As he stepped into the clan hall, Chen Zong sensed that the atmosphere was a little different.
It was as if there was a heavier atmosphere.
It was as if there was a sense of urgency.
As he walked to the underground courtyard, he met some disciples of the clan hall. They looked at him with surprise, then shock.
"Brother Chen Zong …" When he reached the house, a voice came from behind him. The voice was trembling, as if it was filled with surprise and excitement.
"Brother Chen Zhong." Chen Zong turned around and smiled.
"Brother, it's really you. You're still alive … That's great … You're still alive …" Chen Zhong was so excited that he was incoherent. "The elders went to the mountain to look for you, but they couldn't find you. They all thought you died in Mount Fulong …"
"I'm still alive," Chen Zong said with certainty with a smile. Chen Zhong also slowly calmed down.
"Let's go to the main hall to see the elders." Chen Zhong grabbed Chen Zong's sleeve and said hurriedly.
"Brother, there's no hurry. I'll put the things away first." Chen Zong waved the big bag on his body. Fortunately, the key to the house was not lost.
…
Chen Zong walked to the main hall of the clan hall with Chen Zhong. As Chen Zhong spoke, Chen Zong's expression was cold and solemn, and his heart was heavy.
He didn't expect the losses to be so severe after being separated that day. But perhaps it was within his expectations.
The Chen Family Iron Guards were indeed very strong, and so was the elder in charge of the mine camp. However, there were too many monsters. In the end, a third-level monster appeared, and its strength was even more terrifying.
However, that elder and 30 of the Chen Clan's Iron Guards had lost their lives because of this. Chen Shaojie had lost an arm, and four of the Clan Hall's disciples had gone missing. Currently, he was the only one who had returned. The other three were in a place like Mount Fulong.
"What about the mine now?" Chen Zong asked.
"It's said that the Iron Guards have returned to guard it and continue mining," Chen Zhong said.
The mine was very important to the Chen Family, and they couldn't afford to lose it. There was still a considerable part of it that hadn't been mined, and they couldn't just give it up.
As they walked into the main hall, all eyes immediately fell on Chen Zong's face. They were stunned at first, and then unconcealable joy bloomed in their eyes.
"Chen Zong …"
"Chen Zong, you're still alive."
"I knew you were a lucky little fellow."
The three elders were stunned for a moment before they spoke one after another.
"Elder Wei, Elder Xing, Elder Li …" Chen Zong bowed. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
"It's good that you're back." Elder Xing's face was full of smiles.
"Have you been in Mount Fulong for more than a month?" Elder Wei asked after staring at Chen Zong.
"Yes, I got lost in the mountains. I was lucky." Chen Zong replied with a smile. He was the only one who knew how difficult and dangerous it was. However, he had also grown, gained opportunities, and become stronger because of it. There was no need to talk about all of this in detail.
"You're the first person to be able to survive in Mount Fulong for more than a month and walk out unscathed with your Qi and Blood realm fifth stage cultivation," Elder Li said with a smile.
"It's good that you're back." Elder Xing sighed and heaved a sigh of relief.
"Just now outside the city, the Drizzle Gang's young gang leader and a few gang members wanted to kill me, but I killed them instead. I don't know if it'll cause trouble for the family," Chen Zong said.
"Drizzle Gang … It's just a small gang. How dare they attack you? So what if they've killed you? If the Chen family doesn't cause trouble for them, they won't dare to provoke us." Elder Xing smiled coldly.
"You don't have to worry about this. Just focus on your cultivation. The Drizzle Gang isn't trouble," Elder Wei said.
Chen Zong nodded. Then, he thought of something and said again, "Oh right, three elders, I met a very strange person in Mount Fulong."
"Strange in what way?" Elder Li asked with a smile.
Chen Zong described the black figure he met in the cave in detail. The three elders' faces were full of seriousness and shock.
"Could it be that the legend is true …" Elder Li seemed to be talking to himself.
"Chen Zong, do you know that our era is called the Era of True Martial Arts? The previous era was called the Era of Kingdoms," Elder Wei said. Chen Zong nodded.
"The Era of Kingdoms was destroyed by the demonic beasts. However, there's a rumor that the demonic beasts gathered in the mountains and formed an army to invade the kingdom. The leader was the Black Demon Sect."
"Black Demon Sect?" Chen Zong was the first to hear these three words. Suddenly, he felt his heart palpitate, as if it was a terrifying existence.
"The Black Demon Sect is the most powerful force in the entire Eastern Land. None of the three big kingdoms in the Era of Kingdoms can compare to it. The Black Demon Sect wants to destroy the three big kingdoms and take control of the Eastern Land."
Chen Zong was shocked.
The most powerful force in the Eastern Land. This statement was terrifying. Then, was the Black Demon Sect related to the half-human, half-snake monster he met?
Could it be that the monster was a member of the Black Demon Sect?
Questions popped up in Chen Zong's mind.
