Chapter 299: The True Person of Purple Flame

"The Zheng family was utterly annihilated; that day, purple flames surged into the heavens."

"The True Person of Xuanguang Cave has already taken control of the entire mountain range; all thirty-eight clans, big and small, in the vicinity are forbidden to take a single step outside."

"I anticipated this, but even those who fled fast don't know what I saw inside the Zheng household..."

A cultivator with a gloomy expression whispered beside the street; as he spoke these words, he scanned the surroundings and pulled out a transmission artifact.

Shen Yi walked past them without changing expression.

He knew perfectly well what remained of the Zheng family.

Nothing but Shen Yidi's "wooden figures," their souls and nascent infants devoured by Sui Mu.

As the cultivator, barely containing his shock, finished transmitting the message and saw the same stunned expressions on the others' faces, he put away the artifact and shook his head: "But I've never heard of any sect producing a True Person of Purple Flame with such power—this one must have reached the Transformation of Spirit Realm."

Upon hearing this, Xu Wanyun's expression grew tense.

Though she had long known this news couldn't be hidden, hearing it firsthand still weighed heavily on her heart.

The purple-gold flames were far too distinctive—visible at a glance.

Thinking of this, she unconsciously slowed her pace and continued listening to the others' chatter.

"Xuanguang Cave is probably about to make a major move."

"Heh, not necessarily."

The earlier frightened cultivator suddenly smiled again: "Let me tell you—they haven't made a single public show; in fact, they've deliberately suppressed the news. Maybe they've stirred up some other great power, or perhaps they're in the wrong."

"How deeply in the wrong would they have to be to swallow this insult?"

Others recalled the news they'd just heard and clicked their tongues—could it be that a mighty immortal sect was truly using cultivators to feed beasts?

This conversation could no longer continue.

"A bunch of big mouths..."

Xu Wanyun hurried after him, realizing Shen Yi seemed utterly unconcerned.

Let these people keep shouting.

Within a month, the news that the True Person of Purple Flame slaughtered the entire Zheng family will spread across the world.

"What are all these people gathered here for?"

Shen Yi preemptively cut off Xu Wanyun's attempt to lean in and whisper.

I'm not deaf—let them chatter.

Who is this True Person of Purple Flame? Right now, I am the True Person of Sui Mu, pure and serene, calm and gentle.

"Probably just bored."

Xu Wanyun easily diverted the topic, glancing aside and murmuring: "At a certain realm, mindless cultivation only wastes lifespan—resources are the most important thing."

"But most heavenly treasures and rare herbs already belong to someone; to compete for them carries immense risk—often leading to the collapse of one's Dao and death of the body."

"So everyone's just waiting to pick up the leftovers."

Shen Yi glanced sideways slightly: "Whose leftovers?"

Xu Wanyun counted on her fingers: "Right now, it should be Daqian?"

Before she finished speaking, another commotion erupted on the street.

Several figures stepped out from the entrance of a tavern, their aura overwhelmingly powerful—each one a senior cultivator of Hunyuan Sect.

They were silent and cold-eyed.

As soon as they stepped onto the main street, they moved like wolves among sheep.

Their clothing varied, but their demeanor was identical—clearly from the same place.

"All from Daqian."

A Qing, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up:

"How do you know?" Xu Wanyun looked at him curiously.

"The runes carved on their boots are our sect's formation," A Qing whispered.

Hearing this, Xu Wanyun let out a muffled grunt: "All our good intentions were fed to dogs—we did so much for them, yet when our family fell..."

A Qing kept his head down, saying nothing.

Xuanguang Cave and Daqian are allies—their relative importance goes without saying; no matter how much the Xu family gave to Daqian, they could never outweigh the alliance's value.

Yet the Wumiao had said not a single word throughout—leaving the elders of the clan deeply chilled.

"..."

Shen Yi was inexplicably shot in the back.

He noticed every cultivator on the street—anyone with even a modicum of power had gone from languid to tense.

"Time to prepare for picking up leftovers."

Xu Wanyun steadied her emotions.

In truth, the entire Town of Demons existed to serve the immortal sects and Daqian—only these three possessed the courage and qualification to enter the Thousand Demon Grotto.

But soon she grew puzzled: "Where are the Soul Transformation Golden Bodies? Logically, Daqian always sends at least one Golden Body to lead each expedition into the Thousand Demon Grotto."

The next instant, Xu Wanyun's entire face went numb.

A wave of flame rolled across the sky, its scorching heat rendering the entire Town of Demons hazy.

A figure descended slowly.

He walked barehanded, clad in a crisp white combat suit, and approached the group of Daqian cultivators, speaking calmly: "Xuanguang Cave is occupied with other matters. I've been sent by my master to handle this task."

Several Daqian cultivators showed rare signs of relief: "Thank you, Elder Tang."

A Qing flipped through his small notebook, excitedly gripping Shen Yi's sleeve: "It's Tang Yuan!"

"..."

Shen Yi looked down at him helplessly.

"He is the most famous prodigy under True Person Qingfeng of Mount Wutong, hailing from a small nation. Raised since childhood under the tutelage of Yin Spirit cultivators, he was ultimately favored by True Person Qingfeng for his path of Slain Hunyuan, ascending to the Transformation of Spirit Realm at the mere age of one thousand nine hundred."

Ah Qing quickly sketched the other's face in a small booklet: "Brother Shen knows those places that mainly cultivate Yin Spirits, right? There are no Slain Hunyuan techniques and sufficient resources there at all. He forced his way up all on his own."

"Tsk."

Xu Wanyun bumped Shen Yi with her shoulder: "What's so impressive? I'm only six hundred and something years old. How old are you?"

"About the same."

Shen Yi silently calculated; he had arrived in this world just one year and four months ago.

"Seems so, indeed."

Ah Qing was stunned for a moment, then put away the small booklet.

Right beside him were two existences no less than Tang Yuan.

"How many more shares do you still lack?"

Tang Yuan paid no heed to others, standing directly on the street and asking the few people before him.

"We are still short sixteen Age Fruits."

The obviously oldest cultivator from Great Qian responded with a bow.

"Has the Xuan Guang Cave secured a cave dwelling for you?" Tang Yuan continued, speaking concisely.

"Secured... but since the Blood-Transforming Demon Emperor fell not long ago, the Thousand Demon Cave is now fraught with peril." The Great Qian cultivator sighed.

"No matter. Do your best."

Tang Yuan nodded slightly, taking the jade slip handed to him: "I am not a disciple of Mount Wutong, but my master is True Person Qingfeng. If you trust me, Tang, then from now on, follow my arrangements."

"Thank you, senior, for your understanding!"

Several Great Qian cultivators bowed deeply in unison.

Seeing this, Xu Wanyun's face showed a strange expression: "Great Qian... when did they become so humble?"

In the books she had flipped through since childhood.

The Wumiao had more than ten Soul Transformation cultivators stationed, dozens of Martial Wu Xian of the Upper Realm, plus many Slain Hunyuan Grand Masters, absolutely a transcendent power in its own region.

Now, they actually pay such a great bow to a nominal disciple of True Person Qingfeng?

(End of this chapter)