Chapter 343: Various Sides

Black Sand Grotto-Heaven.

Atop a high mountain, amidst swirling clouds and mist, stood several pavilions. On the top floor platform of one nine-story pavilion, Bai Yaoyue sat cross-legged, her eyes filled with anger. At that moment, two illusory figures flew in from a distance.

"Junior Sister Bai, why have you summoned us?" The illusory figures of Meng Tiange and Mi Yu flew over.

"Xue Feng is dead," Bai Yaoyue stated coldly and directly.

"How is that possible?" Meng Tiange asked anxiously.

"Mount Yuanchu just informed me; he was killed by Demon Saint Huang Yao, just outside Safeng City," Bai Yaoyue replied.

Venerable Mi Yu, clad in purple robes, couldn't help but say, "Mount Yuanchu is truly useless. They made a deal with our Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, even accepting three thousand Iron Stone Beasts! Yet now they couldn't even protect Xue Feng's life."

"According to Mount Yuanchu, they had given Xue Feng one of the 'protective bracelets' refined by the Undying Emperor. Although Huang Yao is a fifth-tier demon king after possessing a body, he can still unleash the power of a newly promoted Creation Venerable. Within a few breaths, with continuous attacks, the power within the protective bracelet was exhausted, and Xue Feng lost his life."

Meng Tiange sighed, "Xue Feng was, after all, a Marquis Godfiend. The power of treasures he activated with his own Dark Star True Essence was too weak. He could only rely on the bracelet's inherent strength."

"Our Black Sand lineage has only discovered one genius capable of becoming a Venerable after all these years." Venerable Mi Yu was somewhat angry. "Mount Yuanchu is truly trash. Since they made a deal, they should have protected Xue Feng's life. For example, by having Xue Feng stay on the mountain and not guard cities."

"They couldn't protect Xue Feng, yet they took our three thousand Iron Stone Beasts," Meng Tiange said coldly. "It's not easy for our Sabre-Halberd Hall to refine three thousand Iron Stone Beasts. Mount Yuanchu must give us an explanation."

"Now, shamelessly, they refuse to return the three thousand Iron Stone Beasts," Bai Yaoyue said coldly. "However, they must provide us with a satisfactory explanation."

"Xue Feng is dead; I will never be satisfied," Venerable Mi Yu said angrily.

The approaches of Black Sand Grotto-Heaven and Mount Yuanchu were completely different. Mount Yuanchu was relatively free and lenient, with disciples of similar strength having relatively equal status. Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, however, had strict and severe rules, with a rigid hierarchy internally. If Xue Feng had been in Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, his status would have been much higher, and he would have enjoyed many privileges. It would have been even less likely for him to undertake overly dangerous tasks. He would have been assigned relatively easier missions. Only after he was confirmed to have sufficient self-preservation capabilities would he have been sent out.

"What's lost is lost," Bai Yaoyue shook her head. "We should focus on cultivating our own disciples."

"The root cause of this is still the million demon kings." Meng Tiange's illusory figure frowned. "With a million demon kings attacking everywhere, Marquis Godfiends have to exert all their strength to defend entire cities, naturally exposing their positions. Some powerful demon kings can then launch sneak attacks. In the past two years, our Black Sand Grotto-Heaven has lost seven Marquis Godfiends because of this."

"The Patrol Godfiends have also suffered heavy losses in their efforts to protect the world," Venerable Mi Yu said with some heartache.

"There are over a million demon kings in the world," Bai Yaoyue's expression also grew solemn. "And tens of thousands more are added each year. The pressure they bring, whether by attacking cities or hunting mortals, is immense. These million demon kings prevent ancient King Godfiends from daring to slumber, put Marquis Godfiends at risk of death, and force numerous Patrol Godfiends to fight desperately."

"Now, we can only hope for King Bai Yu," Meng Tiange said. "King Bai Yu's self-created ultimate art, 'Nine Heavens and Ten Earths,' excels at underground detection. If he breaks through to the 'Grotto-Heaven realm,' his underground detection range and speed will both greatly increase. He could likely slay demon kings ten times faster."

"He is at the peak of the Dharma Domain realm, and as part of the Reincarnation lineage, reaching the Grotto-Heaven realm is extremely difficult," Bai Yaoyue gently shook her head. "He spent some time in the World Rift before, but still couldn't break through."

