Chapter 42: Forced Mission

After Zheng Hai finished speaking, the resentment on his face faded into resignation. As a member of the Profound Pill Sect, he felt a strong sense of loyalty and honor. However, given his limited strength, he wouldn't even be considered for a supporting role, let alone actively intervene in the conflict.

Beside him, Han Yi was lost in thought.

"If what you're saying is true, the Blood God Sect is clearly provoking us deliberately."

"But what I don't understand is... why?"

Zheng Hai looked puzzled. "Why what?"

"Why didn't the Blood God Sect actively provoke us before? Why did they suddenly launch this assault just over a month ago?"

"There must be some specific reason behind this," Zheng Hai replied.

Han Yi's eyes darted back and forth as he pondered the possibilities. However, the information he currently possessed was insufficient to piece together the full truth.

After a moment of fruitless deliberation, he reluctantly gave up. Such a major matter was undoubtedly being considered by the Sect's leadership. Besides, with his meager strength, even if he knew the reason, what could he possibly do?

"Why don't we ask Senior Brother Guan?" Zheng Hai suddenly suggested.

Han Yi shook his head. "There's no need. If what you say is true, the conflict between the Profound Pill Sect and the Blood God Sect is already severe and out in the open. I doubt even the Inner Peak Disciples know much more than we do. Why waste the trip?"

"Alright, forget it then."

After a brief silence, the two left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion together.

Before parting ways, Zheng Hai asked, "Han Yi, do you think this friction between the Blood God Sect and the Profound Pill Sect could escalate into a full-blown Sect War? I mean a true Sect War, where entire Sects mobilize for total war."

A flicker of panic crossed Zheng Hai's face as he asked the question.

Han Yi's expression turned grave.

In the Cultivation World, the term "Sect War" carried a specific meaning: a total war between Sects, where both sides committed all their resources to annihilation. Only one Sect could survive such a conflict; the other would be wiped from existence.

That was the nature of a Sect War.

Han Yi had studied historical records. Sect Wars were considered the most devastating conflicts in the Cultivation World, second only to the Immortal-Demon War in scale and brutality.

Hearing Zheng Hai's question, Han Yi shook his head.

He simply couldn't believe that after transmigrating, he would encounter the two most catastrophic wars in the Cultivation World.

I can't possibly be this unlucky.

Besides, and most importantly, the Immortal-Demon War had only recently ended, and the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom was still recovering from its wounds. It would never allow a Sect War to erupt within its borders.

Especially since both the Profound Pill Sect and the Blood God Sect were Golden Core-level sects, second only to the One Kingdom, Two Saints, and Three Great Sects in power within the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom.

The Cultivation World spanned the vast Nine Provinces, yet the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom controlled only the Qian-Shu region. Beyond its borders loomed the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom, a more powerful neighbor that occupied four provinces and eyed Great Qian with predatory hunger. If Great Qian showed even a hint of internal strife, Great Qin would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to strike.

Given this geopolitical reality, Han Yi firmly believed that no matter how fiercely the two sects clashed, their conflict would never escalate into a full-blown Sect War.

Yet unease still lingered in his heart.

Zheng Hai's description painted a grim picture. Even if it wasn't a Sect War, the Blood God Sect's aggressive advance this time clearly indicated they had made thorough preparations to tear a substantial piece of flesh from the Profound Pill Sect's territory.

For the Profound Pill Sect, the choice was stark: either fight with desperate ferocity, crushing the initial assault to deter further aggression, or even if they ultimately lost, they must display such savagery that the Blood God Sect would hesitate to return. Otherwise, after repelling the Blood God Sect, the Blood Demon Sect might come next, and sooner or later, the sect would crumble.

On his way back to Little Spirit Void Peak, Han Yi suddenly recalled the geopolitical situation on Earth in his previous life and shook his head involuntarily.

The current state of the Cultivation World, with its warring factions locked in a tense standoff, bore an uncanny resemblance to the global power dynamics of his former home.

Of course, such weighty concerns were far beyond his reach for now.

Shaking off these thoughts, he returned to his courtyard and resumed his cultivation.

Having finally grasped the unfolding events, Han Yi's lingering anxieties remained. But as long as he stayed put and analyzed the broader trends, he believed the Blood God Sect was unlikely to launch a direct assault on the Profound Pill Mountain Range.

For the time being, he was relatively safe.

Then I'll continue cultivating and grinding Proficiency, he thought. When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.

However, fate had other plans.

Ten days later, Li Heng, the Peak Lord of Little Spirit Void Peak, arrived with a mandatory sect mission.

"Accompany the garrison to Heavenfall City?" Han Yi stammered, momentarily stunned before snapping to attention. "Why me?"

There had to be a reason.

Li Heng's face remained impassive. "The Inner Peak Elders personally selected you. Over a dozen disciples from Little Spirit Void Peak are on the list, and you're among them."

"Do you remember four years ago, when the Sect summoned disciples to venture into the Demon Cave, and you ultimately couldn't go?" Li Heng asked.

"I suspect this matter might be related to that incident."

Han Yi was stunned.

