In the wake of this calamity, the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect had suffered disastrous casualties. Especially the residents of the Wolf Ivory Peak, since it had collapsed instantly, most of the Core disciples inside had also died. Only less than thirty still lived.
There were also heavy casualties at the other training areas that possessed spiritual qi.
Among the main groups of buildings inside the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect, eight of their spiritual formations on the interior and exterior area were connected to the underground spiritual qi through the Subduing Devil Stone Tablet.
When the stone tablet had been suddenly destroyed, it caused a violent fluctuations in the spiritual qi and activated all of the spiritual formations. Like the explosion of a super bomb, all the buildings had been flattened to the ground almost instantly.
Fortunately, the collapse of this group of buildings was not as swift as the collapse of the Wolf Ivory Peak. Therefore, many people located in or around the buildings at the time were lucky enough to have escaped.
Among the survivors, Zuo Lengshuang, the Fourth Dao Warrior, held the most prestigious position. Zuo Lengshuang counted the survivors and saw there were about one or two hundred people left. Besides seven or eight high ranking officials, the others were all disciples to the Guardians. Although they were not the highest ranking people in the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect, they were also part of its core.
Among the seven high ranking officials including Zuo Lengshuang, there were two Shakyamuni and five Elders. All of them had stayed to guard the sect.
"Fourth Dao Warrior, about half of the high ranking officials that had stayed around the main buildings are dead. The entirety of the Sea of Bamboo Courtyard and the Wolf Ivory Peak was destroyed."
The one that had spoken was Shakyamuni Chong Guang. Initially, he should have been guarding the Sea of Bamboo Courtyard. Currently, he was feeling quite fortunate. He had luckily been instructed to guard the Main Palace temporarily. Or else, if he had remained in the Sea of Bamboo Courtyard, no one would be able to find his corpse.
Zuo Lengshuang"s complexion appeared incredibly dark. Except the main Palace, the main buildings destroyed included the Concealed Scripture Chamber, Weaponry Refinement Chamber, Alchemy Chamber, Spiritual Talisman Chamber, Material Storehouse, and many more. With all of these places destroyed, the Elders in charge of guarding these places had not escaped either.
"What about the other places, any news?"
"For now there are only news from the Sea of Bamboo Courtyard and the Wolf Ivory Peak that were the closest. The disciples sent to check the other areas have not returned."
Revealing a gloomy expression, Zuo Lengshuang"s head gradually became clear. In the wake of this calamity, the most fortunate thing was that many of the elite members of the sect had been on a mission outside the sect. At least, it had guaranteed those at the highest level had not been harmed.
A portion of their most exceptional core disciples had also followed their mentors on the mission. Thus, some of their future prospects had been preserved.
Of course, their biggest loss were those core disciples at the Wolf Ivory Peak.
At this time, from the direction to the south of the Sea of Bamboo Courtyard, disciples rushed in continuously. These disciples had an abnormally fl.u.s.tered expression.
"Fourth Daoist Warrior…"
"Dao Warrior!"
When Zuo Lengshuang saw these people, he felt somewhat rea.s.sured. immediately, he asked: "You are all alright? How is the situation in the Wolf Ivory Peak?"
These were all lucky ones that had escaped from the Wolf Ivory Peak. They were able to survive because they were close to the foot of the mountain and had just happened to escaped this calamity.
After counting the numbers, there were only twenty-six people. Zuo Lengshuang looked towards that direction with disappointment and asked: "Just all of you, no more?"
One of the core disciples walked up: "Fourth Dao Warrior, those who are able to escape had gotten out. We searched around that area, there should be no one else."
Feeling as if a knife was cutting his heart, Zuo Lengshuang squeezed out the trace of a smile as he looked at these twenty-six people that had just barely survived. He said: "Good, remember, regardless, all of you must face this with a strong heart. The Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect will not fall due to any natural calamities or man-made disasters! All of you are the hope for the revival of the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect!"
Although these twenty-six Core disciples have not yet recovered from the shock of this great calamity, at least, they were alive. To the sect, they were more precious.
"For this secluded training, there were 120 Core disciples. Only twenty-six made it out." Shakyamuni Chong Guang was also overwhelmed with grief.
He was the one in charge of training the core disciples normally. He had shared a deep affection of these core disciples.
When he only saw twenty or thirty had survived, while all the other familiar faces had crossed over to the other side, he could not help but feel sorrowful inwardly.
"Fortunately, this time the Head Dao Warrior had intended to train a group of the most exceptional Core disciples and took twenty with him to carry out the mission." At this time, Shakyamuni Chong Guang could only comfort himself with positive thoughts.
One after another, the scouts that had went to check the other areas of the sect returned to deliver their report.
"Purple Deer Peak collapsed, for now no surviving disciples have been found."
"Peach Blossom Creek is the same as usual, no movements had occurred."
"Different faults have appeared at the Tiger Tail Stream, there is also a giant pit…"
"The area around the mountain entrance has been completely destroyed, it"s all in ruins."
These places were all important locations of the Heavenly Sun Mountain. The situation in each of the places were different. While Zuo Lengshuang listened attentively, he raised his eyebrow when he heard about the mountain entrance area: "Shakyamuni Jin Xu, hurry and take two Elders, and ten core disciples to head to the mountain checkpoint. Guard that place with your life. Do not let a single fly pa.s.s!"
Shakyamuni Jin Xu accepted the order and pointed to two Elders, and ten Core disciples that had just escaped from the Wolf Ivory Peak and rushed to the checkpoint.
Shakyamuni Chong Guang said: "Fourth Dao Warrior, wouldn"t it be too late to send them to the checkpoint?"
