150: Chapter 150: The Battle of the Ruins Ends

The memory of that blood-moon night in Qinghe Town, where countless townsfolk were brutally killed.

Zhou Yuan's eyes, filled with resentment, before he died.

The final instructions from True Lord Xuan Yun's phantom before it dissipated.

The crimson eyes of the Spirit Devourer and its words: "I will be back."

And there was Li Zhenshan's aged face, Li Changqing's resolute gaze, Shi Tiezhu's simple and honest smile, and Xiao Cao's crisp laughter.

These people and these events were all his concerns.

But concern could also be a source of motivation.

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

His Dao Heart had become even more steadfast.

In the days that followed, his daily life was extremely disciplined.

In the early morning, he sat quietly by the spirit fields to clear his heart and nourish his spirit; in the morning, he studied cultivation insights to grasp the essentials of Foundation Establishment; in the afternoon, he practiced fist and sword techniques to maintain his combat readiness; in the evening, he regulated his breathing to Cultivate and nurture his spirit Qi.

Day after day passed without a ripple.

During this time, that Spirit Tea Tree grew a bit taller.

Its leaves grew denser, shimmering with a verdant green light under the sun. Every time he passed by, he would stop to look, sometimes gently stroking the trunk.

Cultivation is like planting a tree; only with deep roots can the leaves flourish.

He always remembered his Master's words.

Half a month later, Liu Qingchen brought news from Qinghe Town.

The two sat by the stone table near the spirit fields, the aroma of tea curling in the air.

Liu Qingchen's expression was somewhat weary, but a rare hint of relief showed in his eyes.

"It's over."

He said.

Li Changsheng looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Liu Qingchen spoke slowly.

"True Lord Three Swords returned yesterday and fought a great battle against Ancestor Xue Ming."

"With his Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivation, True Lord Three Swords managed to severely wound Ancestor Xue Ming through sheer force."

"Ancestor Xue Ming was no match for him and promised the Spirit Devourer more benefits in exchange for that demonic soul's assistance. Only by joining forces did the two manage to escape."

True Lord Three Swords, a Grand Elder of the Qinglan Sword Sect, was said to have divine sword skills. He once slew three Sword Cultivators of the same rank with a single strike, earning him this title.

Li Changsheng's heart tightened.

"The Spirit Devourer took action?"

Liu Qingchen nodded.

"It did. But it had only recently broken its seal and was very weak. It only provided some interference from the side and didn't dare to engage in a direct confrontation."

"True Lord Three Swords originally intended to give chase, but seeing it intervene, he stayed his hand."

He paused before continuing.

"Ancestor Chi Mu wasn't so lucky."

"He was slain by a single sword strike from True Lord Three Swords, dying on the spot."

"The two Golden Core Loose Cultivators saw things were going badly and fled ahead of time."

"Perfected Lord Lieyang... is very heavily injured."

Li Changsheng fell silent.

Perfected Lord Lieyang was Zhou Yuan's Master.

He had rushed into the mine to avenge his Disciple, fighting a fierce battle against Ancestor Blood Hand, and later participated in the struggle for the jade wall.

It was said that while he was watching the battle, he was hit by Ancestor Blood Hand's dying counterattack, which damaged his Foundation and greatly diminished his cultivation.

"Is he still alive?"

Li Changsheng asked.

Liu Qingchen nodded.

"He's alive, but it will take a long time to recover. The people from the Jinyang Sect have already taken him back."

Li Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Qingchen continued.

"That jade wall was ultimately obtained by an Elder of our Qinglan Sword Sect."

"True Lord Three Swords didn't want it and rewarded it to that Golden Core Elder."

"Now that jade wall has been brought back to the Sect. It's said it will be placed in the Scripture Pavilion as a guardian treasure."

Li Changsheng nodded without saying anything.

That jade wall was originally a part of the soul-suppressing jade wall and contained True Lord Xuan Yun's Origin Aura.

Now that it had fallen into the hands of the Qinglan Sword Sect, it could be considered returned to its rightful owner.

Liu Qingchen looked at him and suddenly asked.

"Aren't you going to ask about the Spirit Devourer?"

Li Changsheng looked up.

"Where did the Spirit Devourer go?"

Liu Qingchen said.

"The Spirit Devourer fled with Ancestor Xue Ming."

"True Lord Three Swords pursued Ancestor Xue Ming to the border of Yun Province and found that the people of the Blood Fiend Sect had almost finished assembling there."

