Chapter 120: War and Records (1/2)

”As many ingredients as the alchemy gardens?” Alex was shocked. If that was true, then there would be more than a mountain of ingredients there.

”Have you been to the alchemy gardens before, master?” Alex couldn't help but ask.

”Not, really,” said Wen Cheng. ”I've only ever seen it from afar. But even then I can tell that the place we are going to has as much alchemy ingredients as the alchemy gardens.”

Wen Cheng seemed to be confident in his assessment, so all Alex could do was wait.

”By the way, master. What did you mean by war? Was there a war in the crimson empire?” he asked. To him, war was something that took place ages ago where one country would attack another country.

”No, not the empire. War in the sect. Although it might be better to call it infighting, it was too big to be called something so simple. So, we just call it the war. It's appropriate since more than 4000, 80% of the sect members at that time died in that war.” Wen Cheng seemed to be getting a little emotional saying that.

”Were you there master?” he asked.

”Yes. I was but an inner sect disciple at the time. I bore witness to the death and destruction in the sect. Elders of two factions, fighting each other, each dying to the other's hands.” Wen Cheng didn't seem to like remembering about the past.

”What was the cause of the war master?” Alex asked. He was getting interested in the history of the sect he joined.

”The 2nd Elder at that time was a powerful, but greedy man that wanted the sect all to himself. However, he couldn't beat the sect leader who was much stronger than him at the time. So, the 2nd Elder was never able to become the Sect Leader.”

”Until one day, when the sect leader returned back to the sect from an outside visit, all bloody and weak. The 2nd Elder took the chance to launch a rebellion against the sect master.”

”The ones that believed in the 2nd elder fought against the ones that defended the sect leader. It was an all-out war that resulted in huge destruction.” Wen Cheng said.

”Was that what made the giant crater in the sect?” Alex asked.

”Crater? No. We still don't know what the crater was since most if not all records were lost. Although we do believe it was the black stele, We are not sure, however.”

”The destruction I was talking about was more so the buildings and the lives we lost that day. Plus, we lost most of our history and records that day. It was truly a devastating event.” Wen Cheng shook his head as he remembered more.

”Did the sect leader or the 2nd Elder die?” he asked.

”The sect leader died, unfortunately. His wound was just too severe. The 2nd elder was also heavily injured and was sent away to the southern forest at the time. We can only assume he died a few weeks later.”