"Ah, perhaps it"s a bit late. But we must take some measures. When the Head Dao Warrior returns and sees that we did not do anything, how would you bear his thunderbolt rage?"
Shakyamuni Chong Guang nodded silently. For the current situation, they must attempt to doctor a dead horse as if it was still alive. Even if it were just for show, they must do something to show to the Head Dao Warrior.
"Shakyamuni Chong Guang, are there still no news from the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley?" Zuo Lengshuang could not help but ask. Presently, he was more concerned about the valley. Up to this point, he was still unsure whether something had happened to the Subduing Devil Stone Tablet.
"Fourth Dao Warrior, for the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley, I have sent two speedy and smart disciples to scout for information. I believe we will bring back news not too long now."
Before Shakyamuni Chong Guang had finished speaking, someone called out from afar. His tone was burning with a frenzy of rage: "Fourth Dao Warrior, Fourth Dao Warrior!"
"It"s Luo Zhen!"
Shakyamuni Chong Guang and Zuo Lengshuang looked at each other and a surge of bad feelings emerged from the bottom of their heart. Without a question, there could only be one result if Luo Zhen was rus.h.i.+ng here. Something had happened to the Subduing Devil Stone Tablet!
Luo Zhen had rushed over with almost his full speed. When he saw the sect in ruins, he felt light-headed and could barely hold back the blood from gus.h.i.+ng out of his mouth.
"Dao Warrior." Tears flowed from Luo Zhen"s aged eyes.
"Luo Zhen, what is going on, did something happen with the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley?" Zuo Lengshuang asked with an incredibly serious tone.
Luo Zhen"s head felt somewhat dizzy and for a short while, he did not answer Zuo Lengshuang"s questions. Instead, he looked around and searched among that group of core disciples.
Naturally, Shakyamuni Chong Guang knew what he was looking for. Giving a long sigh, he said: "Elder Zhen, your grandson is not among the survivors of the Wolf Ivory Peak."
Upon hearing the destruction of the Wolf Ivory Peak, Luo Zhen"s heart sank. When he heard how some of the core disciples had escaped along the way, he managed to hold onto a small shred of hope. Now hearing Shakyamuni Chong Gong saying his precious grandson was not amongst the survivors, he almost fainted before catching himself.
Zuo Lengshuang raised his arm slightly and shoot a wave of cold light toward Luo Zhen"s body to stabilize his emotions forcefully. Then, he asked with a low voice: "Luo Zhen, I am asking you, did something happen to the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley?"
In the midst of his sobs, Luo Zhen nodded and shook his head. With a fanatic expression, he cursed: "Luo Yang, it was all because of that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Luo Yang!"
"Elder Luo Yang?" Both Zuo Lengshuang and Shakyamuni Chong Guang were shocked, "Are you talking about Elder Luo Yang?"
"How could it not be him? He brought a group of subordinates to the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley. The disciples guarding the previous checkpoints would not dare to stop him. When he reached my checkpoint, I ask him to come back after the Celebration of the Dead. He immediately became hostile with me. He said something about crafting a spiritual pill and lacked one material. He said he absolutely had to enter the wind valley. I did not allow him, and he went to the extent of threatening me and saying how he would do something to my grandson at the Wolf Ivory Peak…"
In between the crying and yelling, Luo Zhen explained the situation. When he had talked to the end, he beat his chest and stomp his feet as he was on the verge of collapse.
The more Zuo Lengshuang listened, the more he was astonished and the more he frowned. Gloominess kept appearing more and more on his forehead.
Shakyamuni Chong Guang also shook his head with a bitter smile: "Luo Zhen, you are too stupid! How could you let him go in?"
Luo Zhen disputed: "Luo Yang did not go in, he only sent in five of his subordinates to enter! After the incident, he ran away immediately."
Seeing him still arguing back, Zuo Lengshuang shouted angrily: "Shut up! Now you know about caring for your grandson? Are you the only one with a grandson? For all those disciples that had died, which one them did not have parents or family? Luo Zhen, if this matter was truly the result of what happened in the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley, then you are the sinner! The greatest sinner of all time!"
In a towering rage, Zuo Lengshuang swung his sleeves and sent Luo Zhen flying a dozen meter away with a surge of forceful wind. Luo Zhen flew back like a kite with a broken string.
Seeing Zuo Lengshuang was about to make another move, Shakyamuni Chong Guang immediately advised: "Dao Warrior, although Luo Zhen is a sinner, now is not the time to kill him. When Head Dao Warrior comes back, we must interrogate him!"
Zuo Lengshuang said angrily: "Take him down, when the Head Dao Warrior comes back, we will charge him for his crimes! Chong Guang, for sure that Luo Yang has not gotten far. Take some people and search for him!"
"Yes." Shakyamuni Chong Guang knew that capturing that Luo Yang would be their only way out. Or else, none of them would be able to escape the responsibility. When the Head Dao Warrior returned, even if they were pardoned from death, they would suffer heavily!
After Shakyamuni Chong Guang had left, those disciples that had escaped from the Nine Refined Mysterious Wind Valley arrived one after another. When these people saw Luo Zhen being restrained, they were also incredibly nervous as their heart pounded.
Zuo Lengshuang interrogated each one of them and everyone told the same story. The suspected culprit behind everything that had happened pointed towards Luo Yang! Zuo Lengshuang said to the remaining two Elders: "Go investigate, how many direct and side relatives Luo Yang have in the sect. For those alive, bring all of them here!"
"Yes!""
After this great calamity, the entire Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect had finally gathered some clues. Currently, Bao Bao and Lone were also rus.h.i.+ng towards the main gates of the Heavenly Sun Mountain.