Chen Yan, Zhou Jinyun, and the others hadn't even made a move yet.
But the Moxu Mountain, teeming with tens of thousands of cultivators, had already erupted into an uproar first.
Because a major incident had occurred.
Elder Du, the cave dwelling master of Cloud Ridge Cave, hailed as the foremost of Moxu Mountain's Three Titans, had been discovered dead under mysterious circumstances in his own cave dwelling.
What was even more unsettling was that Elder Du bore no injuries, and there were no signs of any battle within Cloud Ridge Cave.
Everything was perfectly calm.
As if Elder Du had simply passed away peacefully in his cave dwelling.
But how was that possible?
A cultivator at the late stage of Spirit Connection, with a vast Martial Spring and formidable spiritual sense.
Both the Han Crow Sect and the Jiugong Sect sent their own elders to Cloud Ridge Cave to assess the situation.
Elder Du was, indeed, dead.
Immediately afterward, Ma Huwei of the Han Crow Sect and Han Qianshan of the Jiugong Sect personally visited Cloud Ridge Cave and held a brief discussion there.
They both knew exactly how powerful Elder Du was.
Though he called himself a rogue cultivator, he could hang the two of them on a tree like helpless little chicks, leaving them no chance to resist.
There was absolutely no way he didn't have some kind of background.
And after Elder Du's death, Ma Huwei and Han Qianshan quickly realized that Moxu Mountain might be about to undergo a massive shift.
If they weren't careful, they could be the next ones to fall.
From now on, no matter what they did, they had to keep as low a profile as possible.
...
East of Moxu Mountain.
A magnificent stone gate, towering over three zhang in height, stood at the foot of the mountain.
The stone gate was carved with countless crows in various poses-some soaring, some standing-each one lifelike and vivid.
On the plaque at the center of the stone gate were three large characters engraved.
Han Crow Sect.
A figure in a blue-black daoist robe swiftly sprinted up the stone steps along the mountain path.
He was an Energy Channeling realm disciple of the Han Crow Sect, serving as the sect's Supervision Hall steward.
This Energy Channeling realm cultivator was panting heavily, clutching an envelope in his hand.
"Steward Zhang?"
On the street in front of the sect gate, a carefree young disciple squinted to get a better look, recognized the Supervision Hall steward rushing toward him, and was momentarily stunned.
Then he straightened up and respectfully bowed.
"Disciple greets Steward Zhang..."
"Get the hell out of my way!"
Steward Zhang drove his elbow into the clueless young disciple, knocking him over, and continued sprinting deeper into the sect.
Passing through the Han Crow Sect's main thoroughfare, his destination was the main hall.
"Sect Leader! I need to see the Sect Leader!"
Clutching the envelope tightly, he rushed up the steps toward the great hall, only to be stopped by two other Han Crow Sect disciples, also at the Energy Channeling realm.
"The Sect Leader has summoned all the elders for a meeting inside. No unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter!"
One of the disciples said.
"Don't get in my way, damn it!"
Steward Zhang struck out with a palm, landing a blow on the chest of one of the disciples.
The two Han Crow Sect disciples probably hadn't expected Steward Zhang to actually attack.
The struck disciple fell to the ground, while the other stood there, momentarily stunned.
Seizing the opportunity, Steward Zhang quickly took two steps, crossed the hall's threshold, and pushed open the doors with both hands.
First came a creaking sound, and then the entire world fell silent.
Countless eyes all fell upon Steward Zhang.
An immense pressure instantly enveloped him.
The circulation of true qi within his meridians began to stagnate, and even his breathing became difficult.
The oppressive auras of Martial Spring realm cultivators, Qi Sea realm cultivators, and even Spirit Connection realm cultivators all pressed down on Steward Zhang at once.
His knees buckled, and as if forced down, he knelt on the ground.
The Sect Leader and the elders were in the middle of discussing important matters, and a mere Energy Channeling realm steward had barged in. Receiving only this minor punishment of being enveloped in true qi pressure was already quite lenient.
But Steward Zhang's expression showed no panic from being punished by the sect's great powers.
Instead, it was filled with unwavering determination.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader..."
Sweat trickled down Steward Zhang's forehead as he extended the envelope he had been clutching tightly toward the man seated at the head of the hall-the Sect Leader of the Han Crow Sect, Ma Huwei, whose hair was graying but whose face still looked youthful.
"It's... from the Mirage Palace..."
The oppressive pressure in the hall instantly vanished, and Steward Zhang collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.
Ma Huwei remained silent for two breaths, then swept his gaze toward an elder standing in the hall.
That elder immediately understood, walked quickly to Steward Zhang, and pulled the envelope from his hand.
Then, the elder turned and strode toward Ma Huwei, presenting the envelope with both hands.
Ma Huwei lowered his gaze slightly, examining the seal on the envelope.
It was indeed the mark of the Mirage Palace.
There wasn't a single reputable cultivation sect in the Western Region of Chenping Continent that wouldn't recognize the Mirage Palace's insignia.
Ma Huwei glanced briefly at Steward Zhang, who was still kneeling on the ground, hands supporting him.
"Take him down to rest."
He said slowly.
"Yes!"
A senior Qi Sea realm elder stepped forward and helped Steward Zhang to his feet.
"Th-thank you, Sect Leader... thank you, Elder..."
Steward Zhang's voice was weak, not only because of the true qi pressure he had just endured from the Martial Spring and Qi Sea realm cultivators.
But also because he had exhausted a massive amount of true qi sprinting from the mountain gate to the main hall, leaving him completely drained.
Supported by the senior Qi Sea realm elder, Steward Zhang stumbled out of the hall, trembling.
There were plenty of people who could have helped Steward Zhang here.
But only that Qi Sea realm elder was permitted to do so.
Because that Qi Sea realm elder was the person Ma Huwei trusted the most within the Han Crow Sect.
Ma Huwei opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
"That Energy Channeling realm disciple from just now-does anyone know him?"
As he unfolded the letter, Ma Huwei spoke.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, that disciple is a steward from my Supervision Hall."
A Martial Spring realm elder stepped forward in the hall.
"A steward from the Supervision Hall?"
Ma Huwei didn't even look up, continuing to read the letter in his hands, and said slowly.
"As of today, he is promoted to Supervisor of the Supervision Hall."
Upon hearing this, the Supervision Hall elder was silent for a moment, then respectfully bowed toward Ma Huwei.
"Yes."
Ma Huwei said nothing further, continuing to read the letter. Then, his brow twitched slightly, and he looked up.
"The special envoy from the Mirage Palace will arrive at Wushi Town in two days. At that time, all sect leaders, as well as all cultivators above the Qi Sea realm-including rogue cultivators-throughout the entire Moxu Mountain area must go to Wushi Town to pay respects to the envoy."