Chapter 1471: Infiltration

A deep, resonant sound echoed, and a terrifying pressure suddenly swept over them!

Jin Weiyuan's legs went weak with fear, and he quickly dropped to his knees. He racked his brain for a few moments, but he couldn't figure out what was going on. All he could do was stammer out a panicked plea for mercy.

"Cousin, please understand!"

"I... I would never dare to harbor any ill intentions toward the Tianyuan Sect! Where is this coming from?"

Jin Weiyuan was genuinely bewildered. He had been scolded out of nowhere and had no idea what he had done wrong. All he could do was kneel there, dumbfounded, and beg for forgiveness.

But as soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud slam on the table!

"Bang!"

An even more terrifying pressure spread through the room, causing Jin Weiyuan to break out in a cold sweat. His breathing became labored, and he could barely keep himself upright.

At the same time, the voice that spoke next was filled with unmistakable anger.

"You fool!"

"You kept saying that the new Sword Sect leader was only slightly stronger than you, with some skill in palm techniques, and that the so-called Grand Protector had disappeared, making them nothing to worry about!"

"But when the Fourth Elder went to investigate, he found that both of them were experts at the Heavenly Sun Realm, with formidable sword skills! If it weren't for the Fourth Elder's profound cultivation, he might have fallen in that battle!"

"You nearly caused our Tianyuan Sect to lose a key figure, and now you still refuse to confess the truth?!"

Heavenly Sun Realm?

Formidable sword skills?!

How could that be?

Hearing this, Jin Weiyuan looked up in shock.

Only then did he see that his cousin, Jin Zhenyuan, who sat on the jade throne above, was seething with rage. Below the jade steps, the Fourth Elder stood quietly to the side, his expression shifting between dark and uncertain.

Seeing the looks on their faces, Jin Weiyuan knew there was no way this was a lie.

But he couldn't believe it. The Yi Feng he had fought before was actually that powerful? And the so-called Grand Protector was also far stronger than he had thought?

So, not only had he kicked an iron plate, but he had also nearly caused a disaster?

The more he thought about it, the more shocked he became. Jin Weiyuan still couldn't quite accept this astonishing truth and couldn't help but shake his head, continuing to plead his case.

"This..."

"This can't be!"

"That Yi Feng, the leader of the new Sword Sect, never used any sword techniques when we fought. He looked so young too. How could he possibly be at the Heavenly Sun Realm...?"

Seeing his dazed and confused expression, Jin Zhenyuan, seated in the high position, grew even angrier. His eyes were filled with frustration, as if he were looking at a hopeless fool.

"Idiot!"

"Even now, you still don't understand?"

"An expert at the Heavenly Sun Realm wouldn't need to use their full strength against someone like you! It's because of your shallow judgment that you nearly caused a catastrophe. Our Jin family was once a renowned name in the capital. How could we have a foolish branch like you, tarnishing our family's reputation?"

After this furious tirade, Jin Weiyuan finally came to his senses. Fear and panic washed over him, and he began to kowtow repeatedly, begging for mercy.

"Cousin, please forgive me! Please forgive me!"

"I truly didn't know they were so powerful. I never meant to harm the Fourth Elder!"

Seeing him kowtow like a pounding pestle, Jin Zhenyuan, seated above, waved his hand impatiently.

"Enough. I know you wouldn't dare."

"Fortunately, the Fourth Elder's cultivation is profound. He was able to hold his own against two opponents and retreat unscathed. If anything had happened to him, even tearing you to pieces wouldn't be enough to quell my anger!"

Hearing this, Feng Mofeng, the Fourth Elder, felt a warmth in his heart and took the opportunity to smooth things over.

"Sect Leader, you are too kind. Thank you for your concern."

"Brother Jin's mistake was unintentional. I hope the Sect Leader can calm his anger."

Only then did Jin Zhenyuan seem to ease his fury slightly. He generously bestowed a pill.

"Ah..."

"Fourth Elder, you've had a long journey. Please rest for now. Here is a Seven Revolutions Spirit Nurturing Pill. Consider it a small token of my apology."

Feng Mofeng received the floating pill with both hands, deeply moved, and thanked the Sect Leader once more before leaving.

