Translator: CinderTL
Li Chunjun and Jiang Yuxue, along with others, had just flown out of the Taixu Sword Sect when Bai Lian, You Long, and Jiang Yuqiu swiftly followed on their swords.
However, as they were about to chase beyond the sect's gates, a message arrived.
At that moment, the three had no choice but to return to the main administrative peak.
Jiang Yuqiu, in particular, urgently asked, "Why has the sect leader summoned us back? Almost all the sects have reached a consensus to eliminate Sword Prodigy Chunjun before he fully matures into the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. Now that he has suddenly left the Taixu Sword Sect... isn't this just handing the Chiyang Sword Sect an opportunity to encircle and kill him?"
Huan Ming glanced at her but remained silent, while Lei Yuan expressed his dissatisfaction, "You also know that Sword Prodigy Li is vulnerable to being surrounded and killed by the Chiyang Sword Sect's experts at this time. So why haven't you taught him better and kept him safely within the sect?"
"You..."
Jiang Yuqiu was about to retort when Huan Ming waved his hand, "Enough. I think everyone here understands that Sword Prodigy Li... he has his own ideas. He is not the type to quietly stay within the sect and focus on secluded cultivation. There's no need to bring up Peak Lord Lei's words again."
"But we can't just let him lead people to the frontlines like this..."
Lei Yuan frowned as he spoke.
Before he could finish, a voice interrupted, "This is my decision."
"Peak Lord Qi?"
All eyes turned to him.
Qi Qian Yu.
The top expert of the Taixu Sword Sect.
A master who wielded a Spirit Treasure and had achieved great mastery in Sword Intent.
His Essence Qi had long been perfected, reaching the stage of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. He was ready to condense his Primordial Spirit and step into the Nascent Soul realm at any moment.
However, the cultivation of the Nascent Soul realm was entirely different from Core Formation and Nascent Soul.
At the moment the Primordial Spirit condensed, its unique energy structure would interact with the external world, triggering a thunderstorm.
Only by surviving the thunder tribulation could one truly enter the Nascent Soul realm.
And with each subsequent tribulation, the Primordial Spirit would become more refined.
After nine tribulations, the Primordial Spirit would reach its peak, allowing one to refine the spirit and return to the void, transcending the world and striving for the Void Refining realm!
Qi Qian Yu was ready to condense his Primordial Spirit at any time, but due to his lack of confidence in surviving the thunder tribulation, he remained at the Nascent Soul stage.
This peak lord usually spent his time in secluded cultivation, honing his Qi.
His sudden appearance now...
"Peak Lord Qi, what is this..."
The others were puzzled.
"You are worried that our Sword Prodigy Chunjun might face danger when he goes to the Chiyang Sword Sect. Ultimately, it's because you feel that Sword Prodigy Li's cultivation level is still lacking. But is he really weak?"
Qi Qian Yu smiled.
"Of course not."
Bai Lian said, "Based on his achievements from a few months ago, even if he hasn't reached the level of a true disciple, he must be close. Especially according to Peak Lord Jiang's words a few days ago, he has already achieved True Core. Once True Core is formed, his combat power will naturally advance further, leaving no doubt about his true disciple strength. In fact, compared to ordinary true disciples, he might even be slightly superior, standing out among the true disciples. But..."
He shook his head, "Once the Chiyang Sword Sect detects Sword Prodigy Li's presence, they will never choose to fight him one-on-one. Instead, several, or even dozens of Core Formation experts will swarm him. No matter how strong Sword Prodigy Li is, he cannot withstand the siege of ten or even dozens of Core Formation experts." Whether he can withstand the siege of ten or dozens of Core Formation experts.".. let's not discuss that for now."
Qi Qian Yu spoke with a calm expression, "The key point is, when did our Taixu Sword Sect ever allow our disciples to face dozens of Core Formation experts alone?"
