180: Chapter 180 All-Out Attack

Ten days later, the Sect Assembly.

That morning, an urgent Message Talisman landed by the spiritual field.

Li Changsheng picked up the Message Talisman, and Ling Cang's voice entered his ears.

"All Inner Sect Disciples, immediately gather at the Main Peak's Martial Arts Field."

Li Changsheng's heart tightened.

What was destined to come, finally arrived.

He changed into a clean robe, gripped his qingshuang sword tightly, and walked towards the Main Peak.

Hundreds of Disciples had already gathered on the Martial Arts Field.

They stood in small groups, whispering amongst themselves.

"I heard something big is being announced today."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but looking at this formation, it must be significant."

Li Changsheng stood silently in the crowd.

A moment later, a figure descended from the sky and landed on the Commanding Platform.

Ling Cang.

He still had that gentle and refined appearance, a smile on his face, and deep eyes.

But behind him stood over a dozen Golden Core Elders, all with solemn expressions, making his smile seem particularly eerie.

Ling Cang's gaze swept across the platform, and he slowly began to speak.

"Fellow Disciples, I have gathered you today to announce an important matter."

He paused, then continued.

"The conservative faction of the Jinyang Sect is stubborn and unyielding, refusing to submit. They have secretly accumulated strength, intending to resist the Righteous Path."

"This Venerable One has already given the order to encircle and suppress the Jinyang Sect's conservative faction, to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, to prevent future troubles."

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

"Encircle and suppress the Jinyang Sect?"

"Didn't they already split?"

"The conservative faction... are those who refused to submit?"

Ling Cang raised a hand to quiet the discussions and said calmly.

"All Inner Sect Disciples, prepare yourselves immediately. Tomorrow morning, you will set out with this Venerable One."

He turned and left, leaving behind a field of shocked Disciples.

Li Changsheng stood rooted to the spot for a long time.

Encircle and suppress the Jinyang Sect's conservative faction.

Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots.

He remembered Qin Hao's eyes filled with grief and indignation, Elder Li Ran's words, "The Jinyang Sect has stood for three thousand years and has never bowed to anyone," and those who upheld their Legacy.

They were going to be encircled and suppressed.

And he, too, had to go.

He gripped the sword in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

But he didn't move.

He just stood there, watching Ling Cang's receding figure, an unprecedented clarity rising in his heart.

He understood.

From now on, he could no longer rely on anyone.

Only himself.

That night, Li Changsheng ascended the Main Peak alone, standing at the summit, gazing into the distance.

In the distance, the direction of the Jinyang Sect was pitch black.

But faintly, a weak light seemed to flicker in the darkness.

Were Elder Li Ran and the others still holding on?

He didn't know.

But he knew that tomorrow, everything would change.

He took a deep breath and turned to descend the mountain.

No matter what lay ahead, he would continue forward.

Because he was Li Changsheng.

Because he still had people he wanted to protect.

In the distance, the faint sound of war drums echoed.

That was the horn of departure.

The next morning, in front of the Qinglan Sword Sect's mountain gate, banners fluttered and war drums roared.

Three hundred Inner Sect Disciples stood in neat formation, solemn and still.

They were all cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage or above; some had grave expressions, some had flickering eyes, and some were expressionless.

Li Changsheng stood in the ranks, clad in green, with his qingshuang sword at his waist, his gaze fixed forward.

On the Commanding Platform, Ling Cang stood with his hands behind his back, flanked by over a dozen Golden Core Elders.

He still maintained that gentle and refined appearance, but at this moment, his eyes sweeping over the crowd below exuded an invisible pressure.

"Fellow Disciples,"

Ling Cang spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. "The conservative faction of the Jinyang Sect is stubborn and unyielding, refusing to submit. They have secretly accumulated strength, intending to resist the Righteous Path."

"Today, this Venerable One will personally lead a large army to annihilate them."

"This battle is for the unification of the Righteous Path in Yunzhou, and for the greater good of jointly resisting the Demonic Sect in the future."

He paused, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"Those who dare to resist will be killed without mercy. Those who desert in battle will be punished with the same crime."

