183: Chapter 183 The Final Struggle

Chang Sheng was silent for a moment, then said.

"Senior Brother Chu, what do you plan to do?"

Chu Feng did not speak.

The two of them stood there, silent for a long time.

Finally, Chu Feng sighed.

"Junior Brother Li, do you know that I joined the Sect ten years earlier than you?"

"In these ten years, I've seen many people and many things."

"Some people would betray their friends to climb higher; some would betray their Sect to survive. But you..."

He looked at Li Changsheng, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"You are the least like a Cultivator I have ever seen."

Li Changsheng did not speak.

Chu Feng continued.

"Do you think that by saving those children, they will survive?"

"This is a battlefield, full of dead people. Even if they escape today, they won't escape tomorrow."

Li Changsheng said.

"At least, they are still alive today."

Chu Feng was stunned.

He looked at Li Changsheng, remaining silent for a long time.

Then, he turned around, his back to Li Changsheng.

"Go."

"I didn't see you."

Li Changsheng looked at him, a warm current welling up in his heart.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chu."

Chu Feng did not turn his head, merely waved his hand.

"Don't let there be a next time."

Li Changsheng gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

Behind him, Chu Feng's voice came.

"Junior Brother Li, you are a good person. But in this world, good people... don't live long."

Li Changsheng paused, then continued forward.

Don't live long?

Perhaps.

But he would rather not live long than become one of those cold-blooded people.

Meanwhile, in the center of the Secret Realm, inside Ling Cang's temporary tent.

Zhao Kun stood bowing at the lower end, holding an ancient wooden box in both hands, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Sect Master, this is the treasure your subordinate found deep within the Jinyang Sect Secret Realm."

Ling Cang took the wooden box, opened it, and his pupils slightly contracted.

Inside the wooden box, a palm-sized Jade Slip lay quietly.

The Jade Slip was entirely emerald green, emitting a faint glow, covered with densely packed runes.

Those were ancient characters.

"This is..."

Zhao Kun whispered.

"As far as your subordinate knows, this is the Legacy Jade Slip left by the Jinyang Sect's Ancestral Master, recording a long-lost ancient sword technique."

"Successive Sect Masters of the Jinyang Sect have regarded it as a precious treasure, never showing it to others."

Ling Cang's eyes lit up.

He picked up the Jade Slip, examining it carefully, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhao Kun, you've done well."

Zhao Kun immediately knelt down.

"It is your subordinate's honor to serve the Sect Master."

Ling Cang nodded, putting away the Jade Slip.

"Rise. From now on, you are an Elder of the Qinglan Sword Sect."

"Do your work well, and this Seat will not treat you unfairly."

Zhao Kun was overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, Sect Master!"

Ling Cang waved his hand, signaling him to retreat.

Zhao Kun bowed and exited the tent, his face full of smugness.

But he did not notice that in a shadow outside the tent, a pair of eyes were coldly staring at him.

It was Li Changsheng.

He had just returned from the back mountain, passing by here, and happened to see this scene.

Zhao Kun presenting the treasure.

Ling Cang was overjoyed.

The final battle of the Jinyang Sect Secret Realm took place at dawn on the fifth day.

Elder Li Ran stood at the entrance of the valley, behind him were the remaining hundred or so Disciples.

They were covered in wounds, their spiritual power almost exhausted, but no one retreated.

Before them were hundreds of elite Qinglan Sword Sect Disciples, and two Nascent Soul Early Stage Elders standing with their hands behind their backs.

"Li Ran,"

One of the Elders spoke, his voice cold.

"Surrender. You cannot hold out."

Elder Li Ran did not answer.

He just gripped the sword in his hand, his gaze passing over those people and landing on the distant solitary peak.

That was the place where he had Cultivated for three hundred years.

All his memories were there.

He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the Disciples behind him.

Qin Hao stood at the very front, covered in blood, his eyes full of grief and indignation.

Behind him were those young faces.

Some were only teenagers, some were even children.

"Qin Hao."

Li Ran spoke, his voice hoarse.

Qin Hao stepped forward.

"Elder."

Li Ran took out an ancient Jade Slip from his embrace and thrust it into his hand.

"This is the Jinyang Sect's Legacy Jade Slip."

He whispered.

