The battle at the Green Jade Mountain was world-shaking. Within fifteen minutes, the gigantic Green Jade Mountain fully collapsed. The news spread like an epidemic. Not only did it become a hot topic within the three major Empires in the east, it spread to other Empires as well.
After all, a mountain range that was tens of thousand miles long had disappeared without a trace. In the history of the Tian Xuan Land, such incidents were rare.
While Wei Yi and the others felt lucky after escaping, they were extremely sad about Qin Wushuang’s death. Sun Wumei, the Martial Saint of the Ba Shu Country was even more terrified.
Regardless, the number one Core disciple from the Stargaze Palace had died in his country. The reason directly originated from his locale.
Indeed, Sun Wumei had nothing to say.
Fortunately, Wei Yi was rather calm. He sealed the news immediately and told Sun Wumei to not spread any news about Qin Wushuang. And the nine Core disciples sealed their mouths and sent the information in secret to the Stargaze Palace.
Naturally, this urgent matter was delivered at an urgent speed. When the news was received by Zhuo Buqun, even a calm and mature person as him was dumbfounded when he heard this devastating news.
"Qin Wushuang is dead?" Zhuo Buqun only felt someone had delivered a heavy punch to his chest. This was news was too shocking and hard to accept.
In his viewpoint, Qin Wushuang did not appear as someone that would have a short lifespan. On the contrary, he had the aura of good fortune. How could he die on his fist mission?
This news was ridiculous. However, since the information had been sent urgently, it could not be fake.
Inwardly, Zhuo Buqun felt a pain throbbing his heart. All his plans, goals, and long-term plans had vanished and had been disrupted by this sudden change.
The so-called two s.h.i.+ning stars was only a beautiful bubble that had been broken by just a poke.
"How can I tell Second?" Zhuo Buqun also felt extremely sad. He remembered Tan Zhongchi’s expectations in Qin Wushuang and how greatly he valued him…
Now, he needed to tell him that Qin Wushuang had died honorably. Would Second go mad?
Most importantly, the other Core disciples were not harmed at all and Qin Wushuang was the only that had died. Most likely, it would make it harder for Tan Zhongchi to accept it.
However, whether he could accept it, Zhou Buqun had no time to hesitate. He must gather all Palace Masters to get to the Green Jade Mountain.
Currently, he deeply regretted having sent the Core disciples on this mission. After all, he had underestimated the seriousness of this matter.
Only, he was also full of doubts: "How could the Green Jade Mountain turn into a flat land suddenly? Could there be an earthquake, or had the ley lines broke?"
Naturally, guessing would not give him the precise answer. He decided to take a look at the scene. Without hesitation, he rushed to the Green Cloud Palace. Regardless of Tan Zhongchi’s reaction, he must tell him the truth. It would not matter if he could accept it or not.
After all, the Stargaze Palace must keep walking forward and the nine Core disciples had not yet returned.
When Tan Zhongchi learned the news from Zhuo Buqun, he became dumbstruck as if he had been electrified. Then, as if a demon had possessed him, he yelled: "Stop joking, that Green Jade Mountain is only so big and only produces some herbs. How many people exists that could threaten Wushuang’s life?"
He refused to believe it. He was confident about his disciple and he had never thought that Qin Wushuang would die at this young age. In his mind, Qin Wushuang would eventually inherit the Green Cloud Palace and even the entire Stargaze Palace.
"Second, regardless of whether you can accept it or not, I must tell you that the nine Core disciples sent this news altogether. And now we must go look at the Green Jade Mountain. The accident with Qin Wushuang is not just the problem with the power of the enemy, the biggest reason is…"
After a short pause, finally, Zhuo Buqun told him about the news of how the Green Jade Mountain had collapsed. Currently, this news was the absolutely top-secret and had been hidden.
As soon as he said the words, Tan Zhongchi was dumbstruck as he yelled: "Head Palace Master, are you sure you are not joking?"
Up to this point, even a strong man like Tan Zhongchi could not help but speak with a trembling voice. Vividly, he was feeling a strange panic, a helpless despair…
"Second, how could I joke about this matter? Regardless the situation, we must take a look. Perhaps, there is a chance that Qin Wushuang is alive?" Zhuo Buqun said.
His words had instantly made Tan Zhongchi’s entire body shake. He turned sadness into power as he nodded: "Yes, I must see whether he is alive, and the corpse if he’s dead. I refuse to believe, how could Wushuang be a short-lived person?"
After he had finished, he said: "Head Palace Master, go tell the other Palace Masters, I am going first."
Tan Zhongchi was torn with anxiety. He rushed out without giving instructions to his disciples.
Currently, he only had one thought in his mind and that was to fly to the border of the Ba Shu. Regardless of life and death, he must thoroughly investigate the matter. He must see him, regardless of whether he was dead or alive.
Once he had verified the death of Qin Wushuang, his next move would be to seek revenge!
He would do it without any hesitation and any reasoning. Just this word—Revenge!
Regardless of opponent, their ident.i.ty or their background, as long as Tan Zhongchi got ahold of them, they would not rest in peace!
The anger inside Tan Zhongchi’s heart could not be extinguished even with all the water from the ocean.
