In the Black Water Kingdom, within the Dingguang Peak of Qiyun Sect.
"Master, it has been over twenty days. I estimate that in a few more days, Ye Zhen, who went to attend the Five Countries Conference, should be returning. However, despite all my efforts, Caiyi hasn’t just refrained from leaving the Qiyun Sect of Departure Mountain, she hasn’t even stepped out of Fairy Peak."
Inside the silent chamber of Dingguang Peak, the handsome face of Fan Chuyu, a true inheritor, was contorted in frustration, appearing exceptionally ferocious.
"You’ve been close to Caiyi for many years. Have you still not grasped her temperament? Can’t you manage even this small matter of luring her out of the mountain?" Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang was also visibly frustrated.
While Ye Zhen was around, he and Caiyi would stick together on Fairy Peak, hardly ever venturing far, which left the long-planning Fifth Elder without any opportunity to act.
Finally, when Ye Zhen had left the mountain, Caiyi still chose not to leave.
This severely frustrated Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang, who had always been plotting to uncover the secrets harbored by Caiyi.
"Master, Caiyi’s temperament is such that she prefers tranquility over activity and seldom leaves her abode. Moreover, she is naively straightforward. If siblings from the sect who are not very close invite her, she always directly refuses."
"Can’t you use your brains and pretend to be someone with whom Caiyi is quite familiar to invite her?" Hong Banjiang burst out angrily.
Plotting to uncover the secrets carried by Caiyi was indeed a highly risky affair.
However, the secrets Caiyi possessed were of great importance; it was said that Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s success in Vein Forging and achieving Divine Skills were also related to the secrets within Caiyi.
Vein Forging Divine Skills! That was something Hong Banjiang dreamt of.
Not just Hong Banjiang, Fan Chuyu too had started making such plans early on.
Initially, Hong Banjiang intended for Fan Chuyu to get close to Caiyi and slowly bring them together. If Fan Chuyu could marry Caiyi, then the secrets she possessed would belong to both him and his disciple.
However, unexpectedly, Caiyi not only showed no interest in Fan Chuyu, but Ye Zhen also appeared out of nowhere and moved into Fairy Peak, utterly dashing their hopes.
Now, under the immense incentive of achieving Vein Forging Divine Skills, both master and disciple of the Hong lineage were gradually taking bigger risks!
"Master, but looking at the whole sect, the only people familiar with Caiyi are Liao Feibai, Ye Zhen, and the sect leader! I don’t even have the qualifications to step onto Fairy Peak anymore....." Fan Chuyu grimaced!
"Useless, truly useless!"
"Look at Ye Zhen, merely acquainted with Caiyi for just over a year and he’s already so close, coming and going together! Look at you, struggling for four to five years, probably haven’t even held Caiyi’s hand, have you?"
Hong Banjiang’s harsh words caused Fan Chuyu’s face to darken abruptly.
Hong Banjiang was indeed not wrong; having pursued Caiyi for four to five years, he really hadn’t even held her hand. The closest contact he had was once when he set foot on Fairy Peak, and Caiyi served him a cup of clear tea!
"No acquaintances? Then create some!"
"Caiyi likes flowers and grass, and various small animals, right? Find a way to get involved from there! Also, your vision shouldn’t always be restricted to the Qiyun Sect. You should look at the whole world, the entire Black Dragon Domain, understand?" Hong Banjiang chided again.
Fan Chuyu’s eyes flickered with resolve, and he suddenly replied, "Master, I will think of a way..."
"Hmm, remember, in this world, as long as you make an effort, there isn’t anything you can’t...."
Whoosh!
A golden talisman light suddenly fell into Dingguang Peak, causing Hong Banjiang’s face to change abruptly, "A Sect Leader’s Talisman Edict? What major event has occurred in the sect?"
With a movement of Divine Sense, the content of the talisman letter became clear.
"An urgent order from the Sect Leader, respond within a hundred breaths, or face sect discipline. I will go answer the call. You must hurry up on this matter!"
