178: Chapter 178 Secret Surveillance

After returning to the Qinglan Sword Sect, Li Changsheng was summoned by the Sect Master.

Ling Cang sat in the great hall, a gentle smile on his face, his gaze mild.

"Li Changsheng, you've done very well."

"You quelled the rebellion, slew the rebel leader, and even saved Chu Feng. This Venerable One is very pleased."

Li Changsheng bowed respectfully.

"This is Disciple's duty."

Ling Cang nodded, took a Storage Pouch from beside him, and handed it to him.

"This is your reward."

"Ten thousand contribution points, a bottle of foundation establishment pills, and a High Grade Magical Artifact. Keep them well."

Li Changsheng took the Storage Pouch and thanked him again.

Ling Cang looked at him and smiled faintly.

"Cultivate diligently. This Venerable One thinks highly of you."

Li Changsheng lowered his head and said.

"Disciple will certainly strive."

Stepping out of the great hall, he took a deep breath.

The Sect Master's words sounded very gentle.

But he always felt that behind that smile, something was hidden.

He didn't know what it was.

But he knew he had to be more careful.

That night, Li Changsheng sat in the Tool Storehouse. Under the lamp, the token he had taken from a Blood Fiend Sect Disciple lay quietly on the table.

He picked up the token and examined it carefully.

The runes on the back of the token were identical to the runes on the qingshuang sword.

He picked up the qingshuang sword and compared the runes.

Identical.

Not similar, but exactly the same.

His heart sank.

Why would a spirit sword from the Qinglan Sword Sect have runes from the Blood Fiend Sect?

Outside the window, moonlight flowed like water.

In the distance, a few gazes flickered faintly in the darkness.

Those were the people Ling Cang had sent to monitor him.

Li Changsheng paid them no mind.

He simply closed his eyes and continued to Cultivate.

Late one night, seven days later.

A discreet Message Talisman landed on Li Changsheng's windowsill.

It was an extremely faint Talisman, with almost undetectable spiritual power fluctuations.

If Li Changsheng hadn't been meditating at the time, with his perception sharper than usual, he wouldn't have noticed its existence at all.

He picked up the Message Talisman, infused it with spiritual power, and Qin Hao's voice entered his ears, urgent and desperate.

"Brother Li, the Secret Realm is about to be breached. Elder Li Ran ordered me to lead people to break out and seek help, but there's no way to reach anyone."

"If you receive this letter, please, for the sake of our past friendship, save the Legacy of the Jinyang Sect. Qin Hao thanks you."

The Message Talisman transformed into specks of starlight and dissipated into the air.

Li Changsheng held the now blank Talisman paper, motionless for a long time.

The Jinyang Sect's Secret Realm was about to be breached.

Elder Li Ran, Qin Hao, and those who steadfastly guarded the Legacy were being besieged.

Perhaps, with no way to call for help, Qin Hao could only place his hopes on him.

Hoping in a Qinglan Sword Sect Disciple who was only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"Should I go?"

Li Changsheng asked himself.

"I am a Disciple of the Qinglan Sword Sect. It is my duty to quell the rebellion as ordered."

"If I go to save the Jinyang Sect people, I will be disobeying orders and colluding with the enemy."

Li Changsheng was in a dilemma.

"But if I don't go..."

"Those who fought side by side on the battlefield, those who upheld the Legacy and refused to bow down, those who would rather die in battle than surrender, will die."

Li Changsheng recalled Zhou Yuan's gaze before his death, Lin Jingyun's farewell smile, and Qin Hao's eyes filled with sorrow and indignation.

He also remembered his own words.

"If one day you truly encounter danger, I will do my best to help."

That was his promise.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the window.

In the distance, the direction of the Main Peak was brightly lit.

That was Sect Master Ling Cang's palace, the center of power.

He clenched his fists, then released them.

Then, he turned and began to pack his things.

The qingshuang sword, healing Medicinal Pills, a few Talismans, and some Materials for repairing and reinforcing Formations—these were things he had collected before.

He put these items into his Storage Pouch and kept them close to his body.

