78 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

The searing pain from the burns on his body was relentless, like knives slicing into his skin. Arrows rained down like a relentless drizzle, accompanied by a ceaseless barrage of enemy spells that wore away at his protective shield bit by bit. Unlike the earlier long-range attacks hidden within the magical array, this life-or-death struggle was something Qixiu had never experienced before. Sweat soaked his palms, and his legs trembled in fear and panic. His innate talent, [Clarity of Mind], was completely suppressed by the dread of death, halting its flow. The [Exquisite Tower] was utterly powerless, hitting the opponent's shield with no more effect than a gentle scratch. “Heh heh…” The mountain cultivator, initially at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation, had been bluffing his way through the battle. Seeing that his opponent at the fifth Qi Condensation level couldn't harm him, he laughed sinisterly, sitting cross-legged to focus on maneuvering his magical weapon. He even popped a Qi-replenishing pill into his mouth, attempting to make up for his deficiencies in cultivation. "What should I do..." Qixiu glanced around the battlefield. In the distance, He Yu was engaged in intense combat with two cultivators. The disciples lay unconscious on the ground, and while Bai Muhuan seemed to have the upper hand, she couldn't quickly resolve her fight either. As the battle turned into a prolonged stalemate, he had no choice but to mimic the actions of others, sitting cross-legged and fumbling for a pill from his pouch. "Ugh!" In his panic, he mistakenly grabbed a [Fragrant Job's Tears Pill]. The sweet pill turned into the most awful thing in the world as soon as it touched his tongue, and he quickly spat it out, his heart further thrown into disarray. His cherished disciples lay unknown, whether dead or alive, as various attacks struck his own defensive shield, creating a haunting symphony as if it were an omen of his impending death. Were it not for the sliver of will to survive keeping him grounded, Qixiu feared he would have utterly broken down by now. “It's over! It's over!” Unable to devise any effective strategy or summon the will for a fierce battle, only these thoughts echoed incessantly in his mind, reminiscent of the time when Chu Hongshang furiously attacked Black River Peak, and he thought he would surely die. "Senior Brother Sect Leader, don't lose focus! Take out those archers first!" Bai Muhuan's call was like a lightning strike, jolting Qixiu into awareness. Of course! The [Exquisite Tower] might be ineffective against elemental shields, but those archers were mere mortals, unable to withstand even a single blow! Gaining a measure of resolve, he swiftly performed a hand sign, directing the small tower in midair toward an archer, cracking open his skull. Wasting no time, it careened toward another archer. "That's it!" Bai Muhuan nodded in approval. She was doing the same, enduring the onslaught with her elemental shield while her small mace swiftly harvested the lives of the archers. "Brothers, charge!” Seeing their comrades fall one by one, the remaining mortal archers, driven by a surge of defiance, threw away their bows, drew their waist knives, and charged forward in a reckless bid to fight to the death. Yet, what harm could they do to cultivators with such methods? The [Exquisite Tower] and the small mace spun through the air, turning the scene into a bloodbath with none left alive. “Bastards!” The fallen archers, likely kin to the enemy cultivators, died gruesomely, eliciting a rage that made their eyes bulge with fury as they relentlessly drove their magical assaults. With the arrows no longer an issue, the defensive shield's ominous clangs ceased. Qixiu finally calmed his mind, dedicating himself to enduring with the elemental shield and occasionally replenishing his energy with pills. The combat was once again locked in a stalemate as one defended and the other attacked. In the nameless valley, a gentle breeze slowly began to rise, carrying the metallic stench of blood across the battlefield along with the clang of clashing spells and shouts that echoed ever farther. Time slipped by unnoticed. As the battle of attrition neared its end, Qixiu was nearly at his limit, uncertain of how many times he had replenished the elemental shield, while Bai Muhuan’s situation looked promising, with victory seemingly within grasp. “Worthless scum! Useless trash...” Seeing their spiritual energies nearing depletion, the two mountain cultivators across from them spewed curses non-stop, their voices growing feebler and fainter. “Hah!” Finally, Bai Muhuan delivered a mighty