only grew stronger, while the others could never surpass themselves.
Ten days later.
The first-rate sect Sky-Dragon Sect in Dragon-God Province allied with the Zane Clan to launch a surprise attack on the first-rate sect Savage God Sect.
The war lasted three days and nights. In the end, Savage God Sect was destroyed, and its territory, resources, and even its best disciples were divided between Sky-Dragon Sect and the Zane Clan, greatly boosting both their strength.
Before, with the Prime One Church branch altar's suppression, these ambitious sects and clans could only hide their intentions. Now that the branch altars are destroyed, they're showing their fangs, seizing the chance to grab more benefits before the Prime One Church can regroup.
The actions of Sky-Dragon Sect and the Zane Clan set an example for other first-rate powers in Dragon-God Province. Soon, rival sects and clans began to fight, and even second- and third-rate powers couldn't hold back—old grudges were settled with blood.
In just a few days, Dragon-God Province was plunged into nonstop fighting and bloodshed. Chaos reigned.
Meanwhile, in Taiyin Prefecture, Rhett Stone and a group of true-disciple elders kept the local powers in check. But once they left, chaos would erupt there too.
At this moment, Rhett Stone was furious. After more than ten days of investigation, he still hadn't found any trace of the three culprits, and his temper grew worse by the day.
After more than ten days of travel, Toba Feng finally returned to the Fire God Church and immediately requested an audience with Vulcan Pi.
In the main hall, Vulcan Pi sat high above, looking down at Toba Feng. He said coolly, "Feng'er, what brings you here?"
"Master, please take a look!"
Toba Feng offered up the wooden box with both hands.
With a wave of his hand, Vulcan Pi made the box fly to him.
He opened it, revealing a head with wide, glaring eyes. Though dead, it still radiated the aura of a Fusion-stage master. The head clearly belonged to Monty, the branch master of the Prime One Church's Taiyin Prefecture altar.
For a moment, Vulcan Pi stared at Toba Feng in surprise. "Did you kill him?"
Toba Feng gave a bitter smile. "How could I possibly have that kind of ability?"
Vulcan Pi said nothing, waiting for Toba Feng's answer.
"Master, Monty's head is a gift from someone else!" Toba Feng gritted his teeth.
"Oh? Who?" Vulcan Pi showed a hint of interest.
"Ian Song!" Toba Feng replied nervously.
At that, Vulcan Pi paused to think, then his face turned cold. The hall's atmosphere suddenly chilled. "Is he the one who ruined Xian'er's body?"
"That's him!" Toba Feng nodded, bracing himself.
After a while, Vulcan Pi spoke again, his voice unreadable: "So, he does have some skill. Tell me, what does he want?"
"He wants to exchange twelve Prime One Church branch altars for Xian'er's life!" Toba Feng said.
"Just him?" Vulcan Pi sneered.
"Master, you may not know, but he destroyed the Dragon-God Province branch altar in a day, then took a few more days to wipe out the Taiyin Prefecture altar. He knows he's committed a grave crime, so he wants to redeem himself this way." Toba Feng explained.
"Redeem himself? Why doesn't he come to the Fire God Church himself?" Vulcan Pi asked.
"He doesn't dare. He's afraid you'll kill him, Master!" Toba Feng replied.
"At least he knows his limits!" Vulcan Pi smiled. "Go tell him—I accept his terms!"
"Ah!" Toba Feng hadn't expected Vulcan Pi to agree so easily. "Master, you really accept?"
Vulcan Pi smiled kindly. "Why wouldn't I? After all, I raised Xian'er myself. Though I'm angry about what happened, it's been a long time, and my anger has mostly faded. Xian'er has already been punished, so I've decided to let her go. Go to Ten-Thousand-Ghost Valley and bring her out."
"Thank you, Master! Thank you!" Toba Feng gratefully bowed several times before hurrying off to Ten-Thousand-Ghost Valley.
Inside the main hall, Vulcan Pi's lips curled into a meaningful, cold smile.
Inside the main hall, Vulcan Pi's lips curled into a meaningful, cold smile.