Chapter 44: Well then, I shall return to the White Sword Sect!

As soon as this news spread, the faces of all the disciples present turned exceptionally gloomy.

Even though they had long anticipated that the Sun-Ascension Sect would come seeking revenge, it was happening far quicker than they had previously imagined.

"The Nascent Soul stage! Those bastards are really pushing people too far!"

"If they hadn't robbed our tribute offerings in the first place, things wouldn't have come to this!"

"Come if they dare, I'm not afraid of those guys anyway. After all, I've already reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage now!"

The disciples gritted their teeth, continuously hurling curses with faces full of bitter hatred.

After all, they were well aware that this wasn't their White Sword Sect looking for trouble, but rather the Sun-Ascension Sect deliberately targeting them.

Moreover, having been nurtured with so many resources, even if they truly faced the enemy, they could at least drag a few of them down with them.

"It seems the enemy is indeed coming with overwhelming momentum this time."

Liang Chuan sat in his chair, his expression, however, remaining utterly calm.

It was inevitable that the enemy would dispatch a Nascent Soul expert. Even if they hadn't sent a Nascent Soul cultivator, they certainly would have brought along several Core Formation masters.

Even for the Sun-Ascension Sect, losing a Core Formation elder would still be a heavy blow.

Besides, for the sake of their pride, they would definitely make a move against them.

However, the other party's actions were much more cautious than last time; instead of coming straight to the White Sword Sect, they had arrived in Nanyang City first.

"Sect Master, this disciple requests to take the initiative and strike first!"

"I want to go too! We have magical instruments now, we can launch a sneak attack on them!"

"My firearm guidance technique has reached the minor mastery stage. Let's make them know what real pain feels like!"

The disciples who had previously followed Liang Chuan in the ambush appeared exceptionally excited, even actively volunteering themselves.

Taking the initiative to strike outside was far better than defending from within the White Sword Sect.

It was only after acquiring firearms that their mindset began to shift.

In the past, whenever enemies attacked the sect, they would stay within the grounds, first using the grand protective array to wear the enemy down.

But now, with firearms, they had completely discarded those previous notions.

"I will arrange this matter. Next, the entire sect must enter a state of high alert. Apart from the disciples whose turn it is to enter the spirit chamber, the rest will split into batches and take turns patrolling!"

Judging from the current situation, the people from the Sun-Ascension Sect probably wanted to advance steadily and would only come to the White Sword Sect after figuring out the situation in Nanyang City.

The remaining time could be used to properly plan how to make their move.

The most important thing was still to ascertain the enemy's numbers and cultivation levels.

After issuing the orders, the disciples dispersed one after another, leaving only Liu Ruyan standing beside Liang Chuan.

Seeing that the disciples had all left, Liu Ruyan spoke up with a sense of urgency, "Senior Brother, this time they will definitely have a Nascent Soul expert leading them. Furthermore, after losing all their face last time, the Sun-Ascension Sect will surely go all out, deploying their elite forces. Perhaps we should avoid their sharp edge for now!"

Although the disciples' cultivation speed had soared straight upward recently, apart from Liang Chuan, there was not a single other Core Formation cultivator among them.

Just a single Nascent Soul expert from the enemy side would be immensely difficult to deal with, and goodness knows if there were other Core Formation masters as well. Once there were, even if Liang Chuan could hold off the Nascent Soul master, the enemy's Core Formation cultivators would still carry out a one-sided slaughter against their Foundation Establishment disciples!

"Rest assured, I already have a plan." Liang Chuan withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at Liu Ruyan with a smile.

If he hadn't been confident, he wouldn't have let Lu Kang send the news back in the first place.

Initially, Liu Ruyan wanted to persuade him further, but looking at Liang Chuan's smile, her anxious heart suddenly calmed down.

In the end, she only uttered one sentence: "Then... everything shall be as Senior Brother decides."

Meanwhile, outside the grand hall.

Zhao Wu walked toward his room with a gloomy expression, followed closely by two junior brothers whose faces were plastered with flattering smiles.

"Senior Brother Zhao, the Sect Master is far too biased! He actually didn't even let you stay for the meeting!"

"Exactly! Clearly you are also a personal disciple. Not giving you any benefits up to now is one thing, but you weren't even allowed to attend the core meeting!"

They were originally Zhao Wu's confidants. Although the sect had been getting better and better lately, they still stood firmly on Zhao Wu's side.

After all, they had seen that even the powerful magical instruments hadn't been given to Zhao Wu, and while even the last batch of Foundation Establishment disciples had received theirs, Zhao Wu still had none.

This made them feel even more aggrieved on Zhao Wu's behalf, as this was clearly blatant discrimination and differential treatment.

"Enough, all of you shut your mouths!" Zhao Wu rebuked them with discontent, glaring at them coldly. "How can you casually speculate on Senior Brother's intentions? You are slandering the Sect Master!"

Although the flattery from these two bootlickers improved Zhao Wu's mood considerably, he still put on an angry front.

He certainly didn't want Liang Chuan to be alerted because of some careless words he let slip.

"But what we said is the truth..."

One of the bootlickers muttered under his breath.

They were still hoping Zhao Wu could squeeze a few more benefits out of Liang Chuan for them.

Even if just a little leaked through the cracks to them, they would inevitably become stronger than their fellow disciples.

Although they were now able to cultivate with fully maximized resources, once they stepped out of the spirit chamber, they basically couldn't acquire many other resources.

Just thinking about those meridian-protecting pills made their eyes turn green; if they could obtain such miraculous elixirs outside of the spirit chamber as well, wouldn't their cultivation speed be even faster?

"Senior Brother has his reasons for doing what he does. Go back and patrol!"

Feigning displeasure, Zhao Wu waved his hand to dismiss the two bootlickers.

However, watching the departing backs of the bootlickers, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"It's finally here!"

He calculated with a cold smile in his heart: "Since they are about to mobilize the entire force, the sect must be completely empty!"

Based on his experience from the previous few times, he would definitely be allowed to stay behind in the sect.

Moreover, Liang Chuan had mentioned that they would likely only leave behind three Foundation Establishment disciples to guard the place.

Making sure no one was following him, he hurried toward the foot of Lingyun Peak.

Just as he stepped into the cave entrance, Zhao Wu saw the branch leader sitting cross-legged on a straw mat. With every breath he took, the flesh on his body would surge and undulate.

This sight looked exceptionally bizarre and eerie, because with every inhalation and exhalation, the branch leader's body would shift back and forth between youth and old age.

Although he had long known this was the branch leader's cultivation method, he still inevitably felt a sense of unease.

"Hahaha!"

At that moment, the old man suddenly opened his eyes, and the aura around him surged abruptly.

Feeling this formidable aura, Zhao Wu instinctively dropped to his knees, calling out with a mixture of pleasant surprise and terror, "Congratulations... Sect Master... Branch Leader, on stepping into the Nascent Soul stage!"

He saw that the old man's appearance had indeed grown much younger, and his originally white hair was slowly turning black.

Looking at his newly tightened hands, the old man burst into loud laughter: "My lifespan has increased by another 150 years!"

"Speak, what is it?"

The branch leader cast his gaze upon the kneeling Zhao Wu.

When he learned of Liang Chuan's arrangements from Zhao Wu's mouth, the corners of his mouth curved upward.

He then retrieved a package from his storage ring.

Opening it, there was a patch of human skin inside.

It was unmistakably the exact appearance of the White Sword Sect's Sect Master!

"Well then, it's time for me to return to the White Sword Sect!"