119: Chapter 119 Rescuing Zhao from Wei, Cutting Off the Firewood from Under the Cauldron

The Sect Master of the Wanfa Pavilion also chimed in, his words filled with hatred for the enemy and grief over the casualties of his own people.

Upon hearing this, even Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang, who had called for the truce, shared the same doubt. However, he did not dare to question them and could only direct his bewildered gaze toward the Old Ancestors seated at the head.

To their surprise, after all their clamoring, the Old Ancestors merely sat in silent contemplation with lowered eyes, not uttering a single word.

Seeing this, Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang recalled the meaning conveyed by the Old Ancestor's gaze earlier and silenced the crowd's discussion.

He stood up and bowed deeply to the dozen or so Old Ancestors at the head, saying, "We ask the Old Ancestors to make the final decision on this matter!"

As soon as he spoke, the noisy hall instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes converged on the Old Ancestors.

After a long while, Old Ancestor Qingsong of the Qingxuan Sect slowly opened his eyes and said, "This battle seems somewhat off. The Qingfeng Valley Cultivators I faced appeared to strike with ruthlessness, but in reality, they always held back thirty percent, acting more as if they were guarding against something rather than fighting me to the death."

Another Old Ancestor from the Wanfa Pavilion added, "Indeed, that fellow from the Spirit Talisman Sect was the same. The number of Talismans he consumed was far below the standard expected of a life-and-death struggle at the Golden Core level. They are being stingy with their assets."

Finally, it was the White-Haired Ancestor of the Tiangang Sect who summarized the discussion.

"The ceasefire was done under my instructions to Xuanyang. Pingling Prefecture is not a monolithic block."

"The Devil Heads of Black Rock Palace have strange strength and many hidden trump cards. The other three Sects are wary of them and likely unwilling to lose too much power here, lest they be suppressed by them upon returning to the Prefecture.

Their journey here is named as assisting the Blazing Fire Sect, but in truth, they are nothing more than a pack of hyenas wanting to tear a piece of meat off our Qinghe Prefecture."

With one sentence, he pierced through to the essence of the matter.

Everyone in the hall was struck by a sudden realization.

That was it; Pingling Prefecture was already internally divided between the righteous and the evil, riddled with contradictions.

This temporary Alliance appeared powerful, but in reality, each member harbored their own schemes, making it incredibly fragile.

"Then what should we do?" asked the Sect Master of the Wanfa Pavilion.

The White-Haired Ancestor sneered, "Naturally, we let them fight amongst themselves. From beginning to end, our target has only been the traitorous Blazing Fire Sect!"

On the other side, inside the temporary Immortal Cave in Fallen Phoenix Valley.

"They show up but don't put in the effort! A bunch of cowards!" A one-armed Elder of the Blazing Fire Sect slammed the stone table. The movement pulled at his wound, causing him to grimace in pain, yet he remained consumed by rage. "Our Sect has lost nearly ten Elders and scores of Disciples. You people from Pingling Prefecture are just great—each of you acts like you're out for a stroll!"

"Elder Wang, watch your words!" the Sect Master of Blazing Fire Sect barked in a low voice, though the gloom in his eyes could not be suppressed.

How could he not see where the problem lay?

During the battle, the Cultivators of Pingling Prefecture had actually used the Elders and Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect as shields, showing none of the cooperation an Alliance should have.

The crowd from Pingling Prefecture sat on the other side with varying expressions.

The representatives from Qiankun Gate and Qingfeng Valley lowered their heads to wipe their Magical Artifacts, while those from the Spirit Talisman Sect fiddled with a stack of Talismans, acting as if they hadn't heard the roars of the Blazing Fire Sect members.

Only the Palace Master of Black Rock Palace, shrouded in black robes, let out a burst of strange laughter.

"Jie jie jie... Those words are quite mistaken. The Elders and Disciples of your Blazing Fire Sect died to protect their own Sect; they died a worthy death.

We Cultivators of Pingling Prefecture are guests who have come from afar. Surely you can't expect the guests to die before the hosts? If so, you truly lack an understanding of the way to treat guests."

This twisted logic nearly made the members of the Blazing Fire Sect spit blood in anger.

"You!" The one-armed Elder trembled with rage.

"Enough!" True Person Chiyan snorted coldly, and the pressure of a Golden Core True Person spread out, finally suppressing the internal strife that was about to explode.

The goal had not yet been achieved; if they fell out now, the Blazing Fire Sect would likely be attacked by everyone at once.

His gaze swept over the people from Pingling Prefecture one by one, finally stopping on the Palace Master of Black Rock Palace.

"Fellow Daoist, let's not beat around the bush. If we cannot win this war, all our efforts will be for naught. My Blazing Fire Sect has already come out in full force; I hope you all can show some genuine sincerity."

The head of the Palace Master of Black Rock Palace, hidden under the black robe, turned slightly as he sized up True Person Chiyan.

"Sincerity? Has the Immortal Master not already witnessed the sincerity of my Black Rock Palace?" He was referring to those two Golden Core Puppets.

"However, relying solely on us grinding it out here is ultimately a poor strategy. Although the four-Sect allied forces of Qinghe Prefecture have temporarily retreated, their Foundation remains undamaged, and they have the support of the Zhenpin Pavilion's Medicinal Pills. They can wear us down to death. In my view, we need to change how we play."

"Oh? What brilliant idea does Fellow Daoist have?" the Sect Master of Blazing Fire Sect asked, suppressing his anger.

"Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao, pull the firewood from under the cauldron," the Palace Master of Black Rock Palace said slowly. "Isn't their rear extremely vulnerable? Qinghe Prefecture is so large, with so many wealthy counties and so many tender Cultivators... Tsk tsk, it really makes one's mouth water."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the representatives from the three Sects, including Qiankun Gate, changed slightly.

They were Righteous Path Sects, and their enemies for this trip were only the four-Sect allied forces of Qinghe Prefecture. If they were to strike at the Mortals and low-level Cultivators in the rear, it would ultimately go against their Dao Heart.

However, they did not object. In any case, they wouldn't be the ones doing it; whoever was willing could go ahead.

"The Palace Master means..." A flash of ruthlessness crossed the eyes of the Sect Master of Blazing Fire Sect.

"It's simple." The Palace Master of Black Rock Palace spread his hands. "We stay here in a standoff with them to draw their main force. Then, we send people to their rear to pay them a proper visit. I refuse to believe that if their backyard is on fire, they can still sit here peacefully and continue fighting us!"

The Sect Master of Blazing Fire Sect fell silent.

He looked at the indifferent faces of the Pingling Prefecture crowd, and his heart felt cold.

At this point, the Blazing Fire Sect had no room for choice.

"Fine," he compromised.

"Then it's settled." The Palace Master of Black Rock Palace laughed with satisfaction. "I will arrange the manpower immediately. I believe very soon, those righteous lords of Qinghe Prefecture will hear some 'good news' that will make them unable to sit still."

That night, under the cover of moonlight and shielded by a certain Golden Core Cultivator, several dark figures silently left Fallen Phoenix Valley from the rear and quickly disappeared into the vast mountain forests.

Two days later, Antai County, Qinghe Prefecture.

This place was under the jurisdiction of the Blazing Fire Sect, nearly a thousand miles from Fallen Phoenix Valley, and had always been peaceful and prosperous.

Cultivators came and went in the city while Mortal merchants called out their wares, creating a scene of total harmony.

However, this harmony was completely torn to shreds the moment three figures in black robes stepped through the city gates.

The leader was a Foundation Establishment Mid-stage demonic Cultivator, followed by two fellow Disciples at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

They were the raiding party dispatched by Black Rock Palace.

Their appearance did not attract anyone's attention; after all, the strongest person in Antai County was merely an Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Tsk, though the Spiritual Qi is thin, the scent of humans is quite strong." The leading demonic Cultivator licked his cracked lips, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty excitement. "Junior Brothers, it's time to eat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised both hands, and a pitch-black banner grew in the wind, instantly becoming a hundred feet in size, like a massive black cloth shrouding the sky above.

"It's demonic Cultivators! Run!"

The Cultivators in the city reacted the fastest, and subsequently, terrified screams began to ring out continuously within the city.

But the demonic Cultivators of Black Rock Palace had long since used a Formation to seal off the county before entering; no communication talisman could be activated.

This place had become a cage of despair.

Shrill screams echoed throughout the entire night.