Swearing to Defend the Sect to the Death · The Demon Spirits Descend

As night fell, the palace of the White Cloud Sect was dimly lit. The bright moonlight shone through the carved window lattices, illuminating several jars of strong liquor and plates of roasted meat on the stone table. Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng sat side by side, their moods finally completely relaxed after the tense martial arts competition.

Yang Zheng broke the silence first, his eyes still gleaming with lingering passion and excitement. He suddenly raised his wine bowl. "Wow! Senior Brother Qin, you're simply a god! That final blow you delivered against Luo Chuan today was truly earth-shattering! I almost thought the arena was going to explode! Hahaha, that was absolutely amazing!"

Zhao Xinyu couldn't help but laugh out loud. Looking at Yang Zheng's animated gestures, a hint of tenderness appeared in her eyes, half-scolding and half-teasing. "Alright, alright, Yang Zheng, you're practically praising Senior Brother Qin to the skies. Hehe, you really have no self-control when it comes to your words."

Yang Zheng scratched the back of his head, chuckled, and a blush crept onto his face. "I'm just happy for our Senior Brother Qin! Who told him to be the most dazzling prodigy among all the outer disciples of our White Cloud Sect today? It's an honor for the three of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Senior Brother Qin Yang Zheng!"

Qin Yu felt a warmth in his heart as he listened to their conversation. He raised his wine bowl, his eyes steady yet fervent, his tone filled with intense pride. "Yes! Today, the three of us truly deserve to celebrate. Not only have we completely slain that venomous snake Luo Chuan, but more importantly, all three of us have successfully entered the ranks of inner disciples. Tonight—we Bugui leave until we're completely drunk! Let's drink to our hearts' content!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he downed the wine bowl in one gulp. The strong liquor burned his throat like fire, but it also allowed him to fully release the exhilaration and heroic spirit in his chest.

Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng exchanged a smile and raised their glasses to toast each other. The clear wine shimmered like crystal under the moonlight. Their laughter mingled with the aroma of the wine, dispelling all fatigue and gloom. At this moment, they were no longer just outer disciples, but rising stars of the inner sect, about to join hands and reach even greater heights. Their pride and passion were ignited to the fullest that night.

Night had fallen, and a gentle mountain breeze rustled the pines outside the palace. The moonlight was bright and clear, casting its glow on the stone table where Qin Yu and his companions sat, reflecting off the several jars of strong liquor. By this time, the three had already drunk several bowls, their faces flushed with alcohol, yet the atmosphere was more sincere and affectionate than ever before.

Yang Zheng's eyes were already red, and his fingers trembled slightly as he held the wine bowl. He slammed his hand on the table, and with a hint of drunkenness, he spoke the most sincere words from the bottom of his heart, "Senior Brother Qin, Xinyu... In my life, I, Yang Zheng, have never dared to dream of wealth or glory. I'm just a child from an ordinary family. I've come this far entirely because of you all by my side. If it weren't for you, I would have died ten or eight times over in the Northern Dark Abyss Valley. You are the most important people in my life!"

By the end, his voice had choked with emotion, and tears welled in his eyes. Zhao Xinyu felt a pang of sadness. She gently reached out to straighten Yang Zheng's clothes and said softly, "Fool, we've been comrades-in-arms for a long time. You risked your life for me, and I've taken a knife for you. You talk about the most important person... Actually, in my heart, you and Senior Brother Qin are both family."

Qin Yu's heart trembled upon hearing this. He slowly put down his wine bowl, his gaze falling on the two familiar faces in the moonlight. His voice was low but firm. "Yang Zheng, Xinyu. Two years ago, I was just a boy in the Cloud-Leveling Hall, easily looked down upon. If it weren't for my mother risking her life to send me out, if it weren't for you two accompanying me along the way, how could I have come this far? It was you who helped me kill demonic beasts and slay Demonic Spirit, holding me up time and time again in dire straits. I, Qin Yu, remember—I will always remember!"

At this point, his voice grew increasingly impassioned, his eyes glistening with tears and unwavering resolve. "I swear! No matter what lies ahead, no matter how treacherous the heavens may be, as long as you are here, I, Qin Yu —will never retreat! In this life, we will surely reach the very peak together, standing together at the very top of the Great Yan Continent!"

These words silenced all three. The night breeze carried away the aroma of wine, and under the moonlight, their silhouettes were intertwined, as if they were not just three young cultivators, but comrades and family whose fates were bound together.

Zhao Xinyu's eyes reddened, a smile lingering in her tears. She whispered, "Senior Brother Qin, no matter where you go, I will always follow you, even if it costs me my life."

Yang Zheng stubbornly wiped away his tears, then suddenly raised his wine bowl. "That's right! No regrets in this life! The three of us, we'll either live together or die together!"