"In the end, the three big kingdoms were destroyed. However, their desperate counterattack caused the Black Demon Sect and the demonic beast army to suffer heavy losses. In the end, it was said that the remaining warriors of the three big kingdoms gathered together and defeated the Black Demon Sect. The Black Demon Sect had no choice but to escape into the Hundred Beast Mountain. The remaining demonic beasts were gradually cleared out. In order to resist the invasion of the demonic beasts, martial cities were built in the hands of the survivors. Moreover, martial arts techniques were passed down, allowing more people to cultivate into warriors. It also symbolized the arrival of the Era of True Martial Arts."
Chen Zong suddenly understood. The contents of these books that he had read before were not comprehensive, especially regarding the Black Demon Sect.
"Are the people of the Black Demon Sect all monsters?" Chen Zong asked.
"We don't know much about the Black Demon Sect. After all, they have disappeared for hundreds of years. We only know that the warriors of the Black Demon Sect are called Demonic Warriors. Their overall strength is often stronger than other warriors of the same cultivation level. They can also use an ability called Demonic Transformation, turning themselves into half-human, half-demonic beasts, making them even more terrifying." Elder Wei finally said.
"So, the half-human, half-snake monster I met was indeed a Demonic Warrior of the Black Demon Sect." Chen Zong's mood was inexplicably heavy.
"I remember. Shao Jie said that on the night when the demonic beasts attacked the camp, a mysterious black shadow sneaked into the camp. When it left, it was discovered and was hit by a palm. Could it be the Demonic Warrior that Chen Zong met?" Elder Xing's eyebrows smoothed out as he exclaimed.
"In any case, this news is very important. It must be passed to the family immediately, and then passed to other families. Be on guard." Elder Wei said, "Chen Zong, keep this matter to yourself. Don't spread it out to avoid unnecessary panic."
"Yes." Chen Zong nodded.
The three elders had important matters to deal with, so Chen Zong left and returned to his room. He took out some herbs, demonic beast materials, and three Foundation Establishment Martial Arts from his bag. Once again, he came to the main area and walked into the Martial Library.
The Clan Hall didn't have the three Foundation Establishment Martial Arts. After contributing them, Chen Zong received 500 contribution points. Then he went to the mission room. The mission of guarding the mine was interrupted halfway, so he couldn't get any contribution points, but he wouldn't be punished. However, after Chen Zong turned in the mission items for the herbs and demonic beast materials, his contribution points increased sharply.
In the end, Chen Zong received more than 1500 contribution points, which added up to more than 2000 contribution points.
He didn't need any Cultivation Methods.
For the time being, he didn't need any Sword Arts of the Middle-class of Human Level or higher.
He still had some pills for cultivation, but he didn't need them for the time being.
He'd better save these contribution points for now.
"I wonder if I can find the three prescriptions in the Clan Hall?" With doubts, Chen Zong went to the Elixir Room. He had more than 2000 contribution points, so he was full of confidence.
Unfortunately, there weren't many herbs in the Elixir Room. Only less than half of the herbs needed for the first prescription, the Ice and Fire Poison Membrane Ointment.
"The cultivation of the Body Forging Art requires the corresponding prescriptions. Otherwise, the effect will be minimal."
"I need all the herbs listed in the prescriptions, and a relatively good environment to boil the ointment."
"It's time."
Chen Zong picked up his sword and went to the main hall again.
There was at least one person in the main hall, either an elder or a deacon.
Chen Zong applied to challenge Chen He, who ranked second in the elite area, and Chen Xia, who ranked first, because Chen Xia's courtyard used to be Chen Chuyun's residence. It was also the place where he practiced the Four Essentials of Swordsmanship. After Chen Chuyun left, Chen Zong had the idea of living there again. Today, it was finally going to come true.
This kind of challenge was not a game. He had to apply for it, and then the Clan Hall would arrange it. It would be held under the witness of a deacon or elder of the Clan Hall. No cheating.
As for challenging Chen He, it was purely Chen Zong's counterattack.
He couldn't allow Chen He to make trouble for him again and again without doing anything about it.
"You need to inform the challenged first. Then, you'll be informed of the time of the challenge." The deacon was kind. "If the challenged by you goes out, you can choose to challenge others or live in the challenged person's courtyard. But you won't enjoy the treatment of an elite disciple. When the challenged person comes back, if you can defeat him, you'll get the resources you deserve."
"I see. Thank you, deacon." Chen Zong bowed and left.
Looking at the sky, there was still some time before evening. Why not take a trip to the Dingtian Pavilion?
"Before going to the Dingtian Pavilion, take all the jade coins and herbs with me." Chen Zong returned to his room and put away the black iron piece. He took the treasure-iron short knife and left the Clan Hall with his bag.
According to Elder Wei, the Dingtian Pavilion had branches all over the Martial Cities, so it should be very powerful. However, the Dingtian Pavilion didn't fight for hegemony, but only did business. Then, he might be able to find all kinds of herbs for practicing the Body Forging Technique in the Dingtian Pavilion.
"I can also see if there are any treasures in the Dingtian Pavilion that can help my father recover his Qi and blood," Chen Zong thought to himself. His eyes were shining, and his heart was burning.
After hearing Elder Wei's words that day, Chen Zong knew that it was more difficult than he thought to help his father recover his cultivation. With his ability, he might be able to do it in the future. But his father's Qi and blood were declining, and his body was getting worse. The longer it was delayed, the worse it would be. It would be best to solve it as soon as possible.
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