Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 570: The Three Great Sect Leaders

Mount Huosha was renowned for its underground fire veins, which produced an intense fire energy that ordinary people simply couldn’t withstand. For the Fire Crow Sect, practitioners of Fire Attribute Techniques, it was a perfect home.

From Li Mingliang’s account, Su Han learned some basic information about the Fire Crow Sect. Mount Huosha served as their mountain gate. Moreover, with the underground fire veins as their source, they had enlisted an Array Master to set up the Li Fire Seven Sha Formation. By leveraging the power of the fire veins, the formation could unleash power comparable to a Supreme Grade Dao Formation.

The Central Plains truly are rich in resources to have underground fire veins in a place like this. In the Eastern Region, a single underground fire vein is more valuable than an ordinary Spirit Vein. The Tianqing Dynasty has a legacy of over a thousand years, yet it only possesses a single Low Grade Spirit Vein.

"Mr. Su, Mount Huosha is just ahead!"

Li Mingliang steeled himself and led Su Han to the mountain gate of the Fire Crow Sect.

Su Han looked into the distance and saw a massive, dark-red mountain towering over the earth. It stood 3,000 meters high and was covered with fire-loving plants. Numerous palaces were constructed upon its slopes and summit.

A thick aura of fire energy surged like burning clouds, enveloping the entirety of Mount Huosha. From a distance, it looked as beautiful and surreal as a mythical immortal mountain.

The Fire Crow Sect certainly knows how to pick a location. For Martial Artists who practice Fire Attribute techniques, this place is truly a Cultivation Treasure Land.

"Mr. Su, I should go scout things out first," Li Mingliang suggested. "The Fire Crow Sect is no easy target. Rushing in blindly could be disastrous."

"No need. We’ll force our way in," Su Han declared. He had no time to waste here; he still needed to get to Liuzhou to find Lu Yunxian.

Ji State was in the eastern part of the Central Plains, near the Eastern Region, while Liuzhou was in the west. They were separated by hundreds of Daozhou. Even if Su Han flew nonstop using the Character Technique of Motion, the journey would take three years.

Therefore, Su Han needed to increase his strength quickly and find a Spatial Transmission Formation to speed up his travels.

"This..." Li Mingliang’s mouth fell open in shock. But Su Han had already flown ahead, leaving him no choice but to follow with Li Qingyue.

Soon, Su Han arrived at the mountain gate of the Fire Crow Sect. A towering stone sculpture of a fire crow, wings spread as if about to take flight, stood beside a majestic gate.

"Who goes there! How dare you trespass on the Fire Crow Sect’s territory!"

Su Han’s arrival instantly drew the attention of the gatekeeping Martial Artists. Two disciples, wielding weapons, glared fiercely at him, looking ready to attack at the slightest provocation.

"Qingyue, destroy this gate."

The two disciples were not strong, only at the Fourth or Fifth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm. Su Han couldn’t be bothered to act himself, so he decided to let Li Qingyue use them for swordsmanship practice.

"Yes!"

Li Qingyue’s entire demeanor was as cold as ice, like a newly unsheathed sword. Sword in hand, she strode forward, activated her Phenomenon, and charged the two disciples.

"Remnants of the Myriad Swords Sect!"

Both Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue were targets of the Fire Crow Sect’s manhunt. The two gatekeepers had seen their portraits and recognized them instantly.

Seizing the moment of their shock, Li Qingyue suppressed them with her Phenomenon as her sword glinted with cold light. She unleashed the full power of her Winter Snow Sword Technique and, in mere moments, slew both gatekeepers.

Li Qingyue then approached the mountain gate, her gaze sharp, and struck out with her sword.

BOOM!

The majestic gate was shattered by the single blow. She then stepped aside, allowing Su Han to pass first.

Atop Mount Huosha stood a golden, resplendent hall—the main hall of the Fire Crow Sect. Inside, the Fire Crow Sect Master was present, clad in a long, fiery red robe.

The Fire Crow Sect Master was an ugly old man with a hooked nose and sparse, balding hair. His gaze was sinister.

Although he was unsightly, his strength was formidable. He was only a single step away from breaking through to the Supreme Realm.

However, aside from the Fire Crow Sect Master, two other figures were present in the main hall.

One was a thin, pale middle-aged man who coughed periodically, appearing quite frail.

The other was an old crone in a black robe. She had white hair, skin like a chicken’s, and a hunched posture. In her hand, she clutched a bone staff, and her murky eyes occasionally flashed with a startling brilliance.

This middle-aged man and the black-robed crone were both powerhouses of the Heavenly King Realm, yet they did not appear to be members of the Fire Crow Sect.

"Brother Fire Crow, I’m sure you’re well aware of why we’ve come," the black-robed crone said, speaking first and making no effort to hide her intentions. "The spot for Peach Blossom Paradise isn’t for you to decide alone!"

Peach Blossom Paradise, one of the seventy-two Grotto-heavens, opened once every ten years. It was a place of great fortune, naturally formed by heaven and earth.

Peach Blossom Paradise was located near Ji State and controlled by five major Daozhou, Ji State included. Each of these five Daozhou had its own holy lands, which limited the entry slots to one hundred people per state. Although the holy lands claimed most of the spots, they always released ten slots to other factions to silence any dissent, allowing them a small share of the prize.

This time, the Zi Mansion Holy Land of Ji State had given one of those slots to the formerly unified Three Crows Sect.

However, the Three Crows Sect had long since splintered into the Fire Crow Sect, the Blood Crow Sect, and the Black Crow Sect.

The middle-aged man was the Blood Crow Sect Master, and the black-robed crone was the Black Crow Sect Master. They had come to contend for this very slot.

The fortunes within Peach Blossom Paradise were immense and the opportunities boundless. Anyone who entered would surely acquire treasures and could even find a chance to soar to new heights. For such a precious slot, they would naturally spare no effort to obtain it. The Fire Crow Sect Master’s dream of keeping it all for himself was precisely that—a dream.

"Junior Sister, don’t be so agitated," the Fire Crow Sect Master said smoothly. "The slot is indeed desirable, but Peach Blossom Paradise is also fraught with danger. Isn’t the Zi Mansion Holy Land just using us as cannon fodder by giving us this slot? You two are relatively weak; if you enter, you risk death. I’m only saying this for your own good!"

How could I possibly hand over a slot that has fallen into my hands? As for the Blood Crow and Black Crow Sect Masters, we split the sect because of our different ideals. Why would I speak nicely to them now? We might as well fight. I’m confident in my own strength. Even if those two join forces, I can defeat them. I’m only a step away from the Supreme Realm. This trip into Peach Blossom Paradise might be my chance to break through. Once I do, I can easily subdue the Blood Crow and Black Crow Sects, reunite the Three Crows Sect, and become the Sect Leader myself!

"Brother Fire Crow, are you saying you intend to take this all for yourself?" The Blood Crow Sect Master stopped coughing and stared coldly at the Fire Crow Sect Master, his killing intent now palpable.

The slot for Peach Blossom Paradise was too precious; he was willing to fight to the death for it.

Just as the three sect masters were on the brink of conflict, a disciple suddenly burst in, panic-stricken. "Sect Master! This is terrible! Someone is fighting their way up the mountain!"