The three men's wine bowls clinked together, producing a crisp sound that echoed in the night air, lingering for a long time. At that moment, the bond between them had already transcended that of fellow disciples, transcended that of companions, and transformed into an unbreakable bond of life and death.

That night, they poured out their hearts and poured out their feelings over wine; that night, their laughter and tears were etched by the moonlight under the long night of the White Cloud Sect.

The night was as dark as ink. The Luo Family's main hall was resplendent in gold and brightly lit. Yet, the hall was deathly silent. Luo Qianhua sat alone in the main seat, holding a black and gold wine cup in his hand, his eyes sinister and filled with murderous intent.

Suddenly, a retainer dressed in a blue robe stumbled into the hall, his face pale and his body trembling. "Master, something terrible has happened—"

Luo Qianhua frowned, raised his eyes and stared coldly at him, his voice low and thunderous. "Speak!"

The retainer in the green robe fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold jade floor tiles, his voice trembling violently. "Young... Young Master... Young Master Luo Chuan... he... he was... killed by Qin Yu during the White Cloud Sect's grand competition! His body... his body has already been sent back..."

"Smack!"

Luo Qianhua suddenly smashed the wine cup in his hand, shattering it into pieces. He stood up abruptly, his anger blazing, and his eyes flashing with overwhelming killing intent. The entire hall was instantly shaken by his soul power, the beams and pillars trembled, and the walls cracked, as if it would collapse at any moment.

"You... say it again!!!" Luo Qianhua's voice was extremely low, yet it was like a thunderclap, making all the servants in the hall tremble and almost stop breathing.

Tears streamed down the green-robed retainer's face, his voice choked with sobs. "Master, it's true! Disciples from the White Cloud Sect personally escorted the young master's body back... It's in the side hall... It's laid to rest in the side hall..."

Luo Qianhua trembled, his breathing suddenly became heavy, and his eyes turned bloodshot. Like a wild beast, he suddenly threw off his cloak and strode out of the main hall. The elders and family guards hurriedly followed behind him. The air was thick with killing intent, as if the entire Luo Family mansion was shrouded in the shadow of death.

At the entrance of the side hall, several guards knelt on the ground, their expressions sorrowful. As the hall door slowly opened, a strong stench of blood rushed out, and the air still held lingering, condensed Spiritual Qi.

Inside the hall, a crystal-clear ice coffin held the body of Luo Chuan, which lay silently within. A horrifying wound had been torn across his chest, his face was pale, and although his eyes had lost their light, the shock and resentment he felt before his death still lingered.

"Luo'er..."

Luo Qianhua's eyes were completely bloodshot. He staggered a step and slowly reached out to touch the cold coffin surface. In an instant, his soul power went berserk, turning into endless black flames that soared into the sky, illuminating the entire night sky blood red.

"Qin Yu!!!"

He roared to the sky, his voice like thunder, shaking the entire Luo Family mansion, echoing through the mountains, and churning the night sky.

"I, Luo Qianhua, swear! If I don't make you suffer a thousand cuts and condemn you to eternal damnation, I swear I will not be human again!!"

With this roar, countless blood-red runes suddenly appeared above the Luo Family, as if the entire Lineage had been aroused by overwhelming killing intent.

Luo Qianhua clutched the awakened ice coffin fragment, his knuckles turning white, his entire being feeling as if he were being torn apart by both flames and ice. The candlelight in the hall was stirred by his surging soul power, creating invisible gusts of wind that caused the candlelight to flicker wildly, reflecting the expressions of fear, greed, or calm on every face.

"Summon the elders, come quickly." Luo Qianhua's voice was like a sharp blade, cutting off the commotion in the hall. In no time, nearly a hundred senior elders, guard commanders, and several imperial generals of the Luo Family were ushered into the family council hall—a secret hall surrounded by ancient cypress and red copper. The walls were adorned with the Luo Family's ancestral precepts and battle flags commemorating generations of military achievements. The air was filled with blood powder and a pungent smell, as if proclaiming: hatred had been ignited.

The elders knelt and offered their advice in twos and threes, Luo Qianhua, impatient for a moment, slammed his hand on the long table, causing cups and plates to fall and the sound to make the roof beams tremble slightly, "Luo Chuan is dead! The White Cloud Sect killed him. If the White Cloud Sect doesn't give the Luo Family an explanation today, the Luo Family will reclaim its dignity!"

A prominent elder slowly rose, his face grim, and said in a low voice, "Patriarch, the White Cloud Sect Taiyan, and its sect leader's cultivation is unfathomable. If we use direct force, we risk being besieged by other sects. The Luo Family needs a better strategy—to both intimidate the White Cloud Sect and preserve the Luo Family's foundation."

Another older general coldly replied, "Aren't we going to fight under the main banner? Luo Chuan's death is not just a loss of face; it's a blood debt of our clan. The imperial forces at my disposal are at my command. With just a decree, I can mobilize a million iron troops. If the White Cloud Sect has done anything wrong, the imperial family will seek justice!"

