Chapter 1098
The Grand Elder!
The descendant added, "We can also invite some prestigious sects to our mountain gate to discuss strategies for dealing with the original evil sect. This will not only strengthen our power but also demonstrate our determination and preparedness to them."
The Third Elder nodded: "This is a good suggestion. We can take this opportunity to establish an alliance to jointly fight against the Yuan Sha Sect."
The Grand Elder concluded, "Then let's decide on this. Shi Ji and Hou Yi, you will be responsible for contacting other sects and arranging meetings. Liu Yan, you will assist the elders in strengthening the defenses of the mountain gate and ensuring safety within the gate."
The three responded in unison, "Yes, Elder!"
The Grand Elder continued, "At the same time, we must also remind our disciples to be vigilant and not let their guard down just because the mountain gate has strengthened its defenses. The Shadow Fiend Sect is cunning and treacherous, and we must remain alert at all times."
Shi Ji replied, "Yes, Elder. I will convey this to all disciples, instructing them to strengthen their self-protection and vigilance."
The descendant nodded in agreement: "At the same time, we also need to keep a close eye on the situation around the mountain gate to prevent spies from infiltrating."
Liu Yan added, "We can also use this incident to conduct a comprehensive review and revision of the security system within the mountain gate to ensure there are no loopholes."
The Second Elder calmed down and said, "Shi Ji, descendants, you must be careful when you make contacts outside. The Shadow Fiend Sect may try to ambush you."
Shi Ji and his descendants answered in unison, "Yes, Second Elder. We will be careful."
The Third Elder further reminded them, "When contacting other sects, be careful with your words. Make them aware of the threat posed by the Shadow Fiend Sect, but don't let them panic too much, so as not to cause unnecessary alarm."
Shi Dian nodded: "Third Elder, rest assured, we will handle things properly."
The Grand Elder concluded, “Alright, now that the plan is set, everyone go and make your preparations. Shi Ji, Hou Yi, you two should set off as soon as possible to contact other sects. Liu Yan, you stay with the elders to ensure the safety of the sect.”
Everyone responded in unison, and then dispersed.
Everyone in Shimen was busy with preparations. Shi Ji and his descendants were busily packing their belongings in the council hall, while carefully selecting the disciples to accompany them.
"Houyi, do you think these disciples are enough?" Shi Ji asked, pointing to the list.
Hou Yi glanced at the list and nodded: "These disciples are all elites of the sect, which should be enough. However, our mission is very important, so we need to remind them to be extra careful."
Shi Ji took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Yes, this trip is not only about the future of Shimen, but also about the safety of the entire cultivation world. We cannot be careless in the slightest."
However, just before they were about to set off, a problem arose. Due to the attack by the Shadow Fiend Sect, some important supplies in the sect had been damaged or lost, and needed to be repurchased and redistributed.
"What should we do?" Hou Yi said with a frown. "Cultivation resources on the market are already scarce, and now it's even more difficult."
Shi Ji pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "No matter what, we must do everything we can to secure enough supplies. I plan to negotiate with various merchants and sects to see if we can get their help."
Hou Yi nodded: "That's the only way. I'll go with you; one more person means one more force."
Thus began the arduous journey of negotiation. They traveled far and wide, negotiating with various merchants and sects. This involved many difficult negotiations and exchanges of benefits. They tirelessly lobbied, reasoning with them and appealing to their emotions, sometimes even having to leverage the long-standing relationships and reputation of the Shimen sect.
Meanwhile, inside the mountain gate, Liu Yan and the elders were also working diligently to strengthen defenses. They discovered loopholes in the existing security system, necessitating a comprehensive revision.
"Liu Yan, how do you think the new security system should be formulated?" the Grand Elder asked seriously.
After a moment of contemplation, Liu Yan replied, "We should strengthen patrols and monitoring of the mountain gate to ensure that every corner is under our control. At the same time, we also need to organize regular drills and training for our disciples to improve their emergency response capabilities."
However, when Liu Yan announced the new security system and reforms to all her disciples, she was met with skepticism and resistance from some of them.
