Chapter 726: With the sect in peril, how can one sit idly by?

The Ten Decisive Duels were to be conducted over five days.

Two matches per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

As time reached the afternoon, the dueling platform at Lingtian Pass, personally established by a Nascent Soul True Person, welcomed the second internal struggle of the Luo Tian Sect.

One combatant was Min Longyu, of the lineage of the current Sect Master Yao Mingyue, with the Daoist title Lei Zhenzi. Legend has it that when he first entered Foundation Establishment, he used a single thunder formation to blast five opponents of the same rank to death! Over a hundred years have passed, and Lei Zhenzi's cultivation is even more formidable than before, his realm having reached Core Formation. He is now the premier formation master of the Luo Tian Sect, and even within Lingtian Pass, his reputation is widespread.

His opponent, however, was Hong Ling, personally invited by Si Wenjun!

There are many titles hanging over this woman's head, but when summarized, only two words are needed to describe everything: "Sword Cultivator"!

The masses were full of anticipation for this battle.

Yet, the direction of the battle was destined from the very beginning.

*Chi! Chi! Chi! *

On the dueling platform, sword Qi filled the air. The attacks launched by Min Longyu crumbled into disarray under the bombardment of the surging sword Qi. His meticulously prepared formations were torn to shreds.

He could only remain trapped within a defensive formation, struggling bitterly to hold on.

"You are no match for me!"

"Back when I sparred with your sect's Supreme Elder, you hadn't even condensed your Core. Why struggle so bitterly?"

"If you remain so obsessed and deluded, do not blame me for not showing mercy with my sword!"

The sharp, feminine shout came from all directions.

That majestic sword momentum showed no signs of waning; instead, it grew increasingly intense, battering Min Longyu's protective barrier until it swayed in the wind and rain.

Min Longyu, with his head of white hair, gritted his teeth, continuously channeling his magic power to keep the defensive formation he had prepared in advance from being shattered.

But just doing this had already exhausted all his mental energy.

Seeing that his opponent's momentum was unstoppable, he hardened his heart and took a formation disk from his robes.

Just at this moment.

"We concede!"

A voice came from below the platform.

The sword momentum vanished instantly, the thousands of sword Qi retracting in a flash, transforming into a pill that disappeared into Hong Ling's mouth.

Before leaving the high platform, she took a deep look at the unactivated formation disk in Min Longyu's hand, a hint of wariness appearing on her face.

Min Longyu walked off the dueling platform with a face full of fury and looked toward Gu Caiyi.

"Give me an explanation!"

"You cannot die up there," Gu Caiyi said, her expression calm.

"Why can't I? Li Yingzhang could risk his Dao path being damaged and his realm plummeting just to take down an enemy, so why can't I? Do you trust me that little?" Min Longyu's face was ferocious, his palms clenched so tightly that fresh blood dripped from them.

Clearly, for this battle, he had already prepared to sacrifice everything.

For this, he was willing to use his entire body's essence blood to activate his life-bound formation disk and perish together with that sword cultivator!

"That Hong Ling was a powerhouse of the same generation who once vied for supremacy with my husband. Your specialty is the Dao of formations, which requires advance preparation; this dueling platform is simply not suited for your style of combat. Losing to her is not a disgrace."

"You know I don't care about disgrace!"

Gu Caiyi no longer wished to argue with him in public. Saying "we will discuss this when we return," she led the group away.

As the Luo Tian Sect group departed, the discussions after the match did not cease; instead, they grew even more heated.

"That's the fourth match, right?"

"Yes, the fourth loss. This defeat of Lei Zhenzi has almost completely extinguished the confidence Sha Longzi had managed to claw back. If they lose just two more matches, the power of the Luo Tian Sect will shift into Si Wenjun's hands. By then, this Core Formation sect might cease to exist, swallowed up by the Five Elements Divine Sect. Even if it ends in a five-to-five draw, with the Five Elements Divine Sect and Motian Cliff joining forces to apply pressure, Fenghua Palace will not forcefully protect the Luo Tian Sect."

"It's a pity; True Person Li Yingzhang unexpectedly got them off to a good start, yet the subsequent direction has turned out like this."

"There's nothing to pity. Behind Si Wenjun stand two major Nascent Soul sects, and those two sects can also recruit powerhouses from other fallen sects to assist them. How could the Luo Tian Sect possibly win relying solely on its own strength?"

"Indeed. From the moment the Ten Decisive Duels were established, the Luo Tian Sect had already lost. It's just going through the motions to give Fenghua Palace some face."

"Regardless of winning or losing, the War Demon Wang Yuan will definitely make a move tomorrow. That is the battle I am looking forward to the most!"

"Me too. Everyone has placed huge bets on the total score, so there's no profit to be made there. I just want the War Demon's match tomorrow to be an upset; that way, I'll make a fortune!"

"Heh, the War Demon causing an upset? Keep dreaming!"

"Right, keep dreaming!"

The name of the War Demon, Wang Yuan, has grown increasingly resounding over the last hundred years.

It is a reputation forged through real blood and fire in battle after battle.

