Disaster Befalling the Mystic Moon Sect

Disaster Befalling the Mystic Moon Sect...

The Mystic Moon Sect's headquarters in Ginkou was shrouded in a dense and oppressive tension.

Within a particular courtyard, a gathering of experts stood, conversing in hushed tones.

"What's the situation outside?" inquired a middle-aged woman. A response came forth, "The Chen Clan has encircled us, and they're reinforcing their numbers as well. We're at risk of being attacked at any moment."

"Master, would the Chen Clan truly plunge into an all-out war over the fate of a single Chen Wang?" a female disciple ventured to ask.

In Grand Xia, conflicts among the transcendent powers were commonplace. However, a full-scale war had never erupted, at least not to the extent of total annihilation.

An all-out war implied a relentless battle until one faction was completely obliterated. Such a prospect was not taken lightly, for the repercussions were devastating. Even if one side held an advantage, they hesitated to ignite such a conflict due to the massive casualties that were sure to be incurred, even if ultimate victory was attained.

The Great Solar Chen Clan, for instance, outweighed the Mystic Moon Sect in terms of power. But, were the Chen Clan to declare an all-out war, the Mystic Moon Sect's retaliation would be swift and lethal. Unless the Chen Clan could guarantee the utter eradication of the Mystic Moon Sect in one fell swoop, the consequences were unthinkable. Achieving such an outcome, however, was no easy feat. A transcendent power was built on the foundation of Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants. Failing an all-out assault meant enduring the fearsome vengeance of an Ascendant.

Hence, despite the intensity of the conflict involving the Ouyang Clan, Chen Clan, Hua Clan, and Mystic Moon Sect, an unspoken restraint existed. For instance, during the previous day's battle, only fourth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns and below were permitted to participate. The more powerful individuals refrained from joining in, conscious of the risk of igniting a full-blown war.

As for the subsequent events—Chen Wang's distress signal and his subsequent demise—nobody had anticipated such a turn. After all, chosen members of clans or sects typically possessed life-preserving treasures. Even when confronted by opponents of higher cultivation levels, they could usually escape. Yet, in this instance, Chen Wang's death had taken everyone by surprise. Now, it appeared that the Great Solar Chen Clan was prepared to exact vengeance at any cost.

"I'm equally perplexed by their actions. Bai Qing, what transpired yesterday? Who was responsible for Chen Wang's demise?" The middle-aged woman directed her gaze at Bai Qing, seeking answers.

Bai Qing shook her head slightly. "I'm unsure as well. I only know that the young man named Di was in pursuit of him."

"That young man named Di is rather remarkable. Yet, with only a second-level Heavenly Dipper cultivation base, even accounting for the implausible scenario where he narrowly defeated Chen Wang, it's unlikely he could have killed him. Moreover, Chen Xiao, a fourth-level Heavenly Dipper, also perished. His strength alone wouldn't have sufficed for such an outcome. There must be concealed factors that elude us all," the middle-aged woman mused in a hushed tone.

In truth, this was precisely what the Chen Clan had contemplated. Nevertheless, the facts were veiled in secrecy, leaving them no recourse but to start their investigation with the Mystic Moon Sect. The close relationship between the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan and Jiang Clan presented a complex challenge to tackle simultaneously.

"Did any of you seek assistance?" the middle-aged woman inquired once more.

"Yes, the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan is already aware of our predicament. Given our shared adversary, they should comprehend our course of action," one person responded. Yet, as her words fell, a pervasive and overwhelming force enveloped the area, accompanied by a chilling voice.

"Mystic Moon Sect, surrender those who participated in yesterday's battle. Otherwise, we will obliterate each and every one of you without mercy." The voice dripped with ice, laden with murderous intent. The middle-aged woman's brows knitted as she issued her command, "Anyone below the third level of Heavenly Dipper, disengage and escape immediately. Staying here is futile and will only lead to your demise. As for those of us at the fourth level of Heavenly Dipper Sovereign and beyond, stand with me and confront them."

The middle-aged woman displayed unyielding resolve.

"Master, this crisis originated because of me. I won't abandon the sect now," Bai Qing shook her head.

"At this juncture, placing blame won't serve any purpose. For our Mystic Moon Sect, preserving our strength is paramount, especially during this precarious moment when an all-out war could erupt any second. Bai Qing, as a potential leader of our sect, your survival is imperative, even if it means the rest of us don't make it."

