Li Mofan pressed a hand down and continued in a low, solemn voice.
"The Law Enforcement team investigated the traces at the valley battlefield and confirmed them."
"Just an hour ago, six outer sect disciples went out to train and were surrounded and ambushed by Ghost Fire Sect disciples."
"Fortunately, a passing expert came to their rescue."
"Thanks to that, all six disciples survived and managed to return with the news."
"If that person hadn't intervened, we'd still be completely in the dark."
"We wouldn't even know that the Ghost Fire Sect had dared to openly enter the heart of Azure Cloud territory and hunt down our sect's disciples!"
At those words,
every elder and deacon in the hall was instantly overcome with fury. Each and every one of them was indignant.
An old, white-haired Law Enforcement elder on the right slammed a hand against his chair's armrest and cried out in anger.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
"These remnants of the Devil Dao lay low for a hundred years, and now they're stirring up trouble again!"
"That war between the righteous and demonic factions a hundred years ago clearly didn't scare them enough!"
"We should have wiped out every last remnant of the Ghost Fire Sect back then. Leaving them alive was asking for trouble!"
Another elder from Internal Affairs turned livid and echoed him in a low voice.
"They hid for a hundred years and enjoyed a hundred years of peace."
"Now they've grown bolder and bolder, daring to kill people right at the doorstep of the Azure Cloud Sect!"
"This is no minor skirmish. It's an outright provocation!"
"In my opinion, we should send the Law Enforcement Hall's elite to scour the mountains immediately!"
"Search the entire region! Kill every Ghost Fire Sect member who's infiltrated our territory! Crush their arrogance!"
Everyone in the hall nodded, their hearts burning with anger.
Righteous sects valued their reputation and the lives of their disciples above all else.
Having their disciples slaughtered by the Devil Dao on their own territory was a disgrace.
Li Mofan watched the crowd's outrage, but he didn't relax in the slightest.
His gaze grew more solemn as he spoke, pressing down on the rising clamor.
"Everyone, calm down for now."
"I'm afraid this matter isn't as simple as you think."
The entire hall fell silent at once, and everyone looked toward the sect master in the seat of honor.
Li Mofan drew a deep breath and delivered news that made everyone's hearts sink.
"I just received a message from another province."
"Throughout the neighboring Nether Province, Devil Dao sects have begun launching large-scale attacks."
"Small sects in Nether Province have fallen one after another, their territories lost, and countless disciples killed or wounded."
"The situation in Nether Province has completely collapsed."
"And it's not just Nether Province."
"All seven of the other provinces have reported signs of unrest."
"Recently, Devil Dao sects throughout the land have become several times more active in venturing out, fighting, provoking others, and raiding."
Everyone's pupils contracted. The anger on their faces vanished, replaced by grave expressions.
Li Mofan's gaze swept across them, each word heavy.
"So I have ample reason to suspect..."
"The Ghost Fire Sect's infiltration of Azure Cloud territory and targeted hunt of our disciples..."
"Was no isolated incident."
"This isn't just the Ghost Fire Sect acting on its own."
"It's a sign that the entire Devil Dao of the Nine Provinces is preparing to rise again and return in force!"
His words crashed into everyone's ears like a thunderclap.
The great hall fell deathly silent.
The elders and deacons all turned pale, a chill rising in their hearts.
That war between the righteous and demonic factions a hundred years ago had cast a shadow over every righteous cultivator.
War had swept across the land, and the Nine Provinces had nearly fallen.
Hundreds of sects had been wiped out, and more than a hundred thousand cultivators had died in battle.
The righteous factions had paid a terrible price just to barely suppress the Devil Dao, drive its sects into a corner, and seal them away in the mountains and forests.
They had spent a full hundred years recovering.
And now... was the Devil Dao going to start another war?
An elder of venerable age spoke in a trembling voice.
"Sect Master... could it be... that the war between the righteous and demonic factions from a hundred years ago is about to happen all over again?"
Everyone in the hall held their breath, waiting for an answer.
Li Mofan shook his head slightly, his expression conflicted and his eyes full of worry.
"There's no conclusive evidence yet, so we can't say for certain."
