171: Chapter 171 Initial Conquest of the Small Faction

Half a month after the Merit Award Ceremony.

A sudden order broke the tranquility of the Hundred Herb Garden.

That morning, Li Changsheng was practicing sword arts by the spiritual fields.

The qingshuang sword in his hand transformed into a stream of azure light, at times sharp as lightning, at times light as wind.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, his understanding of sword arts deepened, and every stance of the Qinglan Sword Art could unleash greater power.

A Message Talisman descended from the sky and landed before him.

Li Changsheng sheathed his sword, picked up the Message Talisman, and injected spiritual power into it.

A majestic voice entered his ears.

"Inner Sect Disciple Li Changsheng, proceed immediately to the Council Hall to receive a Sect mission."

Li Changsheng's heart tightened.

Sect mission?

Without thinking much, he changed into a clean robe and flew towards the Main Peak on his sword.

Inside the Council Hall, more than twenty Inner Sect Disciples had already gathered.

Li Changsheng entered the hall, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces.

Wang Hai was there, Zhao Qian was there, and so were some Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers who had fought alongside him on the Jinyang Sect battlefield.

They gathered in small groups, whispering about something.

"Senior Brother Li!"

Zhao Qian saw him and quickly waved.

Li Changsheng walked over and asked in a low voice.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Qian shook his head, looking equally bewildered.

"I don't know. The order told me to come, so I came."

Just as he was speaking, the hall doors closed.

A middle-aged man walked out from the back hall and stood before the main seat.

He was an Elder in the Middle Golden Core stage, surnamed Chen, with a serious face and sharp eyes.

He had served as a commander on the Jinyang Sect battlefield, and Li Changsheng had seen him a few times.

Elder Chen's gaze swept over everyone, and he slowly began to speak.

"I have gathered you all today for an important mission."

He paused, then continued.

"The Sect Master has ordered Inner Sect Disciples to be divided into groups and dispatched to the southern part of Yunzhou to absorb surrounding minor Sects."

As soon as these words were uttered, the hall erupted in an uproar.

"Absorb minor Sects?"

"What does that mean?"

"This is going to..."

Elder Chen raised a hand to silence the discussions and said calmly.

"Although the Blood Fiend Sect has been destroyed, the Demonic Cult has not been eliminated."

"In the southern part of Yunzhou, there are many minor Sects, weak in strength and unable to protect themselves."

"If the Demonic Cult makes a comeback, they will be the first to suffer."

"The Sect Master is benevolent and wishes to incorporate them under the Qinglan Sword Sect's banner for unified protection."

He paused, his voice turning cold.

"If there is resistance, kill without mercy."

Kill without mercy.

These four words were like a giant boulder, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Li Changsheng's heart sank abruptly.

Absorb.

It sounded so high-minded.

But in plain terms, it was annexation.

Some of these minor Sects had been established for hundreds of years, some had legacies spanning over a dozen generations. How could they easily submit?

If they resisted...

He didn't dare to think further.

Elder Chen continued.

"This operation will be divided into three groups."

"The first group, led by Chu Feng, will go to Qingfeng Gate."

"The second group, led by Wu Xingli, will go to Broken Stone Camp."

"The third group, led by Chen Han, will go to Qingyun Temple."

"Each group will have five members and will depart immediately."

He read out the names.

Li Changsheng was assigned to the first group, following Chu Feng to Qingfeng Gate.

As he walked out of the Council Hall, Li Changsheng was called out to by someone.

"Junior Brother Li."

Li Changsheng turned around and saw a young man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight walking towards him.

The young man had an ordinary face, steady eyes, and a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivation.

Chu Feng.

Li Changsheng cupped his fists and said.

"Senior Brother Chu."

Chu Feng nodded and said.

"You're in our group. Come on, let's find a place to talk."

The two came to a secluded corner and sat down on a stone bench.

Chu Feng looked at him, was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"What do you think of this mission?"

Li Changsheng was taken aback and did not answer.

Chu Feng smiled, a hint of bitterness in his smile.

"I know what you're thinking."

"Absorbing minor Sects, it sounds grand. But in plain terms, it's annexation."

Li Changsheng remained silent.

Chu Feng continued.

"I joined the Sect ten years earlier than you; I've seen a lot more."

"The Sect Master's intentions might fool others, but not me."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"This absorption is just the first step. The Sect Master wants to unify Yunzhou."

"The Jinyang Sect has split, Qingxin Pavilion is severely weakened, and Medicine King Valley is self-isolated."

"Now is a good time for the Qinglan Sword Sect to expand."

Li Changsheng's heart trembled.

Although he had guessed as much, hearing it firsthand still shocked him.

Chu Feng looked at him and said.

"I know you're uncomfortable. I am too. But..."

He sighed, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked.

"Senior Brother Chu, what should we do?"

Chu Feng shook his head.

"I don't know."

"But one thing is certain: obeying orders is our duty. As for the rest..."

He stood up and patted Li Changsheng's shoulder.

"Let's take it one step at a time."

That afternoon, the five-person team assembled and flew on their swords towards the southern part of Yunzhou.

Besides Li Changsheng and Chu Feng, there were three other Disciples in the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

One was Wang Hai, one was Zhao Qian, and the other was a quiet young man named Zhang Yuan.

The five flew for an entire day, finally arriving in Southern Yunzhou at dusk.

The scenery here was completely different from the Qinglan Sword Sect.

The mountains were gentle, rivers crisscrossed, and villages and towns dotted the landscape.

Under the glow of the sunset, cooking smoke curled upwards, a scene of peace and harmony.

Chu Feng pointed to a distant mountain peak and said.

"That's Qingfeng Gate."

Li Changsheng followed his gaze.

It was a small, not-so-tall mountain, with a few buildings vaguely visible on it.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a small town, with cooking smoke rising and the sounds of chickens and dogs audible.

A very ordinary minor Sect.

People just like them.

A complex emotion welled up in Li Changsheng's heart.

Chu Feng seemed to sense his thoughts and said softly.

"Don't think too much. Perhaps they'll be willing to submit?"

Li Changsheng didn't speak.

Meanwhile, inside Qingfeng Gate.

Sect Head Daoist Qingfeng was sitting in the main hall, his brows tightly furrowed.

Before him stood a man in grey robes, whispering a report.

"...The Qinglan Sword Sect has already sent people."

"Five people, all in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"The leader is Chu Feng, the one who killed evil cultivators on the Jinyang Sect battlefield."

Daoist Qingfeng's expression darkened.

"What do they want to do?"

The grey-robed man hesitated, then said.

"According to reliable sources, the Qinglan Sword Sect intends to absorb surrounding minor Sects. If we don't submit..."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

Daoist Qingfeng was silent for a long time.

Then, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant sky.

There, clouds churned, as if something terrifying could emerge at any moment.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and said.

"Contact Broken Stone Camp."

"Tell them the Qinglan Sword Sect comes with ill intentions; we must join forces."

The grey-robed man cupped his fists and said.

"Yes!"

He turned and left.

Daoist Qingfeng stood by the window, gazing at the churning cloud sea.

He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and gently struck the windowsill, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

Qingfeng Gate had been established for three hundred years and had never bowed its head to anyone.

This time, it would be no different.