"Tens of thousands of troops, dozens of altars, and a massive primary Formation."

"After Ancestor Xue Ming escaped back, those altars were activated simultaneously, forming a giant Formation covering a hundred-mile radius."

His voice became solemn.

"True Lord Three Swords said that the Formation is very strange, appearing like some kind of summoning array or a sacrificial array."

"He tried to attack it once, but was repelled by the Formation."

"He said that the strength of that Formation would require at least three or four Nascent Soul cultivators working together to break it."

Li Changsheng's brow furrowed.

Liu Qingchen looked at him and said slowly.

"True Lord Three Swords suspects that this struggle for the ruins might only be a fuse."

"The Blood Fiend Sect was already preparing something; the appearance of the ruins only caused them to move their preparations forward."

"He said a great war might break out very soon."

A great war.

This word weighed on Li Changsheng's heart like a massive boulder.

Liu Qingchen stood up and patted his shoulder.

"Properly prepare for Foundation Establishment."

"Only after Foundation Establishment will you truly have the power to protect yourself."

"At that time, whether the war comes or not, you will have a better chance of survival."

He turned and left.

Li Changsheng sat in place, staring at his back for a long time without moving.

The wind blew, and the Spirit Tea Tree rustled.

He looked down at his hands.

Qi Refining Level 9 Peak, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

He needed to take this step as soon as possible.

No matter when the war came, he had to be ready.

Three days after True Lord Three Swords returned to the Sect, the Council Hall of the Qinglan Sword Sect welcomed several special guests.

The Elderly Sect Master of Jinyang Sect, the Elder Matriarch Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion, and the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.

Three Nascent Soul Stage figures arrived at the Qinglan Sword Sect at the same time.

When the news spread, the entire Sect was shaken.

"The Sect Masters of all three major Sects have come?"

"I heard they're here to discuss how to deal with the Blood Fiend Sect."

"Things are getting lively now."

When Li Changsheng heard this news, he was in the Hundred Herb Garden organizing a batch of newly collected medicinal herbs.

Manager Qin walked over hurriedly and said to him.

"Changsheng, deliver a batch of Blood-Stanching Grass to the Council Hall."

"There are distinguished guests there today, and the Alchemy Room's stock might not be enough. This newly collected batch is just in time to be sent over."

Li Changsheng nodded, put the Blood-Stanching Grass into his Storage Pouch, and headed toward the main Peak.

The Council Hall was located halfway up the main Peak and was a magnificent hall.

Two rows of sword-wielding Disciples stood guard in front of the hall, each with a strong Aura.

As Li Changsheng reached the hall, he was stopped by a deacon.

"What are you doing here?"

"By order of Manager Qin, I am delivering a batch of medicinal herbs."

The deacon looked at the Storage Pouch in his hand and nodded.

"Go in. Deliver it to the side hall and hand it over to the people from the Alchemy Room."

"The main hall is currently in session; do not disturb them."

Li Changsheng gave an acknowledgment and walked along the corridor on the side of the hall toward the side hall.

As he passed the main hall, he heard faint voices coming from inside.

Although the voices were blocked by the hall doors, with his Qi Refining Level 9 hearing, he could still catch a few fragments of words.

"...The Blood Fiend Sect has already assembled at the border. What are your thoughts, everyone?"

That was the voice of the Sect Master of Qinglan Sword Sect, steady and deep.

An aged voice spoke up.

"So what if they've assembled? They assemble every year and cause trouble every year. When has a real fight ever broken out?"

That was the Elderly Sect Master of Jinyang Sect.

The Sect Master said.

"This time is different."

"Ancestor Xue Ming is personally overseeing it, dozens of altars have been activated simultaneously, and the scale of that Formation is unprecedented."

"Senior Brother Three Swords personally went to see it and said it would take at least three or four Nascent Souls working together to break it."

Another aged female voice spoke up.

"What is True Lord Three Swords' intention?"

That was the Elder Matriarch Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion.

The Sect Master fell silent for a moment before saying.

"Wartime command. The Nascent Souls and Golden Cores of each Sect will be unified in deployment and action."

"Only in this way can we dismantle the Blood Fiend Sect's conspiracy in the shortest possible time."

"Wartime command?"

The Elderly Sect Master of Jinyang Sect's voice suddenly rose.

"Whose command? Your Qinglan Sword Sect's command?"