The middle-aged woman's gaze penetrated deep, her hands tenderly caressing Bai Qing's long hair. Tears welled in Bai Qing's eyes as she looked at her mentor, who had cared for her like a mother.

"Master, I—"

"Enough words. If you persist, you'll waste all the time and effort I've invested in nurturing you all these years. There's no need to address me as your master any longer," the middle-aged woman reprimanded, silencing Bai Qing mid-sentence. Reflecting on the immense care her master had lavished upon her, akin to a mother raising her own child, Bai Qing's heart ached.

Kneeling on the ground, Bai Qing performed three resounding kowtows, the impact quivering the earth. She then rose to her feet, turned away, and departed without looking back.

The Chen Clan's experts had already breached their defenses. One of the Mystic Moon Sect disciples gazed at Bai Qing's retreating figure and asked, "Master, should we send someone to assist Bai Qing in breaking through the encirclement?"

"No need," the middle-aged woman replied. "Bai Qing possesses the Dark Night Astral Soul and the Phantom Spirit Astral Soul. Stealth and silence are her specialties; capturing her won't be as simple as they think. If you all follow her, you might only hinder her escape. Now, let us go meet with the Chen Clan." She ascended into the skies, locking eyes with a group of figures gazing down upon the unfolding battle below.

"Chen Clan, is this your declaration of war?" the middle-aged woman mused, her heart heavy as a stone. She knew that victory for the Mystic Moon Sect today was an improbable outcome.

It appeared that the decision to journey to Ginkou had been a grave error. But naturally, prior to this, no one could have foreseen such a calamity.

"Hand over those who participated in yesterday's battle, and we will conclude this," declared the Chen Clan expert coldly. Bai Qing's master scoffed at the idea of sending their disciples to certain death. If they acquiesced, their reputation would plummet. Grand Xia would scorn and curse their name for a millennium.

"It appears that the Sacred Royal Medallion must have already been bestowed upon Chen Wang," Bai Qing's master mused, her tone casual. The expressions of the Chen Clan members instantly shifted. The leader of the Chen Clan fixed an intense, piercing gaze on the middle-aged woman.

"It seems my deduction is correct. The Great Solar Chen Clan only receives three medallions every century. It appears one of those medallions was granted to Chen Wang, and due to his death, the medallion is now lost," Bai Qing's master chuckled coldly. The Chen Clan leader barked, "Silence! Your knowledge only deepens suspicions about the Mystic Moon Sect. If you persist in resisting, do not blame us for taking the necessary actions."

"My disciples of the Mystic Moon Sect, heed my command. Do not fight to the death. Gather your strength and break free from this encirclement. We shall regroup in the Spirit Continent," the middle-aged woman's voice resounded through the air. Shortly after, the Mystic Moon Sect experts ceased their frenzied combat and began seeking opportunities to escape the encirclement, following the middle-aged woman's orders.

"Expend every effort; we must capture Bai Qing of the Mystic Moon Sect at any cost," ordered the Chen Clan leader. With their chosen, Chen Wang, having fallen, they were determined to ensure that a chosen of the Mystic Moon Sect met the same fate.

In Bai Qing's vicinity, the skies shifted to nightfall, shrouding the area in darkness. A phantom-like figure advanced through the obscurity, blending seamlessly with the shadows.

"BOOM!"

Several Chen Clan experts charged into the darkened region. Their bodies radiated blazing flames, fully invoking the Great Solar Universe Art, and they unleashed chaotic bursts of energy into the darkness, hoping to ascertain Bai Qing's whereabouts.

The frigid wind howled, carrying with it an ominous, icy malevolence that tainted the atmosphere. Suddenly, a devilish saber cleaved through the darkness, splitting an unfortunate Chen Clan expert in two. However, this attack revealed Bai Qing's location. After disposing of the enemy, she darted forward at a breakneck pace.

"You can't escape," a voice declared from mid-air, accompanied by the appearance of a blazing sun that cast its radiant beams upon her.

"ZOOM!"

Bai Qing instantly executed Stellar Transposition, her figure flickering in and out of sight as she traversed short distances at a time. She had mastered Stellar Transposition during her time in the ancient kingdom's formation world, where she, the other top-ranked individuals, and Qin Wentian had been trapped.

