Chapter 438 - 64: Immortal Castle
News that the seven women of the Jade Flower Alliance had been captured quickly reached Heaven Shepherd City.
The City Lord’s Mansion. The Grand Council Hall.
A beautiful woman of about thirty sat majestically at the head of the hall, her expression as cold as ice, her face tinged with rage.
Four Life Soul Realm Elders were seated on either side of her.
Among the four, the first on the left was a tall, powerfully built man in heavy armor. He was the City Lord’s disciple and possessed a Mid-stage Life Soul Cultivation, his strength unfathomable.
The second on the left was an elderly woman in fine robes. She was unassuming, yet she was the most powerful Insect Cultivator in all of Mu Tianyuan. Her Insect Control Technique made many cultivators of the same realm deeply wary.
This woman was the third Honored Guest Elder of Heaven Shepherd City.
The two on the right were from the Eight Great Families. They served as the city’s Rotating Elders, responsible for helping the City Lord’s Mansion maintain order in Heaven Shepherd City and defend against Beast Tides.
These five were arguably the most powerful people in Heaven Shepherd City, and few matters were ever grave enough to bring them all together.
A solemn atmosphere now permeated the hall.
The beautiful woman at the head of the hall spoke in a low voice, "I have summoned you all today regarding the mysterious cultivator who has suddenly appeared. Gu Feng, you will explain the situation."
This woman was none other than Shang Shang. Publicly, she was the partner of Heaven Shepherd City’s City Lord, managing all the city’s affairs on his behalf.
In secret, she was also the second most powerful figure in the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect, wielding immense authority.
"Yes, Mistress."
The man first on the left replied respectfully.
This was Shen Gu Feng, the second disciple of the Master of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect. He had cultivated for over two hundred years, and ever since he had been stationed in Heaven Shepherd City, he had never known defeat, whether in duels against other cultivators or in hunts for High-tier Demon Beasts.
He glanced at the elders in the hall before speaking. "Today, Elders Qiu and Pan accompanied Junior Sister Youyi to Chuqiu Mountain to collect the Jiazi Jade Dew when a mysterious old demon from the Life Soul Realm suddenly attacked. He killed Elders Qiu and Pan first, then abducted all seven of them, including Junior Sister Youyi."
"According to eyewitnesses at the scene, Elders Qiu and Pan joined forces against him but were slain in just a few moves."
Each of the seven women of the Jade Flower Alliance came from a noble and extraordinary background. Their abduction had now captured the attention and concern of many.
This was especially true for Shang Youyi, who was deeply favored by Shang Shang. If not for her, Shang Shang would never have summoned all the city’s Life Soul Realm Elders for a single meeting.
The man seated first on the right was middle-aged with a square jaw and a commanding presence. His expression was grim as he spoke, "Where did someone like this come from? How have we never heard of him?"
He was from the Qi Family of Mu Tianyuan and ranked third in the Clan Elders Council. One of the abducted members of the Jade Flower Alliance was his own granddaughter.
This granddaughter of his had the greatest talent for cultivation the Qi Family had seen in fifty years. The family was grooming her as a future Life Soul cultivator, and he had personally been guiding her training.
Who could have expected that a supposedly foolproof outing would end in an encounter with a vicious fiend of the Demon Dao.
Shen Gu Feng said, "He is likely a Demon Cultivator who had a fortuitous encounter in some remote place. After achieving a breakthrough through harsh training, he has come out of seclusion to wreak havoc and indulge himself."
Qi Huaisan mused, "We cannot allow this person to continue his rampage. I wonder, what are your plans, Master Shang?"
A murderous glint flashed in Shang Shang’s eyes. "Qi Dao You," she asked, "your precious granddaughter is among those abducted. Do you want to save her or not?"
Qi Huaisan said resolutely, "Of course we must save them. However, that man’s Cultivation and Divine Techniques are unfathomable. We need to consider this matter carefully..."
Shang Shang raised a hand, cutting him off. She then turned to the person beside Qi Huaisan and asked, "Lan Dao You, the daughter-in-law of your Lan Family’s Ancestor is also among the captives. Do you intend to save her?"
The cultivator from the Lan Family gave a bitter smile. "Our Ancestor’s in-law is an Inner Sect Elder of the Holy Spirit Sect, and his own master is a Dharma Master. If the Lan Family fails to save her, we will surely offend the Holy Spirit Sect."
Shang Shang nodded. "In that case," she said bluntly, "the four of you will join forces. Take this Snow Soul Bead and find him. First, test his strength. If the opportunity arises, you must rescue Youyi and the others."
"And remember, any delay could lead to disaster!"
With that, Shang Shang produced a lustrous bead that radiated a bone-chilling light. It was none other than the Snow Soul Bead, a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact and a famed treasure of the City Lord’s Mansion, renowned throughout Mu Tianyuan!
Shen Gu Feng accepted the Snow Soul Bead and said solemnly, "Rest assured, Mistress. I will bring our junior sister back safely."
Although Qi Huaisan had his reservations, he knew Shang Shang was right—they couldn’t afford to delay. Besides, Shen Gu Feng’s strength was immense, and the Insect Cultivator was unfathomably powerful as well. Perhaps they truly stood a chance against that fiend.
He and the cultivator from the Lan Family exchanged a look, then nodded in silent agreement with Shang Shang’s plan.
Moments later, the four of them departed the City Lord’s Mansion, left Heaven Shepherd City, and flew straight for Chuqiu Mountain.
Above the grasslands, the sky was a vast, clear azure, stretching on for miles, making the heavens feel all the more empty and endless.
Now and then, a few giant birds would cross the blue expanse in a V-formation, their calls echoing as they passed.
In the distance, a sea of clouds drifted across the blue sky, coiling and uncoiling into the shapes of mountains, strange rocks, and fantastic beasts. Bathed in sunlight, the clouds were whiter than snow.
Following the Spiritual Guides placed on the female cultivators of the Jade Flower Alliance, the four flew into the sea of clouds. Before long, they spotted a magnificent Jade Tower standing atop the clouds. Bathed in sunlight, the tower radiated an auspicious glow, a truly beautiful and wondrous sight.
The four grew wary, halting at a distance to gaze intently at the tower.
From the top floor of the Jade Tower, where the windows were thrown open, the clear sound of music drifted out.
A dashing man sat with a woman in each arm, sipping wine as he watched several beautiful women dance with a smile on his face.
Shen Gu Feng’s eyes immediately fell upon his junior sister, Shang Youyi!
She was slumped limply in the fiend’s embrace, her hair in disarray and her face flushed crimson. Her disheveled clothes only served to highlight her delicate beauty, making for an especially pitiable sight.