Start of War

Start of War . . .

In the heart of the Medicine Sovereign Valley, Qin Wentian and his companions from the Battle Sword Sect embarked on a journey towards the palace that housed the venerable Medicine Sovereign himself.

The Medicine Sovereign Sect had recently recruited several prodigies from the Royal Sacred Sect, and the valley was thriving with activity. The newcomers' eyes shimmered with anticipation as they spotted the figures of Mo Qingcheng and Qin Wentian. Although these individuals had joined the Medicine Sovereign Valley, the opportunity to witness this illustrious couple in person was a rare privilege, and they only appeared on special occasions.

"Isn't that Lin Shuai, Ji Feixue, and Lou Bingyu? What brings them to the Medicine Sovereign Valley?" A puzzled onlooker gazed at the silhouettes in the sky, bewildered by their unexpected presence.

While the Battle Sword Sect maintained a close relationship with Qin Wentian, it was still a subsidiary of the Royal Sacred Sect. Furthermore, the Medicine Sovereign Valley was openly opposed to the Royal Sacred Sect. To avoid any unwarranted speculation, members of the Battle Sword Sect had no reason to visit the Medicine Sovereign Valley.

This dilemma had indeed crossed Qin Wentian's mind. However, upon hearing Lin Shuai's words, he realized that they could no longer afford to be overly cautious. The Royal Sacred Sect had already begun monitoring the Battle Sword Sect, and it was only a matter of time before they used it as a scapegoat for their schemes. At this point, avoiding rumors was a futile endeavor.

The group reached the courtyard outside the Medicine Sovereign's palace. Shortly after, the Medicine Sovereign himself emerged to greet them. His immortal senses were keenly attuned to the events of the outside world, making it impossible for him to remain oblivious.

"You've emerged from seclusion at last," the Medicine Sovereign greeted Qin Wentian with a beard-stroking smile.

"It has indeed been a while since I last visited, senior," Qin Wentian replied with a smile of his own.

The Medicine Sovereign glanced at Lin Shuai and the others before shifting his gaze back to Qin Wentian, wearing a peculiar smile that bordered on mischief. "I've been looking after those two little rascals for quite some time now, and you still haven't taken them back. Did you come to me for assistance with something else?"

"Little Rascal and Purgatory seem to thrive under your care," Qin Wentian replied with a sheepish grin.

"Don't praise me too much. The last time I left the sect briefly, that little rascal devoured all my pills and elixirs. He's quite a marvel. After consuming everything, he fell into a deep slumber and didn't wake up even when I tossed him to the ground," the Medicine Sovereign chuckled. With a wave of his hand, a snowy puppy appeared. The puppy's body now shimmered with a golden glow, and it appeared to be in a deep, deathlike slumber.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but break into a cold sweat as he watched the Medicine Sovereign puffing his beard and scolding Little Rascal while swinging the pup's tail back and forth. The Medicine Sovereign's vindictiveness was something to behold.

"Little Rascal simply lacks discipline. With you overseeing him, I can rest easy," Qin Wentian said with a soothing smile, attempting to lighten the mood. Just then, a brilliant rainbow flashed across the sky, accompanied by the cry of a vermilion bird. A beautiful, iridescent beast, its body shimmering with a myriad of rainbow hues, soared towards them. Qin Wentian's eyes lit up with joy as the vermilion bird circled above him, affectionately pecking at him with its beak.

"Don't worry, don't worry. Everything is fine. How could I ever have such a small heart?" The Medicine Sovereign chuckled as he blew a puff of air through his beard and gently tossed Little Rascal onto the ground. The snowy puppy continued to slumber peacefully, impervious to anything that might disturb its tranquility.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but roll his eyes, his face adorned with black lines.

"Alright, what's troubling you?" the Medicine Sovereign asked, his tone gentle.

"Senior Medicine Sovereign, the Royal Sacred Sect has begun closely monitoring the movements of both the Battle Sword Sect and Ancient Ye," Lin Shuai revealed, his expression tense. "Our Master and ancestors initially considered seeking your assistance to help the younger generation, including us, leave this world. But I'd like to inquire if there might be an alternative solution to this predicament."