"Why change the old system? I think it's fine as it is!" one disciple said discontentedly.
Liu Yan patiently explained, "The changes are to better adapt to the current situation. The threat from the Shadow Fiend Sect is becoming increasingly serious, and we must strengthen our own defense capabilities. The new system will place greater emphasis on practicality and flexibility, and I hope everyone can understand and support it."
Despite Liu Yan's explanation, some disciples still expressed concern.
"Senior Sister Liu, will the new security system affect our cultivation?" another disciple asked doubtfully.
Liu Yan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, the new safety system will try its best to take everyone's needs into account. We will minimize the impact on everyone's cultivation while ensuring safety. Besides, only when the sect is safe can we cultivate with peace of mind, right?"
After hearing Liu Yan's explanation, the disciples gradually felt relieved. They understood that during this special period, the safety of the sect was more important than their individual cultivation. Therefore, everyone expressed their willingness to actively cooperate with the new security system and work together to safeguard the sect's safety.
While Shi Ji and his descendants were away negotiating, the atmosphere within the sect grew increasingly tense. The disciples knew they were facing an unprecedented challenge. However, it was precisely this challenge that united them, driving them to work together for the sect's future.
After some negotiation, Shi Ji and his descendants finally managed to secure sufficient material support and established close cooperative relationships with several sects. When they returned laden with supplies, they were filled with immense satisfaction upon seeing the united and actively preparing disciples within the sect.
"It seems everyone has done a great job while we were away!" Shi Ji said with emotion.
Hou Yi looked around at his busy but orderly disciples and nodded: "Indeed, everyone is in good spirits."
However, just then, a disciple rushed over, his face full of anxiety: "Senior Brother Shi, Senior Brother Hou, you're back! Something's happened!"
Shi Ji and Hou Yi exchanged a glance, their hearts tightening: "What happened? Tell me slowly."
The disciple, panting, said, "The night before you were to return, several disciples suddenly disappeared! We searched the entire mountain gate, but we couldn't find any trace of them."
"What?!" Shi Ji and Han Feng exclaimed simultaneously. They never expected that such a change would occur within the mountain gate while they were away negotiating. "Were any clues left behind?" Shi Ji quickly regained her composure and asked in a deep voice.
The disciple shook his head: "No, they just vanished into thin air. We suspect... it was probably the work of the Shadow Fiend Sect."
Han Feng frowned: "If it really was the Shadow Fiend Sect that did it, then what exactly is their purpose? Is it merely to create panic?"
A cold glint flashed in Shi Ji's eyes: "No matter what their intentions are, we cannot let them succeed. Immediately gather all disciples and strengthen the defenses of the mountain gate. At the same time, we must find out the whereabouts of those missing disciples as soon as possible."
After saying that, Shi Ji turned and walked towards the council hall, with Han Feng following closely behind, and the disciple who had brought the message also immediately caught up with her.
Upon entering the council hall, Shi Ji immediately summoned all the elders and core disciples and gave a detailed account of the situation. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense.
"Everyone, the situation we are facing is extremely serious." Shi Ji scanned the crowd. "The Shadow Fiend Sect has obviously made its move, and we must take immediate countermeasures."
The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Shi Ji, what do you think we should do?"
Shi Ji took a deep breath and said decisively, "First, we must strengthen the defenses of the mountain gate to ensure the safety of our disciples. Second, we must find out the whereabouts of the missing disciples as soon as possible, either alive or dead. Finally, we need to send someone to infiltrate the Shadow Fiend Sect to find out their strengths and plans."
Han Feng nodded: "I agree with Shi Ji's suggestion. However, we need to proceed with caution when infiltrating the Shadow Fiend Sect, and we must not alert them."
Liu Yan also stepped forward: "I can take charge of strengthening the defenses of the mountain gate and ensuring the safety of the disciples. At the same time, we can also organize some disciples to secretly investigate the disappearance of disciples."
Shi Ji looked at Liu Yan, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes: "Liu Yan, thank you. Here's what we'll do: you and the elders will be in charge of the security and investigation of the mountain gate, while Han Feng and I will be responsible for infiltrating the Shadow Fiend Sect to gather information. Everyone, please be careful as you go your separate ways."
