No one expected that Du Jinghong would choose not to challenge Chu Tianchen.
Moreover, from her conversation with Chu Tianchen, everyone could tell that she and Chu Tianchen had known each other for a long time.
In fact, the two of them had a good impression of each other.
Ye Wentian squinted his eyes and immediately guessed what Du Jinghong was thinking, and he knew it in his heart, without any change in his expression.
The elders were not stupid. After thinking for a moment, they understood Du Jinghong's thoughts and stopped asking further questions.
Only a few true disciples were puzzled and cast doubtful looks at Du Jinghong.
Especially Ji Kongcheng, Bai Yunsheng and Xiao Qi all had unwilling expressions.
However, they also understood the general situation and did not ask questions on the spot.
As the initiator of the competition challenge, Elder Chuan Gong said a few words with a smile on his face and praised Chu Tianchen, indicating that the challenge was over.
Chu Tianchen bowed his hands to Ye Wentian and others, and said, "Thank you very much, Master Ye, for your hospitality. I, the juniors, will not participate in the following dinner.
While it's still early, I'll go to Qingyun Peak to check the situation on the spot."
In fact, no one was interested in the singing, dancing, wine and dishes at the dinner.
The contest between Chu Tianchen and several true disciples was over, so the dinner party was naturally meaningless.
Ye Wentian nodded slightly and said, "Please, Mr. Chu."
So, Chu Tianchen, accompanied by the mountain guardian elders, left Bixiao Palace and flew towards Qingyun Peak.
Qi Rulong, Ling Shuangyue and Chu Xiner also said goodbye and left.
Ye Wentian waved his hand, indicating to the elders to leave, and went back to Bixiao Palace to rest.
After a while, only four true disciples were left outside the hall.
Ji Kongcheng, Xiao Qi and Bai Yunsheng could not restrain their doubts and quickly stopped Du Jinghong who was about to leave.
"Sister Du, why don't you challenge Chu Tianchen?"
"Senior Sister, we are all counting on you to make a comeback and help us get back on our feet."
"That's right, before the dinner started, Master also reminded us that we must perform well tonight and try to defeat Chu Tianchen's spirit.
I think the sect master must have told you, why didn't you obey the order?"
Facing the three people's doubts, Du Jinghong explained in a calm tone: "Three junior brothers, I can understand your feelings of loss and unwillingness.
But you should calm down and recognize the reality as soon as possible.
Chu Tianchen easily defeated you without revealing any trump cards or even using weapons.
Even if I challenge him, it will only last a few more rounds, and there will be no suspense in the ending."
Hearing this, the three of them were filled with surprise and doubt, shaking their heads repeatedly to express their disbelief and unwillingness to accept this result.
Du Jinghong didn't say much, but added earnestly: "The sect master is right, although you are all the proud sons of heaven, you are also the hope of our sect's future.
But you have been practicing hard in seclusion, and you are all aloof and indifferent. You are really not wise enough or flexible enough.
The three of you lost one after another. Not only did you not defeat Chu Tianchen's majesty, but you also solidified his reputation as the number one genius.
It's okay if I don't challenge him, at least there's no chance of winning or losing, and I can still save some face for my sect.
If I lose to him, then our sect will lose even the last bit of its dignity.
No result is the best result, do you understand?"
After saying these words, Du Jinghong shook his head helplessly, turned and left.
Only Ji Kongcheng was left, Xiao Qi and Bai Yunsheng stayed where they were, looking at each other with helpless wry smiles.
"Even Senior Sister thinks she is no match for him. Is that boy really invincible among his peers?"
"He is only eighteen years old, and his strength is already so terrifying.
I really can’t imagine how far he will have grown when he reaches thirty like us."
"What Senior Sister said makes sense, she is the number one genius in our sect and also the last face of our sect.
No result is indeed the best result.”
"Fortunately, the sect master and the elders were present, so Chu Tianchen did not dare to be too presumptuous and did not challenge the senior sister forcefully.
Otherwise, if Senior Sister also loses to him, our sect will be completely embarrassed."
After whispering for a few words, the three of them calmed down and then dispersed.
…
Chu Tianchen followed the mountain guardian elder and flew into the night sky, heading straight for Qingyun Peak in the east.
On the way, the silent mountain guardian elder suddenly said to Chu Tianchen: "Mr. Chu, thank you."
Chu Tianchen was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, he didn't know whether the elder protecting the mountain was referring to him helping Qingshan Sword Sect, or whether he was saving face for Qingshan Sword Sect tonight.
"The elder who protects the mountain is too polite."
Chu Tianchen nodded to the elder who protected the mountain, and said in a playful tone: "If you really want to say it, I should be the one thanking you.
If you hadn't acted impartially, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to enter the Qingshan Sword Sect.
The other elders are not like you, who only care about the safety and interests of the sect."
The elder protecting the mountain heard something in his words, but he couldn't say anything more and could only smile awkwardly.
Soon, the two of them flew over Qingyun Peak.
Even though it was late at night, everything was still and the night was vast.
But there were dots of lights on Qingyun Peak, and there were many figures walking back and forth.
There are also wisps of purple light surrounding the thousand-foot solitary peak, making it look a bit dreamy.
Chu Tianchen stopped high in the sky and flew around Qingyun Peak to observe the surrounding situation.
