However, the situation at the Heavenly Martial Hall was hardly optimistic. Although most of the buildings were still intact, the number of disciples was considerably low, and each one of them looked listless and lacked vitality.
The entire Heavenly Martial Hall seemed to have sunk into an atmosphere of decline.
"It seems a major incident has indeed occurred."
After seeing this scene, Ye Xuan’s expression also darkened immediately, as even the Heavenly Martial Hall had turned into this. It appeared that the disaster, although not having destroyed this place, must have affected it.
"Just ask a disciple and we will know."
Ye Xuan looked upset, and Ling Qianxue, who considered Heavenly Martial Hall her home, looked even worse. With a stern face, she quickly swept over to a male disciple nearby.
However, as soon as she spoke, the disciple recognized her.
"You are the big sister, the big sister has returned!"
The male disciple, who originally had a dim look in his eyes, quickly burst into light and then joyfully shouted.
"The big sister has returned!"
In the declining Heavenly Martial Hall, this phrase quickly spread, and soon, the sounds of breaking wind resonated in mid-air with figures appearing one after another in the plaza.
Among them, Ling Jingtian, Murong Yun, and others soon arrived.
The moment she saw Ling Jingtian, Ling Qianxue’s face brightened with joy. Seeing him safe and sound, the heart she had been holding finally completely settled.
Ling Jingtian was also stunned for a moment, and then fell into ecstasy. Obviously, he had not expected Ling Qianxue to return here at this time.
"Greetings to the Hall Master, the Head Hall Master."
After Ling Qianxue’s reunion with her father, Ye Xuan also stepped forward, bowing his hands successively to Murong Yun and Ling Jingtian.
"Ye Xuan? You’ve come back too?"
Murong Yun, Ling Jingtian, and others were all surprised. They looked at Ye Xuan with some disbelief, and immediately joy deepened in their eyes.
However, this ecstasy lasted only for a moment, replaced rapidly by deep concern and sighs.
Even though Ling Jingtian hid his worry well, it still could not escape Ye Xuan’s eyes, making him frown. He could tell that Ling Jingtian was injured, and severely so. The cause of this was probably linked to the scene they had observed earlier.
"You’ve come back at an inappropriate time."
Murong Yun also shook his head and sighed.
"Why, has something happened in the Tiannan Region?"
Ye Xuan’s heart stirred, and then his gaze intensified as he asked,
"Even these two have become so sentimental, it seems this matter won’t be simple."
"Indeed, father, on our way back, we saw many places turned into deathlands, bodies scattered everywhere, who did this?" Ling Qianxue also pressed on.
"Who else could it be."
Ling Jingtian and Murong Yun exchanged glances, a look of hatred emerging on their faces, "In the Tiannan Region, there is only one force capable of causing such a tragedy across the continent."
Ye Xuan’s eyes flashed and he was immediately astonished, "Could it be the Black Demon Sect?"
Ling Jingtian and Murong Yun both nodded, yet upon hearing the three words ’Black Demon Sect,’ they appeared somewhat disheartened.
"Wasn’t the Black Demon Sect already destroyed? With only the remnants left, they couldn’t possibly stir up such turmoil again, could they?"
Ye Xuan found it hard to understand; the Black Demon Sect had perished by his hands, their headquarters demolished. How could they have possibly risen from the ashes to wreak havoc on the Tiannan Region in this way?
"We originally thought the Black Demon Sect was destroyed, and that the Bright and Dark Ming King had perished as well, but this isn’t the case."
Ling Jingtian shook his head.
"We saw with our own eyes, didn’t we? He was devoured by that exotic beast. Is he still alive?"
Ye Xuan’s eyelids twitched, the Bright and Dark Ming King was still alive?
"He is indeed still alive," Ling Jingtian said solemnly, "Not only is he alive, but he has somehow cultivated some evil skill and merged with that exotic beast, turning into something neither human nor ghost. After lying low for some time, he suddenly reappeared, increased in strength so much that even I, in my half-step Martial Venerate Realm, could not compete with him and was injured by him. It seems that only a true Martial Venerate Expert could possibly deal with him now."
After this, Ling Jingtian coughed violently a few times, his internal injuries clearly not fully healed.
"The Hall Master is right; the current Bright and Dark Ming King is unstoppable in the Tiannan Region, except by a true Martial Venerate Expert. Many strong individuals have already fled Tiannan Region, flying far away. Ye Xuan, you should hurry and take Qianxue out of here, back to the Chaotic Sea Domain," Murong Yun said gravely.
"Is only a true Martial Venerate Expert able to deal with him? Then this Bright and Dark Ming King is not necessarily unbeatable."
However, upon hearing the two men’s words, Ye Xuan was not the least perturbed; instead, a slight smile crossed his lips as he spoke softly.
Upon hearing this, Ling Jingtian and Murong Yun were somewhat incredulous and immediately shook their heads secretly. They knew Ye Xuan was highly talented and progressed rapidly in his cultivation, but if they were not mistaken, Ye Xuan had only just advanced to the realm of Sixth Grade Martial Sect. In front of the Bright and Dark Ming King, that was utterly insignificant; how could he possibly stand a chance?
"Ye Xuan, I know you’re confident, but this Bright and Dark Ming King probably hates you to the core because of what has happened. Take advantage of the fact that he doesn’t know you’ve returned yet, and leave immediately, otherwise it might be too late." In Murong Yun’s view, perhaps after a few more years, Ye Xuan could easily defeat the Bright and Dark Ming King, but now was not the time.
"Why not leave first?"
Ye Xuan shook his head, still smiling faintly: "Since this Tiannan Region is about to fall, you should leave quickly too. We can all leave together for the Chaotic Sea Domain, wouldn’t that be good?"
"No, we two cannot leave. The Heavenly Martial Hall has been passed down for hundreds of years; we can’t let it fall apart in our hands. Even if we die here, we will not leave this Heavenly Martial Hall." Both shook their heads; no matter how vicious the Bright and Dark Ming King was, they would never leave here, abandoning the foundation that had been built over centuries.
"Alright, Ye Xuan, stop scaring them."
At this moment, Ling Qianxue stepped forward, shaking her head and then looking toward Ling Jingtian and others with a gentle expression in her eyes, "Father, don’t worry. Ye Xuan’s current strength is such that he can easily annihilate a First Grade Martial Venerable. A Bright and Dark Ming King is truly nothing to worry about."