Chapter 661: Battle Achievements Shake the Heart

Above the turbulent sea, numerous figures hovered in the air, their bodies radiating powerful Origin Qi. As the immense Origin Qi surged and roared, it caused distortions in the space around them.

While the waves outside were monstrous, the sea surface beneath them remained as calm as a placid pool.

On a Dharma Boat, the Ripple Peak Master, dressed in palace attire, sat quietly. Her figure was graceful, and her bright eyes gazed at the void ahead, a hint of tension deep within them.

She knew that after several months of intense struggle, the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto was drawing to a close, and soon, disciples from various sects would emerge from it.

She wondered about the Azure Mysterious Sect's gains and casualties this time.

The Ripple Peak Master was aware that every time the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto opened, the Azure Mysterious Sect would lose Sacred Sons. In the worst instance, nearly half of their ten Sacred Sons had fallen, and chief disciples from various peaks had also suffered heavy casualties.

The Sacred Palace was always the culprit behind such outcomes.

This time, the Sacred Palace disciples' overall strength still surpassed that of the Azure Mysterious Sect. Given the long-standing animosity between the two factions, conflict was inevitable. Therefore, the Ripple Peak Master was unsure what price the Azure Mysterious Sect disciples would have to pay this time.

"Damn the Sacred Palace!"

The Ripple Peak Master gritted her teeth, finding the Sacred Palace utterly detestable.

"Heh heh, Ripple Peak Master, this venerable one's ears are not yet deaf. Is there a need for such direct insults?" As the Ripple Peak Master's voice faded, a faint chuckle drifted down from the sky.

The Ripple Peak Master cast a cold gaze. In the nearby void stood a mountain-like structure seemingly formed from Origin Qi. At its summit, a figure sat cross-legged, radiating a terrifying aura of pressure.

It was none other than Qin Ling, the Sacred Palace's Fourth Hall Master.

"And what if I did?" the Ripple Peak Master retorted with a sneer.

Qin Ling smiled faintly and said, "Ripple Peak Master, you merely excel at verbal sparring. But with such a temper now, wouldn't you explode with rage if you see the remnants of your Azure Mysterious Sect emerge later?"

"Perhaps it's your Sacred Palace that will have few survivors," the Ripple Peak Master said icily.

Qin Ling curled his lip slightly, scoffing, "Ripple Peak Master, do you even believe that yourself?"

The Ripple Peak Master's beautiful eyes turned cold, but she remained silent. She knew her words were merely an outburst of anger. The Sacred Palace disciples were powerful, led by their three formidable Sacred Sons: Jiang Taishen, Zhantai Qing, and Jin Chanzu. While the Azure Mysterious Sect was not weak, they were still a notch below their opponents.

Seeing the Ripple Peak Master fall silent, Qin Ling's sneer deepened. The anger of a loser was truly laughable. He truly looked forward to seeing how grim the Ripple Peak Master's expression would become when the results were revealed.

Over the years, witnessing the unsightly expressions of the Azure Mysterious Sect after each Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto had become a perverse pleasure for the Sacred Palace's Hall Masters.

Most of the high-ranking officials from other sects also secretly shook their heads, casting sympathetic glances at the Ripple Peak Master. Based on past experience, the Azure Mysterious Sect had not managed to turn the tables on the Sacred Palace for many years, and it seemed unlikely this time would be an exception.

It was truly a lamentable situation; the Azure Mysterious Sect, once the foremost sect in the Azure Profound Heaven, was now so suppressed by the Sacred Palace that it couldn't regain its footing.

Just as these thoughts stirred within the minds of the various high-ranking officials, chaotic spatial fluctuations suddenly erupted in the area. Space began to twist and then tore open, revealing numerous passages.

The officials from all sides quickly focused, awaiting the outcome. These disciples were the carefully cultivated elites of their respective sects, and excessive losses here would be a tremendous blow to their organizations.

Under the anxious gazes of the various high-ranking officials, spatial passages continually appeared, and finally, countless streaks of light shot out from them.

The entire sky above the sea instantly became a chaotic roar of activity.

The Ripple Peak Master's eyes were fixed on a spatial passage nearby; she could already sense the Origin Qi fluctuations of some Azure Mysterious Sect disciples emanating from it.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Under her intense scrutiny, the spatial passage suddenly trembled, and then streaks of light rapidly shot out.

"Chu Qing, Qing Chan, Kong Sheng, Ye Ge, Zhou Yuan..."

As soon as the streaks of light emerged from the spatial passage, the Ripple Peak Master identified them all. She quickly scanned them, and a look of delight immediately appeared on her beautiful face.

She realized that all ten Sacred Sons and chief disciples of the Azure Mysterious Sect were present, without any casualties.

"How is that possible?" But immediately after, she was stunned by this outcome. In all the years her Azure Mysterious Sect disciples had entered the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto, there had never been a single occasion when a Sacred Son or chief disciple hadn't fallen.

For a moment, even the Ripple Peak Master doubted if she had seen incorrectly. She scanned them carefully again before finally letting out a huge sigh of relief.

"Heh heh, your Azure Mysterious Sect disciples must have been hiding in the outer regions, never venturing deep into the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto, right?" Not far away, Hall Master Qin Ling also noticed the situation and immediately scoffed aloud.

