181: Chapter 181 Breaking Through the Defensive Formation

Chu Feng looked at him and said seriously.

"The Sect Master's methods, you and I both know them well. You also know the consequences of defying orders."

"So, no matter what you think, don't show it. And definitely don't..."

He paused, not finishing the sentence.

But Li Changsheng understood his meaning.

Definitely don't try to help the people of the Jinyang Sect.

He remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chu."

Chu Feng patted his shoulder, then turned and left.

Li Changsheng stood in place, watching his retreating figure, unmoving for a long time.

"Stay in your place. Don't seek your own death."

"Chu Feng is right."

"I am too weak right now. Too weak to even have the ability to resist."

But he also knew that some things could not be avoided simply by staying in one's place.

He raised his head and looked into the distance.

The direction of the Jinyang Sect was faintly visible.

There were people there to whom he had made promises.

He took a deep breath, turned, and walked back to his position.

The Flying Boat continued forward.

The sea of clouds churned, hiding who knew how many secrets.

At the same time, on a mountain peak outside the Jinyang Sect, several figures stood quietly watching the distant Secret Realm.

Leading them was a young woman in white robes, with an aloof temperament and a cultivation base at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage.

Behind her stood four female cultivators also dressed in white, all at the Foundation Establishment Initial to Middle Stage.

Qingxin Pavilion, Su Qianxue.

Su Qianxue gazed at the glowing barrier, her brow slightly furrowed.

"Senior Sister,"

a female cultivator behind her asked quietly.

"Are we really going to get involved in this?"

Su Qianxue remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"The Pavilion Master has ordered us to observe the situation covertly and wait for an opportunity to act."

The female cultivator hesitated.

"But what if the people from the Qinglan Sword Sect discover us..."

Su Qianxue said calmly.

"Then don't let them discover us."

The female cultivator dared not speak further.

Su Qianxue looked at the distant, precarious light barrier, a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes.

She thought of a person.

The one who had saved her on the Jinyang Sect battlefield.

The one who had resisted desperately before the Qingxin Pavilion's defensive line.

The one named Li Changsheng.

Was he also in that group now?

She did not know.

But she knew that if one day he were in danger, she would definitely intervene.

Because she owed him her life.

Medicine King Valley, its gates tightly shut.

The Valley Master sat in the main hall, holding a secret letter, unmoving for a long time.

The letter contained only a few sparse words.

"The Qinglan Sword Sect has dispatched troops to suppress the conservative faction of the Jinyang Sect. The Qingxin Pavilion has secretly sent observers. Await the Valley Master's decision."

He remained silent for a long time before finally placing the letter over a candle flame, watching it turn to ashes.

Then, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the distance.

There, in the direction of the Jinyang Sect.

Also the direction of the battlefield.

He sighed and murmured.

"Fight, fight. When you've fought enough, you'll realize who the true enemy is."

He turned and walked back into the hall.

The valley gates remained tightly shut.

On the Flying Boat, Li Changsheng sat cross-legged, meditating with his eyes closed.

Spiritual power circulated slowly within his body, flowing along his Meridians.

His cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was much stronger than before, but he knew it was still far from enough.

He needed to become stronger.

Strong enough to have the ability to protect those he wished to protect.

Strong enough to have the qualification to choose his own path.

He opened his eyes and looked out the window.

The setting sun dyed the sea of clouds golden.

In the distance, the peaks of the Jinyang Sect were already faintly visible.

He took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.

No matter what lay ahead, he would continue walking.

Because he was Li Changsheng.

Because there were still people he wanted to protect.

As the Flying Boat slowly descended in the back mountains of the Jinyang Sect, Li Changsheng saw that precarious light barrier.

The once-brilliant golden light was now so dim it was almost invisible.

The barrier was covered with dense, intricate cracks, like the wrinkles on a dying person's face.

Through the cracks, the figures of those stubbornly holding their ground could be faintly seen.

Ling Cang stood at the bow of the Flying Boat, hands behind his back, watching the barrier on the verge of shattering, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Attack."

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

As soon as the words fell, three figures shot out from the Flying Boat simultaneously!

