Seeing Xenos' gloomy appearance, Elder San also grew serious.
"My Lord, what happened?"
"Take a look at this, Elder San." Xenos sighed as he handed the letter to Elder San.
"Hmm..." The paper in Elder San's hand suddenly ignited in flames, burning to ashes and scattering into the air.
"It's fortunate that only a hundred soldiers died... The Song Clan and Blue Wind Sect have suffered worse. Especially the Blue Wind Sect, their elder died in the battle," Elder San stroked his beard.
"Yes, most of those who died were either rogue cultivators or from small forces... That guy Lin Xu must be seething with anger right now," Xenos said, feeling slightly relieved as he imagined Lin Xu's furious expression.
Lin Xu, the current sect master of the Blue Wind Sect.
"My Lord, do you want me to go there?"
"Okay, let's go together. I also want to visit that place. With you by my side, I will feel safer."
Although he was a City Lord, Elder San's cultivation base was much higher than Xenos'. Elder San, who resided in the capital city, had a cultivation base at the first-layer Opening Qi Realm.
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Inside the meeting room of the Blue Wind Sect, silence enveloped the air as everyone looked at the gloomy face of the sect master. The elders were confused as they had been summoned for a meeting without any prior explanation.
They had assumed it was a regular gathering, but upon seeing the sect master's expression, they sensed that something significant had occurred.
"Elder Hao, do you know what happened? Why does the sect master look so gloomy?" an elder asked Elder Hao, who was seated beside him.
"I have no clue either," Elder Hao replied with a shrug.
For now, they patiently waited for the last elder to arrive. Out of the five elders in the Blue Wind Sect, the other three were already present in the meeting room.
The final elder they were awaiting was also the strongest, second only to their patriarch. The fifth elder, Elder Gong, had yet to join them.
After some time, the last elder finally arrived. The others refrained from complaining; they didn't dare to provoke him.
"Elder Zong, you're late again."
"I'm sorry, sect master. I was occupied with something and couldn't leave," Elder Zong apologized.
"Forget it... I called all of you here because something happened to Elder Gong..." Upon hearing this, everyone's expression turned serious.
"Elder Gong has passed away..."
A deep breath was taken by everyone, except for Elder Tan Zong. Although Elder Gong was the weakest among them, he was still a genuine building base cultivator. His loss was significant for their sect, as becoming a building base cultivator in this resource-scarce land was already a remarkable achievement.
"Sect Master, what happened?" Elder Hao inquired.
"The report states that the camp they built was attacked by green creatures riding wolves. These creatures had three building base monsters among them... Elder Gong perished in the hands of one of those three green creatures."
"Sect Master, why did only Elder Gong die? I don't believe that Elder Lee from the Song Clan is stronger than Elder Gong," an elder expressed with a tinge of grievance, as he had some friendship with Elder Gong.
"That's a valid point, Sect Master. This might be a conspiracy involving the Song Clan and the City Lord."
"It's unlikely, as many people also lost their lives in that raid..."
"That's why I've decided to personally go there and investigate. In the meantime, I will entrust Elder Zong with leading the sect... What do you think, Elder Zong?"
All the elders looked at Elder Tan Z
ong, who sat quietly in his chair with closed eyes, as if meditating. Elder Tan Zong opened his eyes and turned his gaze towards Lin Xu.
For some reason, when Elder Tan Zong locked eyes with him, Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat. In that fleeting moment, he felt as though he was being stared at by an ominous beast. Lin Xu dismissed the thought, attributing it to the stress caused by Elder Gong's demise.
"Sect Master, may I accompany you? I'm also curious about this tower."
Everyone was taken aback. It was the first time they had heard Elder Tan Zong express a desire to leave. Since he joined the sect five years ago, Elder Tan Zong had never once left its premises.
They found it strange, but whenever they asked him about it, his answer remained the same—he was engrossed in something that he couldn't leave for too long. Whenever they inquired further, he would skillfully change the subject.
"Elder Zong, are you sure? What about the matter you're working on? Is it alright to leave it behind?"
"Thank you for your concern, sect master. What I've been working on is nearly complete, so I believe I can entrust it to my disciple for a few days," Elder Tan Zong replied with a smile.
"Very well then... Elder Hao, I entrust the sect to your care. Is that acceptable?"
"Don't worry, sect master. I will take care of the sect."
"Good. Let's consider it settled. Elder Zong, we will depart early tomorrow morning."
"I will make the necessary preparations, Sect Master."
"Alright, everyone is dismissed. The meeting is over."
The elders bid farewell with each other, before leaving the room.
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