The hall was momentarily divided into two factions: the old guard, prioritizing prudence and deliberation, and the officers, driven by a sense of blood feud and resolve. Luo Qianhua's eyes blazed like two burning embers, his voice low but firm. "My Luo Family must prioritize the well-being of the nation, but Luo'er's downfall cannot be Qingfeng. On the surface, the Luo Family will first use 'civil' coercion—sending high-ranking officials to the White Cloud Sect, demanding a thorough investigation, the return of the bodies, and an apology. If the White Cloud Sect evades or shirks its responsibilities, the Luo Family will issue an official letter in the name of the imperial family, pressuring the court to severely punish the suspects. At the same time, we will secretly begin our preparations—mobilizing all secret guards, assassins, forbidden techniques within the sect, and bloodline mechanisms. Anyone who obstructs my path of revenge will face certain death."

He slowly slammed a blood-red seal onto the table. The seal landed with a crisp, muffled thud, causing the elders' expressions to change. The seal, bearing the old name of the royal family, was a token capable of mobilizing the royal army for external campaigns and summoning the imperial guards. Luo Qianhua's eyes blazed with murderous intent. "If the White Cloud Sect truly uses a divine decree to capture and kill the young master, then let the royal family judge; if they show remorse, we can act according to protocol. But whichever path we choose, the Luo Family will not tolerate this."

A sinister-looking middle-aged elder suggested in a deep voice, "Patriarch, outwardly use diplomatic means, but secretly use force. We can first dispatch three forces: First, the 'Court Letter Team' —formal envoys escorting the White Cloud Sect, speaking forcefully but with legitimate identities, to force them to give an explanation; second, the 'Hidden Abyss Team' —composed of the family's elite secret guards and Grandmasters of the Sacrifice Cave, secretly infiltrating the White Cloud Sect to investigate, find evidence, or set up traps; third, the 'Iron Army' as a reserve force, not to be used for now, only for deterrence. If the White Cloud Sect shows weakness, we can use diplomatic means to demand compensation; if they are tough, then immediately switch to the second step, the Iron Army will arrive."

Luo Qianhua nodded, then her tone shifted, becoming almost icy. "There's another point: Luo Chuan's death cannot be easily forgotten. I want to plant seeds in the martial world, in the court, and among the sects— that the White Cloud Sect kills without question, claiming to be virtuous. Today, the Luo Family will announce this to Taiyan, forcing them to prove their innocence. If they have any hidden secrets, the Luo Family will expose them one by one."

Subsequently, an even more dangerous proposal was put forward: to use a "blood edict" from the former members of the Luo Family to summon Rogue Cultivator, servants, and soldiers who had received favors from the Luo Family, to incite public opinion and create external pressure on the White Cloud Sect; and to plan several "framing" incidents—to force the White Cloud Sect into isolation in the court. Some boldly suggested "assassinating key figures," but this was rejected by the more cautious elders, who reasoned that if this move were exposed, it would completely destroy the Luo Family.

After listening, Luo Qianhua remained silent for a moment, then finally sneered, "Everything has a price. Although the White Cloud Sect is large, the way of Heaven is impartial. Today, in the name of the Luo Family, I will show my true colors: the civil officials will be the outward expression, the martial ones the inner force; if the situation demands it, I will withdraw my last trump card." He placed his hand on the table, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials like cold stars. "From now on, proceed in three steps: immediately send a representative to the White Cloud Sect to demand an agreement; simultaneously, deploy the Dark Abyss Hidden Guard to infiltrate the White Cloud Sect and investigate; and then secretly assemble my old subordinates. Once the court and the various sects obey, immediately press forward. Give me results within ten days."

The elders responded in deep voices, and the atmosphere in the Luo Family council hall shifted from anger to calm and efficiency, like a giant beast gathering its limbs, preparing to leap out.

In the following days, the Luo Family acted swiftly:

An Imperial Clan Legion was dispatched to the White Cloud Sect. The envoy, wearing the Luo Family crest, spoke of "peace and arbitration" on the surface, but actually carried a trump card: if the White Cloud Sect concealed the truth, the Luo Family would petition the court in the name of the royal family, demanding a thorough investigation and exerting pressure.

A secret guard squad codenamed "Hidden Abyss" was quietly formed, led by "Duan Ling," a cold-blooded assassin from the Luo Family —legend has it that his wrists can sever spiritual veins and silently cut off a person's life force. They were assigned to infiltrate the White Cloud Sect, investigate all possible weaknesses of Qin Yu, and wait for the "right opportunity" to strike.

