Chapter 43: Internal Friction

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

When Zha Lei was captured, his cultivation had been restricted by Xiao Yuntian, Zhang Tianheng, and the other Demon Cult experts. When Chen Luoyang slammed down with his palm, Zha Lei wasn’t able to dodge or resist, nor could he circulate his qi for protection. He could only watch as the palm descended.

Therefore, Chen Luoyang didn’t even need to use the Stake All Technique. He just had to make use of his current martial master’s cultivation to kill Zha Lei.

Zha Lei’s eyes were filled with shock as he died with remaining grievance and collapsed on the ground while his back was still straight. Chen Luoyang looked at Zha Lei quietly and let out a long breath. He then destroyed many of Zha Lei’s personal items, while he secretly kept that elixir cauldron.

After inspecting everything again, Chen Luoyang then knocked on his jade pendant.

When Zhang Tianheng was summoned, he was rather surprised to see Zha Lei’s corpse and the scraps on the ground. However, he quickly knelt down on one knee and greeted Chen Luoyang. “This subordinate pays his respects to Cult Master. Long live Cult Master. If this old trash said something to enrage you, please don’t be angry. I shall immediately grind his bone into dust.”

“Clean up the place.” Chen Luoyang had an insipid expression and didn’t seem to be happy or angry. He wasn’t planning to explain anything either, and this was one of his special privileges as the Demon Cult Master. He had the right to be temperamental and to act as he pleased.

As a subordinate, Zhang Tianheng naturally didn’t dare to question what had happened. Of course, he roughly knew what had happened.

It was a display of grace and prowess.

As expected, Zhang Tianheng didn’t question what happened, and he didn’t ask his subordinates to come over either. He personally cleaned up Zha Lei’s corpse and also the destroyed things on the ground. While he was cleaning up the place, he had been hypothesizing different things that might have happened and was thinking of plenty of excuses for his Cult Master.

Chen Luoyang sat by the side calmly as though nothing had happened while he nonchalantly flipped through a scroll to read.

When Zhang Tianheng finished cleaning and came over to report, Chen Luoyang continued reading his scroll and didn’t even lift his head. Chen Luoyang gave a simple “mm” as a response.

When Zhang Tianheng exited the room, Chen Luoyang put down the scroll and used his fingers to rub the center of his brow.

He had summoned the “Northern Desert’s Grand Physician” Zha Lei for a private conversation, but it ended up with him killing Zha Lei. When this news spread out, it was hard for people not to have wild imaginations. It was fortunate that he had just defeated the Black Emperor Xiuzhe with a single move previously; otherwise, it would have been hard to prevent any suspicion.

The current scenario might still not be safe, but it was already the best outcome.

Chen Luoyang took out that small cauldron and started to figure it out. He recalled all the documents and scrolls he had read through before starting some practice on using the cauldron to concoct elixirs.

The concoction of the Ten Revolution Primary Elixir required ingredients that were all rather rare. The Divine Province might be a place with extensive resources, but there were many precious items that were extremely hard to find.

Before having greater confidence, Chen Luoyang would use the other ordinary ingredients and concoction recipes to practice first. Once he was confident, he would then concoct the Ten Revolution Primary Elixir.

As he was practicing and studying the art of concoction, time passed by.

The Six Dragons Sovereign Carriage was soaring in the sky, and as it passed through the Qian Prefecture, it was approaching the borders of Xiang Prefecture.

The Xiang Prefecture was located in the direct south of the Grand Divine Province. There were countless mountains in the south that extended far and were given the name of Hundred Crosses. During ancient times, this place was nothing but barren land.

During the recent millennium, it was gradually developed, and it gave rise to plenty of beautiful sceneries and a treasure trove of resources. Due to the terrain, there were still plenty of uninhabited swamps that were deep in the mountains; these were covered in miasma and were crawling with spirit beasts.

The Demon Cult’s place of origin was in this place.

To the west of the Xiang Prefecture was the Dian Prefecture; to the northeast was the Hunan Prefecture; to the northwest was the Qian Prefecture, to the east was the Yue Prefecture, to the south was the Southern Remote Ocean. This place was the Demon Domain’s core area.

The Demon Cult Shrine was located in between the borders of the Xiang Prefecture and the Yue Prefecture. Chen Luoyang’s group had passed through the Qian Prefecture and was entering the Xiang Prefecture. They weren’t too far away from the Demon Cult Shrine.