The Medicine Sovereign's brows furrowed, confirming that the Royal Sacred Sect wasn't about to relent. Their claim over this particle world was at stake, and they wouldn't simply relinquish their control. It seemed that they were prepared to take decisive action.

"Master!" Mo Qingcheng called out. The Medicine Sovereign regarded his disciple and inquired, "My dear, you're firmly on Qin Wentian's side now, aren't you?"

"Master, this matter concerns our Medicine Sovereign Valley as well. The Royal Sacred Sect undoubtedly views us as a prime target," Mo Qingcheng replied.

"You're right; it is indeed a headache," the Medicine Sovereign admitted, his brows deeply furrowed. He continued with a note of concern, "The Royal Sacred Sect has ruled this world for tens of thousands of years. Although their number of immortals isn't substantial, they possess quite a few Sacred Emperors. The current Sacred Emperor realizes that he alone can't contend with the immortal-ranked puppet and myself. I suspect he might seek the aid of the previous Sacred Emperor. If the previous Sacred Emperor returns, they will undoubtedly employ ruthless methods to clear their path, annihilating both the Battle Sword Sect and my Medicine Sovereign Valley."

"Senior, what should we do then?" Qin Wentian asked, his tone marked by urgency.

"Do you have any suggestions?" the Medicine Sovereign returned with a question of his own.

"In the present circumstances, the Royal Sacred Region can't accommodate two dominators. One must fall for the other to rise. If that's the case, our only viable option is war," Qin Wentian declared, prompting a somber silence among those present. Were they seriously considering going to war against the Royal Sacred Sect?

"In the previous battle, I deployed combat puppets to face off against the Royal Sacred Sect's experts, securing victory. But truth be told, the opponents they sent were merely the tip of the iceberg. If they mobilize their full force, we will find ourselves in a dire situation. If two Sacred Emperors were to appear simultaneously, our combat prowess would be undeniably inferior, and the scales would tip in their favor," the Medicine Sovereign explained, casting a heavy weight on the hearts of those gathered.

Qin Wentian's desire to depart wavered at these words. If this perilous situation wasn't resolved or mitigated, leaving weighed heavily on his conscience.

"Can the Xuanwu puppet withstand a Sacred Emperor's might?" Qin Wentian inquired, his brows knitted in concern. His inclination to leave dwindled with each passing moment, burdened by the unease that gnawed at his heart.

"While the Xuanwu puppet is an immortal-ranked creation, it possesses the strength to defend against a Sacred Emperor but not necessarily to overpower one. Thus, we can employ it reactively, not proactively," the Medicine Sovereign explained with a weary sigh.

Qin Wentian's voice dropped to a hushed tone as he inquired, "The previous generation Sacred Emperor hasn't returned here yet, has he?"

The Medicine Sovereign leaned in, his gaze grave. "I don't believe so, but given the Royal Sacred Sect's recent actions, his return could be imminent."

With a calculated look, Qin Wentian proposed, "Before that happens, what if we bolster our forces by rescuing the Battle Sword Sect and Ancient Ye? Having them by our side could dramatically tip the scales in our favor." He locked eyes with the Medicine Sovereign, understanding that the Royal Sacred Sect would never show mercy to their two beleaguered allies. They had to act preemptively.

The Medicine Sovereign regarded Qin Wentian with eyes that held the wisdom of ages, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're certainly bold."

"We're left with no other options. Since a war is inevitable, why not take the initiative?" Qin Wentian declared resolutely. It was a solution born of necessity, given the dearth of alternatives.

"Senior Brother Lin Shuai and the others have already made their way here. If we delay any longer, the Royal Sacred Sect might accelerate their plans," Qin Wentian added urgently.

The Medicine Sovereign studied Qin Wentian, his fingers lightly stroking his beard. He chuckled softly, "Very well, we shall proceed as you suggest. After all, I owe you a considerable debt. But remember, since you're making the call, you must be prepared to accept the consequences, no matter how dire."

Qin Wentian grinned with gratitude. "Thank you, Medicine Sovereign. When should we act?"

"Didn't you say we must seize the initiative? Then let's do it now. I'll rally my experts for the mission, and you can join us," the Medicine Sovereign suggested. A surge of power emanated from him as he issued commands. Soon, experts from the Medicine Sovereign Valley converged on a designated location from various directions.

...

The Medicine Sovereign's and Qin Wentian's suspicions were well-founded. The Royal Sacred Sect had indeed set their plans into motion. In the Sacred Royal City, pressure mounted on Lin Shuai and the others as experts from the Violet Thunder Sect and Great Earth Sect laid siege to them.

News of Qin Wentian's arrival and the deaths of the opposing experts quickly reached the Royal Sacred Sect's ears. Inside a grand hall, leaders of various factions and high-ranking members of the Royal Sacred Sect congregated. Even the Sacred Prince Zai Xuan was present.

"Lin Shuai, Ji Feixue, and others have allied themselves with Qin Wentian and are now within the Medicine Sovereign Valley, consorting with the enemy. What is your stance on this matter, esteemed colleagues?" Zai Yan, a highly regarded figure and vice sect leader from the Core Faction, voiced the concern. His authority was undeniable, and his strength formidable.

"The Battle Sword Sect is on the brink of rebellion; it's time to purge our sect of these traitors," declared the leader of the Violet Thunder Sect, who also held the position of a vice sect leader within the Royal Sacred Sect.

"Indeed, we must act swiftly before unforeseen complications arise," concurred the leader of the Grand Shang Faction, his eyes gleaming with an icy determination.

"Our former Sacred Emperor assured us he'd return with reinforcements within a month to annihilate the Medicine Sovereign Valley. However, now that traitors have emerged, we must eliminate them first," added Zai Yan, his countenance equally frigid. They were all poised, anticipating the triumphant return of the old Sacred Emperor, ready to vanquish any obstacles and quell the traitors. Yet, it seemed they had to expedite their timeline.

"Rally your experts and reconvene here within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. We will encircle the Battle Sword Sect and purge our ranks of these traitors," Zai Yan commanded with unwavering resolve.

"Understood."

"As you command."

Excitement ignited in the eyes of many as they received their orders. They had long yearned for the opportunity to deal with the Battle Sword Sect, and now, with the blessing of their superiors, they would execute their orders with zeal.

In the Battle Sword Faction, tension hung in the air like a heavy cloud. They had detected the Royal Sacred Sect's surveillance, a disheartening revelation. The death of Quinn had been a grievous blow that they had reluctantly accepted. Zai Qiu's wanton act of killing their faction's genius, an injustice they could not rectify, had fueled simmering resentment. Qin Wentian's actions, despite his departure from the Battle Sword Sect, had repeatedly provoked the Royal Sacred Sect, resulting in their humiliation. These factors had inexorably led to their current predicament.

They knew the Royal Sacred Sect would strike sooner or later, and they braced for the inevitable.

On a rooftop within the Battle Sword Faction, the old ancestor of the Battle Sword Sect's eyes snapped open. He sensed the encroaching presence of a large force converging on their location. A sense of foreboding gnawed at him.

The Royal Sacred Sect was making its move at last.

"Bzz, Bzz, Bzz~"

A multitude of formidable auras descended upon the area, causing everyone in the Battle Sword Faction to cast their anxious gazes skyward, their expressions grim.

"Xu Cang!" A voice resounded like thunder, calling out the name of the Battle Sword Sect's old ancestor.

The elderly leader ascended into the air, his eyes fixed on the encirclement closing in on his faction. With resolve, he declared, "I am Xu Cang, and throughout my tenure as the head of the Battle Sword Faction, I have never betrayed the Royal Sacred Sect's trust. Yet, now, the Royal Sacred Sect seeks to exterminate us. Do you not fear the contempt of the entire world for your decision?"

Xu Cang stood tall and unyielding. He offered no explanations, no pleas. Even in death, he would not bow to them.

"The Battle Sword Sect has colluded with the enemies of the Royal Sacred Sect, and yet you dare to utter such words? Out of respect for your position as a vice sect leader of the Royal Sacred Sect, we offer a merciful alternative. Those of the Battle Sword Faction below the Heavenly Dipper Realm may choose to end their own lives, and we shall spare them," Zai Yan's voice remained cold and emotionless. However, Xu Cang responded with a disdainful snort. To offer a path of survival only to those below the Heavenly Dipper Realm? How many of their members would that leave alive?