Chapter 1260: Infinite Thunder Sect

Chapter 1260: Chapter 1260: Infinite Thunder Sect

The reprimand and cooperation from Feng Tianhe ensured that the subsequent search by the Embroidered Robe Envoy proceeded exceptionally smoothly. After the secret Teleportation Array was thoroughly inspected and found to be without issues, Pei Yan finally smiled upon hearing the report, bowed in apology to Feng Tianhe, and prepared to leave with his team.

"Pei Xiaoyou! You won’t find the investigation of the next few places as smooth as you did here!" Feng Tianhe accompanied Pei Yan to the outside of the villa. As he watched Pei Yan’s team leave, he suddenly shouted loudly.

"Thank you, Elder Feng, for the guidance that gave me a good start. There’s no need for you to worry about the rest!" Pei Yan didn’t look back but walked away with a hearty laugh in response.

Leaving the Mo Sect, Pei Yan proceeded in the direction he came from. The next sect’s villa belonged to the Infinite Thunder Sect. As Feng Tianhe had predicted, this time no one came out to greet them. The villa gates were shut tight, and aside from the Embroidered Robe Envoy and Divine Martial Guards patrolling outside, even the usual Direct Disciples guarding the gate had been withdrawn into the villa.

"What’s the situation?" Pei Yan asked the Embroidered Robe Envoy responsible for the security there.

"In response to your inquiry, sir, since Elder Chao left for the investigation team’s residency to question accountability and hasn’t returned, there was chaos within the Infinite Thunder Sect villa for a while. However, afterwards, Lord Shi personally wielded the Spirit Lord’s Token and issued commands to all divisions. Upon seeing the Token, the Infinite Thunder Sect summoned all elders and disciples back to the villa; the gates have remained shut with no further movement since." The person questioned responded truthfully.

"Alright! Xiang Zixiong! Step forward and knock on the door!" After hearing this, Pei Yan nodded and gave the order toward the gates.

Receiving the order, Xiang Zixiong said nothing more and strode forward. He reached the villa gates, tapped a few times with his hand on the door ring, and waited for a moment - no response from inside. Xiang Zixiong glanced back at Pei Yan, who nodded in indication, so he set aside manners, switched to using his fist to pound the door loudly, roaring: "Open the door! Embroidered Robe Envoy and Divine Martial Guard come to execute a search by decree!"

Dong! Dong! Dong! As Xiang Zixiong pounded the gates like beating a war drum, even those inside the villa trying to pretend they hadn’t heard couldn’t do so. A cough was heard inside, and Xiang Zixiong ceased his pounding. Shortly after, the door was opened a crack from within; a Daoist Child poked his head out to survey the situation outside, then quickly retracted his head back inside. After a while, the doors were slowly pushed further open, and an elder stood within. His gaze swept over Xiang Zixiong, who had called from outside, and under that sharp gaze, Xiang Zixiong felt his Qi Blood surge and instinctively retreated several steps to avoid the confrontation.

A master! A master comparable to Liu Xuanji; this is likely the person stationed at the Immortal Palace from the Infinite Thunder Sect. Sensing the opponent’s formidable presence, Pei Yan immediately assessed his strength and identified him as belonging to the top-tier ranks alongside Delacuri and Jin He Xuan of the Dragon Realm.

"This is Situ Maocai, the Grand Tributor of the Infinite Thunder Sect. He came as a Loose Cultivator offering his skills to the sect and reached heights unattainable by even the sect’s elders who joined since childhood. He holds the Grand Tributor position overseeing the Immortal Palace Villa, relying on robust strength and the legendary merits laid for the sect’s top six domains. You still need to be cautious facing him." Mei Simiao, who had stayed on the Daoist Plane long enough to master considerable information, whispered a reminder to Pei Yan.

"Got it!" Pei Yan acknowledged and stepped out of the crowd, chuckling as he approached Situ Maocai, bowing respectfully: "Junior Pei Yan greets Elder Situ of the Infinite Thunder Sect."

"Hahaha! This title of ’elder,’ I’m undeserving, Pei Yan! No matter how the situation develops later, I first ask you now about my Junior Brother Chao. How is he?" Situ Maocai coldly sneered at Pei Yan’s courteous greeting, although he had already spied his detained junior brother among the crowd and still queried knowingly.

"Bring him up!" Pei Yan didn’t elaborate and simply beckoned Shao An from behind, who then escorted Chao Zimin to stand in front of Pei Yan, placed him before Pei Yan, and retreated.

Seeing their sect elder reduced to such a pitiful state, Infinite Thunder Sect’s elders and Direct Disciples’ faces turned instantly dark with rage. Many were about to rise in anger, but Situ Maocai waved them back, looked at Pei Yan, and nodded repeatedly: "Pei Yan, if I guessed right, when I question you why you treated our sect’s elder this way, you’d certainly reply with a reason of self-inflicted consequences, leaving me speechless and unable to challenge you, right."

"Correct! Whatever wrong he did, Elder Situ can ask him himself afterwards. If you think my treatment was inappropriate, you can plead with the Spirit Lord. Should you remain unsatisfied, that’s fine! I take full responsibility; the deed was my doing and the person beaten is my doing. The Infinite Thunder Sect has no need to seek revenge on behalf of others. Whoever among you or Chao Zimin wants to confront me, they can come knock at the investigation residence door! I’m Pei Yan, and I’ll take it head-on."

"Good! At least you have some accountability! Then I won’t ask much further. Those disciples brought along by you certainly committed unforgivable acts, destined to die, correct?"

"Correct! Let’s not say I, Pei Yan, am unreasonable. Shao An! Bring forth those disciples from the Infinite Thunder Sect who openly defied the Spirit Lord’s orders and let Elder Situ identify them face-to-face. Ask those disciples if they have any last wishes to communicate to the sect. If not, execute them here and hang their heads on the long street at the villa entrance of the Infinite Thunder Sect!"

"You dare treat us like this!"

Pei Yan and Situ Maocai traded sentences, showing no sign of backing down as tempers flared even higher when Pei Yan mentioned hanging heads. Finally, an elder from behind Situ Maocai could no longer suppress his fury, let out a roar, surged forward as a streak of thunder, heading straight for Pei Yan.

"Hmph!" With a scoff of disdain, Pei Yan, full of nonchalance, slid his toe under the restrained Chao Zimin in front of him. Then, with a flick of his toe, Chao Zimin soared through the air directly towards the attacker.

"Despicable!" Seeing Pei Yan’s maneuver, the attacking elder flew into a greater rage, had to slow his assault slightly, reached out, and caught the flying Chao Zimin in his embrace.

In that moment, a large shadow flashed from the crowd behind Pei Yan. As Pei Yan glanced to the side, he was filled with surprise—the person taking action was neither his usual friend accustomed to rushing forward nor assistance from the Dragon Realm, but rather one of the honorary consultants accompanying the investigation team on this mission.

Pei Yan’s surprise was due to his unknown grasp of this person’s strength. These seniors were founding veterans of the investigation team and had reached the age for enjoying retirement and family leisure. If something adverse happened due to him prompting them here, today’s event would prove regretful indeed! Ugh! Hadn’t he instructed them to follow his lead for signs? These older seniors were truly worrying!