After getting attacked a few times, several arrays lit up all over the protective barrier surrounding the sect. White lights shot from the lit arrays and hit the disciples throughout the sect grounds. All those hit disappeared from their places.

  The same thing happened on the tournament grounds. Finally, only the Nascent Soul Elder and Zhao Feng were left. But the Elder ignored the young cultivator and flew towards the incoming enemies. Several lights shot out from different peaks to meet the incoming enemy. Left alone, Zhao Feng ran back to his dwelling place.

  Xiaomeng opened her eyes after the bright light cleared and found herself standing in the central courtyard of the Alchemy Peak. She was surrounded by the other members who had been watching the new disciple tournament. Senior Sister Lan was standing at the front and announced, "The sect is under attack. Go back to your residences and don't come out until you are told."

  There was utter silence for a few moments, and then everyone started to frantically run out of the courtyard. Xiaomeng made her way to Senior Sister Lan. The Senior Sister gave her a slight nod after seeing that she was completely unharmed.

  But just as Xiaomeng was about to ask something, Lan Xue took out her sword and stood on it. "We can talk as we go," she said. Xiaomeng obediently climbed onto the sword with practiced ease, and the sword took off towards her residence.

  "Who is attacking us, Senior Sister?" Xiaomeng asked while looking at the tense expression on Senior Sister Lan's face.

  "How much do you know about the sects in our world?" Lan Xue asked in return. By now, the protective barrier of the sect had started to shake a little and did not have the same unbreakable presence as before. Large skeletal hands and beasts made of blood could be seen attacking it in rapid succession.

  Xiaomeng pondered for a moment and, after collecting her thoughts, answered, "From what I know, there are four more sects as strong as our sect throughout the world." Lan Xue nodded at this and said, "Out of those other sects, two are righteous, one is evil, and the last one is demonic."

  Xiaomeng asked with a confused expression, "So are the two bad sects attacking us? What is the reason?"

  Lan Xue just shrugged her shoulders and, looking at the colorful attacks, replied, "Yes, they are the two attacking us right now. See the blood beasts attacking the barrier? They are from the cultivation technique of the Sect Leader of the Blood River Sect, the demonic sect. The other skeletal hand is from the Old Ancestor of the Gravebone Hall, the evil sect. As for the reason, only the higher-ups might know."

  By now, they had reached Xiaomeng's residence. "Stay put and don't wander around. Or else I will personally make sure you are punished." Knowing Xiaomeng's frivolous attitude during certain events, Senior Sister Lan sternly commanded. Xiaomeng could only nod her head in understanding and go inside her small room.

  Seeing the little girl off, Lan Xue made her way to the array formation located above the Alchemy Peak. There were already four other Core Formation cultivators present, channeling their qi into the array. Even two Nascent Soul Elders were also present. Getting off her sword, Lan Xue joined them in supplying energy to the formation.

  By now, four Elders of the Jade River Sect had made their way to confront the cultivators attacking their sect. The attacks stopped for a moment, and the First Elder greeted them while joining his hands and bowing slightly. "Junior greets Senior Withering Bones. Can Senior kindly explain why both the Blood River Sect and Gravebone Hall are attacking my Jade River Sect?"

  But before Ancestor Withering Bones, an old man with withering bones, could answer, a voice came from behind. "Reason? You want to hear the reason for this? Why don't you ask your Sect Master why he killed my seventh son a month ago?" The current Hall Master of the Gravebone Hall stepped forward while shouting in indignation.

  The First Elder looked at Ancestor Withering Bones, who simply nodded at him. Then, turning his attention towards the Sect Master of the Blood River Sect, the First Elder asked, "And what problem does the Blood River Sect have with my Jade River Sect? Last I checked, Sect Master Li Wanruo is still without a Dao-Companion, and you don't have any children."

  Li Wanruo glared at the First Elder and said with gritted teeth, "A few disciples of my sect went missing at the place where those from the Gravebone Hall had disappeared. I am here to seek answers from your Sect Master."

  The First Elder could only curse in his heart. If the Sect Master had been there, then whatever it was must definitely be his doing. This was an absolute trust he had in that troublemaker. And his trust had never been disappointed before. Taking out a communication talisman, he contacted Lu Wancheng.

  Leisurely sitting in his cave and drinking tea, Lu Wancheng was enjoying the show while being the main actor in it. The communication talisman in his storage ring burned, and the voice of the First Elder was transmitted to his ears. "What did you do this time? Not one but two sects are upon us. Do you really intend to make me the great sinner of the sect who didn't prevent you from bringing destruction upon it?"

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  But the words just entered from one ear and exited the next. Taking a bite of the chrysanthemum cake, Lu Wancheng directly transmitted to the ear of the First Elder, "Just tell them I did it. I am sitting right here. If they want any answers, they are welcome to come in if they dare."

  The First Elder froze after hearing those words. After his thoughts came back, he began to curse Lu Wancheng in his heart. What do you mean by "come inside"? They would much rather destroy the protection array before setting a foot in the sect.

  Seeing the First Elder not speaking for some time, Ancestor Withered Bones assumed that Lu Wancheng was not coming out. "Attack the protective array. If someone tries to stop you, attack them as well." So, he just decided to go look for Lu Wancheng himself.

