A Blood-Moving Realm has arrived in the world of The Return of the Condor Heroes.

Qiu Chuji's face was now ashen and grim. Although he had no fatal injuries, his blood and qi were churning violently.

He was always reckless, but he was by no means stupid. During the fight, his anger gradually dissipated, and he was repeatedly amazed by the skills of Zhang Huai and the other two, which made his mind clearer.

Huo Du's actions were truly bizarre. Knowing that he was no match for the Big Dipper Formation, he still risked his life to save Zhang Huai. In his memory, Huo Du was never the type to risk his life like this.

But looking at the Quanzhen disciples falling one after another beside him, each with their robes stained with blood, if he couldn't take down these three, how could he give an explanation to his disciples, and how could he face the ancestors of Chongyang Palace?

Moreover, he had no choice but to stop now. Zhang Huai and the other two had come for revenge, and now they were truly enraged. They would not stop until they were satisfied with their fight.

The other members of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen gradually calmed down from their anger, but the situation was already out of control and there was no way to salvage it.

Meanwhile, inside a side hall of Chongyang Palace, Zhao Zhijing peeked through the crack in the door, his legs already trembling with fear, his voice shaking:

"How could this be? How could this be? Master and my senior uncle set up the Heavenly Dipper Formation, and with so many fellow disciples, we were still no match for those three? How is this possible?"

Zhen Zhibing, standing beside him, regained his composure from the initial panic, his face pale but his eyes resolute.

"All of this trouble was caused by me. Now, only by atoning for my sins with my death can this disaster be quelled."

After saying that, he lifted his foot to push the door open and leave.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing quickly reached out and pressed him down firmly, lowering his voice and saying harshly:

"Zhen Zhibing, don't cause me any trouble! If you dare to go out and die today, I'll expose your shameful deeds to the entire martial arts world!"

Zhen Zhibing turned to look at him in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief:

"Zhao Zhijing, things have come to this, what more do you want? Do you really want to watch my Quanzhen Sect perish before you're satisfied?"

"I caused the sect's downfall and death? Get this straight! It was you! It was you!"

Zhao Zhijing roared at Zhen Zhibing.

His words pierced Zhen Zhibing's heart like a sharp knife, causing him to lower his head in shame and dare not meet his gaze.

"I've sacrificed so much for you, and now you just want to leave and go out to your death. What am I supposed to do?"

Zhao Zhijing's voice softened slightly, but it still carried resentment.

"The fault lies entirely with me. Let's both go out and admit our mistakes. I will bear all the consequences alone."

Zhen Zhibing looked up, his tone filled with resentment and a hint of pleading.

"Dream on! Zhen Zhibing! What have I put in all this effort for? You want me to go with you to apologize? Wouldn't that make me a sinner for all time in the history of the Quanzhen Sect?"

Zhao Zhijing raised his voice and roared at Zhen Zhibing, his anger almost tangible, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"Now, everyone in Chongyang Palace believes that it was the Little Dragon Girl who colluded with the Mongol barbarians to invade our Quanzhen Holy Land. As long as you and I stick to this story, we will forever stand on the moral high ground, and no one can find fault with us."

I, Zhao Zhijing, am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of living a mediocre life and dying a pathetic one!

"I haven't become the leader of the Quanzhen Sect yet, I can't die! Zhen Zhibing, please have pity on your senior brother, okay?"

Zhao Zhijing's tone suddenly shifted from anger to sorrow. He abruptly reached out and hugged Zhen Zhibing, bursting into tears. His face was instantly covered in tears, and he looked quite grief-stricken.

"Junior brother, even though we've had our share of disagreements in the past, this time, your senior brother has gone to great lengths and sacrificed so much for you. Is this how you repay your senior brother?"

Zhen Zhibing was completely taken aback by Zhao Zhijing's sudden move. Feeling both ashamed and guilty, he was momentarily at a loss for words and could only stammer out:

"Senior brother..."

He reached out and helped Zhao Zhijing up from his arms. Seeing Zhao Zhijing's face covered in tears and his eyes red, his hesitation deepened.

"But Master and the others... are still fighting a bloody battle outside. How can we just sit idly by?"

Zhen Zhibing stared at the faint glint of sword light and bloodstains outside the crack in the door, his voice trembling, his heart filled with anxiety.

Seeing that he still had doubts, Zhao Zhijing quickly flashed a calculating glint in his eyes, then changed to a painstakingly earnest expression:

"I never expected that those three guys would be so powerful. Even under the Heavenly Dipper Formation formed by my master and senior uncles, they were still able to suppress everyone steadily."

Even if you get out, what can you do? Do you think that by atoning for your sins with your death, you can quell Yang Guo and the others' anger? You know that ungrateful wretch Yang Guo. Back in my Quanzhen Sect, he dared to insult our master and injure his fellow disciples. He's ruthless by nature.

Going out now would only be throwing your life away in vain, and would bring no benefit to the battle.

"Then what should we do? Senior brother, are we just going to stand here and watch Master and our fellow disciples die?"

Zhen Zhibing quickly spoke up to inquire.

"You must understand, junior brother, the survival of the Quanzhen Sect has never been tied to any one person. As long as either of us is still alive, the incense of the Quanzhen Sect will never be extinguished."

Zhao Zhijing patted his shoulder, his tone calm, but with a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Senior brother, do you mean we should leave here first?"

Zhen Zhibing's face was full of difficulty, and his eyes were hesitant.

"Why,"

Zhao Zhijing sighed deeply, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Senior brother doesn't want to either, but given the current situation, this is the only way to leave a chance for the Quanzhen Sect to survive."

Whether Master and the others can hold on is not up to us. If the two of us go out, we won't be of any help at all.

If Master and the others can miraculously hold on, that would be wonderful. But even if they don't make it, as long as you and I are here, we will surely be able to revive our Quanzhen Sect one day!

"I……"

Zhen Zhibing opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but was hurriedly interrupted by Zhao Zhijing.

"Don't hesitate any longer! If you hesitate any longer, you really won't be able to leave!"

Zhao Zhijing's face was full of urgency, and his eyes were filled with panic.

Zhen Zhibing closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

In the end, he was struck hard by the words "revive the Quanzhen Sect," which hit him where it hurt.

He was weak-willed to begin with, and after Zhao Zhijing's coaxing and cajoling, he had long lost the determination and resolve he initially had when he offered his life in repentance.

"Fine... then I'll listen to my senior brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhijing breathed a sigh of relief, a barely perceptible smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

He quickly grabbed Zhen Zhibing's wrist and hurried towards the back of the hall, saying urgently:

"That's right! Let's leave from the back hall of Chongyang Palace and head towards the back mountain. We'll take the small path there to leave Zhongnan Mountain and lay low for now. We can make further plans later!"

As Zhen Zhibing was pulled along, his steps were heavy. He couldn't help but look back one last time at the direction outside the palace gate. He could still clearly hear the mournful cries of his fellow disciples and the furious curses of his master, Qiu Chuji. His heart ached, and his eyes reddened slightly.

He secretly vowed in his heart:

"Master, fellow disciples, I am an unfilial disciple. I will do my utmost to revitalize the Quanzhen Sect. Otherwise, I will atone with my life."

He didn't have any thoughts of revenge, after all, he knew better than anyone that the root of this disaster was him, and that he had committed this heinous crime.

Only by atoning for his sins through future actions can he somewhat alleviate the guilt and self-blame in his heart.

When Zhen Zhibing sneaked back more than a month later, Chongyang Palace was deserted...