Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

South of the Broken Cloud Mountains, there is a market town nestled against the mountain.

This place was originally just a small place where rogue cultivators traded spiritual herbs and materials from demonic beasts.

But ever since the Xuan Yang Sect and the Chi Xiao Sect started fighting in the Duan Yun Mountains, this market has become lively.

This is because many cultivators from both sects come here to sell stolen goods or to sell resources that were previously difficult to obtain.

The rogue cultivators dared not approach the battlefield, yet they wanted to know the situation, so they gathered daily in teahouses and taverns, listening to people exaggerate the battle's progress.

Have you heard?

A gray-robed rogue cultivator slammed his hand on the table, his voice low yet loud enough for half the restaurant to hear.

"That Patriarch Gu of the Xuan Yang Sect isn't even human; he's practically a reincarnation of a god of slaughter!"

Immediately, someone approached from the side.

"How so?"

The gray-robed rogue cultivator stared wide-eyed.

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

"I heard that the Crimson Cloud Sect had a late-stage Golden Core cultivator who was known as the strongest below the Nascent Soul level. On the day Patriarch Gu arrived, he secretly spied on him, and was instantly blasted apart with a single slap??"

"The golden core! It shattered in a single snap."

Upon hearing this, a rogue cultivator at the next table naturally asked skeptically, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

The gray-robed hermit remained calm and composed.

"A friend of mine was delivering spirit herbs to the front lines of the Xuan Yang Sect. He saw it with his own eyes. What's the difference between him seeing it with my own eyes and me seeing it with my own eyes?"

Everyone nodded immediately.

The classic line is "I have a friend".

That makes sense.

Another rogue cultivator chimed in, "What's so special about that? I heard that Patriarch Gu later personally took action and razed three affiliated sects under the Crimson Cloud Sect to the ground."

"Black Rock Gate, Fire Crow Village, and Red Sand Valley were all swept aside by the Xuan Yang Sect's army."

"Especially that Black Rock Gate, its protective formation is said to be able to withstand a Nascent Soul cultivator for forty-nine days!"

"And the result?"

He slapped his thigh, speaking with great emotion, as if he had been there at the time.

"With a single slap from Elder Gu, the grand formation shattered, the mountain gate collapsed, and even the spiritual veins at the back of the mountain were warped!"

A collective gasp filled the restaurant.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator, how terrifying!"

"No wonder the Xuan Yang Sect dared to go to war with the Chi Xiao Sect."

"This Patriarch Gu is already this powerful after just forming his Nascent Soul stage. What will he be like if he cultivates for several hundred more years?"

But soon, someone else sighed.

"It's impressive, but what a pity."

Everyone immediately looked at him.

The man lowered his voice, his face grave.

"Li Chenyuan of the Crimson Cloud Sect is no pushover either."

"I heard that he was angered by the fact that Elder Gu had destroyed three sects in succession, so he personally launched a sneak attack on the Xuan Yang Sect's army."

"In that battle, the Duanyun Mountain Range was broken into three sections."

"The spiritual energy flowed backward, the monsters went berserk, and the fog in the mountains turned blood red."

"In order to cover the retreat of the Xuan Yang Sect army, Patriarch Gu took a deadly blow from Li Chenyuan."

"I heard he was seriously injured."

The restaurant immediately fell silent.

Someone murmured, "Then isn't the Xuan Yang Sect doomed?"

"Who can argue with that?"

The man shook his head.

"I heard that the Crimson Cloud Sect has regrouped its army and is preparing for a counterattack."

"Hopefully, those affiliated sects under the Xuan Yang Sect won't follow in the footsteps of the Black Rock Sect."

Everyone looked at each other.

Just a moment ago I was filled with excitement, now I'm just trembling with fear.

The battles between sects are something that these rogue cultivators can't possibly get involved in.

If you're not careful, you might even become cannon fodder and no one will remember your name.

……

The main hall of the Xuan Yang Sect.

The newly appointed sect leader, Xie Xuancheng, knelt below, presenting the frontline battle reports one by one to the Nascent Soul Grandmasters.

After Yun Qingli was deposed, the sect could not remain without a sect leader indefinitely.

Xie Xuancheng was then pushed up by several elders.

