Forced Mission

Forced Mission

After Zheng Hai finished speaking, the indignation on his face turned to helplessness.

As a member of the Mystic Pill Sect, he possessed a sense of sect honor. But with his strength, let alone interfering, he would not even qualify to make up the numbers.

Han Yi, standing beside him, seemed lost in thought.

"Going by what you said, the Blood God Sect is clearly picking a fight on purpose."

"What I do not understand is why."

Zheng Hai was puzzled. "Why what?"

"Why had the Blood God Sect not deliberately caused trouble before this, only to suddenly launch an attack more than a month ago?"

"There must be some special reason behind it."

Han Yi's eyes kept shifting as he pondered the reason, but with the information he currently possessed, it was clearly not enough to piece together the truth.

After thinking for a while, he could only let it go.

The sect would naturally have its own considerations in a matter this significant.

Besides, his strength was meager. Even if he knew, what could he do?

"How about we go ask Senior Guan?" Zheng Hai suddenly suggested.

Han Yi shook his head. "No need. From what you have said, the friction between the Mystic Pill Sect and the Blood God Sect is indeed severe and has already been brought into the open. I doubt Inner Peak disciples would necessarily know more than you do, so why make the extra trip?"

"Alright, then forget it."

After that, the two fell silent for a moment before leaving the Drunken Immortal Pavilion together.

Before they parted ways, Zheng Hai asked, "Han Yi, do you think the friction between the Blood God Sect and the Mystic Pill Sect might develop into a full-scale war? By full-scale war, I mean a Sect War."

As he asked this question, a trace of fear flashed across Zheng Hai's face.

Han Yi's expression likewise turned grave.

There was a specialized term in the cultivation world: Sect War. It referred to an all-out war between sects, with both sides committing every resource they had to slaughter one another. In the end, only one sect could survive, while the other would be exterminated.

That was a Sect War.

Han Yi had consulted related records before. Other than the Immortal-Demon War, Sect Wars were the most brutal wars in the cultivation world.

Hearing Zheng Hai's question, Han Yi shook his head.

He refused to believe that after transmigrating, he would encounter the two most brutal kinds of war in the cultivation world.

He could not possibly be that unlucky.

Moreover.

Most importantly, the Immortal-Demon War had only ended recently. The Great Qian Immortal Kingdom had not yet fully recovered from its wounds, so it could not possibly permit a Sect War to break out within its borders.

Especially since both the Mystic Pill Sect and the Blood God Sect were Golden Core-level sects. Within the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, their strength was second only to one kingdom, two sacred lands, and the Three Great Sects.

The cultivation world was vast, with Nine Prefectures in all, while the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom occupied only the Qian-Shu Two Prefectures.

Beyond Great Qian stood the even more powerful Great Qin Immortal Kingdom, which occupied four prefectures. Great Qin watched Great Qian like a tiger eyeing its prey; if Great Qian showed any sign of internal turmoil, Great Qin would absolutely give it a shove while it was down.

For that reason, Han Yi believed that no matter how fiercely the two sects fought, it would not develop into a Sect War.

Yet he was also worried.

From Zheng Hai's description, even if it was not a Sect War, the Blood God Sect had come this time with great force. They had clearly made thorough preparations and intended to tear a chunk of flesh from the Mystic Pill Sect's mouth.

For the Mystic Pill Sect, they either had to fight with everything they had—throw one punch to open the way and spare themselves a hundred more. Even if they ultimately lost, they had to show their ferocity. Otherwise, once the Blood God Sect left, a Blood Demon Sect might come next, and sooner or later the sect would collapse.

On the way back to Little Spirit Void Peak, Han Yi suddenly recalled the situation on Earth in his previous life and could not help shaking his head.

The current situation in the cultivation world was strikingly similar to the standoff between nations on Earth in his previous life.

Of course, such worries were not yet his concern.

He shook his head, returned to his courtyard, and continued cultivating.

Now that he had finally figured out what was happening, the worries in his heart remained, but he was not going down the mountain. And judging from the overall situation, the Blood God Sect could not possibly attack the Mystic Pill Mountain Range.

For the time being, he was still safe.

So he would keep cultivating and keep grinding proficiency.

If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up.

However.

Han Yi's calculations ultimately came to nothing.

Ten days later, Li Heng, the Peak Master of Little Spirit Void Peak, came to his door and tossed him a compulsory sect mission.

"Accompany the team to garrison Heavenfall City?"

Han Yi was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and hurriedly asked, "Why me?"

There had to be a reason for everything.

Li Heng's face was expressionless. "An Inner Peak elder personally named you. More than a dozen people from Little Spirit Void Peak are on the list, including you."

"Do you remember four years ago, when the sect recruited disciples to go to the Demon Cave, but you ultimately did not go?"

"My guess is that this may be related to that matter."

Han Yi was dumbfounded.

He had thought the matter was over. He had not expected it to be dredged up again. It was far beyond his expectations.

"Senior Li, where is Heavenfall City?" he hurriedly asked again.