He once had the experience of single-handedly protecting the Luo Tian Sect as they fought their way out of the Xiaoyue Mountain Range, and he also had the feat of charging alone into a sect's mountain gate to slaughter allies who had betrayed them while under siege by a crowd of cultivators.

Just a short while ago, when the front lines were collapsing entirely, he revealed all his capabilities and actually managed to hold off a Fourth-Rank Demon Emperor.

Even if it was only for a brief moment, it drew the attention of the entire world.

A Nascent Soul cultivator within Lingtian Pass once lowered their status to actively invite him for a drink.

It can be said that as long as Nascent Soul cultivators do not appear, they cannot imagine how Wang Yuan could lose.

Gu Caiyi and Wang Yuan led the people walking quickly through Lingtian Pass, not leaving the city to return to the Luo Tian Sect's temporary residence in the Fenghua Domain, but instead heading toward an inn they had rented.

Min Longyu, with his snow-white hair, walked among the crowd, able to feel gazes falling upon him from time to time.

This made his face flush red, feeling a sense of humiliation.

But gradually, he could feel that those gazes were not mockery, nor were they questioning; they were merely the concern of fellow sect members.

He also gradually understood why Gu Caiyi would not let him fight to the death.

Not to mention whether he could truly perish together with the enemy, just the fact that he would die up there would be the greatest loss to the Luo Tian Sect!

Over these years, the reason the Luo Tian Sect has been able to preserve most of its strength through repeated escapes has a great deal to do with his formations.

The reason fellow sect members have been able to maintain the improvement of their realms while in exile also owes credit to his formation assistance.

It can be said that if the Luo Tian Sect is to continue wandering in the future, then anyone can die, but Wang Yuan, the iconic figure, and he himself cannot.

After understanding this point, he no longer indulged in self-pity.

Upon arriving at their destination, he walked to Gu Caiyi's side.

"Apologies, my tone was a bit harsh earlier."

Gu Caiyi managed to squeeze out a smile. "It is best that Junior Brother can understand."

Within the Luo Tian Sect, the various Core Formation cultivators did not originate from the same master, and most were originally rogue cultivators.

But after two hundred years of being together, they already addressed each other as senior and junior brothers, which shows how good their relationship is.

And because Gu Caiyi achieved Core Formation first, she addressed Min Longyu as Junior Brother.

Min Longyu sighed. "Although I was preserved, our sect has already lost four matches. What should we do next?"

Once these words were spoken, the group's mood inevitably became even more dejected.

"Let's go inside to talk!"

Wang Yuan said calmly, walking straight inside.

He left the group with a back as tall as a tree and as broad as a mountain range.

The group felt a sense of relief in their hearts and followed him in.

Before long, the high-level members of the Luo Tian Sect qualified to participate in major sect affairs gathered in a room.

There were five people in total; Gu Caiyi had not yet arrived.

Min Longyu was carefully checking the formation that shielded them from outside detection.

Wang Yuan closed his eyes to rest, and Sha Longzi stood behind him.

Because Li Yingzhang had fought a grueling battle in the first match and narrowly defeated the enemy, he had suffered severe damage to his vitality. He had already been sent back to the mountain gate to recuperate.

At this moment, there were three Core Formation cultivators remaining on the scene.

They were Facing Chu Kui, Fu Jiusheng, and Yang Pingdu.

At this moment, Facing Chu Kui wore a look of shame.

"Blame me; I should have won the second match."

Fu Jiusheng shook his head. "You cannot be blamed. The helpers invited by President Sima Wenjie are all no weaklings, especially since he knows our background very well. If it weren't for Junior Brother Li holding something back, he wouldn't have been able to win unexpectedly in the first match."

Li Yingzhang, formerly a cultivator of the Li family of Qinhua River, had kept a low profile since joining the Luo Tian Sect.

Few people in the Luo Tian Sect knew that he possessed a special constitution—the Nine-Curved Recirculating Body.

His magic power was stronger than his peers even when he was in the Qi Refining stage.

This capability should have been revealed after Foundation Establishment.

However, because of the battle at Jilei Mountain back then, he suffered severe injuries, and even though the Supreme Elder Luo Chen later saved him, his foundation was damaged.

It was also since then that he became even more reclusive.

But few people knew that he had put a great deal of energy into studying the "Micro-Dust Origin Art," once walking ahead of everyone else, bringing this art to great completion, and even using it to advance to the Core Formation stage.

Relying on the Nine-Curved Recirculating constitution, plus the "Micro-Dust Origin Art," the depth of his magic power was something ordinary people could simply not imagine.

Therefore, even though he faced an enemy one level higher than himself in the first battle, he used the method of a grueling battle to drag the person down.

But in the three subsequent duels, the Luo Tian Sect side lost all of them.

Facing Chu Kui underestimated the enemy.

Fu Jiusheng was countered.

As for Yang Pingdu, who joined the Luo Tian Sect later, he was simply inferior to his opponent.

If it weren't for Sha Longzi resolutely cutting off his emotional ties in the fifth match, I fear the Luo Tian Sect would have changed its name today.

Facing Chu Kui felt quite guilty and didn't even dare to look up at Wang Yuan and his disciple.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

The group looked up and saw Gu Caiyi push the door and enter.