This person is in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, has a calm and steady personality, and is a senior member of the family. Of course, most importantly, he comes from a family faction.

Inside the main hall, Zhou Xuanyue, the Crimson-Robed Supreme Elder, and two other Nascent Soul cultivators from various family factions were present.

Even the Cangxuan True Monarch from the back mountain had a divine sense landing inside the hall.

Xie Xuancheng first opened the earliest battle report.

"This is the first battle report from His Majesty the Elders since he arrived at the front lines."

"As soon as Elder Gu entered the Broken Cloud Mountains, he killed Han Chili, a mid-stage Golden Core spy from the Crimson Cloud Sect, on the spot, thus deterring the front line."

Zhou Xuanyue stroked his beard and nodded.

"it is good."

"He established his authority as soon as he arrived at the front lines; not bad."

The Crimson-Robed Elder also laughed, "I've heard of Han Chili. His Blood Shadow Sky-Gazing Technique is quite troublesome, and if he were truly willing to risk his life to escape, even a weaker Nascent Soul cultivator might not be able to stop him. Junior Brother Gu crushed him with a single palm strike; he's no simpleton!"

Upon hearing this, all the elders present nodded in agreement, appearing quite pleased with themselves.

Xie Xuancheng then opened the second battle report.

"After reorganizing the front lines, Grandmaster Gu launched a night raid on the outer mine of the Crimson Cloud Sect three days later. In one battle, he killed thirty-seven Foundation Establishment cultivators and reclaimed thirty percent of the Crimson Profound Spirit Iron Mine."

"Well played!"

The Supreme Emperor in his red robes couldn't help but slap the armrest.

"This Crimson Profound Spirit Iron Mine was originally seized by my Xuan Yang Sect. The Crimson Cloud Sect forcibly took it for many years, and now we can finally get our revenge."

The third battle report.

"Grandmaster Gu ordered Yue Mingchuan to lead troops in a surprise attack on Fire Crow Village. The protective formation of Fire Crow Village was broken, the village chief was killed in battle, and the spirit herb garden, spirit stone warehouse, and weapon refining workshop were all captured."

"The Black Rock Sect has sided with the Crimson Cloud Sect and refused to submit. Elder Gu personally appeared and captured the three Golden Core cultivators of the Black Rock Sect. The sect's assets have been taken over by our Xuan Yang Sect."

One letter after another.

The more the Nascent Soul cultivators looked at the scene, the more energetic they became.

Their eyes lit up especially when they saw the list of seized items.

This is what a sect war should be like!

What did you play before?

Every day, how many more Golden Core cultivators and Foundation Establishment cultivators have died on the front lines? What territories have been lost? What spiritual veins and lands have been lost?

A rare smile appeared on Zhou Xuanyue's face.

"Junior Brother Gu was right to go to the front lines."

"I was worried that he was a new Nascent Soul cultivator and unfamiliar with the situation on the front lines."

"In retrospect, he was more decisive than we thought."

As Xie Xuancheng disassembled the back section, his expression gradually changed.

He held the latest battle report, his voice lowering.

"Your Excellencies, three days ago, a change occurred at the front."

The hall fell silent, and all the patriarchs' gazes immediately focused on Xie Xuancheng.

Xie Xuancheng stiffened for a moment, but quickly composed himself, took a deep breath, and said:

"The Supreme Elder of the Crimson Cloud Sect, Li Chenyuan, personally set up an ambush at Duanyun North Ridge, intending to kill the second batch of Xuanyang Sect's support cultivators while our army was retreating."

"Grandmaster Gu noticed the ambush and intercepted Li Chenyuan alone."

"The two sides fought for thirty-seven breaths above the North Ridge."

"Grandmaster Gu took Li Chenyuan's deadly attack head-on, covering Yue Mingchuan and the others as they retreated to the front-line camp."

"only……"

Xie Xuancheng lowered his voice.

"Empress Dowager Gu is injured."

The main hall was deathly silent.

The elders who had been clapping and cheering just moments before all fell silent.

The smile on Zhou Xuanyue's face disappeared.

The Supreme Lord in his red robes also frowned.

After a long silence, Zhou Xuanyue finally gave a bitter laugh.

"Fellow disciples, ask yourselves honestly."

"If we were on the front lines, facing Li Chenyuan's sneak attack, would we care about those Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators below?"

