Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 97: Risking Life Alone
Outsiders have a very vague impression of the Qinghe Sword Sect. Apart from knowing that they are skilled in swordsmanship and dedicated to eliminating demons, there seems to be nothing else.

Especially in this era where Taoism prevails and demons diminish, the Qinghe Sword Sect has even fewer achievements in exorcising demons, and it is rare to hear of any disciple doing anything earth-shattering.

Therefore, there are only two famous figures in the Qinghe Sword Sect. One of them is Zhang Qi, the sect leader who suppresses the world.

That was the number one swordsman in the world who slew the Demon Lord. The old folks of the last era all knew how powerful Zhang Qi was. It was passed down by word of mouth and became a bedtime story for the younger generation. It was a legend that everyone admired.

Then there was Su Chunyi, who once overwhelmed all the heroes in the sect's sparring and was known as the number one in the Tongxuan Realm.

Apart from that, the other members of the Qinghe Sword Sect were not well-known.

Firstly, because they had too few disciples, and secondly, because they never publicized their achievements in slaying demons and monsters.

They could only occasionally hear that Qinghe Sword Sect disciples went out to train and encountered demons, which they would then kill with a single sword strike.

"One sword cut him down"—those four words are not at all stirring or epic.

No one knows whether the demon was too weak or the Qinghe Sword Sect was too powerful.

Wang Yichen was an unknown disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect. Others only knew that he was at the Nascent Soul Realm and had been assigned to guard the Hundred Seas Valley. He usually hid in that simple hut and spent his days being affectionate with his wife, looking like a lazy person who did not seek any advancement.

Yun Tao of the Incense Burning Sect had been Wang Yichen's neighbor for many years and had even visited him to learn from him, but he had always been evaded and never revealed his true skills.

Over time, everyone just thought of him as a disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect who was ostracized. They only sent him to a place like Baihai Valley to waste his life because they knew he had no future.

But what's with this sky-covering sword strike?

We're all at the Nascent Soul stage, is the difference really that exaggerated?
Yun Tao felt as if his whole body was about to split open. With this sword strike, the entire Fenxiang Sect's territory would be cut in two, and all the other Fenxiang Sect disciples except him would probably die.

Yun Tao had no choice but to reverse the formation, lifting the incense burner high to meet the terrifying sword's edge.

Chen Ye was also shocked by the sword strike before him, no less so than when the monk Fang Yuan wiped away the stars with his palm.

This is the realm beyond the Profound Realm, where one can destroy the heavens and the earth with a mere gesture.

If this sword were to fall on those rogue cultivators, who could withstand it?

Although Chang Shou and his group seemed to be causing a great disturbance, in the eyes of truly powerful sects, they could be suppressed with a mere flick of the wrist.

Chen Ye gritted his teeth and said to Su Chunyi, "Miss Su, let's leave now!"

Now, everyone in the Incense Burning Sect is focused on the terrifying sword in the sky, and the formation can no longer attend to the two of them.

Su Chun quickly harnessed the sword light and charged out with Chen Ye.

The Incense Burning Sect used all its strength to resist the swords in the sky, and even mobilized the entire defensive formation of the base, but it was to defend against external attacks and not internal ones.

Yun Tao wasn't stupid. Even with his full strength, he might not be able to block the sword from the sky. If he were to distract Su Chunyi and let her swordsmanship run rampant inside the sect, the formation would be disrupted. How could he possibly block that sword then?
Let these two go. We'll settle accounts with the Qinghe Sword Sect later.

Su Chunyi's sword light burst out of the white jade archway, soaring into the sky and carrying Chen Ye towards the chaotic area.

The rogue cultivators ignited their golden flames with rage and gathered together, intending to attack the strongholds of the five major sects nearby, the closest of which was the Mirage Sect.

When they first broke out of the cage, only a few dozen people ignited the golden flames, but in a short time, the number had exceeded two hundred.

The rogue cultivators, riding their magical artifacts, flew through the air like a golden meteor, a magnificent sight that seemed poised to change the world.

The Mirage Sect was initially taken aback. Since the suppression of the demonic path, they had never seen such a large-scale battle involving hundreds of people.

