The distance between the Danxia Prefecture and the Divine Brilliance Prefecture was also extremely long. However, once they had arrived at the Divine Brilliance Prefecture, they were not far from the Heavenly Emperor Mountain.
Therefore, although Qin Wushuang was not heading towards the Heavenly Emperor Mountain directly, it would still affect his plans by travelling an extra mile.
This part of the journey would take a month of time. Along the way, Qin Wushuang was studying the map given to him by Lu Xianlou.
This map was hidden inside the Observant Finger Jade Compa.s.s. Although it was not a large map, it marked out many important geographical locations.
Despite not knowing what kind of map it was, Qin Wushuang knew that it was not an ordinary map. Otherwise, Lu Xianlou would not have been serious about the matter.
…
Elsewhere, the main elite warriors of the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect had set up an inescapable net around the Danxia Prefecture. They didn't know that Qin Wushuang had broken through their blockade and had been gone for a while.
On the third day after the incident, Luo Tongtian arrived at the Danxia Prefecture and began contact with all elite warriors. Presently, he discovered that the four Elders situated at the Morning Sun Town could not be contacted.
Luo Tongtian immediately realized that something was wrong. With no time to find Lu Xianlou, he rushed to the Morning Sun Town personally. Although Qin Wushuang and his group had cleaned the scene, some of the traces of battle remained. However, since they did not discover the bodies, it caused Luo Tongtian to doubt if something had truly happened to those four Elders.
Through an investigation of the scene, Luo Tongtian and the other higher-ups of the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect verified that a major battle had certainly occurred in this place. Currently, they could not contact Luo Zhan and the other three people. At present, a strange sense of crisis was spreading across Luo Tongtian's heart.
"Head Dao Warrior, Luo Zhan is known as a core member. If not under special circ.u.mstances, he would not have left his post nor forget to get in touch with us. I am afraid this situation is not good…"The person who spoke was the Third Dao Warrior, Tian Mingshan, who had been overseeing this blockade and pursuit.
At the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect, this person was publicly known as the Third. His strength was only less than the Head Dao, and the Second Dao Warrior who were at the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary stage.
Although he had not entered the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary, he was unquestionably the strongest among those at the Perfect Void Martial Stage. He was on the path to breaking through and would enter the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary at any time.
Luo Tongtian fell into a silence and activated the communication jade once again. As he tried to contact Luo Zhan, he gained no response. Then, Luo Tongtian spoke: "It seems to me that Luo Zhan and his group are most likely dead!"
Although everyone had vividly a.s.sumed this possibility, they still felt their heart throbbing when they heard Luo Tongtian speaking these words.
Four Elders at the Profound Void Martial Stage were dead!
"Head Dao Warrior, Luo Zhan and his group were all elite warriors of the Profound Void Martial Stage, and there are four of them. Although the Xuan Yuan Mound is full of elite warriors, there should not be many that are capable of killing four elite warriors of their level."
If four Profound Void Martial Stage warriors had died at the hands of one person, he must be a figure at the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary. Even for one at the Perfect Void Martial Stage, it would be nearly impossible to kill four of them. After all, these four people were not stationary targets, and they would not sit and wait to be killed.
"Could it be coming from the Heavenly Emperor Qin Clan again?" Another Elder said angrily.
Thick murderous intentions flashed from Luo Tongtian's eyes as he waved his hand and said: "This Morning Sun Town is a remote place. If those from the Heavenly Emperor Qin Clan are to attack the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect, they certainly would not choose to make a move on Luo Zhan. The others of the other checkpoints did not encounter any attacks. I am only worried that the people who had killed Luo Zhan were those in Qin Wushuang's group."
Qin Wushuang again?
Everyone's eyes were full of disbelief. Especially Tian Mingshan, the Third Dao Warrior said with astonishment: "Head Dao Warrior, all of us have collected information about Qin Wushuang. Even if he had increased his strength at a rapid speed, certainly he does not possess the strength to take out four elite warriors of the Profound Void Martial Stage."
"Information?" There was a trace of discontent in Luo Tongtian's tone, "Could it be that Luo Ting's death was not enough to serve as a warning for everyone? If the information is reliable, how could Luo Ting have died at Qin Wushuang's hands? At that time, per our information, Qin Wushuang was only a mole cricket that had not entered the Void Martial Stage. What was the result? Luo Ting was chased for one hundred thousand miles, and still he did not make it. That Qin Wushuang had summoned three spiritual beasts of the Profound Void Martial Stage out of nowhere!"
As Luo Tongtian remembered Luo Ting's desperate plea for help before his death, his heart was struck by pain. Luo Ting's death was a grave loss for the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect.
In the Xuan Yuan Mound, who was not watching and laughing at the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect? Everyone knew that they had tried to go for wool and came back shorn. A kid from the human countries had in fact killed their most prized disciple Luo Ting, the heir of the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect?
"Head Dao Warrior, in this case, this Qin Wushuang has transformed into our greatest mortal enemy!" There was a trace of unwillingness in Tian Mingshan's tone.
They had let a kid from the Human Countries cause the giant Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect fall into this embarra.s.sing situation. Indeed, this matter was tough and difficult that would make one furious when thinking about it.
"Mingshan, any movements from the Human Countries?" After all, Luo Tongtian was the head of a sect. Naturally, he would not make meaningless complaints in the present situation.
