"We can feel it. After waiting so long, they've finally arrived."
The other members of the Secret Cave Sages spoke up one after another.
"Those bastards from the Heavenly Gates Sect have a grudge against Brother Shura — they even tried to kill him."
"Even though Brother Shura is no longer with us, we'll settle this score on his behalf," the leader of the Secret Cave Sages declared.
"Big Brother, just say the word. What do we do?"
The others asked.
"Simple. We don't let them off easy."
The leader's voice was laced with malice.
……
High above the Demon-Slaying Emperor's tomb, a mass of golden auspicious clouds rolled in from the distance like waves surging through the sky.
The sight was truly spectacular.
But in truth, those were no golden clouds — they were a defensive barrier formed from overwhelming martial power.
Inside that barrier marched the vast army of the Heavenly Gates Sect.
At the forefront was the Heavenly Gates Sect's Grand Elder, Tuoba Cheng'an.
However, he was not the only one who had arrived. Another force was present as well.
Their numbers were immense — far greater than the Heavenly Gates Sect's — easily approaching a hundred thousand strong.
They wore identical black robes with hoods pulled low and masks covering their faces. The masks had an eerie quality to them, and the soldiers stood in perfect formation behind the Heavenly Gates Sect's army, like an army of death warriors.
Apart from the Heavenly Gates Sect and this black-robed host, two individuals stood flanking Tuoba Cheng'an on either side.
Both were elderly men, yet each had a striking appearance.
One had flowing yellow hair and a yellow beard, the hair cascading like a waterfall through the void for a hundred meters.
The other wore a crown atop his head, but beneath it sprouted a wild, unruly red beard that gave him an intensely fierce look.
They were not members of the Heavenly Gates Sect — no Heavenly Gates tokens hung from their waists.
Moreover, both wore Spirit World Master robes.
Flowing across those robes was the power of a Saint-level formation — a Dragon-pattern one, no less.
They were Dragon-pattern Saint-robed Spirit World Masters.
The one with the yellow hair was named
The one with the red beard was named
Neither hailed from the Heavenly Stars Domain. They had been hired at great expense by the Heavenly Gates Sect from other star domains specifically to open the Demon-Slaying Emperor's tomb.
"Master Huang, Master Ouyang — below us lies the Demon-Slaying Emperor's tomb."
"You've both reviewed the method for opening it."
"This is a formation-breaking compass designed to locate flaws in the Demon-Slaying Emperor's tomb. It took us many years to obtain."
Tuoba Cheng'an handed a bronze-colored compass to the two Spirit World Masters.
This Grand Elder, who was known for his domineering demeanor, showed only humility before the two masters.
"Ah, this Demon-Slaying Emperor was quite the character."
"Scattering various treasures said to be keys to his tomb throughout the world — that's practically an open invitation for someone to come and break in."