Once there was no one else around, Jin Zhenyuan, having successfully won over his subordinate, changed his demeanor and spoke in a more earnest tone.

"Weiyuan."

"Among our generation in the Jin family, only you and I remain. Though we are distant relatives, we are still connected by blood. We should both strive to restore our family's glory."

"I had thought that, although your cultivation is limited, you had a good eye for talent and could help select promising individuals for our cause. I never expected you to nearly cause a disaster, almost costing our Tianyuan Sect a key figure. Do you understand your mistake?"

Even though these were still words of reprimand, they were now delivered in a way that made Jin Weiyuan feel genuinely remorseful.

Jin Weiyuan's eyes filled with guilt, and he clasped his fists in acknowledgment.

"Cousin, you are absolutely right. I am deeply ashamed."

"It was my poor judgment that nearly caused a catastrophe. Those two are so young, yet they possess such profound cultivation and skill. It's truly unbelievable!"

"Unfortunately, I acted carelessly at the time and failed to recruit them. Instead, I turned them into enemies. What should we do now?"

As he spoke, Jin Weiyuan quickly racked his brain, eager to offer a solution to redeem himself.

"Cousin."

"Now that we are locked in a life-and-death feud, those two cannot be allowed to live! If I may be so bold, I suggest we send two more Elders to eliminate them, to prevent them from becoming a greater threat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Zhenyuan nodded slightly, a confident gleam in his eyes.

"Hmm."

"There's no need for you to worry about this. I have already dispatched the Second and Third Elders, along with over a hundred elite disciples, to completely annihilate that new Sword Sect."

Hearing this, Jin Weiyuan quickly began to flatter his cousin, eager to please.

"Cousin, your foresight is unparalleled!"

"To think you had already made such thorough preparations. I am truly in awe!"

Perhaps because these words were somewhat pleasing, or maybe because there were no outsiders present, Jin Zhenyuan finally stood up steadily. He walked to the window and gazed out at the bustling night scene of the Tianyuan Sect, a hint of pride in his eyes.

"Hmph."

"Such methods of cutting the grass at the roots are nothing special."

"To be honest with you, over the years I've been leading the Tianyuan Sect, our treasury has amassed a vast fortune. We have mountains of top-grade spirit stones, countless rare herbs and pills! Even the Four Great Elders are now completely loyal to me."

"When the time is right, we will march back to the capital and reclaim everything our Jin family has lost!"

"By then, our Jin family will once again shake the entire Blazing Fire Kingdom. We will no longer be confined to this small Mount Yandang, disturbed by the riffraff passing through!"

Hearing such grand ambitions, Jin Weiyuan's eyes shone with excitement. He felt a sense of honor he had never experienced before, and all the humiliation and awkwardness from earlier were completely forgotten.

He kowtowed and flattered his cousin several more times, still feeling like he hadn't said enough.

If Jin Zhenyuan hadn't waved him away, he might have continued his stream of praises until dawn.

Excited, Jin Weiyuan returned to his temporary quarters, even more thrilled than the Fourth Elder who had received the pill. He tossed and turned on his soft bed, unable to sleep until late into the night.

As for the two young men who had once humiliated him, they were already far from his thoughts.

Before long, it was the third watch of the night.

The entire Tianyuan Sect had grown quiet. Though many of its members were highly skilled, few ventured out at this hour. Apart from the patrolling disciples, the courtyards of both the inner and outer sects were nearly empty.

It was at this time that two figures leaped over the outer sect's wall, heading straight for the inner sect.

They were none other than Yi Feng and the black-clad youth.

The two stood on the eaves of a carved pavilion, quietly observing the grand halls dotted with lights. A faint smile played on their lips. The black-clad youth grew more and more satisfied as he looked around, unable to help but whisper his admiration.

"Tsk tsk..."

"This Tianyuan Sect really lives up to its reputation as a major sect. The foundation here is impressive—hundreds of courtyards, countless carved buildings and railings. It's like a damn palace!"

"There must be some good treasures here. I'm getting greedy just looking at it!"

After his praise, the black-clad youth rubbed his hands together and turned to his companion.

"Brother, what do you think? Where should we start our guerrilla tactics?"