When the elders saw the two enter the room, they merely glanced at them and remained silent.
After a while, Sect Leader Li Nantian gritted his teeth and said, "The arrogant look of the Black Demon Sect was witnessed by all the elders. This person is just one of the elders of the Black Demon Sect, yet he dares to treat us like this. If our sect hadn't declined, how could we bear such insults? We must seriously reflect on this and no longer muddle through like this!"
The expressions of the elders were gloomy and they remained silent. Ma Feng said sternly, "The reason for our sect's weak strength is that the cultivation of the Wuji Demon Art is slow and its power is feeble. If the sect leader had shared the Azure Fiend Art with us earlier, our sect would not have fallen into such a situation!"
As soon as Ma Feng said this, they all started to shift the blame, as if the fault lay not with themselves. After arguing for a long time, no proper solution was reached.
Waving his hand, Li Nantian stopped their further quarrel and said, "It's useless to talk too much about what has happened over the years. After this assembly, our sect must find a proper way to improve this unfavorable situation and never let today's humiliation repeat itself!"
After a pause, he looked at Ding Hao and said, "I hope you, Ding Hao, can start from this assembly and make a strong impression to change the image of our sect."
"Ding Hao will surely not let down the sect leader and the elders!" Ding Hao's words were truly sincere.
However, when he looked up at the expressions of the others, except for his master Chen Ling, the rest were looking at him with a look of pity. He secretly cursed that these people were truly hypocritical and shameless and beyond redemption.
"Well, in that case, everyone should meditate and cultivate. Tomorrow, we will send Ding Hao to the venue of the Soul Refining Assembly and then return to the sect." Li Nantian said.
A day passed in the blink of an eye. In the morning, a third-generation disciple of the Purgatory Demon Sect led several people to the venue of the Soul Refining Assembly.
The disciple leading the way seemed to look down on the people of the Wuji Demon Sect. He never looked at them directly along the way. Judging from his cultivation, he had already reached the middle stage of the Fusion Realm. He was even more disdainful of Ding Hao who was participating in the Soul Refining Assembly.
As soon as they passed through the "Nine Cauldrons Asking Heaven Array", they saw a person waiting in front. Ding Hao's face turned bitter when he saw this person. He never expected it to be Elder Wu of the Purgatory Demon Sect whom he had met during his travels.
After the disciple leading the way paid his respects, he returned along the original path. At this time, Elder Wu looked up and happened to meet Ding Hao's peeping gaze. Elder Wu immediately showed a look of surprise. Before he could open his mouth to ask, Ding Hao stepped forward and said, "It has only been a few months since we parted at the foot of the mountain. I never expected that I could listen to the elder's teachings again. I am truly delighted!" After saying that, he winked at him.
As soon as Ding Hao said this, the people of the Wuji Demon Sect all showed puzzled expressions.
Elder Wu was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something and chuckled softly, "Brother Ding is overstating. Hehe, seeing your current appearance, it seems that you are going to participate in our sect's Soul Refining Assembly. Interesting, really interesting! The young lady has been speculating all day. It's funny that Brother Ding was right under her nose!"
Ding Hao smiled bitterly and said, "I hope the elder won't tell her what he saw today. Otherwise, she will cause more trouble."
Elder Wu also smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Ding is wrong. As a subordinate, if I don't report what I know, I can't afford the consequences. I hope Brother Ding can understand my difficulties."
The two were talking to themselves, leaving the people of the Wuji Demon Sect aside. Li Nantian and the others all looked at Ding Hao in surprise. They really couldn't figure out when Ding Hao had established a relationship with the people of the Purgatory Demon Sect. Moreover, judging from the expression of Elder Wu, there seemed to be something else hidden.
What was even more strange was that Elder Wu, who was at the middle stage of the Nascent Soul, didn't act arrogantly towards Ding Hao but talked to him as an equal. This really made them puzzled.
Ding Hao said to Elder Wu with a bitter face, "The important matter is at hand. Elder, it's better to take us to the assembly hall first."
At this time, Elder Wu had the time to look at Li Nantian and the others. After glancing at them, he said, "In that case, I will take you all to the assembly hall first."
Although his tone was polite, it was not as warm as when he was talking to Ding Hao.
However, it was much better than the disciple leading the way just now. The people of the Wuji Demon Sect knew that he was being polite only because of Ding Hao. Otherwise, with his cultivation and power, he would not be so polite.
Elder Wu kept asking Ding Hao questions along the way, seeming very curious about him. Although Ding Hao's answers were evasive, he didn't care and kept asking. After a while, they finally arrived at the trial ground of the Soul Refining Assembly.
Except for the Purgatory Demon Sect, the people of the other sects had arrived earlier. The people of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, the Blood Fiend Sect, the Black Demon Sect, the Soul-devouring Sect, and the Talisman Sect were scattered in front of a dark cave entrance. Besides the sect leaders and their respective elders, each sect had dozens of third-generation disciples. Among them, the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect had the most participating disciples, with eighteen. The Blood Fiend Sect and the Black Demon Sect had fifteen each. The Soul-devouring Sect had thirteen, and the relatively weaker Talisman Sect also had ten participating disciples.
