Ye Chen and the others also had a change in expression upon seeing this, their faces sinking completely. Could it be that the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan had been completely wiped out?
If that were the case, it would be his fault; he had implicated the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan.
"Is that... Chief Uncle?"
Suddenly, a timid voice rang out. Everyone looked over and saw a young boy, no more than eight or nine years old, looking at them timidly.
"Gu Shuangshuang!"
Gu Jiuhua became excited, for this was a member of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan, the descendant of an elder. He flashed across the sky like lightning, arriving before the little boy, looking at the frightened and worried Gu Shuangshuang.
Gu Qingyang also arrived beside him, placing a large hand on the boy's head, grinning to reveal clean white teeth. "Little Shuangshuang, it's me, your Qingyang big brother."
"Chief Uncle! Qingyang big brother! You're finally back!"
Upon seeing the two, the little boy Gu Shuangshuang immediately burst into tears.
Usually, Gu Jiuhua was dignified and imposing within the clan, but now he was flustered. Gu Qingyang quickly picked the boy up, carefully wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes as he comforted him. "Little Shuangshuang, be good. We're all back now. Tell Chief Uncle and your big brother what happened. Where are the others?"
Gu Shuangshuang finally managed to stop his tears. "Before... a group of people suddenly appeared. They destroyed our palace, injured many grandpas, uncles, aunties... and they even tried to kill me. Great-Grandfather Gu Yan stepped forward, but he wasn't strong enough to fight them. He was severely injured, almost died."
He replied haltingly.
"Where are they now?" Gu Jiuhua asked anxiously. Gu Yan was a veteran Great Power of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan, his cultivation not much weaker than his own—a fifth-level senior Great Power. Yet even he had been beaten to the brink of death. One could imagine how terrifying the attackers were.
He was deeply worried that the other clansmen had suffered.
Gu Shuangshuang shook his head, pointing into the distance. "Apart from a few uncles who fell in battle, the other clansmen were all taken into the Dragon Tomb World. Those people didn't dare enter the Dragon Tomb World, so most of us are safe."
Just mentioning the few uncles who had fallen in battle made Gu Shuangshuang feel sad again, for they were all uncles of the clan, close to him since childhood. How could he not grieve their deaths?
"Good. Shuangshuang, let's return to the Dragon Tomb World first." Gu Jiuhua and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Although some clansmen had fallen in battle, the clan had not been wiped out. There was still hope.
Behind them, Ye Chen led the nine Supreme Heavenly Prides into the Dragon Tomb World.
Entering the Dragon Tomb World again, it was still a gray, misty expanse, filled with an aura of death. Towering dragon tombs, as massive as mountains, rose from the ground, standing tall.
Apart from Ye Chen and A Beinu, the other eight Supreme Heavenly Prides all felt a sense of oppression. This was the resting place of the ancestors of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan. Among them were burials of figures like the Tyrant Dragon God Venerable, a Nine Tribulation God King. Even in death, they still emanated a powerful aura. Moreover, the old body of Chixue Longdi was here, intensifying the feeling.
The eight Supreme Heavenly Prides each showed wariness and awe. The Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan was indeed extraordinary. Even though they had declined now, their ancestors had produced many formidable super-powerful figures.
Led by Gu Shuangshuang, the group arrived deep within the Dragon Tomb World, where a newly built complex of palaces housed the other members of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan.
"Chief!"
"Young Master Qingyang!"
Numerous clansmen flew out. Seeing Gu Jiuhua and Gu Qingyang, many burst into tears. Some older-generation powerers with considerable cultivation also nearly shed tears, for the entire Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan had almost been wiped out. They had thought they would never see the return of their chief, Gu Jiuhua, and their young chief, Gu Qingyang.
Gu Jiuhua and Gu Qingyang landed. Seeing the many clansmen, many bearing injuries and internal Dao wounds, they felt both joy and furious shock. Ultimately, the vast majority of the clansmen were safe and sound.
Gu Jiuhua, with Gu Qingyang, knelt and kowtowed in the direction of Chixue Longdi's tomb. "Descendants Gu Jiuhua (Gu Qingyang) thank our ancestor Chixue Longdi for intervening!"
They understood clearly that without the will of Chixue Longdi's old body, they could not have entered the Dragon Tomb World, let alone survived.
Chixue Longdi's tomb remained silent, as if hearing nothing.
Gu Jiuhua was not angered. He then looked at the many clansmen, his brows furrowing as he asked with shock and anger, "Tell me quickly, who dared to attack our Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan?"
Hearing this, the many clansmen exchanged glances, hesitant, fearful, and timid.
Gu Jiuhua frowned. "I'm back now. What are you afraid of?"
After a long silence, an elderly clansman stepped forward. He was the Ninth Elder of the clan. He shook his head at Gu Jiuhua. "Chief, they are very strong. They are forces our current clan cannot afford to provoke. Let's just let this matter rest."
"That's right!"
Another clan elder emerged, ranked fifth. He trembled, having suffered severe aftereffects from that battle and aged considerably. He sighed lightly. "Chief, those people were too powerful. There were even Super Great Powers among them. If not for our ancestor's intervention, they could have easily wiped out our entire clan. Please don't think about revenge. Our clan surviving is already a great fortune."
Several other elders also advised Gu Jiuhua not to seek retaliation. Among them, especially the Third Elder, who gave Gu Jiuhua and his son a deep look before sighing softly. "Chief, in the future, please do not associate with unreliable people. Some capable clansmen have already fallen in battle. Even the Great Elder, Gu Yan, is now severely injured and on the brink of death. From now on, stay away from that Battle Saint King. Do not bring unnecessary calamity upon our clan again."
The many elders of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan all advised Gu Jiuhua to stay away from Ye Chen, for those people had appeared precisely because of Ye Chen.
Gu Jiuhua's face darkened. "Honorable elders, do not speak such words. What relationship does our clan have with Lord Ye?"
Gu Qingyang also said, "Uncle Ye is a good person. Just a few months ago, he repelled the Hua Imperial Dynasty and resolved our clan's crisis."
Having followed Ye Chen for a period, both father and son clearly understood Ye Chen's character. Moreover, Ye Chen had helped them greatly. How could they repay kindness with ingratitude?
The many elders frowned, as did the other clansmen, for the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan had suffered this great calamity all because of Ye Chen.
At this moment, Ye Chen appeared. Looking at the many clansmen of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan and understanding the situation, he immediately clasped his fists. "My apologies. It is I, Ye, who have implicated all of you. Please inform me who, or which force, attacked. I, Ye, will seek justice for your clan."
Seeing Ye Chen's appearance, the other clansmen couldn't help but frown. Many were unaware of Ye Chen's strength and deeds, believing him to be at most close to a Super Great Power. Among them, the Third Elder frowned and said, "Young friend, there's no need. The other side is very powerful, with no shortage of Super Great Powers. Why should you throw your life away in vain? And please, do not offend powerful figures and forces on behalf of our clan that we should not provoke. Our clan has already expressed its gratitude."
The implication was clear: Ye Chen should leave quickly. Hadn't he brought enough powerful enemies upon the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan?