76 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

However, the hope of completing this mission peacefully quickly shattered as alarm flares lit up along the frontline, signaling that intense fighting had erupted there. The shadow of war loomed overhead, gripping everyone's hearts with apprehension. "Master of the sect! They're approaching! Several Qi Condensation cultivators, along with a dozen or more mortals trained in martial arts!" He Yu, who was patrolling the front, descended swiftly with urgency in his voice. All eyes fell on Master Qi Xiu. "What should be our course of action? Instructions, Brother Master!" Zhang Shishi's tone betrayed a hint of anxiety. "No need for deliberation. We've committed to this task—let’s prepare for battle!" Qi Xiu's decision was immediate and resolute, leaving no room for doubt. Bai Muhuan quickly exhibited his decisive and efficient nature, "He Yu! Since you noticed them, they likely spotted you too. Feign a retreat, withdraw to a certain distance, and send another alarm flare. Once the battle begins here, circle back to take out their strongest fighter. If unsuccessful, retreat instantly and seek another opportunity! The rest of you, hide within the illusion array. Once they get close, attack with full force on my command—seize the initiative!" He Yu obeyed and flew back. As he ignited the alarm flare from afar, 25 figures came into the view of the Chu Qin Sect members. Eighteen mortal warriors advanced using light-footed martial arts, closely following seven Qi Condensation cultists who flew low, their faces dusty, each bearing wounds. "Get ready! Brother Zhang, use the pagoda to attack those mortal warriors. Brother Yu, target the woman in purple on the right..." Bai Muhuan arranged the strategies under his breath. The intruders, too focused on their path and frequently glancing back in fear, failed to notice the Chu Qin cultivators hidden within the illusionary slope. "Isn't that Si Wenyu?" Yu Denuo exclaimed in a quiet shock. Qi Xiu also recognized the leading figure, "Didn't expect him to show up. Fate truly brings foes together. Perfect timing to settle this old score." "Strike!" With Bai Muhuan's sharp command, the Chu Qin Sect members wasted no time, launching all sorts of magical tools and talismans from their hidden array. This sudden and formidable assault caught the group traversing the nameless valley off guard, felling over ten men instantly. Specifically, the late-stage Qi Condensation female cultivator in purple was struck by Yu Denuo’s jujube nail, her head splitting like a watermelon, dying a horrific death. "Continue the assault! Hold nothing back!" Under Bai Muhuan's direction, the second wave of attacks ensued, claiming several more lives. With only a handful of their numbers left, the outcome of the battle was clear. In panic, Si Wenyu burst upwards, abandoning his comrades to flee, but He Yu returned just in time. With a flash of his Water-Embodying Sword, he forced Si Wenyu back. "Aren’t you He from Chu Qin Sect..." Si Wenyu gasped, recognizing He Yu from a previous arena match which he had watched, though neither had directly encountered each other. Two masochists from the mountain sect barely survived the blitz attack and scrambled to erect their defenses, furiously channeling their spiritual energy to hold out. The remaining mortal warriors launched a desperate charge at the source of the assault, but lacking the sight to perceive even a rudimentary illusion array, they perished outside the Pseudo Four Symbols Array like moths to a flame. Despite the upper hand, the Chu Qin members' faces were pallid, burdened by the harvest of lives taken by their hands, devoid of exhilaration. "Ah!" Si Wenyu howled in despair, hunted by He Yu, unable to escape or retaliate. "Chu Qin Sect dogs! I’ll take you all down with me!" With bloodshot eyes, Si Wenyu ignored the flying sword and threw himself headlong toward the illusion array. "Brother Zhang! Shield up!" Despite the decided victory, Bai Muhuan remained composed and commanded Zhang Shishi, who quickly swapped his Dao Earth Tower for the Heavy Earth Shield to intercept. "Ha, ha, ha! Let’s perish together!" Seeing no chance of survival left, Si Wenyu steeled his resolve for death, descending into madness. His skin ruptured, blood and flesh seemingly turning to molten lava. Uncontrolled fire elemental energy surged from within him, reminiscent of Hao Hu's frightful Five Tigers Strike. "Not good! He's going to self-destruct! Brace yourselves with everything you have!" Alarmed and unable to remain calm any longer, Bai Muhuan shouted. "Hah!" Zhang Shishi poured all his spiritual energy into the heavy shield, which expanded to meet the suicidal charge of Si Wenyu. Qi Xiu's black wind and Yu Denuo's gold sword also converged upon him. Si Wenyu, beyond reason, exhibited no response to the attacks hitting his body. In his last moments, he emitted unconscious croaks before crashing into the Heavy Shield and self-destructing, unleashing a devastating blast comparable to the might of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. "Boom!" The nameless valley bore explosive echoes of mountains collapsing and earth shattering. The illusion array and shield both disintegrated. Chu Qin members were blasted far apart, unable to regroup. Most lay motionless on the ground, their fates uncertain. Scorching heatwaves and fire’s explosive force left the hill scorched and barren. He Yu, standing beyond the array, witnessed the devastation. Filled with rage, his eyes turned crimson, ready to rush in aid when two surviving mountain sect warriors blocked his path, forcing him to gather his focus for battle. Qi Xiu, equipped with the Automatic Soul Insight, remained one of the few conscious, maintaining excellent control over himself. Naked after his clothes burned off, he grabbed a spare robe from his storage bag, donned it, and hastened to aid his fallen disciples. A Life-Healing Talisman was cast onto Bai Muhuan, awakening her with a pained cry, clutching her bleeding abdomen. Once conscious, she reproached herself, "I erred! Keeping everyone together without anticipating this..." "Cough, you..." Qi Xiu handed her several pills and a robe, subtly gesturing. "Ah!" Bai Muhuan, realizing her own nakedness, shrieked in embarrassment and turned away, hurriedly covering herself with the robe. "Hold on, brothers! We're on our way!" As Qi Xiu prepared to assist others, a furious shout reached his ears like a bolt of lightning. Turning, he saw two mountain sect cultivators leading over a dozen bowmen rushing towards them. "Why are there still more..." Bitterness flooded Qi Xiu’s mouth as he realized their reinforcements hadn’t arrived, yet the mountain sect’s had. With things as they were, the only path was to fight to the end. His trusty Black Wind Banner had been destroyed in the explosion, so he focused on casting Life-Healing Talismans over his fallen comrades and then unleashed his cherished Linglong Tower against one of the cultivators. Bai Muhuan, now dressed, countered with a small eight-sided hammer against the other inventor. Driven by urgency, their opponents unleashed a barrage of magical tools and talismans, while the bowmen released a rain of arrows toward the two. Qi Xiu and Bai Muhuan, left with no choice, raised elemental shields to repel the heavy arrows. Fortunately, the reinforcements were all low-tier Qi Condensation cultivators. With the aid of the bowmen, they barely managed to reach a stalemate with Qi Xiu and Bai Muhuan at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, creating an impasse.