A mysterious elder was secretly summoned back, bringing with him a "Soul Crystal Core" sealed away by the Luo Lineage —a forbidden object that could briefly unleash extraordinary power within a bloodline, but at a great cost to the user. Luo Qianhua held the core, his eyes filled with complex emotions, before finally handing it to Luo Chuan's former retainers and guards, ordering. "When the time is right, use it to regain face for the Luo Family."

At the same time, the Luo Family was also laying out a propaganda front both inside and outside the family. The clan's historian, who was in charge of public opinion, was ordered to begin compiling historical materials on the "arrogance and arbitrariness of the White Cloud Sect" and infiltrate the martial arts world and the court in order to gain support in the future direction of the court. The Luo Family's envoy was instructed to hold a banquet outside the White Cloud Sect, and on the surface, exchange pleasantries with the Hall Master Yun, but in secret, he used words to test the other party's attitude.

On the White Cloud Sect's side, the news had not yet been fully relayed; however, the Luo Family's actions had already begun to ripple outwards— Lineage forces were sharpening their knives in the shadows, and messengers were rushing about. A storm was brewing, and the powerful clans and the imperial court of the Great Yan Continent could not remain completely uninvolved.

As night deepened, Luo Qianhua stood alone atop the palace, gazing at the distant Milky Way, and murmured softly, "White Cloud Sect, you took my son away. Luo Qianhua will make the entire Great Yan Continent remember— the Luo Family's debt will be repaid sooner or later." His voice, like a vow carved into stone, echoed in the wind, penetrating the dreams of many, becoming an indelible declaration in the darkness.

Next day

Outside the White Cloud Sect's mountain gate, the sky hung extremely low. Rows of black iron battle flags stood tall, like a vast, undulating sea of black. Thousands of the Imperial Clan Legion, Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm, stood in orderly formation, their armor rubbing together with a deep metallic sound. The array diagram on the ground slowly lit up, and the killing intent transformed into an invisible cold tide, advancing inch by inch towards the White Cloud Sect's protective steps.

At the forefront, a general in the Middle Stage of the Mystic Understanding Realm rode a crimson-maned warhorse, his silver cloak billowing in the wind, his eighteen-foot spear planted firmly on the ground, its tip emitting a dark purple, chilling light. He raised his head and roared, his voice shaking the mountains and rivers. "The Sect Master of the White Cloud Sect has appeared!"

Boom--

Suddenly, the sky swelled, and the sea of clouds was cleaved apart by an invisible force. Ten rainbow lights soared out from the inner hall above the White Cloud Sect, forming a line at the Major Accomplishment of the Mystic Understanding Realm. Their Daoist robes fluttered, and talismanic light danced within their sleeves. They stood like mountains in the heavens. They looked down at the Iron Tide below. One of the white-bearded elders sneered, his words as sharp as frost. "Hmph, how dare a mere member of the royal family act so presumptuously in my White Cloud Sect?"

The general remained fearless, his spear pointing forward, his words as firm as nails. "We are ordered to apprehend Qin Yu, a disciple of the White Cloud Sect. We demand that the White Cloud Sect hand him over immediately!"

An elder flicked his sleeve, and the protective array patterns on the mountain gate suddenly lit up, layers of spiritual light spreading across the gate like a celestial curtain. He spoke calmly, yet his authority was undeniable. "Qin Yu is a newly promoted inner disciple of my White Cloud Sect, and has no relation to the royal family whatsoever."

The general's gaze darkened, and his tone grew even colder. "I urge the White Cloud Sect to consider this carefully. Do not let a mere villain destroy the entire White Cloud Sect."

As the last sentence landed, the royal army took a half step forward in perfect unison, raising ten thousand halberds in unison, their cold light forming a river; at the same time, the protective canopy of the White Cloud Sect trembled, talismans flowed like a rain of stars, and a deep resonance, like the roar of an ancient dragon, resonated from the spine of the mountain range, as if the foundation of the sect was awakening.

Buzz--

An even more overwhelming pressure rose from the depths of the inner hall. A ray of azure-gold divine light approached from afar, instantly piercing through the clouds. Xiao Yinshan stepped out from the heavenly steps, his robes billowing without wind, his aura as Middle Stage of the True Spirit Realm as a tide, suppressing all sound. He stood before the ten elders, his gaze as steady as a rock. "Royal General, the White Cloud Sect is protected by the Daoist lineage. Since its founding, it has not concerned itself with the rise and fall of dynasties, but only with the right and wrong of cultivation. If you wish to arrest someone, you must provide concrete evidence; if you resort to force, you will be violating the rules of our sect."

The general raised his hand, and a guard behind him presented a dark gold command box. The box opened, and a wisp of imperial authority emanated from the golden book, which bore the following order, "Based on the bloodline of the Luo Family, Qin Yu is hereby ordered to be apprehended and brought back to the court for questioning."