blow, crushing the life out of her enemy with a swift hammer strike. And Qixiu’s opponent's attacks abruptly ceased. The cultivator who faced Qixiu had exhausted his life force, perishing in silence and leaving behind a desiccated corpse, his hand still clenched in a gesture of attack, his face twisted in fury and resentment. "By mere luck!" Qixiu’s own life force had been similarly spent, and as he slipped into unconsciousness, only one thought lingered: If not for his standings as the sect leader, and the neat storage of resources he carried, it might’ve been his corpse laying here instead. ... "Master!" "Senior Brother Sect Leader!" How long had he been unconscious? The earnest cries awoke Qixiu to find Yude Nuo’s tear-streaked face. It was like seeing the most beautiful person on earth, and he managed a faint smile with great effort. "I'm relieved you’re all right. And everyone else, how are they?" Yude Nuo’s expression turned somber. "Master, you need to rest and recover first." "Don’t tell me!?" The look on Yude Nuo’s face made Qixiu’s heart sink as if weighted down, and through agonizing pain, he turned his stiff neck to survey the surroundings. The nameless valley was strewn with dismembered limbs and puddles of blood and flesh. By a noticeable boulder, Zhang Shishi and the others lay about, their bodies covered in blood, chests rising and falling – alive but heavily injured, evident by their unconscious slumber. Laid peacefully atop a rock was a corpse shrouded in a robe, its face covered. The familiar red patterns on the robe were unique to the Chu Qin family. “Who...who is it?” Sorrow crushed him, tears silently streaming as Qixiu realized they didn’t escape the brutal fate of conflict. "It's Huanghe. That dog Swi Yuke blew himself up. Huang stood at the rear of the formation but was unfortunate, struck by a piece of shattered shield..." Qixiu closed his eyes in pain, shaking his head slowly, choosing silence. Huanghe had accompanied him to Black River for over eight years, never complaining and always diligent, even giving up his own cultivation time for He Yu. Yet, such a thoughtful disciple had been neglected, meeting his end here today. Had it not been for Qixiu’s dread of Chu Dour, things might never have reached this tragic point. Seeing Qixiu grieved yet composed, Yude Nuo felt a weight lifted. He took Qixiu’s storage pouch, extracted some healing pills, and went to tend to Zhang Shishi and the others. Silence reclaimed the nameless valley, though the thick scent of blood lingered heavily in the air. As night fell, the mountain winds grew stronger. Despite being cloaked in the nurturing warmth of the Chu Qin Daoist robes, Qixiu shivered with a chill that permeated his bones. From the time the signal flare was fired, there was still no sign of Zhao Liangde or any nearby cultivators. Such isolation gnawed at his heart. Zhang Shishi and others gradually awoke, learning of Huanghe’s death brought them immense sorrow. They wept over his body, their cries tearing through Qixiu's heart, a pain akin to having bones scraped. "The Chu Qin Sect was exterminated in the past, yet not a single life was lost. But this time..." Zhang Shishi, who was nearest to Swi Yuke during the explosion, had both arms obliterated. Fortunately, Qixiu had a second-order [Regrowth Talisman], supplemented by [Bone Reforging Balm], allowing for his slow recovery. Despite the excruciating pain, he steeled himself, sitting beside Qixiu and speaking with a cold tone. Qixiu understood his resentment, for agreeing to Zhao Liangde’s request had led to this outcome. Yet, the matter involved Chu Dour and the fate of many in the Chu Qin Sect. He couldn't reveal even a hint of this, despite his heart bleeding from the injustice. He merely turned away, accepting the blame in silent resignation. “Ah…” Zhang Shishi, torn between anger and compassion for Qixiu, returned to check on the others’ injuries. "Why haven't we seen Miss Bai, Junior Brother He, or Junior Brother Gu?" Unable to find the three of them, Zhang Shishi urgently grabbed Yude Nuo for answers. “Junior Brother Gu has yet to appear. Miss Bai and Junior Brother He have gone to search for him.” Though timid and cautious by nature, Yude Nuo had seen countless disputes during his years on Baishan and as a rogue cultivator over the past decade. Unlike Zhang Shishi, he bore no grudge against Qixiu. "Expecting benefits without bearing risks, where in the world does such fortune exist?" Though he disapproved of Zhang Shishi’s attitude towards Qixiu, he refrained from commenting, given his close relationship with Zhan Yuan. “Junior Brother Gu…” Zhang Shishi mumbled to himself. "He's clever. He shouldn't be in any danger, right?"