Seeing him frowning and looking a little solemn, the mountain guard elder asked in a worried tone: "Mr. Chu, is there any problem?"
Chu Tianchen said in a low tone: "More and more demonic energy and purple light are gathering under Qingyun Peak. If this situation continues, the power of the evil spirit's remnant soul will recover faster and faster."
The elders who protect the mountain, like most people, can only see that Qingyun Peak is surrounded by demonic energy, and the situation seems not good.
But his vision was very blurry and he was unable to sense the specific amount of demonic energy.
Chu Tianchen was different. After practicing the Tao of Taiqing, he became most sensitive to the various auras of the demons.
After he used the Jianzhen Spiritual Eye, he could even see the direction and trajectory of the flow of demonic energy around Qingyun Peak.
"Let's go and have a look at the top of the mountain."
Chu Tianchen flew to the top of the mountain with the mountain guardian elders and carefully inspected the buildings and layout on the top of the mountain.
On the top of the mountain with a radius of thousands of feet, there is only a sword-hiding pavilion, a sword-washing pool and a house.
More than 300 guards are stationed here. Some are standing guard on the top of the mountain, while others are patrolling around. The security is very tight.
When Chu Tianchen looked around, the mountain guardian elder took the initiative to introduce: "The Tiangang Demon Subduing Array and the Wanxiang Demon Sealing Array that suppress the remnants of evil spirits are both under Qingyun Peak, thousands of feet deep underground.
The entrance to the underground is on the top of this mountain, Mr. Chu, do you want to go underground and take a look?"
"Of course." Chu Tianchen nodded.
So, the mountain guard elder took him into the Hidden Sword Pavilion and entered the hall on the second floor.
There was no sword stored in the empty hall, only mysterious formations were carved on the floor and walls.
There is a complex pattern in the middle of the hall, like a formation disk.
The elder protecting the mountain took out his identity token, embedded it in the middle of the formation plate, and then cast a spell to activate the formation.
"Whoosh!"
In the blink of an eye, the formation plate lit up with a dazzling spiritual light, and a portal quickly formed.
The mountain guardian elder took Chu Tianchen through the portal and left the Hidden Sword Pavilion.
The next moment, the two of them appeared in a dark and empty cave thousands of feet deep underground.
This cave is very vast, with a radius of at least ten miles and a height of five hundred feet.
Dense formations can be seen everywhere on the floor and rock walls of the cave, intertwined into various patterns.
In addition, there are forty-nine stone sculptures placed in the cave, arranged in a special formation.
Those stone carvings are full of strange things, depicting strong human beings, powerful monsters and ferocious beasts, and even legendary mythical beasts.
Chu Tianchen could tell at a glance that those stone carvings were definitely not decorations.
Each stone sculpture is carefully refined and has the effect of gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, acting as the eye of the formation, and enhancing the power of the formation.
Moreover, the forty-nine stone sculptures are obviously part of the formation eyes of the Vientiane Demon Sealing Array, used to increase the power of the Vientiane Demon Sealing Array.
Chu Tianchen flew slowly in the cave, carefully observing the various stone sculptures and endless formation patterns.
The dark night sky was filled with purple light from stars, and a hazy purple air was flowing.
Eventually, all the purple light and demonic energy gathered in the center of the cave, a nine-story black stone altar.
That mysterious black stone altar is very ancient, at least two thousand years old.
The surface of the altar is engraved with mysterious symbols, and there are hundreds of criss-crossing bloody lines on it.
At the top of the altar, there is a dark golden stone tablet without words, which is always blooming with sacred golden light.
Obviously, this altar is the core of the sealing formation and the place where the remnant souls of evil spirits are sealed.
The eyes of the mountain guardian elder looked at the altar, which were full of worry, but also filled with a bit of fear and hatred.
Chu Tianchen stood under the altar, staring calmly at the wordless golden tablet, secretly releasing his spiritual consciousness to explore the situation inside the altar.
As soon as his spiritual consciousness entered the altar, a low, hoarse roar sounded in his mind.
The roar was very weird, not like a human voice, but more like the roar of demons and monsters.
He listened carefully and heard that old hoarse voice, constantly shouting words like 'die die die... kill kill kill...'.
He wanted to listen to more content, but suddenly his scalp tightened, his consciousness trembled, and he felt dizzy.
"What a terrifying brain-penetrating demonic sound!"
This thought flashed through his mind. Chu Tianchen was startled and quickly withdrew his spiritual consciousness.
Even though he had reached the imperial realm, he still couldn't resist the demonic sound emitted by the evil demon's remnant soul.
This was still the case when the evil spirit's remnant soul had been sealed away for two thousand years and was extremely weak.
He simply couldn't imagine how terrifying that evil demon was in his heyday?
"Mr. Chu, are you okay?"
The mountain guarding elder noticed something strange about Chu Tianchen and quickly asked with a concerned tone.
"It's okay." Chu Tianchen waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to worry.
“The situation here is worse than I expected.
The Tiangang Demon-Conquering Array has long since lost its effect.
The effectiveness of the Vientiane Demon Sealing Array is also continuing to weaken, making it difficult to continue sealing the evil spirit's remnant soul.
Moreover, that remnant soul had accumulated two thousand years of anger and murderous intent, and had long been filled with resentment.
Once it breaks the seal, it will definitely destroy the Qingshan Sword Sect and even kill all living creatures in the Qianchuan Ancient Territory!"