When Zhuo Buqun saw Tan Zhongchi leaving in a fury, he was also worried. He was afraid that Tan Zhongchi would lose his head to vengeance and the enemy would take advantage. He did not delay any further and instantly gathered the other Palace Masters and explained the situation. Then, he gave all the other matters of the Stargaze Palace to the Shakyamuni and Palace Emissaries.
With one leading the way, the five Palace Masters all moved out.
Although they did not announce the exact news, those Shakyamuni, Elders and Palace Emissaries all realized that something big had happened in the Green Jade Mountain. Or else, the five Palace Masters would not have all went out together!
…
Tan Zhongchi arrived first. When he saw the nine Core disciples that had made camp at the empty Purple Cloud Town, he could not help but to become furious and said coldly: "Is this how you guys act as disciples? You made him go into the danger zone by himself, and you all drag out an ign.o.ble existence! If people knew about it, how could the Stargaze Palace still show its face?"
Usually, Tan Zhongchi had rarely berated the younger disciples. Especially to his own line of disciples, he had rarely used solemn words and treatment. Only, Qin Wushuang’s devastating news had made him lose his cool. Thus, he had spoken with a much more serious tone.
"Zhou Fu, tell me, what is going on?"
Usually, Tan Zhongchi called Zhou Fu "Fu’Er". Now, by calling her name directly, it was apparent that the fury inside his heart had reached a climax.
In these days, Zhou Fu was suffering. She had went to the outskirts of the Green Jade Mountain to investigate. Besides a pile of ruins, there were not any traces of evidence.
The pain inside her heart was no less than Tan Zhongchi’s. Although she had different expectations of Qin Wushuang than Tan Zhongchi, the inner essence was the same. They all hoped Qin Wushuang would become the supporting foundation to the line of the Green Cloud Palace and to carry their future. They even wanted him to become the next leader of the Stargaze Palace.
However, she had watched Junior Brother Wushuang putting himself in a dangerous situation and could not do anything about it.
With slightly swollen eyes from crying, Zhou Fu sobbed and explained everything in detail.
While Tan Zhongchi listened, the muscles on his face trembled and an unprecedented fire lit up in his eyes. No one could guess what he was thinking.
Even Wei Yi, who saw the expression of the Second Palace Master, felt uneasy. They all knew that this Second Palace Master was an overprotective figure. Now with the incident regarding Qin Wushuang, he might vent his fury on the others. This temperament could not be underestimated. One must know that at the Stargaze Palace, even the Head Palace Master Zhuo Buqun had to compromise with this Second Palace Master sometimes. The strength and experience of this Second Palace Master was apparent.
Most importantly, regarding Qin Wushuang’s death, they also felt extremely guilty and blamed themselves. Ten of them had arrived together, and nine of them were fine, except for Qin Wushuang. Even if they wanted to explain, they all felt that any explanations would be useless. The fact was that Qin Wushuang had died, and they lived.
After Tan Zhongchi heard Zhou Fu finish speaking, his expression had softened a little. Although he was overprotective, he was not an unreasonable person. Hearing Zhou Fu’s explanation, the fault of Qin Wushuang’s death did not really lie with them.
With that promise, since Qin Wushuang had given them a warning, it was the right thing to do since they wanted to protect the future of the Stargaze Palace.
Whose fault was it?
The enemy!
"Who were the enemies?" Tan Zhongchi asked angrily: "The Green Jade Mountain has become a pile of ruins. Even if Wushuang was killed by the enemies, his enemy should have also ceased to exist. However, this is not the end. Are the enemies from the Heavenly Lake Empire? Do you have any clues?"
Wei Yi said carefully: "We only have one corpse. We don’t know who he is. The Martial Saint of the Ba Shu Country also doesn’t recognize him."
"Show me!" Tan Zhongchi shouted.
Wei Yi immediately brought out the corpse of the grey-robed man from behind the camp. He said: "This person had a contract beast, called Little Wind."
"Chen Jun! Elder of the Archaic Mysteries Sect!" Instantly, a flame of fury lit up in Tan Zhongchi’s eyes. He poured power into his hand and shattered this corpse into pieces with a slap. Then, he let out a furious yell: "Indeed, it’s the Archaic Mysteries who had done these evil deeds! Us Stargaze Palace did not go disturb them, and they came to cause trouble for us!"
Fury and anger filled Tan Zhongchi’s tone. He wanted desperately to slaughter his way to the Heavenly Lake Empire and kill everyone from the Archaic Mysteries Sect.
Though, even if he did do it, how could it help to reduce the anger in his heart?
However, his murderous intent was stopped by Zhuo Buqun, who had caught up.
"Second, the Archaic Mysteries Sect is the same as the Stargaze Palace that has lived for thousands of years. Even with both our powers combined, we would not gain any benefits by going to kill them. We must discuss this matter in terms of the long-term goals!" Zhuo Buqun knew that they must treat this matter in terms of the bigger picture. Declaring a war on the Archaic Mysteries Sect was equivalent to the Great Luo declaring war on the Heavenly Lake Empire.
Once the war had started, they must think carefully about all the consequences.