The remark caused the entire hall to erupt.
"Those damnable demonic priests, they truly know how to scheme!"
"Hmph! Fortunately, we arrived early, and with Daoist Tiger Roar's timely return as a warning, otherwise, we might have truly fallen into their trap."
"It's all good, all good. This time, we faced danger and emerged unscathed."
"Just a few more days, once our forces are gathered, we will raze the Black Demon Cult to the ground."
"..."
A chorus of discussions filled the air.
Meanwhile, Daoist Priest Qian continued his interrogation:
"Speak, what is your next plan, and what arrangements are currently in place within Black Demon Gorge?"
Upon hearing this, the assembly fell silent once more.
All ears perked up.
The information to follow was of paramount importance.
The Black Demon Left Envoy maintained his wooden demeanor and continued to speak:
"Our cult has mobilized completely, with disciples from all regions almost entirely recalled, and reinforced by powerful figures from the Netherworld Cult and the Amaterasu Alliance.
We have now set up three grand formations within the Black Demon Gorge.
The first is the Black Demon Talisman Array.
The second is the Corpse Ghoul Grand Array.
The third is the Bewitching Soul Array."
Upon hearing the names of these three arrays, everyone's eyes narrowed.
From the names alone, it was evident that these formations were malevolent.
Daoist Priest Qingshan, in particular, pressed for details:
"How are these arrays to be broken?"
"Yes, yes, how to break them!"
"..."
The other elders also chimed in with their questions.
However, the Black Demon Left Envoy simply stated in his wooden tone:
"The Black Demon Talisman Array contains the five elements of gold, wood, water, and earth.
It requires the destruction of the five elemental talismans to break the formation.
As for the other two arrays, I do not know."
Everyone's expressions soured again. This Black Demon Left Envoy actually didn't know how to break the other two arrays.
Alliance Leader True Person Cang Song, after a moment of contemplation, continued:
"Apart from the formation arrangements, after the formations, how many demonic and wicked forces are there?"
As Daoist Priest Qian finished relaying the question, the Black Demon Left Envoy was about to answer.
But at that very moment, the Black Demon Left Envoy's ghost suddenly began to tremble.
Then, a series of pained, tearing growls emanated from his throat.
"Ah! Ah..."
"Daoist Priest Qian, what is happening?"
"Elder Qian, what's wrong with him?"
"..."
Everyone's attention turned towards the envoy.
Elder Qian clasped his hands together and cast another incantation.
Then, with a grave expression, he stated:
"Someone is summoning his soul, and they are currently battling me!"
Having said that, Daoist Priest Qian formed hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground:
"As the law dictates,敕!"
With his palm striking the earth, golden runes rapidly spread outwards from Daoist Priest Qian's hand.
Witnessing this display, my eyes widened in awe.
Such profound Daoist arts.
Concurrently, the Black Demon Left Envoy trembled even more violently, clearly in extreme distress.
He managed to utter through choked sounds:
"C-Cult Leader, Cult Leader save me..."
As he spoke, dark mist suddenly condensed within the entire room.
It exuded a dangerous aura, akin to thunderclouds.
Seeing this, everyone present rose to their feet.
My martial uncle immediately shielded me behind him:
"Retreat!"
I dared not be careless and quickly backed away, observing the coalescing black mist in the hall.
Alliance Leader Cang Song stepped forward:
"Who goes there?"
All the senior experts, sect leaders, and elders fixed their gaze upon the black mist.
From within the mist, a pair of red eyes emerged.
Those eyes emitted a red glow, incredibly eerie.
Following that, a muffled voice echoed from the black mist:
"Black Demon Cult, the one hundred and forty-second Cult Leader, Huang Quan."
"You are the Black Demon Cult Leader!"
"Hmph, demonic priest, your day of reckoning is near."
"..."
A multitude of senior experts and renowned figures spoke out.
This Black Demon Cult Leader, who called himself Huang Quan, merely snorted:
"If you wish to kill me, simply come to Black Demon Gorge."
Meanwhile, the controlled Black Demon Left Envoy continued to speak with a hoarse voice:
"C-Cult Leader, save me, save me..."
