Sect Master Nie Yingzhi was shocked by the news and hurriedly contacted Lijian Mountain, getting in touch with the East Sea cultivation alliance there.
As it happened, Lijian Mountain had repelled the attacking enemy with great difficulty, and the reinforcements it had dispatched had recovered most of the scattered disciples, allowing them to confirm the matter.
He hurried to the Floating Cloud Platform to report to Li Ling.
"Master, Senior Brother Shu... Senior Brother Shu has fallen!"
"Guangli and Yangshan, true disciples of the Divine Incense Gate, Dai Buning, a true disciple of the Heavenly Incense School, and others were also killed by the demonic path in this battle..."
Li Ling, however, seemed to have expected this. He calmly read the confidential report and replied, "Understood."
Nie Yingzhi said sorrowfully, "Master, my heart feels as though it is being cut by knives. I wish I could have taken his place!"
"Enough!" Li Ling rebuked him. "Did you truly think war was child's play, that no one would die? A dignified sect master, panicking like this-where is your composure?"
Then he added, "Our most urgent task is to summon his heavenly and earthly souls and submit a petition for his investiture.
"Changsheng was, after all, my disciple. The Heavenly Court will give me an answer. The other disciples should receive ranks of their own as well. As for what comes afterward, they will have to seek their own fortunes."
Holding back his grief, Nie Yingzhi said, "Yes, your disciple understands."
Li Ling continued, "In truth, I had already divined the hexagram Preponderance of the Great this time. I suspected the campaign would not go smoothly, but I did not expect this news to arrive so suddenly.
"Yet opportunity also lies within danger. This may not necessarily damage the foundations of our