Tian Mingshan said: "Our people have infiltrated into the human countries through different channels. Regardless of travelling in broad daylight or secret investigation, our people have used all means and methods. However, that Qin Wushuang was prepared. His family and the people of his sect have all disappeared. Up to now, we have gained nothing."
"Gained nothing?" Upon hearing these words, anger surged from Luo Tongtian's heart. When had the tiny Human Countries turned into such tough bones to chew?
"Head Dao Warrior, that Qin Wushuang must have made preparations. In his home, the Heavenly Royal Mansion, only servants, maids and mansion's guards remained. Qin Wushuang's father, sister, and those personal guards could not be found. For Qin Wushuang's sect, the Stargaze Palace, from Palace Masters to Core disciples, and other higher officials, they were not in the sect."
As Tian Mingshan spoke, his voice clearly revealed his bitter resentment. How could this Qin Wushuang have come from the Human Countries? Even those major sects of the Xuan Yuan Mound were not as unreasonable to deal with!
Of course, it had to do with their lack of diligence towards this issue. Only now they were paying enough attention since the Head Dao Warrior had stepped out. However, Qin Wushuang had already taken care of any loose ends. By the time they had reacted, they could gain nothing.
Luo Tongtian said in a low voice: "Last time, those freelance martial artists rushed to the human countries after getting being lure by Luo Ting's strategy. They got killed by someone at the Dispersed Praying Mountain. This time, did our people make their way smoothly?"
"Their pa.s.sage was un.o.bstructed and there was not even a fly in sight. Head Dao Warrior, the people that set up the ambush at the Dispersed Praying Mountain must be the same group belonging to Qin Wushuang. Now, since he has already taken care of any lingering matters, of course he would not set up an ambush again at the mountain. Besides, he must have predicted that the elite warriors we send are not some people he could stop. This kid is extremely cunning!"
Luo Tongtian suppressed the anger inside his heart and said with an extremely complicated tone: "Qin Wushuang, Qin Wushuang! I already said that I will have you suffer grave misery, you will either live or die! Mingshan, everything will come to light when the Second Dao Warrior returns from the Heavenly Emperor Mountain. Just wait!"
Luo Tongtian sent Luo Hengye, the Second Dao Warrior, to visit the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Villa and the Thunder Sound Sect. To put it bluntly, they were colluding with these two powerhouses and preparing to join together to deal with the Heavenly Emperor Qin Clan.
Luo Tongtian knew better than anyone what these two powerhouses were seeking when the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect had joined with them. After all, despite a thousand years of conflict where these two powerhouses had gained the upper-hand at a steady progress, they still could not destroy the Heavenly Emperor Qin Clan. When a major powerhouse such as the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect sought to join with them, why would they refuse?
Since they had no reason to refuse, then why would they be unwilling to lend something to Luo Tongtian?
"Head Dao Warrior, perhaps these two powerhouses will let us join together to deal with the Heavenly Emperor Qin Clan. Yet, would they be having so much free time as to help us deal with a small figure from the Human Countries like Qin Wushuang?" Tian Mingshan seemed to be lacking confidence.
Luo Tongtian gave a cold sneer: "Mingshan, although Qin Wushuang is from the Human Countries, he has already exposed his sharp edge. Through his rapid progress , I am afraid those two powerhouses will not be willing to watch a mortal enemy grow bigger in front of their eyes, right? Even if they do not get involved, would our Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect be incapable of dealing with a human kid? I don't need them to make a move. As long as the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Villa is willing to lend us their Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk, even if they hide underground in the tiny Human Countries, this animal will find them. The divine eyes of the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk are extraordinary!"
The Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk was the guardian spiritual beast of the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Villa. Although it has not entered the Supreme Dao, it was a spiritual beast of the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary. Plus, the Hawk possessed the bloodline of an Ancient Divine Beast. Thus, it was still exceptional even if its bloodline was not on par with Bao Bao's Ancient Spiritual Monkey bloodline.
While this beast was at the Exquisite Mysteries Boundary, no one would doubt that it would enter the Supreme Dao sooner or later.
Hearing the mention of the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk, Tian Mings.h.i.+ became overjoyed: "Head Dao, if we can borrow the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk, this trifling matter of the human countries will be a piece of cake. Certainly we can uproot all three generations of the Qin's from the dark!"
A cold sneer emerged from the corner of Luo Tongtian's mouth: "I think it will take a while before Second returns. Presently, we must capture Qin Wushuang, our primary culprit. Mingshan, friends, you will continue to be in charge and I will go now to meet with my old pal!"
When Luo Tongtian finished speaking, his tone was filled with a trace of gloominess. Clearly, the old pal he was referring to was his lifelong enemy, Lu Xianlou.
Luo Tongtian knew that Lu Xianlou's Observant Finger Jade Compa.s.s was the key to whether or not he could capture Qin Wushuang. Although the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk would also help to capture him, Luo Tongtian knew clearly that he would not get hold of the beast anytime soon.
Even if they had successfully borrowed the Heavenly Punis.h.i.+ng Hawk, perhaps Qin Wushuang would have escaped to the Heavenly Emperor Mountain by then since too much time would have pa.s.sed. No matter how powerful the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect may be, they did not have the skill to pursue Qin Wushuang to the Heavenly Emperor Mountain!