Not far from Celestial Sea City, a group of individuals were traveling rapidly through the sky. Leading the way were two elders, both over half a century old, with pale faces and white hair flowing behind them, clad in green robes. Although they had aged, their imposing presence was still immense and boundless, their life force as vast as the sky and sea.

These were Wood Profound Sect's Fourth Elder Hong Yuan and Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu.

Behind them were a dozen or so disciples of Wood Profound Sect, also dressed in green robes. However, their aura was far less imposing, most of them merely martial artists of the Guiyuan Realm.

"Hehe, with Lin Tong dead this time, the position of Vice Sect Leader will surely go to the Second Elder. By then, you and I will certainly rise to prominence."

Fourth Elder Hong Yuan said with a pleased expression, secretly transmitting his voice to Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu.

They belonged to the faction of the Second Elder. As soon as the Second Elder rose to the position of Vice Sect Leader, their prosperity was within grasp.

"Don't be too happy too soon. Things are not that simple."

Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu sighed slightly, looking in the direction of Celestial Sea City with a hint of worry.

The task was originally assigned to the Grand Elder, but he had forcibly handed it over to the two of them. Ever since they set out, he had sensed that something was amiss. Now, as they neared Celestial Sea City, the sense of foreboding grew even stronger.

"Could it be..."

Suddenly, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Fourth Elder's eyes, then quickly vanished. He asked, "The Grand Elder wouldn't go so far as to eliminate us, would he?"

Fourth Elder's words were uncertain. After all, the position of Vice Sect Leader was extremely important to both the Grand Elder and the Second Elder.

Boom!

A violent explosion sounded abruptly, and a terrifying sword light appeared in the sky.

"Quickly, dodge!!"

Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu's face was horrified. He did not expect that just as Hong Yuan had spoken, the killer intent would immediately follow.

Pu pu pu...

Under this sword aura, the sky was filled with a burst of bloody flowers. Besides Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu and Fourth Elder Hong Yuan, who dodged in time, the other Wood Profound Sect disciples were instantly killed, their bodies turned to dust.

"Who are you?"

Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu's eyes turned cold as he slowly asked.

Spiritual power within his body was ready to attack at any moment.

Rip!

A white-robed figure emerged from the space. Chu Ming stared indifferently at Fourth Elder Hong Yuan and Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu as if he were looking at two dead men.

"You have some nerve to kill people from Wood Profound Sect!"

Fourth Elder Hong Yuan said with a grim expression, but Fifth Elder showed a flash of surprise. He originally thought that the one ambushing them would be Grand Elder Situ Lei or Third Elder Ku Teng, but it turned out to be an unrelated person.

"Since I dared to kill members of Wood Profound Sect, I am not afraid of your sect's retaliation."

Chu Ming said calmly, the Blood Dome Sword in his hand suddenly spinning and slashing down, leaving a deep mark in the sky.

Puchi!

Before Fourth Elder Hong Yuan could react, he was pierced by the incredibly swift sword aura, utterly annihilated.

"How is this possible?!"

Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu's face was stunned. Even for the Grand Elder and the Second Elder, it would not be so easy to kill the Fourth Elder, and Chu Ming seemed to be effortlessly doing it without using his full strength.

"Your turn."

Chu Ming's voice, as if summoning from the Hell of the Nine Netherworld, caused Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu to immediately retreat, fleeing to the distance. The disparity between him and Chu Ming was far too great to confront.

Swoosh!

A trace of light shone in the sky. Zhao Tianwu's speed was fast, but Chu Ming's sword was faster. Almost at the moment Zhao Tianwu started fleeing, his fate was sealed.

Puchi!

With one sword, the life force in Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu's body quickly dissipated, and his soul vanished without a trace.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Chu Ming seized the storage rings from the bodies of Fourth Elder Hong Yuan and Fifth Elder Zhao Tianwu, merged into the space again, and flew towards Black Moon City.

From Chu Ming's appearance to his departure, only a dozen breaths elapsed. Wood Profound Sect's group was entirely wiped out.

...

Chu Ming returned to Black Moon City, disguised as Elder Ku Teng.

"I did not expect that the storage rings of the two would contain quite the assortment of treasures."

As he opened Zhao Tianwu's storage ring, Chu Ming was shocked to see inside, neatly arranged, ten thousand top grade spirit stones, their abundant spiritual power continuously spreading around.

"These top grade spirit stones should not belong to them."

A gleam flashed in Chu Ming's eyes. In Wood Profound Sect, Ku Teng's status was certainly higher than Zhao Tianwu's. Coupled with Situ Lei's information saying that the Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder were heading to Celestial Sea City to exchange a batch of goods, it was easy to deduce these top grade spirit stones belonged to the entire Wood Profound Sect.

Three days after Chu Ming returned to Black Moon City, Situ Lei sent another message, summoning Ku Teng back to Wood Profound Sect's headquarters.

In the residence at Black Moon City, Chu Ming had essentially gathered all the intelligence regarding Wood Profound Sect's headquarters.

As the foremost power on Mukong Island, the headquarters of Wood Profound Sect was located at the center of Mukong Island—Lvbo City.

Chu Ming estimated that this meeting at the headquarters was not only to address the deaths of Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder but also for the election of the Vice Sect Leader, the latter being more significant.

In just half a day, Chu Ming arrived at Lvbo City. As Third Elder of Wood Profound Sect, Ku Teng held significant authority and could fly directly into the city without registration.

"Hahaha, Ku Teng, my brother, you finally returned."

As Chu Ming entered Lvbo City, a few spiritual senses swept over him. Among them, one obviously contained cold killing intent. If Chu Ming's guess was correct, the person harboring such intense hostility towards him should be the Second Elder.

Situ Lei flew out from the headquarters of Wood Profound Sect, warmly welcoming Chu Ming.

"Brother Lei."

Chu Ming smiled faintly, the two landed together in Grand Elder Situ Lei's courtyard.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort echoed in the air, but Situ Lei and Chu Ming pretended not to hear and disappeared almost instantly.

In a luxurious courtyard of Lvbo City, a white-bearded elder looked up at Situ Lei and Chu Ming's departing figures, a flash of sinister light in his eyes.

The elder's face was rosy, his skin like that of a newborn baby, exuding an extraordinary aura. He was none other than the Second Elder of Wood Profound Sect.

"Situ Lei, that old scoundrel. The deaths of Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder must be related to him."

The Second Elder's face was resentful. Initially, with Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder siding with him, the competition for Vice Sect Leader was highly favorable. But for them to meet misfortune at this crucial juncture, it was impossible to believe that Situ Lei was not involved. Yet, he had no evidence.