"Peak Master Qi, you may not be aware, but recently, due to the influence of Sword Prodigy Li, the Chiyang Sword Sect has grown closer to the Zhou Tian Sect, Piao Miao Sect, Xian Tian Sect, and Wu Ji Sect. If we were to enter Chiyang Sword Sect's territory in full force, the bordering regions of the other sects would inevitably increase their defenses, forcing us to deploy forces to confront them."
Lei Yuan sighed, "We don't want this either, but facing five sects, including the Wu Ji Sect, which is not far behind us, we are indeed short on manpower and stretched thin."
When they first descended upon Blue Star, to ensure fairness, the nine major sects each brought around four hundred Core Formation experts.
In the battles against the Divine Race Believers and the covert struggles among the nine sects, each sect suffered losses, but none reached triple digits.
Thus, the number of Core Formation experts in each sect remained relatively balanced, ranging from three hundred to three hundred and fifty.
Of course, over the past thirty years, some Qi Refining cultivators who followed them and disciples recruited from Blue Star itself have broken through to the Core Formation Realm. But in such a short time, how many new Core Formation experts could there be?
Under these circumstances, even though the Taixu Sword Sect's Core Formation experts are skilled in combat and their numbers exceed four hundred, they still cannot simultaneously confront five major sects.
"The Xian Tian Sect, Piao Miao Sect, Wu Ji Sect, Zhou Tian Sect, and Chiyang Sword Sect have never been a united front. Ultimately, you haven't shifted your mindset and haven't grasped the priorities."
Qi Qian Yu spoke eloquently, "Take the Wu Ji Sect, for example. The reason they are so confrontational with us is that they are the second most powerful force in this realm, second only to our Taixu Sword Sect. Our conflict is essentially a struggle for future dominance over Blue Star."
He paused, then continued, "As for the Xian Tian Sect, Piao Miao Sect, and Zhou Tian Sect, they are acting out of self-preservation, fearing that if one falls, the others will follow. As long as we make them understand the stakes and offer them some security, they will naturally make the right choice."
"Peak Master Qi, are you suggesting... we first divide them, then defeat them one by one?"
Bai Lian said, "But they might not fall for it so easily."
"It doesn't matter if they don't fall for it. We just need to make those behind them understand that continuing to oppose our Taixu Sword Sect will ultimately be a losing proposition."
Qi Qian Yu smiled as he spoke.
"The main sect?"
Huan Ming quickly realized something.
"Exactly!"
Qi Qian Yu nodded slightly, "We play the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy card!"
He continued swiftly, "The Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy is a 'Prodigy-level' genius. The higher one's status, the more they understand his significance, especially since our Taixu Sword Sect's Jiang Jianzi returned to the cultivation world and made a name for himself in less than thirty years."
He glanced around the room, "Tell me, if the main sect learns that our Taixu Sword Sect has cultivated a second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, what choice will they make? Continue to oppose him, or offer a favor?" As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of everyone in the room lit up.
A Prodigy-level figure!
As long as they don't die prematurely, the probability of them achieving the Primordial Spirit Realm is very high! In the future...
There was even a possibility of reaching the Void Refining stage! Such an existence, as long as the Taixu Sword Sect was willing to give the other sects a way out, who would be willing to risk the lives of their Core Formation cultivators to fight him to the death? "So, what you really need to do next is to make the people behind them understand that our Taixu Sword Sect has indeed nurtured a second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, and that continuing to oppose us will not end well for them. Then, offer them some small benefits, and they will naturally grit their teeth and agree, henceforth acknowledging our Taixu Sword Sect as their master."
Qi Qian Yu said.
To make the people behind them understand that the Taixu Sword Sect had indeed nurtured a second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
What method could be used? There was no better way than an outstanding performance in a major battle.
"I understand. I will have Zuo Tian take people there immediately, gather manpower, and coordinate with him."
Huan Ming nodded slightly.
"Speed is crucial in warfare. If we are fast enough, the other sects may not have time to react and send reinforcements."
You Long reminded.
"I will go to the East Province to prevent any unruly behavior from the Chiyang Sword Sect."
Jiang Yuqiu said.