With a flick of spiritual light from his sleeve, Xiao Yinshan's imperial might dissipated layer by layer from the protective canopy, turning into silent white smoke. He spoke calmly, "The decrees of mortal dynasties cannot transgress the laws of sects. If the Luo Family has evidence, the Law Enforcement Hall will investigate; but to use force to intimidate without evidence— the White Cloud Sect will not tolerate such behavior."

On both sides of the mountain gate, tens of thousands of disciples held their breath. The war drums of the Imperial Clan Legion boomed, their killing intent rising threefold. The thousands of soldiers were as one, and the cold light of the array core condensed into a phantom black dragon, coiling around the top of the military flag, overlooking the mountain gate. Opposite to it was the main pattern of the White Cloud Sect's mountain-protecting array—a white sun emerging from the sky, with thousands of thin rays of light hanging down, like countless invisible chains, firmly holding the mountains together.

The general and Xiao Yinshan stared at each other for a long time. The general's voice was deep and firm. "If you don't hand over your men within three breaths, the army will advance another three hundred feet."

Xiao Yinshan's eyes sharpened, and with a slight flick of his whisk, a mystical light instantly transformed into countless tiny sword talismans, arrayed behind him, their sharpness chilling. "Not a single step is permitted. Any closer is an incursion—those who incur this boundary shall be slain."

The invisible forces collided, causing the pine forest on the mountainside to bow low, their canopies rustling under the weight. The general's warhorse neighed, its front hooves pawing the ground, and the veins on the arms of the armored soldiers holding halberds bulged. Above the White Cloud Sect, the robes of the ten elders billowed, and the spiritual light on their sleeves rose and fell like the tide, spreading out in circles on the protective canopy of the mountain.

Silence, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Half a breath --

One breath--

Two breaths --

The general finally raised his hand, his spear held horizontally across his chest, and hoarsely uttered four words: "Stay for three days." The iron cavalry retreated three hundred feet in unison, and the dark army re-established its camp at the foot of the mountain, but the drums and horns had not yet ceased, and the killing intent remained, like a thunderbolt ready to explode at any moment.

Xiao Yinshan turned around and said calmly, "The Law Enforcement Hall."

As the hall doors opened, several elders of law enforcement emerged, transforming into streaks of light and heading straight for the various record mirrors and arena traces, reviewing the arena footage, testimonies, and post-battle evidence. The sect's bells rang three times, admonishing the peaks. "Surrounded by external threats, all disciples must remain in seclusion for cultivation and are not permitted to leave without orders."

At this moment, Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng were still meditating in a side hall within the sect. They were unaware of the iron tide pressing down from outside the mountain, only feeling that the spiritual pressure of heaven and earth had suddenly increased slightly, and the flow of Spiritual Qi was subtly obstructed. Outside the hall, the shadows of pines stretched out horizontally, and there was the aura of iron armor in the wind, like a giant wave brewing on the distant sea.

Outside the mountain, the black flag remains unmoved; inside, the sun shines brightly in broad daylight.

Two opposing forces, separated only by a narrow mountain gate, clashed fiercely, with lurking murderous intent.

Inside the highest hall of the White Cloud Sect, the lights burned brightly, spiritual patterns flickered, and the rumbling of the protective array in the sky faintly penetrated into the hall, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

More than ten elders stood on either side, their auras clashing, all of them top-tier experts at the Major Accomplishment of the Mystic Understanding Realm. At the head of the hall, Xiao Yinshan sat quietly, his brows furrowed, a hint of divine might flickering in his eyes, yet he remained silent. The air in the hall seemed to freeze, but the next moment, tension suddenly flared.

An elder in gray robes rose to his feet, his voice booming like thunder. "Sect Master, Qin Yu's killing of Luo Chuan was a direct confrontation on the grand arena! Casualties are common in martial arts competitions. If Luo Chuan lost, he can only blame his inferior skill; he has no one else to blame!"

Another elder in purple robes shook his head and said coldly, "That may be true, but Luo Chuan is, after all, the eldest son of the Luo Family! Now the royal army is pressing in, clearly seeking justice. Although the sect is strong, is it worth it to completely break ties with the royal family for the sake of a mere new disciple?"

"Hmph!" An elder in a green robe on the left slammed his hand on his chair, the spiritual pressure causing the pillars of the hall to vibrate. His gaze was icy. "If this is truly the case, wouldn't that be allowing the royal family to bully my White Cloud Sect? Hand over Qin Yu today, and tomorrow they'll demand the hand over us inner sect elders? At that time, what face will the White Cloud Sect have left!"

Another cold snort immediately echoed from inside the hall, "Can face feed us? The Luo Family is backed by the entire royal family! The royal family's million cultivator soldiers, though not as profound as the cultivation foundation of my White Cloud Sect, would still be severely weakened even if my White Cloud Sect survived a bloody battle! It's unwise to put the sect in danger for the sake of Qin Yu!"

"You're afraid of the royal family, aren't you!" the elder in the green robe shouted sternly.

