"Go!"

With a resentful and unwilling roar, Daoist Monarch Xuan Ming waved his hand, and without any hesitation, led the Daoist Monarchs behind him to immediately retreat, their bodies turning into streams of light, disappearing beyond the horizon like meteors chasing the moon.

The pervasive demonic qi, along with the retreat of Xuan Ming and his group, vanished completely.

"Heh, this old ghost really knows when to quit. If he had continued his chatter, I would've had to show him my power,"

said the hot-tempered Daoist Monarch from the Douxing Sect, grinning as he casually made a joke while watching the figures of the Demon Sect members disappear into the distance.

Daoist Monarch Taicang and Daoist Monarch Wuji exchanged a knowing smile, withdrew their gaze, and turned to look at Jiang Shu and the others.

With a smile, Daoist Monarch Wuji stroked his long beard under his chin, a gleam constantly flashing in his old eyes as he looked over Jiang Shu, Lu Chong, and the other True Martial Sect true inheritors and elders.

Particularly when his gaze fell upon Jiang Shu, sensing the abundant and thick power of the Great Dao within him, which amounted to as many as ten, his eyes flashed with intense surprise.

A Daoist Monarch of the Vientiane Realm based on ten Great Daos was absolutely unprecedented among the Eight Great Sects.

Even the Supreme Sect Leaders of each sect, as well as the Mixed Cave Realm Daoist Venerables, did not achieve this when they broke through to the Vientiane Realm.

This undoubtedly meant that when Jiang Shu's cultivation made another breakthrough in the future, he would naturally become a top expert in the Cang Mang Domain, adding another extraordinary combat force to the True Martial Sect!

It turned out the Supreme Sect Leader was right; the hope for a great revival of the True Martial Sect rested on Jiang Shu!

Daoist Monarch Wuji nodded in satisfaction and said:

"I initially thought that with the opportunity within this Ancient Demon Sect, if a few of you could break through your cultivation bottleneck, it would have been good. But unexpectedly, many of you successfully advanced to the Vientiane Realm."

"Such a harvest is indeed substantial, well done, it must have been hard work."

In response to the elder's praise, Lu Chong and the others did not dare to be careless and humbly responded, then recounted everything that had occurred within the Demon Sect ruins to Daoist Monarch Wuji.

Of course, Jiang Shu's crucial role in it was also fully explained without any concealment.

Listening patiently to the disciples' account, the smile on Daoist Monarch Wuji's old face grew even more pronounced, nodding frequently, and he looked very pleased.

Until Lu Chong reached the end of his recounting, his words paused slightly, his eyes flashing a trace of darkness, his expression becoming serious as he subtly glanced at the sullen-faced Daoist Monarch Bai Ze of the Beast Taming Sect, then swiftly withdrew his gaze, and silently transmitted a message to Daoist Monarch Wuji:

"Uncle Master, earlier in the ruins, we discovered that the true inheritors and elders of the Beast Taming Sect had already secretly colluded with the Outer Realm Demon Clan. Zong Yue of the Dao Yi Sect was also ambushed by them, seriously injured, and nearly died."

"If Jiang hadn't arrived in time to save him, the Dao Yi Sect would have suffered significant losses this time."

"Oh? Such a thing happened?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Daoist Monarch Wuji's face almost instantly faded, his white eyebrows furrowing, and his eyes turned sharply incisive.

The Beast Taming Sect's collusion with the Demon Race was something he had not received any forewarning about!

According to Lu Chong, if in the future the Beast Taming Sect were to betray the entire sect, taking advantage of the other sects' unpreparedness and collaborate with the Demon Clan and Demon Sect, the situation arduously built by the Eight Great Sects would be utterly destroyed!

At this thought, Daoist Monarch Wuji felt a chill rising in his heart. He maintained a calm demeanor, focusing intently on Jiang Shu and Lu Chong, and asked through transmission:

"Have you investigated clearly whether the collusion with the Demon Clan was a spur-of-the-moment decision by their true inheritors and elders, or was it a long-standing plot?"

Jiang Shu also replied in a firm voice:

"Uncle Master, those true inheritors and elders from the Beast Taming Sect all committed suicide upon discovering Qiu Taoguang and others dead, and the diminished state of the Demon Clan and the Demon Sect. We were unable to capture anyone alive for interrogation."

"However, according to what Zong Yue later said, when the Beast Taming Sect's true inheritor ambushed him that day, they employed certain methods of the Demon Sect. From the looks of it, it likely wasn't a decision made due to the circumstances, but rather an inclination toward the Demon Clan and Demon Sect."