No one spoke; the answer was obvious to everyone.

Zhou Xuanyue smiled and continued, "I'm afraid the first thing to do is to crush the escape talisman and protect yourself."

"If a sect loses its disciples, it can recruit more."

"If a Foundation Establishment cultivator dies, they can be revived."

"But the Nascent Soul stage cannot be easily compromised."

He let out a long sigh as he finished speaking.

"But Junior Brother Gu... actually managed to withstand it."

The red-robed Supreme Elder remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

"It seems we really misunderstood him."

"I always felt that Junior Brother Gu would only do things for personal gain, and that he always seemed to have ulterior motives."

"But if he were truly only after personal gain, he wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths in this battle."

Another white-haired elder said in a low voice, "Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain."

These words left the group feeling uneasy.

When they recalled the bloodshed in the Gu family, they had also suspected that Gu Changjin practiced demonic arts.

When they recalled that Gu Changjin had volunteered to go to the front lines, they suspected that he had ulterior motives.

But now the facts are clear.

Gu Changjin personally went to the front line, and he commanded the battle quite well.

Moreover, they actually clashed head-on with Li Chenyuan to cover the sect's army.

Even if they were in their shoes, they might not be able to do this.

Deep in the back mountains.

The voice of True Lord Cangxuan slowly drifted over.

"Prejudice in people's hearts is indeed a mountain."

"We used to think that Gu Changjin was cold-blooded and ruthless, and that he wouldn't do anything without a profit."

"We were narrow-minded."

The voice was old and carried a hint of complexity.

"Junior Brother Gu is the backbone of our Xuan Yang Sect."

"The sect's treasure vault."

"Send healing spirit items, top-grade spirit stones, and pills to stabilize the nascent soul to the front lines."

"Also, ask him if he needs a replacement."

"If he wishes to return to the sect to recuperate, I will personally oversee the front lines."

These words shocked everyone in the hall.

The Azure Mystic True Lord is personally overseeing things?!

This is terrifying! If we really send him, it could lead to a war that wipes out the entire sect!

Xie Xuancheng quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has already sent back a jade slip containing your image."

As he spoke, he carefully took out a jade slip and poured his spiritual energy into it.

Light and shadow appeared in mid-air.

The scene showed a dilapidated array that flickered intermittently, with rows of Xuan Yang Sect cultivators behind it, each bearing injuries.

Gu Changjin sat on a pile of rubble, his face pale, a trace of black blood at the corner of his mouth, and his breathing was obviously somewhat disordered.

But his eyes remained calm.

"Cough cough..."

"Sect Leader, please convey this message to all the senior brothers."

"Chang Jin is incompetent; he has lost part of the position in the Broken Cloud Mountains."

"But as long as I, Gu Changjin, have a breath left, the old dogs of the Crimson Cloud Sect will not be allowed to set foot on the front line."

As he spoke, he coughed up another mouthful of black blood, but his back remained straight.

"Changing generals in the midst of battle is a major taboo in military strategy."

"I will never back down."

"The sect only needs to provide some rare and precious materials and top-grade spirit stones to repair the great formation and heal the disciples."

"Don't worry about it."

The image fades away.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Several Golden Core elders who managed sect affairs present had tears in their eyes.

The Heavenly Venerable Master Gu has descended upon us; he has gone to such lengths for the sake of the sect!

Xie Xuancheng felt his blood boil and suddenly stood up.

"This disciple will open the treasure vault immediately!"

Zhou Xuanyue said in a deep voice, "Pack more."

The Crimson-Robed Supreme Elder also said, "Take my share of Crimson Sun Jade Marrow with you as well."

Soon, a flying ship fully loaded with resources took off from the main peak of the Xuan Yang Sect.

Healing items, top-grade spirit stones, array materials, elixirs and talismans.

Box after box, filling the entire ship's hold.

The flying boat cut through the sea of ​​clouds and sped towards the front line of the Broken Cloud Mountains.

Throughout the Xuan Yang Sect, countless disciples looked up in awe.

They all know.

These resources were given to Mrs. Gu, who was risking her life to cover the rear on the front lines.

In an instant, no one in the Xuan Yang Sect dared to underestimate Gu Changjin's name.