The red eyes in the black mist swept over, landing on the Black Demon Left Envoy:
"Black Demon Left Envoy, you have truly disappointed me. The Holy Son is dead, and you are captured. Do you still have the face to live? Atone to Black Demon!"
"No. Don't, don't, Cult Leader..."
The Black Demon Left Envoy was filled with dread, his body trembling even more severely.
Everyone could tell that this individual was likely about to act against the Black Demon Left Envoy.
Alliance Leader True Person Cang Song, taking the lead, flicked a whisk.
A beam of golden light shot out, directly towards the black mist.
However, the moment it neared the mist, the golden light was instantly consumed.
Everyone was astonished; this strength and cultivation were no trivial matter.
The eyes within the black mist ignored the others.
Instead, they fixated on the Black Demon Left Envoy, their gaze narrowing.
The next second, the Black Demon Left Envoy let out a scream:
"Ah!"
Immediately thereafter, his entire body erupted in crimson flames.
Those flames seemed to originate from the earth's core.
The Black Demon Left Envoy was consumed by the flames, shrieking continuously, his roars echoing.
However, after only a mere two or three seconds, the Black Demon Left Envoy was completely annihilated, his soul scattered, leaving nothing behind.
The elders present, witnessing this, wore grim expressions.
These flames originated from the Black Demon Left Envoy's soul.
It was likely that some sort of seal had been planted within him beforehand.
When the Black Demon Cult Leader arrived, he had directly activated the seal.
Therefore, even though many of the elders present possessed profound cultivation, they had no opportunity to intervene at this moment.
After the Black Demon Left Envoy was reduced to ashes, the eyes within the black mist swept across the hall once more.
Finally, a cold sentence was left behind:
"I, the master of the Demon Palace, await all of you!"
With that, the black mist retracted and then exploded.
It dispersed into a cloud of black smoke and vanished.
Within the hall, all the senior experts and elders wore somber expressions.
Their opponent had acted with blatant audacity, directly utilizing sorcery to track the Black Demon Left Envoy to the hall, killing him, and then brazenly uttering a parting message before departing.
This left the high echelons of the Daoist Alliance with troubled expressions.
"Damn it, that demonic priest is too arrogant."
Said the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, True Person Qishang.
"Judging by his methods, his cultivation is likely extremely high!"
Another unnamed elder spoke.
"No matter how high it is, as long as our Daoist Alliance factions are united, we can eradicate him!"
Replied True Person Cang Song.
The atmosphere within the hall grew considerably more oppressive.
As a junior, I was unable to interject.
My martial uncle simply patted my shoulder:
"Little Qin, you did well this time. Although we didn't obtain all the information, we still learned about the three arrays."
I nodded to my martial uncle.
My martial uncle, like my master, treated me as if I were his son, and I held them in great reverence.
At this moment, True Person Cang Song approached me:
"Nephew Qin, you have rendered a great service this time."
"This junior merely did what was necessary, I dare not take credit."
I quickly cupped my fists and replied respectfully.
The other elders and sect leaders present also echoed his sentiments.
"The Black Demon Cult Leader just stated that the Black Demon Holy Son is already dead. This information is now confirmed, and Qin Ze has rendered a great service to our Daoist Alliance this time."
"Indeed, indeed! Such a junior should be properly rewarded!"
"That's right, this has greatly boosted morale. Without even engaging in battle, we have repelled the Black Demon forces' attack and eliminated the Black Demon Left Envoy and the Black Demon Holy Son."
"..."
The surrounding elders nodded in agreement, praising me.
True Person Cang Song, as the Alliance Leader of the Daoist Alliance, continued to address me:
"Nephew Qin, you have rendered a great service to the Daoist Alliance this time.
As Alliance Leader, I shall bestow this upon you.
I hope you will continue to strive, to slay demons and vanquish evil, and contribute further to the righteous path of this world..."
With that said, True Person Cang Song produced a small box from his person and opened it.
Inside lay a red pill.
As soon as it was opened, the fragrance of the medicine wafted out.
Upon seeing this, the expressions of all the senior experts and renowned figures in the hall changed drastically.
They all stood up with a "swish," their eyes wide with disbelief as they gazed at the red pill in True Person Cang Song's hand...