"Yes, Master!"
...
"Sect Leader, what exactly has happened that required the use of a Sect Leader’s Talisman Edict?"
When Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang arrived at the council hall on Qitian Peak, the hall was already occupied. Sect Leader Guo Qijing sat in the center, with Liao Feibai, elder Lut Changchuan, and Second Elder Jis Che already waiting. Like Hong Banjiang, all bore faces filled with confusion.
"Of course it’s a major event, a world-shaking, earth-shattering event!" Sect Leader Guo Qijing said with a smile, an unprecedented type of smile.
"The War Soul Blood Flag, at this Five Countries Conference, our Black Water Kingdom has unexpectedly wrested the War Soul Blood Flag!"
"What?"
"Really?"
"This?"
Upon hearing the news, the initial reaction of everyone was not immense joy but confusion over the authenticity of the news!
Only Liao Feibai’s eyebrows raised, and in his eyes suddenly flashed the image of Ye Zhen. Liao Feibai was the only one in the entire Qiyun Sect who knew Ye Zhen’s true strength.
This shows how astonishing the news of the Black Water Kingdom wresting the War Soul Blood Flag was!
Almost everyone in the Black Water Kingdom had low expectations for their team’s venture; it was merely a fulfillment of duty, leaving the outcome to fate.
"What’s with those expressions?"
Sect Leader Guo Qijing became angry.
"Uh, unexpected. Forgive me, Sect Leader, I just didn’t expect that!"
"Hmph, the situation is urgent. Let’s cut to the chase! Our country acquiring the War Soul Blood Flag is not something other nations, especially the Sword Origin Nation, will just let be. You four, come with me immediately to provide support!" Guo Qijing declared!
"Additionally, considering the urgency, to prevent any accidents, we must each travel at extreme speed for support. I’ll depart first, you must be quick...."
As he spoke, Guo Qijing’s figure had already vanished from the council hall.
In the next moment, a sword light soared into the sky. Liao Feibai’s figure abruptly disappeared, followed by three glimmers of flashing light!
...
On the journey from the Black Water Kingdom’s Qiyun Sect to the Battlefield of Demon Souls, the Black Cloud Wind-breaking Falcon flew day and night at a speed of thousands of miles, yet on the return trip, even though Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing furiously urged his magic formula and fed the falcon Low Grade Spirit Crystals like flowing water, the speed was only slightly faster than on the way there.
The people of Black Water Kingdom were each on high alert at this moment.
Including Lik Shi from the Lishui Sect and the tributors from the Royal Family, all had left their respective Spirit Fowls and gathered atop the Black Cloud Wind-breaking Falcon, preparing for all possible outcomes.
As for the two Spirit Fowls of the Royal Family and the Lishui Sect, they were flying around the Black Cloud Wind-breaking Falcon, scouting for enemy movements.
Undoubtedly, the Sword Origin Sect, having suffered a great loss, would not sit by and watch Black Water Kingdom successfully capture the War Soul Blood Flag, something Black Water Kingdom itself had done before.
However, after maintaining tension for over two hours, the disciples of Black Water Kingdom gradually began to relax.
It should be fine, right?
The speed of the Black Cloud Wind-breaking Falcon was not something ordinary people could keep up with.
Once their expressions relaxed, the excitement they had been suppressing instantly erupted.
"Senior Brother Ye, how did you capture the War Soul Blood Flag?"
"Senior Brother Ye, can you tell me, how did you activate the Ninth Layer’s transport formation?"
"Senior Brother Ye, the Sword Origin Sect and the Southern Barbarian Tribe lost so many people, what exactly happened, and how did we remain unscathed?"
"Senior Brother Ye...."
The surviving martial artists immediately surrounded Ye Zhen.
Although Black Water Kingdom also had casualties, only three had died in battle, which was many times better than other sects. In previous years, when four or five or even half of the warriors died, they hadn’t even seen the shadow of the War Soul Blood Flag.
