Raise a sword!

clang--

A bell rang out from the main peak, followed by the voice of Sect Master Chu Chun'an.

"All peak masters, please proceed to the sect's main hall for a meeting!"

Jiang Peng dared not delay. After hastily bidding farewell to Liu Quan, he made his way to the main peak and entered the sect's main hall.

At this moment, Chu Chun'an was waiting here with a solemn expression. When Jiang Peng arrived, he only nodded slightly and did not speak.

About fifteen minutes.

More than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators who were still stationed in the sect gathered in the main hall.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chu Chun'an said in a heavy tone, "An unexpected incident occurred during the war in Chen Kingdom. Master Shen was ambushed and wounded by the Chen Clan and Feiyan Tower. Master Qi of the Chen Clan disregarded the rules and attacked our sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Just moments ago, Elder Wang Biao sent a message that the sect's last stronghold in Chen Kingdom had been seized back by the Chen Clan and Feiyan Tower. At this moment, Master Qi of the Chen Clan is sitting openly at the border between the northern foothills and Chen Kingdom."

At this point, Chu Chun'an paused slightly, and finally sighed, "Junior Brother Zhou and Junior Brother Yu have unfortunately perished."

An eerie silence permeated the sect's main hall.

After a moment, an elder asked, "So, the battle will continue on the northern slope?"

Chu Chun'an nodded and said, "Master Lü needs to stay in the sect, and Master Shen is injured and can no longer leave... The Chen family and Feiyan Tower will not let go of such an opportunity."

Elder Han, who was supposed to preside over the opening of the sect and the acceptance of disciples, stepped forward and asked, "The sect's assets are scattered throughout the Earth-Ringing Mountains. If the war takes place on the northern slopes, the losses may damage the foundation of the sect."

"I personally set up the formations for many industries. Those formations can stop Foundation Establishment cultivators, but they can't stop Golden Core cultivators."

Just as they were talking, a communication talisman flew from outside the main hall to Chu Chun'an.

After taking the communication talisman and checking it, Chu Chun'an sighed and said, "Two mines controlled by sects have already been attacked."

"It was the Li family who led the way."

Chu Chun'an projected the contents of the communication talisman into mid-air.

"After the Li family left the sect, they went directly to the Chen Kingdom... The trigger for this great war was the attack on the sect's spiritual fields two years ago, which broke the formation from the inside, and the Li family was responsible for it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Chun'an suddenly waved his hand, and spiritual energy gathered in the center of the hall, eventually transforming into a map of the northern foothills of the Earth-Ringing Mountains.

The map has many markings, with words like "mineral veins" and "spirit fields" written on them.

"Next, the sect must prepare to deal with the Chen Kingdom's counterattack."

Chu Chun'an then called out the names of several elders present and assigned them to guard sect properties.

"This matter cannot be delayed. Please set off immediately," Chu Chun'an said.

The elders whose names were called responded one after another, and then each used their own methods to leave the sect's main hall.

Then, Chu Chun'an's gaze swept over the remaining elders.

"Those of you who remain in the sect, it is best not to go out recently. Firstly, to guard against the Chen Kingdom cultivators harassing Cangshan Market, and secondly, to prevent the Feiyan Tower's raiders from lying in ambush and targeting lone individuals."

"We obey," the elders replied.

The elders all left.

Jiang Peng, who was originally mingling among the elders, was also preparing to leave, but when she reached the entrance of the main hall, she heard Chu Chun'an calling her from behind.

"Junior Brother Jiang, please wait."

Jiang Peng turned to look at Chu Chun'an.

But then Chu Chun'an handed over the communication talisman he had just received.

After checking, Jiang Peng looked up in surprise.

"The Chen family's Golden Core cultivators have already appeared on the northern slope?"

Chu Chun'an pressed his palm down slightly, indicating that Jiang Peng need not be surprised.

"The sect has its own way of dealing with this matter. The reason we left Junior Brother Jiang here is that we hope he can come to the aid of a mine in the north of the mountains."

"They are currently being harassed by cultivators from the Chen Kingdom, and because it is too far from the sect, it may be too late to get reinforcements... Junior Brother Jiang has learned the Gale Step, so his escape speed is much faster than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Jiang Peng was taken aback.

Although he never hid his ability to use the Gale Step, he had never demonstrated it in public.

I didn't expect the sect leader to even know about this.

"Did Senior Sister Sun say that?"

"Junior Sister Sun is guarding the mine you are supposed to be assisting. Not long ago, she sent a message saying that the mine is being besieged by several Foundation Establishment cultivators. She is temporarily holding on with the power of the formation, but she can't hold out for long."

After a slight hesitation, Jiang Peng finally nodded.

"Does the sect leader know the whereabouts of the Golden Core cultivator from the Chen Kingdom? Junior brother certainly doesn't want to run into a Golden Core cultivator."

"Don't worry." Chu Chun'an's lips curved slightly. "As you know, Junior Brother, I had already thought about the Dragon and Snake Temple more than two years ago. Everything is still under the control of the sect."

"Of course, I'm only saying this to you; don't tell anyone else," Chu Chun'an said meaningfully. "The elders in the sect aren't necessarily all trustworthy."

...

Deep in the northern foothills of the Drumming Mountains.

Golden Copper Valley.

This place is named after a gold and copper mine. It was accidentally discovered by the Cangshan Sect cultivators in the early years, who then occupied it, built a stronghold, set up formations, and turned the mine into a source of wealth for the sect.

Golden Copper Valley.

This place is named after a gold and copper mine. It was accidentally discovered by the Cangshan Sect cultivators in the early years, who then occupied it, built a stronghold, set up formations, and turned the mine into a source of wealth for the sect.

It was dusk.

The vast valley was completely silent, with only the occasional rumble coming from the outside world.

Rumbling--

With a sudden tremor, water-like patterns appeared in the sky above the valley, and a semi-transparent light curtain appeared before the eyes of everyone in the valley.

Sun Yinxi stood calmly at the highest point of the valley, only a few feet away from the light screen.

On the other side of the light screen, three other Foundation Establishment cultivators were eyeing the scene with predatory intent.

"Why bother, Fellow Daoist Sun?" Chen Chi, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Chen clan, smiled smugly. "My ancestor has already entered the Northern Foothills region, and your sect is suffering defeats everywhere, seemingly on the verge of collapse."

As he spoke, Chen Chi wielded a huge iron hammer and slammed it down hard.

Another loud bang followed. The formation still protected the valley, but compared to its previous stability, the light barrier now seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

There were no formation masters in the valley to repair the formation, and the enemy's arrival was too sudden.

Sun Yinxi felt that the situation was extremely difficult.

"In the past, when forces fought each other in the Southern Mountain Region, it was always a case of the fish hunting the fish and the shrimp hunting the shrimp. There was rarely a precedent of a Golden Core cultivator attacking a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Sun Yinxi said coldly, "Does the Chen family think that breaking the rules goes unpunished? Heh, as if the three sects of the Northern Foothills have no Golden Core cultivators in charge."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chi's smile froze slightly for a moment.

He frowned and looked at the other two people beside him.

"My two fellow Daoists from the Li family, join me in breaking this formation and capturing this woman alive!"

Sun Yinxi also glanced at the other two people outside the formation.

Back then, the Li family of the Cangshan Sect had two members who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and they are both here now.

Sun Yinxi's face showed a mocking expression.

"The sect granted you freedom, and this is how you repay the sect? In this battle, only your Li family is unforgivable."