Chapter 4 - Preparations

Profound Heaven Sect, Sect Meeting Hall

Inside a hall, thirteen people whose ages ranged from middle-aged to old sat on cushions at the two sides of a rectangular floor table. They were all the Elders of the Divine Transformation Realm of the Profound Heaven Sect.

At the master seat was seated Yu Weiyuan, Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect.

They were currently discussing and debating sect affairs, pondering on the future direction of the developpement of the Sect, exchanging words and ideas effervescently.

"My breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm raised the morale of the disciples and preserved their state of mind from being affected by Master's untimely death." Yu Weiyuan began. "It is now time to stabilize the Sect and strengthen our foundations."

"Without Master to hold the fort, the Old Monster from the Untouched Dao School won't hold himself back from nibbling at our territories."

"Hence, we need to prepare our disciples and gather strength for the eventual skirmishes at the borders."

The Elders were impressed by the calmness with which their new Sect Master analyzed the events and managed the sect affairs.

Only the Grand Elder saw behind the appearances, being the only one to notice the deep Killing Intent which flashed in the eyes of Yu Weiyuan.

'Stabilization?' He thought with a sigh. 'Little Wei desires none of that. While the other Elders are feeling pleased by the vision of their Sect Master, this same Sect Master is preparing his vengeance in secret, hiding a knife behind a smile...'

'Being the only one in the know, I almost feel a little pity for myself...' sighed the Grand Elder.

"What about the Myriad Demon Temple?"

After the question, only silence remained. The Myriad Demon Temple was left weakened after the loss of five Divine Transformation Realm cultivators, but the other Elders knew better. Even if their overall strength was way higher than the Myriad Demon Temple and their six remaining Divine Transformation Elders, if they went to war with them, they would be left weakened, at the mercy of the other surrounding Sects.

Hence, they all looked at the one who asked the question. It was a middle-aged man. His figure was thin: he nearly swimmed in the usual Elder robes, black robes embroidered with golden threads. Yet, even though his skin was pale and his body was skinny, he didn't have a sickly appearance. He even seemed a little headstrong and unrestrained, following his will like riding the east winds.

He was Song Hui, the Head Elder of the Formation Hall, an expert in arrays and a sworn brother to the late Sect Master Lu Yingjie.

As he heard Song Hui, Yu Weiyuan showed a downcast look, as if he remembered something sorrowful.

"I, more than anyone else, desire to avenge Master." He said, fists clenched. "But I can not put the Sect he led half his life to risk for my selfishness. It would be dishonoring his memory and disreguard his sacrifice."

Song Hui shook his head with a scowl, yet still chose to remain silent.

A sorrowful sigh escaped Yu Weiyuan's mouth as he declared the meeting concluded and dismissed the Elders.

"Grand Elder, Elder Song, please stay."

The Grand Elder nodded while the skinny Elder Song grumbled in displeasure.

Meanwhile, one stern-looking middle-aged man with an emotionless gaze had stayed behind with them, taking care of staying discreet, hidden within the shadows of a corner of the room.

'The Shadow Merging Art of the Myriad Demon Temple is truly a marvel...' Yang Shirong thought as he fused with the present darkness. 'Blending with the darkness to the point of becoming a shadow, a shadow with no body, no breath, no aura. What an astonishing concealment technique...'

He listened as Yu Weiyuan began to talk with the Grand Elder and Elder Song, his face still full of sorrowful remembrance.

"Grand Elder, Elder Song, I plan to return to my hometown for a visit." Yu Weiyuan said, his voice slightly shaking in emotion. "I want to resolve my heart knots by returning to where Master made me his disciple."

Elder Song slightly displeased expression softened as he looked at the downhearted expression of his sworn brother's disciple. He was angry because the Sect couldn't avenge his best friend, but he understood the big picture, hence why he didn't make a fuss. The last trace of displeasure he had disappeared as he looked at the sadness Yu Weiyuan expressed.

After all, even if he was angry, he had seen Yu Weiyuan grew up and thought of him as his nephew, since his sworn brother thought of him as a son. He would never have stayed angry for long.

