Chapter 78 Swearing to Heaven

"Junior Brother Lin, what exactly is it that requires an audience with the Sect Leader?" Meng Yangquan inquired. It wasn't that he didn't trust Junior Brother Lin, but if it were merely a trivial matter, even a disciple at the Divine Incarnation stage would be punished for seeking an audience.

Although this Junior Brother Lin was somewhat unfathomable, his cultivation was far too low. What might seem major to them could be trivial in Meng Yangquan's eyes.

The fewer people who knew about this at this stage, the better. But Senior Brother Meng cared deeply for Mu Chenyu. If he thought she shouldn't be present for this discussion, it might provoke his displeasure.

"Senior Brother, during the time I feigned death and left the sect, I lived in the Great Yan Dynasty. By chance, I overheard that the Yan Emperor plans to collude with certain sects to attack our sect. So I rushed back to inform the Sect Leader," Lin Fan said without any concealment.

Mu Chenyu's expression changed abruptly, a glint flashing in her eyes for an instant before she concealed it.

"Impossible. The Yan Emperor is at the seventh level of Divine Incarnation. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare. The consequences are not something he can bear," Meng Yangquan said, refusing to believe it. The Great Yan Dynasty had been subservient to the Holy Demon Sect for centuries; how could it have the strength to rebel?

Even if the Great Yan Dynasty had a Heavenly Prefecture Academy, in Meng Yangquan's view, it was utterly vulnerable. Even the academy's strongest, the dean, was barely at the Divine Incarnation stage, let alone the students.

"And you want to report something so unreliable to the Sect Leader? If this is just a joke, you two might face punishment, but don't drag Senior Brother into it," Mu Chenyu said disdainfully, looking at Lin Fan and the others. "The Yan Emperor may be at the Divine Incarnation stage, but for an outer disciple like you to eavesdrop on a Divine Incarnation expert—that's hardly possible."

"Junior Brother, this is no joking matter," Meng Yangquan said, shaking his head slightly.

Lin Fan grew anxious. Why wouldn't Senior Brother Meng believe him? But after a moment's thought, he understood. If the roles were reversed, he probably wouldn't believe it either.

But how could they think the Yan Emperor was only at the seventh level of Divine Incarnation? The Yan Emperor had already reached the Lesser Heavenly Position realm.

Ni Mingyang stood to the side, unable to interject. He believed Junior Brother Lin's words, but he hadn't heard it himself. Moreover, given Lin Fan's cultivation, it was indeed impossible for him to eavesdrop on conversations between Divine Incarnation experts.

"Senior Brother, it's true. I can swear to Heaven: if any of my words are false, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death," Lin Fan said.

In the time it had taken him to rush back from the Great Yan Dynasty to the Holy Demon Sect, he didn't know if the Yan Emperor had already made a move. Time was pressing; having the sect prepare early was better than only finding out when they were attacked.

Meng Yangquan looked at Junior Brother Lin's expression and felt a slight shock. If this were true, it would indeed be a major matter.

"Senior Brother Meng, if this is true, would the sect relocate entirely?" Lin Fan asked.

"No," Meng Yangquan denied without hesitation. "The Holy Demon Sect has a long heritage. Even in the face of the greatest disaster, we must defend the sect to the death. The sect exists, we exist; the sect falls, we fall."

"Senior Brother, even if this is false, there would be no loss. But everything I just said is true. If Senior Brother helps me gain an audience with the Sect Leader, I will produce evidence that will convince him," Lin Fan said, even more earnestly now.

Meng Yangquan pondered for a moment, staring intently at Lin Fan, trying to discern his true intentions.

Lin Fan met his gaze without flinching. He didn't want the only family he had in this Xuanhuang Realm to be destroyed by enemies.

Although he was just an outer disciple, so what? When the sect was in trouble, even a menial worker should be willing to help.

If he stood idly by, would he even be human?

"Senior Brother, what are you still thinking about? It's obviously just some rumor picked up somewhere," Mu Chenyu said in a coquettish tone.

Meng Yangquan always granted her requests and never disobeyed her.

"Junior Brother, I'll take you," Meng Yangquan said after a moment's deliberation.

"Senior Brother, how can you believe them too?" Mu Chenyu immediately protested, displeased, but a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.

"Junior sister, I believe that Junior Brother Lin would not joke about such a matter. If it is true, then knowingly failing to report it would be a disaster for the Holy Demon Sect," Meng Yangquan said.

Lin Fan and Ni Mingyang were overjoyed. "Thank you, senior brother, for believing us."

"As fellow disciples of the same sect, we should not doubt one another, but this matter is of great importance and must be carefully considered. I would rather what you said be false, for if it is true, it will be a calamity for the Holy Demon Sect," Meng Yangquan said with mixed emotions.

"Junior brother also hopes so, but this is what I heard with my own ears," Lin Fan said with a sigh.

"Let's go," Meng Yangquan said.

Mu Chenyu, seeing that Senior Brother Meng believed their words, stamped her foot in anger and then ran out. But just as she stepped out, her expression suddenly changed.

How could an ordinary outer disciple possibly know of such a thing?

...

The Ninth Peak.

At the center surrounded by the eight peaks, towering into the clouds, it was where the sect master resided.

This peak was hidden among the white clouds, complementing them. The Ninth Peak was far more majestic than the other eight. White cranes soared, making it seem like a paradise on earth. Vaguely, an imposing palace appeared and disappeared, beautiful yet elusive, dignified, sacred, and grand.

Outer disciples below the Ninth Peak were not allowed to come here; even inner disciples had to be considered based on seniority. But with Senior Brother Meng leading the way, the journey was much easier.

Even if someone tried to stop them, Senior Brother Meng dismissed them with a single word.

When Lin Fan saw the scene before him, his mind was also shaken—too magnificent, this was the core of the Holy Demon Sect.

If such a grand place were to be destroyed by someone, it would truly be a pity.

"Yangquan, what business do you have bringing two outer disciples to the Ninth Peak?" Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in gray walked over and asked sternly.

"Eightfold Spirit Entry."

This person's cultivation was at the Eightfold Spirit Entry, much higher than Meng Yangquan's.

But judging by his age, he was also middle-aged; compared to Meng Yangquan, he was still much older. Apparently, in terms of talent, this person might be far inferior to Meng Yangquan, but he had started cultivating much earlier.

"Elder Qingfeng, this disciple brought my junior brothers here because they have a major matter concerning the sect's safety to report to the Sect Leader." Meng Yangquan said with a cupped fist salute.

"The Sect Leader is in seclusion. If you have any matters, you may report them to me." Elder Qingfeng's eyelids twitched slightly, clearly not taking it seriously.

"This matter must be reported directly to the Sect Leader. I ask Elder Qingfeng to be accommodating."

"Yangquan, it seems you've regressed the older you get. Have you grown foolish in the outer sect? Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The Sect Leader is in seclusion—do you intend to force him out?" Elder Qingfeng said with displeasure.

"Elder Qingfeng, this matter is of great importance," Meng Yangquan said.

"Hmph, go back. No matter how great the matter, you cannot disturb the Sect Leader's seclusion." Elder Qingfeng was somewhat irritated. This Yangquan was once an inner disciple—how could he not understand such basic rules? Could the Sect Leader just come out of seclusion at will?

At this moment, the Ninth Peak's main hall was right before them, but their path was blocked by this unknown elder. If they didn't think of a way, they truly wouldn't be able to get through.

And Senior Brother Meng was being so polite with him. If they didn't forcefully bring the Sect Leader out, it seemed they wouldn't succeed.