From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

Qing Feng Sect, library.

Qing Yang Zi and the other peak lords were seated in a room as they waited.

All around them were shelves with scrolls and books that were about different topics.

There were books on the history of Quan Dynasty, books on travels in different lands by different authors and also chronicles of all the sects that were in the empire, even before Quan Dynasty was formed.

The chief librarian was up on a ladder, resting upon one of the shelves, shuffling through the scrolls and books.

"Found it." The chief librarian exclaimed and pulled out a book from the shelf.

He climbed down the ladder, walked to the center of the room, and blew the dust off the cover.

When the dust came off, the title of the book could be seen.

'The Exiles in the North Realm'

The chief librarian opened the book and flipped to a page.

"Here you are. The Dark Temple in the North Realm." He said and passed the book over to Qing Yang Zi.

Qing Yang Zi took the book into his hands and read about the Dark Temple.

Ages ago, the Qing Feng Sect ancestors fought with the dark cultivators of the day and won.

Those that were defeated had been forced to go into exile in the North Realm.

As the Qing Feng Sect ancestors were also heavily wounded, they didn't want to take the risk to go into the dangerous North Realm to pursue these remnants.

Qing Yang Zi, after reading the rest of the pages, now had an idea on who was behind the Dark Lord.

One of those defeated, Xuan Ming Elder fled and set up the Dark Temple.

Xuan Ming Elder's powers were suppressed with the Bei Dou Ice Chain artifact, and he had to recover and recuperate.

Qing Yang Zi gave out a long sigh as it wasn't something he had expected to be facing.

With the new emperor, the Quan Dynasty was still in turmoil.

Qing Feng Sect was still reeling and recovering from what had happened to it from attacks by the Dark Lotus Sect and Quan Shi, the previous emperor.

And now, this threat from someone who had battled with the ancestors.

He gave out a long sigh and briefed the other peak lords on what he had read.

"With Xuan Ming Elder behind the Dark Temple, will he attack Qing Feng Sect soon?" Zhao Ming Ye asked.

Qing Yang Zi shook his head, and replied, "I think the Bei Dou Ice Chain is stopping him from doing so.

"If not, he would have personally attacked instead of sending out the Dark Lord and people like the Iron Heart Nun and Long Yong."

Zhao Qing Ying nodded at Qing Yang Zi's speculation.

"So, should we make the first move and go into the North Realm instead?" Han Dang asked next.

Qing Yang Zi frowned and sighed.

He wasn't so sure this time.

Even though the Xuan Ming Elder's powers were suppressed, he didn't know how powerful he still was.

"If we know that the Bei Dou Ice Chain is stopping him, I think his next plan of action is to try and get it off." Zhao Qing Ying interjected and said.

The other peak lords nodded to the logical conclusion.

Zhao Qing Ying glanced over at Han Dang and said, "What can be used to get rid of the Bei Dou Ice Chain?"

Han Dang rubbed his temple and said, "Not even the blades of the Qing Feng Sword can do so. I might need to ask Master Su Qi Nian in the Artifact Mountains about it."

"Go and figure it out with him. Accommodate any requests he has for the information." Qing Yang Zi said and glanced over at Zhang Yi Nian, "Protect Han Dang on the way."

"Yes, sect master." Zhang Yi Nian nodded and said.

"Everyone be on the alert and inform me of anything unusual." Qing Yang Zi said and stood up.

The other peak lords followed suit.

"Thank you so much, chief librarian." Qing Yang Zi thanked the chief librarian on his way out.

...

Teng Yi Village.

After two days of travel, Lin Fan and the new disciples finally arrived at Teng Yi village.

When they got near the village, the first thing they noticed was that there were columns of smoke rising from the village.

Villagers sat on the ground with soulless eyes at their homes, which were now being burned into ashes.

"Let me go. It's my house! It's all I have!" One lady tried to stop her house from burning but was held back by other villagers.

Liang Feng, Shao Xue Cong and Lin Xuan Qi's hearts sank when they saw the scene in front of them.

It could have been their village and loved ones suffering from the same fate.

Lin Fan observed their reaction and kept quiet.

He wanted to see if they were able to keep calm under these circumstances.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" One villager saw them approaching and he held up a stick, pointing at them, warning them not to get nearer.

The other villagers also grabbed onto whatever they could find and rallied to the villager's side.

"Are you one of the robbers!"

Anger flared at Lin Fan and the rest, thinking that they were part of the robbers.

"Stop!" An old man's voice shouted and he stepped forward.

"You must be from the Qing Feng Sect." The old man bowed and said.

"Qing Feng Sect..." The villagers heard the old man, and they looked carefully at the four young men and women on their horses.

Finally, cultivators are here to save them from the robbers.

But their mood wasn't lifted when they looked carefully at Lin Fan and the new disciples' faces.

"They look as young as my son.... How can they help?"

One of the villagers shook his head and was disappointed with what he saw.

"Yeah. What the hell is Qing Feng Sect thinking!"

"Shh... You don't want to anger the Qing Feng Sect"

"Why are you so afraid? I've got nothing left! Nothing left!"

Some villagers weren't too happy and grumbled.