Inside the Council Hall.
At this time, Lin Mo sat on the top seat made of wood, flanked by two delicate beauties on both sides—one was Yingzi and the other, Lu Xing.
Aside from the three elders seated, Everyone else stood respectfully on both sides, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
Lin Mo had entered the Starry Sky Tower half a month ago, and when he emerged, he astonished Everyone by crushing a top-grade Corpse Demon into a meat patty with his bare fists, an awe-inspiring might that still lingered long in the minds of all, doubtless never to fade.
The Black-clothed Elder and the ancestor stood in front of Lin Mo, deflated, with even their lives hanging by a thread on Lin Mo's whims; they had no capacity to resist. As for the disciples of the Puppet Corpse Sect, they were already under the control of the Star Sect disciples—let alone their life and death; it was estimated that with just a thought, Lin Mo could reduce them to nothing.
Lin Mo sipped his aromatic tea gently, slowly replaced the cup, and turned his gaze toward the two men.
"We at the Puppet Corpse Sect admit defeat. We didn't expect the Star Sect to harbor such a formidable character. If you wish to kill or flay us, it is all up to your honor," the ancestor said, looking at Lin Mo, his eyes seething with anger, yet filled with helplessness.
"You too are from a Cultivation Sect. Don't you have your own territory? Why attack the Star Sect?" Lin Mo asked indifferently.
The ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder both went silent for a while.
Then the Black-clothed Elder cupped his hands and let out a sigh: "Our Puppet Corpse Sect originally lived in the branch of Xiangxi, but... a few years ago, someone conquered our territory, looted everything in our Sect, and we suffered heavy casualties among our disciples. That's why we fled all the way to Shan Province, which also has many ancient tombs suitable for us to excavate and refine Corpse Masters."
"Plundered by someone? Who did it?" Lin Mo asked.
He hadn't immediately killed the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder but brought them back for interrogation to learn more about the affairs and intelligence of the Cultivation Sects.
"Your Highness, it was done by the people of Qingxuan Sect," the Black-clothed Elder said, his face reddened with anger.
"The Qingxuan Sect acts under the banner of purging demons and upholding righteousness, attacking our Puppet Corpse Sect, huh. It's just for plundering resources, those hypocrites... I will kill them sooner or later," the ancestor sneered coldly, clearly extremely angry.
"Is this Qingxuan Sect very formidable?" Lin Mo narrowed his eyes and asked.
"The Qingxuan Sect is one of the Major Sects of the Cultivation World and has traditionally remained hidden. However, their activities have become somewhat frequent in recent years. I suspect the Spiritual Energy of their Sect residence is diminishing," the ancestor spoke slowly.
Lin Mo furrowed his brows.
"Then do you know of Miao Xue Divine Palace?" Lin Mo inquired.
The ancestor hesitated for a moment, "I've only heard some news about Miao Xue Divine Palace, but they are also a Major Sect, always in seclusion. I don't know much more."
"What do you know about Miao Xue Divine Palace?"
Lin Mo's gaze became fixated.
"If Your Excellency promises not to kill us, I am willing to share everything I know," the ancestor said, lowering his head while sneaking a glance at Lin Mo.
"You don't have the right to bargain with me," Lin Mo said coldly.
With those words, a thunderclap seemed to explode in the minds of the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder, who clutched their heads in agony and fell to the ground.
"I could kill you with a thought right now. If you don't speak, I will kill you at this moment," Lin Mo said placidly, but each word caused the two men to shudder.
Both the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder were strong figures in the Cultivation World, especially the ancestor, whose Cultivation had already broken through to Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. Neither had imagined that their lives would now be in the hands of a youth, filled with loathing and deep wariness of Lin Mo.
With the ancestor's experience, he had never seen such a mighty Cultivator, or rather, one so young and yet so formidable.
"All I've heard is that the residence of Miao Xue Divine Palace seems to be hidden within the Great Snow Mountain of the Kunlun Mountain Range. I'm not privy to any further intelligence," the ancestor said, head bowed.
"Kunlun Mountain?"
Lin Mo frowned, Kunlun Mountain Range being known as the foremost mountain chain in Huaxia and deemed the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains. Many ancient myths in Huaxia speak of Kunlun legends—it's a mysterious place for the nationals. Kunlun Mountain is not the Kunlun Holy Land; they are two different places.
However, the Kunlun Mountain Range is vast, covering a wide area. Searching for Miao Xue Divine Palace within it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, not to mention the myriad dangers within the mountains that have claimed the lives of many adventurers, hikers, and even Tomb Raider Captains.
Despite such challenges, Lin Mo had made up his mind to make a trip to the Kunlun Mountain.
"Sect Leader, how shall we deal with these two men and the disciples of the Puppet Corpse Sect?" Elder Cheng Ying inquired.
Lin Mo extended his palm, in which two drops of vivid Essence Blood hovered, emitting a slightly malevolent aura—this was the lifeblood of the Black-clothed Elder and the ancestor, controlling their life and death.
Lin Mo compressed and merged the two drops of Essence Blood with Spiritual Energy before wrapping them in it and sending them to Cheng Ying.
"Preserve these two drops of Essence Blood on a Jade Token. With a single thought, you can kill these two men. But currently, the Star Sect's power is too weak, so keep these people as servants to the Star Sect."
Hearing Lin Mo's words, the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder were taken aback. Lin Mo intended them to serve the Star Sect hereafter. Both heaved a sigh of relief—this outcome was preferable to being killed.
"Thank you, Sect Leader," Cheng Ying rejoiced, quickly producing a Jade Pendant and imprinting the Essence Blood on the token.
In an instant, he could sense a strange connection, as if he could perceive the thoughts of the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder, able to kill them with a thought.
Cheng Ying had been truly scared that Lin Mo would have just killed the two, especially since the Star Sect was weak and the Cultivation World was in a particularly sensitive state. When the Puppet Corpse Sect attacked this time, who knew which Sect might target the Star Palace next.
Moreover, Cheng Ying knew Lin Mo would not stay within the Star Palace. If the ancestor and the Black-clothed Elder were to help, any attack on the Star Palace would require the assailants to reconsider the palace's strength.
Yet even so, Cheng Ying was truly happy inside, knowing that Lin Mo had effectively bolstered the prestige of the Star Sect.
"From now on, you shall serve the Star Sect. If you perform well, I may teach you some Cultivation Techniques," Lin Mo stated, rising to his feet.
(The wonderful story continues tomorrow.)