In front of Jiang Shu, with a smiling face, Daoist Monarch Wuji continuously nodded as if he had heard good news, but only he knew in his heart that countless thoughts were passing through:

"Choosing to commit suicide, there certainly must be something suspicious here."

"For many years, the Beast Taming Sect has had limited overall strength among our Eight Great Sects, always ranking last. It isn't entirely impossible for them to have developed other thoughts in secret."

Thinking of this, Daoist Monarch Wuji turned his gaze towards the Dao Yi Sect.

At this moment, Daoist Monarch Taicang was also solemn, with a hint of depth occasionally flashing in his eyes; it was clear Zong Yue was also reporting the matter concerning the Beast Taming Sect to him.

Noticing Daoist Monarch Wuji's gaze, Daoist Monarch Taicang's eyes rippled slightly, he shook his head almost imperceptibly, and then a weak divine soul fluctuation transmitted from his body:

"Brother Wuji, regarding the Beast Taming Sect's situation, there is no conclusive evidence at present, and it is not suitable to make it widely known."

Daoist Monarch Wuji certainly understood the importance of this matter and wouldn't act recklessly. He nodded slightly and also responded through divine soul transmission:

"Indeed, but all the true inheritors and elders the Beast Taming Sect dispatched this time perished, which will certainly alert them, and there might be significant changes soon!"

"We need to quickly report this to the Supreme Sect Leader for thorough investigation. If the Beast Taming Sect truly intends to rebel, we must suppress them with decisive thunderous means!"

"Agreed!"

Meanwhile, not far away, Daoist Monarch Bai Ze of the Beast Taming Sect, with a face devoid of expression, swept his gaze over the Daoist Monarchs of the other sects and true inheritor elders, yet a trace of gloom was surging deep in his eyes.

Upon realizing that his sect's true inheritors and elders had completely perished without a single one emerging from the ruins, a deep sense of foreboding filled his heart.

If not for the fear that leaving rashly would arouse further suspicion among the sects' Daoist Monarchs, he would have returned to the Beast Taming Sect at the fastest speed to meet with the Supreme Sect Leader.

But even while lingering here, seeing the subtle facial changes among the Daoist Monarchs of Taicang, Wuji, and other sects from time to time, the unease in Bai Ze's heart grew more intense.

"Damn it! How could Du Yun and the others be entirely wiped out within the ruins? There's definitely something fishy!"

However, despite his sullen face and inquiries to the surviving true inheritors and elders of the other sects about the situation of his sect's disciples, he didn't get the answers he was seeking.

Before emerging from the ruins of the Demon Sect, Zong Yue and Lu Chong, along with the true inheritor leaders from each sect, had already unified their statements in advance, so naturally, they wouldn't let Daoist Monarch Bai Ze find any flaws.

Seeing how strange the situation was, Daoist Monarch Bai Ze knew he couldn't pursue the matter further here. With an unpleasant expression, he cupped his hands toward Daoist Monarchs Wuji, Taicang, and others, then swiftly left, returning to his sect.

...

Half a month later, outside the magnificent mountain gate of the True Martial Sect, several streaks of light flew over, with numerous figures appearing from within.

Buzz!

The protective array's light screen suddenly rippled, an imposing figure surrounded by jade talisman sword light and exuding a profound aura that seemed to connect heaven and earth slowly emerged from within.

A yin-yang taoist robe fluttered in the wind, his face was like carved jade, his hair was tied in a high knot, his countenance indifferent, and his eyes secretly holding endless divine gleam, commanding respect without anger.

The newcomer was none other than the Supreme Sect Leader of the True Martial Sect.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Seeing the Sect Leader personally come to welcome them, Lu Chong and the others were flattered and hurriedly paid their respects.

"Mm, no need for formalities."

The Supreme Sect Leader smiled gently, casually waved his hand, with his deep gaze falling upon Jiang Shu at the forefront of the group, causing ripples to appear.

"Ten Great Dao Origins..."

Even with his mind as steady as someone who has cultivated for millennia, he could not help but be stirred upon sensing the solid and perfect Great Dao auras within Jiang Shu.

Indeed, compared even to Daoist Monarch Wuji's first encounter with Jiang Shu after his cultivation breakthrough, it was more intense!

"Good, good, good!"

In an instant, a bright laugh emerged from the Sect Leader, transforming into rolling sound waves, sweeping across the sky. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Within the True Martial Sect, countless disciples and the Peak Masters and elders from each peak were alarmed by the sudden laughter, stopping their tasks, and looking towards the guardian array outside.

Soon, extreme joy spread simultaneously in countless gazes!