In the heart of the Crimson Maple Mountain Range.
This place was usually deserted, but this year it had become bustling due to a snow mountain that had suddenly appeared here.
Initially, the five great families, Sun, Lou, Mei, Tang, and Wei, along with the people of Jin Que Kingdom, had racked their brains trying to return to the Divine Revelation Continent. However, they soon discovered that with their abilities, they couldn't even get out of the Crimson Maple Mountain Range.
The great families and Jin Que Kingdom argued incessantly. The Sun family head and Lou family head, who had caused all this, had long been removed from their positions by their clansmen. Every day, the snow mountain was filled with shouts and brawls, a chaotic mess.
Furthermore, it soon became apparent that perhaps due to the strong presence of human life, groups of spiritual beasts from the Crimson Maple Mountain Range would frequently attack. After several such encounters, the great families suffered heavy losses.
Seeing their elders and high-level cultivators dying one by one, the great families could no longer sit idly by, and all sorts of tactics were deployed.
"The Lou family seems quiet, but they've driven their weak and infirm to the clan grounds to feed the spiritual beasts. Do they think the spiritual beasts, once fed, won't attack people?" Sun Zheng, the newly appointed head of the Sun family, frowned, "This is utterly insane! How can they be called human cultivators!"
"Instead of criticizing the Lou family here, Family Head, you should think of a good solution. If this continues, the Sun family's extinction is imminent," said Sun Yicai, the former head of the Sun family.
Sun Zheng retorted angrily, "Who caused the extinction? I told you long ago not to provoke the Divine Revelation Academy, but you refused to listen! Let the Sun family be extinguished, so as not to burden the younger generation!"
Sun Yicai, being scolded in front of so many people, was displeased and said, "Family Head, your words make it seem as if I gained all the benefits back then. Who was it that wanted to send Sun Wuwei out in the first place? Besides—"
Sun Yicai drew out his words and said suggestively, "I think the Divine Revelation Academy probably hates Sun Wuwei's actions even more. Haven't you seen that I've returned, but Sun Wuwei is nowhere to be found?"
Sun Wuwei and Sun Yicai had gone to Anping City together. However, in the end, when the Divine Revelation Academy had let them, the family members, go, the newly emerged genius from the Divine Revelation Academy, Bai Shengyi, had rushed out and killed Sun Wuwei.
That Bai Shengyi and Sun Wuwei had met for the first time. Before killing him, he had asked Sun Yicai which one was Sun Wuwei.
Sun Yicai was unaware of their grievances and thus assumed Sun Wuwei had angered the Divine Revelation Academy.
And Sun Wuwei had been strongly recommended by Sun Zheng to go to Anping City.
"Sun Yicai!" Sun Zheng roared, "Are you deliberately trying to cross me? If not for Sun Ling, I... Hmph!"
Sun Zheng let out an angry sigh and flicked his sleeves, leaving!
As soon as he left, someone suddenly ran in from outside. Seeing no one around, he went up to Sun Yicai and whispered in his ear, "Family Head, the Lou family said that person has arrived."
"He actually came?" Sun Yicai exclaimed in astonishment and hurried out, saying as he walked, "Quick, go bring the generous gifts I prepared earlier."
At the peak of the snow mountain, a man stood with his back to them. His black robe was exceptionally striking against the vast white snow. The red lotuses on the black robe bloomed resplendently, adding a touch of warmth to the biting wind and snow.
The person from the Lou family was actually the former Lou family head, Lou Ye. The Mei and Tang families were not present. The Wei family sent a managing elder.
When Sun Yicai arrived, Lou Ye was kneeling on the ground, cautiously recounting the events that had transpired on the snow mountain recently. The elder from the Wei family dared not make a sound.
Sun Yicai hurriedly presented the gifts with both hands and apologized obsequiously.
The man standing with his back to the three finally turned around. The black lotus mark on his brow seemed to come alive and slowly bloomed.
However, the three dared not look closely and lowered their heads.
"Daojun..." Lou Ye peeked at his expression. Seeing that he was in a good mood, he gritted his teeth and said, "We beg Daojun to save us!"
