Chapter 468 - 341: Turmoil on the Return Journey

Chapter 468: Chapter 341: Turmoil on the Return Journey

After slaying Xuan Long Master, Zhu Zhengping slowly exhaled. He turned to the crowd, his expression solemn, and said with a cupped fist,

"The leader of the Spirit Dragon Sect was the mastermind. His death is no great loss. As for the remaining disciples, you may all deal with them as you see fit. I will not involve myself."

"Currently, the borders are in crisis. It is not just the Southwest Land; our other border defenses are at risk of being breached. We must strengthen our patrols."

"My Profound Yin Sect will naturally take the lead. The Purple Rainbow Sect and the Seven Stars Sect must also reinforce their border defenses. As for the Six Sects, excluding the Spirit Dragon Sect, you are to remain on standby and await orders..."

After quickly giving his instructions, Zhu Zhengping did not linger. With a great wave of his sleeve, he swept up his disciples and sped off in the direction of his sect.

The members of the Purple Rainbow Sect and the Seven Stars Sect did not dare to dally either. With serious expressions, they departed quickly, without time for farewells.

On the Martial Continent, matters concerning the borders were primarily the responsibility of the Three Gates, with the Six Sects playing a supporting role. Because of this, the Three Gates enjoyed far more abundant resources. With their station came their duty.

And now, with this unexpected turn of events and the dire situation, they naturally could not afford to linger.

The members of the Six Sects—no, to be precise, the five sects—were left behind, exchanging complex glances as they processed the news.

The remaining disciples of the Spirit Dragon Sect watched this unfold, their faces filled with terror. They huddled together, trembling.

The once-bustling Celestial Killer City was suddenly shrouded in a solemn silence, like the calm before a storm.

"These are turbulent times..."

After a long moment, Lu Ruikai shook his head, a complex look in his eyes as he sighed softly.

Ruan Hao felt the same. He patted Yu Changsheng’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring look. After a moment of contemplation, he cupped his fist to the members of the other sects and said,

"Fellow Daoists, the Martial Continent is in turmoil, and the situation at the borders is volatile. We cannot afford to stand idly by. Let us part ways here and return to our sects to prepare."

"As for the remaining disciples of the Spirit Dragon Sect... I believe most of them are innocent. The Wanxiang Sect and the Spirit Dragon Sect have never been on good terms, but if you have no objections, leave these disciples for me to handle."

There was a stretch of silence. After a long moment, the Elder leading the No-Mind Sect, a beautiful middle-aged woman with a regal and graceful bearing, nodded lightly.

"Very well. We shall entrust this matter to the Wanxiang Sect."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Hua."

Ruan Hao cupped his fist and bowed his head, a hint of gratitude in his voice.

With the No-Mind Sect’s endorsement, the other sects surprisingly raised no objections. With mixed feelings, they nodded to Ruan Hao before departing one by one.

Soon, only the people of the Wanxiang Sect remained in the plaza, along with the leaderless, trembling disciples of the Spirit Dragon Sect. A streak of light shot across the sky, and the Spirit Dragon Sect’s Guardian Spirit Beast, the Black Wind Spirit Dragon, roared. Its massive body landed before the disciples, shielding them as it faced Lu Ruikai.

Lu Ruikai mused for a moment, ignoring the Black Wind Spirit Dragon’s defiance. He turned to Ruan Hao and asked,

"Old Ancestor, what should be done with these people?"

As he spoke, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. His intention was obvious.

Ruan Hao paused in thought, then took a single step forward. The full might of his cultivation aura erupted, unleashing the overwhelming pressure of a Purple Mansion expert without reservation.

Many of the Spirit Dragon Sect disciples had already perished within the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm. Among the survivors, besides the Black Wind Spirit Dragon, the strongest was merely at the Golden Core realm. They were utterly powerless against a veteran Purple Mansion Great Power like Ruan Hao. Their faces twisted in sheer terror as the pressure washed over them. Unable to resist, they all collapsed to their knees with a series of heavy thuds.

"Senior, spare us! The Spirit Dragon Sect’s treason had nothing to do with us! We knew nothing about it!"

"These were all matters for the sect’s high-ranking members! We are just ordinary disciples, how could we have been involved?"

"Please, Senior, be merciful and give us a chance! We will learn from this and turn over a new leaf!"

In an instant, cries for mercy echoed through the plaza. The Spirit Dragon Sect disciples wailed, their minds utterly consumed by terror.

Although they had the Black Wind Spirit Dragon protecting them, they all knew it was only at the Golden Core Peak. Against a Purple Mansion Great Power like Ruan Hao, it stood no chance at all.

And what they said was the truth. The Spirit Dragon Sect’s treason had been too sudden. Never mind the disciples—it was likely that even Xuan Long Master himself had been unaware.

Seeing this, Ruan Hao’s expression remained unchanged. He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it reached the ears of everyone present.

"Submit, or die."

"We submit! Willingly!"

The words had barely been spoken when, with almost no hesitation, all the remaining disciples of the Spirit Dragon Sect prostrated themselves, choosing submission.

"Mm."

Ruan Hao nodded in satisfaction. His gaze swept over the disciples before finally landing on the Black Wind Spirit Dragon, a peculiar glint flashing in his eyes.

"And you? Submit, or die."

"RAAAWR!"

The Black Wind Spirit Dragon let out a sorrowful cry. Its massive head turned to look at the kneeling disciples behind it, a flicker of human-like sadness in its draconic eyes. After a moment’s silence, it nodded and lowered its great head.

"Good. A wise choice."

Lu Ruikai smiled faintly. He rose to his feet, his hands weaving through a series of gestures. One after another, peculiar Runes flew out, imbued with a Sealing Power, and branded themselves onto the foreheads of the Spirit Dragon Sect members.

The bodies of the Spirit Dragon Sect members shuddered. Their expressions were complex, but they chose to accept their fate.

As for the Black Wind Spirit Dragon, due to its high cultivation, Ruan Hao personally acted, easily bringing it under control with a special technique.

’This Black Wind Spirit Dragon is a rare, high-grade Spirit Beast. It wouldn’t be bad to bring it back to serve as a Guardian Spirit Beast for the sect... or we could place it on Beast Taming Peak as a Scattered Beast. That would certainly enhance our prestige.’