Just then, an old man approached from a distance. Zhang Youcai saw him and said to Qin Feng, "That is our Sect Master."
Qin Feng nodded. He could sense that the old man's strength was at the early stage of Void Refinement. Such a realm could be considered a master in this world. However, for him, such a realm was something he could defeat with a single finger. He was currently at the late stage of Void Refinement, two levels higher than the early stage. Furthermore, upon reaching the Void Refinement realm, every step of advancement was like ascending to heaven, with each level forming a difference as vast as the sky and earth.
This was not comparable to the cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage or Golden Core stage.
Although this sect was a small one, its Sect Master's strength was still quite respectable.
Before long, the old man arrived before Qin Feng. He could feel that Qin Feng possessed unfathomable strength, and at the same time, he felt the powerful pressure from the Red Alert Legion. Although no single individual posed a threat to him, the formidable physical strength possessed by each Red Alert soldier invisibly exerted a certain pressure on him.
He knew that these people were no match for him in a one-on-one fight, but united, they could easily crush him. From these Red Alert soldiers, he felt a terrifying aura of coercion, a feeling that ordinary cultivators could not impart. Thinking about Qin Feng's identity, the elder immediately bowed to Qin Feng and said, "I have long heard of your great name. My teleportation array opened late because of many concerns. I beg your understanding and forgiveness for our transgressions, and to spare our sect."
Hearing this, Qin Feng frowned. He said, "Although your teleportation array opened late, I had no intention of considering you as an enemy. Why do you speak like this? I conveyed the message clearly: as long as you open the teleportation array, I will pay the required spirit stones. This is a fair transaction, and I will never default on my debt."
With that, Qin Feng took out 500,000 spirit stones from his storage ring, placed them on the ground, and handed them to the Sect Master of this sect, thus settling their accounts.
These spirit stones were of no consequence to Qin Feng. He possessed a gold card for spirit stones obtained at an auction, allowing him to have as many spirit stones as he desired, without any concern. He would not stoop to breaking his word over these spirit stones and creating a heart demon on his path to immortality.
However, upon hearing Qin Feng's words, the old Sect Master dared not accept them. He said with some trepidation, "Let's forget about these spirit stones. As long as you agree to one condition, I will not take a single one of these spirit stones. What do you say?"
Qin Feng's brow furrowed slightly. "What condition? Tell me."
The old Sect Master thought for a moment and then said, "Your reputation is known throughout this world. When you encounter His Excellency the Immortal Venerable or the Sect Masters of other major sects, do not mention that you know me, nor that I opened the teleportation array to bring you back. If you agree to this condition, I will not take a single spirit stone. In fact, my sect still has a hundred thousand spirit stones, which I am willing to offer to you entirely. What do you say?"
Hearing this, Qin Feng was confused. He asked, "Why would you propose such a condition? What would happen even if the truth were revealed? Has my reputation in this world turned so bad? Or has the Immortal Venerable issued some kind of order that anyone associated with me will be executed?"
Qin Feng's barrage of questions prompted the old Sect Master to reply truthfully, "His Excellency the Immortal Venerable has indeed issued an order. He predicted that your appearance in this world would cause destructive damage to it. Therefore, anyone associated with you will be severely punished. Even those who know you might be punished. They say that because of you, a powerful vengeful spirit has appeared in this world, committing atrocities and slaughtering people indiscriminately. Anyone who sees you and fails to report it truthfully will face utter destruction. Now, I opened the teleportation array and teleported you back from the Extreme Desert. If His Excellency the Immortal Venerable finds out, our sect will cease to exist. So, if you can agree to my request, it will be equivalent to saving the lives of over a thousand people in our sect. How could I dare not implore you?"
Upon hearing the old Sect Master's words, Qin Feng asked doubtfully, "Did you witness the vengeful spirit harming people with your own eyes?"
The old Sect Master shook his head. "I did not. However, not long ago, His Excellency the Immortal Venerable and the Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect simultaneously issued notices to all sects, instructing them to dispatch experts to a designated location to eliminate that vengeful spirit. I believe she must have killed many people, otherwise, His Excellency the Immortal Venerable would not have issued such an order. Moreover, the vengeful spirit's strength must already be terrifying, otherwise, it would not be necessary to gather experts from all sects to go together. And all of this, it is said, is because of you. You have become a universally acknowledged great demon in this world. Our sect is weak and isolated, and we dare not offend the major sects. Therefore, I implore you to keep this secret and not reveal our sect's connection to you. That would be the greatest favor to us."
Qin Feng certainly had no habit of causing trouble for others, but he also had no habit of taking advantage of others. Since it had been agreed beforehand that he would earn spirit stones by transporting them back, he naturally had to fulfill his promise. Therefore, he directly told the old Sect Master, "You can keep the spirit stones, and I will not mention my dealings with you to anyone. As long as you keep your mouths shut, no one will know. I have matters to attend to now, so I will not linger here. Farewell!"
With that, Qin Feng walked directly towards the outside of the mountain gate, his Red Alert Legion following closely behind.
As Qin Feng walked, he contacted 204 in the depths of his mind. He asked, "What is the current situation? Are you safe? Has Ye Shen's body been damaged?"
Time ticked by, but Qin Feng received no reply. He then urgently messaged 204 again, asking, "What's wrong? Did something happen? Are you still there?"
This time, it was still like casting a stone into the sea; 204 gave no response.
Qin Feng understood that 204 must have encountered trouble. Otherwise, 204 would not fail to reply to his private messages within his mind. Given 204's personality, upon hearing his private message, he would surely respond promptly with accurate information. From their last conversation, it appeared that 204 was likely in a fierce battle, and his survival was still uncertain.
Thinking of this, Qin Feng closed his eyes and carefully sensed his surroundings. His senses instantly stretched for tens of thousands of miles.
The spiritual energy in the air, especially the wind attribute spiritual energy, was constantly transmitting various messages.
Judging by the concentration and chaotic state of the spiritual energy, a great battle was taking place in a certain location.
Qin Feng opened his eyes, directly summoned his peerless sword, and then used the Sword Control technique to rapidly depart.