The Invincible Beginning After The End

The enemy was in disarray, but they were still alive. 

Ye Yu observed Chen Ping's predicament with indifference. As for why Ye Yu didn't kill Chen Ping, it was because he found it unnecessary. In Ye Yu's eyes, such insignificant individuals were not worth his attention. 

Chen Ping, however, fled back to the Kaoshan Sect at the fastest speed he had ever achieved in his life. The moment he saw Sect Master Yun Yu, he immediately knelt in front of him, grabbing the hem of Yun Yu's robe, and began sobbing bitterly. 

"Sect Master, there is great terror in Songyang City…" 

Chen Ping cried uncontrollably as he recounted his experience in Songyang City. 

Yun Yu carefully sifted through Chen Ping's intermittent words and pieced together the critical information: 

A Martial Emperor had appeared in Songyang City. 

This conclusion wasn't mere speculation but was based on the residual aura lingering on Chen Ping, which was so overwhelming that even Yun Yu, a ninth-grade Martial King, felt his heart tremble. 

As a ninth-grade Martial King, Yun Yu was only one step away from becoming a Martial Emperor himself. Yet, the mere residual aura on Chen Ping was enough to unsettle him. One could only imagine the terrifying strength of the person who attacked Chen Ping. 

There was no doubt in Yun Yu's mind—this individual was a Martial Emperor, and not an ordinary one at that. The exact level of the Martial Emperor's strength was beyond Yun Yu's ability to discern, but it was evident that this individual could easily obliterate him. 

This was the insurmountable gap between a Martial King and a Martial Emperor, a chasm that ordinary warriors could not hope to bridge. 

After calming Chen Ping down, Yun Yu immediately ordered his disciples to summon all the inner sect elders to the sect hall for an urgent discussion. 

In just a quarter of an hour, all the elders had assembled. Including Chen Ping, there were a total of seven elders present. Had Elder Liu not perished, there would have been eight. This highlighted how few inner sect elders the Kaoshan Sect had. 

Each of these elders was a Martial King, forming the backbone of the sect. Every loss among them was a devastating blow to the Kaoshan Sect. 

The other elders, unaware of the reason behind the sudden summons, were visibly perplexed. 

The kind-looking old man seated on the first chair to the right spoke first, his tone calm yet curious. "Sect Master, may I ask why you have called us here so urgently?" 

This elder was the Great Elder of the Kaoshan Sect, an eighth-grade Martial King whose strength was second only to Yun Yu's. As soon as he spoke, the other elders nodded in agreement, echoing his question. 

Yun Yu's expression grew grave as he surveyed the room. He slowly began, "Elder Chen Ping has uncovered the cause of Elder Liu Rong's death. He was killed by a powerful stranger in Songyang City." 

"Songyang City?" 

"Elder Liu Rong died in Songyang City?" 

The elders were immediately filled with indignation. Who would dare kill an inner sect elder of the Kaoshan Sect? Such an act was a blatant display of disregard for their sect's authority. 

The Kaoshan Sect was a renowned force within the Tianfeng Kingdom. Even the royal family treated them with respect. 

Outraged, several elders vowed to find the murderer and avenge Elder Liu Rong, not only to uphold the sect's dignity but also to restore justice. 

The Second Elder, known for his fiery temper, was the first to rise. His face was dark with fury as he declared, "Sect Master, tell me who dared to kill Elder Liu Rong. I will bring back their head myself." 

As a seventh-grade Martial King, the Second Elder was one of the most formidable warriors in the Tianfeng Kingdom. His confidence in avenging Liu Rong was evident. 

The Great Elder, however, was more composed. He quickly interjected with a gentle tone, "Second Brother, let us first hear what the Sect Master has to say." 

Yun Yu sighed deeply before speaking. "The one who killed Elder Liu Rong is a Martial Emperor." 

The hall fell into a stunned silence. 

The elders who had moments ago been brimming with righteous indignation now found themselves rooted to their spots, unable to react. Even the Great Elder, known for his calm demeanor, tugged at his beard in disbelief. 

A Martial Emperor. 

The weight of these two words was unparalleled. 

In the entire Tianfeng Kingdom, the number of Martial Emperors could be counted on one hand. Their sect only had one Martial Emperor, the ancestor who served as the foundation of the Kaoshan Sect. 

No force, not even the royal family, would casually mobilize a Martial Emperor. Their presence alone was a deterrent, ensuring stability and order. 

But now, Yun Yu had confirmed that a Martial Emperor was responsible for Elder Liu Rong's death. 

"Sect Master, are you certain the individual is a Martial Emperor?" The Second Elder's voice trembled as he sought confirmation. 

Yun Yu nodded solemnly, leaving no room for doubt. 

The truth was undeniable: the culprit was indeed a Martial Emperor. 

"Do we know which faction this Martial Emperor belongs to?" the Great Elder asked cautiously. 

"I do not know," Yun Yu admitted, shaking his head in frustration. 

A mysterious Martial Emperor with no known allegiance was a troubling prospect. 

"Based on the information brought back by Chen Ping, this Martial Emperor appears to be closely associated with the City Lord's Mansion in Songyang City and is currently residing there," Yun Yu revealed. 

"The City Lord's Mansion? Could this Martial Emperor be connected to the royal family?" the Great Elder speculated, narrowing his eyes. 

"That is unlikely," Yun Yu replied firmly. "The royal family's Martial Emperor is currently in seclusion within the palace and has not left." 

The movements of Martial Emperors were closely monitored by all major forces. A mistake in such intelligence was highly improbable. 

Once again, the trail of clues came to an abrupt end. 

Yun Yu sighed heavily before delivering another piece of grave news. "There is one more matter. The Wang family has been annihilated by this Martial Emperor." 

"Is it Wang Teng's family?" 

"Yes." 

This revelation was as shocking as Elder Liu's death. 

Wang Teng was the Kaoshan Sect's most promising genius, a beloved disciple of the Sect Master, and someone in whom the sect had invested countless resources. His future as a Martial Emperor had seemed certain. 

If Wang Teng were to learn of his family's destruction, his Dao Heart would likely collapse, and he might recklessly seek vengeance against the Martial Emperor. 

However, a future Martial Emperor was not the same as a current one. No matter how talented Wang Teng was, he was no match for an established Martial Emperor. 

Understanding this, Yun Yu issued a stern warning. "This matter must be kept a secret from Wang Teng at all costs. You all know the consequences should he find out." 

Yun Yu's cold gaze swept across the room, his tone filled with authority and forewarning.