The Second Elder was stunned to see the Sect Master, who had been gravely ill in bed, appear before him!
After learning the full story, the Second Elder was utterly shocked!
A sixth-tier pill?
Seventh-tier pills and weapons?
And even the contradictory ice and fire dual attributes?
Hiss—!
It seemed that during his absence, a monumental event had occurred in the Imperial City!
"Sect Master, then… what do we do?" the Second Elder asked tentatively.
"Who wouldn't be tempted by such talent?" the Sect Master said with a wry smile. "But for now, let's just wait and see…"
In his opinion, anyone capable of producing such terrifying items would never be controlled by others.
The idea of taking them for their own use was completely out of the question; being able to establish a good relationship would be considered fortunate.
However, the problem was that the major sects and the royal family were undoubtedly harboring the same intentions.
With too many wolves and too little meat, the situation was difficult…
Moreover, someone who could casually produce sixth and seventh-tier items at an auction would certainly not be interested in what they had to offer…
Furthermore, such an existence might have an even more terrifying force behind them.
A rash attempt to recruit them might backfire.
Most crucially…
The auction house maintained client confidentiality, and they still didn't know who this person was…
It was like a pie falling from the sky, but unfortunately, they couldn't take a bite…
The Second Elder couldn't say much more about such a critical decision.
After reporting the results of his errand to the Sect Master, the Second Elder departed.
Not long after, he returned to his residence.
During his recent outing, he had stumbled upon a valuable item.
With this item, his beloved disciple, Zhao Hao, would be able to cultivate even faster!
As soon as he reached his mountain peak, he grabbed a disciple and asked, "Is Senior Brother Zhao in the sect today?"
Although these disciples were not his direct disciples, they were still registered under his name.
"Master… I…" The disciple lowered his head, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. "I just returned from my training, I'm not sure…"
However, his clumsy acting couldn't fool the Second Elder.
"Speak!" The Second Elder's face instantly changed. "Did something happen?!"
"Thump!"
The disciple, perhaps terrified.
"Reporting to Master…" he immediately knelt on the ground, trembling. "Senior Brother Zhao, he… he…"
"Speak!"
A faint pressure laced the Second Elder's voice.
This pressure was not meant to suppress the disciple but to steady his mind.
"Reporting to Master, Senior Brother Zhao…"
The disciple's trembling lessened slightly.
"His life tablet shattered…"
The disciple's voice was soft.
But for the Second Elder, it was like a bolt from the blue!
A shattered life tablet meant the person was dead…
After a moment of stunned disbelief, the Second Elder flew towards the summit as if he had gone mad!
Upon arriving, he discovered that Zhao Hao's life tablet had indeed shattered!
The Second Elder felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he stumbled on the spot!
If not for the quick hands of a disciple beside him, he might have collapsed to the ground then and there…
"You all may leave…" the Second Elder said dejectedly.
The disciples quickly nodded and left the room one by one.
The Second Elder slowly walked to the altar and stared blankly at the shattered life tablet.
He looked for a full two hours.
Memories of the past flashed through his mind.
On the surface, Zhao Hao was his disciple.
In reality…
He was also his son!
It was just that for certain reasons, this identity could not be revealed yet.
Even Zhao Hao himself did not know.
He hadn't expected his son to be gone after he went out on an errand…
…
"Hao'er, rest assured…" The Second Elder carefully collected the fragments of the life tablet into his ring, his face contorted as he muttered, "Your father will avenge you!"
After suppressing his grief, the Second Elder left the room with a composed expression.
Fortunately, Zhao Hao's whereabouts were not a secret.
The Second Elder easily obtained the information.
Just a few days prior, Zhao Hao had left with Zhao Xiao of the Fire Cloud Sect.
This meant that Zhao Hao had been ambushed along the way!
With suppressed rage, the Second Elder set off for the Fire Cloud Sect!
A few days later.
The Fire Cloud Sect's stronghold.
Upon hearing of the Second Elder's arrival, Zhao Xiao and his father nearly wet themselves in fear!
It turned out that after Zhao Xiao returned, he realized he had gotten himself into big trouble and had confessed the whole matter to his father.
The Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect immediately gave Zhao Xiao a taste of his childhood!
As he beat him, he internally cursed, "When did I give birth to such a creature!
If I had known, I should have just plastered you on the wall!"
Damn it!
After the beating, most of his anger had subsided, and the father and son urgently discussed countermeasures.
Evading the issue was no longer an option.
As the saying goes, the monk can run, but the temple cannot.
They couldn't abandon their vast sect and flee, could they?
Besides, even if they did, they wouldn't be able to escape…
Therefore, after a lengthy discussion, the father and son decisively shifted the blame to Ye Fan.
In fact, they didn't even need to shift the blame this time.
After all, Zhao Hao had been killed by Ye Fan.
Simultaneously, Zhao Hao's father had people closely monitoring Ye Fan's movements, preparing to divert the disaster.
Whether it would work or not was secondary; the primary goal was that there was no better solution at the moment.
"When they ask later, just say what I taught you," the Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect whispered. "If you miss a single word, our lives will be forfeit!"
"Father, I understand…" Zhao Xiao stammered.
"Slap!"
The father immediately slapped Zhao Xiao.
"You're trembling so much, do you want them to see you have a guilty conscience?!"
"I don't want to, but I can't help it…" Zhao Xiao stammered.
"Enough!" The Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect said to a trusted subordinate. "Take him back to his room and do as we discussed."
Zhao Xiao was stunned.
Do as discussed?
Father, do you have another plan?
Why don't I know about it?
Unfortunately, before he could ask, he was dragged away by the subordinate…
Upon reaching the room, the subordinate suddenly said, "Young Master, please forgive me."
Before Zhao Xiao could react, he received a solid blow to his back.
An agonizing pain instantly swept over him!
It was unclear what method the subordinate had used.
Zhao Xiao was in excruciating pain, yet he couldn't open his mouth to scream.
He could only lie on the bed like a puppet, allowing the subordinate to position him…
Meanwhile.
After a simple tidying up, the Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect personally went to meet them.
He had originally intended to exchange pleasantries with the Second Elder, to say a few polite words.
However, the Second Elder gave him no opportunity…
"Speak, where is Zhao Xiao!"
His words were laced with an overwhelming pressure!
His expression was as if he were about to devour someone!
"Reporting to Senior," the Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect replied with difficulty. "My son was attacked by villains…"
He recounted the pre-prepared story, word for word.
The process was largely similar to the truth, with only minor alterations to certain details.
For instance, the original account of Zhao Xiao taking the initiative for revenge was changed to Ye Fan being motivated by greed.
Initially, the Second Elder didn't fully believe him.
But after seeing Zhao Xiao on the bed, he largely did.
My goodness…
He was utterly tragic!
Almost all the meridians in his body were shattered, and he had only half a breath left in his mouth…
Even if his life could be saved in this state, he would likely be crippled for life.
If this were an act, it was too costly…
The Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had inadvertently found a secret remedy earlier, using pills to create the illusion before him.
Despite how miserable Zhao Xiao looked now, his fundamental condition was not harmed.
Once the danger passed, he could be recuperated with the secret remedy and be as lively as ever.
He had already decided.
After the storm had passed, he would arrange a fake death and burial for Zhao Xiao.
Then, he would quietly send him out of the Ad Empire and never return.
Although the Myriad Manifestation Sect was powerful, its reach could not extend that far.
Although he would have to face separation, it was better than death…
"Clear Heart Sect…" the Second Elder muttered.
Although the Clear Heart Sect was far inferior to their Myriad Manifestation Sect, barging in rashly was still not ideal.
Even if he were in the right, the royal family would likely interfere.
Unless…
They could lure out that Ye Fan!
As long as it wasn't an attack on the sect, it would be considered a personal grievance.
The royal family would then turn a blind eye.
This was also one of the unwritten rules of the Ad Empire.
"Senior," the Sect Master of the Fire Cloud Sect said at this moment, "From what I know, that Ye Fan is not in the Clear Heart Sect today."
According to the reports from the scouts he had dispatched, Ye Fan had taken Liang Rujing to the Demonic Beast Forest today!