This sudden turn of events startled even Li Yuanyuan, who had only just stopped crying.
Clutching Chen Changqing's sleeve, she poked out her little head and looked in confusion at the two big brothers kneeling on the ground.
Chen Changqing's brows drew together slightly.
He helped Li Yuanyuan to her feet, his gaze falling upon the two disciples on the ground.
"Get up and speak."
His tone was calm, betraying neither joy nor anger.
Yet the two disciples seemed to have seized their final lifeline. Not only did they not rise, they knocked their heads against the ground even harder.
"If Senior does not agree, the two of us will remain kneeling here!"
"The thousands of lives in Flying Cloud Sect now rest entirely on a single thought from Senior!"
Chen Changqing did not urge them again.
He looked at one of them.
"What happened to Flying Cloud Sect?"
The disciple raised his head, his face streaked with tears and despair.
"Reporting to Senior... three days ago, while our Sect Master was in seclusion attempting to break through a bottleneck, he unfortunately... unfortunately suffered a cultivation deviation and perished, his Dao fading away!"
As he spoke, his voice choked up, filled with immense grief.
"Somehow, news of the Sect Master's fall leaked out. Blackwood Sect, which has borne a century-long grudge against our sect, took the chance to attack!"
"Blackwood Sect's Sect Master, True Person Mu, broke through to the mid-stage True Monarch Realm only half a month ago. He personally led men to besiege Flying Cloud Sect's Mountain Gate!"
The other disciple added through sobs.
"Our Mountain Protection Array is nearly unable to hold under True Person Mu's attacks!"
"Elder Zhao... Elder Zhao is leading all the elders and disciples in a desperate defense of the Mountain Gate. I