Li Heng answered, "Heavenfall City is in Taibai Commandery."

"Taibai Commandery? Could this mission be related to the Blood God Sect?" Han Yi's expression shifted slightly.

Li Heng revealed a surprised expression.

"Oh, since you already know, there is no need for me to say more."

"In three days, gather at Overseas Peak and depart with the team. Just obey the arrangements."

"This trip is dangerous, but the sect's rewards will be generous as well. Moreover, defending the sect is the duty of cultivators like us. There is no need for me to say more."

As Han Yi's expression changed, he asked one final question.

"Senior Li, this is not going to be a Sect War, is it?"

Han Yi looked terrible. If it truly was a Sect War, he would have far more to consider.

Hearing this, Li Heng shook his head. "It has not reached that point. This is merely our sect's normal counterattack."

"Do not overthink it. I can guarantee that a full-scale Sect War absolutely will not break out."

After saying that, Li Heng turned and left, leaving Han Yi standing at the doorway with an ever-changing expression.

In the end, it became a long sigh. After the sigh, one word burst from his mouth.

"Fuck!!!"

After closing the courtyard gate and returning to the Meditation Chamber, his head suddenly felt a little heavy, so he vigorously shook it.

Then he drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. During that inhale and exhale, he emptied all thoughts from his mind.

Then he gave a bitter smile.

"Is this really necessary? It has been four years, and they are still refusing to let me go."

After the bitter smile, he gritted his teeth. "When I advance to Golden Core someday, if I find out which Inner Peak elder has been targeting me all this time, I will make him pay."

"Forget it. It is a compulsory sect mission. There is no way to avoid it unless I flee and become a Rogue Cultivator—and even then, I would be hunted by the Mystic Pill Sect."

The Mystic Pill Sect did have compulsory sect missions.

Such compulsory missions were generally issued in times of emergency, and everyone had to obey. If one defied them without a legitimate reason, the light punishment was having one's cultivation abolished and being expelled from the mountain; the heavy punishment was being charged with treason against the sect.

Han Yi had never imagined that one day he would receive such a mission.

"For now, all I can do is depart with the team."

"Three days. Only three days. Good thing I bought the Shadowless Sword earlier, or three days might not even have been enough to prepare."

"Next, I need to buy some Combat Talismans."

"Besides that, I should see whether I can buy a set of Defensive Robes."

Han Yi calculated the preparations he needed to make next.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, when he arrived at Red Sun Market, he was startled by the sea of people.

He almost suspected that all the Inner Peak disciples had gathered here.

After much difficulty, he squeezed into the Nine Dragon Shop and found Manager He, with whom he had traded three times. He stated his needs, only to find Manager He looking equally helpless.

"They are gone. You came too late."

"The sect's robes, even those at the level of Low-grade Magic Artifacts, have all been bought out at inflated prices."

"News has already spread that the Mystic Pill Sect is about to go to war with the Blood God Sect on all fronts. Many Inner Peak disciples are scrambling to buy magic artifacts, talismans, pills, and the like."

"Oh, fellow cultivator, if you have any pills to sell, I will buy them immediately—and at a twenty percent premium over market price. What do you say?"

The elderly Manager He looked eagerly at Han Yi, hoping to acquire more pills from him and make another profit.

Han Yi shook his head.

He truly had no extra pills on him now. He had only kept the amount he needed for himself.

A moment later.

He left Red Sun Market and went to Little Firm Rock Peak to find Zheng Hai, informing him that he would be accompanying the expedition.

Zheng Hai had not expected Han Yi to be forcibly conscripted by the sect. He had no solution either and could only offer his friend his blessings.

"Do not worry. You have always been lucky. Nothing will happen to you."

"A few years ago, when you were assigned to go down the mountain, you transformed and soared. This time, when you go down the mountain, will you not take off directly? When you return to the sect, you will surely be Qi Refining Layer 7 and enter the Inner Peak in one leap."

Han Yi knew Zheng Hai meant well. "I will take those auspicious words."

After bidding Zheng Hai farewell, Han Yi returned to Little Spirit Void Peak.

Two days later.

Overseas Peak.

Han Yi stepped onto the summit on time.

This time, the team was led by three great Golden Core Stage cultivators. Accompanying them were twenty-six Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a thousand Inner and Outer Peak disciples in the middle and late stages of Qi Refining, primarily those at Qi Refining Layer 5 and above. They formed a vast, dark mass.

The force was enormous, in no way weaker than the strength sent to the Demon Cave back then.

With a wave of one Golden Core Stage cultivator's hand, a colossal vessel that blotted out the sky and covered the sun appeared above Overseas Peak. This was the sect's large transportation treasure, the Skyflying Warship.

Next, the three Golden Core Stage cultivators flew onto the warship first, then controlled it to receive the many Qi Refining disciples on the mountaintop.

Han Yi only felt his body grow light as an invisible pulling force acted upon him. Space shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he was already aboard the warship.

The warship rose into the sky, turned into a streak of light, and vanished in an instant.

(End of chapter)