Chapter 454: A Fourth-Order Array Master Takes the Field!

The main hall of Tianqian Sect had now become the main hall of Zichen Sect.

Ever since the Southern Domain Sect Assembly, Zichen Sect had taken over the nest and made this their headquarters.

But at this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall was quite oppressive.

The death of Supreme Elder Ma Yi caught everyone in Zichen Sect off guard, including Sect Master He Mingde.

He Mingde had the appearance of a middle-aged man, and every move he made exuded the demeanor of a grand master.

However, a hint of gloom between his brows marred his temperament.

Nowadays, everyone in the Southern Domain knew that He Mingde was a man of great forbearance. For so many years as sect master, he had only shown himself to be at the first layer of the Soul Sea realm.

It wasn't until the so-called Southern Domain Sect Assembly that he made a stunning debut, suppressing all the sect masters and supreme elders.

Now, the Southern Domain could almost be said to be his world alone.

But now, this foremost man of the Southern Domain had run into no small trouble.

At present, of the remaining six major sects, five had been completely wiped out, but the weakest, Youyun Sect, had instead dealt Zichen Sect a heavy blow!

"What do you all think of Youyun Sect using its protective grand array to kill Ma Yi?" He Mingde asked calmly, his emotions unreadable.

"If you ask me, Ma Yi must have been careless and got ambushed by those trash from Youyun Sect! That a protective grand array could easily kill a Soul Sea realm martial artist—wouldn't that be a joke if it got out?" said a Soul Sea realm supreme elder.

"Yes, Youyun Sect's protective grand array is a fourth-grade lower array. I can believe Ma Yi couldn't break it, but that he was easily killed by it—I'd never believe that! Something must have happened that we don't know about!"

"Sect Master, let me take some men. I'll break the array in no time and wipe out all those little thieves!"

A dozen or so Soul Sea elders chimed in, most of them refusing to believe that Youyun Sect's protective grand array could easily kill Ma Yi.

The power of Soul Sea realm martial artists was deeply ingrained in everyone's minds, and everyone knew the ins and outs of the eight major sects.

The protective grand arrays of the eight sects could at most withstand attacks from the mid Soul Sea realm, but killing Ma Yi—how could that be so easy?

Not to mention that Youyun Sect now had no Soul Sea realm martial artist stationed there.

He Mingde, however, grew irritated and waved his hand, saying, "All of you, shut up! What do you mean it's impossible to kill? Was Ma Yi's body molded from clay by the disciples? Use your brains, will you? If His Majesty the Phoenix Emperor is about to open the passage between the two realms and launch the holy war, and we can't unify the Southern Domain as the foundation for His Majesty's personal arrival in the Boundless Realm, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

Hearing this, everyone wisely shut their mouths.

The Phoenix Emperor's wrath was no joke.

At that moment, an old man in blue robes suddenly stood up, cupped his hands, and asked He Mingde, "I wonder if the Sect Master has asked Tian Feng and Luo Qingfeng whether Youyun Sect might have a third Soul Sea realm expert?"

He Mingde said, "Of course! I deliberately told them this news. They were both stunned, and it was definitely not an act. Clearly, they were also very surprised by what happened! I'm puzzled—who is controlling the array to have such power?"

The old man in blue frowned, "Since Youyun Sect doesn't have a third Soul Sea realm martial artist, could it be... that the three sects of the Northern Domain have discovered our true identity?"

He Mingde shook his head, "Impossible! I've made thorough preparations for this day! Before we made our move, I had already sent people to pledge allegiance to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and promised them huge benefits. They won't interfere in Southern Domain affairs!"

"Then... could it be a wandering array master who happened to pass by Youyun Sect?" the old man in blue frowned.

He Mingde sighed, "Now Youyun Sect is holed up and won't come out. We can't get any information! But no matter what, we can't let those remnants of Youyun Sect gain a foothold! Elder He Jun, I leave the matter of breaking the array to you!"

The old man in blue bowed, "Serving His Majesty the Phoenix Emperor, He Jun will do his utmost! A fourth-grade array—I'll make it as good as nonexistent!"

He Mingde smiled and nodded, "I trust Elder He Jun's strength! You are a fourth-grade intermediate array master. If even you can't find a way, then no one in the Southern Domain can break this array. But... to be safe, let Liao Wenguang go with you, so you can look out for each other! Remember, once the array is broken, kill everyone without mercy!"

Another Soul Sea realm martial artist rose from his seat, "As you command!"

This Soul Sea realm martial artist was actually a fourth-layer Soul Sea realm martial artist!

A fourth-grade intermediate array master paired with a fourth-layer Soul Sea realm martial artist—such a lineup was considered luxurious in the Southern Domain.

...

Tianqian Sect, Chongtian Peak.

This was the place where the sect masters and supreme elders of the various sects were imprisoned.

Their Yuan Power Seas had been sealed with restrictions, making them unable to mobilize any Yuan power, no different from cripples.

Tian Feng and Luo Qingfeng were imprisoned together, and Zichen Sect wasn't worried about them causing any trouble.

"Uncle-Master, who do you think... has come to our Youyun Sect?" Luo Qingfeng asked with a frown.

"The sect's high-level members were almost all captured. I really can't think of anyone in the sect who has the ability to stop Zichen Sect's iron cavalry!" Tian Feng clearly didn't know either.

Luo Qingfeng said, "Although He Mingde only came to test us and didn't say what happened, I could tell from his demeanor that something major must have occurred!"

He Mingde only asked whether Youyun Sect had any Soul Sea realm experts and didn't tell them about Ma Yi's death.

But Luo Qingfeng was no ordinary man.

Through careful observation, he had already deduced a great deal!

Tian Feng shook his head, "Even if something major happened, what use is it with He Mingde, a seventh-layer Soul Sea realm expert? The destruction of Youyun Sect is only a matter of time."

Luo Qingfeng suddenly thought of something and lowered his voice excitedly, "Uncle-Master, could it be... that Ye Yuan has returned?"

Tian Feng was startled, then shook his head, "If he were coming back, he would have returned long ago! At the sect assembly, didn't you hear that no one who went to the secret realm came back? It's been months now. The hope of Ye Yuan surviving is too slim! And even if Ye Yuan did return, he wouldn't be a match for Zichen Sect. He Mingde was asking about Soul Sea realm experts."

Hearing Tian Feng's analysis, Luo Qingfeng also felt deeply disappointed.

The two exchanged glances, both showing intense regret.

If only they had a few more years, Ye Yuan would surely have grown.

But now... everything was lost!

"Alas... to think that Youyun Sect's millennia-old foundation has been ruined by our hands! How can we face our ancestors?" Tian Feng lamented.