472 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

### Chapter 472: Chai Yi Turns the Tide The Qi Meng Mountain is located to the southwest of Qi Yun, and it is relatively close to the northwest corner of the Southern Chu Gate. Hence, the news of Lianshui Sect being besieged in Qi Yun spread rapidly, reaching Southern Chu Gate even faster than the ever-connected Hei He Market. The Chu family quickly informed Chu Qin of this development. Qi Xiu merely instructed Chu Qin to steadfastly guard their gates and to relay the information to Chai Yi. Most members within the alliance believed that Lianshui Sect was on the brink of collapse, and thought it wise to seize some benefits before it happened. However, Qi Xiu firmly stopped them. Considering Chu Qin's current momentum, it would be unnecessary and risky to act out of greed, disrupting their own progress. Besides, he couldn't be bothered to mobilize. He knew that both Chu Hongshang and Chu Shentong were consistently in secluded cultivation, making use of every moment to practice. As an elder Jindan cultivator concerned about the limitations of his lifespan, he felt like being out in the field was unbecoming. It wasn't long before the news spread to Hei He Market and quickly moved south, spreading like wildfire and shaking Baishan. The first to be hit were the other families loyal to the Lianshui Alliance, who felt as if they had been sold out like fools. Many had relied on Lianshui Sect for thousands of years, having long forgotten any boundaries between them. Now, being slapped awake was akin to the sky falling, pushing the alliance to the brink of collapse. Many cultivators spontaneously gathered to head north into Qi Yun's territory, merely wanting to confront Shui Lingyi face-to-face. Some, quick-witted cowards, immediately realized the hopeless situation for Baishan's north, began gathering their families and disciples in preparation for escape. Lingmu Alliance was somewhat better off, having to contend with Hehuan Sect's military pressure from the south and collaborate with Lingmu to encircle [Danqing Mountain] from the west. With Lianshui Sect's defection to the north, morale shattered, causing large-scale desertions at both fronts. Li Huo City witnessed a countless stream of people fleeing northward. Within days, half of the stores and residences were abandoned, as half the people left. As Hehuan Sect accelerated northward, capturing numerous sect locations along the way, the appearance of Hehuan Sect's advance scouts outside Li Huo City triggered a second wave of panic and exodus. After besieging Danqing Alliance for many years, they naturally knew the fate of the small forces outside Danqing Mountain. Unexpectedly, retribution was swift, and with Li Huo City seemingly still holding its ground, there was no better time to leave. Amidst the despair, there were also those who saw an opportunity to profit amidst the chaos. Leaving aside those within Li Huo and Lingmu Alliances who chose to collude with Hehuan Sect, ensuring agreements of betrayal, a growing number of rogue cultivators and minor factions began to gather around Lianshui City, planning to empty the already chaotic Lianshui City and raid the minimally guarded sect gates. If a major force rose to call upon these individuals, plundering the entire Lianshui territory wasn’t out of the question. This was part of the motivation behind Mo Jianxin and others, especially the four vassal families, proposing Qi Xiu's intervention. Upon receiving the news, Chai Yi rushed to Qifu City, intending to cut off north-south traffic and assemble southern cultivators for resistance. Ironically, this induced chaos in the city, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Though he managed to stabilize the situation, he no longer dared to prohibit northern escapees. He even pulled elite cultivators from the Danqing Mountain encirclement to form a formidable thousand-cultivator military array around Lianshui City, deterring petty thugs and preventing the region from descending into complete anarchy. Subsequently, he requested Chu Qin Alliance to join the coalition, only to be decisively refused. Unyielding, he sought their help in intercepting fleeing cultivators from Lingmu, but Mo Jianxin, following Qi Xiu's directives, tactfully declined. The current influx of low-level cultivators into Si Guo Manor rendered it impossible to secure seats on tier-three flyers or tier-two beast ships heading north of the Death Marsh. This mass migration caused prices for portable goods like spirit stones and flying swords to skyrocket, while cumbersome goods such as spirit ores, formation tools, and mundane sect items were dumped in Qi Fu City, Hei He Market, and Si Guo Manor, driving prices to plummet hourly. Local landlords like Chu Qin Gate were naturally pleased with buying low and selling high, reaping substantial profits. The northern part of Baishan was a tumultuous mess. Since Chu Qin unified the mountain capital, small-scale fugitive groups unseen for years re-emerged, becoming increasingly prevalent the closer one went east or approached Lianshui territory. This chaos unfolded over a mere ten days since the siege on Lianshui Sect. This was the scenario faced by the Water Elemental Wind Shuttle from Lianshui Sect, returning dejectedly to Hei He Market. "It's over, completely over... Both sides are doomed..." When an elderly cultivator of the foundation level saw the mass of lower-level Lianshui Alliance cultivators gathered at the transfer point outside Hei He Market, waiting in a mess to board all sorts of beast ships and flyers, he collapsed onto the ground, breaking into tears. "Bastard! All those years of cultivation gone down the dog's belly!" Shui Lingyi, enraged by this sight, kicked him far away. "Disrupt morale, kill him as a warning!" The old cultivator, paralyzed with fear, begged