Chapter 4: Then all of you, come at me together!

Under the gaze of the crowd, Red Hair’s eyes widened in terror, and he crashed heavily to the ground with a look of confusion and resentment. As the dust settled, his life force flickered and faded into nothingness.

The air turned deathly still as everyone stared at the bloody hole in Red Hair’s forehead. They had heard only a single, thunderous roar, and just like that, Red Hair had fallen! This was the top disciple of the Blood Moon Sect, hailed as their greatest genius, yet in a mere instant, he had met his end.

Within the defensive formation, Liu Ruyan felt goosebumps erupt across her skin. She stared in disbelief at Liang Chuan, who was holding a strange, archaic weapon. Was the Third Senior Brother’s strength truly this formidable? Was he wielding a top-tier magical artifact? Liang Chuan had always played the part of a carefree loafer in her eyes, yet today, he had killed the Blood Moon Sect’s lead disciple with lightning speed!

The other disciples of their sect were equally stunned beyond words. While Liang Chuan was stronger than them, the gap between him and the Blood Moon Sect had always seemed insurmountable.

"Red Hair... he just died? But why?"
"Has the Third Senior Brother been hiding his true strength all this time?"
"My god, he’s almost on par with the Eldest Senior Brother!"
"So that’s it—he only surrendered to find the perfect moment to strike!"

They had never imagined that Liang Chuan would turn the tables at such a critical juncture. Meanwhile, the group of disciples who had surrendered stood nearby, completely dumbfounded.

"What is going on?! Why did the Third Senior Brother suddenly attack?"
"Third Senior Brother, what are you doing? That was the Blood Moon Sect’s lead disciple!"
"We’re finished. This was a fake surrender; he’s dragging us down with him!"

They were paralyzed. If they hadn't followed him out, it might have been different, but having already surrendered, the Third Senior Brother’s killing of the sect’s direct successor meant they would inevitably face retaliation, regardless of their own actions. They had hoped for a future, but this sudden twist left them trapped in a living nightmare.

"You..."
"You are courting death!"
"Kill them all! Let them accompany our Senior Brother in the afterlife!"

The members of the Blood Moon Sect finally snapped out of their shock. Seeing their leader lying in a pool of blood, their voices turned piercingly sharp. They dared not imagine how their own sect master would punish them if they let this man escape. The Blood Moon Sect disciples and their allies drew their blades, eyes burning with murderous intent. Since this disaster had occurred, they had to kill everyone to atone for their failure.

The surrendered disciples panicked at the sight of the drawn weapons. Running was impossible, yet staying meant being treated as enemies. *Third Senior Brother, you’ve truly ruined us.*

Just then, someone shouted, "We can’t go back now! We have to kill Liang Chuan to earn our redemption!"

The other surrendered disciples were struck by this thought. With newfound rage, they turned their swords toward Liang Chuan.

"Third Senior Brother, come back!" Liu Ruyan shouted, snapping out of her trance. Pincer-attacked from both sides, Liang Chuan could not possibly survive.

The others finally realized this was Liang Chuan’s grand scheme: the surrender was a ruse to get close to the enemy leader. If he hadn't betrayed the sect, they had to find a way to save him. Liu Ruyan drew her blade, *Cangxue*, and prepared to rush out to cover him.

Suddenly, a figure blocked her path. The Fifth Junior Brother spread his arms, his expression frantic. "Fourth Senior Sister, you cannot go out! They are too strong!"

How could a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly contend with late-stage masters, especially when there were so many of them? Saving Liang Chuan was impossible; their only hope was to hold the formation.

"Are you just going to watch the Third Senior Brother die?!" Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth, scanning the others coldly. "We must go out and save him!"

The Fifth Junior Brother looked grim. "It’s not that we don’t want to save him, but the enemy is too numerous. If we leave, we won’t return, and the protective formation requires us to maintain it. If our numbers dwindle, the formation will fall even faster!" Although young, he understood the stakes. Even if it was painful, they had to hold the sect; it was their only hope. "Fourth Senior Sister, please stay. It’s not that we fear death, but throwing our lives away is meaningless!"

The other disciples looked at Liu Ruyan with equal desperation. They knew the reality: the Third Senior Brother was important, but if they charged out, the entire sect would perish.

Liu Ruyan frowned, gripping *Cangxue* tightly. "Move aside, all of you! I will go myself!"

She knew they spoke the truth, but she could at least clear a path. If she could scatter the surrendered disciples, she might create a sliver of opportunity.

"Don't stop me!" Liu Ruyan flashed past the Fifth Junior Brother, ready to force her way out of the formation.

Meanwhile, Liang Chuan stood surrounded, vigilantly observing the enemy’s positions. Despite this being his first time killing, the surge of adrenaline and the memories of his predecessor kept his heart steady. In this world, one had to grow accustomed to the fading of life.

As he contemplated his next move, the enemies struck. Four Foundation Establishment cultivators lunged toward him, their silver blades aiming for his limbs. They were experts from various sects, their movements perfectly synchronized—a tactical assault that even a late-stage Foundation Establishment master would struggle to evade.

Facing the lethal barrage, Liang Chuan felt a fire ignite in his chest. With a fierce, savage grin, he muttered, "Since you’ve started it, let’s all go together!"

In the next second, he pulled the trigger.