The Sect Faces Trouble

High above the heavens, a flying vessel tore through the void.

A peach blossom insignia was emblazoned on each side of the vessel, exceptionally conspicuous.

On the deck, a white-haired, white-bearded old man stood proudly. Profound Origin Qi spread around him, keeping even the frigid air and clouds at bay. Though they flew ten thousand meters above the ground at tremendous speed, the disciples behind him felt no cold whatsoever.

They could not even feel the slightest chill wind.

"Elder Zhou."

At that moment, an old woman approached from behind and said with a light laugh, "Judging by this area, we are not far from the Moon Embracing Sect."

"Mm."

Elder Zhou nodded slightly, his expression still arrogant. "The mere Moon Embracing Sect has lacked fresh talent for years. It should have long since been struck from the ranks of third-rate sects. It was only because of those five old fellows that the surrounding sects could not press them too hard, allowing them to cling to life until now."

"Yet rather than us seeking trouble with them, they dared to steal our sect's disciples."

"Even if not one among those people could truly enter our sect, the Peach Blossom Sect cannot be humiliated."

"We must teach them a lesson."

"Elder Wu, do you understand?"

"Of course I do." Elder Wu pondered for a moment. "But surely we will not push them too far?"

"Naturally."

Elder Zhou nodded. "Those five old fellows are not easy to deal with. You have only recently entered the Cave Heaven Realm and are even less their match."

"If we intended to erase the Moon Embracing Sect entirely, even if the Peach Blossom Sect mobilized in full, we would have to pay no small price. A cornered beast will still fight. If we leave them no path to survival, they will risk their lives."

"Thus, we have not come to destroy their sect, but to establish our own prestige, and..."

He lowered his voice. "Slap them in the face."

"I see."

Elder Wu suddenly understood. "No wonder the Sect Master had us bring the newly recruited disciples and wait more than a month before making our move."

"It is good that you understand."

Elder Zhou smiled.

"What is the point of old fellows like us fighting to the death?"

"Without a fortuitous encounter, whether it is you and me or those five old fellows, we will remain trapped in the Cave Heaven Realm for the rest of our lives. We can already see the end of the road."

"But a sect's vitality lies in its future, in its inheritance."

"They should have recruited some new talents this year as well. Both sides will have trained for a month; let their successors fight one-on-one, then crush them utterly~"

"It will build our disciples' confidence, making their future cultivation far smoother."

"I have learned much."

Elder Wu finally understood.

"Enough. Increase our speed."

"Yes!"

The flying vessel accelerated further.

But at that moment, the astonished and excited disciples behind them suddenly cried out, "Look, what is that?!"

"It is huge!!!"

"It is a flying vessel too!"

"Wow, there is an eagle carved onto their vessel! Such a huge eagle, and it is golden!"

Elders Zhou and Wu exchanged glances and both frowned. "They are from the Golden Eagle Sect."

"The Golden Eagle Sect is ruthless. Though their strength is roughly equal to our Peach Blossom Sect, their infamy is widespread. Do not provoke them. They are like sticky plasters—utterly irritating."

"Yes, Elders."

Only then did the disciples learn who the other party was.

Their flying vessel turned, intending to avoid them.

Yet a moment later, Elder Wu mused, "The direction they are heading seems to be almost the same as ours."

"Could they be going to the Moon Embracing Sect as well?"

"Perhaps. I heard the Moon Embracing Sect did not merely carve those words along the necessary route to our Peach Blossom Sect."

"Hmph, they are courting death!"

"Do not mind them. We will go our own way."

"..."

They paid the matter no further attention and continued onward.

Before long, they encountered another flying vessel.

"It belongs to the Eight Swords Sect."

"From its direction, they are heading to the Moon Embracing Sect as well?"

"What a coincidence."

"In that case, after today, the Moon Embracing Sect will likely never recover."

