Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

"Having a sect leader like this really doesn’t give one peace of mind,"

Chen Li’s heart was already in his throat.

Whether he liked it or not, his fate was now intertwined with that of the sect.

If the sect leader were to fall, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Fortunately, the distance between them was continuously growing.

Further and further apart...

Suddenly!

A dazzling white light burst forth, turning the once blue sky pitch black.

Chen Li’s entire field of vision was enveloped in the blinding light, reminiscent of an apocalyptic scene. Followed by that, a thunderous boom accompanied by a shock wave spread in all directions, blowing trees and cultivators on the mountain into disarray.

The Golden Core, which had accumulated spiritual power for hundreds of years, exploded in an instant, its terrifying might causing horror amongst those who witnessed it!

The blinding light persisted for several seconds before gradually dissipating.

He Zhao stood in the air, his clothes in tatters, yet he had somehow survived the explosion.

The entire mountaintop fell into dead silence. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Hahaha, having learned from one setback, how could I fall for the same trick again? I have been on guard against your desperate, back-against-the-wall tactics. Disciples of the Returning True Sect, heed my command—kill, leave none alive!" He Zhao laughed maniacally, his voice thunderous and brimming with energy.

He then transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the summit.

"Thank heavens, luckily the sect leader is unharmed!" Xiao Yuan let out a long sigh of relief.

But... was he really unharmed?

Or was he just putting on a strong front?

These worries clouded Chen Li’s mind.

"Avenge the sect leader!"

"Run for your lives!"

"Spare me!"

"Kill!"

The next moment, cries of battle and pleas for mercy rose again in the distance.

The entire mountaintop was in chaos, with some fighting as if possessed, others standing frozen in place, weeping loudly, and many more who had lost their morale, seizing the opportunity to break away in all directions. Cultivators from the Tianxing Sect could be seen fleeing in every direction, their exact numbers indistinguishable.

During this, two massive Flying Boats rose from the mountaintop, firing terrifying beams of light at the cultivators from both sects while charging outwards.

The ground was pocked with deep craters as many cultivators met untimely deaths.

Luckily, it wasn’t long before He Zhao and Ao Xiong intercepted them!

Before much time had passed, they destroyed them one by one, causing them to crash mid-mountain.

After hitting the ground, the Flying Boats continued to roll down the slope unchecked, causing large boulders to tumble down with them. The entire mountain trembled from the impact!

No one knew how many had perished, crushed into pulp!

After swiftly clearing the battlefield and gathering the spoils of war, the group began to intercept the fleeing cultivators.

What is good, and what is evil?

Chen Li couldn’t be bothered to ponder that anymore.

It all depends on where one stands.

No matter who it was, if they came close, he would send a flying sword.

However, their main target for interception were still the Foundation Establishment cultivators who were alone, not because of good or evil, but because these cultivators were more valuable. Qi Cultivation cultivators usually had but a few coins, with most of them possessing at most ten to twenty Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

With five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Chen Li, no longer concealing their true strength,

the battles were overwhelmingly in their favor.

If they intercepted someone, there was no escape.

It was practically instant killing.

Throughout, they encountered no dangers.

Of course, they couldn’t catch up to, or intercept, the latestage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Half an hour later, the shouts and killing finally subsided, and calm returned to the entire mountaintop.

By then, the morning sun was beginning to rise in the sky.

The rays of dawn shone down on the Tianxing Sect’s gates.

Blood-stained bodies, ruined medicinal gardens, trees toppled every which way, and rolling boulders... composed a harsh picture of the aftermath of the battle.

Smelling the thick scent of blood, Chen Li sighed.

Among the corpses were young boys and girls, their faces still showing traces of childishness, just beginning their lives with endless potential, yet they perished senselessly in this calamity.

Chen Li had killed before, more than a few.

But killing like this was a first for him.

"Sky Star City is in chaos too; shall we go and take advantage?" Peng Yan licked her lips, eager to make a move.

Hearing this, Chen Li looked into the distance.

Smoke billowed from a Cultivation City several miles away.

Clearly, upon seeing the situation at the Tianxing Sect go awry, turmoil had broken out within the city as well.

Xiao Yuan was also somewhat tempted and sought Chen Li’s opinion, "The Tianxing Sect is skilled at Artifact Refining, and this Sky Star City is a well-known bustling metropolis nearby. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

"You guys go ahead, I’ll pass." Chen Li had grown somewhat weary of killing.