"It's not fear, it's reason!" The purple-robed elder retorted sharply, his voice like the clash of iron and stone. "Our White Cloud Sect has stood for ten thousand years, how can we risk annihilation because of a single disciple? Although Qin Yu is extremely talented, our White Cloud Sect has never lacked geniuses. Whether we keep him or not, what difference will it make to the overall situation of the sect?"

"Nonsense!" The gray-robed elder roared in fury, his sleeves fluttering as Spiritual Qi transformed into a howling hurricane, causing the spirit candles in the hall to tremble violently. "Qin Yu is different! In just two short years, he has already killed a prodigy like Luo Chuan with his Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm cultivation! Such potential is a once-in-a-millennium occurrence for the sect! You all keep saying that the sect has no shortage of geniuses, but tell me, how many disciples have you seen who have cultivated to such a level before the age of twenty? If we really hand him over, wouldn't we be Sever Future?"

"The future? If the White Cloud Sect fights a bloody battle with the royal family today because of him, will there be a future tomorrow?" another white-haired elder retorted coldly.

"Hand him over?! Hand him over?!" The elder in the green robe laughed in fury, abruptly standing up, his sword intent soaring to the sky. "My White Cloud Sect is a sacred place of Daoism, not a vassal of the royal family! If anyone dares to suggest handing over Qin Yu today, they'll first ask this sword in my hand if it agrees!"

Instantly, the Sword Qi energy was chilling, and the spiritual pressure inside the hall roared. The expressions of the elders who supported "handing over the person" changed drastically, and they all activated their protective spiritual light to resist.

"Stop!"

A deep voice rang out, like the tolling of a heavenly bell.

Xiao Yinshan finally spoke, his aura surging, instantly suppressing the sword intent and spiritual pressure of all the elders, and the hall returned to silence. He slowly rose, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire hall. "Enough!"

All the elders lowered their heads, no longer daring to argue.

Xiao Yinshan's voice was deep and authoritative. "Qin Yu's killing of Luo Chuan was a fair and just fight. The White Cloud Sect bears no responsibility for this. If the royal family wishes to hold them accountable, I will negotiate with them. But—"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and his voice was as resounding as thunder. "If anyone dares to use force to suppress my White Cloud Sect's gates, even a million royal cultivators will be buried here!"

The hall was deathly silent, with only the rumbling of the spiritual runes echoing, as if responding to the sect leader's words.

At this point, the main hall of the White Cloud Sect was divided into two distinct factions: one fearful of the imperial family's power, and the other unwilling to surrender. The air was filled not only with disagreement, but with the choice between war and non-war.

In the Central State region of the Great Yan Continent, less than a hundred miles from the White Cloud Sect, a deafening tearing sound suddenly came from the sky, as if the entire sky had been forcibly ripped apart by an indescribable force.

From within the crack, dark red light and boundless death energy surged forth, instantly depleting the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, leaving the mountains and rivers shrouded in darkness. Following this came an army of Demonic Spirit, numbering in the tens of thousands, covering the sky and sweeping across the land like a surging tide. Each Demonic Spirit's body was twisted, its eyes burning with azure flames, its howls and savage laughs mingling, causing the surrounding mountains and rivers to tremble.

At the very center of this endless demonic tide stood the terrifying Demonic Spirit leader.

Its body was hundreds of feet tall, and its entire body was made up of countless pale, withered hands intertwined together. The arms were layered and densely packed, as if countless vengeful spirits were struggling desperately to crawl out of its body. Each hand was trembling and striking the air, making a chilling "tap, tap, tap" sound, like the tolling of a death knell.

Several curved bony horns grew from each of its shoulders, dripping dark red liquid from their tips—the blood and resentment remaining from the dragon's heart. Each drop that fell to the ground would transform into a crimson flame, burning vegetation and causing the earth to rot.

Its gaping maw, splitting open to its ears, grinned madly, the cries of hundreds of souls echoing deep within its mouth. Its eye sockets were hollow, with eerie blue flames burning fiercely, as if they could pierce through the Fate Soul of any living being and incinerate their Spiritual Sense.

After its evolution, its aura surpassed that of a typical Soul Foundation Realm. The oppressive force that enveloped the world caused mountains to tremble and rivers to flow backward. The original fluctuations of the laws of heaven and earth were forcibly distorted by its presence, the wind stopped, the thunder ceased, and even the light was swallowed by darkness.

With each step it took, the earth cracked open, collapsing for dozens of miles, and a thousand-foot abyss appeared out of thin air. The Demonic Spirit around it roared madly and knelt in unison, as if worshipping an supreme ruler.

It raised its arm, made up of countless pale, withered hands, and simultaneously struck the void with its fingers. In an instant, the sky roared, and endless crimson lightning struck down from the black mist, piercing the earth and turning the hundred-mile stretch of mountains and rivers into a blood-red inferno.

