Chapter 543

Chapter 543: Gathering

For the mother and son, there truly was no better tenant than Wang Chen.

As a prestigious Purple Palace master, he willingly condescended to stay in their Small House and paid a considerable amount in rent.

How rare!

Not only that, Wang Chen also provided them with spiritual rice and beast meat. Although it was processed by others, they were able to partake in some heavenly delicacies they had only dreamed of.

The young boy had previously been afflicted by negative energy and developed a stubborn illness, but after consuming the spiritual rice given by Wang Chen, his condition improved significantly.

Thus, both of them were sincerely grateful to Wang Chen and least wanted to see him come to harm.

The Scarred Woman hurriedly welcomed Wang Chen into the house, saying, “Esteemed Immortal Master, would you like us to prepare dinner for you now?”

Wang Chen responded with a nod, then asked the boy beside him, “What happened over there?”

The boy, named Xu An, quickly replied, “Just now, a giant eagle fell and crushed many people to death.”

He wore a look of lingering fear.

Wang Chen nodded, then took out two talismans from his storage bag and handed them to him. “These are Protection talismans. Keep them with you; they might save your lives in case of danger.”

The two talismans were trivial to Wang Chen, but in such perilous times, they could truly save the mother and son’s lives.

Of course, if the danger was too great, even the talismans might not be of much use.

“Thank you, Master! Thank you!”

Xu An was overjoyed, nearly kneeling to kowtow to Wang Chen.

Wang Chen reached out to support him and sighed, saying, “The situation is grim; take care of yourselves.”

The calamity occurring in the Underworld Realm was unprecedented. Wei Fa City’s connection with the sect was severed, and even the Golden Core true masters might not be able to save themselves, let alone the common folk.

Wang Chen could only help them this much.

He didn’t even know if he could survive this calamity!

Xu’s mother, who was just about to head to the kitchen, paused and asked, “Master, are you leaving?”

Wang Chen replied, “For now, I still need to stay here, but I likely won’t be able to remain for many more days.”

He had a vague premonition that life or death would soon be decided!

Regardless of the outcome, Wang Chen could not stay here long-term.

After enjoying a rather sumptuous dinner, Wang Chen left the residence and headed to the inn in the city to gather information.

Once order was restored in Wei Fa City, the inns and most shops reopened. The inn Wang Chen visited was nearly full.

However, the atmosphere was quite oppressive.

No one raised their voices or celebrated; everyone huddled in small groups, whispering to one another, their faces marked with worry.

The giants were formidable, and no one knew how long Wei Fa City could hold out.

Today’s situation was extremely dire; the city gate was nearly destroyed, and a large number of giants had stormed into the city.

Although they had successfully repelled the giant army this time, who could guarantee that the giants wouldn’t return?

Now everyone was trapped in this isolated city, with nowhere to escape.

The local natives were somewhat more resilient, not as fearful of death, but the pioneering cultivators who descended from the Mountain-Sea Realm, most with illustrious lineages and promising futures, could hardly accept the thought of perishing here!

The ferocity of today’s battle was clear for all to see!

“Did you hear?”

Suddenly, a soft whisper reached Wang Chen’s ears. “They say Master Bai… has been injured.”

Though Wang Chen was seated in a corner and the speaker’s voice was hushed, his sharp ears caught every word, sending a jolt through his heart.

The person was undoubtedly referring to Master Bai Jun, the master of the sect’s law hall, likely too intimidated to mention his name outright, hence the vague reference.

Master Bai Jun was not only a higher-level Golden Core cultivator but also the highest authority of the West Sea Sect in the Underworld Realm.

The very pillar of Wei Fa City!

Should anything befall this Golden Core elder, Wei Fa City might collapse even before the giant army launched another attack.

Wang Chen couldn’t help but recall the white tiger that had shattered the Giant Centipede earlier.

That white tiger was almost certainly Master Bai Jun’s spiritual conditions, making the rumors of his injury all the more credible.

He listened for a while longer but, hearing nothing else of note, eventually left the inn.

Over the next two days, the Malevolent Energy Clouds returned, once again shrouding Wei Fa City.

The dark, churning clouds occasionally unleashed Ominous Thunder, which, though blocked by the protective formation, still sent shivers down the spines of the city’s cultivators.

Though the giants had yet to appear, the uncertainty was what truly unnerved everyone.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

On the morning of the third day, the resonant toll of a copper bell rang out from the sect’s law hall.

The sound echoed throughout the entire city.

Wang Chen received a message via the Jade Slip.

It was an edict from Master Bai Jun, summoning all pioneering cultivators in the city to assemble at the sect’s law hall.

When Wang Chen arrived, the main hall was already packed with cultivators.

Yet, the preaching platform stood empty.

“Brother Wang…”

Just as Wang Chen was searching for a seat, a familiar voice called out to him.

It was Yun Feifei.

She was with Li Mengyan, Sun Yulian, and others, waving at him from a distance. “Come over here.”

Though Wang Chen preferred not to draw attention, he couldn’t refuse Yun Feifei’s kindness. Steeling himself, he made his way to the group of female cultivators under the curious gazes of many.

“Everyone, make some room,” Yun Feifei said warmly. “Clear a spot for Brother Wang.”

Wang Chen felt a twinge of awkwardness but sat down in the space they had made for him.

Just as he was about to speak, a white-robed cultivator suddenly appeared on the preaching platform.

The aura of a Golden Core filled the hall!

Silence fell instantly, and Wang Chen swallowed his words.

The white-robed cultivator was none other than Master Bai Jun.

Who would dare act out of line?

Master Bai Jun’s expression was calm, showing no signs of injury. He surveyed the room and spoke in a deep voice, “Disciples, I have summoned you here today for an important discussion…”

All the pioneering cultivators present were of Purple Palace Level, and none were lacking in intelligence.

Hearing this, they felt a chill in their hearts.

For a high-level Golden Core master to speak of an “important discussion,” the matter must indeed be grave!

It turned out that in recent days, an unprecedented Evil Nest had appeared thirty miles from Wei Fa City.

Investigations revealed that this Evil Nest housed thousands of magical spirits and evil spirits, and it was growing larger by the day.

Once it reached a certain size, the giant army would undoubtedly launch another assault on Wei Fa City.

Thus, Master Bai Jun decided to mobilize the pioneering cultivators to form a Demon-Slaying Army and strike first to destroy the Evil Nest!

If the Evil Nest were allowed to continue expanding, the pressure on Wei Fa City would become unbearable.

The city would likely fall as a result!