Chapter 223: Chapter 169: Again Comprehending the Daoist Scripture

In a dim great hall, the air was thick with an aura of death. More than a dozen figures in blood-red robes, with skull patterns on their chests, were gathered together.

Their faces were shrouded in a crimson mist, their features indiscernible. They were arguing fiercely, and if one listened closely, they would find that their voices were also disguised.

Before them stood a towering throne of white bone. A figure sat lazily upon it, toying with a Blood-Eyed Crow perched on the back of his hand while watching the argument with amusement, as if it all had nothing to do with him.

After a long while, the argument in the great hall gradually quieted, and the figures split into two lines based on their differing opinions.

From the line on the left, a tall figure stepped out. He faced the throne, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Sect Leader, we should not be provoking the Golden Crow Sect at this time."

Before the person on the throne could speak, a scrawny figure shot out from the line on the right. He pointed at the tall figure and shrieked, "What? Is Lord Mie questioning the Lord Sect Leader’s wise decision?"

"Lord Ashes, I simply believe now is not the time to have a complete falling out with the Golden Crow Sect," Mie said calmly, deflecting the accusation.

"You worry too much, Lord Mie," Ashes cackled. "The sect’s actions were covert. The Golden Crow Sect could never suspect us."

"But one of them got away, didn’t she?" Mie shot Ashes a glance and sneered.

Ashes’s expression darkened. "She won’t get away," he snapped.

Mie was about to retort with another taunt, but the figure on the throne spoke with an unnerving calm. "All you do is argue. Since you’re all so clever, how about one of you becomes the Sect Leader instead?"

At these words, the expressions of Mie and Ashes changed drastically. "We would never dare harbor such thoughts!" they said in a panic. "Please forgive us, Lord Sect Leader!"

The figure on the throne shot them a glance and said coldly, "Mobilize the branches in every province. I don’t care what methods they use, but they must make the Golden Crow Sect direct their suspicions toward the Celestial Vein Sect.

Furthermore, who is currently in charge of the branches in Ling Province and Bian Province?"

Mie and Ashes exchanged a look. Finally, Mie braced himself and said, "Ever since the operation to seize the Blood Bat Demon King’s cub failed, the branches in Ling and Bian Provinces have been without a leader."

"Now that you mention it, I had almost forgotten. Two incompetent fools, couldn’t even handle something as simple as snatching a demon beast cub." The figure on the throne’s gaze swept over the crowd. "Blood Princess, from this moment on, you are the Squad Leader for Bian and Ling Provinces."

A tall woman stepped out from the line behind Ashes. "As you command," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Once you assume your new position, in addition to gathering intelligence from the two provinces, I have several other tasks for you.

First, identify the culprit who assassinated the Bian Province Squad Leader in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Second, continue the previous Ling Province Squad Leader’s mission: find the treasure cache hidden long ago by his predecessor. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Third, coordinate with the Yuan Province Squad Leader, Yongye, to hunt for the Golden Crow Sect disciple who escaped. I do not want her returning to the Golden Crow Sect alive. Do you understand?"

"I will obey the Lord Sect Leader’s command," Blood Princess replied, her tone unwavering.

"Dismissed." The figure on the throne waved his sleeve, and the great hall emptied in an instant, leaving only him and his Blood-Eyed Crow...

Three days after Song Changsheng received the intelligence report, an order from the Golden Crow Sect finally arrived at Vast Mist Peak. In his capacity as Young Clan Leader, he convened a meeting of the clan’s upper echelon.

Fourth Elder Song Luhuai was currently stationed at Liuyun Marketplace, and Sixth Elder Song Lutong was guarding the clan’s territories in the Mortal Realm, so neither could easily get away.

Thus, the only attendees besides Song Changsheng were Second Elder Song Luzhou, Third Elder Song Luyao, and Fifth Elder Xia Yunxue.

Song Changsheng handed the order he had just received to Song Luzhou beside him. "This is a direct order from Celestial Flame Ascendant, the Golden Crow Sect’s Garrison Envoy for Yuan Province. Everyone, take a look."

Song Luzhou took one look at it and flew into a rage. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "What is the meaning of this? The Golden Crow Sect suspects our Song Clan was behind the ambush?"

His words immediately unsettled everyone present. Song Luyao sneered, "They’re trying to pin a heavy accusation on us. If our Song Clan truly had the power to ambush and kill a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator, we would’ve marched on the Lieyang Sect long ago!"

Song Changsheng pinched the bridge of his nose. "According to the Garrison Envoy, all the major powers in the provinces surrounding the incident are suspects. He’s given us three months to identify the culprits and find the missing Direct Disciple."

"This is outrageous! She went missing in Yuan Province. He’s the Yuan Province Garrison Envoy, yet instead of investigating himself, he’s ordering us to do it?" Song Luzhou was so angry his face turned livid.

"If he could find the culprit himself, he wouldn’t have issued this order," Song Luyao said coolly, turning her gaze to Song Changsheng. "At this point, anger is the most useless emotion. I suggest we focus our efforts on finding the missing Golden Crow Sect disciple. We should also notify the other five major powers to conduct a joint search. This isn’t a problem for our clan to solve alone."

"That’s my thinking as well. I’ve decided to assign this task to the Law Enforcement Hall and the Wind Language Hall. I will also issue a mission to mobilize our clan’s subordinate powers to aid in the search. The clan itself will only be responsible for the Moon Viewing Mountain Range and the immediate vicinity.

The areas around the Liuyun Mountain Range and the Wutong Mountain Range can be left to the other five Foundation Establishment Influences."

As far as Song Changsheng was concerned, a matter like this was simply a case of doing one’s best and leaving the rest to fate. The search area was enormous, and there was no telling where Xia Qingxue might have fled.

"Right," Song Changsheng suddenly recalled. "The people sent from the main branch of the clan should be arriving soon, shouldn’t they? Can we contact them? It wouldn’t be good to get them entangled in this, especially with how tense the situation has become."