It is—the second Demonic Spirit leader who devoured the dragon's heart and completed its evolution.

A hundred miles away from the White Cloud Sect, a blood mist soared into the sky, as if an apocalyptic catastrophe was slowly approaching the entire Great Yan Continent with a deafening "tap-tap" sound...

Outside the White Cloud Sect, the thousands of the Imperial Clan Legion stationed there remained composed. As the sky began to glow with a pale red hue, soldiers gathered in twos and threes around campfires to cook their rations, the iron pots emitting a rich aroma of meat and wine. In front of the tents, soldiers were either drinking and laughing or practicing breathing exercises; their armor clanged, their auras were orderly and deep, and the camp appeared perfectly disciplined, seemingly completely unaware of the impending doom that was quietly approaching.

In a grove of trees on the outskirts of the military camp, several patrolling soldiers were scattered about. One of them, a burly soldier at the Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm, walked into the bushes, fastening his armor belt as he yawned, and casually relieved himself under an ancient tree. Suddenly, a strange, sweet, and pungent smell wafted in the night breeze. He frowned slightly and turned to look.

The fog in the forest inexplicably thickened, and the shadows of the trees ahead no longer remained still, but began to writhe and swirl, as if countless dark figures were slowly surging. His heart sank, and he instantly extended his Spiritual Sense, about to issue a warning shout—

"Have--!"

Before the words were even finished, a deep, bone-chilling hiss suddenly rang out. The next instant, a Demonic Spirit burst forth from the misty shadows. It was a monster whose entire body was pieced together from gray-black muscles and withered hands, its empty eyes burning with a ghostly blue flame.

"Puff--!"

Before the soldiers could even raise their hands to defend themselves, the Demonic Spirit's claws had already pierced his chest, crushing his Fate Soul!

The aura of the Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm Annihilation in an instant. His pupils dilated abruptly, and his voice, stuck in his throat, turned into a hoarse groan. He was dragged into the depths of the black mist along with his armor, leaving no trace of his remains.

Firelight flickered in the military camp, while the other soldiers continued to laugh and drink, completely unaware of the impending massacre. Only the gentle sound of the wind carried a faint scent of blood, as if foreshadowing a bloodbath...

The silence of the forest was shattered in an instant.

The soldier dragged into the black mist didn't even have time to utter a scream before the black blood mist spread among the branches and leaves. Soon, more writhing sounds and the grinding of joints echoed through the forest, as if thousands of bony hands were simultaneously striking the air, the "tap-tap-tap" sound resounding in all directions.

Then, countless Demonic Spirit figures burst forth from the mist, rushing towards the military camp like a tidal wave.

Before the sentries outside the military camp could fully react, they were engulfed by streaks of eerie blue flames and twisted claws. Screams erupted as the flames were instantly suppressed, replaced by a stench and a blood-red mist. In a matter of moments, the once orderly royal military tent was transformed into Asura inferno.

At that moment, the disciples guarding the White Cloud Sect were patrolling outside the mountain gate. The screams and tremors carried on the night wind changed their expressions drastically.

"What's that sound?" A disciple guarding the mountain instantly expanded his divine sense, his expression changing drastically. "Not good! Demonic Spirit — the Demonic Spirit army is here!"

Looking into the distance, they saw black mist billowing in the direction of the Imperial Clan Legion's camp, with firelight and blood mingling. The dense black shadows surged like a tsunami, their momentum terrifying.

"Quickly—report to the sect leader!"

The disciple guarding the mountain immediately activated the communication jade talisman, and a dazzling light shot through the air, heading straight for the main peak of the White Cloud Sect.

Inside the sect's main hall, Xiao Yinshan and the elders were still arguing about whether to hand over Qin Yu. Just then, the communication array on the hall's dome suddenly lit up, and the terrified voices of the disciples guarding the mountain echoed throughout the hall:

"Reporting to the Sect Master! The royal army camp outside the sect has been attacked by Demonic Spirit army! Tens of thousands of Demonic Spirit are slaughtering the royal soldiers, and the leader—is very likely the Demonic Spirit commander!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence. All the elders' expressions changed, and their auras suddenly pressed down.

Xiao Yinshan stood up abruptly, his eyes as cold and sharp as thunder. "What? The Demonic Spirit Commander actually dares to appear on the Great Yan Continent?!"

The atmosphere in the main hall froze instantly because of that urgent report.

Xiao Yinshan's eyes flashed like thunder, his robes billowed without wind, and the aura of true spirit emanated from his body. He slammed his hand on the table, his deep voice like the rolling of a war drum. "Immediately issue the order: the entire sect is on high alert! All outer and inner disciples, return to your positions! Elders of each hall, lead your disciples to guard the mountain gate! Ten True Spirit Realm elders, join me in facing the enemy! We must keep the Demonic Spirit outside the sect!"

