158: Chapter 158 Guardian

Li Changsheng did not answer, merely staring intently at those evil cultivators.

His gaze swept past the crowd, landing on that segment of the broken Formation Base.

There, it was the only Breakthrough point.

As long as that spot was held, they could block these Blood Fiend Sect members and evil cultivators.

He took a deep breath and spoke to Zhao Qian.

"Get back."

Zhao Qian was startled.

"Senior Brother?"

Li Changsheng didn't explain, only gripping his sword and walking step by step toward that decaying Formation Base.

His steps were slow, yet steady.

With every step, a sword light flared, taking the life of an evil cultivator.

Those evil cultivators were intimidated by his Aura, involuntarily retreating.

Li Changsheng reached the Formation Base, leaning his back against that decaying segment, facing the swarming evil cultivators.

He was alone.

But his gaze made those evil cultivators afraid to step forward.

"Come on."

He said.

The evil cultivators glanced at each other, and finally, one couldn't help but charge forward!

Li Changsheng's sword pierced his throat!

Another person charged!

Another sword strike!

One more!

One more strike!

His sword grew faster and more ruthless, as if he would never tire.

Several wounds were added to his body, blood staining his clothes red, but he remained standing, continuing to kill.

Those evil cultivators were finally afraid.

Looking at the youth covered in blood yet with eyes as calm as water, an unspeakable fear welled up in their hearts.

This is not a human.

This is a monster.

Someone shouted, and those evil cultivators actually turned and fled, disappearing into the darkness.

Li Changsheng stood in place, gasping for air.

He turned around and looked at that decaying Formation Base.

It was covered in bloodstains, both his own and his enemies'.

But the Formation Base was still there.

Propping himself up with his sword, he slowly sat down.

Zhao Qian stumbled over, his eyes turning red when he saw Li Changsheng covered in injuries.

"Senior Brother... you, you..."

Li Changsheng shook his head and whispered.

"It's nothing."

He looked up at the night sky.

The stars were still twinkling.

In the distance, the sounds of slaughter continued.

But at least he had held this segment of the Formation Base.

Guardianship.

Is this the meaning of guardianship?

He didn't know.

But he knew that the people he wanted to protect were right behind him.

That was enough.

Li Changsheng leaned against that broken wall, gasping for air.

The wounds on his body were still seeping blood, but none were fatal.

He pulled out his last healing Medicinal Pill and popped it into his mouth, barely managing to stop the bleeding.

Zhao Qian crouched beside him, hurriedly bandaging him while muttering under his breath:

"Senior Brother, you're trying too hard..."

"Fighting dozens alone... you're being reckless with your life..."

Li Changsheng shook his head without speaking.

He looked into the distance. In the darkness, there was still some movement in the direction where the evil cultivators had retreated, but at least there were no new attacks for now.

He breathed a sigh of relief and was about to get up to check the situation of the other defensive lines.

Suddenly, a shrill scream came from the direction of the mountaintop.

The sound was sharp and ear-piercing, filled with despair and disbelief, piercing through the entire night sky.

Li Changsheng stood up abruptly.

Immediately after, several more screams followed, accompanied by the roar of Spells and the clashing of weapons.

On the mountaintop, fire soared into the sky, reflecting a red hue across half of it.

"It's the Inner Sect!"

Zhao Qian's expression changed drastically.

"People are fighting!"

Li Changsheng's heart sank.

He remembered the eerie figure he saw yesterday, that Golden Core Elder of the Jinyang Sect, the one who was secretly sending messages to the demonic cult.

This is bad.

"Go!"

He grabbed his sword and rushed toward the mountaintop.

The mountaintop was already a complete mess.

When Li Changsheng arrived, he saw a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Disciples of the Jinyang Sect were killing each other.

Several Golden Core Elders wearing Jinyang Sect robes were locked in a life-and-death struggle with several other Elders also wearing Jinyang Sect robes.

Sword light, Spells, and Talismans blasted against each other frantically, every strike carrying merciless killing intent.

Over a dozen corpses already lay on the ground.