They were three Elders at the Golden Core Late Stage, wielding Magical Artifacts, all striking the light barrier at once!

BOOM!!!

Amidst the deafening roar, the light barrier trembled violently! The already cracked radiance instantly dimmed further!

The first strike didn't break it; a second strike followed immediately!

A third strike! A fourth! A fifth!

...

Half a day later, the barrier finally emitted a groan of unbearable strain.

CRACK!

The cracks abruptly expanded, spreading like a spider's web!

BOOM!

The barrier shattered completely!

Countless golden fragments drifted down like snowflakes, dissolving into specks of starlight in the air before vanishing.

The Secret Realm was breached.

"Kill!"

Ling Cang waved his hand, giving the order.

Three hundred Qinglan Sword Sect Disciples surged toward the Secret Realm like a tide!

Li Changsheng followed within the crowd, tightening his grip on the qingshuang sword in his hand.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, keeping him precisely at the edge of the group.

No one paid him any attention, and no one cared what he was thinking.

Inside the Secret Realm was a vast valley.

Steep cliffs surrounded the valley, with countless caves carved into them—the dwellings of the Jinyang Sect Disciples.

At the center of the valley stood a great hall. Its doors were now tightly shut, and before them stood a hundred or so people, all covered in wounds.

Elder Li Ran stood at the forefront.

His beard and hair had turned completely white, his robes were tattered, and he was drenched in blood.

But his gaze remained resolute, the longsword in his hand still steadily pointing forward.

Behind him stood Qin Hao and those who stubbornly upheld the Legacy.

Each of them was wounded, yet none retreated.

"Li Ran!"

Elder Zhao Kun of the Qinglan faction stepped forward from the crowd and sneered.

"Surrender! You cannot hold!"

Elder Li Ran looked at him, his eyes filled with contempt.

"Zhao Kun, how dare you call me Li Ran?"

"Betraying the Sect, siding with outsiders, slaughtering fellow Disciples—do you still deserve to call yourself a Disciple of the Jinyang Sect?"

Zhao Kun's face darkened with anger.

"Stubborn fool! Kill them!"

He charged forward first!

Behind him, the Qinglan Sword Sect Disciples followed in the assault!

Two torrents collided violently!

The sounds of battle, screams, and the roar of Spells instantly filled the entire valley!

Li Changsheng did not charge at the forefront.

He merely drifted along the edges of the battlefield, occasionally swinging his sword to repel Jinyang Sect Disciples who tried to approach.

His swordsmanship remained sharp, but each strike was perfectly measured.

Enough to drive back the enemy, but not fatal.

A young Jinyang Sect Disciple was forced back repeatedly by him, on the verge of crashing into the cliff wall behind.

Li Changsheng thrust his sword. The tip, however, veered off just an inch from the Disciple's throat, slicing his shoulder instead.

The Disciple screamed and fell, but he was still alive.

Li Changsheng didn't spare him a glance, turning to face the next opponent.

One, two, three...

He continuously "slayed enemies," yet not a single person truly died by his sword.

His gaze was constantly searching for someone.

Finally, he saw him.

Qin Hao.

He was being besieged by three Qinglan Sword Sect Disciples, hard-pressed and in constant peril.

He already bore several wounds, his clothes stained red with blood, on the verge of collapse.

Li Changsheng's heart tightened. He was about to rush over when someone blocked his path.

Chu Feng.

He stood before Li Changsheng, his gaze profound.

"Junior Brother Li,"

he said in a low voice.

"What are you trying to do?"

Li Changsheng looked at him, remained silent for a moment, then said.

"Senior Brother Chu, I just..."

Chu Feng interrupted him.

"Don't go."

Li Changsheng was stunned.

Chu Feng looked at him, a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes.

"I know what you're thinking. But now is not the time."

He turned and left, leaving Li Changsheng standing alone.

Li Changsheng gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white.

He looked back and saw Qin Hao already backed into a corner, three Qinglan Disciples grinning as they raised their swords to stab.

At this critical moment.

A figure suddenly rushed in from the side!