"It records the ancient sword technique left by the Ancestral Master who founded the Sect. Take it and go."

Qin Hao was stunned.

"Elder, you..."

"I cannot leave."

Li Ran interrupted him.

"But you can."

He turned around, his back to the Disciples, facing the hundreds of enemies.

"Remember,"

His voice was deep and firm.

"Preserve the spark of the Jinyang Sect. As long as the Legacy remains, the Jinyang Sect has not perished."

Qin Hao's tears burst forth.

"Elder!"

"Go!"

Elder Li Ran roared, his figure suddenly soaring into the air, charging towards the two Nascent Soul Elders!

Sword light flared, like a golden lightning bolt, tearing through the dawn sky!

Qin Hao gritted his teeth, turned, and led the Disciples towards the back mountain.

Behind them, the roar of battle shook the heavens and earth.

He did not look back.

He dared not look back.

Elder Li Ran fought one against two, giving his all.

His sword technique was still fierce, each strike carrying a determination to die.

But the two Nascent Soul Elders were far superior in cultivation, and no matter how desperately he fought, he had no chance of winning.

After thirty moves, he was struck by a sword in his left shoulder.

After fifty moves, his right leg was pierced through.

At one hundred moves, his chest was struck by a palm, and he flew backward, crashing heavily against the mountain wall.

He slid down, kneeling on one knee, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.

The two Nascent Souls dealt with him easily. If they weren't afraid of Li Ran's desperate counterattack and the risk of injury, they would have long since erupted and killed him.

A Nascent Soul Elder landed in front of him, looking down at him from above.

"Li Ran, you lost."

Li Ran raised his head, looking at them, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Lost?"

He murmured.

"People of the Jinyang Sect never admit defeat."

He suddenly stood up, using his last bit of strength, and thrust his sword at one of them!

The person's expression changed, and he dodged sideways, the sword edge grazing his face, cutting off a lock of hair!

The other person roared in anger, striking Li Ran's chest with a palm!

Li Ran's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.

He lay on the ground, gazing at the gradually brightening sky, a mocking smile still on his lips.

"Ling Cang..."

He murmured.

"Do you think you've won?"

His gaze fell on a hidden corner in the distance.

There, a figure in green was quietly watching him.

Li Changsheng.

A smile appeared at the corner of Li Ran's mouth.

He used his last strength, enunciating each word.

"The Blood Fiend Sect's degeneration... was no accident... The Qinglan Sword Sect... hides a secret..."

His voice grew weaker and weaker, finally disappearing into the wind.

His eyes slowly closed.

Li Changsheng stood in the distance, gazing at the fallen figure, motionless for a long time.

Li Ran's words, like a thunderclap, exploded in his heart.

The Blood Fiend Sect's degeneration was no accident.

The Qinglan Sword Sect hid a secret.

What secret?

He didn't know.

But he knew that this matter was more complicated than he had imagined.

He took a deep breath, then turned and left.

Behind him, the two Nascent Soul Elders had already begun to loot the spoils of war, while the Qinglan Disciples were pursuing the fleeing Jinyang Sect Disciples.

Li Changsheng gripped his sword hilt, quickening his steps.

Deep in the dense forest of the back mountain, Qin Hao desperately ran with a dozen Disciples.

Behind them, the sounds of pursuit grew closer.

"Stop! Don't run!"

"The Sect Master has ordered, kill without mercy!"

Several Foundation Establishment Stage Qinglan Disciples caught up, raising their swords with sinister smiles.

Qin Hao looked back, his heart sinking.

They couldn't escape.

He stopped, turning to face the pursuers.

"You all go!" he shouted to the Disciples behind him.

"I'll hold them off!"

The Disciples were stunned.

"Senior Brother Qin..."

"Go!"

Qin Hao raised his sword and charged at the pursuers!

Sword light flashed as he engaged the pursuers in battle!

He couldn't hold them off at all.

After ten moves, he was stabbed in the shoulder by a sword, blood gushing out.

After thirty moves, he was struck by another sword in his back, staggering and nearly falling.

He knelt on one knee, gasping for breath, looking at the grimacing pursuers closing in, a wave of despair rising in his heart.

Just then.

A flash of green sword light suddenly shot out from the dense forest!