Along the journey, there was an increasing amount of information being reported.

“Reporting to Cult Master, we currently know that the enemy army has split into three paths to invade our cult’s sacred territory.”

Azure Dragon 3 knelt on one knee and reported. “The eastern group is invading the Min Prefecture from the Zhe Prefecture. The western group is invading the Xiang Prefecture from the Hunan Prefecture. The central group is invading the Yue Prefecture from the Gan Prefecture.”

The Zhe Prefecture was controlled by the Great Xia Empire, while the Min Prefecture was part of the Demon Domain.

The Hunan Prefecture and the Gan Prefecture were basically the front lines between the Demon Cult and the Great Xia Empire. They were split into two by the two parties, and there had been constant conflicts.

“The central group is the enemy’s main force and is personally led by the Xia Emperor, along with East Sea King and most of the experts. They are swift and aggressive, and have already seized the entire Gan Prefecture. They are now invading the borders of the Yue Prefecture and are a threat to our cult’s shrine,” Azure Dragon 3 said. “The western group was originally led by the Left Sage King and has also quickly seized the Hunan Prefecture. Afterwards, the Left Sage King Xiuzhe went to the Qian Prefecture to challenge Cult Master. Therefore, the central group split up and continued marching south from Hunan Prefecture. They are a threat to the Xiang Prefecture.”

“As for the eastern group, they are only stalling and restraining to prevent the cult members in the Min Prefecture from providing any assistance to the other places.”

Azure Dragon 3 then paused for a moment before saying, “Over at the shrine, as Cult Master wasn’t around, Grand Hall Chief and the Elder Pavilion are issuing commands and leading the cult members to resist the invasion. Grand Hall Chief has temporarily given up the Hunan Prefecture and Gan Prefecture to concentrate our forces on Xiang Prefecture and Yue Prefecture.”

“Continue your report.” Chen Luoyang didn’t have any change in expression, and it was impossible to see any emotions. In his personal opinion, he actually agreed with how the Vermilion Bird Hall Chief had handled matters.

They were using space to exchange for time, concentrating and strengthening their military forces, while shrinking the area of defense. If Chen Luoyang was in the position to make the decision, he would probably do the same thing.

“When the Other Tribe’s Left Sage King went west to the Qian Prefecture, our cult members started an intense battle with the enemy’s central group at the northern part of the Yue Prefecture, at the Sky Rainbow Mountain.” Speaking normally until this point, Azure Dragon 3’s voice then turned a little wry. “Right Envoy Wang and his men, the Elder Pavilion, and the Vermilion Bird Hall… aren’t coordinating well.”

Chen Luoyang had the impulse to roll his eyes after hearing those words. It was needless to say that the Right Envoy Wang and his men were loyal to the Cult Master and were the representatives of the Demon Cult’s young generation faction. They were naturally not on the same tune with the elder faction.

With the enemy invading, the two factions had no choice but to work together. However, to say that they had mutual understanding and teamwork was simply a farfetched dream. It was already great that they didn’t have internal strife.

Chen Luoyang could guess with his knees that the young generation faction probably had the idea of using the hostile army to wither down the elder faction. Finally, it would prepare the stage for their brilliant cult master to return and clean up the mess.

It was a perfect scenario, if their great cult master was truly uninjured…

Of course, the elder faction might also be using this opportunity to cut down the formidable warriors of the young generation faction.

“Pass down This Seat’s orders. The enemy is invading us. The priority is to deal with the enemy. If there is anyone causing internal friction, they shall face the punishment of the cult rules.” Chen Luoyang then said softly, “When the time comes, This Seat shall serve the punishment personally to warn the others. No one shall be exempt.”

Azure Dragon 3 kowtowed and replied, “I shall comply with Cult Master’s orders!”

After Azure Dragon 3 was dismissed, Vajra sought an audience.

“Cult Master…” Vajra was rather apprehensive and hesitant to speak.

Chen Luoyang looked at him silently.

Vajra then smiled bitterly and said, “Reporting to Cult Master, Elder Fu just sent back news that Young Lady Qingqing has left the Sword Pavilion.”

“Where is she then?” Chen Luoyang had an unchanged expression as he asked without any angered expression.

Vajra replied, “Elder Fu found out that she is marching south together with the Sword Pavilion disciples. She has gone through the Hunan Prefecture and is probably arriving at the Xiang Prefecture.”