Chapter 780 - 304: Hidden Plot

Chen Qing looked up to see his Golden Feathered Eagle breaking through the clouds and mist, flying swiftly toward him.

Behind it, several more magnificent Golden Feathered Eagles appeared one after another. Atop each eagle’s back stood a figure exuding a formidable aura.

Seeing this, Chen Qing sighed in relief.

’The Sect’s reinforcements have finally arrived!’

Soon, the Golden Feathered Eagles landed one by one at the edge of the reed marsh where he was.

The one in the lead was none other than Elder Gong Nansong. His aura was even more stable than before, and it was clear his injuries were no longer serious.

Following behind Elder Gong were three others. Chen Qing’s gaze swept over them, and he recognized them all as experts from the Dubhe Pavilion whom he had seen at the Dubhe Pavilion assembly. They were three Peak Masters from the Outer Twenty-Seven Peaks: Zhuang Wenbin, Nengyan, and Cheng Danqin.

Zhuang Wenbin was tall and powerfully built, with a resolute face and an aura as heavy and steady as a mountain.

Nengyan, on the other hand, was rather lean with a full head of white hair. Cheng Danqin was the only woman of the three. She looked to be around forty and carried an ancient-looking Long Sword on her back.

The first two men were powerful experts who had undergone Six Times of True Essence Refining, while Cheng Danqin was also a master who had completed Five Times of Tempering.

"Elder Gong, Peak Master Zhuang, Peak Master Neng, Peak Master Cheng," Chen Qing said, stepping forward and cupping his fist in salute.

Gong Nansong nodded slightly, his tone grave. "What’s the situation? We came as soon as we received your message. Elder Luo Ping was originally with us, but on the way, we encountered the White Tiger Great Guardian, one of the Demon Sect’s Four Great Guardians. Elder Luo has gone after him and told us to come on ahead."

"The White Tiger Great Guardian!?"

A chill went down Chen Qing’s spine.

Aside from the Tenth Elder, the Demon Sect also had the Four Great Guardians: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. All of them were old Demons of unfathomable power whose status was even higher than that of ordinary Elders.

’I can’t believe the Demon Sect mobilized even someone of that caliber.’

Zhuang Wenbin had a more direct personality. He asked in a deep voice, "Nephew Chen, where is that Witch Qi Yu now?"

Chen Qing immediately and concisely informed the four Elders of what he had discovered: Qi Yu and Lei Hong were at Black Stone Reef trying to subdue the Profound Nether Black Ox and seize the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus, and Song Shuhuai’s group from the Cloud Water Upper Sect had already gone to engage them.

"We have to go now! This girl, Qi Yu, is too important. We absolutely cannot let her fall into the hands of the Cloud Water Upper Sect!"

Nengyan said immediately upon hearing this.

Everyone understood the stakes.

Qi Yu was the only daughter of the Demon Sect’s Leader, Qi Xun Nan. Capturing her would be like seizing Qi Xun Nan’s greatest weakness. Whether in future negotiations or in striking a blow against the Demon Sect, it would grant the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect a massive strategic advantage.

An opportunity like this was once in a thousand years.

Gong Nansong and Cheng Danqin also nodded gravely, agreeing with Nengyan’s assessment.

Zhuang Wenbin looked at Chen Qing and asked again, "Nephew Chen, are you certain of Black Stone Reef’s exact location?"

Chen Qing feigned a moment of thought before nodding. "I remember the path. I can lead the way."

"Good! There’s no time to waste. Let’s go now!" Zhuang Wenbin ordered decisively.

The group delayed no longer. With Chen Qing leading the way and the four Elders following close behind, they transformed into several streaks of light and shot toward Black Stone Reef.

Everyone pushed their auras to the limit, their speed astonishing as they tore through the dense fog.

Without needing much guidance from Chen Qing, they had traveled for only a short while before the increasingly clear and intense sounds of battle—booming clashes and the explosive crackle of colliding auras—reached them from deep within the fog ahead.

"It’s just ahead!" Zhuang Wenbin shouted, his True Essence flaring as he increased his speed by another thirty percent.

Nengyan, Cheng Danqin, and Gong Nansong did the same.

The once relatively open expanse of water was now a scene of utter chaos. The lake’s surface churned, murky waves surged into the air, and black reefs of all sizes had been shattered and were collapsing.

On the reefs, several experts from the Cloud Water Upper Sect, led by Song Shuhuai, Zhao Songtao, and Sun Jingyi, were locked in a fierce battle with the Demon Sect’s Qi Yu, Lei Hong, and their subordinates.

A brilliant, clear light flared around Song Shuhuai, reminiscent of the Jade Sea Tide. As his palm strikes flew, they stirred the vast Water Element, his attacks majestic and powerful. He was clearly fighting with his full strength.