"My Spiritual Power is almost depleted, I won’t go either." Hu Buwei also spoke up.

Seeing that both Chen Li and Hu Buwei were not going, the remaining three hesitated for a while before ultimately deciding to stand down.

However, even if Chen Li and his group did not go, there were still quite a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Returning True Sect and the Hongshan Sect who hurried there, ready to take advantage of the opportunity to continue this bloody feast.

The few stepped on the blood-soaked and sticky mountain path, climbing the stairs.

"It’s another one of our Returning True Sect." Xiao Yuan muttered, occasionally rolling a Magic Artifact or a storage bag from the bodies beside the path and stuffing them into his pack.

Unfortunately, they were all belongings of Qi Cultivation monks, no matter which sect they came from.

"Ah, this... This is Feng Qi, Fellow Daoist Feng!" Xiao Yuan exclaimed in shock.

Everyone quickly looked over.

They all had complex expressions on their faces.

Half of his head had been shorn off, with brain matter flowing all over the ground.

Feng Qi cultivated the Mixed Yuan Cultivation Skill, with both law and body cultivation, and his true strength was on par with the mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. Still, such strength was obviously not enough on this battlefield; he died without a sound, without causing the slightest ripple.

Bodies of fellow Foundation Establishment disciples from the same sect were continually discovered.

Some Chen Li was familiar with, others he merely recognized by face.

Chen Li even saw the body of Guo Xingquan; he had been cleaved in half at the waist, with his intestines and organs dragged out for seven or eight meters, clearly struggling for a long time before dying a reluctant and miserable death.

As more and more familiar bodies were found.

Everyone fell silent.

...

By the evening.

Both sects finally finished cleaning up the battlefield, moved away the bodies, and began to retreat in an orderly fashion.

They had arrived with five Flying Boats, but left with seven, obviously having gained a substantial amount of loot. Along with territory, population, Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Stones, and cultivation resources, the war had been hugely profitable for the Returning True Sect.

Moreover, they eliminated potential threats and hidden dangers to the sect in the future.

One sect with two Golden Cores—once they grew up,

the threat to the Returning True Sect as well as other nearby sects would indeed be too great.

Perhaps this was why the operation went so smoothly without interference from other neighboring sects; they likely welcomed the outcome.

The upper echelons’ power struggle was intricate and ever-changing, and Chen Li could not fully comprehend it; he could only infer bits and pieces from the results, getting a glimpse of the greater picture!

As for the losses.

One-third of the Foundation Establishment disciples were lost.

And half of the Qi Cultivation monks were gone, such numbers of casualties were considered severe damage to the Returning True Sect.

It’s hard to say whether they had lost or gained.

But for him personally, it indeed had been a big gain.

In the division of war spoils, Chen Li received the most among the five, simply because his battle achievements were too impressive.

Just from the Spirit Stones, he obtained over a hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones.

Beyond that.

There were four Second Order Mid-grade Magical Instruments.

And two Second Order Low-grade Magical Instruments.

One set of Second Order Mid-grade magical robes.

And two sets of Second Order Low-grade magical robes.

Twenty storage bags.

Among them, one Ten-Directional Storage Bag, three Five Directions Storage Bags, one Three-Directional Storage Bag, and fifteen Single Storage Bags.

As for first-order Magical Instruments, talismans, herbs, spiritual materials, pills, and such miscellaneous items, they were divided in piles, with many cultivators who broke through having storage bags stuffed full of everything.

Laid out, they accumulated like mountains.

If sold, they could be worth several dozen Top-grade Spirit Stones.

All together, converted to Spirit Stones, they would be worth well over two hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones.

The rest earned at least several tens of Top-grade Spirit Stones each.

It really lived up to the saying, ’Commit murder and arson, and you shall have a golden belt.’

One war—if you survived, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything.

Among all the spoils of war, there was only one Second Order Top-grade Magical Instrument.

It was that treasure pavilion used for smashing people.

However, Chen Li didn’t want it.

In the end, Xiao Yuan took it into his possession.

They were quite cautious in their actions, not blinded by greed, and generally didn’t take great risks. Their killings were restrained, otherwise, they would have gained even more.

ps: There will be another Chapter before midnight.