"The consequences of breaking the rules are too severe, essentially giving us a reason to directly expel them from the Blue Star Minor Realm. However... considering there are still remnants of the Evil God's Believers, it is indeed foolproof for Peak Lord Jiang to go and oversee things."
Huan Ming nodded.
Although the previous attack on Li Chunjun in the Mirror Divine Kingdom pointed to the Wu Ji Sect, who could guarantee that the Chiyang Sword Sect did not have such methods?
Orders were quickly issued.
In an instant, the entire Taixu Sword Sect sprang into action.
Many Core Formation cultivators, including true disciples like Zuo Tian and Wang Shuo, received orders to lead their forces into the Great Shang Dynasty, ensuring that the Chiyang Sword Sect could not gather more than a dozen Core Formation cultivators, thereby safeguarding Li Chunjun's upcoming actions.
At the same time, Huan Ming, in the name of the sect leader, sternly condemned the Chiyang Sword Sect for their despicable act of threatening the parents of their Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, and declared that the Taixu Sword Sect would retaliate to the end.
With this news, the Taixu Sword Sect had a justified cause.
Even if other sects wanted to step out as mediators and take sides, they would have to consider the public opinion impact of doing so.
In this way, it indirectly alleviated some of the Taixu Sword Sect's multi-front pressure.
...
The Taixu Sword Sect's decision quickly reached Li Chunjun through Jiang Yuxue.
Seeing the Taixu Sword Sect make such a decisive move, his emotions did not fluctuate much.
Whether the Taixu Sword Sect cooperated with him or not, it would not affect his determination to delve into the Chiyang Sword Sect and wreak havoc.
Not long ago, he had handed over the Four Symbols Heaven Sealing Gate, a Mystic Treasure, to the Taixu Sword Sect in exchange for Minor Teleportation Talismans.
Of course, even though the Four Symbols Heaven Sealing Gate was a Mystic Treasure, its value still could not compare to the Minor Teleportation Talismans. However, in the end, his exchange request was approved.
Thus, he now had as many as three Minor Teleportation Talismans on him, allowing him to retreat calmly even if attacked by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
This was also the confidence he had to dare to venture alone into the Chiyang Sword Sect.
Soon, the sword light carrying Li Chunjun and his party arrived in the East Province and continued unabated into the territory of the Great Shang.
"Sword Prodigy, Jun Zhou and the others have completed their assembly and await your inspection."
Jiang Yuxue said.
"Don't bother with such formalities. Have them follow and enter the territory of the Chiyang Sword Sect to draw attention."
Li Chunjun glanced at the map and said, "Full speed ahead to the first checkpoint!"
"Understood," Jiang Yuxue responded promptly, quickly catching up.
The group ventured deep into the territory of the Chiyang Sword Sect within the Great Shang and soon arrived at a strategic location.
This location, known as the Bishui Cold Pool, contained the profound Biling Mystic Water in its depths, a crucial material for cooling in artifact forging.
However, due to the presence of a fourth-tier formation and its proximity to the front lines, it had now become a resting spot for the Core Formation cultivators of the Chiyang Sword Sect to patrol and take breaks.
According to the intelligence gathered by Yi Feng, there were currently six to eight Core Formation cultivators stationed here.
Before Li Chunjun and his five companions could get within a hundred miles of the Bishui Cold Pool, eight streaks of sword light had already pierced through the sky from the horizon.
Moreover, Li Chunjun's Divine Sense, which extended up to sixty-six miles, had already detected four more streaks of sword light closing in from behind, cutting off their retreat.
Clearly, the intelligence provided by Yi Feng and others was flawed.
The so-called six to eight Core Formation cultivators here turned out to be a trap, neither too big nor too small.
"Sword Prodigy! Eight Core Formation cultivators, two more than expected..." Jiang Yuxue's expression turned grave.
Li Chunjun did not mention the four Core Formation cultivators closing in from behind.
"Circle around, encircle them, and cut off their retreat! Leave the frontal assault to me!"
(End of the Chapter)
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