“The Demon Suppressing Department does have some capability… Duanmu Tao, our Sect Master has told me to relay a message to you, ’Meet at Yellow Flag Mountain before nightfall, do not wait if late.’”

The man in the black robe spoke in a hoarse voice as he mentioned a name.

“Hmm?”

Everyone was alarmed, and as they uttered this, a ’bang’ erupted from within the black-robed man’s body, with blood seeping from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as his life force swiftly dissipated.

A man in green clothes approached the black-robed figure, pressing a palm onto his chest to check his condition, and said gravely, “He’s dead… He used his True Qi to shatter his own heart and brain, beyond the help of even gods.”

Removing the hood of the black robe, the face revealed was an ugly one which, after some thought, they realized held no connection to any information they had.

“This man committed suicide just to have Duanmu Tao go to Yellow Flag Mountain?”

The resolve of the black-robed man to take his own life was so absolute that even Su Changkong couldn’t prevent it, and the message the black-robed man was relaying from their Sect Master was directed at Duanmu Tao, for him to go to Yellow Flag Mountain with a clear purpose in mind!

“Lord, what should we do?” the group looked to Duanmu Tao for guidance.

The Sect Master mentioned by the black-robed man was no ordinary individual; fully aware of Duanmu Tao’s identity and strength, yet daring to provoke him, instructing him to meet at Yellow Flag Mountain—it was imaginable that malice drove the action, with traps likely set. If he went, dangers could await.

If he didn’t go, the adversary might target some second or third-tier Martial Artist Sects, severing Spirit Veins; such actions could wreak havoc across Central State!

Seizing or looting Spirit Veins equates to transforming an area capable of nurturing Innate Martial Artists with excellent fengshui into a mere common mountain, sabotaging the very foundation of Martial Artists!

After a brief contemplation, Duanmu Tao glanced at the iron case he was carrying and decisively said, “Then we shall go and meet this Sect Master spoken of by the man in the black robe!”

Duanmu Tao was aware that a trap must have been set to ambush him, and although he speculated about who might have the motive, he did not shrink back from the challenge, bolstered by his strength!

Since becoming the Demon Suppressing Chief, Duanmu Tao rarely took action, and he was confident that within the Flame Empire, there were few who could pose a threat to him.

“I will accompany you, as I also have some scores to settle with these people,” Su Changkong then spoke up, deciding to assess the situation for himself.

The Sect Master mentioned by the black-robed man was most likely the culprit behind the attacks on the Spirit Taoist Sect. Su Changkong had learned from the mouth of an Inner Sect Disciple that Sect Master Helian Yuan and other Innate Martial Artists had not died but were captured and taken away.

Now that the whereabouts of these people were discovered, Su Changkong could not pretend to be unaware; he would attempt a rescue if possible, and if they were already dead… there was nothing Su Changkong could do.

As for the danger, it certainly existed, but with the mastery of Deer Play and Crane Play, capable of Shrinking into Inches and soaring through the void, it would be nearly impossible to stop him unless his opponent was a Martial Saint.

“Then, Brother Blade, come with us,” Duanmu Tao considered and then agreed, and though Dao Wufeng’s identity was shrouded in mystery, his willingness to let Duanmu He leave first when faced with Elder Tan You of the Life Extinguishing Association, demonstrated that he was trustworthy!

“Yellow Flag Mountain, looking at the map, it seems that there is a Yellow Flag Village in the area, but beyond that, there are no notable features, adequately desolate.”

A few people made their way towards Yellow Flag Village and along the way, Lian Tianlu also had a look at the map.

By stating they should meet at Yellow Flag Mountain before nightfall, or else they’d just leave, they were being denied the opportunity to prepare, leaving them no choice but to rush there from here.

Within Yellow Flag Mountain, a village occupying several dozen households, the scene was littered with corpses, and four people sat cross-legged on the rooftop of the highest wooden house, watching the distance.

All four were clad in black robes, with the leader being a tall figure, standing over two meters tall. Seated silently, the air around him seemed to solidify, visible to the naked eye with his formidable presence.

Next to the burly man in the black robe, a skinny elder in a black robe with a raspy voice spoke as if sensing something, “Li Huan is dead… His Phantom Demon Method is transcendental, able to move freely even against powerful foes; it seems Duanmu Tao has indeed arrived.”

Among the four black-robed figures, one with a slender build and a gentle demeanor voiced concern, “Duanmu Tao is exceptionally talented, achieving the rank of Five-Qi Grandmaster at a young age, and later nurtured by the Yan Imperial Family, holding a prominent position, his strength unfathomable, not someone easily dealt with. Can we truly detain him?”

“Heh! We must not bolster the morale of others and undermine our own authority. Our Evil Sect Leader is certainly not inferior to that youngster Duanmu Tao, not to mention that we are thoroughly prepared, specifically to deal a blow to the Flame Empire by taking out one of its heavyweights!” the fourth black-robed figure, rather corpulent, uttered with a chuckle.

Duanmu Tao, while renowned as a top-tier powerhouse within the Flame Empire for a long time, was confronting opponents who were also elite. Especially their Sect Master, a notorious figure in his own right, had spent over half a year preparing for this moment – decisively to execute Duanmu Tao, signaling the start of turmoil!

The enormous black-robed man, known as the Evil Sect Leader, who sat silently with his legs crossed as if a Demon God, suddenly opened his eyes as dusk fell and the sunset bled red in the sky. A battle-hungry smile crept across his lips: “They’re here!”

“I’ll go on ahead,” the black-robed elder chuckled, his figure ghostly as he drifted into the forest behind the mountain village.

“It’s just ahead, there’s a stench of blood… These beasts have slaughtered all the civilians in the village on Yellow Flag Mountain!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel