Luo Feng swept his gaze across the crowd. Even the withered lamp old man was significantly injured. He sighed bitterly and said, "This is not a suitable place to talk. Let's find a quiet place first. I'll tell you everything."
"That's fine. Since we're back, there's no need to rush. Our hatred with the Burning Sky Sect should be settled slowly." Qin Shi agreed with a smile when he heard the cries of pain around him.
Just as he had said, even though he wished that he could immediately raze the Burning Sky Sect to the ground, doing so would only harm him and the people who had come with him. Only by formulating a suitable plan would he be able to reduce the losses to the minimum. After all, the enemy this time was different from the past.
"But, where are we going?"
Seeing that Qin Shi had agreed, everyone became sorrowful. Although the northern region was vast, it had already fallen into the Burning Sky Sect's control. Even the few second rank cities near the Rainbow Cloud City had become subsidiary cities of the Burning Sky Sect. If that wasn't the case, they wouldn't have been forced to head to the Desolate Town.
But now, most of the people in this group were seriously injured. It would be difficult for them to travel thousands of miles to reach Desolate Town.
Qin Shi did not mind this problem and smiled. "That's easy. Let's return to Rainbow Cloud City. As long as my people are here, the Burning Sky Sect will not be able to harm you."
Everyone was stunned. They exchanged glances with each other before coming to their senses. The situation now was very different from before. Unless the Burning Sky Sect attacked with all their might, the Burning Sky Sect would not be able to do anything to the monsters that Qin Shi had brought with him.
Along the way, the people of the Alchemist Association treated the injured. Qin Shi, Luo Feng, He Yan, Luo Haiqing, and Luo Tingting walked in front, chatting with each other. It was a very comfortable feeling.
Returning to the Luo Clan's courtyard in Rainbow Cloud City, Luo Feng signaled Qin Shi to wait in the main hall while he and the Luo Clan members arranged a place for the injured and their subordinates to rest.
Sitting in the main hall, Qin Shi held a steaming cup of tea in his hand. He Yan sat beside him and looked at Qin Shi's resolute and calm face. He could not help but laugh, "Haha, I didn't expect your strength to improve to such an extent after a year."
Now that he recalled how Qin Shi had fought against Gu Feng and the hundreds of Burning Sky Sect disciples by himself, he couldn't help but feel impressed.
If Zhang Xuan had not seen it with his own eyes, he would have never dared to believe that it was the young man before him who had let his emotions get the better of him a year ago, charging straight into the Burning Sky Sect without a care for the consequences. Two years ago, the young man had been even more exaggerated, scamming him and Pu Quan in the Hongyun City Apothecary Guild with an unruly look on his face.
Qin Shi glanced sideways with a smile and said politely, "Hehe, Senior He is too polite. If not for Old He and Senior Pu risking their lives to save me at the Burning Sky Sect a year ago, I would not be the Qin Shi I am today."
"Haha, I'm fine with it. But Old Man Pu has sacrificed a lot for you. I wonder how embarrassed he will be when he sees you, a young man who has surpassed his master."
As he recalled Pu Quan's disrespectful manner, Qin Shi also laughed along with him. One year ago, if Pu Quan had not used the Devil Symbol that his master had left behind and risked his life to resist Luan Muhua, buying some time for him, it was uncertain whether he would still be alive at this moment, much less returning to take revenge.
"I will remember every bit of kindness."
"What, you only remember the two of them? Then I was too nosy back then."
As the two of them conversed, Zishu Lang walked up with a smile and said, "You brat, did you say that you would come to my Ziyun Sect as a guest? You made me wait for a year. You couldn't have forgotten, right?"
Turning around, Qin Shi was taken aback. He exchanged a glance with Purple Potato and revealed a slight smile. This Sect Master, who he had some grudges with in the past, had helped him quite a bit a year ago.
"How could I forget senior's kindness? When the matter with Burning Sky Sect is over, I will definitely go to the Violet Cloud Sect to thank you personally." Qin Shi smiled.
"Haha, it's good that you haven't forgotten. Otherwise, I will bear a grudge." Purple Potato laughed.
After making arrangements for everyone, Luo Feng dragged his frail body to the main hall. He walked in front of Qin Shi and opened his mouth. "Shi …" But before he could finish, he hurriedly closed his mouth awkwardly. For a moment, he didn't know how to address him.
"Luo Family Head, you can just call me Stone. I've already said that we are still one family. There's no need to be so polite." Qin Shi could sense Luo Feng's awkward expression, so he put down his teacup.
Letting out a long sigh, Luo Feng said, "Shi."
"Patriarch Luo, it seems that the northern region has not been very peaceful this year. What happened?" After exchanging greetings, Qin Shi finally asked about the matter that worried him.
Shaking his head helplessly, Luo Feng said, "A year ago, when you left the northern region, the Burning Sky Sect was in a sealed state for about half a year. At the beginning, we all thought that you had injured their vitality. However, later on, we realized that they were not recovering their vitality at all. Instead, they were intentionally preparing something special."
"Something special?" Qin Shi did not understand.
"That's right. As for what it is, we are not sure either. We only know that three months ago, Burning Sky Sect suddenly made a move and guided nine bolts of lightning at the same time. On that day, the entire northern region was in a state of trembling."
"What?
Nine bolts of lightning? "
Xiao Chen sucked in a sharp breath in shock. When Xiao Mi Cai reached Heaven Realm, Qin Shi was beside her. The might of that lightning calamity had destroyed a circular area of ten thousand meters around the Spirit Origin Blood Pool. If nine lightning calamities had descended at the same time, it was not impossible for the entire northern region to be alarmed.
But what made him curious was, how could there be nine people making a breakthrough at the same time?
Wasn't this too much of a coincidence?
"It should be the Nine Rotation Tribulation Transcendence Formation."
While he was still puzzled, Jade In The Book suddenly spoke, "In ancient times, there was a formation that required nine cultivators as the formation core. It allowed those at the pinnacle of the Cryptic Spirit Realm to sense the shackles of the Heavenly Realm and help them guide the lightning bolts to make a breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm."
"There's such a thing?
No wonder Hua Ling said that Burning Sky Sect's strength suddenly skyrocketed. So it's because of this Nine Rotation Tribulation Transcendence Formation. "
Pursing his lips, Qin Shi said with a heavy heart, "Nine Heavenly Realm cultivators, looks like I've underestimated Burning Sky Sect. Even though I've improved by leaps and bounds in the past year, they didn't disrespect me in the slightest."
After a moment of silence, Jade In The Book said in confusion, "Strange, this Nine Rotation Tribulation Transcendence Formation is a heaven-defying move. It was lost ten thousand years ago, and I've only heard of it in rumors. How did Burning Sky Sect get their hands on it?"
Hearing this, Qin Shi frowned. He was not surprised in his heart because he knew that there was a frightening person hidden in the Burning Sky Sect, Zhen Yuan.
On this trip, their greatest fear was Zhen Yuan.
"Then why did Burning Sky Sect look for the Luo Clan and Violet Cloud Sect?" Understanding the current strength of Burning Sky Sect, Qin Shi and Luo Feng asked.
Luo Feng and Purple Potato exchanged glances, their faces filled with bitterness, "It's not just us. Ever since the nine bolts of tribulation lightning descended, Burning Sky Sect has been restless. All the forces in the northern region that have a bit of reputation have become their targets. It's just that in the past year, our two great forces have been in close contact with the Qin Sect, refusing to submit to the Burning Sky Sect's control. I'm afraid that we've been treated like chickens to be slaughtered."
"So that's how it is."
Ruthlessness flashed in Qin Shi's eyes, but soon after, he laughed coldly, "Everyone, don't worry. Not long from now, I'll make everyone understand that forming an alliance with my Qin Sect is definitely the wisest choice you've made."
Everyone in the great hall couldn't help but shiver. Although Qin Shi's words were arrogant, no one doubted that he would definitely accomplish something after returning.
"What about my Qin Sect?
How is it now? "
When the Qin Sect was mentioned, the countenances of the crowd all turned unsightly. For a period of time, they exchanged glances with each other, yet no one dared to say anything. This caused Qin Shi to subconsciously feel that something was amiss. The teacup in his hand trembled as he roared in anger, "What about my Qin Sect?"
"Shi Tou, don't be so agitated. Nothing serious happened to the Qin Sect. Calm your emotions, I'll tell you everything in detail," Luo Feng hurriedly said.
Gritting his teeth, Qin Shi was no longer the impulsive little rascal from a year ago. He retracted the spiritual energy flowing out of his body into his black robes and calmed down quite a bit. "Patriarch Luo, you can tell me. I'm fine."
Luo Feng and He Yan exchanged glances, then braced themselves and said, "Half a month ago, the Burning Sky Sect launched a huge attack. Now, the ancient city has already fallen!"
* Crack! *
A loud sound rang out, and the teacup in Qin Shi's hand was directly crushed into powder. The tea inside splashed everywhere, and his anger rose steadily as he roared, "Hah, Burning Sky Sect, do you really think that my Qin Sect is easy to bully?"
"Little guy, don't be anxious. Although the ancient city has fallen, the Qin Sect's casualties are not that great," He Yan comforted from the side.
Qin Shi's black eyes narrowed as he said, "What do you mean by that?"
"You have to know that in this year, not only have you been improving, but the Qin Sect has not stagnated either. You have to believe in the Qin Sect that you created. Today, the Qin Sect has no lack of Mysterious Spirit Realm experts. The reason why they abandoned the ancient city is because they retreated to Desolate Town. Even if the Burning Sky Sect wants to take down the Qin Sect in a short period of time, it will not be easy."
He Yan explained, "Moreover, that old bastard Pu Quan is also here. Don't underestimate his identity."
Qin Shi's expression changed, and he nodded seriously. Previously, in Desolate Town, when Pu Quan took out the Flaming Red Token, he had already guessed that Pu Quan's identity was not ordinary.
After grasping the general situation, Qin Shi's heart gradually calmed down. His mind was spinning rapidly, thinking of the next plan.
Jade In The Book asked, "Shi Tou, what should we do?
Should we hurry back to Desolate Town? "