234: Chapter 234 They dispersed, each going their own way.

Looking at the group of Elders kneeling before Your Highness who wanted to redeem themselves through service, Xu Ruyu sneered:

"Your task is to rely on the Sect's existing defensive Formations (though they have many loopholes) and the geographical advantages to delay the incoming enemies as much as possible, buying time for our evacuation and... preserving the Sect's final shred of face and dignity."

"If you can successfully repel the enemy and hold the Ancestral Land, it will be a great merit, and your past crimes may be reduced or exempted as appropriate."

"If you are unfortunate... then it will be considered dying for the Sect's loyalty, wrapped in horsehide, dying a worthy death, which can wash away some of your sins."

"This is the opportunity for redemption that this Sect Master is giving you."

After Xu Ruyu finished speaking, the Council Hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by this decision.

Letting these guys, who had just been convicted of a coup and rebellion, stay behind to guard the Sect and resist the most powerful external enemies? This... what kind of redemption was this? This was clearly sending them to their deaths!

And it was sending them to their deaths in a perfectly justifiable and high-sounding manner!

The faces of Wang Tiexin and the others had turned from pale to ashen.

They weren't stupid; they instantly understood Xu Ruyu's intention!

What redemption? What preserving face?

This was clearly killing with a borrowed knife! And it was making them go to their deaths willingly—at least on the surface!

Leaving them and their forces in the Ancestral Land, which was destined to be lost, to become targets and cannon fodder to draw the enemy's fire!

While Xu Ruyu himself would safely evacuate with the true 'sparks' and loyal forces!

How ruthless! How absolute!

What a brilliant move of 'withdrawing the firewood from under the cauldron' and 'using the enemy's strength against them'!

Not only did he clear out the internal unstable elements, but he also made use of the waste, letting them exert their last bit of 'value'—consuming the enemy's strength and buying time for himself!

How was this a young, naive, and inexperienced Sect Master? This was clearly a meticulous, sophisticated, and decisive hegemon!

An astonishing light burst from Granny Liu's eyes, and her gaze toward Xu Ruyu was filled with great admiration!

It should be exactly like this!

Against such traitors, why talk about benevolence and morality?

They should be used to their full potential and die a worthy death!

On the calm, well-like face of the Grand Elder, Venerable Kumu, there was a slight movement, and he took a deep look at Xu Ruyu.

The Fifth Elder, Hua Xunhuan, covered her red lips, her eyes filled with shock.

Lady Qingli couldn't help but let out a 'pfft' and laugh, quickly covering it with her sleeve, but the joy and satisfaction in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

Her gaze toward Xu Ruyu was filled with pleasant surprise and a sense of relief, as if 'my child has finally grown up.'

As for the neutral Elders, after the initial shock, the way they looked at Xu Ruyu also changed, adding a bit of awe and... a trace of chilliness.

This new Sect Master was not as easy to handle as he appeared on the surface.

Wang Tiexin and the others still wanted to struggle and plead, but when they met Xu Ruyu's calm gaze, which lacked even a ripple yet seemed to see through all their thoughts, as well as the cold and murderous looks from Granny Liu, Lady Qingli, and others, all their words were stuck in their throats.

They knew Xu Ruyu had given them a 'step'—a step to die under the name of 'redemption through service.'

If they were still ungrateful and refused this 'opportunity,' then what awaited them would likely be an immediate and worthless purge.

Choosing the lesser of two evils... it seemed that accepting this 'staying behind' task would at least allow them to keep a bit of pathetic status. Perhaps... perhaps when the enemy really attacked, they would still have a chance...

To escape? Yes! Escape!

Once Xu Ruyu and the others left, who would really stay and defend this place to the death? Just find an opportunity to slip away!

As long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood!

This thought grew like weeds in the hearts of several Elders.

They exchanged glances and saw a flicker of hope in each other's eyes.

Finally, Wang Tiexin gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Wang Tiexin accepts the command!"

"I will... defend the Sect to the death and buy time... for the Sect Master's evacuation!"

He bit down hard on the words 'to the death,' as if he had truly made up his mind, but a trace of hard-to-detect sinister intent flashed in the depths of his eyes.

With someone leading the way, Li Wancai and the others had no choice but to brace themselves and express their acceptance of the command one after another.

"Very good."

Xu Ruyu nodded, seemingly very satisfied with their 'awakening.' "Since it is so, this matter is settled."

"You all return immediately, organize your respective Disciples, reinforce the defenses, and prepare to meet the enemy."

"This Sect Master gives you... three days to prepare."

"In three days, I will lead the evacuation, and you must provide full cover."

"Yes..."

Wang Tiexin and the others responded weakly, then like defeated roosters, they slunk out of the Council Hall, leading their faction's Disciples away quickly, their backs filled with panic and resentment.

Watching them disappear at the hall entrance, Xu Ruyu finally breathed a soft sigh of relief.

"Sect Master... is this move a bit too..."

A relatively mild-mannered neutral Elder couldn't help but speak up hesitantly.

He felt that using fellow Sect members as bait and cannon fodder was a bit too cold-blooded.

Xu Ruyu glanced at him but didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned to Granny Liu, Venerable Kumu, and the others to begin arranging the specific evacuation matters, with clear logic and a distinct division of labor:

"Grand Elder, I trouble you to coordinate the deployment, take inventory of the Sect's treasury, and categorize all the Spirit Stones, Spirit Ores, Spirit Medicines, and finished Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills that can be taken away, prioritizing high-value and strategic materials."

"Fifth Elder, please assist the Grand Elder and be responsible for organizing the various records, secret registers, and cultivation insights accumulated by the Sect over the years, especially the core Legacies and Secret Techniques. Ensure they are taken away in their entirety."

"Granny Liu, the Hall of Power Transmission is the Sect's Foundation, housing many ancient Jade Slips and forbidden Legacies. The matter of their transfer is of the utmost importance, and I entrust it entirely to you."

"We must ensure nothing goes wrong."

"As for the rest of the Elders," Xu Ruyu looked at those who remained in the hall, who had essentially passed the preliminary 'loyalty test,' "please perform your respective duties, appease the Disciples under your command, select the elites willing to follow the evacuation, and maintain confidentiality. Before the evacuation, no news must be leaked."

His instructions were clear and decisive. Although the crowd still had waves in their hearts, seeing that the highly respected Grand Elders and core Elders did not object, they could only bow and accept the command, dispersing to prepare.

Soon, the vast Council Hall was left with only Xu Ruyu, Lady Qingli, and Xiao Nianyin, who stood in the corner like a shadow.