Martial research master

"Will anyone explain to me why we are in this situation? First of all, how did the Emerald Amethyst Hall know of our existence? Second, why are they so actively attacking us? Even if they found us to be rising in the shadows, they should gather their troops first and scout the situation. Direct warfare is totally out of the question under regular scenarios." One of the elders in the Hall said.

"I would like for the culprit to step forward, or we would need to pry into the situation ourselves." Another elder said in an irritated tone. Both the elders were seated at the topmost position in the whole hall, showing their status to be above the rest of the members present here.

"Sir, according to my survey, the events might be related to a recent mission which Yin Luo's group had undertaken in the water-mist village." One of the commander-level figures spoke up. He was in charge of the base they were stationed in.

"Who commissioned the mission?" The elder asked.

"Only captain Yin Luo knows about the details sir."

"Bring him here." The elder said. Yin Luo was the other leader of this stronghold and hence was present within it. Soon enough he arrived as per the command of the elder. He was within the infirmary recovering from the injuries he sustained in Misty Valley.

"7th squad captain, Yin Luo, presents himself in front of the Black-White elders." Yin Luo bowed to the two elders, who shot an appreciative glance at him and nodded in agreement for him to stand down.

"How did you gain these injuries captain?" The elder asked.

"The injuries were a result of a mishappening that occurred in the water mist village, sir."Yin Luo said.

"Have you managed to recover properly?"

"I have recovered 50% of my strength already. I need another week at the top to reach my prime condition."

"Then we can discuss the mission you undertook." The elder said.

"I would like to beg your pardon, sir. I can't divulge the information regarding the mission to you." The whole assembly was surprised at Yin Luo's reply. He was speaking to the black-white elders, and he dared to withhold information.

"Who commissioned it?" The elder asked.

"I cannot divulge the information." Yin Luo replied while bowing his head. The two elders were visibly irritated by the reply, yet they kept their calm to pry into the situation.

"According to the normal proceeding of the church, unless it is a mission which is personally commissioned by the leader himself or the two grand cardinals, it is within my authority to get the details of the whole process without any information being out of my range of approach." The elder explained.

"If the three of them had issued a mission, it would have undertaken by us who are their direct underlings. Which meant that my last question was on feasible grounds. Hence, I will ask once again. Who commissioned the mission?" The elder asked once again.

"I cannot divulge" Yin Luo stood his ground. The people in the room were about to reprimand him, but an enormous pressure engulfed the whole room directly pressuring Yin Luo onto the ground. He couldn't even move a muscle.

The Black and white elder was one of the most infamous and strongest Qi Emperors of the Black-Devil church. Both of them were Heavenly Law users and no one knew how many they managed to connect with. There were even rumors that they were on the same stage of cultivation as the two grand cardinals of the church.

"I wasn't requesting you to divulge the information. It's a direct order." The Black elder spoke up. His tone was scary and extremely irritating, and an almost murderous aura poured into it.

"I can't.." Yin Luo was about to speak when another figure entered the room. The aura which filled the room immediately vanished when the figure walked in there. It was none other than Li Xuanfa.

"What brings the holy son here?" The elder asked.

"You needn't torment my subordinate. It was I who commissioned the mission." Li Xuanfa said in a weak tone. It was a given fact that he hadn't recovered from the injuries inflicted during his fight with Li Meng. He had been rushed to a near-death situation.

"Would you care explaining why this situation has arisen?" The black elder asked with a sinister smile on his face.

"I got hold of a treasure map during one of my excursions with the detailed location of a powerful treasure which would enhance my body type into Extreme Yin body." The whole hall went silent. This was an important matter. The holy son was the official successor to the Church master.

"And then." The black elder spoke.

"I planned on ambushing the Emerald Amethyst group since I came across the news that their provisional Holy son was carrying a powerful fire element treasure with him. I needed to get that treasure to travel deep into the region of Misty-Valley and get the treasure."

'Why didn't you take a fire element treasure from the church?" The elder asked.

"Would you guys allow me to borrow a top-tier emperor-level fire armor into a mission which itself is a goose chase and a huge risk of me not returning?" Li Xuanfa said.

"No." The elder said. He had to agree that the situation demanded this particular set of actions.

"Hence I decided to attack the cavalry and even prepared the proper amount of workforce to take care of them."

"What happened then?" The elder asked.

"We got played by a third party. He took care of both the parties at the same time and took all our possessions." Li Xuanfa said.

"A 'he' took care of you. Not even a group, just a 'he'." The elder spoke 

"Yes. He killed everyone including the men of the two groups and even his group." Li Xuanafa said.

"Was he a Qi Emperor?"

"no. He was an advanced Qi King." Li Xuanfa said. The whole hall went through a commotion.

"So an advanced Qi king killed everyone except you two, and took all your belongings." The elder said.

'Yes."

"What about the treasures?" The elder asked.

"He took all the belongings including the map and the details of the treasures. He must have gotten his hands on the treasure by now and hence it is useless to pursue the matter. It would be better to concentrate on the Emerald Amethyst Hall. Huang must have used my group as a scapegoat instead of the man who is the real nemesis."

"You will be receiving your punishment from the master himself. In the meantime began war preparations. Also, commission a bounty on the mysterious advance QI King's head." He then looked at Li Xuanfa and said. "You will be giving all the details regarding the treasure and the man himself."

"Dismissed."