In the shadows, Ghost Li observed an elder with a gaunt, ascetic face and a simple, unadorned gray robe. His demeanor was calm, and there was nothing particularly striking about him. If he were walking through an ordinary town, no one would recognize him as a cultivator.
However, the expressions of the two people following him, even the usually arrogant Li Xun, revealed a deep respect for this seemingly ordinary elder. They did not dare to show the slightest sign of disrespect.
At the elder’s question, Li Xun hesitated for a moment before replying, “Elder Uncle, it is because the Fish-Man Chieftain met with an untimely death, causing these beasts to go berserk.”
As the three of them descended from the Crimson Flame Altar, the elder furrowed his brows and asked in a calm voice, “How did the Fish-Man Chieftain die?”
Li Xun let out a bitter laugh and shook his head. Yan Hong, who was beside him, answered, “Respected Elder Uncle, the Fish-Man Chieftain met with Senior Uncle Lü Shun at the ‘Nameless Ancient Temple’ in the north three days ago. Not long after leaving the temple, less than a mile away, he was assassinated by a skilled killer.”
The elder let out a sound of surprise, clearly taken aback, and asked, “Who was the assassin?”
Li Xun shook his head, saying, “We have been investigating for several days, but we have no leads.” He paused, then continued, “Initially, we should have reported this to Elder Uncle, but the Valley Master, considering that Elder Uncle has been guarding the Crimson Flame Altar for nearly a hundred years and has not concerned himself with mundane affairs, did not wish to disturb you.”
The elder chuckled and said, “The Valley Master’s kindness is understandable. I presume if it were not for the potential usefulness of these barbarian tribes and the fact that I once had some influence over them, the Valley Master would not have bothered this old man.”
Li Xun smiled awkwardly and was about to say something, but the elder seemed unwilling to continue on the topic. He changed the subject, “Wasn’t Lü Shun present? If he couldn’t find the assassin within a mile, he must have dug the ground to a depth of three feet.”
Li Xun and Yan Hong exchanged glances. After a moment of hesitation, Yan Hong said softly, “The assassin must be extremely cunning and powerful. He struck swiftly and then vanished, so even Senior Uncle Lü could not catch him.”
The elder snorted, and though he did not say anything, his disdain was evident. Clearly, he did not hold Senior Uncle Lü in high regard.
As they continued their conversation while walking, the distance between them and Ghost Li gradually increased. Ghost Li slowly felt more at ease, though he remained cautious. He heard the elder ask about the current situation of the rebellious Fish-Men, but the voices became indistinct as they moved farther away.
Li Xun replied, “The situation is under control now. Senior Uncle Lü and his disciples are blocking the monsters at the valley entrance and using their powers to suppress the Fish-Men. Both sides are currently in a standoff. The Fish-Men are clamoring for revenge for their chieftain, and the Valley Master does not want to completely break ties with the southern barbarians, so he sent us to seek your assistance, Elder Uncle.”
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed from the direction of the valley entrance, causing everyone to startle. Li Xun exclaimed, “It sounds like it’s coming from the entrance!”
Before they could react, sounds of battle resumed, with angry shouts and cries filling the air. The once quiet valley was again enveloped in chaos.
The three of them paled, and the elder snorted, waving his sleeves. In an instant, he transformed into a streak of gray light, soaring towards the valley entrance. Li Xun and Yan Hong hurried to follow.
Only after their figures disappeared into the night did Ghost Li emerge from the Crimson Flame Altar, pondering for a moment before turning to look at the towering structure.
The immense building stood majestically, with even a single white jade pillar appearing grand and imposing in the night. The crimson halls and pavilions above were even more awe-inspiring.
Not far ahead, he saw the steps down which the elder, Li Xun, and Yan Hong had descended. The steps, made of the same strange crimson stone, blended seamlessly with the surrounding balustrades and platforms.
As he climbed, the heat around him seemed to intensify, as if he were treading on actual flames rather than the crimson stones.
The steps ascended thirty-six levels, turned a corner, and continued upwards. Ghost Li took a deep breath, his expression cold, and slowly ascended. The balustrades and walls were plain and unadorned, exuding an ancient simplicity.
Even the night breeze carried a scorching heat. Xiao Hui, perched on Ghost Li’s shoulder, gazed curiously around, his eyes darting everywhere.
Finally, after climbing the three layers of one hundred and eight steps, Ghost Li reached the top of the Crimson Flame Altar.
Despite having seen it from a distance earlier, standing before the towering hall at the center, Ghost Li felt overwhelmed by its enormity. The hall, made of perfectly cut, gigantic crimson stones, seemed to be a colossal, burning flame. It was so large that it seemed ready to engulf him.
Taking a deep breath, Ghost Li calmed his mind, pushing aside his amazement, and turned to find the entrance. It was not difficult; the tower-like altar had no windows, encased in massive crimson stones, but there was a wooden door not far from him.
Standing before the door for a moment, Ghost Li did not immediately push it open. Instead, he turned to look behind him. The entire altar was silent, except for the scorching air.
“Creak!”
In the next moment, he pushed open the door.
