Jin Xuan was not in the hall; Jixuan was seated in the main seat.
He wasn't qualified, but since this matter was personally decided by True Lord Jinxuan before his seclusion, all the Nascent Soul in the hall had no choice but to obey.
This past month.
The battles between the Arrayed Mystery Sect and Vast Waves Alliance have resulted in more defeats than victories, and they have already lost a large amount of territory, making the atmosphere tense.
Now, Chen Shuangbai's third army has officially marched into the Zheng Kingdom territory, and not long ago, the Beiku Compassionate Chan Way Master also easily perished at his hands...
This news was like adding insult to injury, leaving no trace of relief on the faces of the cultivators in the hall.
The flickering candlelight inside the hall illuminated everyone's faces.
Just like their feelings at this moment.
Gentlemen,
After a long silence, Jixuan finally spoke.
His voice was muffled, revealing his unease.
He said, "I'm sure everyone is already aware of the current situation."
"The three armies of the Vast Waves Alliance are advancing simultaneously. The one personally led by Chen Shuangbai has already entered Zheng Kingdom's territory and will reach our sect's bottom-line pass in ten days at most."
"The sect leader is currently in seclusion to heal his injuries, striving to return to his peak condition before the final battle."
"Before that, what we need to do is buy as much time as possible to give our senior brother more time to recover."
"Delaying time?"
True Lord Purple Thunder let out a cold snort, his eyes crackling with electricity as he roared, suppressing his anger. "In the past month, although my disciples have devised strategies to cut their losses and survive, they have still suffered heavy casualties."
"Are you still delaying?"
"What can we use to delay? Are we going to send more disciples to their deaths in vain?"
" Purple Thunder!"
True Lord Linyuan frowned slightly and coldly rebuked, "Watch your tone!"
What is my attitude?
Instead of shutting up, Purple Thunder suddenly stood up, his body crackling with purple lightning, looking furious. "In just one month, three of my direct disciples have died, and more than a dozen of my grand-disciples have died... So it's not that your disciples are going to their deaths that you can say this so confidently?"
True Lord Linyuan was taken aback by his retort, and the coldness on his face immediately softened. He hurriedly explained, "Junior brother, that's not what I meant."
Even within the Arrayed Mystery Sect, there is no monolithic entity.
Five Nascent Soul were inside the gate.
True Lord Jinxuan is the only Nascent Soul Late Stage and the sect leader, wielding immense power and influence.
As his direct descendant, True Lord Jixuan was someone he had painstakingly cultivated over hundreds of years to succeed him. For this, he had even violated the sect rules multiple times and misappropriated a considerable amount of spiritual resources within the sect. However, due to Jin Xuan's strength and influence, no one dared to speak out.
Just because no one dares to speak out doesn't mean there aren't opinions behind the scenes.
True Lord Purple Thunder has always opposed the idea of family rule within the sect, and therefore was greatly ostracized by True Lord Jinxuan, and has never had much say in the sect.
Even if he is in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
As for True Lord Linyuan... he is a neutral party member, always slippery and loyal only to the Arrayed Mystery Sect as a whole.
The two deputy leaders of the Compassionate Chan Way are now "living under someone else's roof," so naturally they can't say anything. They can only keep their eyes down and pretend they don't exist.
Jixuan knew that it was highly improper for him to assume the authority of the sect in his place.
But this was bestowed upon him by his ancestor, and he couldn't possibly lose it.
However, since Purple Thunder was of the same generation as his senior, it was naturally inappropriate to break off relations in front of outsiders. So, he rolled his eyes, softened his tone, and said, "Senior Uncle Purple Thunder, it was my fault for speaking without thinking. Please calm down."
"No need."
Purple Thunder, still furious, said, "As long as the acting sect leader stops sending disciples to their deaths in vain... I have nothing more to say."
Jixuan knew in his heart that he still harbored prejudices.
But he wasn't surprised. After a moment's thought, he glanced at everyone present and slowly said, "What I mean is, we should focus all our efforts on tightening our defenses and relying on the large formations set up at several key nodes to resist."
"At the same time, we will send elite squads deep into the Vast Waves Alliance's supply lines to harass them and slow down their march."