  The First Elder moved to block him but was intercepted by the Hall Master of Gravebone Hall. The other Elders tried to move but were similarly blocked by the opposing cultivators. Soon, a clash erupted between the Soul Transformation powerhouses. Just the remnants of their clashes were enough to make the protective barrier shudder.

  Inside the barrier, the Nascent Soul Elders and Core Formation disciples were continuously supplying energy to keep the barrier working. Even if they stopped now, the barrier would still hold on for some time, but the result afterwards was unknown.

  The Fifth Elder was facing Sect Master Li Wanruo. Their yin and blood energies clashed and consumed each other. The Fifth Elder threw a punch which completely froze the blood flying towards her. Yet the next second, a bigger blood attack swallowed it and made its way ahead. The Fifth Elder was finding it difficult to fight someone of a higher realm as well as more experienced than her. And she also knew that the Sect Master was still not taking her seriously yet. She was most likely looking out for any ambush by her own Sect Master.

  The other Elders were also being pushed back. Even with the support of the Protection Array, they were finding it hard to compete with multiple enemies at once. They were all either outnumbered or outperformed. And the Third Elder had it worst, as he was facing both things at once.

  Meanwhile, Ancestor Withered Bones continued his attack on the Protective Array. Down on the mountain peaks, the Core Formation cultivators were falling like puppets with their strings cut, their inner Qi completely drained by the formation. This phenomenon was seen throughout the sect across all six peaks.

  Lan Xue felt a metallic taste in her throat. She quickly suppressed the blood which was trying to escape. Her eyes were also getting blurry by the moment, and she could see the other Core Formation disciples had fallen. However, with sheer willpower, she kept pouring more Qi into the formation. Her meridians were also screaming in pain, and after the last ounce of energy was depleted, she also lost consciousness and fell.

  Now the only ones remaining were the Nascent Soul Elders. Although they were called Elders, the main decisions of the sect were based on the Six Peak Masters and the Sect Leader. Their only task was to look after the sect and protect it and act as a bridge between the disciples and the Peak Masters. And in emergency situations like these, to provide necessary Spiritual Energy to the formation. After reaching the Nascent Soul realm, instead of just Qi, the cultivators were able to directly absorb Spiritual Energy. It was a higher energy than Qi, which only strengthened the physical body.

  From his cave abode, Lu Wancheng was observing everything and taking notes in a jade slip. Looking at the Third Elder, he noted: Still needs more training while using arrays in real battle. Then, turning his attention to the Fifth Elder, he noted: Needs to understand the nature of yin more thoroughly. As for the Fourth Elder and First Elder, they were doing alright.

  Then his Divine Sense went to the Second and Sixth Peaks. Both Elders from these two peaks were in secluded cultivation. Being the Sect Master, he had direct access to their seclusion abodes, but looking at the current situation, there was no need to call them.

  He then turned to the Golden Core disciples and noted about them. After completing that, he focused on the Nascent Soul Elders. Right when he was humming and carrying out his wishes, a familiar voice graced his ears, "You bastard, what are you doing?"

  Lu Wancheng looked at the empty abode and picked up a pastry, placing it in his mouth. Only after deliberately slowly chewing and swallowing it, followed by a sip of warm tea, did he reply. "Can't you see? I am looking at the members of my sect and observing their deficiencies to give them proper guidance. It is very important to check each and every detail to prevent them from slacking off in their cultivation."

  "I am not talking about that," the will of the world scolded. "Why have you brought that old skeleton here? Is life so peaceful that you want to bring about my doom even before it actually happens?"

  Lu Wancheng made a wronged expression. "I just wanted these people to be ready for any uncertain circumstances. What if someone really attacked while I am not present? That would be totally disastrous."

  The will of the world gritted its non-existent teeth and said in a cold voice, "Quickly get that old fossil away from here. If both heavenly artifacts react, even I don't know what will happen."

  Centuries ago, at his peak, Lu Wancheng had decided to eradicate the evil path from this world. But even being the strongest cultivator did not help in that regard. Although he was the strongest, his opponents used heavenly artifacts left behind by their ancestors. A trace of their ancestors was contained within them.

  After the condition of the world deteriorated and the upper ceiling of cultivation reduced, he had a hard time fighting against even that small trace. Although his Jade River Sect also had one, it was the foundation of the floating island and couldn't be taken out unless the sect was about to be destroyed. This led to the current condition where the whole evil and demonic path was under the control of only two sects.

  Lu Wancheng got up and, dusting his clothes, said, "Got it," and disappeared from his place, appearing directly in front of Ancestor Withered Bones. With his courteous smile, he greeted, "Junior Lu Wancheng welcomes the senior to Jade River Sect."

  Ancestor Withered Bones just let out a loud snort at this. Lu Wancheng still maintained his smile without faltering. His gaze then went to the small withered branch hanging on Ancestor Withered Bones' waist, and his eyes glinted for a moment.

  Ancestor Withered Bones gazed at Lu Wancheng. "You better have a good reason for killing my Gravebone Hall’s disciples. Or else, even if I die today, I will take your Jade River Sect down with me."