This sudden turn of events gave Li Yuanyuan, who had only just stopped crying, quite a fright.
She clutched Chen Changqing's sleeve, poked out her little head, and looked in confusion at the two older brothers kneeling on the ground.
Chen Changqing's brows furrowed 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 flat, with neither joy nor anger audible in it.
Yet the two disciples seemed to have seized their last lifeline. Not only did they refuse to 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 of the Flying Cloud Sect now hang upon a single thought from Senior!"
Chen Changqing did not urge them again.
He looked at one of them.
"What happened to the Flying Cloud Sect?"
The disciple raised his head, his face streaked with tears and despair.
"In reply to Senior... three days ago, while our Sect Master was in seclusion attempting to break through his bottleneck, he unfortunately... unfortunately suffered qi deviation and perished!"
As he said this, his voice choked, filled with immense grief.
"Somehow, news of the Sect Master's death leaked out. The Black Wood Sect, which has held a century-long grudge against our sect, seized the chance to attack!"
"True Person Mu, the Black Wood Sect Master, broke through to the middle stage of the True Lord realm only half a month ago. He personally led men to besiege the gates of our Flying Cloud Sect!"
The other disciple added through sobs.
"Our sect's Mountain Protection Array is nearly unable to hold on under True Person Mu's attacks!"
"Elder Zhao... Elder Zhao led all the elders