True Lord Purple Thunder's expression softened slightly.
He pondered for a few moments, his tone still somewhat cold, and asked, "Of course it should be done that way."
"However, the disparity in strength between the two sides is too great... so it probably won't be of much use."
Only family members know their own affairs.
If it were the Arrayed Mystery Sect at its peak, it might have been able to resist the Heavenly Star Alliance and the Vast Waves Alliance... But now it is in a situation of repeated defeats, and cultivators are individuals who embody great power.
No matter how many low-level cultivators there are, they can only waste the time it takes a high-level cultivator to exhale.
Jixuan seemed to have anticipated their question, so he stood up and said solemnly, "Therefore... I need to activate that thing!"
"That thing?"
When Shijia and Shixi suddenly could no longer hear the Nascent Soul from the Arrayed Mystery Sect speaking, they understood that these people were about to discuss some secret methods that they, as outsiders, could not reveal.
Purple Thunder and Linyuan frowned upon hearing True Lord Jixuan's words.
Linyuan's expression changed drastically, and he said, "This... the sect leader allowed it?"
Jixuan nodded.
The Arrayed Mystery Sect for a thousand years, dominating the fertile northern land of the Zheng Kingdom. It is flanked by several sword sects of the Sword Alliance and the ever-at-fisted Heavenly Star Mystic Sect Xuan Sect. It is impossible for it to have survived to this day with only the Nascent Soul Late Stage True Lord Jinxuan as a mountain-suppressing stone!
Both Purple Thunder and Linyuan had solemn expressions at this moment.
Once that item is activated, it signifies that the Arrayed Mystery Sect is indeed about to face a great calamity.
Using that item... even if successful, it would deplete the foundation of several generations of his Arrayed Mystery Sect; if it failed... it would only worsen the situation, leaving no chance of recovery.
But now that things have come to this, they have nothing more to say.
Chen Shuangbai played chess with Shenyang inside the palace.
Feiguang walked in from outside, followed by a blue-robed cultivator with eyes like cold stars; it was Qu Heng from the Flower Washing Sword Sect.
" Qu Heng pays his respects to the Sword Immortal!"
Chen Shuangbai smiled and said, "Senior Brother Qu, please just call me Junior Brother... Hearing you call me Sword Immortal feels a bit irritating."
Qu Heng's smile became more genuine, but he couldn't change the way he addressed her.
After all, Chen Shuangbai's reputation was at its zenith, and he was a true pillar of the Vast Waves Alliance... It could be said that the Vast Waves Alliance's current power was entirely due to Chen Shuangbai.
He still needs to be careful, lest someone with ulterior motives find fault with him and implicate his own sect.
After exchanging a few words, Qu Heng straightened his expression and said seriously, "I have come here to report on the situation at the front!"
Seeing his expression, Chen Shuangbai knew that something had probably happened at the front, so she also suppressed her smile.
Qu Heng said, " The Arrayed Mystery Sect has completely contracted its battle lines, confining itself to the three prefectures of the Zheng Kingdom. Relying on the three formidable passes it has built, each guarded by two Nascent Soul Cultivator, it is very secure."
"Are they planning a protracted war?"
Shenyang, standing to the side, chuckled and said, "Is this a strategy of wearing down the Vast Waves Alliance's logistical support reserves through a war of attrition?"
Qu Heng wasn't very familiar with this True Lord Shenyang, but since Chen Shuangbai was in the same room with him and the atmosphere was harmonious, he wasn't on guard and simply said, "His family monopolizes the Zheng Kingdom, so naturally they've managed to make this place as impregnable as an iron fortress."
"Both True Lord Suwen of our sect and Turbid Wave Pavilion believe that the next battle will likely be a war of attrition."
"Furthermore, our spies planted within the Arrayed Mystery Sect have also sent word..."
"What news?"
Chen Shuangbai said.
Qu Heng, with a serious expression, slowly said, "It's said that several Nascent Soul True Lord from the Arrayed Mystery Sect have been frequently gathering lately, seemingly discussing something... Now they're acting like they're going to wage a protracted war, so they probably still have some trump cards to play."
"I reckon... I reckon it's enough to defend against you, Sword Immortal."