Chapter 296: Fury
Clear Sky Mountain, within the Cave Dwelling.
Li Qingqiu, who had been cultivating, habitually opened his eyes and summoned the Dao Lineage Panel.
Ever since learning that the Demon Clan Force had launched a full-scale invasion, he had been frequently checking the Dao Lineage Panel every day to see whether the number of disciples had decreased.
“Hmm?”
Li Qingqiu looked at the number of disciples displayed on the Dao Lineage Panel and discovered that it was dozens fewer than an hour ago. His heart jolted. He immediately opened the disciple details to see which disciples were missing.
Although the number of disciples was now vast, as Li Qingqiu’s cultivation realm continued to rise, his memory and perception had long surpassed mortal limits.
Very quickly, he noticed that several avatars of disciples stationed in Zhongtian Immortal City had disappeared.
The incident had occurred in Zhongtian Immortal City!
Li Qingqiu immediately cast the Extreme Movement Technique, leapt out of the Cave Dwelling, and flew toward Zhongtian Immortal City.
While flying on his sword, he simultaneously used the Extreme Movement Technique, rushing at full speed.
During the journey, he repeatedly summoned the Dao Lineage Panel, only to find that the number of disciples was continuously decreasing. His heart sank further.
Over a thousand disciples had been stationed in Zhongtian Immortal City. Its strength was formidable. For such a situation to occur meant the enemy was powerful—certainly more than a single Spirit Perception Realm existence.
Despite the danger, Li Qingqiu had no thought of retreat. He was the Sect Master. It was his duty to protect the sect’s disciples.
From the Ancient Great Mountain Range to Zhongtian Immortal City was an immense distance. Even with Li Qingqiu constantly casting the Extreme Movement Technique, it still required time.
Fortunately, after each Immortal City had been established, Li Qingqiu had personally visited it once, precisely to memorize the direction.
After some time—
Zhongtian Immortal City finally appeared within his sight.
Heavy snow swirled ahead. Rolling demon clouds shrouded Zhongtian Immortal City. The demon clouds were dispersing, which made his heart grow even heavier.
However, when he saw figures of disciples fleeing down the mountain, his expression eased slightly.
When facing enemies beyond their ability to resist, Li Qingqiu would not blame disciples for fleeing. Survival was the most important thing.
He swiftly crossed the city walls and flew into the city.
What met his eyes was utter devastation.
Buildings had been reduced to ruins. Flames and smoke rose everywhere. Corpses littered the ground—human corpses and demon corpses alike. Pools of blood were countless.
Some disciples lay on the brink of death. Others were sitting cross-legged, tending to their injuries. The entire Immortal City felt desolate and dispirited.
Li Qingqiu had rushed at full speed—yet he had still arrived too late.
Without hesitation, he strode forward, continuously throwing out the Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation.
The disciples who still retained consciousness, upon seeing him, all showed expressions of excitement. Some felt guilt and did not dare meet his gaze.
There were too many wounded throughout the city. And the number of dead disciples was not small. Even without calculating carefully, Li Qingqiu knew this would be the greatest casualty event in the history of the Clear Sky Sect.
As he advanced, he cast out more than a hundred needles.
Suddenly, he halted, his expression turning incomparably grim.
Following his gaze—
Ahead lay a pile of ruins. Before it was a corpse with its head severed from its body.
It was Yuan Qi’s corpse.
Li Qingqiu immediately flashed to Yuan Qi’s side. He intended to cast the Soul Restraining Curse, yet discovered that Yuan Qi’s soul had already been extracted.
He took a deep breath, retrieved Yuan Qi’s head, and placed it before the body.
He did not allow himself to sink into fury. Instead, he continued forward to aid other disciples.
The Branch Hall Master and elders of the Branch City lowered their heads in guilt upon seeing Li Qingqiu.
Oppression. Silence.
With Li Qingqiu’s arrival, the heavily injured disciples ceased their groans of pain.
Zhongtian Immortal City had been the first Branch City, holding special significance. This was its first time being attacked—and it had ended so tragically. They felt ashamed before the sect that had nurtured them.
Yet Li Qingqiu did not think so. On the contrary, his heart was filled with self-blame.
If he had checked the Dao Lineage Panel earlier—would things have been different?
After treating all the wounded, Li Qingqiu arrived before the City Lord’s residence. The upper ranks of the Branch City hurried over from all directions. Yet none dared speak lightly before him.
“Report the situation,” Li Qingqiu said.
His expressionless face exerted tremendous pressure.
Qiao Dingbei, his right arm drenched in blood, stepped forward.
“We were attacked by demons. They came too suddenly. The Clear Sky Token was cut off, so we could not contact the outside. Shortly before your arrival, they suddenly withdrew at great speed—as though they had received some kind of order.”
Li Qingqiu narrowed his eyes after hearing this.
Had the demons learned of his departure the moment he left Clear Sky Mountain?
He suddenly thought of the Black Fiend Demon Monkey within the Suppressing Evil Tower. It seemed he had underestimated its significance.
“Calculate the casualties.”
Li Qingqiu issued the order. Qiao Dingbei immediately accepted and left. The others also dispersed.
One person suddenly remembered something, turned back, and said, “Sect Master, Zhao Zhen arrived earlier. If not for him, the casualties would have been even greater. He has gone to pursue the demons.”
