The status of a direct disciple was very high and quite important to a sect, being one of the core forces and the future leadership of the sect.
At that moment, an elder pondered and said, "I remember this matter. Not long ago, Qi Bai took on a mission to investigate Huoshi Immortal City of the Southern Dou Country. There were rumors that in Mount Huoshi, a Puppet Immortal Palace might have emerged, which was the Lava Immortal Palace of the Three Sect Lords from back in the day."
The Soul-Devouring Sect's sect master’s gaze slightly darkened. "The Three Sect Lords..."
"This person was extraordinary, possessing a cultivation of the Void Refinement stage but capable of contending against someone of the Body Integration stage."
"He practiced the techniques of the demonic, Daoist, and Buddhist sects simultaneously, which indeed demonstrated his talent. However, in his later years, he faced misfortune, seemed to have gone mad, and committed suicide."
The sect master thought for a moment and looked at one of the sect elders, asking, "Elder Luo, what do you think should be done in this matter?"
Elder Luo pondered and said, "Since our sect’s direct disciple has fallen, we must investigate the true culprit and punish them severely! However, since the Lava Immortal Palace is located within Huoshi Immortal City, sending elders might cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
"This old one believes it is more appropriate to dispatch one or two competent Golden Core stage cultivators, along with a few ghost generals to escort them."
"We should first investigate the true culprit and then discuss how to proceed."
The sect master smiled. "This is the wise counsel of an experienced statesman. Then, Elder Luo, which direct disciple do you think is most suitable?"
Elder Luo, knowing the sect master’s intention in asking him directly, immediately said, "I recommend my nephew, Luo Shang."
"Very well, Luo Shang it is." The sect master immediately gave the order, sending Luo Shang to Huoshi Immortal City to investigate, and assigned a Nascent Soul stage ghost general to protect him on his journey.
This was already the operational limit under normal circumstances.
For a large demonic sect like the Soul-Devouring Sect, its elders were at least of Nascent Soul cultivation. Dispatching an elder would undoubtedly make the Southern Dou Country uneasy and could possibly lead to unnecessary conflicts.
If a misunderstanding escalated, causing the Soul-Devouring Sect to provoke a massive power like the Southern Dou Country, it would be quite unwise.
In the cultivation world, great power often resided in one individual.
A Nascent Soul-level figure could defend a region, just like how Meng Kui guarded Huoshi Immortal City. Likewise, a Nascent Soul cultivator could invade a region.
Such individuals at this level could not be moved lightly.
Therefore, when the Soul-Devouring Sect previously sent someone to investigate the soul reserve within Mount Huoshi, they had only dispatched the Golden Core direct disciple Qi Bai. It wasn't because the Soul-Devouring Sect lacked Nascent Soul cultivators, but because under normal circumstances, sending Qi Bai was the most appropriate choice.
Now that Qi Bai was suspected to have died in Huoshi Immortal City, the Soul-Devouring Sect had a valid reason to send a stronger figure to investigate.
This figure didn’t necessarily have to be a Nascent Soul cultivator, but they at least had to possess Nascent Soul-level abilities. Therefore, dispatching a ghost general with Nascent Soul-level combat power to protect Luo Shang was still within the bounds of accepted norms.
As for why a mighty demonic sect like the Soul-Devouring Sect needed to abide by rules, the reason was simple.
With stable resources comes a stable mind.
The Soul-Devouring Sect controlled vast territories and numerous cultivation resources. Being a large, established power, it naturally had many concerns to consider.
After receiving the order, Luo Shang immediately set out for Huoshi Immortal City.
Not long after he left, a disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect secretly sent out a message.
The message passed through several intermediaries, eventually arriving in a certain town.
The leader of the town then forwarded the message to the nearest sect’s secret base.
In that base, several cultivators were discussing and analyzing various pieces of intelligence.
"A direct disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect died? This is a big deal!"
"The Soul-Devouring Sect has tentatively determined that he died in Huoshi Immortal City of the Southern Dou Country."
"Isn’t there a rumor that an Immortal Palace has appeared over there?"
"The Lava Immortal Palace? That's just one of the twelve palaces of the Three Sect Lords, indeed buried within Mount Huoshi. This has been confirmed."
"Wait a minute, doesn’t our No-Void Sect have disciples in Huoshi Immortal City?"
Ning Zhuo obeyed the order and secretly met with Zheng Jian and the others.
"Brother Ning Zhuo, we finally meet." Zheng Jian greeted him cheerfully with a hearty laugh.
Ning Zhuo not only saw Zheng Jian but also Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen.
"Congratulations on your recovery!" Ning Zhuo smiled sincerely.
Zhou Zhu remained silent, while Zhou Zhenshen said, "I heard you and Ning Xiaohui explored the Immortal Palace and encountered Meng Chong?"
Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly.
"Shameful." Ning Zhuo sighed deeply, a look of fear appearing on his face. "The gap between us and Meng
Chong is too big. We had no power to resist at all."
"To be honest, I’ve felt heavy-hearted these past few days, unable to feel at ease."
"With Meng Chong in front of us, how could we possibly be a match for him?"
Zhou Zhenshen nodded, his expression becoming more somber.
Zheng Jian patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Together, we might not necessarily lose. It’s still too early to talk about failure, Brother Ning Zhuo."
Ning Zhuo forced a smile, his demeanor that of someone deeply discouraged after being severely beaten. "To fight against Meng Chong, I can’t do it. I’ll have to rely on all of you!"
Ning Xiaohui snorted again, "Ning Zhuo, with that kind of mentality, how can you still bear the surname Ning?"
"Defeat and humiliation should drive you to hold your head high and fight with all your might to wash away your shame."
"Just follow behind me and watch carefully!"
Thus, in the following action, Ning Xiaohui was the first to have her soul extracted by the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai. Amidst her screams, her soul was on the verge of collapse, triggering the Immortal Palace’s mechanisms and returning her soul to her body.
Zhou Zhenshen continued, "This operation is critical. We must clear as many checkpoints as possible and catch up to Meng Chong."
Ning Zhuo satisfied him.
During the subsequent action, Ning Zhuo communicated with Sun Lingtong and deliberately let the three-family alliance team reach the preparation room.
The cultivators from the three families were all shocked when they saw the leaderboard.
"Meng Chong is indeed in first place!"
"There are so many people from the city lord’s renovation team on the leaderboard."
"Outrageous! Meng Chong must have made great progress while we were recovering!"
"Just as we suspected, the city lord’s team is far ahead of us."
Zhou Zhenshen was the second to have his soul extracted.
Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong’s planned attack order made sense.
The first to be attacked was Ning Xiaohui, as her talent could not only counter various mechanisms but also freeze wounds for treatment.
The second was Zhou Zhenshen, whose intelligence and command skills were formidable. Leaving him on the battlefield for too long would be a liability.
"I’ve heard that Meng Chong is so powerful. I’d like to fight him personally. Even if I lose, it’s no big deal. I can see the gap between us and him and then work twice as hard later," Zheng Jian said with anticipation.
Ning Zhuo satisfied him twice over—by letting Yuan Dasheng focus his attention on him.
"I’m going to die! Going to die! Going to die!" Zheng Jian’s talent activated, frantically warning him as Yuan Dasheng charged toward him.
Zheng Jian became the third to have his soul devoured.
Zhou Zhu, who was always silent and withdrawn, was left for last. Seeing how slow-witted he seemed, Ning Zhuo chose him to be the witness, allowing him to see with his own eyes Ning Zhuo’s "death."