Chapter 8

The following days, in the Bai clan’s manor, were extremely busy, to say the least. Clan members could be seen bustling around in preparations, no one knew for whom the preparations were, yet none dared question it as the order came from the patriarch himself. It left many wondering who exactly is this person, that made even the patriarch himself order his welcoming ceremony! Yet under the busy surface, no one seemed to notice the disappearances occurring around the clan.

Tens of people quietly disappeared all around the Bai clan's manor. Perhaps it was because of the busy preparations, or perhaps the disappearance of a few disciples was not that strange in a clan as big as the Bai clan, whatever the reason was it only served to help the fourth and fifth elders on their mission.

Back at the patriarch's small wooden house, the two elders quietly appeared seemingly from thin air. They stood respectfully with their heads laid low as they waited in silence. Soon the voice of the patriarch came from inside calling them in.

"Come in."

Not daring to waste any time they hurried inside, once again finding the patriarch seated in the same place as before.

"My patriarch, It has been done." said the fourth elder.

"Hmmm, and the third elder?"

"We are waiting for him to make a move; it will be better to catch him out of the manor." replied the fifth elder.

"We have already set in the array, so he will not be able to use a talisman to inform the Void Sect." Added the fourth elder.

"Good, good. I suppose you already called Lu Tao to come back from there?"

"Yes my patriarch, by the time the Void sect gets wind of the third elder's death Lu Tao should already arrive." nodded the fifth patriarch.

"Good, then I shall leave this matter to you. Take care of him, he should be getting relentless by now and would be preparing to head out." Said the patriarch, dismissing the elders with a wave of his hand.

Giving out a short salute, the two elders once again merged with the darkness as they quietly disappeared into thin air, leaving the patriarch to his thoughts, a long tired sigh escaped his lips as he lightly muttered.

"The Immortal mentor...I wonder, is this a blessing? Or is it a curse?"

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Just outside of the Bai clan's manor, a short old man with short white hair and long face could be seen flying away in a beam of light. The old man's face was drained of blood as he ran away from the mountain in a hurry, his expression that of shock and disbelief. He was the third elder of the Bai clan, a position that brought him both respect and awe in many years. Yet what no one knew, was that he was a spy for the Void clan, one of the three holy lands of the earth realm. Or so he thought that no one knew, no one should know! His cover was perfect, he had joined the Bai clan since he was an outer disciple, slowly making his way to the top with the help of the resources provided from the Void clan pushing to his current elder's position! He had made countless contributions, fought in dozens of wars ad even saved a couple of elders! By all means, his cover should be perfect, not many even knew about his situation in the Void clan! So why?! Why was he being chased by the fourth and fifth elders?!

He bitterly screamed in his mind, as he pushed himself to flee even faster, leaving behind a streak of light in the sky as he passed.

"Old three! There is no way to run, just quietly accept your fate!" Shouted the fourth elder, his voice cold.

"Why are you doing this?! I'm an elder of the clan! The patriarch will not forgive you!" Screamed the third elder, as he narrowly dodged a spell from the fifth elder, who just snickered in response. A faith greenish glow started to surround the third elder, as his speed suddenly doubled. Yet before he could rejoice a deep chilling voice came from his side.

"Where do you think you are going?" A hand that seemed to tear the void open, extended as it held the third elder by the neck, leaving him helpless to struggle as he gasped for air, his mind filled with one thought. ‘Who?!’

Crush

The sound of bone being crushed echoed, as the hand released the limp body of the elder sending it plummeting to the ground.

The fourth and fifth elders however hastily stopped in their tracks, their faces blanched as the aura coming from the hand was making them shudder, leaving them helpless to move or breathe. Cold sweat ran down their heads as the hand slowly pulled the void open, allowing the full figure of an old man with a long grey beard and hair to come out.

The twins were unable to keep flying under the pressure as they fell to the ground, shuddering in fear. They had never felt anything like this before, it was to be known that they were both in the late-stage ascended realm! A powerhouse all across the earthly realm! Yet here they were, unable to move a single muscle under the gaze of the old man. What made them shudder even more was his eyes, his pupil and Iris were both white!

Thousands of thoughts ran across their minds, this power, this aura, this was not something an earthly cultivator could possess.

The old man exuded an aura that transcended the earthly realm, an aura that felt divine...reaching this train of the thoughts the twins lost all will to struggle, as the man was able to crush them with his gaze alone. For this man was no simple cultivator, no, this man was a celestial!

"Now, that the nuisance has been taken care of. Should I go prepare for the welcoming party?" spoke the old man, his voice low but filled with immense power, causing the twins to shudder as they tried to make themselves look smaller in hopes that he wouldn't notice them.