“I know.”
Li Qingqiu responded softly. He could already sense Zhao Zhen’s Vital Energy lingering in the air.
Soon, someone released a Piercing Cloud Thunder Arrow to recall the scattered disciples.
Li Qingqiu’s arrival restored confidence to the disciples. Fear faded. The city gradually regained some vitality. Disciples circulated their techniques to heal while discussing the earlier battle.
So many demons—it could not be coincidence.
Since when had such a Demon Clan Force existed across the Nine Provinces?
In ordinary times, even encountering a single demon was rare.
After half an hour—
Zhao Zhen returned.
In one hand, he carried a demon corpse larger than himself. Disciples along the way could not help staring at him.
In his left hand, he dragged the corpse of a bull demon like a small hill. In his right, he carried a massive python. His entire body was drenched in blood—even his face—yet his eyes remained clear.
He looked as though he had fought his way back from hell, murderous aura surging.
The disciples were not afraid. Instead, they gazed at him with fervor.
“It’s Senior Brother Zhao Zhen! Amazing! Those two demons were so powerful, yet he killed them…”
“As expected of the sect’s number one genius, the first Divine Art Disciple.”
“Even if the Sect Master hadn’t come, Senior Brother Zhao Zhen could have driven them back, right?”
“Nonsense. Maybe the demons retreated because of him!”
Zhao Zhen paid no attention. He walked toward the City Lord’s residence.
When he came into Li Qingqiu’s sight, he quickened his pace.
He dragged the two demon corpses to the open ground before the residence, released them, stepped forward two paces, and knelt.
“Master, I was one step too late.”
Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth.
Upon entering the city, he had seen Yuan Qi beheaded. Fury had overwhelmed him. He had unleashed slaughter.
He had killed at least a hundred demons—yet it changed nothing.
Li Qingqiu stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
“It is not your fault. On the contrary, you have merit. From now on, you will guard Zhongtian Immortal City.”
“Yes!”
Zhao Zhen responded solemnly.
Since surviving his destined calamity, he had grown steady, losing the liveliness of his youth.
Li Qingqiu walked past him to examine the two demon corpses.
Both had cultivation not inferior to the Black Fiend Demon Monkey. Their deaths were gruesome—they had clearly been beaten to death by Zhao Zhen.
Yet something puzzled Li Qingqiu.
Their souls were gone.
Zhao Zhen stepped beside him.
“The moment I killed them, a mysterious force twisted and shattered their souls. I suspect a stronger demon left demonic energy within their bodies.”
Li Qingqiu thought again of the Black Fiend Demon Monkey, which had also harbored another strand of demonic energy within it.
It seemed this enemy was far more cunning than previous foes.
What exactly was it planning?
Simply to destroy the Clear Sky Sect?
Li Qingqiu noticed that the wounded disciples showed no signs of being devoured.
In other words, these demons had not come to feed.
He looked at the two corpses on the ground, thoughts drifting.
…
By evening, the Lingxiao Bell rang.
The upper ranks of the sect arrived one after another at Lingxiao Courtyard.
Li Qingqiu had already seated himself at the long table. In the courtyard lay the two enormous demon corpses, causing everyone who entered to cast sideways glances.
All realized that something major had occurred.
Within Clear Sky Mountain, they had heard no commotion. The incident must have happened outside.
Once everyone had gathered, Li Qingqiu spoke.
“Today, Zhongtian Immortal City was attacked by a large number of demons. Two hundred thirty-seven disciples died. Four hundred fifty-two were injured.”
Faces changed drastically.
They had not imagined such heavy casualties. This was a calamity that would shake the sect.
“City Lord Yuan Qi also fell,” Li Qingqiu continued.
Xiao Wuqing’s eyes widened. The others were equally shaken. Yuan Qi had not been insignificant—he had been one of Li Qingqiu’s confidants, handling matters for him even before Xiao Wuqing.
Pressure settled over the courtyard.
Clear Sky Daoist could not help asking, “Have we traced the origins of those demons?”
Li Qingqiu shook his head.
“No. But from this incident, they will likely attack other cities and strongholds of the Clear Sky Sect. Their goal is probably to defeat us one by one.”
Zhang Yuchun frowned.
“Up to now, my people have still not located any gathering place of demons. How can their movements be so difficult to trace?”
Wei Tianxiong speculated, “Perhaps among them is a demon skilled in formations, concealing their whereabouts.”
Other Hall Masters spoke in succession, discussing countermeasures.
Li Qingqiu let them debate while he contemplated plans.
He appeared calm, yet inside, unprecedented fury churned. Without the calming effect of Righteous Qi of Vast Integrity, he would have already exploded.
“We cannot remain on passive defense. If this continues, more will die. We must find their lair!” Li Sifeng declared.
Xue Jin, Cheng Canghai, Yang Jueding, and Chu Jing agreed.
But how to find it was the difficult part.
“According to the Sect Master, the demons are numerous. It is impossible they all came from the Northern Border. They must be expanding their force. In that case, why not send out our sect’s demons to investigate?” Wei Tianxiong proposed.
Eyes lit up. The idea seemed feasible.
While they continued discussing how to locate the Demon Clan Force—
Far away, within the Imperial Palace, Ji Ya had already fallen into a fierce battle.