Chapter 246: Something Went Wrong

Hearing this, the two elders said no more; immediately, the Zhang Sect of Fengde did not linger, but led his two senior uncles down the mountain toward Hundred Refinements City.

At the same time, on a hilltop dozens of li away from Hundred Refinements City, the Three Elders of Profound Yin from Great Yin Origin Sect, the two helmsmen of Tianxia Alliance and their entourage, and the Silver Moon Sword Lord of Great Expansion Sword Sect all gazed toward the direction of Hundred Refinements City.

The entire hilltop was shrouded in deep night, utterly silent, with not a single sound made from beginning to end.

After a while, the two helmsmen of Tianxia Alliance withdrew their gazes, exchanged a glance, then hesitantly looked toward the white-robed elder and asked in a low voice:

"Senior, what is the situation inside Hundred Refinements City? Why has there been almost no movement since that sky-filling sea of fire vanished?"

Hearing this, the white-robed elder furrowed his brow slightly, gazed at Hundred Refinements City which had now fallen silent in the distance, and gave no reply.

At that moment, one of the Three Elders of Profound Yin suddenly spoke:

"Since Fengdezhang Sect has already sent Master Chihuo Zunzhe to act, the result is beyond doubt; he must have personally eliminated that expert of the Great Li court."

The two helmsmen nodded lightly; although they were far from Hundred Refinements City and could not witness the events inside the city with their own eyes, nor sense the aura of Master Chihuo Zunzhe.

Yet, having witnessed the shocking scene earlier, their hearts held the same thought as the Three Elders of Profound Yin: how could anyone possibly oppose such a mighty existence wielding such supernatural power?

Among the crowd, only the Silver Moon Sword Lord remained silent in contemplation, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his face showing a look of deep thought.

Although he too believed Master Chihuo Zunzhe could not possibly have met with misfortune, he still felt something was not quite right somewhere.

"Fengdezhang Sect has four Zunzhe-level experts stationed there; the Great Li Shengzhou Tianjinwei will surely suffer defeat this time."

At this, one of the Three Elders of Profound Yin continued speaking, squinting his eyes:

"This trip has not been without gain; we have not only witnessed a Zunzhe of Fengdezhang Sect, who has never before shown his hand, but also seen the true depth of Fengdezhang Sect's strength."

"Moreover, after this battle, the Great Li court's power will be severely damaged; next will be our chance, the Jianghuzong Sects; perhaps Great Li will become the next Great Wu."

Hearing this, the two helmsmen of Tianxia Alliance both showed a flicker of emotion; it was well known that in Great Wu, the Jianghu forces were strong while the court was weak.

If what the Three Elders of Profound Yin said came true, then in the future it would not be the Jianghu of Great Li being constrained by the Great Li court, but rather the Great Li court having to act according to the wishes of the four great sects.

Thinking thus, the two felt a surge of excitement in their hearts; however, at that moment the white-robed elder turned his head, glanced at the Three Elders of Profound Yin, and sneered:

"Earlier you were thinking of three sects joining forces to destroy Fengdezhang Sect; now you are setting your sights on the Great Li court. Your ambitions are indeed great, but do you even have the capability to back them up?"

Hearing this, the faces of the Three Elders of Profound Yin darkened; one of them spoke in a sinister tone:

"Times change; the depth and strength of Fengdezhang Sect clearly exceeded our expectations, and after tonight, the Great Li court and Fengdezhang Sect will inevitably be irreconcilable enemies."

"The enemy of my enemy is my ally; the previous plan must naturally be abandoned; next, as long as our four great sects join forces, the entire world of Great Li will be decided by the Jianghu."

The white-robed elder narrowed his eyes slightly, but said no more.

Because some matters were not within his power to decide; whether the four great sects would form an alliance must be deliberated and decided by the Sect Master and elders of Great Expansion Sword Sect.

Therefore, he naturally had no standing to refute the words of the Three Elders of Profound Yin.

Moreover, for the vast majority of disciples and members of the four great sects, this outcome would be welcomed, so he would not go against the tide.

Thinking thus, the white-robed elder shook his head, then glanced once more at Hundred Refinements City before withdrawing his gaze and preparing to depart.

Although he vaguely felt something was amiss over at Hundred Refinements City, he was still clear in his mind that with such a Zunzhe-level expert stationed at Fengdezhang Sect, the Great Li Shengzhou Tianjinwei's extermination plan this time was destined to fail.

Next, he indeed had little need to remain any longer; it would be better to return as soon as possible and report the situation of this mission to his sect.

However, just at that moment, one of the disciples of Tianxia Alliance suddenly cried out in alarm, pointing toward Hundred Refinements City and saying:

"What is happening over there?"

Hearing this, the rest of the crowd, including the two helmsmen, all turned their heads together and looked once more toward the direction of Hundred Refinements City.

And quickly, everyone on the mountaintop's expressions changed at once.

Now, within everyone's line of sight, the dark clouds on the distant horizon, like surging rivers, were rapidly converging above Hundred Refinements City at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In but a moment, the entire sky above Hundred Refinements City was covered by oppressive black clouds, dim and lightless, while lightning flashed and thunder roared within the cloud layers.

Compared to the earlier scene of the sea of fire scorching the sky and its flames illuminating the heavens, these were two completely opposite sights.

"This... could it be that Zunzhe of Fengdezhang Sect who controls the wind and the Zhang Sect of Fengdezhang who controls lightning have both acted?"

Someone among the Three Elders of Profound Yin spoke with a look of shock and doubt.

Such a shocking celestial phenomenon had come unexpectedly; clearly, it was not normal weather change.

This made them involuntarily think of the other powerful existences within Fengdezhang Sect who, like Master Chihuo Zunzhe, controlled strange powers.

Hearing this, the left helmsman of Tianxia Alliance immediately furrowed his brows and asked in confusion:

"Just now, Master Chihuo Zunzhe should have already dealt with that Great Li expert inside Hundred Refinements City; logically, there should be no threat to Fengdezhang Sect left within Hundred Refinements City, yet... why has the Zhang Sect of Fengdezhang suddenly acted now?"

Upon hearing these words, everyone who had been gazing at Hundred Refinements City, including the white-robed elder, instantly turned their heads together and looked toward the left helmsman of Tianxia Alliance.

In an instant, the entire hilltop in the dark night suddenly fell silent, not a single bird chirping.

After a short while, the expression on the white-robed elder's face shifted uneasily; he suddenly spoke:

"No wonder I felt something was wrong earlier; putting myself in his shoes, if I were that Master Chihuo Zunzhe, forced to act after losing a peak seat."

"Then, after eliminating that chief culprit of the Great Li, I would certainly not stop easily; I would surely take the opportunity to wipe out the Great Li Shengzhou Tianjinwei as well, only then could I vent my hatred and uphold the prestige of Fengdezhang Sect."

"But just now, after Master Chihuo Zunzhe acted, Hundred Refinements City was too quiet; there was even no sign of Master Chihuo Zunzhe departing..."

Hearing this, the Three Elders of Profound Yin exchanged glances, a trace of shock and doubt appearing in their eyes, while the two helmsmen of Tianxia Alliance also showed shifting expressions for a moment.

Clearly, they believed the white-robed elder's words were not without reason.

At this moment, the white-robed elder suddenly raised his head toward the sky and continued:

"If it truly is the Zhang Sect of Fengdezhang and other Zunzhe acting, then there is only one possibility..."

Speaking thus, he turned his head to glance around at the crowd and said:

"That is, Master Chihuo Zunzhe has very likely met with misfortune."

(End of chapter)