Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

The atmosphere at the temporary camp in Yongzhou was as heavy as lead.

The smell of scorched earth mixed with the heavy stench of blood filled everyone's nostrils, a constant reminder of the price of the fierce battle that had just taken place. The campfire crackled, illuminating the weary and worried faces of the group.

Yu Changsheng sat cross-legged in a makeshift tent in the center of the camp, with Chen Xueqing, who was barely breathing and had a pale face, in his arms.

The colorful star deer knelt to one side. Its once radiant and vibrant emerald antlers had become dull and covered with fine cracks. Every time it exerted all its strength to entwine the healing radiance around Chen Xueqing, its petite body would tremble uncontrollably and emit painful cries.

"Her soul-burning wound... Caixing has... reached her limit..."

Yu Changsheng's deep voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion. His gaze was fixed on his lover's pale face, and his knuckles were white from gripping the air tightly. "Only the 'core amethyst' condensed within the Triangle Abyss Clan, containing their life essence and immense energy, can completely eradicate the Soul-Burning Flame and reshape their soul foundation."

His words were like a boulder thrown into a still pool, stirring up violent waves in the hearts of Huang Xiren, Tuoba Xin, He Yong, and others.

"Then let's rob it!" Huang Xiren slapped his thigh, his hair and beard standing on end, his eyes burning with rage.

"Hey Yu, what are you waiting for? Take your men, chase after that Monslan, kill him, and dig out his amethyst! Xueqing did this to save you..."

"Elder Huang, please calm down!" Tuoba Xin hurriedly interrupted, his face filled with deep bitterness and helplessness. He handed a jade slip that shimmered with a blue halo and exuded an aura of majesty to Yu Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, the 'reinforcement order' from the Huangpu family head of Qingzhou has arrived! Luoxia Pass and Iron Wall Fortress are under attack! The remnants of Monsilan's forces are fiercely attacking Luoxia Pass. Qingzhou has urgently ordered us, the remnants of Yongzhou, to rush to their aid immediately! Those who disobey the order... will be regarded as traitors and will be dealt with after the war!"

This "rescue order" was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing some of Huang Xiren's anger and igniting the long-suppressed grief and indignation of the Yongzhou cultivators.

"Bullshit!" Another Purple Mansion cultivator from Wuzhou suddenly stood up, pointing at the jade slip and cursing loudly.

"That old fox Huangpu Hongxuan! He's clearly trying to use us as a tool to kill someone! He wants us, the remnants of Yongzhou, to fill that meat grinder at Luoxia Pass? Qingzhou has a powerful army, why doesn't they go themselves? They just want to see us fight the Yuan Clan to the last drop of blood! Fellow Daoist Yu, we can't go! Fellow Daoist Xueqing's injuries can't wait!"

"Yes! Senior Yu, our brothers from Yongzhou have already suffered too many casualties! We can't afford to send any more to their deaths!"

"Ancestor Tuoba, Ancestor He! The men of Yongzhou cannot just die like this!"

Grief-stricken cries echoed throughout the camp, the surviving Yongzhou cultivators' eyes filled with despair and resistance. Tuoba Xin and He Yong's faces were ashen, their lips tightly pressed together.

Tuoba Xin's clan suffered heavy losses in the enticement and final battle, and He Yong was also seriously wounded. How could they not harbor hatred?
However, Qingzhou was powerful, and Huangpu Hongxuan was ruthless and held the pretext of "righteousness." If they disobeyed the order to provide aid now, once Qingzhou recovered, the remaining embers of Yongzhou would likely be mercilessly crushed. They represented the survival of the entire remnant of Yongzhou, and this heavy responsibility weighed on them, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.

"Brother Tuoba, Brother He... it's the order from Patriarch Huangpu..."

Tuoba Xin spoke with difficulty, his voice dry and hoarse, each word carrying immense weight.

"...There is no room for error."

He Yong closed his eyes, nodded heavily, and acquiesced to this cruel reality.

A deathly silence of despair immediately filled the ranks of the cultivators from Yongzhou.

In the shadows of the corner, Feng Yin leaned against a charred wooden stake, tapping the sword hanging in front of him with interest.

The sword emitted a clear, melodious hum, its purple light swirling and reflecting on his deeply lined old face, which now wore a strange smile.

He glanced at Yu Changsheng, who was heartbroken inside the tent, then swept his gaze over the indignant Yongzhou cultivators and the helpless Tuoba Xin and He Yong, letting out a barely audible chuckle, as if watching a spectacular drama.

"Save lives, or seize power?" His lips moved slightly, and he murmured silently, "Brilliant... It's best to fish in troubled waters; mutual destruction is what I desire..."

Yu Changsheng's gaze slowly swept over the crowd: there was the righteous indignation of Huang Xiren and others, the heavy helplessness of Tuoba Xin and He Yong, the despair and numbness of the Yongzhou cultivators, and Feng Yin's undisguised greed and scheming in the corner.

Finally, his gaze fell back on the face of his dying lover in his arms. Those once bright and lively eyes were tightly closed, their life force as faint as a candle flickering in the wind. A tearing pain gripped his heart.

