Chapter 231: Sect Master Meng Has Risen From the Dead

Shifang Nether Soil, Rest Camp.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was tense. The news of the Black Tide outbreak had already reached the ears of the elders outside the exploration zone, and no one looked pleased.

“Hua Qiuxin, this is what you call an exploration? Sending disciples in there just to die?” Yin Chongyang snapped angrily.

At this moment, Hua Qiuxin had her eyes closed and remained silent for a long time.

The ones most furious were Yin Chongyang and the elders of the Crimson Sky Sect. Their disciples had suffered the worst, especially the team that included Lu Feishuang. That group had even entered the Red Scorched Circle.

Yet not long after they went in, the Black Tide broke out.

While the Abyssal Circle and Flat Earth Circle were still somewhat manageable, the demonic creatures in the Red Scorched Circle under the Black Moon were too much. Even the older disciples leading the teams couldn’t hold them off.

Every extra moment spent inside was a risk to their lives.

Cheng Ling said, “Tsk, something this serious happens, and Senior Mei goes to protect the Returning Immortal Sect’s people first? Shouldn’t she have gone to find Shuang’er and the others? What does she even see in that Lian Mu…”

Yin Chongyang was also furious about this, but he couldn’t openly criticize Mei Chengyu, who was a senior of his own sect. So he turned his ire toward Hua Qiuxin instead.

“Open the barrier now and let me in. I’m going to bring Shuang’er back,” Yin Chongyang demanded.

Everyone knew Lu Feishuang was the only daughter of the Lu family from Lingchuan, the heir of the top sword cultivator clan. If something happened to her during the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, the consequences would be unimaginable. Not only would the Crimson Sky Sect suffer, but the Azure Profound Sect would also face the Lu family’s wrath.

And she wasn’t the only one. This year’s Immortal Sect Grand Competition included many heirs from prestigious families: Baili Que, Jiang Yuechen, Wen Yun, Feng Huanyin… not to mention the two from the Shen family. After this competition, the Shen family would choose one of them as the next heir.

Any one of them getting into trouble would throw their sect into chaos.

Hua Qiuxin said, “If we open the barrier now, the demonic creatures from the exploration zone will flood out. We already can’t handle the ones in the rest of Shifang Nether Soil. If more are released, will your Crimson Sky Sect take responsibility for cleaning them up?”

Yin Chongyang shot back, “Don’t forget whose territory this is. You picked the date for the Azure Profound Sect’s event, and now the disciples have run into the Black Tide. Shouldn’t you be held accountable?”

“I don’t control the Black Moon. How was I supposed to know it would arrive early?” Hua Qiuxin’s temper flared as well. But after speaking, she suddenly paused.

“The Black Moon arrived early… could it be… they’ve returned.” Her expression changed.

Cheng Ling said, “It must be the demon race from the Black Abyss. They’ve returned. A few years ago, the Returning Immortal Sect was attacked by them, right after the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda went missing.”

Hua Qiuxin’s eyes darkened. “The one sealed inside the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda was the mortal enemy of the Black Abyss demon race. Looks like they’ve come for revenge. But the disappearance of the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda was only known to the Four Great Sects. How did the demon race find out…”

As soon as she said this, the entire room fell into shock.

There was a demon race spy within the Immortal Sects.

Cheng Ling couldn’t help glancing toward the Returning Immortal Sect. “I heard your sect once took in a disciple who turned out to be a demon race spy. Didn’t that person even kill an alchemy cultivator elder?”

An elder from the Returning Immortal Sect immediately refuted, “Impossible. At that time, our sect didn’t know anything about it.”

Hua Qiuxin raised her hand to silence the discussion. “We’ll talk about that later. I’ll assign people to investigate. Right now, the priority is to get the disciples out safely.”

“The barrier around the exploration zone is a one-way deadlock. It can’t be opened from the outside for now. But the Azure Profound Sect will send more people in to protect the disciples.”

This one-way deadlock was like the Pangu Illusion Realm—only entry, no exit. Certain conditions had to be met to leave. It couldn’t be forcibly destroyed, as that would invite cheating. But no one had expected something like this to happen.

To ensure fairness, there were also restrictions on how many elders could enter. Only one could go in per hour, and each sect could have no more than twenty elders inside the exploration zone at any time.

There was still half an hour before the next entry window.

This made rescue efforts painfully slow. Every elder sent in had to be strong enough to handle the dangers alone.

Sending in a sect master was out of the question. The areas outside the exploration zone were even more dangerous. Hua Qiuxin herself had just fought her way back from the Inner Source Circle and barely had time to deal with the other sects.

Amid the chaos, Shen Minglu set down his teacup and said, “I’ll go in.”

Hua Qiuxin looked surprised. “Senior Shen? But what about White Tiger West…”

“The area under Clear Thought Sect’s jurisdiction is protected by a barrier I set up. No matter how aggressive the demonic creatures are, they won’t escape Shifang Nether Soil to harm others,” Shen Minglu replied.