"Hmph," the Chen Clan experts were relentless. They promptly employed Stellar Transposition as well, chasing after her with unwavering determination.

In another part of Ginkou, the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan and the Jiang Clan had indeed planned to dispatch reinforcements to the Mystic Moon Sect. The Chen Clan had now abandoned all pretense of diplomacy, pushing for an all-out war. However, as they sent their experts to assist, they encountered opposition from the Hua Clan and the Wang Clan, impeding their movements and delaying the reinforcements. The Hua and Wang Clans were not eager for all-out war, and they fought with less intensity. Their sole purpose was to hinder the reinforcements. Without external assistance, the Chen Clan would likely succeed in exterminating the Mystic Moon Sect.

Qin Wentian himself had not foreseen that his killing of Chen Wang would unleash calamity upon the Mystic Moon Sect. Now, he had returned to Ginkou. Currently, he was in an inn, eavesdropping on the hushed gossip and discussions of the patrons.

"It's a disaster. I didn't expect the Chen Clan to be so ruthless. But since they've declared war, there's no holding back anymore. I feel sorry for those women in the Mystic Moon Sect," someone murmured at a nearby table, his words sending a chill down Qin Wentian's spine. What had happened to the Mystic Moon Sect?

"I heard that Bai Qing managed to escape their encirclement. However, she's wounded, and notices for her capture have been posted throughout Ginkou. Somehow, I have a feeling she might walk right into their trap and surrender."

"Yeah, just outside Ginkou's city gate, Bai Qing's master was stripped naked, her corpse displayed upside down."

The whispers of the crowd made Qin Wentian's heart grow heavy. He fixed his gaze on the person who had been speaking, and a sudden oppressive aura enveloped the area. Terror seized the individual's features, and he stammered, "Senior, I was just speaking without thinking earlier. Please spare me."

They mistakenly believed that Qin Wentian was a Chen Clan expert who felt humiliated by Bai Qing's escape.

"What happened to the other members of the Mystic Moon Sect?" Qin Wentian inquired.

The individuals seated around the table exchanged knowing glances, their eyes flickering with suspicion. It seemed Qin Wentian wasn't affiliated with the Chen Clan.

"Earlier this morning, the Chen Clan's experts surrounded the Mystic Moon Sect's base, declaring an all-out war. Despite the Mystic Moon Sect's efforts to break free, only a few managed to escape. Bai Qing's master fell in the chaotic battles, and her body was displayed outside the city gates. They demanded that Bai Qing come to collect her master's remains," one of them explained solemnly.

"The Chen Clan went to such extremes just because of Chen Wang's death? They're willing to destroy the entire Mystic Moon Sect just to lure Bai Qing back?" Qin Wentian's voice dripped with icy disdain.

"No, it wasn't just because of Chen Wang. There were rumors about an ancient medallion, something called the Sacred Royal Medallion," the informant replied, causing Qin Wentian's heart to lurch. The Sacred Royal Medallion was undoubtedly the ancient medallion he had discovered in Chen Wang's spatial ring.

A sharp crack echoed through the air as Qin Wentian's hands clenched into fists, his body trembling involuntarily. Overwhelming guilt washed over him as he thought about what had befallen Bai Qing's master.

It was all his fault.

Although he never anticipated that killing Chen Wang would provoke such a ruthless retaliation from the Chen Clan, he couldn't escape the truth that his actions had led to this catastrophe for the Mystic Moon Sect. This, in turn, had resulted in the humiliation of Bai Qing's master even in death.

He felt an overwhelming sense of misery, his heart heavy with anguish. Bai Qing's master must have held Bai Qing in high regard.

And now, even in death, her remains were desecrated by the Chen Clan.

"Chen Clan!" Qin Wentian's eyes reddened at the rims as a torrent of coldness radiated from him, terrifying those seated around the table. The Qin Wentian before them was too menacing; he might have easily killed them all in a fit of rage.

But at that very moment, with a buzzing sound, Qin Wentian's form vanished from the inn. Only then did the trembling innocent bystanders release a collective sigh of relief. Still, their bodies quivered uncontrollably as they quietly speculated about the identity of the young man who had been there moments ago.