Chapter 56

"Starting today, Xuanyuan Sect formally declares war on Ziguang Sect!"

Wu Mianzhu shouted, his face flushed with excitement, "Whoever kills a Ziguang Sect disciple will be rewarded with ten Spirit Stones."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up—without rewards they already longed to fight; with rewards, their excitement surged even higher.

Especially for low-level cultivators, ten Spirit Stones was already a fortune.

"The top three contributors in battle will receive Foundation Establishment Pills. Additionally, points will be calculated based on enemy kills; the Task Hall will distribute rewards—Pills, Dharma Artifacts, Talisman Paper—anything you earn by killing enemies."

Boom!

At these words, all disciples below erupted—earlier it was only Outer Sect disciples who were excited; now even Inner Sect disciples were stirred, no, the Outer Sect disciples were just as fired up.

And on the battlefield, no one cares about morality—ambushes, group attacks, all kinds of tactics are used; the only goal is to kill, not to uphold etiquette.

Yet Wu Mianzhu suddenly added, "All disciples, except those assigned special missions, must take to the battlefield and kill enemies; otherwise, you will be treated as traitors to the sect."

Treason against the sect meant execution—this was the lightest punishment; the severest involved extracting the soul and refining the spirit, leaving one dead yet tormented, and severing all chance of reincarnation.

She was only Qi Refining Stage 6; this cultivator was utterly insignificant on the battlefield.

Then she turned and left Ju Dan Peak.

Foundation Establishment Pills—those were what they needed most.

Before, there was no chance; now, the opportunity had come, and everyone could compete fairly.

"I've already repaid my debt to Gongsun Ming."

But when Luo Yao and Fang Qingyan arrived at Ju Dan Peak, Xu Zhanglao waved his hand and told Luo Yao to leave, saying outsiders must depart.

Though his temper was eccentric, it was only to keep others from bothering him; in truth, he was cold on the outside but kind within—this was Fang Qingyan's impression after spending time with him—but now…

Yet Xu Zhanglao cut off Fang Qingyan's words: "Cultivators walk against heaven itself; if you dare not face a great war and seek to hide, what right do you have to speak of cultivation?"

Wu Mianzhu finished speaking and left with the other Elders, clearly to discuss details.

Luo Yao's expression darkened—if her master were here, perhaps he could have secured for her the status of a disciple with special duties.

Only a group of excited, restless disciples remained.

But if you're dead, how can you defy heaven? How can you cultivate?

Luo Yao exhaled in relief—Fang Qingyan not having to go to the battlefield was a good thing.

If her master had been in the sect and hadn't left, she wouldn't have to beg so humbly or fear being dragged onto the battlefield without reason.

Fang Qingyan grew fearful at the word "war"—she wasn't bloodthirsty like others; on the contrary, she was kinder-hearted.

At these words, many faces turned grim.

Fang Qingyan wept as she stared at Xu Zhanglao, suddenly feeling her familiar master had become strange.

Luo Yao didn't want Yan Jie to clash with her master over her; she quickly stopped Fang Qingyan: "Yan Jie, I'm fine—it's just battle, isn't it? Didn't you often accompany me out to fight before? As for surviving, I'm better than anyone else."

After all, even among Outer Sect disciples, there were those with ambition.

She finally understood what Xu Zhanglao meant by making her worry.

"Xiao Yao, what should we do?"

Without a Foundation Establishment master to protect her, she had no choice but to follow the sect's orders and go to the battlefield—or be branded a traitor.

After the excitement, Fang Qingyan remembered Luo Yao and patted her chest: "Xiao Yao, don't worry—I'll go beg my master to let you stay and help me refine Pills."

Though she'd killed before while on missions with Luo Yao, to save Luo Yao, she never harmed the innocent—in other words, those who deserved death, she wouldn't spare; those who didn't, she didn't want to kill.

Luo Yao was desperate—she wanted to hide at Ju Dan Peak not just to avoid the battlefield, but to use this time to study Pill refining; unfortunately, Xu Zhanglao refused, so she had no choice but to invoke her master's name.

But in the Immortal Cultivation World, how do you define who deserves to die and who doesn't?

Often, cultivators kill without reason—plainly put, they dislike you, or think you're rich and want to rob you, or covet the treasures on your person.

Not everyone wanted to join the war; some disciples who wished to slack off and live in peace grew grim-faced upon hearing the sect master's words.

So Luo Yao resolved to train diligently within the sect and avoid the war entirely.

Upon hearing this, the disciples exhaled in relief—if Foundation Establishment Elders led the teams, they wouldn't have to fear attacks from Foundation Establishment opponents and could fight with confidence.

And even if they didn't win a Foundation Establishment Pill, they'd still earn other rewards.

Shhh!

Just as Luo Yao was about to speak, Fang Qingyan received a message, then turned to Luo Yao with a smile.

"Xiao Yao, my master says I don't have to go to the battlefield—we'll stay in the sect to refine Pills and support everyone."

Xu Zhanglao saw his disciple weeping uncontrollably and sighed.

"Each day, we'll send two Foundation Establishment Elders to lead teams out to exterminate Ziguang Sect cultivators; those who wish to join may sign up at the Task Hall."

"Master, why?"

Luo Yao herself had little desire to join the great war—after all, she wasn't short of resources; with her Golden Finger, she had no need to worry about them. As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, she already had some materials and could ask her master for help later.

……

Fang Qingyan couldn't understand why her master had refused—he'd previously favored Xiao Yao and treated her with special attention.

The logic made sense.

After all, on the battlefield, swords and spears show no mercy; it's nine deaths, one survival.

Yet Xu Zhanglao stubbornly refused to let Luo Yao assist at Ju Dan Peak.

Clearly, he was acting with strict impartiality.

"Cultivators are often cold and unfeeling; though not truly heartless, clinging to emotion and righteousness will ultimately prevent you from achieving the Great Dao."

Xu Zhanglao cut off Luo Yao's words, and even after Fang Qingyan pleaded, he coldly refused: "Are you now disobeying your master's command?"

Especially those at Qi Refining Peak or late Qi Refining Stage, their breathing grew rapid.

Luo Yao's heart sank—indeed, when Fang Qingyan suggested Luo Yao help, Xu Zhanglao refused, saying she had never refined Pills and would only hinder the process.

Wu Mianzhu added, "Besides myself, all other Elders will lead teams."

To be honest, she'd never experienced war in the Immortal Cultivation World, but in her past life she'd seen many war films—war was a meat grinder; no matter how strong you were, once you entered the battlefield, you'd die.

"Master!"

"Elder Xu, my Master..."

Luo Yao thought for a moment and did not refuse; after all, supplying Pills for the entire sect meant Elder Xu absolutely needed a large number of hands, and she indeed did not wish to go to the battlefield.

Elder Xu explained earnestly, "In the Immortal Cultivation World, even those as close as brothers can still betray; moreover, you two have no blood relation..."

However, Fang Qingyan shook her head while crying, "No, Xiao Yao will not betray me, and I will not betray her."

(End of this chapter)