Below, there was dead silence.

Li Changsheng stood in the crowd, an unspeakable sense of oppression welling up in his heart.

Killed without mercy.

He had heard these four words too many times.

Each time, they were written in blood.

Ling Cang waved his hand and said calmly.

"Depart."

Three massive Flying Boats rose from behind the mountain gate and slowly descended onto the Martial Arts Field.

The hulls were carved with defensive runes, shimmering with a faint light in the morning sun.

The Disciples boarded the ships in sequence.

Li Changsheng followed the line and boarded the second Flying Boat.

He found a corner seat and sat down, gazing out at the gradually receding mountain gate, a mix of emotions in his heart.

The Flying Boat ascended into the sky, heading towards the Jinyang Sect.

On the Flying Boat, the atmosphere was terribly oppressive.

No one spoke, only the sound of the wind and the roar of the Flying Boat cutting through the air.

Those Disciples who usually loved to joke were now silent, lost in their own thoughts.

Li Changsheng leaned against the ship's railing, closing his eyes to rest.

But he wasn't asleep; he was silently adjusting his breathing, allowing his spiritual Qi to slowly circulate within his body.

A soft rustle of footsteps came from beside him.

He opened his eyes and saw Zhao Qian had walked over at some point and sat down beside him.

"Senior Brother Li."

Zhao Qian lowered his voice, his expression somewhat grim.

Li Changsheng looked at him without speaking.

Zhao Qian hesitated, then whispered.

"Senior Brother Li, do you think... are we really going to attack the Jinyang Sect?"

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said.

"We've already set off."

Zhao Qian lowered his head, his voice even softer.

"But the Jinyang Sect..."

"We fought alongside them on the Jinyang Sect battlefield. Their people saved us, and we saved them. Now..."

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

Li Changsheng remained silent.

Zhao Qian looked up at him, his eyes full of confusion.

"Senior Brother Li, tell me, is this right or wrong?"

Li Changsheng looked at him, silent for a long time.

Then, he said softly.

"I don't know."

Zhao Qian was stunned.

Li Changsheng continued.

"I only know that some things are not for us to decide."

Zhao Qian fell silent.

He lowered his head and said nothing more.

Li Changsheng also remained silent.

The two of them sat there, each lost in their own thoughts.

The Flying Boat continued its journey.

Outside the window, the sea of clouds surged, boundless and vast.

In the middle of the Flying Boat, several Disciples gathered, whispering amongst themselves.

"...I heard that the conservative faction of the Jinyang Sect are all stubborn, unyielding individuals. They retreated to the Secret Realm and have been holding out for almost two months."

"Then are we going to have to launch a frontal assault this time?"

"Even if it's a frontal assault, we have to attack. The Sect Master has given the order, who dares to disobey?"

"But... but the Jinyang Sect is also part of the Righteous Path, just like us."

"If we fight our own people, wouldn't we become a laughingstock if word gets out?"

"Quiet down! Do you want to die?"

The Disciples quickly lowered their voices, cautiously looking around.

Li Changsheng listened to the distant discussions, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

They were right.

The Jinyang Sect and the Qinglan Sword Sect were both part of the Righteous Path.

They had once fought side by side, jointly resisting the Blood Fiend Sect.

Now, they were to turn their swords against each other.

What kind of Righteous Path was this?

He clenched his fists, then released them.

Just then, a figure walked up to him.

Chu Feng.

His injuries had mostly healed, but his face was still a bit pale.

He looked at Li Changsheng, his gaze deep.

"Come with me."

Li Changsheng stood up and followed him to a secluded corner at the tail of the Flying Boat.

Chu Feng stopped and turned to look at him.

"Junior Brother Li,"

he began, his voice low. "I know what you're thinking."

Li Changsheng didn't speak.

Chu Feng continued.

"You're not comfortable with the Jinyang Sect matter, are you?"

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Chu Feng sighed and said.

"I'm not comfortable either. But..."

He paused, his gaze becoming serious.

"Junior Brother Li, remember this: stay out of trouble, don't court death."

Li Changsheng's heart trembled.