As the foremost talisman cultivator of this era, Shen Minglu’s strength was beyond question. Still, Hua Qiuxin hadn’t expected him to intervene.

The last time Shen Minglu had gotten involved in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition was centuries ago.

Hua Qiuxin said, “Then I thank you, Senior Shen.”

Shen Minglu nodded. “I’ll go to the Red Scorched Circle and the Inner Source Circle. Leave the outer two circles to your people.”

Murong Yi was just about to speak when Shen Minglu glanced at him and said, “Murong, don’t get involved. Shifang Nether Soil isn’t suited for you. The Returning Immortal Sect already has enough people inside.”

Murong Yi lowered his gaze. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly around his folded fan, his knuckles turning pale.

“Senior Shen, please help me find our sect’s Chief Alchemist. Her name is Ji Mingyue, and she’s in the Flat Earth Circle,” Murong Yi said.

Of all the people inside, Ji Mingyue was the one he worried about most.

Jiang Hanyu’s team had likely gone deeper into the inner circles because of Ji Mingyue. She was obsessed with the demon race, determined to avenge her family. But with her current age and cultivation level, encountering the demon race might only bring disaster.

If the demon race from the Black Abyss has returned, there’s a good chance they’re hiding somewhere in the inner circle, just like that half-human demon race in the Blood Butterfly Meat Pool.

If they run into them, there won’t be another Mei Chengyu to save the day in time.

“I know that child,” Shen Minglu said. “Since it’s your request, I’ll do my best.”

“Where is the entrance to the barrier? Lead the way,” he added.

Hua Qiuxin immediately had someone go with him. Only after watching him leave the tent did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Cheng Ling glanced at Murong Yi and let out a cold snort. In a low voice, she said, “You really found yourself a powerful backer. Back then, you’d rather cripple yourself than leave that Shen Family boy behind. Was it just so Sect Master Shen would see you differently? With the world’s number one talisman cultivator protecting you, even if you can’t wield a sword anymore, you’re still living a smooth and easy life.”

Murong Yi’s expression didn’t change. “What, are you jealous?”

Cheng Ling replied, “I’d never be jealous of a cripple.”

Murong Yi said calmly, “That’s fine. I give you permission to be jealous.”

Cheng Ling frowned and was about to retort when suddenly, steady footsteps sounded from outside the tent, heading straight toward them.

The others noticed too. At the same time, a powerful and solemn pressure filled the air.

Hua Qiuxin narrowed her eyes slightly, and Yin Chongyang also sensed something unusual.

The footsteps stopped just outside the tent. The next moment, a bloodstained sword tip pierced through the tent flap, lifting the curtain to reveal a stern-faced young man.

He wore plain blue robes, his hair tied back with a dark jade crown. A purple pendant hung at his waist, a crimson flame-shaped mark sat between his brows, and his posture was tall and upright.

“Forgive me for arriving uninvited, Sect Master Hua.”

Yin Chongyang was taken aback. “You…”

The elders of the Returning Immortal Sect all looked surprised.

Murong Yi said, “Sect Master, you’re here?”

Hua Qiuxin added, “So it’s Sect Master Meng. Apologies for not greeting you sooner. Why didn’t you send word ahead of time?”

The newcomer was none other than Meng Tingjing, the Sect Master of the Returning Immortal Sect, who had been absent for many years.

Meng Tingjing stepped into the tent, the tip of his sword still dripping blood. The sight sent a chill through those present.

Yin Chongyang couldn’t help but look him over.

Years ago, it was said that the Sect Master of the Returning Immortal Sect had injured his heart meridian during cultivation. But now, at a glance, he seemed perfectly fine.

Had he shut himself away just to cultivate a killing aura?

Yin Chongyang smiled faintly but said nothing.

“The sect’s affairs are settled, so naturally I came to see how the Immortal Sect Grand Competition is going. I know I’ve been derelict in my duties for many years. Now that I’ve returned, I don’t expect to have much say. I just wanted to join the excitement.”

Hua Qiuxin glanced at his sword, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. “Sect Master Meng, that sword…”

“Ran into a few Demonic Creatures on the way. Took care of them,” Meng Tingjing replied. “I saw the Black Moon while traveling and rushed over. Didn’t expect the Black Tide to arrive early. What a coincidence, just in time for the Shifang Nether Soil match. How are my sect’s disciples doing?”

Hua Qiuxin: “…”

Another one here to question us.

Hua Qiuxin said, “There’s an image-recording stone. Sect Master Meng, take your time watching it. As for the Black Tide, it’s not something that can be resolved quickly. I still need to return to the Inner Source Circle, so I’ll take my leave.”

Meng Tingjing took a seat. His gaze swept over the elders of the Returning Immortal Sect as he said slowly, “Everyone, it’s been a long time.”

Murong Yi said, “Sect Master, you’ve finally returned. We’ve waited for you for many years.”

Meng Tingjing replied, “Actually, the reason I came this time is to find someone.”

Murong Yi asked, “Who?”

“Your disciple, Lian Mu.”