"What? Elder Cai Chao's soul tablet shattered?"
Li Xun didn't believe it when he heard the news. He had only sent Cai Chao to monitor a Golden Core stage disciple of the Misty Sect.
How could he encounter misfortune? It was absurd.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken? When did this happen?"
"Replying to the Sect Master, Elder Cai Chao's soul tablet suddenly shattered just moments ago, without any warning."
The disciples and elders guarding the soul tablets lowered their heads, daring not to meet Li Xun's gaze.
"Nonsense. Even if Cai Chao met with misfortune, wouldn't his Nascent Soul have escaped?"
To this day, Li Xun still refused to believe Cai Chao was dead.
Moreover, Cai Chao was a solid Nascent Soul stage powerhouse. Even if he was only in the early Nascent Soul stage, he was undeniably a Nascent Soul stage expert.
To cause Cai Chao's soul to be scattered and his Nascent Soul unable to escape, one would have to be a much stronger cultivator.
Even if he encountered a cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, Cai Chao might have been able to escape, even if he couldn't win.
Could Cai Chao have encountered a Soul Transformation stage expert?
Li Xun couldn't bring himself to believe his guess was correct. Cai Chao had only been following his orders these past few days, keeping an eye on Zhang Ergou.
If Cai Chao met with misfortune, then Zhang Ergou must be involved.
If that were the case, was there a Soul Transformation stage expert standing behind Zhang Ergou?
The thought sent a chill down his spine. Li Xun shook his head.
"Issue an order. Keep this matter confidential for now. Besides the two of you, who else knows about Cai Chao's situation?"
Unable to figure it out, Li Xun decided to investigate the matter himself.
However, to prevent panic, Li Xun decided to conceal the matter for now. Announcing Cai Chao's death before the truth was uncovered would only instill fear in the disciples of the sect.
"Replying to the Sect Master, only these two of us know about this. Others are not aware."
The elder said tremblingly.
"Good. You have done well. This matter ends here. Without my command, do not spread this news.
Otherwise, you two know the consequences."
A hint of ruthlessness flickered across Li Xun's face. The two of them immediately knelt down in fear.
"Your subordinate (disciple) would not dare. We obey the Sect Master's command and will keep this matter buried."
"En, you may leave."
Li Xun waved his hand, dismissing the two. They quickly retreated as if granted a great pardon.
"Damn it, who could it be?"
After they left, Li Xun smashed a jade Ruyi he held in his hand to pieces.
Yet, this did not alleviate the anger in his heart.
"Good. This must be related to that kid Zhang Ergou. It seems I underestimated that kid."
Unbeknownst to Zhang Ergou, due to Cai Chao's sudden death, Li Xun had now set his sights on him.
At this moment, Zhang Ergou was idly chatting with the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen.
Just now, the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen had swallowed Cai Chao whole, leaving him no chance to escape, not even his Nascent Soul.
The scene from just moments ago was still vivid. Although an opponent had died, seeing someone eaten by a tiger still made Zhang Ergou feel a little uncomfortable.
Therefore, even when the Tiger Demon King initiated conversation, he was indifferent.
Zhang Ergou had developed a psychological shadow regarding the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen.
If the Heavenly Dao Elder wasn't present, Zhang Ergou would have feared the Tiger Demon King would eat him too.
Hadn't that fellow looked unsatisfied, as if he hadn't eaten enough, after finishing Cai Chao?
Suddenly, the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen stood still.
Spiritual energy began to swirl around its body.
"Lucky fellow." The Heavenly Dao Elder was slightly surprised.
He hadn't expected the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen to have such an effect after eating Cai Chao.
This was clearly a sign of an impending breakthrough.
The Heavenly Dao Elder and the others were not in a hurry to leave. They quietly sat aside, waiting for the Tiger Demon King's breakthrough.
The Tiger Demon King Hu Wen's breakthrough was slightly simpler than Zhang Ergou had imagined. About two hours later, the Tiger Demon King awoke from his profound state.
"Haha, I didn't expect I'd have such good luck."
Immediately after breaking through, the Tiger Demon King Hu Wen burst into laughter.
"Old man, let's fight again!"
Clearly, the Tiger Demon King was confident in his strength at this moment.
*Wham!*
*Boom!*
Without looking, the Tiger Demon King's bulky body slammed heavily against the stone wall, carving out a deep pit.
This was a blatant display of power.
Zhang Ergou was astonished by the Heavenly Dao Elder's strength, while also offering three seconds of silent sympathy to the Tiger Demon King.
"Little Hu, don't think you're invincible just because you've broken through a small realm."
The Heavenly Dao Elder's calm words, to Zhang Ergou's ears, were filled with an imposing aura.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Demon King, who had just stood up, looked at the Heavenly Dao Elder with sheer terror.
Indeed, in the instant of his breakthrough, he had harbored a fleeting thought of defiance. If he hadn't been tricked by the Heavenly Dao Elder, he wouldn't have been willing to follow him for a hundred years.
After breaking through, he believed he had the ability to resist. Although he spoke of sparring, his heart harbored thoughts of rebellion.
The Heavenly Dao Elder was an ancient monster who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. He saw through the Tiger Demon King's little scheme with absolute clarity.
With one move, he delivered a sufficient deterrent to the Tiger Demon King.
The Tiger Demon King Hu Wen now cautiously got up and followed obediently behind the Heavenly Dao Elder.
There was no trace of the arrogance he had displayed after breaking through. Instead, he was as docile as a kitten.
"How about it, Little Hu? Do you still want to fight?"
As the Heavenly Dao Elder spoke, he raised his hand again.
"No, no, old man. Oh, no, senior, I dare not again."
The Tiger Demon King's massive head shook like a rattle, leaving Zhang Ergou dumbfounded.
This was the disparity in strength. Facing Cai Chao, who was weaker than him, the Tiger Demon King had swallowed him whole. He had even improved his cultivation by doing so.
However, facing the incredibly powerful Heavenly Dao Elder, whose strength far surpassed his own,
The Tiger Demon King's face was filled with fawning and fear. He followed closely behind the Heavenly Dao Elder, looking exactly like a pet raised by him.
...
"Ergou, where were you last night? We went to find you and discovered your room was empty."
The next morning, as Zhang Ergou walked out of his room, he encountered several of his close friends: Lin Yichen, Xiao Qingyu, Lu Xiaoyu, Wang Teng, and Lin Yueru.
They seemed to have been waiting specifically for Zhang Ergou.
"No, I didn't go anywhere. I was cultivating in my room the whole time. Perhaps you saw wrong?"
Zhang Ergou shook his head. What happened last night was a secret between him and the Heavenly Dao Elder, and the fewer people who knew, the better.
After all, it involved too much, and it wouldn't be good for them.
"Ergou, have you heard? Something big seems to have happened at the Flowing Sea Sect. They were in a frenzy all night yesterday."
Wang Teng said mysteriously, his expression suggesting he had inside information.
"What big event?" Zhang Ergou frowned. He had a bad premonition.