He thought that incident was long past, never expecting it to resurface now. It caught him completely off guard.

"Senior Brother Li, where exactly is Heavenfall City?" he quickly asked.

"Heavenfall City is located within Taibai County," Li Heng replied.

"Taibai County? Could this mission involve the Blood God Sect?" Han Yi's expression darkened slightly.

Li Heng looked surprised.

"Oh, since you already know, there's no need for me to elaborate."

"We'll assemble at Overturning Sea Peak in three days. Join the team and follow instructions from there."

"This journey will be perilous, but the Sect offers substantial rewards. Moreover, safeguarding our Sect is the duty of every cultivator. I need not remind you."

As Han Yi's expression continued to shift, he asked one final question:

"Senior Brother Li, this isn't... a Sect War, is it?"

Han Yi's face paled. If it truly was a Sect War, he would need to reconsider his next steps far more carefully.

Li Heng shook his head. "It hasn't reached that point yet. This is just a standard counterattack from our sect."

"Don't overthink it. I'm certain a full-scale Sect War won't break out."

With that, Li Heng turned and left, leaving Han Yi standing at the courtyard gate, his expression shifting rapidly.

Finally, Han Yi let out a long sigh, followed by a single, explosive word:

"Fuck!"

He slammed the courtyard gate shut and returned to his meditation chamber. A sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and he shook his head violently.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled, clearing his mind completely with each breath.

A bitter smile formed on his face.

"Is this really necessary? It's been four years—why are they still targeting me?"

The bitter smile twisted into a clenched-jawed grimace. "When I reach the Golden Core Stage, if I ever find out which Inner Peak Elder keeps targeting me, I'll make them regret it."

"Forget it. This is a mandatory sect mission. There's no escaping it unless I abandon the sect and become a rogue cultivator—and even then, the Profound Pill Sect would hunt me down."

The Profound Pill Sect had a system of mandatory sect missions.

Mandatory sect missions were typically issued in times of crisis, requiring absolute obedience from all disciples. Disobedience without legitimate cause could result in severe consequences, ranging from the stripping of one's cultivation and expulsion from the sect to being charged with treason.

Han Yi never imagined he would one day receive such a mission himself.

"For now, my only option is to join the team and depart."

"Three days... just three days. Fortunately, I bought the Shadowless Sword beforehand. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have enough time to prepare."

"Next, I need to buy some combat talismans."

"And perhaps a defensive magic robe as well."

Han Yi meticulously planned his preparations.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, when he arrived at Red Sun Market, he was stunned by the overwhelming crowd. He almost wondered if every Inner Peak disciple had gathered there.

After finally squeezing his way into the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, he found Manager He, with whom he had traded three times before, and stated his needs. To his surprise, Manager He looked equally helpless.

"Sold out. You're too late."

"Even the Low-Grade Magic Artifact robes from the sect's supplies have been snatched up at inflated prices."

"News has spread that the Profound Pill Sect is about to engage in a full-scale war with the Blood God Sect. Inner Peak disciples are scrambling to purchase Magic Artifacts, Talismans, Medicinal Pills, and other supplies."

"By the way, Fellow Daoist, if you have any Medicinal Pills you'd like to sell, I'll buy them immediately at a 20% premium over the market price. What do you say?" Elder He stared eagerly at Han Yi, hoping to acquire more pills from him and make a profit.

Han Yi shook his head. He genuinely had no surplus pills, having only kept enough for his own use.

Shortly after, Han Yi left Red Sun Market and went to Little Boulder Peak to inform Zheng Hai that he had been forcibly drafted into the expeditionary force.

Zheng Hai was surprised to learn that Han Yi had been conscripted by the Sect. Unable to change the situation, he could only offer his friend heartfelt wishes.

"Don't worry, you've always been lucky. You'll be fine."

"Remember when you were sent down the mountain on outpost assignment years ago? You underwent a complete transformation and soared to new heights. This time, you'll practically take flight! When you return to the Sect, you'll undoubtedly reach the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and be directly admitted to the Inner Peak."

Han Yi understood Zheng Hai's good intentions. "I appreciate your auspicious words."

After bidding farewell to Zheng Hai, Han Yi returned to Little Spirit Void Peak.

Two days later, he arrived punctually at the summit of Overturning Sea Peak.

This time, the expedition was led by three Golden Core Stage Great Cultivators, accompanied by twenty-six Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators and over a thousand Qi Refining disciples from both the inner and outer peaks. The majority of the Qi Refining disciples were at the fifth layer or higher, forming a vast, imposing mass.

The scale of this force rivaled that of their initial campaign against the Demon Cave.

With a grand gesture, one of the Golden Core Stage Great Cultivators summoned a colossal warship that blotted out the sky above Overturning Sea Peak—the Soaring Divine Warship, the Sect's primary transport vessel.

The three Golden Core Stage cultivators boarded the warship first, then activated it to draw the Qi Refining disciples from the peak onto the vessel.

Han Yi felt a sudden lightness as an invisible force pulled him upward. The space around him warped, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself aboard the Soaring Divine Warship.

The warship ascended into the sky, transforming into a streak of light that vanished into the distance.