The news of Cao Jin's fall spread instantly to every corner of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect.
The ten top-rank disciples were geniuses of the highest caliber. Within the sect, even ordinary elders had to show them some deference. Given a few decades, these individuals would become formidable figures in the sect. Barring any mishaps, the ten top-rank disciples were bound to achieve far more than just an elder's position.
"Investigate! I want a thorough investigation! Whoever provides a valuable lead will be rewarded with a hundred thousand Sacred Spirit Stones and a thousand Sacred Hero Pills!"
Once Elder Chen Lei confirmed the news of Cao Jin's death, he was consumed by fury and immediately offered a handsome reward.
The Nine Yang Heavenly Sect was vast and sprawling, with disciples numbering in the tens of millions across all ranks. Elder Chen Lei had no shortage of direct disciples of his own.
But Cao Jin was, without question, the one he had been proudest of in his entire life.
The Moon-Breaking Awl, the Ocean-Overwhelming Sword, the World-Destroying Yin Thunder Talisman, and the Six-Rune Iron Vow Wolf — all of these precious treasures had been bestowed upon Cao Jin by Elder Chen Lei himself.
This spoke volumes about how deeply Elder Chen Lei had doted on Cao Jin.
Elder Chen Lei was well over a thousand years old, and among his disciples, two had even reached the Imperial Realm. However, those two had been taken as disciples centuries ago. Now they had established their own factions, grown their wings, and become towering figures within the sect.
Yet the one Elder Chen Lei was most satisfied with remained Cao Jin.
Because Cao Jin was young and brimming with potential. At such a tender age, he had been only half a step away from entering the Imperial Realm. His potential was clearly incomparable to those early-stage Imperial cultivators who were several hundred years old.
However, because Elder Chen Lei had always adhered to a hands-off philosophy, he had little control over his disciples. He barely monitored where they went or what they did.
As such, he had only a vague idea of Cao Jin's recent movements and whereabouts.
Throughout the entire Nine Yang Heavenly Sect, most people kept to their own affairs, and few bothered to concern themselves with others.
As a result, even after Elder Chen Lei's bounty was announced, no one came forward with any valuable leads.
In other words, nobody had the slightest idea where Cao Jin had actually perished.
This left Elder Chen Lei both alarmed and enraged.
He had always believed that disciples raised with greater freedom developed keener instincts and broader horizons.
Yet he never imagined that by giving Cao Jin free rein, the young man would end up dead — without anyone even knowing how.
Elder Chen Lei gathered all his subordinates and disciples and roared, "Investigate! Turn heaven and earth upside down if you must, but you will find out the truth for me!"
Elder Chen Lei clenched his teeth, his eyes surging with boundless killing intent.
As an eighth-level Imperial Realm powerhouse, when Elder Chen Lei flew into a rage, saying the entire sect trembled was no exaggeration.
After all, in the whole of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect, those who possessed cultivation at the eighth level of the Imperial Realm or above could be counted on one hand.
...
Jiang Chen had refined the Danxiao Formation Disc and now had full command over both the internal and external formations. Leaving was as easy as anything.
Calculating the time, there was still a while before the Grand Ceremony of Ten Thousand Forms.
Stepping out of the formation, Jiang Chen turned back to gaze at Illusory Wave Mountain, his heart filled with a flood of emotions. Over two years had passed just like that.
But Jiang Chen also knew that he would return to Illusory Wave Mountain someday.
Originally, the two Saint Realm winged dragons had wanted to leave with Jiang Chen. However, he felt that would attract too much attention, so he left them behind within Illusory Wave Mountain.
After entering the Saint Realm, not only had Jiang Chen's personal strength increased dramatically, but his Golden Cicada Wings had also continued to evolve, making them highly suitable for flight.
A few days later, Jiang Chen entered the territory under Danqian Palace's jurisdiction.
However, given his cautious nature, Jiang Chen did not rush back to Danqian Palace. Instead, he disguised himself as an itinerant cultivator.
After the Three Star Sect had leaked information, Jiang Chen was uncertain about the current situation in the Myriad Forms Domain, so he naturally would not act rashly.
However, the Myriad Forms Domain appeared to be relatively peaceful, with no signs of war.
...
Within Danqian Palace, everything had returned to calm after Cao Jin's previous rampage. However, because of the Three Star Sect's leak, the entire Myriad Forms Domain had fallen into a vague sense of panic, with everyone feeling as though disaster was imminent.
Although Palace Master Danchi constantly stepped forward to rally morale, this sentiment still spread to some degree.
Fortunately, Danqian Palace did have some good news.
With the Grand Ceremony of Ten Thousand Forms only days away, following Shen Qinghong's breakthrough to the Saint Realm, the second-ranked genius Jun Mobai also broke through to the Saint Realm.
Two top geniuses breaking through to the Saint Realm in succession — this was a much-needed boost to the morale of the Myriad Forms Domain.