Then, he pushed open the door and stepped into the night.

He didn't fly by sword, but chose to walk down the mountain.

The sword light from flying was too conspicuous and easily detected.

Walking was slow, but concealed.

He walked silently down the mountain path.

Through the bamboo forest, around the cliff, past those familiar places.

Every step was careful.

Every step was heavy.

He knew that once he went, he might not be able to return.

But he had to go.

Because he had promised.

Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead, standing in the middle of the mountain path, hands clasped behind his back, facing away from him.

Li Changsheng, who had reached halfway down the mountain, suddenly stopped.

It was a young man in black, with a well-proportioned figure and a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation.

The man heard Li Changsheng's footsteps stop and slowly turned around.

Li Changsheng didn't recognize him.

But the man's gaze clearly indicated he was waiting for him.

"Li Changsheng,"

The man spoke, his voice cold.

"The Sect Master has ordered that no one is to leave tonight. Please return."

Li Changsheng's heart sank sharply.

Ling Cang was indeed monitoring him.

He was silent for a moment, then said.

"What if I insist on leaving?"

The man sneered, taking out a jade talisman from his bosom.

"This is the Sect Master's Message Talisman."

"If I crush it, Golden Core Elders will immediately rush here."

"Do you think you can escape?"

Li Changsheng looked at him, then at the jade talisman.

Then, he smiled.

The smile was faint, but it made the man inexplicably feel a chill.

"You're right,"

Li Changsheng said.

"I can't escape."

He slowly approached the man, his steps slow and steady.

The man cautiously retreated a step, clutching the jade talisman in his hand.

"Stop! If you come any closer, I'll crush it!"

Li Changsheng didn't stop.

Just as he was three steps away from the man, he suddenly moved!

His speed was extreme, like a streak of azure light, instantly rushing in front of the man!

He struck out with a palm!

The man's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously crushed the jade talisman!

But it was too late!

Li Changsheng's palm landed on the back of his neck!

The man grunted and softly collapsed.

The jade talisman fell to the ground, already broken in half.

Li Changsheng looked down at the shattered jade talisman, silent for a moment, then bent down and dragged the man into the roadside bushes.

He didn't kill him.

Just knocked him out.

He hoped that when he woke up, everything would be over.

He stood up and continued down the mountain.

The old site of the Jinyang Sect, the Secret Realm in the back mountain.

When Li Changsheng arrived, the sight before him made him gasp.

The outer barrier of the Secret Realm was already tottering.

The once golden light was now so dim it was almost invisible, covered with dense cracks.

Outside the barrier, there were many people.

Some were Disciples of the Qinglan Sword Sect, some were Jinyang Sect Disciples who were close to the Qinglan faction, and there were also several Golden Core Stage Elders.

They attacked the barrier in turns, each attack causing the barrier to tremble violently.

Inside the barrier, hundreds of figures could vaguely be seen.

They continuously poured energy into various Formation bases to maintain the stability of the light screen Formation.

However, their tired eyes also showed that what they were doing was merely a last stand.

Elder Li Ran stood at the very front, his hair and beard bristling, his aura already unstable.

Behind him were Qin Hao and those who steadfastly guarded the Legacy.

"Li Ran!"

Zhao Kun's voice came from outside the barrier.

"Surrender! You can't hold on!"

Elder Li Ran said coldly.

"The Jinyang Sect has stood for three thousand years and has never bowed its head to anyone."

"Today, it will be the same."

Zhao Kun was furious and shouted.

"Continue the attack!"

"Break through the barrier, kill without mercy!"

The attacks became even fiercer.

The barrier was on the verge of collapse.

Li Changsheng stood in the distance, watching this scene, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

He took a deep breath, took out a black cloth from his bosom, and covered his face.

Li Changsheng took a deep breath and surveyed the entire light screen.

Finally, he discovered a spot.

There were only two or three attacking Disciples there, it was quite secluded, and not easily noticed.

Moreover, that spot was a Formation base, where attacking or reinforcing would have the best effect.

Li Changsheng quickly crept towards that area.