"Hehe, that is not a bad thing. The Peach Blossom Sect is closest to the Moon Embracing Sect. If the Moon Embracing Sect falls apart, we can naturally take their mountain gate and territory for ourselves."

"That mountain may be ordinary, but it is still a Spirit Mountain. It can also bolster the prestige of the Peach Blossom Sect!"

The smile on Elder Zhou's face grew increasingly brilliant.

Yet he was certain that neither the Golden Eagle Sect nor the Eight Swords Sect would go for the kill.

Those five old fellows of the Moon Embracing Sect were truly not weak. If they fought desperately, they could at least drag several Cave Heaven Realm cultivators down with them. Why bother?

Before long.

The elders of all three sects discovered that they shared the same destination, and they began speaking through voice transmission.

"Looks like the destination of our three sects is the same."

"Our purpose should be the same as well."

"Heh, the Moon Embracing Sect has shown such disregard for our sects. Naturally, we must teach them a lesson!"

"Today, their disciples recruited this year will surely all descend into Yellow Springs."

"Of course. But the disciples of my Golden Eagle Sect will strike first!"

As they spoke, the Golden Eagle Sect's elder began making arrangements.

The elders of the Peach Blossom Sect and Eight Swords Sect frowned, but neither immediately objected.

It was not that they feared the Golden Eagle Sect. Rather, the Golden Eagle Sect was shameless as hell, like a sticky plaster.

The King of Hell was easy to deal with; the little devils were hard to handle.

Fang Kun and Zuo Qingqing were sitting cross-legged at the mountain gate, cultivating.

They had only broken through last night and still needed to consolidate their cultivation. Since no one came during the day, there was naturally no need for them to stare wide-eyed at each other at all times. Being disciples who opened and shut the gate would not delay their cultivation.

But suddenly, an astonishing pressure descended from the sky. Their bodies trembled, and they nearly fell headfirst to the ground. They abruptly opened their eyes, gritted their teeth, and rose to their feet.

"Who goes there?!"

"Th-that, what is that?"

The next second, they saw the three ferocious flying vessels and their expressions changed drastically.

Inside Moon Embracing Palace.

Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes. "This feeling..."

"Such powerful pressure, and they are not concealing it in the slightest. Have enemies come calling?"

"Wasn't it supposed to be one minor crisis a year? It has only been a month, and a crisis has already arrived?"

Lin Fan's scalp tingled. I wonder if we can withstand this.

He hurriedly took a deep breath and strode out.

At the same time, everyone on the mountain felt that pressure. They rushed out of their cultivation grounds and immediately spotted the three flying vessels tearing through the void toward them, their expressions shifting slightly.

"People from the Peach Blossom Sect, Eight Swords Sect, and Golden Eagle Sect!"

Wu Xingyun, the Second Elder on duty today, wore a grim expression. "They dare invade our mountain gate? How bold!"

With a flash, she sped toward them.

Xiao Ling'er withdrew from her cultivation, her beautiful little face taut.

"Could they have come after me?"

"No." An aged voice surfaced in her heart. "They are from several small sects nearby. If I am not mistaken, they have come to retaliate over what the Moon Embracing Sect did before."

Xiao Ling'er immediately understood. "Those words carved along the necessary routes to their sects?"

"Most likely."

The aged voice spoke again. "Ling'er, do you regret it?"

Xiao Ling'er clenched her teeth and shook her head. "I do not regret it in the slightest!"

"Master, the elders, and my fellow disciples have all treated me sincerely. They have not wronged me in the least. Whatever I need, they do their utmost to obtain for me."

"Even the Earth Core Demonic Fire, the sect's greatest treasure—when I said I wanted it, Master gave it to me without even batting an eye."

"Where else could I find such a sect?"

"If I had gone to the Peach Blossom Sect, would they have treated me this way?"

"Hmph."

She snorted coldly. "The sect faces trouble today. I must do my part as well!"

She rose to her feet and sprinted wildly down the mountain.