There were those at the Golden Core Stage and those at the Foundation Establishment Stage, all from the Jinyang Sect.

The ordinary Disciples were fleeing in all directions; some screamed and ran down the mountain, some stood stunned and confused, and some gritted their teeth and charged forward, yet didn't know whom to help.

"Elder Qian has defected!"

"He's colluding with the Demonic Cult!"

"Nonsense! It's clearly Elder Sun who wants to seize power!"

"Don't believe him!"

"I saw Elder Qian sending messages to the Demonic Cult! He's the traitor!"

"Bullshit! It's Elder Sun!"

In the chaos, truth was hard to distinguish from lies, and friend from foe.

Li Changsheng stood at the edge of the crowd, staring intently at the battle.

He recognized the Elder who had colluded with the enemy, Elder Qian.

At this moment, he was fighting a white-haired, white-bearded old man; both were at the Golden Core Middle Stage, locked in an inseparable struggle.

That white-haired, white-bearded old man should be Elder Sun.

The two cursed as they fought, accusing each other, yet their strikes were merciless.

The surrounding Disciples, not knowing whom to believe, could only stay far away, fearing they would be swept in.

Li Changsheng's heart sank to the bottom.

Powerful enemies without, traitors within.

Under such circumstances, how much longer could the Jinyang Sect hold on?

Just then, a thunderous war cry came from the foot of the mountain.

The main force of the evil cultivators, taking advantage of the internal strife, launched another attack!

"Not good!"

Li Changsheng whipped his head around to see countless dark figures charging up from below.

This time, it wasn't dozens coming, but hundreds!

Leading them were three evil cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, followed by a dense mass of demonic cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

They took advantage of the vulnerability and headed straight for the Inner Sect!

The Jinyang Sect Disciples on the mountaintop were in complete chaos.

"The evil cultivators are attacking!"

"What do we do? The Elders are fighting, who's in command?"

"Run!"

Some began to flee, some slumped on the ground, and some closed their eyes in despair.

Li Changsheng stood there, watching this scene, an unprecedented anger welling up in his heart.

Those fleeing, those in despair, those who only knew how to cry out—what did they do wrong?

They were just ordinary Disciples, simply wanting to survive the war.

But now, their Elders were fighting internally, their defensive lines were collapsing, and their lives were about to be harvested by the evil cultivators.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Qian pulled at him.

"Let's go! There's no time!"

Li Changsheng didn't move.

He looked at the charging evil cultivators and the fleeing Jinyang Sect Disciples, suddenly remembering the feeling he had last night when he stood before that decaying Formation Base.

Guardianship.

What exactly did he want to protect?

Was it the Qinglan Sword Sect?

Was it those selfish Elders?

No.

What he wanted to protect were those ordinary Disciples like himself.

Those who fought to the death on the battlefield yet received no due respect.

It was Zhao Qian, the wounded man he saved, and those young faces of the Jinyang Sect.

He took a deep breath, gripped his sword tightly, and strode toward the fleeing Jinyang Sect Disciples.

"Senior Brother! What are you doing?!"

Zhao Qian cried out in surprise.

Li Changsheng didn't look back.

He walked up to the group of fleeing Disciples and blocked their path.

"Stop."

The Disciples were stunned, looking at this youth covered in blood with cold eyes.

"Who... who are you?"

Li Changsheng didn't answer, merely pointing at the evil cultivators charging up the mountain and saying word for word.

"Can you escape?"

The Disciples looked back, their faces pale.

The evil cultivators were almost upon them.

At their speed, they couldn't escape at all.

Li Changsheng continued.

"Since you can't escape, stay and fight."

A Jinyang Sect Disciple said with a trembling voice.

"Fight? How? The Elders are fighting each other, there's no one to command..."

"I will command."

Those Disciples were stunned, looking at this youth who was only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

"You? You're not even from the Jinyang Sect..."

"I am human."

Li Changsheng interrupted him.

"You are also human. As humans, we should help each other."

He paused, his voice low yet firm.

"Those who want to live, follow me."