Liu Tianyun said coldly, "Useless good-for-nothings, what benefit is there for me if I help you?"
Sun Yicai quickly said, "Daojun, as long as you save us, we will do anything!"
He no longer wanted to live like this.
What was Sun Zheng? How dare he boss him around every day! As for Sun Ling... he now regretted not strangling that ungrateful wretch to death. With such a major family event, not only did she not return to help, but she also blamed him, her father, for his faults!
"Is that so?" Liu Tianyun chuckled with an unreadable expression.
The three all expressed their loyalty.
Then, there was a long silence.
Just as the three thought Liu Tianyun still refused to help, they suddenly heard a delicate voice.
"Master, the person you wanted to see has arrived."
The voice was seductive and enchanting, gentle to the bone. Sun Yicai couldn't help but look up and saw a woman of unparalleled beauty smile at him obediently.
Sun Yicai felt his spirit waver, his soul captivated. The next moment, he was sent flying by Liu Tianyun!
"Ah!" Sun Yicai tumbled down the steep slope of the peak.
Liu Tianyun said gloomily, "Change back!"
"Master..." The woman bit her lip aggrievedly, as if she had something to say but couldn't, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.
Lou Ye and the Wei family elder were covered in cold sweat, trembling with fear. Sun Yicai had arrived late and didn't know, but they were both very clear that only the Red Lotus Demon Lord was on the snow mountain just now!
So, when did this woman arrive?
If the Red Lotus Demon Lord had harbored killing intent towards them just now, wouldn't they have died without even knowing how?
Liu Tianyun's expression became even darker, "Don't make me say it a second time."
The woman reluctantly transformed into a wisp of gray silk.
Lou Ye and the Wei family elder heard no more sounds for a long time. They looked up and saw that Liu Tianyun had already disappeared from the snow mountain.
"Lord Lou, what... what does the Red Lotus Demon Lord mean by this?" The Wei family elder's voice trembled with fear.
Lou Ye twirled the ring on his finger and frowned, "Our sincerity is not enough, so he is unwilling."
"But we don't know what the Red Lotus Demon Lord wants either?"
Lou Ye was silent for a moment, then suddenly a sinister cold smile appeared, "Who says we don't know? Go wake up Sun Yicai, and we'll discuss it further. We must move the Red Lotus Demon Lord. Otherwise, all our great families will be finished!"
Meanwhile, Liu Tianyun was moving along the snow mountain, heading towards the deeper center of the Crimson Maple Mountain Range.
Wherever he passed, gray threads spread out, causing all the spiritual beasts to retreat. Soon, a clearing was formed.
"Sir," Huiling Sanren greeted with a smile, "Did Sir summon me so suddenly because you have important instructions?"
After all, Liu Tianyun rarely met her in person. Normally, he would have Rouqing convey messages for him.
Liu Tianyun said, "The human soul of Ying Wu Mo's reincarnation has died in Anping City."
Huiling Sanren's expression changed slightly, and her smile disappeared, "His reincarnated human soul was actually in the Divine Abandoned Continent? No wonder we couldn't find him after searching for so many years."
"That is no longer important," Liu Tianyun said coldly. "The urgent matter is that we must find his other two souls. No matter what, we cannot let him be reincarnated and resurrected."
"Yes, sir, rest assured. I will do my utmost to find his Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul. I already have some clues about the Earthly Soul. Do you remember the Nan Ding Zhu family, who migrated away from the Extreme Southern Wilderness River?"
Liu Tianyun nodded.
"Their seventeenth-generation young family head is said to be very unlucky, with everything he does going wrong, and his fate is very special. After I verify and investigate further, I will be able to determine if it is Ying Wu Mo's Earthly Soul."
"You handle it," Liu Tianyun asked, "You were so slow to arrive this time. Did Li Tingyun discover something?"
Huiling Sanren shook her head, "Yan Hua had a bit of an accident."
She then recounted to Liu Tianyun how Daojun Yan Hua went to hunt down Bai Shengyi but was severely injured instead.