Ding Hao didn't know anyone from these sects. The only one he had met once was the arrogant old man of the Black Demon Sect. He was pointing at Ding Hao and whispering something to the several participating disciples behind him. The disciples of the Black Demon Sect nodded repeatedly after hearing his words and looked at Ding Hao with a cold expression.
Although Ding Hao didn't know what he was saying, he could understand his meaning just by looking at their expressions. He sneered secretly.
When the people of the five sects saw the people of the Wuji Demon Sect arrive, they all showed a look of surprise. After looking at Ding Hao who followed behind, they were even more disdainful. After all, Ding Hao's current cultivation was only at the initial stage of the Fusion Realm, barely qualifying for participation.
Li Nantian's face changed when he looked at the disciples of the several sects. The weakest cultivation of the participating disciples of the several sects was also at the middle stage of the Fusion Realm. It seemed that bringing Ding Hao to participate was completely self-humiliation. He looked at Ding Hao and remained silent.
The elders of the other sects were carefully instructing their participating disciples, while the side of the Wuji Demon Sect was deserted and no one talked to them. The looks of the several sects towards them were only filled with contempt.
Elder Wu gave Ding Hao a meaningful look and said, "Brother Ding, please make yourself at home. I'll be right back." After saying that, he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
As soon as this person left, Li Nantian was the first to speak, "I didn't expect that Elder Wu would attach so much importance to you! How did you get acquainted with him, Ding Hao?"
"Reporting to the sect leader, when I went down the mountain for training, I was chased by the Taoist sect and was saved by Elder Wu. So we are a little familiar. I just didn't know that he was from the Purgatory Demon Sect and didn't report it to the sect leader. I hope the sect leader will forgive me." Ding Hao said respectfully.
Nodding, Li Nantian said coldly, "Oh, is it really that simple? But from the conversation between you two, it seems that there is more to it."
"That's exactly the case. How dare I deceive the sect leader? I hope the sect leader can see clearly." Ding Hao insisted.
"Better be as you said. Otherwise... Humph!" Li Nantian said coldly.
Ding Hao also looked down on him and was not afraid of him, so he didn't reply.
After waiting for more than half an hour, the people of the Purgatory Demon Sect finally arrived. The one in the lead was tall and imposing, walking with a heroic gait and full of domineering aura. With a square face and an air of authority without anger, who else could it be but Feng Aotian, the Demon King of Purgatory?
Before Feng Aotian arrived, the sect leaders of the other sects had already hurried to greet him and bowed in salute.
Feng Aotian waved his hand and swept his fierce eyes over the crowd and shouted, "The Soul Refining Assembly is about to start. I'm really sorry to have kept you all waiting. Well, it seems that there are more participating disciples this time than in previous years, and their strength is also stronger. It is really gratifying that our Soul-breaking Mountain lineage has achieved this. It is precisely because of the addition of such fresh blood that our Soul-breaking Mountain can dominate the Western Continent until now. Aotian thanks you all in advance!"
The sect leaders of the other sects repeatedly said that they didn't dare. After all, in the Soul-breaking Mountain, the Purgatory Demon Sect was the real master, and they were only attached to it. How could they not understand the master-slave relationship?
After a pause, Feng Aotian continued, "The venue of this Soul Refining Assembly is the cave in front of you. The mystery inside will be known as soon as the participants enter. After the participants enter, our sect will be responsible for sealing this cave. It will be opened again one year later. The first one to come out of the cave is the first place, and so on. There are a total of ten prizes for this assembly, including both offensive and defensive magic weapons. Hehe, the top ten will all get a share. I guarantee that the participants will not be disappointed. The rules of the Soul Refining Assembly remain the same. Life and death are not considered. The fittest survive. There are no restrictions!"
As soon as these words were said, the people of the various sects were full of fighting spirit and looked at each other coldly. Except for a few people of the Black Demon Sect who looked at Ding Hao a few times, no one paid attention to him.
At this time, Feng Xingran arrived with Elder Wu. Ding Hao immediately knew why Elder Wu had disappeared for a while. It turned out that he had gone to inform this woman.
Sure enough! As soon as Feng Xingran arrived, she walked straight towards Ding Hao without saying a word, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ding Hao, shining with strange colors.
"Sect Leader Li, long time no see. I didn't expect that your Wuji Demon Sect would also participate in this assembly this time. It really surprises Xingran. Oh? This young man looks very unfamiliar. Is he the one participating from the Wuji Demon Sect?"
Although Feng Xingran was talking to Li Nantian, her attention was always on Ding Hao. Later, it was only natural that she stared at Ding Hao.
Li Nantian was flattered and explained repeatedly, "Miss Feng has sharp eyes. Ding Hao is the one participating from our sect. Ding Hao has only been in our sect for a few decades. It's normal that Miss Feng doesn't know."
Everyone in the field was puzzled. This woman had always been difficult to deal with and seemed to have no interest in any young talents of the sects in the Soul-breaking Mountain. Why did she act so strangely this time?
Feng Xingran stared at Ding Hao with her beautiful eyes and said slowly, "Oh! So it's a rising star of the Wuji Demon Sect. Nice to meet you. Well, I wonder if Fellow Daoist Ding Hao has a cultivation partner yet?"
As soon as these words were said, the whole field was in an uproar.