Three Ghostly Disciples of the Captive Monk

After the disciples had tasted some, Gu Changyuan steered the conversation to the main business at hand—the current situation of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

The ten disciples gave a brief overview of the circumstances.

In short: constant friction.

Having been established for a millennium, the Heavenly Demon Sect had long secured its foothold in the Demon Realm, relying on the foundation Gu Changyuan left behind and the terrifying strength of the ten Demon Ancestors. It had become a formidable power that could not be ignored.

However, the higher you stand, the more eyes are fixed upon you.

Over the years, countless factions had clashed with the Heavenly Demon Sect.

These included veteran demon clans native to the Demon Realm, sects from the Human Realm envious of the Demon Realm's resources, and even mysterious factions lurking in the shadows with unknown origins.

They varied in size and visibility; some tested the waters while others openly provoked, employing both covert schemes and overt plots.

Such conflicts were all too common in the cultivation world.

But now that Gu Changyuan had returned, if any faction dared to provoke the Heavenly Demon Sect or harm its disciples again—

He would naturally take decisive action.

And turn them into abundant cultivation resources.

Their casual chat continued until sunset the next day before finally coming to an end.

Next came another important matter: meeting with all the elders of the sect.

Gu Changyuan led the ten disciples to the third level of the Main Coffin.

This was the Heavenly Demon Sect's most important assembly hall, spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people.

Gu Changyuan took his seat on the high dais.

The ten Demon Ancestors lined up on either side, standing just below the dais.

Clang—

A bell tolled, its sound distant and profound, piercing through the entire Main Coffin and echoing across the whole Heavenly Demon Sect.

The elders, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately transformed into streaks of flowing light without a word.

They flew out from their respective cave dwellings and palaces, speeding toward the third level of the Main Coffin.

They had waited far too long for this moment.

Ever since learning the news of the Sect Master's return, these elders had been eagerly anticipating his summons, waiting to catch a glimpse of the legendary founding master with their own eyes.

Now, the bell had finally tolled!

Figures filed into the hall one after another, taking their respective positions.

Sitting upright on the high dais, Gu Changyuan's calm gaze swept over each elder as they continuously entered below.

At the same time, deep within his sea of consciousness, the system interface quietly emerged.

Lines of information flowed silently, laying out the background, aptitude, and other details of every elder clearly before his eyes.

Soon, all the elders had arrived.

The heavy hall doors slowly closed with a muffled rumble.

The next instant, all the elders dropped to one knee in perfect unison.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Gu Changyuan's gaze swept over the gathered elders below. The total number was even fewer than the elders of the Heavenly Monster Pavilion.

Grand Yin Elders: eighteen.

Supreme Elders: eighty-nine.

Ordinary Elders: over a hundred.

After all, the environment in the Demon Realm was brutal. Those who could pass the trials and qualify to join the sect were already few.

And those who could survive countless slaughters and climb step by step to the position of elder were even rarer.

"Rise first."

Gu Changyuan spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, yet it entered every elder's ears with absolute clarity.

The elders rose as instructed, standing with their heads bowed, awaiting the Sect Master's instructions.

However, Gu Changyuan's next move was completely different from what he had done at the Heavenly Monster Pavilion and the Heavenly Human Holy Land.

He did not begin with a gentle greeting, nor did he offer a single polite pleasantry.

He simply sat there quietly, his right hand gently tapping against the armrest of his chair.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Every sound felt like it was striking right at the apex of the elders' hearts.

The rhythmic tapping echoed in the pin-drop silent hall, growing heavier and more oppressive with each beat.

The solemn atmosphere, like an invisible mountain, slowly pressed down on the shoulders of every elder.

Cold sweat seeped from the foreheads of some.

Others swallowed hard, their Adam's apples bobbing.

Their hearts all tightened in unison—what did the Sect Master mean by this?

The fourth tap fell.

Gu Changyuan raised his right hand.

Snap.

A crisp snap of his fingers.

The next instant—

Three figures appeared out of thin air in the very center of the hall without any warning.

They were three Ghost Clan disciples, still maintaining their previous postures:

One was holding a blood crystal used for cultivation, another had his mouth half-open as if speaking, and the third had his hand suspended in mid-air.

Clearly, just a second ago, they had been in their own cave dwellings going about their business.

Now, they looked around blankly, their eyes filled with utter confusion.

How were they suddenly teleported?

When they clearly saw their surroundings, that confusion instantly turned into extreme horror—

All around them, rows of elders with imposing auras were staring at them with various complex expressions.

Below the high dais ahead, the ten Demon Ancestors stood on either side. Their auras, just from standing there, made the disciples' very souls tremble.

And on the high dais, that black-clad figure...

That was the Sect Master!!!

Almost instinctively, the three demons went weak at the knees and dropped to the ground with a thud, their foreheads heavily knocking against the freezing floor.

"G-greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Demon Ancestors! Greetings, Elders!"

Their voices trembled, carrying an unconcealable dread.

They did not know why they had been summoned here, but whatever the reason, being stared at by the Sect Master and the ten Demon Ancestors simultaneously was definitely not a good thing.

Gu Changyuan looked down from his high vantage point at the three shivering figures and let out a cold snort.

"Hmph."

That single cold snort was like ten-thousand-year-old ice, instantly causing the temperature in the entire hall to plummet.

"At least you know how to pay your respects."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

"It's just that you don't abide by the sect's rules at all."

As his words fell, the bodies of the three demons violently stiffened!

Rules?!

What rules?!

Their minds raced, desperately trying to recall what they had done recently and whether they had violated any sect regulations.

Then, the face of one of the demons suddenly turned deathly pale.

Gu Changyuan's gaze landed unerringly on that Ghost Clan disciple whose expression had drastically changed.

His voice remained calm, yet it sounded like a final judgment:

"Blackstone City. You should know of it, shouldn't you?"

The moment those words were spoken, the Ghost Clan disciple's body trembled violently like a sieve.

The other two demons beside him finally realized it as well, their faces instantly turning uglier than their naturally livid Ghost Clan complexion.

"In that city, how many cultivators... have been treated as your blood-food for cultivation and kept like livestock?"