157: Chapter 157 Dividing the Army into Two Groups

As night fell, campfires were lit across the battlefield.

Li Changsheng sat by a pile of ruins, staring blankly at the flickering flames.

Zhao Qian walked over at some point and sat down beside him.

"Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Li Changsheng shook his head and remained silent.

Zhao Qian was quiet for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Senior Brother, about what happened today... I saw it too."

Li Changsheng turned to look at him.

Zhao Qian said in a low voice,

"I also heard what that Elder Gao said."

"He said the Jinyang Sect Disciples are 'ordinary Disciples'... I, I thought at the time, if I were a Jinyang Sect Disciple and heard such words, how disheartened I would be."

He paused and continued,

"But then, I am also a Disciple of the Qinglan Sword Sect."

"Hearing an Elder from my own Sect say such things, I... I also feel ashamed."

Li Changsheng looked at him, a complex surge of emotions rising in his heart.

This timid, nervous, and clumsy kid actually had such thoughts.

Zhao Qian looked up at him and said seriously,

"Senior Brother, tell me, what kind of existence is our Qinglan Sword Sect, exactly?"

Li Changsheng remained silent for a long time.

Then, he spoke, his voice very soft.

"I don't know."

Zhao Qian was stunned.

Li Changsheng continued,

"I've lived in the Sect for five years. I used to think the Sect was a reliance, a home. But now..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Zhao Qian looked at him and suddenly said,

"Senior Brother, no matter what the Sect is like, you are a good Senior Brother."

Li Changsheng was taken aback.

Zhao Qian said earnestly,

"You saved me, and you saved those wounded. You didn't refuse to save them just because they were from the Jinyang Sect."

"You didn't speak up for that Elder Gao just because he's from our Sect either. You... you're a good person."

Li Changsheng looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but genuine.

"Thank you,"

He said.

Zhao Qian scratched his head and smiled as well.

The two sat by the campfire, gazing at the stars in the night sky.

In the distance, the scent of blood from the battlefield still drifted in the air.

Nearby, the intermittent groans of the wounded could be heard.

But at least for this moment, there was a brief peace.

That was enough.

On the morning of the fourth day, the war situation changed abruptly.

Li Changsheng was dozing in the ruins when he was suddenly awakened by a series of urgent horn blasts.

He snapped his eyes open, grabbed the sword beside him, and flipped to his feet.

In the distance, a blood-red signal shot into the sky and exploded, forming a giant blood-colored skull.

That was the signal of the Blood Fiend Sect.

Immediately after, the voices of messengers came from all directions:

"The Blood Fiend Sect has split their forces!

"One group continues to besiege the Jinyang Sect's inner Sect, while the other is launching a surprise attack on the Qingxin Pavilion!

"All Sects, hear the order! The Qinglan Sword Sect will split its forces to support the Qingxin Pavilion!

"Disciples remaining at the Jinyang Sect, immediately withdraw your defensive lines toward the inner Sect!"

Amidst the chaos, Li Changsheng saw the Qinglan Sword Sect's Flying Boats rising one after another, heading toward the Qingxin Pavilion.

Those Flying Boats were filled with Foundation Establishment Stage and Golden Core Stage Disciples and Elders, including many familiar faces.

Elder Gao left, Elder Wu left, and nearly half of the Golden Core Stage combat power departed.

Those left behind were only some Foundation Establishment Initial Stage and Middle Stage Disciples, along with two Golden Core Initial Stage Elders.

Li Changsheng was left behind.

He stood there, watching the departing Flying Boats, an indescribable feeling rising in his heart.

It wasn't dissatisfaction, nor was it fear; it was just... a sense of emptiness.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Qian ran over, out of breath.

"We've been left behind. What should we do?"

Li Changsheng looked at him, was silent for a moment, and said,

"Follow me."

The two hurried toward the inner Sect.

The Jinyang Sect's inner Sect was built on a steep mountain peak.

The terrain was precipitous, with only one mountain path leading to the summit, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.

At that moment, the mountain path was crowded with retreating Disciples—some from the Jinyang Sect, some from the Qinglan Sword Sect, and some Loose Cultivators.

