195: Chapter 195 Public Defection and Planning for Core Formation

Seven days after the end of the defense of Qingxin Pavilion.

Li Changsheng stood before the mountain gate and made a decision that would change his life.

That morning, the sunlight spilled over the broken mountain gate, clearly illuminating the traces left by the battle.

Cracks, scorch marks, and bloodstains—every spot told the story of that tragic fight.

Below the mountain gate, over a hundred people had gathered: Disciples of Qingxin Pavilion, survivors of the Jinyang Sect, and a few others who had rushed from small surrounding Sects.

Li Changsheng stood on the steps, dressed in green robes with the qingshuang sword hanging at his waist.

His gaze swept over the faces below; some were familiar, some were strangers, but in every pair of eyes, the same light shone.

Hope.

He took a deep breath and spoke.

"Everyone, today I, Li Changsheng, have something to say."

The crowd below fell silent, everyone looking at him.

Li Changsheng said word by word:

"As of today, I, Li Changsheng, defect from the Qinglan Sword Sect."

Below, there was absolute silence.

A moment later, earth-shattering cheers erupted from the crowd!

"Good!"

"It should have been like this long ago!"

"Senior Brother Li, we support you!"

Tears of excitement welled up in the eyes of the Qingxin Pavilion Disciples.

The survivors of the Jinyang Sect clenched their fists tightly, their entire bodies trembling.

Those from the small Sects looked at each other, seeing the exhilaration in one another's eyes.

Li Changsheng raised his hand, pressing down the cheers.

He continued.

"From now on, I will join forces with the Qingxin Pavilion and the remnants of the Jinyang Sect to jointly oppose Ling Cang's ambitions and uncover the truth behind the Blood Fiend Sect's fall."

His voice echoed through the valley.

"Ling Cang thinks he can cover the sky with one hand, that he can unify Yunzhou through slaughter and conspiracy. But he is wrong."

"He forgot that in this world, there are still people unwilling to live on their knees."

"He forgot that in this world, there is still justice and a human heart."

Below, some people began to weep.

Li Changsheng looked at them and said word by word.

"I know this path is difficult."

"We might die, we might fail, and we might be spat upon by everyone."

"But I would rather die standing than live on my knees."

He gripped the sword in his hand and held it high.

"Those willing to follow me, stay."

"Those who are not can leave now."

No one left.

Everyone stood their ground, looking at him with firm gazes.

Li Changsheng's eyes also felt a bit sore.

He took a deep breath and shouted loudly:

"Good! From today on, we will walk this path together!"

Cheers resounded through the valley once more.

In the distance, the morning sun rose, dyeing the entire Qingxin Pavilion in gold.

It was a new day.

It was also a new beginning.

It only took three days for the news to spread across Yunzhou.

"Have you heard? That Li Changsheng has publicly defected from the Qinglan Sword Sect!"

"The one who saved people on the Jinyang Sect battlefield? The one who was grounded by Ling Cang?"

"Yes! It's him! He's now joined forces with the Qingxin Pavilion and the Jinyang Sect refugees to oppose Ling Cang!"

"Good for him! I've been tired of Ling Cang for a long time!"

"Keep it down! Do you want to die?"

In the palace of Ling Cang at the Qinglan Sword Sect, the atmosphere was terrifyingly gloomy.

Ling Cang sat in the main seat, his face ashen, clutching a Message Talisman so tightly his knuckles were white.

"Li Changsheng..."

He said each word with a voice full of killing intent.

"Good, very good."

He slammed the Message Talisman onto the ground and stood up.

"Send out the order: list Li Changsheng as a Grade-A fugitive. A bounty of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, dead or alive!"

"Yes!"

He then looked at the Golden Core Elders nearby and said coldly:

"Accelerate the gathering of troops. Within a month, I want the Qingxin Pavilion to vanish from Yunzhou."

The Elders exchanged looks, seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

But they didn't dare say more, only bowing.

"Yes."

Ling Cang turned around and looked out the window.

In the distance, in the direction of the Qingxin Pavilion, dark clouds gathered.

"Li Changsheng,"

He murmured.

"You think you can escape?"

A cold smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"You can't escape."

Meanwhile, throughout Yunzhou, some small Sects that had long been oppressed by the Qinglan Sword Sect also began to move in secret.

"I heard that Li Changsheng has publicly stood against Ling Cang?"

"Yeah, he also said he'd find out the truth behind the Blood Fiend Sect's fall."

"The truth of the Blood Fiend Sect? Hasn't that matter been settled long ago?"

"Who knows. But since he dares to stand up, we should show some support too."

"You mean..."

"Send people to the Qingxin Pavilion to make contact secretly."

"If something can really be achieved, we won't have to be bullied by Ling Cang forever."

"Good. I'll go arrange it now."

Messages were passed in secret.

Support gathered in the shadows.

Li Changsheng's name began to be remembered by more and more people.

And he himself was currently sitting cross-legged in a cave on the back mountain of the Qingxin Pavilion, eyes closed in Cultivation.

Making the final preparations for Core Formation.

This was a secret Immortal Cave on the back mountain of the Qingxin Pavilion.

It was a seclusion spot specifically prepared for Li Changsheng by Su Qinghan.

Deep within the mountainside, the cave was surrounded by layers of Restrictions, isolating it from all external interference.

The Spiritual Qi inside was dense, at least three times denser than outside.

This was a Spirit Gathering Array Su Qinghan had specifically set up for him using the resources of the Qingxin Pavilion.

Li Changsheng sat cross-legged in the center of the Immortal Cave, closing his eyes to focus his mind.

Core Formation cannot be rushed; one must adjust their state.

Then, fill the spiritual power to capacity.

Li Changsheng took some Medicinal Pills and began to solidify his spiritual power.

The medicinal power slowly spread through his body like a trickling stream, nourishing every inch of his Meridians and every wisp of spiritual power.

He could feel the spiritual power in his Dantian condensing, compressing, and purifying at an unprecedented speed.

Core Formation is the process of further compressing the liquid spiritual power of the Foundation Establishment Stage into a solid Golden Core.

This process is extremely dangerous.

The slightest mistake could lead to spiritual power spiraling out of control, resulting in severed Meridians at best, or exploding on the spot at worst.

Li Changsheng did not dare to be the least bit careless.

He ran his Cultivation Technique over and over, carefully guiding the condensing spiritual power, making it rotate slowly in his Dantian to form an increasingly dense vortex.

Time flowed in the silence.

One day,

Two days,

Three days...

By the fifteenth day, the spiritual power vortex in his Dantian had become as solid as a physical object.

He sank his entire consciousness into his Dantian and began the final compression.

The spiritual power vortex spun frantically, faster and denser.

The pressure caused his entire Dantian to tremble, as if it might shatter at any moment.

He gritted his teeth, holding his mind steady with all his might.

Don't be chaotic.

Don't panic.

Don't give up.

Li Changsheng knew the most critical moment had arrived.

He took a deep breath and pulled out the barrier breaking pill, preparing to swallow it.

At this most critical moment, he suddenly felt a pang of unease.

Someone was there.

And very close.

He snapped his eyes open, his hand pressing on the hilt of his sword.

Outside the Immortal Cave's Restriction, a dark figure stood quietly.

It was a young man in black robes, with a sinister face and an eerie gaze.

His cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Peak.

Li Changsheng didn't move, only looking at him coldly.

The black-robed man grinned and spoke.

"Li Changsheng, don't be nervous. I'm not here to kill you."

Li Changsheng said nothing.

The black-robed man continued.

"I'm here to bring you a piece of news."

He took out a Jade Slip from his robes and waved it.

"The truth behind the Blood Fiend Sect's fall—do you want to know?"

Li Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly.

The black-robed man looked at him, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.

"The Demonic Cult knows the whole truth."

"As long as you are willing to cooperate with us and join forces to overthrow Ling Cang, we will tell you the truth."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Demonic Cult?"