He knew very well that even their Sacred Palace would experience the death of Sacred Sons in every Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto. Yet, the Azure Mysterious Sect's entire contingent was perfectly fine?

Did they truly think the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto was a sightseeing trip?!

The only possibility was that the Azure Mysterious Sect had not ventured deep at all, merely circling the periphery!

The Ripple Peak Master's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

At this moment, high-ranking officials from other factions also cast their gazes over. If things were truly as Qin Ling suggested, then the Azure Mysterious Sect would become a huge joke this time.

Many of the emerging Azure Mysterious Sect disciples also noticed this scene, and their expressions immediately grew somewhat odd.

Li Qingchan stepped forward first, her beautiful eyes meeting the Ripple Peak Master's. She cupped her fist and reported, "Reporting, Peak Master, during this expedition to the Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto, our Azure Mysterious Sect acquired three eight-color God-Building wondrous treasures, dozens of seven-color God-Building wondrous treasures, and countless other God-Building wondrous treasures of various grades."

As soon as these words were uttered, the previously noisy sky instantly fell silent.

The high-ranking officials from the various sects were all utterly stunned. Three eight-color God-Building wondrous treasures?! In previous Xuan-Origin Celestial Grottos, sometimes not even one would appear, yet this time, the Azure Mysterious Sect had obtained three?!

At this point, who would dare claim that the Azure Mysterious Sect disciples had merely strolled around the periphery?!

Qin Ling's expression also changed slightly, then turned grim as he said, "Ridiculous! Do you truly think eight-color God-Building wondrous treasures are common roadside goods? You say three, and it's three?!"

The Ripple Peak Master's beautiful eyes were also filled with surprise and uncertainty. If Li Qingchan had said they obtained three seven-color God-Building wondrous treasures, she might have believed it. But three eight-color God-Building wondrous treasures? Wasn't that a bit too incredible?

Li Qingchan's pretty face remained calm as she continued, "Regarding enemy kills, our Azure Mysterious Sect eliminated Sacred Palace Sacred Sons Lei Jun, Tie Mo, and Jin Chanzu, and severely wounded Zhantai Qing."

If her previous statement was a clap of thunder, then Li Qingchan's latest words were like a volcanic eruption, shaking heaven and earth. Even the high-ranking officials from the various sects present could not contain themselves, their faces showing extreme shock.

Lei Jun and Tie Mo were not unknown figures among the Sacred Palace's Sacred Sons. But what truly shook them was Jin Chanzu and Zhantai Qing; these two were among the Sacred Palace's top three Sacred Sons!

Yet now, one was dead and the other severely injured?!

"Utter nonsense!"

Qin Ling abruptly stood up, his eyes chillingly fixed on Li Qingchan. He said in a cold voice, "Little girl, such wild boasting is laughable. Our Sacred Palace has more Sacred Sons than you, and we are stronger. Not a single one of your Azure Mysterious Sect Sacred Sons died, yet you dare claim that our Sacred Palace even had Jin Chanzu killed? And Zhantai Qing severely wounded?"

"By what means? Did you kill them with your mouths?"

He then turned to the Ripple Peak Master with a grim expression, sneering, "Are the disciples your Azure Mysterious Sect teaches now only capable of such crude lies?"

"What business is it of yours?!" Although the Ripple Peak Master appeared beautiful and refined, she had quite a fiery temper and immediately retorted.

Only then did her delicate eyebrows furrow slightly as she looked at Li Qingchan, hesitating slightly before asking, "Qingchan, is what you said true?"

Li Qingchan's beautiful eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan, who smiled and lightly patted the Qiankun Pouch at his waist. The next moment, numerous glowing orbs rose, surrounding him. Among them, two orbs radiated an eight-color brilliance, dazzling and eye-catching.

At this moment, silence fell across the sky. Even Qin Ling's eyes flickered wildly, filled with disbelief and uncertainty.

"So many eight-color God-Building wondrous treasures actually appeared in this Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto? Hmph, never mind. I can't be bothered with their nonsense. Once Jiang Taishen and the others emerge, their lies will naturally fall apart." Qin Ling gritted his teeth, but deep down, he felt a subtle unease.

Just then, another spatial passage tore open. Qin Ling's spirits instantly lifted as he sensed the Origin Qi fluctuations of Sacred Palace disciples from within.

High-ranking officials from other sects also turned their gazes towards it. Whether Li Qingchan's previous statements were true or false would become clear once the Sacred Palace disciples emerged.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Under the watchful eyes, streaks of light shot out rapidly from within the spatial passage.

In just ten-odd breaths, all the Sacred Palace disciples appeared.

Qin Ling's gaze swept over them immediately. The next instant, his expression gradually turned grim. He saw that the Sacred Palace disciples who had appeared were all dispirited and low in morale.

Most importantly, he did not see Jin Chanzu, Lei Jun, Tie Mo, or the others among the Sacred Palace's contingent...

In the world, the other high-ranking officials from various sects naturally noticed this situation. Their expressions couldn't help but show emotion, and as they exchanged glances, the shock in their eyes was undeniable.

From the looks of it, what Li Qingchan had said was actually true!

In this Xuan-Origin Celestial Grotto, the Azure Mysterious Sect had actually triumphed over the Sacred Palace!