Facing Chu Kui hurriedly asked, "How is the old Sect Master?"

The old Sect Master naturally referred to President Sima Hui Niang.

Gu Caiyi wanted to speak but hesitated, finally sighing.

"She is able to fight, but she wants to save herself for the end."

Yang Pingdu frowned. "According to the current number of wins and losses, I fear that with our manpower, we won't be able to drag it out to the tenth match!"

"Even if we can't drag it out, we must!" Gu Caiyi raised her willow eyebrows and said decisively. Especially when thinking of President Sima Wenjie's smug and shameless appearance during the day, she felt even more disgusted. "I will make a move tomorrow. I want to know how that beast intends to target me."

Just at this moment, Wang Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed for a long time, slowly opened them.

"You are not suited to make a move tomorrow."

"Hmm?" Gu Caiyi was puzzled.

Wang Yuan said calmly, "Unless it is an absolute last resort, neither you nor Junior Sister President Sima are suited to make a move."

Gu Caiyi was confused. "I can understand that President Sima Hui Niang is not suited to make a move; she is the old Sect Master, and she is President Sima Wenjie's own elder sister. The internal strife of the sect has already become a huge joke, and fratricide will only look even uglier. But as for me, what concerns do I have?"

"You are his Dao companion!"

With just this one sentence, everything was explained.

Gu Caiyi's face turned red and then white. She had just sat down, but stood up again, pointing her jade finger at Wang Yuan, too angry to speak for a long time.

Sha Longzi said in a low voice, "Senior Uncle, leave these matters to us! If it really doesn't work, we can still ask the Fairy of Jueqing for help."

"She is not a member of our Luo Tian Sect; who knows if she will defect in the middle of the battle?"

Gu Caiyi asked in return.

Sha Longzi was speechless for a moment.

Wang Yuan tapped the table, and when everyone's gaze turned to him, he said in a deep voice:

"Tomorrow's battle is of great importance. In the morning, I will personally make a move to win one match first and stabilize the situation."

"As for the second match, I have already sent someone to notify the sect that Qin Yuanjiang will come over."

"Regardless of whether he wins or loses, he will drag the Ten Decisive Duels to the last day. By then..."

Wang Yuan looked at Gu Caiyi. "By then, with no one else in the sect, it will naturally be your turn."

Qin Yuanjiang was trustworthy.

He was originally the son of Luo Chen's good friend Qin Liangchen and his wife. When the Luo Yun Sect was destroyed, he brought his severely injured mother, Murong Qinglian, to seek refuge with the Luo Tian Sect. Although Murong Qinglian later died of her severe injuries, he stayed behind.

"I don't doubt Qin Yuanjiang's loyalty, but I doubt his strength." Gu Caiyi had some misgivings; it was truly because Qin Yuanjiang had achieved Core Formation too recently, and she was more inclined to fight tomorrow herself.

If she and Wang Yuan both won tomorrow, they could drag it out to the last day.

Having just met with President Sima Hui Niang, the other party had already made up her mind to personally clean up the sect, even if that sect degenerate was her own younger brother.

Wang Yuan still did not quite agree.

Just as the two sides were at a stalemate, the wooden door was knocked.

Was it Qin Yuanjiang who had arrived?

So fast?

While the group was puzzled, Min Longyu went to open the door.

A man and a woman smiled at the group.

The man's face was weathered and full of melancholy, but at this moment, his smile was still as bright as in his childhood.

"Senior Uncles, Senior Uncle Wang Yuan. This nephew is late."

The group stood up in unison, looking at the newcomer in astonishment.

Gu Caiyi was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward quickly and grabbed the man's arm.

"Lingjun, you are not staying properly in Fenghua Palace; why did you come over?"

Qu Lingjun shook his head. "The sect is in peril; how can I sit idly by? Moreover, over these years, I owe the Luo Tian Sect a great deal, and it is time for me to make a move."

Owe a great deal?

If these words were said decades ago, the people present would have believed them.

But now, no one doubted Qu Lingjun anymore.

The reason the Luo Tian Sect has been able to frequently produce Core Formation cultivators over these years, while it is certainly due to their own efforts in cultivation and the Core Formation secret techniques Luo Chen left behind, cannot be separated from Qu Lingjun's secret support.

Especially when the Luo Tian Sect fled to the Fenghua Domain, unlike other forces that suffered from having no place to settle and had to fight local forces,

they were arranged a residence with a Third-Rank spirit vein by Fenghua Palace at the first opportunity.

And all of this clearly had Qu Lingjun's shadow over it.

He is definitely not the kind of person who climbs to a high branch and forgets his roots!

It's just that...

Gu Caiyi said with a mix of anger and amusement, "You are only at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment now; where is it your turn to make a move?"

Qu Lingjun smiled slightly and pointed to the woman beside him. "I am naturally not up to it, but my wife still has a few tricks up her sleeve."

The woman with the beautiful appearance nodded to indicate.

"Fenghua Palace, Meng Qiner!"

As she spoke, a Core Formation stage spiritual pressure slowly unfolded. ===== CHAPTER 727 =====