We cannot abandon Xueqing! Absolutely not!

But we cannot allow the remnants of the Yongzhou forces to be wiped out for defying Qingzhou!
We must not allow Qingzhou to reap the benefits and let the remnants of Monsilan wreak havoc, thus confirming his guilt for delaying the battle!

In a flash, an extremely risky plan, almost like dancing on the edge of a knife, took shape in his mind.

"Fellow Daoist Tuoba!" Yu Changsheng suddenly looked up, his grief completely gone, leaving only a cold resolve and a hint of desperate madness in his eyes. "I accept the order to provide reinforcements! Fellow Daoist Yongzhou, set off immediately to reinforce Luoxia Pass!"

"What?!" Huang Xiren and many other cultivators from Wuzhou could hardly believe their ears.

“However,” Yu Changsheng’s tone shifted abruptly, speaking rapidly, “Luoxia Pass is strategically important, and Iron Wall Fortress is an impregnable fortress that Qingzhou has built up over many years. Although Mengsilan is wounded, he will fight like a cornered beast! A direct assault would be tantamount to suicide! We must act in this way—”

"Divide the troops into three groups!"

“Minglu,” Yu Changsheng said, his eyes sharp, looking at Tuoba Xin and He Yong, “You two, lead the Daoists from Yongzhou and some from Wuzhou in a large-scale, feigned attack on the front of Luoxia Pass! The goal isn't to break through the pass, but to create a massive spectacle and firmly tie down the main force of the Yuan Clan at the pass, preventing them from being distracted! Remember, it's a feint attack; preserving yourselves is the top priority!” Tuoba Xin and He Yong exchanged a glance, instantly understanding Yu Changsheng's intention—this was giving them an opportunity to both carry out the reinforcement order and maximize the preservation of Yongzhou's forces. A complex light flashed in their eyes, and they nodded emphatically: “We obey! We will not fail you!”

"The Hidden Path:" Yu Changsheng's gaze turned to Huang Xiren and Lin Hao, "Elder Huang, Nephew Lin Hao! You two should select all the fellow Daoists skilled in stealth, formations, and talismans to form an elite team. Bypass the main battlefield of Luoxia Pass, infiltrate its flank and rear, and find the core of the Iron Wall Fortress formation! Destroy it at all costs! Create chaos to attract the attention of the Qingzhou garrison and the Yuan Clan, while also leaving a way out for any possible unforeseen events!"

A glint flashed in Huang Xiren's eyes as he understood the deeper meaning behind this move. He slapped Lin Hao's shoulder hard and said, "Kid, stick with me! Let's pull off a big heist!" Lin Hao clenched his fist and nodded fiercely.

“Qi Lu:” Yu Changsheng looked at Chen Xueqing in his arms one last time, his eyes softening instantly before hardening into unwavering determination. “I will take Xueqing and the Rainbow Star Deer and infiltrate the heart of the battlefield alone! My only objective is to take the heavily wounded and fleeing Monslan and retrieve his core amethyst!”

These words shocked everyone present! To venture alone deep into the enemy's heartland and hunt down a dying Triangular General right under the noses of the Qingzhou and Yuan tribes? This was practically a death sentence!
"Yu Changsheng! Are you crazy?!" Huang Xiren was both shocked and furious.

"This is the only way!" Yu Changsheng said decisively.

"Only I am familiar with Monslan's injuries and aura, and only I can pinpoint its location the fastest! The Rainbow Deer must stay by Xueqing's side, using its own life force to keep her alive until her last breath. At the same time, the Amethyst must be used immediately after leaving her body, without delay! This path is the most dangerous, but I must be the one to walk it!"

He paused, his gaze falling on the shadows in the corner, his voice carrying a chilling warning: "Fellow Daoist Fengyin, please come with me."

This sword is a powerful weapon against the Abyss Clan and is indispensable in the battle against Monslan. I hope you will prioritize the greater good and refrain from... making a mistake.” He deliberately emphasized the word “greater good.”

Feng Yin's unsettling smile widened as he slowly sheathed the Purple Spirit Emperor Sword, gently stroking its hilt. "Hehe, Brother Yu, rest assured. This old man also wants to see what the Triangle Abyss Clan's Great Purple Crystal looks like. Helping you... naturally, I will." A flash of greedy light appeared in his murky eyes, so fast it seemed like an illusion.

The plan was finalized, without any hesitation.

Tuoba Xin and He Yong immediately summoned the cultivators of Yongzhou and, with a tragic and resolute spirit, charged toward Luoxia Pass. Their battle cries shook the heavens and instantly attracted the attention of the remnants of Meng Silan's forces and the Qingzhou garrison.

Almost simultaneously, Huang Xiren and Lin Hao's elite squad blended into the night and complex terrain like ghosts, disappearing silently into the shadows of the mountains.

Yu Changsheng took a deep breath and gently carried Chen Xueqing on his back, securing her firmly with his strong dragon tendons. The colorful star deer let out a soft cry, struggled to stand up, and pressed itself against Yu Changsheng's legs, its emerald halo barely enveloping Chen Xueqing as well.