Especially the rogue cultivators, who all seemed fearless and charged at you with their bodies covered in golden flames.

The righteous disciples cherished their lives and were unwilling to perish together with them, so they quickly hid in the sect's territory.

The Mirage Sect excels at illusions. When the formation protecting the mountain gate is activated, a thick fog envelops the area for miles around.

Whether they fly in the sky or run on the ground, they are all trapped in an illusion.

Although the golden flames on their bodies possessed powerful destructive force, capable of incinerating magical artifacts and breaking through restrictions, this illusionary mist seemed inexhaustible, and could not be broken no matter how much it was burned.

Chang Shou could only gather the scattered cultivators together to prevent them from being defeated one by one by the enemy.

Hundreds of rogue cultivators gathered together, and the golden flames on their bodies merged together, transforming into a ten-zhang-high pillar of fire, gradually revealing the shape of a crimson serpent.

The fiery serpent roared, constantly churning and thrashing in the mist, as if fighting an invisible enemy.

As Chen Ye and Su Chun approached, a beam of light flew out from the Mirage Sect and blocked their way.

This person had graying temples and an aged face, but his spiritual energy was concentrated and did not dissipate, constantly transforming into various aquatic creatures, making him appear mysterious and unpredictable.

Upon seeing Su Chunyi, the man anxiously asked, "Junior Nephew Su, why are you here? Why are the Qinghe Sword Sect and the Fenxiang Sect fighting? Wait, who is this person next to you, and how did he capture a disciple of the Fenxiang Sect?"

Upon seeing this person, Su Chun politely greeted him, saying, "Greetings, True Person Ziyan. The matter is complicated and requires many explanations, but we have come here to resolve this chaotic situation."

Master Ziyan looked at Su Chunyi with suspicion, then at Chen Ye, and finally at Wei Changsheng. He said to Su Chunyi, "Release the people first. The five major sects are of one mind. How can we fight amongst ourselves in front of outsiders?"

Just as Su Chunyi was about to explain, Chen Ye couldn't wait any longer and said to the Purple Smoke True Person, "The situation is urgent. If you insist on hearing an explanation, you might as well wait until things are resolved. Right now, the rogue cultivators of Hundred Seas Valley are in a state of uproar. If we don't appease them, there will surely be rivers of blood." The Purple Smoke True Person glanced at Chen Ye and said disdainfully, "Do you think I don't know? I already sent disciples to appease these rogue cultivators, but they have already been controlled by the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect and have completely lost their minds. They almost killed my Mirage Sect disciples."

Chen Ye asked, "So, Master, are you planning to kill them as well?"

Master Ziyan did not answer, but silence was tacit consent.

As a cultivator from the Mirage Sect, he couldn't stand idly by while rogue cultivators stormed the sect's territory. If the situation spiraled out of control, he would have no choice but to take drastic measures.

If anyone is to blame, it's their own foolishness in coming here to their deaths.

Chen Ye immediately understood what the Purple Smoke Immortal meant, and said to him, "Immortal, you should also know that this matter was a mess created by the five major sects to train their disciples. If we kill these hundreds of people today, it will be said that the five major sects are incompetent in managing their subordinates, causing hundreds of innocent rogue cultivators to lose their lives."

"This world has more than just Hundred Seas Valley, and more than just a few hundred rogue cultivators. The reputation that the five major sects have built up over a thousand years has been destroyed in an instant?"

Master Ziyan frowned deeply; it was precisely because of this that he had waited until now.

Otherwise, a mere group of rogue cultivators could be wiped out with a flick of the wrist.

Su Chunyi chimed in, "That's right. Everything must be judged by cause and effect, right and wrong. The fault lies with the five major sects. If innocent people are slaughtered because of this, then my Qinghe Sword Sect will be the first to object."

Master Ziyan suddenly felt a headache.

He wasn't afraid of Su Chunyi, but the name of the Qinghe Sword Sect carried too much weight; he, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, couldn't bear such a burden. Given the Qinghe Sect Leader's temper, he might be the first to be struck down after the bloodshed.

Will the Mirage Faction protect themselves then?

