Chapter 86: Retreat Route

Xu Zhanglao returned to Ju Dan Peak and summoned Fang Qingyan, saying, "Tonight the Sect will send a group of disciples away; you should leave with them as well."

"Master, I will not leave!"

Fang Qingyan shook her head and said, "Master, I cannot abandon you and flee alone; either we both leave together."

She knew very well that if Xu Zhanglao stayed here, he would die.

However, Xu Zhanglao merely shook his head. "I am an Elder of Xuanyuan Sect; how could I possibly flee?"

Fang Qingyan pressed her lips and said, "But Master, you joined Xuanyuan Sect less than ten years ago; why risk your life for Xuanyuan Sect?"

"That girl?" Xu Ziliao did not expect that after Luo Yao left Xuanyuan Sect, news would become so accurate; they had only just received this information.

If Xuanyuan Sect still exists, then bring the disciples back.

If Xuanyuan Sect has been destroyed, then rebuild Xuanyuan Sect.

Unfortunately, their intentions were good, but they miscalculated one thing.

They said it is safer for many people to gather together and disperse only after leaving this dangerous area; otherwise, they are easily defeated one by one. Those disciples dared not refute, and instead felt it made sense.

If this group of disciples were wiped out in one sweep, Xuanyuan Sect would suffer heavy losses and its morale would plummet, making the destruction of Xuanyuan Sect even easier.

"Since you know a Golden Core cultivator is involved, hurry and leave with the others. Even if I cannot win, can I not run? If you stay here, you cannot help."

Third Elder began to genuinely consider Ziguang Sect's interests; now, after confirming Ziguang Sect had invited a Golden Core cultivator, Third Elder decisively abandoned hedging his bets and chose Ziguang Sect.

While Xu Zhanglao was holding the meeting, Fang Qingyan received a message from Luo Yao telling her to find a way to leave, but Fang Qingyan ultimately refused Luo Yao's kindness and did not abandon her Master alone.

Accordingly, the Ziguang Sect Sect Master immediately dispatched the Great Elder along with two Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators to act.

Therefore, most disciples felt no sense of belonging or identity toward Xuanyuan Sect; they were there only because there were merely two sects nearby and they had no choice.

Later, he received an invitation from the Supreme Elder to join Xuanyuan Sect and become an Alchemy Elder.

Luo Yao also agreed; after all, with Xu Zhanglao and Fang Qingyan together, they could protect Yan Jie if danger arose.

"Regardless, Xuanyuan Sect has shown me kindness; I cannot be ungrateful." Xu Ziliao shook his head, turned to look at Fang Qingyan, and said, "You are still young; your path ahead is long..."

Wait until the battle ends, then act according to the situation.

The Supreme Elder was not foolish; he was clearly smarter than imagined and deliberately told the disciples Luo Yao had left that they would depart from the back mountain at midnight.

"This time I will lead thirty elite disciples away; the route has already been planned. You only need to lie in ambush and wait."

Boom!

Although the Ziguang Sect cultivators stationed nearby received news from within their Sect, they did not expect that Xuanyuan Sect's Supreme Elder and others would be the ones to strike.

But in reality, the Supreme Elder led them out through the main gate before midnight, catching Ziguang Sect completely off guard.

The Supreme Elder led a group of disciples away quickly; along the way, those Ziguang Sect spies who had not yet had time to send messages were eliminated by Xuanyuan Sect's Supreme Elder.

Xuanyuan Sect had a rule: disciples who failed to break through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer within five years must submit one Spirit Stone annually, or they would be expelled from the Sect.

That was Third Elder's identity.

Moreover, even if she left, she intended to persuade her Master to leave with her.

"Go!"

If any of those disciples were spies, once everyone dispersed, even if Ziguang Sect received the news, it would be difficult to wipe them all out in one sweep; but now the real traitor was Third Elder.

If they knew Ziguang Sect had a Golden Core cultivator supporting them, many disciples would probably flee overnight.

