As the core members of Canyon View Institute, Tyler Bailey and his group were well aware of the significance of the Ten Sacred Artifacts.
Canyon View Institute housed numerous rare treasures, many of which were invaluable. However, none could compare to the Ten Sacred Artifacts in terms of value.
Moreover, this was one of the top three ranked Sacred Artifacts. It was a treasure countless people dreamed of possessing.
“Are you sure?” Tyler Bailey asked Elder Jake.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Elder Jake nodded and added, “There’s something else.”
“What is it?” Luke Haynes inquired.
“According to our information, the artifact is likely in the possession of a young man named Billy,” Elder Jake continued. “And that young man named Billy is Miss Harleen’s lover.”
“What?!” Everyone, including Tyler Bailey, exclaimed in surprise.
“Is this information reliable?” Tyler Bailey asked again.
“Ninety percent sure,” Elder Jake confirmed. “About half a month ago, Holy Heaven Sect sent people to Sky City but returned empty-handed. If my guess is correct, they will send people again soon, and this time their force will be much stronger. Their target is Miss Harleen’s lover.”
“Vice-President, if Holy Heaven Sect obtains that artifact, their power will significantly increase!” another elder said to Tyler Bailey. “This would not be good for our Institute!”
“Indeed,” Elder Jake nodded. “Over the years, Holy Heaven Sect has shown their ambition. If they get the artifact…”
“Do they know that Aubree and the others are at our Institute?” Tyler Bailey interrupted with a frown.
“We haven’t found out,” Elder Jake shook his head but then seemed to realize something. “Vice-President, are you worried that if Holy Heaven Sect knows they are at our Institute, they might come to demand them and then use them to exchange for the artifact from Billy?”
“If their next attempt to get the artifact from Sky City fails, they might consider that option,” Luke Haynes answered for Tyler Bailey.
“Indeed,” two other elders nodded simultaneously.
“Vice-President, what do you think we should do?” Luke Haynes asked after taking a deep breath and looking at Tyler Bailey.
“I’ll go see when the Dean will be available,” Tyler Bailey replied after a brief thought and quickly walked out.
“Vice-President, what about today’s matter?” an elder asked.
“Mario Bowers and Graeme Wynn will be executed according to Institute laws,” Tyler Bailey responded sternly. “Autumn Knapp’s cultivation will be abolished first; we’ll decide her fate when I return from seeing the Dean.”
With that, he was already outside the door.
…
Sky City
That day, Jorge Craft visited the courtyard again.
He first explained to Billy the various factions’ attitudes towards resisting Holy Heaven Sect. According to him, most sects and forces had expressed their determination to fight Holy Heaven Sect to the end.
This result surprised Billy; he hadn’t expected so many sects to be willing to stand with Sky City.
In fact, this was mainly because he didn’t understand the battle from a hundred years ago. At that time, almost all of the top twenty sects in Sky City had lost ancestor-level figures to Holy Heaven Sect. For them, hatred for Holy Heaven Sect ran in their blood.
“Master!” Just as they were talking, an elder from Ethereal Sect hurried in.
“Elder Lee, what’s the matter?” Jorge Craft asked.
“We just received news that Quicksand Sect’s compound has been sealed off by a barrier!” Elder Lee replied.
“Hmm?!” Jorge Craft frowned slightly. “Do we know who did it?”
“It should be the work of the messenger between life and death,” Elder Lee responded.
“They are truly audacious!” Jorge Craft frowned again.
“Master, should we go take a look?” Elder Lee asked.
“Notify Grand Elder and the others immediately; we’ll go together,” Jorge Craft responded sternly. Although there were many frictions between Quicksand Sect and Ethereal Sect, it was still an internal matter of Sky City. Now that the messenger between life and death had arrived in Sky City again and sealed off Quicksand Sect, who could guarantee they wouldn’t target other sects next? Moreover, Jorge knew that this time, the messenger between life and death was not only here for revenge but also for the treasure Billy possessed. Therefore, Ethereal Sect couldn’t avoid involvement.
“Understood!” Elder Lee replied and left quickly.
“Mr Billy, you stay here to recover; I’ll…” Jorge Craft began but was interrupted by Billy.
“My injuries have healed; let’s go together,” Billy said. Unless it was a near-fatal injury, his wounds healed rapidly under the combined effect of his bloodline power and Heart Sutra of the Azure Void.
“Mr Billy, it’s better if you don’t go. We don’t know what level of people they have sent…” Jorge Craft hesitated but was cut off by Billy standing up.
“It’s fine! Let’s go! Time is of the essence!”
Meanwhile, inside Quicksand Sect’s compound, chaos reigned. It was supposed to be an ordinary day with everyone busy with their tasks. Since their recent battle with Ethereal Sect, a heavy atmosphere had hung over the entire sect. This was understandable; except for the Master and Vice Master, all high-ranking elders had perished in that battle. Without counting these two leaders, Quicksand Sect had fallen from a top-tier sect to a second-rate one. Even the Master and Vice Master were severely injured and their recovery was uncertain. This was the greatest upheaval Quicksand Sect had faced since its founding; everyone felt an immense weight on their hearts.
But misfortune never comes alone. Today, while everyone was busy with their tasks, an overwhelming aura swept through the air. Soon after, a hundred figures in black robes and black-and-white ghost masks appeared above the compound and descended into the central courtyard. With their arrival came a suffocating killing intent that felt like a wind from hell. Many people collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably with pale faces. Though most couldn’t gauge their opponents’ cultivation levels, the sheer presence of these figures made it clear they were formidable beyond imagination.
To make matters worse, the leading elder among them landed and with a slight twist of his eyes and a wave of his hand, a massive barrier enveloped the entire compound, making escape impossible even for a fly.
“Who… who are you?” A Quicksand Sect elder asked with difficulty after taking a deep breath. Though he had already guessed their identity from their attire, he asked out of a desperate hope for a different answer.