Inter-Sect Conflict

Inside the Qinlin Sect's underground prison, Lu Xian sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His breathing was steady. He was trying to stabilize his Qi after the demonic energy had been removed from his body the night before. However, his calm was disturbed. A faint, clamorous sound could be heard in the distance, as if dozens of people were shouting in anger.

Zhao Li, who was stretching in the corner of the room, also turned toward the sound.

"Did you hear that?" Zhao Li asked.

Lu Xian opened his eyes slowly. "Yes. It sounded like… a huge commotion."

He got up, walked to the bars, and called out to the prison guard. "Guard! What's going on outside?"

The guard, looking nervous, turned around. "The elders and Sect Master are facing off with members from another sect. It looks like… an inter-sect conflict."

Lu Xian's heart beat faster. "Could it be… that's a member of the snake clan coming to seek revenge?!"

A terrible thought continued to haunt him. Without hesitation, he immediately pleaded, "Please let me out. It's for the peace of the sect. I can help resolve this matter before it gets worse!"

The guard looked at him doubtfully. "I can't. If I let you out without permission, I could be severely punished. After all, you're just a new disciple. Don't act like a hero."

Lu Xian gritted his teeth. "I beg you… If I can stop the bloodshed, isn't it worth a try?"

The guard took a deep breath, seemingly exhausted by Lu Xian's relentless urging. Finally, he opened the cell door and said, "Very well. But remember, if you're caught or punished even more severely, don't implicate me!"

Lu Xian bowed deeply. "Thank you."

He immediately ran to the sect's main courtyard, where the commotion was escalating.

Meanwhile, in the Qinlin Sect's main courtyard, tensions were mounting. The elders and the Qinlin Sect Master, Tian Xuan, were facing off against dozens of Tianhua Sect members wearing blue robes with the dragon symbol representing Tianhua Valley. Before them stood the Tianhua Sect's sect master, Zhu Hao—an elderly figure with long, silvery hair and a commanding aura that enveloped the entire area.

"We already know who killed Li Yuanmo." Elder Zhou Tianren declared.

But before that name could be mentioned, a graceful yet loud voice interrupted their conversation.

"The person who killed Li Yuanmo is... me!"

All heads turned toward the source of the voice. Qin Chang'er stepped forward calmly, her face solemn.

Tian Xuan frowned, shocked. "Junior Qin... is that true?"

Before she could answer, Yan Liang—a witness from the Tianhua Sect—spoke again.

"That's right! She killed Elder Li, along with a young man."

Tian Xuan looked at her with disappointment. "Junior Qin... I raised you to be a respected daughter of the Qinlin Sect. But why did you dare involve yourself in this conflict?"

Qin Chang'er lowered her head. "Forgive me, but I did it out of necessity."

"Forced?" Yan Liang sneered. "You killed and threw the body into the valley! Is that called forced?"

"Shut up!" Tian Xuan snapped. "Let her explain."

Qin Chang'er took a deep breath. "I entered the sect's spiritual cave to absorb some spiritual energy so I could refine a sixth-grade pill. There, I found Li Yuanmo absorbing all the spiritual energy in the cave. I... didn't know he was from the Tianhua Sect. I just thought he was a thief from another sect."

Tian Xuan nodded. "If that's true... then her actions are justified. She was simply protecting our sect's resources."

But Zhu Hao hissed angrily. "That's a ridiculous excuse! Even so, killing our elders is unforgivable!"

"Shut up! You're just looking for an excuse to start a war." retorted Qian Zhu, the Third Elder of the Qinlin Sect.

Suddenly, Zhu Hao unleashed a deadly attack towards Qin Chang'er. A red light shot out like a lightning spear. The elders didn't have time to react.

But before the attack could reach Qin Chang'er...

CLANG!

The attack was cut off by a sword that appeared out of nowhere. A young man stood before Qin Chang'er, his sword drawn, his breathing heavy.

"Lu Xian...?!" the elders exclaimed.

"I killed Li Yuanmo. Senior Qin is innocent." they said loudly.

Tian Xuan's eyes widened. "This kid… always brings trouble."

Zhu Hao snorted, then immediately attacked Lu Xian with lightning speed. However, Lu Xian managed to block the attack, though he was pushed back several steps.

"You dare fight me?" Zhu Hao asked with a sinister smile.

The sky suddenly changed. It was pitch black. Clouds rolled, lightning flashed. From above, spiritual swords rained down like rain.

"This is... the Thousand Thunder Sword Rain Formation!" exclaimed one of the disciples.

Lu Xian activated his protective formation, but the sword pressure was too strong. The formation cracked. One sword nearly struck him.

But before that could happen...

BOOM!

A giant protective formation enveloped Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er. In the distance, Tian Xuan stood with one hand raised.

"Take her away from here! We'll handle the rest!" Tian Xuan shouted.

Lu Xian immediately brought Qin Chang'er back into the sect.

Meanwhile, Tian Xuan and the elders immediately formed the Sword God Formation—a legendary formation that had been used once in history and destroyed two great mountains.

The sky split in two. On one side, the sky was golden, and a colossal sword formed among the clouds. On the other side, the Tianhua Sect's formation appeared: the blue sky was shrouded in dragon aura, and two spiritual dragons circled the sky.

"Is... this going to be the end of peace?" a disciple muttered.

Zhu Hao stepped forward. "If you dare activate the Sword God Formation, then I will retaliate with the Valley Guarding Dragon Formation!"

---

Inside the sect, Lu Xian placed Qin Chang'er in an empty room. However, he felt strange. His body was weak, and his Qi was beginning to dwindle drastically.

"Qi in my body... has dropped drastically...!"

Qin Chang'er immediately checked his aura. "No... Your realm... has dropped back to Qi Creation 2nd level..."

Lu Xian was stunned. "How is this possible?"

"The demonic energy you fought last night... seems to have absorbed most of your spiritual core. We must find a solution." Qin Chang'er said.

Lu Xian nodded. "But right now... the most important thing is survival."

---

The Qinlin Sky was now the battleground for two of the most dangerous formations in the history of the cultivation world—the Sword God Formation and the Valley Guarding Dragon Formation.