"Don’t rush, let’s talk slowly, slowly!"
Having successfully reclaimed the War Soul Blood Flag, a huge weight was lifted from their hearts.
Suddenly, the voice of Tong Wei, the chief disciple of the Lishui Sect’s Inner Gate, rang out.
"Senior Brother Ye, about the killing of Chang An, you owe us an explanation, right?"
As the chief brother of the Inner Gate of Lishui Sect, he had always remembered the death of Chang An!
"Ye Zhen killed Chang An?"
Lik Shi frowned, and the two remaining disciples of the Lishui Sect immediately recounted the incident.
However, Tong Wei was indeed a man, recounting the incident accurately and without exaggeration.
"Elder, although Chang An was at fault, for Ye Zhen to kill him publicly..."
Indeed, Tong Wei did not want to bring this up, but as the chief disciple of the Inner Gate of Lishui Sect, it was his responsibility to protect the sect’s interests!
Surprisingly, Lik Shi did not get angry but instead looked at Ye Zhen with intense eyes, "Ye Zhen, you killed a fellow disciple, Chang An, of our sect. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Elder Lik Shi, given the situation at that time, what would you have done if you were there?"
Lik Shi’s expression froze, but Ye Zhen patted the War Soul Blood Flag in his bosom and said, "If you really want an explanation, does this count as one?"
Seeing this, Tong Wei smiled wryly.
Ye Zhen’s explanation was too powerful.
Ye Zhen had captured the War Soul Blood Flag, let alone for Chang An repeatedly making malicious comments, deserving his death; even if it was an unprovoked killing, they couldn’t complain at this point.
Lik Shi of the Lishui Sect’s expression suddenly darkened.
Just when everyone was tense, thinking Lik Shi was about to erupt, Lik Shi suddenly turned around and instead scolded Tong Wei.
"Tong Wei, what did I tell you when you entered the Battlefield of Demon Souls?"
"For actions like Chang An’s, which disrupted the capture of the flag, you, as the chief brother, should have killed him on the spot to clean our ranks!
Instead, you let Ye Zhen take action, bringing shame upon our sect!"
Upon hearing these words, not only was Tong Wei astonished, but so was Ye Zhen; Elder Lik Shi’s reaction was quite unexpected.
"Elder Zhong, we need to discuss this matter when we return and establish a permanent rule!"
"In the Battlefield of Demon Souls, the interests of the nation come above all else!"
At this moment, Elder Lik Shi appeared righteous, his gaze turning towards Zhongli Jing.
Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing agreed and suddenly spoke up, "Elder Lik Shi is right. In the Battlefield of Demon Souls, we absolutely must not tolerate actions like Chang An’s that sow discord!"
"However, since Chang An is dead, when we return and reward according to merits, let’s consider it as a death in battle. Let’s drop this matter, what do you say, Ye Zhen?"
The conversation took a turn, and Zhongli Jing suddenly spoke up for Chang An.
While everyone was astonished, Ye Zhen suddenly understood.
Lik Shi’s maneuvers were truly clever, and he was still vigorously protecting the sect’s interests.
After confirming Ye Zhen’s innocence, through Zhongli Jing, he sought leniency for Chang An, attempting to secure a respectful reputation and compensation for him, thus also caring for the sect’s disciples, ensuring they did not feel disheartened.
In matters of death, the large issues do not extend to the families of the deceased.
On this matter, Ye Zhen had no objections and obediently nodded his head.
Seeing Ye Zhen nod, Tong Wei, who also understood Lik Shi’s intentions, gratefully glanced at Ye Zhen.
Zzzzzz!
An astonishingly loud disturbance in the air abruptly erupted from in front of the Black Cloud Wind-breaking Falcon!
"Not good!"
Lik Shi and Zhongli Jing both exclaimed simultaneously! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and support on Qidian (qidian.com). For mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)

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