At the entrance of the Fragrant Incense Valley, the scene was one of bloodshed. Over a hundred fierce, fish-headed human-bodied barbarians, wielding various odd weapons, clashed with the disciples of the Fragrant Incense Valley. The ground was awash with blood, and severed limbs were strewn everywhere. Many disciples lay among the dead, but the Fish-Men outnumbered them.
The brutality of the Fish-Men was evident, but the disciples of the Fragrant Incense Valley were gradually gaining the upper hand. A semicircle of high-level disciples, commanded by an elder, was pressing inward.
Among the disciples, Elder Lü Shun, whom Ghost Li had seen in the ancient temple, was coordinating the attack. He looked extremely displeased, his brow furrowed and his face contorted with anger.
In the midst of the fierce fighting, a disciple of the Fragrant Incense Valley, caught off guard, was dragged down from the air by a Fish-Man wielding a hook-like weapon. Several Fish-Men quickly surrounded him, and he was brutally killed.
The sudden death of a disciple caused a uproar, and many redoubled their efforts. Weapons and spells filled the air, and the Fish-Men began to fall, one by one.
The Fish-Men, despite their ferocity, showed no fear, continuing to fight with relentless fury.
Lü Shun, hovering in the air, shouted to stop the carnage, but no one paid him any heed. The situation was about to escalate when the sky suddenly darkened. Lü Shun frowned, looking up to see a gray cloud approaching. His face changed, and he let out a snort.
The cloud approached rapidly, transforming into a massive tornado, carrying a sharp, whistling sound. It descended from the sky, causing all the vegetation and lower-level disciples and Fish-Men to be swept away by the wind.
Everyone was shocked, and before they could react, the tornado landed, causing a cacophony of noises. Dozens of Fish-Men were thrown backward, landing heavily on the ground. The Fish-Men screeched in terror, and the tornado eventually dissipated, revealing the figure of the gray-robed elder.
The disciples, recognizing the elder, knelt in reverence, calling him, “Senior Brother Shangguan.”
Lü Shun, descending from the air, walked over and looked at the elder, his face twitching. “Senior Brother Shangguan, why would such a minor matter trouble someone of your stature?”
The elder smiled faintly, “The Valley Master’s orders cannot be ignored.”
Lü Shun’s face darkened.
At this moment, Li Xun and Yan Hong arrived, landing from the air. Li Xun approached Lü Shun, whispering, “Senior Uncle Lü, the Valley Master ordered me to bring Senior Uncle Shangguan.”
Lü Shun snorted, his face even more displeased, but he said nothing, turning away.
The elder, ignoring Lü Shun, turned to survey the bloody battlefield. The Fish-Men, now gathered in one place, seemed to recognize the elder, showing a hint of fear and respect, hesitating to attack.
The elder called out, “Where is Sun Tu?”
A middle-aged man, Sun Tu, stepped forward from the crowd, bowing respectfully, “I am here, Senior Uncle.”
The elder glanced at him, noticing his disheveled appearance, likely due to his involvement in the battle. “Translate what they are saying for me,” he instructed.
Sun Tu nodded, stepping aside.
The elder addressed the Fish-Men, “I am Shangguan Ce. Send someone to speak.”
The Fish-Men stirred, clearly understanding. A tall Fish-Man stepped forward.
Shangguan Ce scrutinized him and asked, “Do you know me?”
The Fish-Man hesitated, “Squawk squawk.”
Sun Tu translated, “They know.”
Shangguan Ce’s expression remained unchanged, “Why are you attacking my valley? Do you think the Fragrant Incense Valley is defenseless?”
The Fish-Man’s face flushed with anger, “Squawk squawk.”
Sun Tu translated, “Our chieftain was killed when he met with your people. You claimed you couldn’t find the killer, but we know… you did it. We Fish-Men may not be a match for you, but we will fight to avenge our chieftain!”
Shangguan Ce’s brows furrowed, a hint of worry in his eyes. Known for his prowess, he had intimidated the southern barbarians a century ago. The Valley Master’s decision to involve him was based on this reputation.
Understanding the Fish-Men’s ferocity and the significance of their chieftain’s death, Shangguan Ce realized they might indeed fight to the death. If it were just this tribe, he wouldn’t be too concerned, but the southern barbarians were complex, and the emergence of a powerful figure in the past century made the situation precarious.
Turning to Sun Tu, Li Xun asked, “When I left, the situation was under control. Why did they start fighting again?”
Sun Tu replied, “We were confused too. Suddenly, a Fish-Man was killed, and they went berserk, attacking us.”
Shangguan Ce, hearing this, asked, “Was it one of ours?”
Yan Shun, nearby, said coldly, “It was chaos. Who knows?”
Shangguan Ce’s face grew cold, “Did anyone kill a Fish-Man during the standoff?”
No one spoke up. The Fish-Men, seething with anger, were agitated.
Shangguan Ce, frowning, said to the lead Fish-Man, “Let me see the body.”
Without waiting for a response, he walked over. The Fish-Man, hesitant, led him to a corner where a decapitated Fish-Man lay.
Examining the body, Shangguan Ce muttered, “Impressive, impressive.”
Li Xun, observing the clean, precise wound, saw the same mark on the Fish-Chief’s body. The elder’s eyes gleamed, “The killer is here!”
His gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced through the crowd, and no one dared to meet his eyes. The air was tense, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the night wind.
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