"There are no clear signs of an all-out war for now."
"But all the signs are far too familiar."
"A hundred years in hiding, a hundred years building their strength."
"The Devil Dao is most likely preparing to return in full force."
"Better to believe it's true than risk believing it's not."
He gave his orders in a solemn voice.
"Next, I'll immediately send word to the four great sects of Spirit Province."
"We'll share intelligence and coordinate our defenses."
"I'll also contact the great sects in the other provinces, link up our intelligence, and stand ready to help one another."
"Let's hope I'm worrying over nothing."
When he finished,
the atmosphere in the great hall grew oppressively heavy.
Everyone understood that the sect master was most likely not worrying over nothing.
The chaos of war was probably truly on its way.
After a moment,
Li Mofan composed himself and pushed down his anxiety. His gaze turned sharp and resolute.
With chaos approaching, the rules had to be tightened.
He began issuing the sect's highest orders, one by one.
"First."
"Pass down this order to the entire sect."
"Effective immediately, all outer and inner sect disciples are forbidden from leaving the sect or going down the mountain to train without permission."
"There are only a little over two months left until the sect competition."
"All disciples are to focus on secluded cultivation and consolidate their strength."
Everyone nodded.
The sect competition!
It was Azure Cloud Sect's most important event at the moment.
Li Mofan continued, his expression grave.
"This year's sect competition is no ordinary contest."
"The rankings will directly determine who gets to enter the Magneto Secret Realm."
"The Magneto Secret Realm holds abundant opportunities and rare treasures."
"The spots are precious, and we cannot afford to lose them."
"For now, everyone is to remain in the sect and prepare for the competition!"
"Don't let me hear of anyone else being ambushed or killed for no reason while out of the sect!"
"Losing even one of our rising-generation disciples would be a loss to Azure Cloud Sect!"
"Anyone who leaves without permission will be severely punished and disqualified from the competition!"
Then Li Mofan looked toward the Law Enforcement Hall elders below, his voice murderous.
"Second."
"The Law Enforcement Hall is to mobilize at once!"
"Everyone on standby. Search the entire region!"
"Thoroughly inspect every territory, mountain forest, canyon, and hidden region belonging to Azure Cloud Sect!"
"Any Ghost Fire Sect cultivators hiding, lingering, or spying there are to be purged!"
"Leave no survivors!"
"No Devil Dao scum will be allowed to run wild on Azure Cloud Sect's territory!"
"They dared to hunt down our disciples right under my nose!"
"Since they dared to come, then we'll make sure every last one of them stays!"
The Law Enforcement Hall elder rose and cupped his fists, his voice booming like a bell.
"We will obey the sect master's decree!"
"The Law Enforcement Hall will begin a full sweep immediately!"
The sect master's ban spread through every outer and inner sect residence in the Azure Cloud Sect in an instant.
In barely half an hour,
the entire Azure Cloud Sect was in an uproar.
All the outer sect disciples were stunned.
The ban was simple and absolute: without special permission, no disciple was allowed to leave the mountain, exit the sect, or go out on a mission.
For the sect's hundreds or thousands of low-ranking outer sect disciples, this order had practically cut off their main source of resources.
Outer sect disciples received meager monthly stipends.
The few low-grade spirit stones the sect handed out each month were barely enough for their daily cultivation, let alone enough to save.
If they wanted spirit stones, contribution points, cultivation techniques, pills, or a stronger foundation,
their only way forward was to take sect missions, venture out to train, gather spiritual materials, slay demonic beasts, and patrol the territory.
Missions were the only path by which low-ranking disciples could turn their lives around.
Now, every mission had been stopped outright.
For a time, disciples gathered in groups across the Martial Arenas, along the shaded paths, and everywhere else.
Unease spread, and the rumors flew.
"What's going on? Why has the entire sect suddenly been locked down?"
"If we can't leave the sect, how are we supposed to do missions? Without contribution points, we won't be able to exchange for next month's resources!"
"I still had two missions left to finish. Are they just going to waste now?"
"The sect has never imposed such a strict lockdown. Something major must have happened!"
Most of the low-ranking outer sect disciples were utterly confused and full of questions. All that remained was their anxiety.