Just as everyone split up and began their investigation and defense efforts, an even more shocking piece of news arrived—the number of missing disciples was steadily increasing.
On this day, another disciple rushed into the council hall, his face filled with fear, and reported: "Senior Brother Shi, Senior Brother Han, five more disciples have gone missing! We have searched the entire mountain gate, but we still haven't found anything."
Shi Ji suddenly stood up, her eyes flashing with anger: "How many batches is this already?!"
“This is the third batch, Senior Brother Shi,” the disciple replied in a trembling voice. “Moreover, I feel that this time it’s even stranger than before, as if there is a bigger conspiracy behind it.”
Han Feng frowned as well: "That's right. If it were just a simple kidnapping or assassination, they wouldn't need to make it so mysterious. It seems that the Shadow Fiend Sect's purpose is definitely not simple."
Liu Yan clenched her fists, her eyes filled with worry: "We must find out the truth as soon as possible and rescue those missing disciples!"
Shi Ji took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down: "Yes, we can't panic right now. Liu Yan, have you found any clues?"
Liu Yan shook her head: "We have strengthened patrols and surveillance at the mountain gate, but we still haven't found anything unusual. I feel like the other side is very familiar with our defenses and always manages to cleverly avoid our sight."
The elder pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "This matter is indeed unusual. I think we may need to re-examine our defense system and see if there are any vulnerabilities."
Shi Ji nodded: "The Grand Elder is right. In addition, we also need to reconsider our action plan. The plan to infiltrate the Shadow Fiend Sect may have to be put on hold for the time being. The most important thing right now is to find the missing disciple and find out the conspiracy behind it."
Han Feng agreed: "Yes, we need to focus our efforts on solving the immediate problem. I suggest expanding the search area and strengthening surveillance around the mountain gate."
Shi Ji chimed in, "Han Feng is right. We must expand our search area beyond just the mountain gate. At the same time, strengthening surveillance of the surrounding area is also crucial; we might be able to catch some clues."
The Grand Elder nodded and said, “In that case, we will split into two groups. One group, led by Shi Ji and Han Feng, will be responsible for external searches and surveillance; the other group, led by Liu Yan and myself, will be responsible for another thorough search of the mountain gate. At the same time, we should also strengthen our communication with other sects to see if they have encountered similar situations.”
Shi Ji and Han Feng exchanged a glance and replied in unison, "Yes!"
Then, Shi Ji turned to the disciple who had brought the news and said, "You did a good job reporting the situation to us in time. Now go back and tell the other disciples to be vigilant, but not to panic excessively. We will definitely find out the truth and rescue the missing disciple."
The disciple nodded in agreement and then quickly left the council hall.
Shi Ji and Han Feng then left to organize their disciples and assign tasks for external search and surveillance. They knew that this mission was arduous and important, but they also firmly believed that as long as the Chu Clan was united, no difficulty was insurmountable.
Meanwhile, in another secret chamber within the mountain gate, the Grand Elder and Liu Yan began another thorough search of the gate's interior. They meticulously examined every corner, leaving no possible clue unchecked.
While searching for the outside world, Shi Ji and Han Feng followed a desolate mountain road and suddenly discovered a hidden cave entrance.
"Have we been here before?" Shi Ji asked doubtfully.
Han Feng shook his head: "Probably not. This cave entrance is very well hidden. It would be difficult to find unless you specifically look for it."
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the resolve in each other's eyes. Shi Ji nodded: "Let's go in and take a look; maybe we can find some clues."
They cautiously entered the cave, which was dark and damp, with only the occasional sound of dripping water breaking the silence. As they ventured deeper into the cave, a strange sense of oppression settled over them.
Suddenly, Han Feng slipped and nearly fell. He looked down and saw a smooth stone slab covered with ancient runes.
"Shiji, look here!" Han Feng exclaimed.
Shi Ji quickly approached, carefully examining the runes. His expression gradually turned serious: "These runes... are ancient binding formations. Could something important or someone have been imprisoned here?" (End of Chapter)