Upon receiving the command, the elders responded in unison, causing a rumble of Spiritual Qi. The array patterns on all four sides of the main hall were instantly illuminated, and the protective array of the White Cloud Sect, which had not been activated for hundreds of years, slowly awakened in the night. Silvery-white spiritual light covered the mountain gate, resembling a giant dragon coiled up.

At the entrance to the White Cloud Sect, thousands of disciples quickly formed ranks, swords drawn and bows ready. The night wind howled, carrying the scent of blood and sulfur, as if endless demonic shadows were about to pounce. The entire White Cloud Sect mountain range was filled with the murmur of wind and the sound of death under the cover of night, as if only a chilling atmosphere pervaded the world.

Meanwhile, within the Central State Great Yan Continent, the Demon Spirit Legion has fully erupted.

Countless demonic shadows surged forth from the void rifts, their eye sockets burning with eerie blue flames illuminating the night. They stormed into cities and sects, leaving a trail of blood and mountains of corpses in their wake. The sects' protective formations were torn apart one by one; spells and magic intertwined, yet ultimately could not withstand this overwhelming tide of slaughter. Countless cultivators and civilians perished in the blood mist, their cries of agony echoing through the air.

Meanwhile, in another corner of Central State — the Luo Family.

Inside the high walls of the Luo mansion, the lights, which had not yet gone out, suddenly went out. Rolling black mist pressed down from the night sky, and the sinister laughter of countless Demonic Spirit pierced through the protective array of the mansion.

"Quickly! Activate the great formation!" Elder Luo roared, his soul power soaring into the sky and igniting the protective stone pillars of the mansion.

But in the next instant, hundreds of Demonic Spirit swooped down, their pale arms and black mist transforming into sharp blades that tore apart the protective array of the manor. Blood mist surged throughout the courtyard, and the manor soldiers and cultivators screamed in agony.

Luo Qianhua appeared in person, his eyes bloodshot. With a wave of his hand, raging flames engulfed the sky, incinerating dozens of Demonic Spirit into ashes. However, the shadow of the Demonic Spirit leader slowly emerged from the mist. His dense, withered hands twisted and turned, accompanied by a "tap-tap-tap" sound, like a death knell, enveloping the entire Luo mansion.

Luo Qianhua roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "You beasts! How dare you act so insolently in my Luo Family!"

But the whispers and savage laughter of the Demonic Spirit were met with endless blood-red killing intent.

Thus, the night on the Great Yan Continent was completely torn apart into a hellish inferno.

The night was as dark as ink. Inside the White Cloud Sect's mountain gate, the spiritual light array roared and vibrated, and the alarm bells sounded like thunderous drums, awakening countless disciples.

Qin Yu suddenly opened his eyes, sensing the unusual fluctuations in the Spiritual Qi throughout the entire sect. His expression darkened, and he whispered, "Something terrible must have happened! Xinyu! Yang Zheng! Quick, come with me to the plaza!"

Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng immediately stood up, and the three of them soared into the air, transforming into three streaks of light that swept across the sect's halls and buildings, speeding away.

Tens of thousands of disciples had already gathered in the central square of the White Cloud Sect. Countless elders stood at the forefront, their auras majestic and imposing. The great array shone brightly into the sky, and a silver barrier enveloped the entire sect, illuminating the night sky as if stars had fallen to earth. The disciples' robes fluttered, their hands gripping weapons, their eyes filled with an unprecedented solemnity and determination.

Sect Master Xiao Yinshan stood atop the plaza, his aura of true spirit surging like thunder, his voice booming throughout the surroundings. "White Cloud Sect disciples, all of you, prepare for battle!"

His voice resounded through the heavens, like a booming bell.

"Demon Spirit Legion of tens of thousands has appeared outside the sect's mountain gate!"

Boom! As soon as the words fell, the square fell into a deathly silence, followed by an uncontrollable gasp. Many disciples' faces changed drastically, and their hands gripping their weapons trembled slightly.

However, Xiao Yinshan's voice rang out again, carrying an awe-inspiring majesty:

"This is a battle for the life and death of our White Cloud Sect! From this day forward, all disciples of the White Cloud Sect swear to resist the Demon Spirit Legion to the death!"

"We will resist to the death!!!"

The thousands of disciples roared in unison, their voices like mountains and seas crashing back, shaking the heavens and earth, and even the night sky trembled.

Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng stood in the crowd, feeling the overwhelming aura of battle spirit. All three were shaken. Zhao Xinyu's eyes were solemn, but when she glanced to the side, she saw that there was no fear in Qin Yu's eyes, but rather a fierce fighting spirit and fearless light burning within them. Yang Zheng clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, his chest heaving, and his blood was boiling because of this war-like aura.

The entire White Cloud Sect was like a newly drawn sword, its cold light piercing the sky under the night sky.