"It's Elder Qin!"
"Elder Qin has made his move!"
The Eastern Saint Sect disciples, who had been at a disadvantage in the melee, immediately cried out in delighted surprise.
The Heavenly Gate Sect's attack had simply been too sudden and too swift.
The mountain-protecting formation around the sect's perimeter had barely held out before it was breached. Many sect disciples had still been immersed in cultivation and had not reacted at all.
By the time they reacted, the Heavenly Gate Sect cultivators had already stormed into the sect's heartland and engaged them at close quarters. Caught off guard, most sect disciples lost their footing and retreated steadily.
But the sudden intervention of Elder Qin, the Department Elder of the Evil Punishment Office, instantly steadied the sect disciples' morale and resolve.
After all, he was a Gold Core True Person whose strength was second only to the Sect Master's, and outstanding even among Gold Core True Persons. Otherwise, how could the Sect Master have left with such peace of mind?
The Heavenly Gate Sect's side also seemed wary of Elder Qin's earlier strike, and their offensive faltered.
Just then, an illusory figure rose into the air over the outer region.
Clad in a Purple-Sashed Daoist Robe with long, fluttering sleeves, his face kindly, he resembled an old immortal of transcendent bearing as he said with a chuckle:
"Fellow Daoist Qin Heng, I have not come to make an enemy of your esteemed sect. I have merely taken a liking to this treasured land of yours. Might you be willing to part with it?"
A brief silence fell over the sect's core region.
Then Elder Qin's cold voice rang out:
"Jing Kongcheng, so you came yourself!"
Before his words faded, a streak of sword radiance shot out from the sect's core region,