The Uninvited Hellfire Sect
This painting was no ordinary work.
Upon its appearance, the surrounding area resounded with dragon roars and phoenix cries.
A majestic aura emanated from within the painting.
As if the depicted dragon and phoenix were real.
It was even rumored that gazing upon this painting could trigger an epiphany!
Those of reputable standing felt a shiver run down their spines after seeing the painting Zhen Dangteng meant to gift.
For they knew the immense significance this painting held for the Book Mountain Academy.
It was a treasure meant to guard the academy!
Those who had heard Zhen Dangteng mention a "small gift" earlier were now at a loss for words.
A small gift, you say?
You're giving away a treasured academy relic!
Long Aotian's brows furrowed tightly.
This painting was even more precious than the ultimate spiritual vein he had offered.
Murong gazed at the painting, very much enamored by it.
But he felt too awkward to accept such a magnificent gift.
Then he remembered that like Long Aotian, Zhen Dangteng likely intended this not for him, but for the predecessor.
Drawing a deep breath, he said, "Very well, I shall accept this on that one's behalf. Many thanks, Elder Zhen."
Upon hearing Murong mention "that one", Zhen Dangteng's eyes lit up before laughing heartily, "Brother Murong is too polite."
However, his laughter was soon interrupted by a cough from behind.
"Since you both have offered such precious gifts, I cannot fall behind. But as a merchant, with the Treasure Gathering Hall spanning the mainland, I shall not give a rare treasure, but instead a Purple Gold Card."
With that, he produced a card tinged with purple and flecked with golden starlight, handing it to Murong.
"This card's effects are neither great nor small. From now on, the bearer of this card can purchase anything available at our Treasure Gathering Hall at a 90% discount!"
As those words left his lips, the previously noisy surroundings suddenly fell silent.
As if this were an unpopulated mountain valley.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everything at a 90% discount?!
Good heavens!
Even super treasures would be discounted so steeply!
It was akin to taking things for free at the Treasure Gathering Hall!
Long Aotian and Zhen Dangteng stared blankly upon hearing this.
Their gifts were undoubtedly precious.
But compared to Bai Gufeng's card, they paled by three times.
Their offerings served a single purpose, however grand.
Yet this Purple Gold Card held unlimited potential for use.
Bai Gufeng had practically gifted half the Treasure Gathering Hall to the Mountain's Embrace Sect!
His generosity knew no bounds!
If he claimed ignorance of the predecessor's existence, even a fool wouldn't believe it!
Murong stared at the weighty Purple Gold Card in his hand, feeling its metaphorical gravity.
Dear heavens!
Had these experts gone mad?
Who gifts like this!
Murong felt apprehensive about accepting more gifts.
It was too overwhelming!
"Brother Murong, please accept it. It's merely a small gift," Bai Gufeng said as he tucked the card into Murong's waistband.
The crowd's faces twitched uncontrollably upon hearing those words.
Senior, you call this a small gift?
If this counts as small, then there are no grand gifts left in this world!
Murong could only accept helplessly.
"Well, my three seniors are too kind. Very well, I shall accept them all," he said with a resigned air, though inwardly blooming like a flower.
With that, Murong personally led Long Aotian and the other two inside.
Zhang Shaofeng followed with a smile too.
Along the way, Murong introduced Zhang Shaofeng to the three seniors.
Once inside the formation, Long Aotian and the other two fell silent.
The trio simultaneously released their sensory abilities.
Outside the formation earlier, they could not perceive its interior.
Now inside, they began scanning the entire sect, hoping to detect traces of the predecessor.
Or even Su Ling's presence.
In their minds, those two were likely present here.
Unfortunately, they sensed nothing.
After Murong's group departed, only Murong Yunhai and Zhang Qingxian remained at the entrance.
Both men wore proud smiles, prepared to welcome the next wave of arrivals.
After today's events, they could assert with certainty that their sect would become a paramount power on the mainland.
No force would dare look down upon them now.
When the three paramount powers treated them so, what faction would dare belittle them?
The surrounding spectators took a while to process what had occurred.
Only after Murong's group left did they finally regain their senses.
Gulp.
Everyone felt utterly stunned by that earlier scene.
Those who had previously scoffed now felt as if slapped repeatedly, their cheeks burning painfully.
Not long ago, they had claimed the Mountain's Embrace Sect could not invite any major powers.
Despite the Qian Yu Empire's arrival, they had dismissed its significance.
And now, three paramount mainland powers had graced the occasion!
Moreover, the arrivals were the very heads of those powers!
What a monumental concept!
Even a rising great power's establishment would seldom witness such grandeur.
Most astonishingly, not only did the three come, but they also bestowed lavish gifts.
Each offering held immense value, practically priceless treasures!
"What's the deal with this Mountain's Embrace Sect?"
"This sect kept a low profile in our kingdom, but suddenly became so formidable!"
"Did you notice? This newly built sect has not only Mountain's Embrace members, but also the Moon Coven!"
"Exactly, these two sects must be extraordinary. Perhaps they were once paramount powers long ago, later splitting into two branches. Now they've reunited after rediscovering their ancestral legacy!"
"..."
The crowd speculated endlessly.
Not long after Murong's group departed, another party suddenly appeared in the sky above.
Upon arrival, they immediately noticed the formation below and the black flood dragon in the heavens.
Their eyes narrowed greedily.
Their leader even licked his lips, remarking, "If we could refine this flood dragon into a dragon corpse, heheh, our sect's power would rise further!"
This group belonged to the Hellfire Sect, another paramount mainland power.
However, in terms of legacy or might compared to elite forces like the Treasure Gathering Hall, Book Mountain Academy, and Celestial Emperor's Pavilion, they fell somewhat short.
Unlike the renowned Celestial Emperor's Pavilion, this sect carried an infamous reputation.
They cultivated demonic arts, focusing on refining corpses.
Thus, each member appeared pale and sinister, exuding an eerie, effeminate aura.
After the Mountain's Embrace Sect's sudden rise, the Hellfire Sect had already dispatched inquiries into their situation and the Moon Coven's.
Learning that their emergence related to an excavated mountain cave, the sect promptly decided to attend the opening ceremony.
For that cave had once belonged to an enemy they had battled!
This very formation had been stolen from them by that foe!
And to this day, they still possessed a means to seize control of this formation.
The prerequisite, however, was entering the formation itself to wrest away its command.