"I understand, Sect Master," he said "But we can't let you go alone-"

"I will accompany him." Declared the Grand Elder. "No need to worry, I will protect the Dao for the Sect Master."

Song Hui nodded in agreement. "With Grand Elder to guard the Sect Master, there is indeed no need to fret."

Meanwhile, within the shadows, Yang Shirong's eyes widened.

'This is the perfect opportunity.' He thought. 'I need to transmit the news to the Temple and tell them to prepare. After this, Yu Weiyuan will probably stay in the sect to manage its affairs.

'Given his talent, he will have reached a higher realm by the next time he exit the sect, decreasing our chances to kill him before he becomes the mountain which presses on the Myriad Demon Temple's heads.'

He travelled from shadows to shadows and exited the Sect Meeting Hall, moving in hurry to prepare for another assassination.

After Yang Shirong left, the sorrow on Yu Weiyuan's face seemingly faded away completely, as if it had never existed in the first place.

"Has he left?" He asked emotionlessly.

"He did." Answered the Grand Elder. Yang Shirong, despite using one of the best concealment arts of the Yellow Dragon Continent, couldn't escape his gaze after all.

Song Hui was left stunned by the complete change of mood as he looked at Yu Weiyuan and the Grand Elder. "What are you both talking about?"

"You will know shortly." Yu Weiyuan glanced at Song Hui before turning his gaze to the Grand Elder. "Did you manage to verify his betrayal during my seclusion, Grand Elder?"

The Grand Elder nodded. "Yang Shirong betrayed the Sect at the time he couldn't break through the bottleneck of Divine Transformation Realm while he stayed stuck in the Peak Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm."

"He exchanged his betrayal against the Emotion Severing Sutra of the Myriad Demon Temple in order to break through."

"WHAT?!" Song Hui exclaimed. "Brother Yang betrayed us?"

"He did." Yu Weiyuan spat out, deep red-black Murderous Qi emanating from his body. "And I will make him pay for it."

"Elder Song." He continued. "You are the Head Elder of the Formation Hall. You will go ahead of us and prepare our battlefield. We will take the Myriad Demon Temple at their own game and trap them with an array."

Song Hui couldn't keep up with the flow of events. Things advanced a little too fast for him.

"I thought we were supposed to stablilize the Sect, avoiding any form of weakening in order to stay strong against the other Sects..." He almost muttered as he was too surprised to talk confidently.

An eery laugh suddenly escaped Yu Weiyuan's mouth.

"HAHAHA!!! Stablilize? Me?" He sneered. "I won't be able to rest at night knowing my Master isn't avenged!!!"

Yu Weiyuan's Killing Intent nearly overflowed, cloaking his entire person in a mantle of red-black baleful and sinister Murderous Qi, making him look like an Avatar of Death.

"The sadness I showed was just a ploy to relax the vigilance of our dear traitor!" The golden shine of his eyes slowly took a red hue as his Killing Intent focused in his gaze. "I made him aware of my threat level by leaking the news of my talent, lured him to listen to our conversation in order to lead him where I want him to be, all in order create the perfect battlefield to satisfy my hunger for the blood of the Myriad Demon Temple!!!"

"I WILL MAKE THEM PAY!!!"

Yu Weiyuan unconsciously filled his shout with his Soul Power, shaking the hall and spreading his Killing Intent.

The Grand Elder hurriedly waved his hand, controlling the power of Heaven and Earth to seal the room, restraining Yu Weiyuan's Killing Intent from leaking out.

Song Hui looked dazedly at Yu Weiyuan. He too had learned of his talent and looked forward to his growth, but he had never imagined that the little kid he saw grew up from his childhood could hide such cunningness.

Song Hui even thought he was the most saddened by the death of his only true friend, but now, he knew better as he looked at the monstruously ominous Killing Intent of his nephew.

He had never seen Killing Intent so deep and violent except perhaps from the old monsters of the All Killing Valley.

"S-Sect Master, what kind of array do you want me to prepare?"

"You will do this..." Yu Weiyuan began, his Killing Intent dissipating as he concentrated on making plans.

'Myriad Demon Temple...' He thought as he restrained his Murderous Qi. 'I will make you regret your actions. Believe me, Your trip down the Netherworld will be anything but pleasant...'