He glanced at Feng Yin one last time, said nothing, and his figure transformed into a streak of light almost blending into the night, speeding towards the valley on the flank of Luoxia Pass, the place where the remnants of Mengsilan were most likely to hide during their retreat. Feng Yin chuckled, his figure like a wisp of black smoke, following closely behind.

Deep within Luoxia Pass, at the heart of Iron Wall Fortress.

Just as Huangpu Hongxuan had predicted, after a period of "stubborn resistance" by the Qingzhou garrison at Luoxia Pass, the remnants of Monsilan's forces were "repelled." The garrison "obeyed the order to rush to their aid and contracted their defensive line," thus quietly opening a breach leading to Iron Wall Fortress.

When Monslan led the Abyss Clan, whose aura was violent and who were driven to near madness by pain and defeat, into the Ironwall Fortress, the heavy gate crashed down!
Countless mysterious runes lit up instantly, and light flowed across the thick, fine gold wall engraved with countless defensive formations. A huge, purplish-black light shield shaped like an inverted bowl rose up instantly, completely sealing off the entire Iron Wall Fortress along with the invading remnants of the Abyss Clan army!

"Roar—!! You despicable human! Trap!" Monslan roared deafeningly. The huge wound in his abdomen was still oozing a purplish-black viscous liquid. His breathing was even more disordered than before, but the light from the triangular crystal core revealed a dying madness.

It sensed a deadly threat!

"Lord Monslan! It's the Iron Wall Fortress's deadly formation in Qingzhou!" a member of the Twin-Horned Abyss Clan roared in panic.

"Charge out!" Another two-horned abyss clan member frantically rammed into the light shield, but was bounced back by the powerful energy, and its carapace shattered.

"If we can't break through... then... fill our stomachs! Regain our strength!" A cruel red light flashed in Monslan's triangular eyes.

It suddenly stretched out its giant claws, grabbed a unicorn abyss soldier who was caught off guard, and tore off the crystal core from its head along with its flesh amidst the latter's shrill screams, stuffing it into its mouth to chew! Violent energy surged into its wrecked body.

"Roar!" Under the threat of death and the mad demonstration of their leader, the other Abyss Clan members instantly descended into an even more terrifying infighting! The weaker Abyss Clan members were torn apart and devoured by their stronger counterparts, and the entire Ironwall Fortress instantly turned into a bloody hell, with chaotic energy storms raging and crashing within the light shield.

After devouring a large number of its own kind, the aura of Monslan temporarily and morbidly surged!
Meanwhile, high above Iron Wall Fortress, the leader of the Qingzhou Shadow Guard coldly watched the horrific infighting within the fortress and ordered his deputy, "Have those Yongzhou cannon fodder from Tuoba Xin arrived yet? Have them immediately launch a frontal assault on Luoxia Pass! Tell General Huangfu, who is guarding the pass, to 'cooperate' with the Yongzhou Daoists' attack and release a portion of the Yuan Clan. Make sure the Yongzhou cultivators and the remnants of the Yuan Clan... get to know each other well!"

"Yes!" The deputy accepted the order and left. Soon, the battle at Luoxia Pass became "intense," with some of the Yuan Clan beasts, deliberately "released" from Luoxia Pass, rushing towards the Yongzhou cultivators led by Tuoba Xin and He Yong like mad beasts, and a fierce battle broke out instantly.

Outside the Ironwall Fortress, at the edge of a chaotic energy storm.

Like a seasoned hunter, Yu Changsheng, relying on his profound connection with his beast tamer and his familiarity with Meng Silan's injuries, precisely targeted Meng Silan, who was frantically devouring his own kind in the center of the chaos, attempting to regain his power. Carrying Chen Xueqing on his back, he weaved through jagged rocks and raging energy currents, with the Rainbow Star Deer following closely behind, its emerald aura struggling to resist the corrosive amethyst energy permeating the air and its erosion of Chen Xueqing's fragile soul.

"Found you!" Yu Changsheng's eyes flashed with cold light.

Almost simultaneously, Monslan also sensed this aura that it both hated and feared to the core!
"I—live—forever!" Monslan roared incoherently, abandoning the half-body remains of the Abyss Clan in his claws, and his massive body suddenly turned around!
Despite its severe injuries, the temporary power boost from devouring its own kind still made its aura terrifying! The triangular crystal core suddenly lit up, and a visible, viscous, amethyst-like domain suddenly expanded!

"Amethyst Imprisonment!"

hum!
Yu Changsheng instantly felt his body sink, as if he had fallen into an abyss! The surrounding air turned into solidified purple crystal, and a terrifying pressure came from all directions, threatening to crush his bones, flesh, and even his soul! Chen Xueqing, who was unconscious behind him, groaned and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

The Star Deer let out a mournful cry, its emerald light surging to its peak, forcefully creating a small green sphere within the purple domain, barely large enough to accommodate two people! However, the violent backlash caused its already cracked antlers to snap with a soft "crack," a deep fissure spreading out, from which emerald life essence overflowed like tears! (End of Chapter)