"I suspect this place may well be the hidden treasure site of the Red Lotus Demon Lord,"
Wang Wanqiu spoke earnestly, "On the day Sunblaze Palace was burned down, I took advantage of the chaos to look around, and I didn't find many valuables inside the entire Sunblaze Palace. It's very possible that they were secretly taken here."
Lin Yun found this statement believable to some degree.
Given Dongfang Hongyue's cautious nature, it was possible she really could have done something like this.
But if this was truly where Dongfang Hongyue hid her treasures, could he really assist others in stealing them?
"If you're right, then the forces guarding this place must be much stronger than they appear on the surface,"
Lin Yun decided to follow along with Wang Wanqiu's line of thought; that way, he might be able to join her in the treasure hunt eventually.
When the time came, whether to report her or to share the spoils, he would see how things developed.
"You're correct, so our pressing task is to thoroughly investigate this place and find a way to draw in reinforcements. While the Demon Lord is absent, we'll steal her entire fortune,"
"Brilliant idea!"
Lin Yun and Wang Wanqiu reached an agreement.
Meanwhile, Dongfang Hongyue had returned to Sunblaze Mountain, and she suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Hmm? Could someone be targeting me again?"
At that moment, Elder Bai Yu came to report.
"The Evil Wolf Gang heard that the Sect Hierarch's Sunblaze Palace was burned down and sent over ten male servants and a thousand taels of gold."
"Hmm."
Hearing this, Dongfang Hongyue thought about Lin Yun's request and smiled faintly, saying, "Never mind the male servants, have the Evil Wolf Gang exchange them for money."
It wasn't that she was influenced by Lin Yun, but she felt that now, with her increased cultivation level and no longer having to worry about losing control of the flames, there was no need to fabricate unnecessary flaws for herself.
"Yes."
After Elder Bai Yu agreed to her instructions, she continued, "When Hong Rui fled, she stole the sacred Glazed Cup. With her cultivation level second only to yours, Sect Hierarch, and now in possession of the sacred artifact, it will be difficult for us to capture her."
Dongfang Hongyue nodded, showing understanding for the subordinates' plight. Elder Bai Yu's meaning was clear: apart from her, no one could handle Hong Rui. If Dongfang Hongyue could not crush this betrayer with a thunderbolt-like strike, her prestige would surely be damaged.
"Let's put Hong Rui's matter aside for now. Those who caused Sunblaze Palace to burn are Li Fire God Palace, Tiannan Sword Sect, and Eight Tones Temple. Write three letters on my behalf, one for each Sect Leader, demanding compensation. Otherwise, I will burn down their sect's gates."
"Just like this?"
"Of course not, add a little polish. Say it's a demand for an apology, otherwise, I will come to discuss the matter with them. You get it, right? If you put it too bluntly, others might think we're uncultured,"
Elder Bai Yu got a little scolding from Dongfang Hongyue and quickly lowered her head, saying, "I understand."
Seeing that Elder Bai Yu looked a bit scared, Dongfang Hongyue couldn't help but pinch her cheek and said, "Alright, you're over two hundred years old, act mature. You may leave now."
"Uh, yes."
Elder Bai Yu left Dongfang Hongyue's temporary palace in a daze, not snapping back to reality until she ran into Hong Ye, who greeted her.
"What's wrong? Did the Sect Hierarch scold you?"
Hong Ye also knew that none of the matters Elder Bai Yu went to report were good.
The sacred item was lost, they couldn't capture Hong Rui, and Sunblaze Palace was burned down; they all felt that Dongfang Hongyue's mood must be terrible.
Wasn't it just last night that in a fit of rage she had all the men killed?
When Elder Bai Yu went to see Dongfang Hongyue, she was also particularly nervous.
Were it not for the fact that Dongfang Hongyue was usually kind to her subordinates and not cruel, she wouldn't have had the courage.
She hadn't expected Dongfang Hongyue to be so gentle with her, though—it was the first time.
With her face flushed, Elder Bai Yu shook her head and said, "The Sect Hierarch didn't blame us. She said to set aside the matter with Hong Rui for now, as she intends to seek revenge on the Righteous Path."