However, Fang Qingyan persisted, causing Xu Zhanglao to sigh; a look of emotion surfaced in his heart, thinking he had not taken this disciple in vain.

Xuanyuan Sect's Supreme Elder spoke to Third Elder; obviously, they had not departed via the back mountain route as planned.

Putting aside other matters, Fang Qingyan looked at her Master; previously Xu Ziliao had told her he actually came from Pingzhou and, having offended one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects, the Starfall Hall, had fled here.

The time was set for midnight so they could catch Ziguang Sect completely off guard.

Unfortunately, despite all their calculations, they did not foresee that Third Elder was a traitor.

Ziguang Sect quickly received the information and immediately showed great joy.

Third Elder was waiting for the disciples to assemble; the Supreme Elder had instructed him to lead the people out the back mountain, enter the depths of Ziguang Mountain Range, and hide with the disciples.

The night was silent, and the entire Xuanyuan Sect fell into darkness.

Xu Zhanglao had only mentioned that Xuanyuan Sect might face a crisis this time, so they had to prepare for the worst; he had not mentioned Ziguang Sect inviting a Golden Core cultivator, yet Fang Qingyan somehow revealed it.

Moreover, the Supreme Elder also instructed Third Elder to tell these disciples to disperse immediately after leaving, lie low for a period, and then regroup.

Since he had such an excellent disciple, he did not want to lose her; at that moment, he was considering Fang Qingyan's words.

Fang Qingyan interrupted, "But Master, staying here cannot help Xuanyuan Sect. Could it be that Master can help defeat Ziguang Sect's Golden Core cultivator?"

Therefore, while the Supreme Elder trusted him and let him lead Xuanyuan Sect's "spark" away, Third Elder decisively betrayed them.

When the disciples wanted to disperse, Third Elder found excuses to stop them.

Many years ago, Third Elder knew that Ziguang Sect had befriended a Golden Core cultivator; so when they tried to recruit him at that time, he refused once and then agreed.

"Let's go; I will cover the rear."

However, afterward, Third Elder and Ziguang Sect maintained a cooperative relationship: he provided information, and Ziguang Sect paid for it.

"How did you know?"

No matter how clever the Sect Master of Xuanyuan Sect was, he could not have imagined that Third Elder was also a spy.

However, because Xuanyuan Sect's development had become distorted in recent years, Third Elder had to consider his own escape route; thus, he negotiated terms with Ziguang Sect: after Xuanyuan Sect was annihilated, he would join Ziguang Sect and become one of its Elders.

After notifying everyone, Third Elder emerged from the secret chamber, returned to the main hall with a blank expression, and continued waiting for the disciples to assemble.

"Where can I go with them?" Fang Qingyan shook her head and said, "Moreover, Xiao Yao said there are many spies within our Sect; leaving with others is not necessarily safe."

It was still early; Xuanyuan Sect's strategy was to strike along the route Ziguang Sect would take to Xuanyuan Sect, remove their spies, and deliberately engage in fierce combat to draw their attention, while at that time Third Elder would lead people to slip away via the back mountain.

To be honest, although Fang Qingyan grew up in Xuanyuan Sect, she felt little sense of belonging toward Xuanyuan Sect; during her many years there, she received neither the so-called protection nor resources; on the contrary, her parents died because of Xuanyuan Sect.

"Rest assured," Xu Zhanglao comforted her. "Only a small number of loyal disciples are leaving tonight; there is no possibility of a leak."

Besides this rule, there were various other regulations squeezing the low-level disciples.

The reason the Third Elder and Han Qing became spies was not the same—Han Qing was driven by a blood feud, while the Second and Third Elders were simply out of betrayal, or perhaps they had no wish to remain in the Xuanyuan Sect, and had been won over by the Ziguang Sect long ago.

Because of that, these people were killed before they could get word out.

"It was Xiao Yao who told me."

Compared to leaving on her own, staying by the side of the Third Elder at Foundation Establishment Stage was safer.

So the Third Elder, while sending a message to the Ziguang Sect, led these disciples toward the Ziguang Sect's trap.

(End of chapter)