436: Chapter 436 We are willing to fight to the death for our sect

"Leng Ningshuang, the current top Disciple publicly recognized by all the Disciples of the Hehuan Sect."

Her voice was cold as ice, every word deliberate: "Today, I am willing to fight to the death for the Sect."

Zhao Yan walked out from the crowd and stood beside Leng Ningshuang.

Flames ignited on his body; it was the manifestation of the Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art being pushed to its limit.

Flames emerged from the surface of his body, scorching the surrounding air until it distorted, and the soil beneath his feet was charred and cracked.

There was no fear in his eyes, only resolve—a kind of calmness that set life and death aside.

"Zhao Yan, a Disciple of the Hehuan Sect."

He spoke in a low, booming voice like rolling thunder: "Today, I am willing to fight to the death for the Sect."

"My life was given to me by the Hehuan Sect. Today, I return it to the Hehuan Sect."

"Taking a few of them down with me will make it worth it!"

Ning Caihe did not speak, but his sword was already unsheathed.

Cold killing intent flowed along the blade, and the sword's hum echoed in the mountain wind like a Dragon's roar.

He stood beside Zhao Yan, the tip of his sword pointed at Zhao Qian—even if the opponent was in the Half-step Saint Realm, in the eyes of a Sword Cultivator, Realm did not represent everything; the strong existed to be challenged.

His face was expressionless, but within those eyes, a fire burned—the fire of a Sword Cultivator, an unyielding fire.

"Ning Caihe, a Disciple of the Hehuan Sect." His voice was soft, yet as clear as a sword's chime. "Today, I am willing to fight to the death for the Sect."

"While the sword remains, I remain; if the sword perishes, I perish."

Qingyan also walked out from the crowd and stood behind Xu Ruyu.

Her small face was pale, and she bit her lip until it bled, but there was no fear in her eyes.

She pulled out the pair of Butterfly Short Blades from her sleeve; Xu Ruyu had given them to her, and she had always been reluctant to use them.

Now, she gripped the short blades tightly, their surfaces shimmering with a faint blue light.

"Brother Sect Master," her voice was very soft but firm, with a hint of trembling, "Qingyan is not afraid."

"Qingyan will stay with you."

"Although Qingyan has no real skills, I can block a blade for you."

"Whoever wants to hurt you must step over Qingyan first."

Xiao Nianyin stood behind Xu Ruyu, watching these Disciples, an indescribable emotion surging in her heart.

These people were once ants she looked down upon, trash she dismissed with disdain.

Their cultivation was low, their Aptitude mediocre, and they struggled to survive at the lowest level of the Cultivation World.

But at this moment, they stood together, facing enemies several times stronger than themselves, and not a single one retreated.

She suddenly remembered the time when she was in charge of the Hehuan Sect.

At that time, the Hehuan Sect had many Disciples and numerous experts, but there had never been a scene like this.

Back then, the Disciples intrigued against each other, fought for power and profit, and each had their own hidden agendas.

No one was ever willing to die for the Sect.

Yet now, these people she once looked down upon were willing to go to their deaths for the Hehuan Sect.

She lowered her head and gave a bitter smile.

It turned out she never truly understood what the Hehuan Sect was, what a Sect was, or what a Disciple was.

She only knew about Cultivation, power, and being high and mighty.

Whereas Xu Ruyu, the youth she had regarded as an ant, had managed to make these Disciples willing to die for him in just a few short months.

She looked up at Xu Ruyu's back.

That back was still upright and composed, as if he were facing a test rather than a desperate situation.

A thought suddenly surged in her mind—perhaps he really did have a way? Perhaps he had been waiting for this moment? Perhaps what he needed was the determination of these Disciples?

She didn't know.

But she knew that from this moment on, she was no longer that high-and-mighty Saint Realm Sect Master.

She was a member of the Hehuan Sect, one of those willing to die for the Sect.

Her hands tightened slightly.

The Saint Realm Power within her, which had been suppressed for a long time, was surging.

She could strike at any time.

But she held back because she believed in Xu Ruyu.

Xu Ruyu turned around and looked at these Disciples.

He looked at Zhou Daniu's swollen face, Li Ergou's trembling legs, Zhao Tiezhu's bleeding hand, the tear stains on Sun Xiaohua's face, Zhou Xiaolian's pale-bitten lips, the young female Disciple holding a rock, the Grand Elder's hunched but straight back, the short sword in Hua Xunhuan's hand, Granny Liu's cane lying on the ground, the chill surrounding Leng Ningshuang, the flames on Zhao Yan, the sword in Ning Caihe's hand, and Qingyan's pale face.

His eyes turned slightly red.

But he did not cry.

He was the Sect Master; he could not cry.

He took a deep breath, his voice somewhat raspy but firm: "Good. Good.

I, Xu Ruyu, having Disciples like you, can die without regrets."

His gaze swept over everyone as he said word by word: "But today, I, Xu Ruyu, will not let you die here.

I promised you that I would lead you to rebuild the Hehuan Sect.

I promised you that I would make it so you are no longer bullied.

I promised you that I would make the name of the Hehuan Sect echo throughout the Cultivation World.

I, Xu Ruyu, am a man of my word."

He turned around to face Situ E and Zhao Qian, his gaze as calm as water, but deep within his eyes, a fire burned.

That fire was called unyieldingness, responsibility, and protection.

He cannot die.

These Disciples cannot die either.

He had to find a way to send them away.

Even if he could only send away half, or a hundred, or just a few dozen—as long as the sparks of the Hehuan Sect were preserved, there was still hope.