Hong Ye's eyes lit up upon hearing this and he said, "The Sect Hierarch's wisdom is indeed beyond our reach. We all thought of looking for Hong Rui first, but with the protection of the Righteous Path, it'd be very difficult to capture her without the Sect Hierarch's intervention.
Now, the Sect Hierarch wants to intimidate the three major sects, which is also a warning to those who dare to shelter Hong Rui. It serves as revenge for the past as well, brilliant!"
Bai Yu nodded in deep agreement, truly worthy of the Sect Hierarch.
Dongfang Hongyue: I only thought of the first layer of this plan.
News of the three major sects' masters' unsuccessful siege on the Red Lotus Demon Lord spread quickly among both the Righteous and Demonic paths.
Barbarian State, Yu Ling Sect.
The Sect Master, Daoist Master Huang Long, sneered disdainfully upon receiving the message.
"The Lower Three Sects are getting worse, such an embarrassment!"
The Seven Righteous Sects are divided into the Top Three Sects and the Lower Three Sects, with the Lower Three Sects being the ones who attacked the Red Lotus Sect. The Top Three Sects consist of the Yu Ling Sect, Guanghan Palace, and Shenxiao Gate.
The last one is the detached Taiqing Daoist Temple, which is also the state religion of the Great Zhou Court.
All Seven Righteous Sects uphold the rule of the Great Zhou Royal Family, while the Demonic Path opposes it.
Yu Ling Sect is also among the Top Three Sects, but compared to Shenxiao Gate and Guanghan Palace, it falls far short. It is said that both are inheritances left by Immortal Gods.
Daoist Master Huang Long had always wanted to take his sect to the next level. Over the years, under his leadership, the Yu Ling Sect's influence in the Barbarian State had grown tremendously, nearly becoming an emperor in its own right.
"Sect Master, a scout from Demon Capital reports that the White Sea Dragon and other Great Demons have crossed the boundary river in search of the Demon Tribe's supreme treasure, the Dragon Ball."
"The Dragon Ball?!"
Upon hearing the words 'Dragon Ball,' Daoist Master Huang Long was no longer composed.
In the Mortal Realm, True Dragons had long been extinct, but legends of dragons persisted everywhere.
Yet, among all of draconic lineage, the most that their cultivation could achieve was to transform into Sea Dragons.
Daoist Master Huang Long possessed a fully grown yellow Sea Dragon. Yu Ling Sect directed half of its efforts into controlling and raising Spirit Beasts. With the Sea Dragon, Daoist Master Huang Long had made it into the top ten experts of the Human Race.
If a Sea Dragon were to transform into a True Dragon, wouldn't that make it the number one in the world?
The rise of the Yu Ling Sect would be imminent.
"Tell me the details."
"Ten days ago, a relic appeared outside Demon Capital, and the stele at the entrance mentioned that a True Dragon fell in the western Land of Death. Known for a fact throughout Demon Capital, the White Sea Dragon crossed the border heading west upon learning about the possible remains of a True Dragon."
"I see."
Daoist Master Huang Long understood; other Demon Tribes might not care much, but for the Sea Dragon lineage, evolving into a True Dragon was a craving in their blood.
And where a True Dragon fell, aside from leaving a Dragon Ball, there would be an abundance of Dragon Qi. A Sea Dragon acquiring the relic of a True Dragon would have a chance of becoming a True Dragon.
"But the Land of Death is vast, and even with the cultivation level of the White Sea Dragon, it would be difficult to find the dragon's place of fall."
"Sect Master, it was also written on the stele that the fallen True Dragon was a Black Dragon, attributed to water. Even in death, it could bless an area. Since the Land of Death is a desert, if one could find a green oasis within it, that might be where the dragon fell."
Daoist Master Huang Long: "..."
Next time you deliver a message, can you tell everything all at once?
Must you really wait for me to set you up?
With this vital piece of information, the search for the dragon's resting place went from being an elusive dream to having tangible leads, making it impossible for him to stay put.
But as he took to the skies, Daoist Master Huang Long couldn't help but think of another doubt.
White Sea Dragon was on a mission to find the Dragon Ball with a few followers, and she should have done so covertly. With her level of cultivation, she was certainly capable of transforming into a human. Could she not have managed this quietly?
So why did she suddenly reveal her true form seven days ago, fly into the sky, and roar towards the northwest?