Chapter 2096 — Visiting the Demon Sealing Grotto

When the guard questioned about Yuan, Yan Hara calmly responded, "He’s an Elite Demon Sealer of the Demon Sealing Clan and my disciple. Is there any problem with him being present?"

"Well, the higher-ups will be there, so it might not be a good idea to bring him with you," said the guard. "The pressure might be too much for him to handle."

"You don’t have to worry about me. If I get overwhelmed, I won’t blame anyone," Yuan said with a calm smile on his face.

"You heard him. I also won’t say anything," said Yan Hara.

"In that case..."

The guard silently stepped aside and activated the array behind him, revealing the portal to the Demon Sealing Grotto’s headquarters.

Yan Hara entered first, with Yuan following closely behind.

On the other side, they were greeted by the sight of a city—more refined and orderly than the one outside, and the entire place was suffused with a dense Demon Sealing Aura.

"So this is the Demon Sealing Grotto, huh?" Yuan muttered as he looked around.

Yan Hara looked at him and asked, "This is your first time visiting this place, right?"

"That’s right."

"This is where most of their demon sealers train," Yan Hara explained. "Unlike our Demon Sealing Clan, whose members are scattered across the Nine Heavens, the Demon Sealing Grotto keeps most of its members here. They rarely leave—only venturing out when necessary to investigate or eliminate demon worshippers and demons."

Yuan smiled and said, "So, in other words, the Demon Sealing Grotto takes demon sealing far more seriously than the Demon Sealing Clan? Sounds like comparing a full-time professional to someone working part-time."

"T-That’s..." Yan Hara was momentarily speechless at his comparison, but upon reflection, she understood his point.

Compared to the Demon Sealing Grotto, the Demon Sealing Clan was indeed far more relaxed and casual. For many within the clan, being a Demon Sealer was a secondary pursuit—something they practiced alongside their main cultivation path. In contrast, those from the Demon Sealing Grotto treated it as their primary purpose, dedicating their lives wholly to the art of sealing demons.

This was also the reason why the Demon Sealing Clan had declined, no longer able to compare to the Demon Sealing Grotto in recent times.

Yuan wanted to explore the place for a bit, but shortly after their arrival, a member of the Demon Sealing Grotto appeared to escort them to their destination.

Some time later, they arrived before a grand white building that exuded a formal and solemn atmosphere, clearly a place reserved for important meetings and official gatherings.

"The Elders are waiting inside," said the escort as he opened the door for them.

Yuan and Yan Hara stepped into a vast chamber lined with hundreds of seats, most of which were already occupied by members of the Demon Sealing Grotto.

Every Demon Sealer within the chamber was at least a Golden Immortal, their very presence radiating a dense Demon Sealing Aura that seemed to suppress the air itself.

"Please, proceed to the front," the escort said, gesturing toward two distinct seats set apart from the rest—clearly positioned as the center of attention. However, one of the two seats was already occupied by an old man radiating a profound aura, leaving Yuan to stand beside Yan Hara as she took the remaining seat.

"Welcome to our humble estate, Demon Sealer Yan Hara."

The old man seated beside her immediately started the conversation.

"It’s been a while, Senior Zhou," Yan Hara respectfully greeted him.

"This old man is the Demon Sealing Grotto’s leader, Zhou Yanfei," she revealed to Yuan using voice transmission.

The old man noticed that she was using voice transmission and turned to look at Yuan.

"I wasn’t expecting a second guest today," he said.

Though the old man released no pressure, the atmosphere in the room grew oppressively heavy, and Yuan could distinctly feel the weight of hundreds of powerful gazes bearing down on him.

Yet, Yuan remained tranquil, looking completely unaffected by it.

"He is my disciple and an Elite Demon Sealer," Yan Hara stated calmly. "Since he’s never visited before, I brought him along."

"Quite the bold decision, Demon Sealer Yan Hara," Zhou Yanfei responded coolly. "If I were in your position, I wouldn’t risk bringing someone who might become a liability to a place like this."

Yan Hara smiled faintly and asked, "Why not? Have I walked into a trap? Will you strike us down now that we are in your territory?"

"Unlike a certain someone, we are not so uncivilized," Zhou Yanfei shook his head, and he continued, "And even if we were, we’re not foolish enough to start infighting while the threat of the demons looms over us all."

"So, what is this all about? I’m only here to act in Qian Chu’s stead, since he’s unavailable," Yan Hara asked.

Zhou Yanfei’s expression darkened the moment Qian Chu’s name was mentioned.

"The world teeters on the brink of chaos, and that scheming bastard has vanished without a trace for years now," he said coldly. "I cannot fathom why the Demon Sealing Clan chose such a bastard as their leader."

Yan Hara shrugged and calmly responded, "Beats me. I was just an ordinary member who recently joined when he was appointed as the leader."

Zhou Yanfei sneered coldly. "You incompetent fools are dragging the Demon Sealing Clan into ruin."

He paused, his gaze sharp. "Our original intention was to force Qian Chu to reveal why he’s targeting our Demon Sealing Grotto, but since he’s absent, our attention will shift elsewhere today."

"Demon Sealer Yan Hara," Zhou Yanfei continued, his tone edged with curiosity. "Your recent activities have greatly intrigued me. With how you’ve been quietly rallying members of the Demon Sealing Clan to your side and raising your position within the clan, are you aiming to challenge Qian Chu for his position?"

"Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. What’s it to you?" Yan Hara replied with a calm smile.

Zhou Yanfei’s eyes narrowed slightly before he declared, "If you truly intend to bring down Qian Chu, the Demon Sealing Grotto is prepared to lend you our support."