323: What important event has occurred?

On another battlefield, the fierce battle raged on!

Chu Haotian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the killing intent in his eyes undiminished. The golden spiritual light around him surged once more, and the roaring lion shadow bared its sharp fangs, crashing head-on into Wei Ling's Vajra Ape Phantom. With a dull 'thud,' the moment the two spiritual shadows collided, violent spiritual energy exploded, sending shockwaves in all directions and scattering rubble like arrows.

But in the midst of this clash, a cyan-blue Sword Qi streaked across the sky like a fleeting shadow, carrying a bone-chilling cold as it slashed toward Chu Haotian's side.

It was Yan Shu seizing the opportunity for a surprise attack!

Chu Haotian's heart tightened. In haste, he twisted his waist, pushed off the ground with his toes, and leaped up awkwardly, barely dodging the lethal Sword Qi. Yet, he saw a purple spell descending from above with overwhelming force, aimed directly at his head.

"Thud!"

The spell struck Chu Haotian squarely in the chest. He felt as if hit by a heavy hammer, his body plummeting like a broken kite, crashing hard into the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust. He slammed into a half-zhang deep crater, with only a blood-stained figure visible amidst the swirling dust.

"Senior Brother, let this Junior Brother send you off!" Seeing this, Wei Ling's eyes gleamed with ferocity as he immediately pressed the advantage.

The Vajra Ape Phantom threw its head back and let out an earth-shaking roar. Its thick leg, carrying immense force, stomped down fiercely on the Golden Lion Shadow in the crater. The lion shadow, already dimmed from the previous collision, let out a mournful cry under this heavy blow and dissipated significantly.

"Haotian!"

Master Qing Xuan watched anxiously, his white jade brush moving like lightning. The tip of the brush flickered with spiritual light as he swiftly drew a golden talisman, ready to hurl it toward Chu Haotian.

But just as the talisman left his hand, a sharp white Sword Qi shot through the air, aiming straight for his wrist holding the brush, forcing him to abruptly halt his action.

Master Qing Xuan hastily dodged sideways. The Sword Qi grazed his sleeve, shredding the fabric to pieces. The brush tip trembled slightly from the residual Sword Qi, nearly flying out of his grasp.

"To dare be distracted by another battlefield while facing me, Fellow Daoist, you are far too overconfident!"

Daoist Chisong sneered, his longsword weaving several intricate sword flowers. A dense barrage of white Sword Qi poured down like a torrential rain, forcing Master Qing Xuan to retreat repeatedly, leaving him no time to spare.

At the same time, Cao Xu also took the opportunity to summon seven miniature Flying Swords.

The Flying Swords, glowing with spiritual light, darted and circled through the battlefield like agile birds. In moments, they positioned themselves according to the Big Dipper Formation, an invisible spiritual light curtain enveloping the surroundings, forming a profound sword Formation.

"Today, I invite Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan to enlighten me on the Dao of Formations!"

Cao Xu's fingers swiftly formed hand seals. The seven Flying Swords simultaneously erupted with dazzling light, their Sword Qi weaving into an impenetrable net, closing in on Master Qing Xuan from all sides.

Master Qing Xuan, caught between two fronts, had to fend off Daoist Chisong's fierce sword attacks while dealing with the strange encirclement of the sword Formation. He was soon overwhelmed. His white jade brush danced frantically, talismans flowing out like water—sometimes forming a Mysterious Turtle Shield for defense, sometimes condensing into short blades for hasty counterattacks. But ultimately, two fists were no match for four hands.

Both Daoist Chisong and Cao Xu were Cultivators of the same realm, no weaker than him. Without the advantage of divine abilities, Cultivation Techniques, or powerful Magic Treasures, Master Qing Xuan could only fight desperately with all his might, gradually falling into a disadvantage... Within the Tianque Sect, Spiritual Qi swirled.

After Zhao Jingchen, Li Pingan, and Lin Xiuqin successfully escaped into the Sect's territory, they dared not pause for a moment. Their figures shot like arrows toward the Sect Main Hall.

The Sect Master and the other Peak Masters had already rushed to Yaoshi City to resist the Yao Race army. The only top-tier combatants left in the Sect were the Mountain Protecting Elder and the Discipline Elder. Both Elders were at the eighth layer of Void Refining, with unfathomable divine abilities. If they could be persuaded to act, they might not be able to repel all enemies, but at least they could save the lives of their Revered Master and Elder Qing Xuan.

The three split into two groups: Zhao Jingchen and Li Pingan headed straight for the hall, while Lin Xiuqin rushed to the Elder Pavilion.

Moments later, Zhao Jingchen hurriedly burst into the hall, shouting loudly, "Elders, Disciple Zhao Jingchen has urgent business to report!"

After waiting a moment with no response from inside, he raised his voice and repeated the call, scanning the hall. But aside from a few massive dragon-carved pillars, the hall was empty.

Seeing this, Li Pingan fell into deep thought.

"Could they be out on patrol?"

Just then, Lin Xiuqin hurried in from outside the hall, her expression panicked. "Senior Brother, it seems the Mountain Protecting Elder is not in the Sect!"

As soon as she finished speaking, several Inner Sect Disciples passed by outside the hall. Zhao Jingchen stepped forward and grabbed one by the wrist, urgently demanding, "Quick, tell me! Where have the Mountain Protecting Elder and the Discipline Elder gone?"

The Inner Sect Disciple was taken aback, then quickly explained, "Senior Brother Zhao! The two Elders... the two Elders left the Sect yesterday!"

"Left the Sect? Where did they go?" Lin Xiuqin pressed anxiously.

Another Disciple stepped forward to add, "Senior Sister Lin, here's what happened. Since yesterday, second-rate Sects within the Rain God Continent have been successively ambushed by the Yao Race, suffering heavy casualties!"

"Those Yao Race seem to have planned it, targeting weaker Sects specifically. In just one day, three Sects have been annihilated. After receiving the news, the two Elders, knowing that when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, led Disciples to provide support together. They haven't returned yet!"

"What?!"

These words struck Zhao Jingchen and the others like a thunderbolt.

Lin Xiuqin staggered, nearly collapsing. The light in her eyes instantly dimmed, her hopes utterly dashed. With both the Mountain Protecting Elder and the Discipline Elder absent from the Sect, what would happen to their Revered Master and Elder Qing Xuan?

She looked up sharply, tears welling in her eyes, and instinctively turned her gaze toward the front of the mountain gate, her heart filled with despair. If they could have brought the two Elders, their Revered Master might have had a sliver of hope. But now, with the two Elders far away, the thought of their Revered Master and Elder Qing Xuan facing the perilous situation of being ambushed by five people made Lin Xiuqin feel as if the sky were collapsing.

Zhao Jingchen's expression turned grave as he said solemnly, "Quickly use a message talisman to notify the two Elders to return to the Sect..."

Before he could finish, he abruptly stopped. He suddenly realized that in the current situation, even if the two Elders received the message and turned back immediately, it would clearly be too late.

Li Pingan gazed into the distance toward the battlefield. Though he had full confidence and certainty in his Revered Master, he chose not to offer words of comfort to the other two.

In the current situation, before any outcome is decided, any words would be futile.

The few Inner Sect Disciples exchanged puzzled glances, tentatively asking, "Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Sister Lin, what's... wrong with you?"

"Has some major event occurred?"