Meng Tiange nodded, "In terms of top-tier combat strength, the demon race is far inferior and can only hide. But the sheer number of ordinary demon kings is too great. Even decades from now, the demon world might have bred a new, massive batch of demon kings, perhaps sending in another million."

Bai Yaoyue and Mi Yu remained silent.

This was a major dilemma. All three major sects were troubled by it now.

Duyang City.

In a courtyard, King Anhai sat quietly, cross-legged, comprehending the move 'Spring and Autumn Tribulation.' For King Anhai, aside from when demon kings attacked cities and he had to confront them, all other times were spent cultivating.

"'Spring and Autumn Tribulation.'" King Anhai gazed at the void; time was tangible in his eyes.

Whoosh.

A flying demon king soared high in the sky, dropped a letter, and then departed.

King Anhai reached out and took the letter.

"A letter from Mount Yuanchu?" King Anhai opened the envelope, took out the letter, and unfolded it.

King Anhai's body, usually as steady as a mountain, trembled slightly. His right hand, holding the letter, also couldn't help but shake, but he quickly regained control. King Anhai's eyes grew deeper. He stared at the letter for over ten breaths, unmoving.

"Feng'er, rest well." King Anhai's voice was hoarse. The letter in his hand silently turned to dust. "Demon Saint Huang Yao, I, your father, will surely slay him!"

King Anhai closed his eyes, and after a long time, reopened them to continue cultivating 'Spring and Autumn Tribulation.'

Night fell.

Meng Chuan, who had spent the entire day surveying underground, returned to his home in Jiangzhou City.

"A'Chuan, why are you back so late today?" Liu Qiyue asked with a smile. "Dinner's been ready for a while."

Meng Chuan walked to the dining table in the hall. The aroma of food filled the air, but Meng Chuan had no appetite.

"What's wrong?" Liu Qiyue asked, noticing her husband was not himself. In the past, even after using the Thunder God-eye all day and being mentally fatigued, Meng Chuan was always full of fighting spirit.

"Xue Feng is dead," Meng Chuan said. "Just this noon."

"Senior Brother Xue?" Liu Qiyue couldn't believe it. "Didn't Senior Brother Xue already reach the Dharma Domain realm?"

"Demon Saint Huang Yao possessed a body and infiltrated the human world. Although he is a fifth-tier demon king, his power and realm are extremely terrifying, even surpassing King Anhai. Xue Feng couldn't escape at all," Meng Chuan said hoarsely. "I'm a bit tired. I'll go rest in the room for a while."

Liu Qiyue nodded, "Alright." She had less contact with Xue Feng, and during wartime, too many Godfiends died in battle. The death of a more familiar Godfiend was more impactful. When Marquis Tianxing died in battle years ago, Liu Qiyue grieved for a long time. While Xue Feng's death brought her heartache and regret, her feelings weren't as intense as Meng Chuan's.

Back inside the room.

Meng Chuan lay on his side on the bed, hugging his quilt with his eyes closed. He also experienced joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness; he wasn't truly numb. Every day, chasing demon kings underground, he often received distress calls from 'Patrol Godfiends.' But often, by the time he arrived, all he found were the bodies of the Patrol Godfiends.

Time after time, grief. This time, when he arrived, he could only distantly witness Demon Saint Huang Yao killing Xue Feng, utterly helpless.

He was truly tired. His heart was weary.

Liu Qiyue quietly entered the room and saw her husband, lying there like a child, had fallen asleep. Meng Chuan was clutching the quilt, and faint tear traces were visible at the corners of his eyes.

"A'Chuan is tired too," Liu Qiyue lay down beside him, leaning on Meng Chuan, and also fell asleep.

The path was difficult, but at least they, as husband and wife, always walked it side by side.

Meng Chuan opened his eyes. It was late at night. The fatigue from using the Thunder God-eye was gone, and the intense emotions from before had faded considerably during his sleep.

"Are you awake?" Liu Qiyue also woke up.

"Yes, I'll go sit in the study," Meng Chuan smiled, kissing his wife's cheek. "I'm fine now, still full of fighting spirit."

Liu Qiyue smiled and nodded.

After getting up, Meng Chuan went to the study and lit a lamp.

Swish. He placed drawing paper on the table, weighed it down with a paperweight, then mixed paints, looking at the paper before him.

He wanted to use his paintings to record certain people and certain events. These people and these events should never be forgotten, never.