Only then did Master Ziyan take a serious look at Chen Ye. Before, he had only thought of Chen Ye as Su Chunyi's little follower, but now it seemed that this young man was the key.

Master Ziyan asked Chen Ye, "Then what are your brilliant ideas? I have negotiated with them three times, but they won't listen to a word I say."

Chen Ye said, "I am also a rogue cultivator, and I am friends with some of them. Although I cannot guarantee that I can persuade them, things have come to this point, so what harm is there in giving it a try?"

Master Ziyan then asked, "What does this have to do with the disciples of the Burning Incense Sect under your command?"

Chen Ye replied, "Does the Master want to hear me launch into a long speech, or does he want to quell this matter as soon as possible?"

Master Ziyan was a decisive person, and upon hearing Chen Ye's words, he no longer tried to stop him.

As he said, things have already gotten this bad; letting Chen Ye in would only result in one more vengeful spirit.

As for Wei Changsheng, Master Ziyan thought about it and decided to ignore him, since he wasn't a disciple of the Mirage Sect anyway.

Master Ziyan waved his hand to open a passage, preparing to let the two in, but Chen Ye said, "I'll go. Miss Su, you are also a disciple of the five major sects. Going with me will only arouse their suspicion."

"But it's too dangerous."

Chen Ye shook his head and said to Su Chunyi, "I am a rogue cultivator like them, and I know they are not vicious people."

Without waiting for Su Chun's reply, Chen Ye jumped into the passage.

The surrounding mist automatically parted, forming a slide that sent Chen Ye into the formation.

When Chen Ye landed safely, he saw the giant snake formed from golden flames lowering its head and staring at him with its vertical pupils, just like in his dream.

If Chen Ye is swallowed by this giant snake this time, he probably won't wake up.

However, Chen Ye held his head high and walked forward with the immobile Wei Changsheng in his arms, until they reached the group of rogue cultivators.

Looking into the leader's bloodshot eyes, Chen Ye asked, "Brother Chang, do you still consider me your friend?"

Chang Shou looked at Chen Ye and asked in a deep voice, "Brother Chen, you have done me a favor, but if you have come here as an envoy for those five major sects, then I have no choice but to sever ties with you."

Chen Ye threw Wei Changsheng at Chang Shou's feet and said, "I'm not a lobbyist; I'm here to deliver a hostage. You all know Wei Changsheng; he's a disciple of the Burning Incense Sect and a strong contender for the next head disciple of the Longevity Hall. Within the Burning Incense Sect, he's considered an important figure, second only to the head disciple."

The moment Chang Shou saw Wei Changsheng, his face contorted with rage, wishing he could stomp his head to pieces.

But Chen Ye immediately said, "There's no rush to kill or torture him. If this person survives, we'll have leverage in negotiations. If things really come to a head, we can drag him down with us later."

Chen Ye's words finally calmed Chang Shou down a bit. He waved for the other rogue cultivators to step back, walked up to Chen Ye, and asked, "Brother Chen, you've actually come to persuade him to surrender, haven't you?"

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "I'm not here to persuade you to surrender. People who persuade others to surrender don't bring hostages. Wei Changsheng is just a gift I'm giving you to show my sincerity. To be honest, I'm actually on your side. Brother Chang, have you forgotten that I was also bitten by the Red-banded Serpent? I was locked in the same cage as you."

"I am just like you, a helpless rogue cultivator. If you are killed by the five righteous sects, they will say that the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect bewitched you and forced them to take action. The demons will take the blame, the five righteous sects will distance themselves, and in order to save face, all the rogue cultivators bitten by the Crimson Serpent will die; they will not leave any survivors."

"So from the very beginning, we have been bound together by life and death."

Chang Shou frowned and asked, "So you've come to join us?"

Chen Ye said decisively, "Of course, I not only want to join you, but I also want to make the five righteous sects pay an even greater price. Just like Wei Changsheng, he is one of the prices that the five righteous sects need to pay, but that's not enough. Brother Chang, I have an even bigger plan. I can make the five major sects feel ashamed, I can make them bow their heads and admit their mistakes, and let all the cultivators in the world know that they were wrong."

"So, are you willing to listen to my plan?"

(End of this chapter)