for his life amidst tears. Seeing this only angered her further, and those who stepped forward to plead for clemency were each scolded harshly by her. The old cultivator belonged to the Shui family's main household, usually well-liked, and in the end, no one was willing to carry out the task. She decided to end him personally, delivering a painless death with a touch to his heart. Moments ago, he was a living comrade, now a cold corpse. Everyone fell silent, casting an eerie pall over the scene. In the midst of this, someone outside Hei He Market spotted Lianshui Sect's flyer. "This flyer comes from the northwest, are they from Lianshui Sect!?" The shout seemed to awaken Hei He Market. A multitude of fleeing cultivators, especially those from the Five Elements Alliance, swarmed up in an uproar, "Shui Lingyi, come out! Explain yourselves!" "Lianshui Sect traitors, come out!" "Don't let these Five Elements Alliance traitors escape!" "Is anyone there, get out here!" "Cowardly turtles, come out!" Thankfully, Hei He Market was under Nangong's control, dissuading anyone from causing a ruckus. There wasn't just one Lianshui Sect flyer either; thus, everyone simply surrounded the berth, venting their frustrations vociferously. Facing an uncertain future and being unable to return home, former elite disciples of Baishan now faced a future of survival as wandering cultivators, scrounging for resources to continue their cultivation. This sentiment was hardly pleasant. As the shouting continued, it turned into a unified chant, echoing across the sky, drawing spectators from Hei He Market and even becoming audible to Chu Qin's guards on the distant Hei He Peak. "Leader, what should we do?" "Yes, make a decision! The scene might turn ugly if we linger here!" "Let's return to Lianshui City! Despite the odds, we still rule over there. They can't eat us alive, can they?" Several Jindan cultivators huddled, offering advice, as Shui Lingyi shook her head. "First, we must understand the situation at home before rushing south. Or aren't we just falling into a trap?" The group exchanged looks, falling into silence. Only now did it occur to them that no messages had arrived from disciples managing the city's properties. "No matter, we're going out!" Shui Lingyi decided firmly. At this stage, she couldn't afford to worry about appearances; gaining a foothold in Hei He Market's evolving situation was paramount. Bearing the immense pressure, she ordered disciples to open the shuttle door, preparing to face the public's disdain and curses. Just then, another flyer approached from the south, emblazoned with the Lingmu Alliance's insignia. Chai Yi hurriedly descended from the flyer, rushing over and announcing with the overwhelming pressure of a late-stage Jindan cultivator, "Do not be anxious, Sect Leader Shui. Everything is negotiable. As long as we unite, there is still hope!" … "Did he really say that?" Days later, in the headquarters of Thoughtful Mountain, Qi Xiu frowned and asked. "Yes, that’s exactly what Chai Yi said. He boarded alone and, with his resolve, persuaded Shui Lingyi to agree to lead the forces back to Lianshui City. He then stood at Hei He Market’s gates day and night, tirelessly advocating and persuading passing cultivators. Remarkably, many were swayed by his appeal, observing that Lianshui Sect neither retreated north nor defected. Believing in hope, they chose to return home and fight. In doing so, the remnants of Lianshui, Lingmu, and Li Huo gathered, drawing back part of their elite from the Danqing frontline, suggesting they might halt Hehuan Sect at Li Huo City's line. The northern situation began to show signs of slow improvement. Although Chai Yi’s handling wasn't perfect, he practically saved the day from imminent downfall, accomplishing nearly everything possible," Mo Jianxin recounted with high praise for Chai Yi's actions. "Tch!" Hearing Mo Jianxin's commendation, Qi Xiu was skeptical. Without clairvoyant abilities to predict the future, no one could foresee everything. Chai Yi's actions during the crisis were impeccable, yet his success only incited suspicion. Particularly questionable was how Chai Yi, amid the chaos north of Baishan, managed to arrive immediately after Lianshui’s flyer reached Hei He Market despite the pressing needs around Lianshui City, the looming threat from Hehuan Sect in the south, and the looming movements of Dan Alliance. Even more puzzling was his foreknowledge of Lianshui Sect's defeat in Qi Yun. "Ha! In matters concerning the Northern Ding Shen Mountain's three associated families, Lu Yunzi arranged to meet me through the Jiang family. Certainly, Jiang Huan had spoken with him, having interrogated me underground in the palace of the Southern Chu City. Given his cautious nature, how could he not inquire into the dealings of the Lingmu Alliance, which holds domain over Northern Ding Shen Mountain? He mentioned he'd lend me a small favor, and perhaps that’s what he meant by facilitating Lianshui Sect’s defeat in the north. To me, it’s a small favor; to the Lingmu Alliance, it’s monumental assistance." "Ah, Sect Leader of Qi Yun, Sect Leader of Qi Yun, one favor can be sold to many families. You've gathered many truths from me; what have you garnered from Chai Yi? It seems I've miscalculated. There are certain individuals who know quite a bit about the Northern Ding Shen Mountain incident!" After mentally sorting through the entire situation, Qi Xiu let out a cold chuckle, "Let them be. No matter which way the wind blows—east, south, west, or north—I shall remain steadfast." "Understood." Seeing Qi Xiu's indifference, Mo Jianxin dismissed the tangled intricacies of the situation and took his leave. Qi Xiu then sealed the door from the inside again, closing his eyes and immersing himself back into the world of rigorous cultivation. (To be continued...) ---