Chapter 974: Chapter 381: Lighting World Demon Lamp Long Heihu was unconcerned, his expression calm as he said, “I’ve heard people say that the Grandmaster visited the Formless Divine Sect some ten days ago and even requested a quota for learning the Vengeance Blade from Li Changsheng?” “Your sources are quite well-informed. The Grandmaster did mention this in the court.” Chu Ming looked at Long Heihu with a slight surprise: “However, the chosen person by the emperor was Qin Muge’s sister, the Iron Mountain Princess Qin Xiyang. She has the Qin family’s ‘Guiyi’ bloodline, though not as outstanding as Qin Muge, she also has the hope to cultivate the first layer of the Divine Intent Touch Death Blade. She not only has the Qin family’s cultivation resources, but she is also favored by the court and the Inner Palace.” “I’m aware of that.” Long Heihu squinted his eyes: “The problem is that neither the emperor nor the Formless Divine Sect feels reassured about Qin Xiyang. Compared to that Iron Mountain Princess, His Majesty hopes you to learn the Vengeance Blade even more. The choice of Qin Xiyang was actually out of disappointment in you, a forced alternative.” Chu Ming was momentarily dazed upon hearing this, falling into deep thought. Long Heihu continued, “You are still the Vengeance Candidate of the Formless Divine Sect, and you haven’t violated any sect rules or precepts — at least you haven’t been caught breaking any rules. And as a grand sect, Formless Divine Sect has its own laws; they can’t expel you without cause, and they must grant you the treatment befitting a Vengeance Candidate.” Chu Ming’s heart trembled at this point, her eyes showing a strange shine: “Uncle Long’s meaning is, I can still stay in the Formless Divine Sect and continue learning the Vengeance Blade?” “It’s certainly better than returning now.” Long Heihu gave a bitter smile: “But from now on, you must be extra cautious and work doubly hard. You currently have no grounds for arrogance and must do your utmost to restore the Formless Divine Sect’s faith in you, to let His Majesty and the Vice Minister see hope. But this path is extraordinarily tough, fraught with difficulties, achievable only by those with great determination.” Chu Ming’s gaze shifted, and after a long time, she abruptly clenched her fist and punched the ground. “Then I’ll stay, until Formless Divine Sect expels me. Even if I have to cling, I’ll stay until I master the Vengeance Blade.” Chu Ming ground her silver teeth, eyes revealing intense resolve: “Not for others, but for ourselves!” This time, she felt extreme disappointment towards both His Majesty and her own father. Almost simultaneously, at the Ancestor Master Hall of Blood Bat Mountain. The top of this stone mountain, shaped like a giant bat, echoed with nine tolls of a bell early in the morning. The sound reverberated through the entire Blood Bat Divine Mountain, causing disciples and members across the mountain to look towards the summit in solemn silence. In Blood Bat Mountain, nine tolls from the Ancestor Master Hall’s bell only signify two events: one is the sect facing a formidable enemy and an assault on the mountain; the other is the fall of a person at the Supreme Elder level within the sect. Now, with everything inside and outside Blood Bat Divine Mountain peaceful, the reason for today’s bell toll is obvious. However, to everyone’s surprise, shortly after the nine tolls ceased, another series of nine powerful tolls resounded from the direction of the Ancestor Master Hall, shaking the whole mountain. This left everyone who heard the bell pale and in a daze. Meanwhile, in the main hall of Blood Bat Mountain, the Blood God Temple, many Blood Bat Mountain elders gathered there, each with mournful eyes and sad faces. Only the person sitting at the highest spot, a middle-aged man with a long face in a blood-colored robe, remained calm, speaking indifferently: “‘Divine Blade Shadowless’ Xue Wujin, ‘Sun Erosion Hand’ Quan Sikong, both Supreme Elders fell in one day — it’s the first time since the founding of Blood Bat Mountain.” He then sneered: “Stop pretending to be sad, their deaths mean two First Grade Demon Core slots are now available. You’re barely able to conceal your joy, much less be saddened by their passing?” Everyone in the hall froze in place, then bowed their heads in unison: “We dare not!” Demon cultivators rarely truly respect anyone. Yet, the man before them was the current Sect Master of Blood Bat Mountain — ‘Lighting World Demon Lamp’ Zong Shenhua. Over two hundred years ago, the Seventh Generation Grand Master Dugu Shou led an army, gathering over ten Heavenly List figures to attack Blood Bat Mountain, killing the previous Sect Master with twenty-three palms. At that time, Blood Bat Mountain was engulfed in panic, anticipating imminent destruction. It was Zong Shenhua who took over as Sect Master, battling Dugu Shou day and night, eventually using the lives of tens of thousands in the 3,000 miles surrounding Blood Bat Mountain as leverage to force Dugu Shou and the court military to retreat. “What’s there not to dare, I would seize the chance to rise if it were me.” Zong Shenhua shook his head indifferently, his eyes showing intense determination: “So has ‘God-Killing Doctor’ Li Zhen’e mentioned the reason for their deaths?” A person from below immediately bowed: “I’ve already queried. Li Zhen’e mentioned ‘Divine Blade Shadowless’ Xue Wujin likely died at the hands of One Sword Overturning City Wen Zhiyi, but he’s not certain. As for ‘Sun Erosion Hand’ Quan Sikong, he’s unsure. When the fog arose, many First and Second Grade experts apparently died oddly, indicating another master might be present within Wind God Tower.” Zong Shenhua raised an eyebrow, then showed a disdainful expression: “Those two fools, one carried the power of Blood Abyss God King, the other bore the Divine Splitting form of Blood Flame Demon Lord, yet both achieved nothing at Cloud Sea Immortal Palace and died at others’ hands, laughable indeed!” His gaze gradually turned fierce, looking at everyone present: “However, the rules of Blood Bat Mountain have always been an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and even if they died as fools, it cannot be without retribution. Right now, three tasks must be accomplished: quickly investigate the causes of their deaths; regarding Blood Vengeance Saint Chu Xisheng, Blood Bat Mountain should promptly devise a plan, lest this person grows into another ‘Dominating Martial King.’ The third concerns the First Grade Demon Core, I will petition the Demon Lord for replacement Demon Cores among the Great Elders in the sect, selecting the most capable to inherit them. Within a month, whoever presents the Demon Lord with three Second Grade tier offerings, or the head of Chu Xisheng, may take the Supreme Elder position!” Everyone in the Blood God Temple immediately raised their heads, and nearly seventy percent of them revealed a greedy anticipation. They failed to notice that while Zong Shenhua spoke, his mind was elsewhere. He disregarded these so-called experts who relied on Demon cultivation techniques and external forces to achieve First and Second Grades. Blood Bat Mountain is a Demon Sect, but to truly ascend to the pinnacle, to step into the extremes of Martial Arts, it can never be achieved solely through external forces. Zong Shenhua stood still, gazing outside the hall with a hint of ominousness in his eyes. The deaths of ‘Divine Blade Shadowless’ Xue Wujin and ‘Sun Erosion Hand’ Quan Sikong are mere trifles. Figures such as them are in abundance within the sect, these fools will never become the foundation of the sect. Nevertheless, at this moment, Zong Shenhua sensed an immense, overwhelming malice.