Li Changsheng and Zhao Qian followed the flow of people up the mountain, walking for a full half-hour before reaching the summit.

On the summit, there was a grand hall, several rows of wing rooms, and a fairly level open space.

Currently, the open space was packed with people—wounded, logistics, and Disciples on standby, all gathered in a chaotic mess.

Li Changsheng found the Qinglan Sword Sect's assembly point, where about thirty Disciples had already gathered, all at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage and Middle Stage.

The one leading them was a Golden Core Initial Stage Elder named Xu, with a serious face and cold eyes.

Seeing them approach, Elder Xu nodded and signaled them to join the ranks.

Li Changsheng and Zhao Qian stood at the end of the line, waiting quietly.

A moment later, a Golden Core Elder from the Jinyang Sect hurried over.

That Elder's face was covered in blood, and his aura was erratic, clearly having just come from a fierce battle.

He walked up to Elder Xu and cupped his fists.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I have an important matter to discuss."

Elder Xu glanced at him and said indifferently,

"Speak."

The Jinyang Sect Elder said,

"There is a section of the Formation on the eastern side that has been out of repair for years, and its defense is weak."

"I suggest sending some manpower to reinforce it and laying down some Talismans to prevent the evil cultivators from breaking through there."

Elder Xu frowned slightly and said,

"The eastern Formation? My people have patrolled it and found no abnormalities."

The Jinyang Sect Elder said urgently,

"Nothing has been found now, but if the evil cultivators break through there, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"My Jinyang Sect people are familiar with the terrain and know that place is a weak point..."

"Enough."

Elder Xu interrupted him, his tone somewhat impatient.

"The defensive arrangements of my Qinglan Sword Sect have their own logic. You Jinyang Sect people just mind your own business."

The Jinyang Sect Elder's expression changed. He wanted to say something but was waved away by Elder Xu.

"Go, go, don't get in the way here."

The Jinyang Sect Elder gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Watching this scene, an ominous premonition rose in Li Changsheng's heart.

He thought of what happened yesterday.

Elder Gao had ignored the defensive line for the sake of a Storage Pouch.

Elder Xu had rejected the Jinyang Sect Elder's suggestion for the sake of so-called 'logic.'

What on earth were these Elders thinking?

He gripped his sword hilt tightly and remained silent.

Night fell.

Campfires were lit on the summit, illuminating the surroundings.

Li Changsheng was assigned to guard a section of the eastern Formation, along with Zhao Qian and three other Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Disciples from the Qinglan Sword Sect.

That section of the Formation's foundation was indeed somewhat dilapidated, covered in cracks, and in some places, one could even see the scenery outside.

Zhao Qian huddled against the wall and whispered,

"Senior Brother, this Formation... doesn't look like it'll hold up."

Li Changsheng didn't answer, only quietly staring into the distant darkness.

In the darkness, shadows seemed to be moving.

His pupils contracted slightly.

"Prepare for battle,"

He said in a low voice.

Zhao Qian was taken aback.

"What?"

Before he could finish, a sharp whistling sound suddenly came from outside the Formation!

Dozens of dark shadows rushed out from the darkness, instantly piercing through that decayed Formation foundation and breaking in!

Those shadows were all evil cultivators from the Qi Refinement Late Stage to the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, wearing various clothes and holding different weapons, their eyes full of madness and greed!

"Enemy attack!"

Li Changsheng shouted, drawing his sword and meeting them!

Behind him, Zhao Qian and the other three Disciples also reacted, drawing their swords and engaging the evil cultivators in battle!

Sword light flashed, and screams rose one after another!

Li Changsheng's sword was fast and ruthless, every strike aimed at a vital point!

His Qinglan Sword Art's power increased significantly after reaching Foundation Establishment, and combined with the fierce force of the Green Wood Fist, he charged through the crowd, knocking the evil cultivators over!

But there were too many evil cultivators.

They kept pouring in through the broken wall, seemingly endless.

The Disciples around Li Changsheng fell one by one. Zhao Qian was also wounded, clutching his bleeding shoulder and gritting his teeth to persevere.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Qian shouted.

"We can't hold on!"