Dong!
The night passed in silence, and with the chime of a bell, a vast spiritual light illuminated all six peaks of the Xuan Sect.
Within the spiritual light, countless figures stood in formation, their combined might causing the heavens and earth to change color.
At the very front stood the sect leaders of the six peaks. Among them, Xuan Yi Xian, at the forefront of Yuan Shang Peak, nodded slightly to the leaders of the other five peaks.
"Our Xuan Sect embarks on this expedition to confront the Holy Sect for their ambush and interception of our disciples. Once war erupts, your lives may be at risk. Are you afraid?" An elder in grey robes stepped forward, his voice like a thunderous bell resonating across the expanse.
"Fight!"
The disciples of the six peaks in the sky shouted in unison.
Their intense fighting spirit soared to the heavens.
"You possess such courage; you are indeed worthy of being disciples of the Xuan Sect! The Holy Sect has bullied our Xuan Sect for years, and today is the day we wash away that shame! Holy Sons and Chiefs of each peak, depart!"
The grey-robed elder nodded at their words, then waved his hand. His resonant voice boomed throughout the sky.
As the vast procession formed a single line, Li Xuan followed behind Xie Yu Shan, flying towards the Holy Mountain where the Holy Sect resided.
Li Xuan observed that the disciples setting out for the Holy Sect were all at least in the Dao Yuan realm. Apart from some elders remaining to guard the Xuan Sect, the sect had sent out nearly all its elites.
Li Xuan vaguely understood why Xuan Yi Xian and the others had not used spiritual treasures to ferry the Xuan Sect disciples.
Even Xuan Yi Xian did not truly wish to wage war with the Holy Sect.
After all, the overall strength of the Xuan Sect was currently weaker than the Holy Sect, and secondly, they aimed to create a greater stir and exert pressure on the Holy Sect.
Indeed!
On the second day of the Xuan Sect's grand march towards the Holy Mountain, Li Xuan sensed numerous powerful divine senses scanning the area. These divine senses were all formidable, possessing at least Dao Yi realm strength.
Upon detecting the aura of Xuan Yi Xian and the others, these divine senses quickly vanished without a trace. However, Li Xuan knew that news of the Xuan Sect's departure for the Holy Sect would likely spread throughout the entire Holy Yuan Continent within half a day.
"Judging by this, the Sect Master truly has no intention of going to war. If he had truly decided on war, why would he be making such a grand show of force?" Li Xuan murmured inwardly within the procession, shaking his head slightly as he quickened his pace.
Holy Mountain, the Holy Sect's domain.
On a sheer cliff face reaching ten thousand zhang high, a man clad in blood-red robes gazed into the distance, a chilling smile curling his lips.
"This Xuan Sect still has some fight in them, daring to come with their entire sect. Issue an order, prepare to meet the enemy."
As the man finished speaking, the two figures standing behind him frowned slightly.
"Sect Master, if we engage in war this time, I fear our Holy Sect will suffer a loss of reputation. When we ambushed the Xuan Sect, I said we should have sent out all six halls to eliminate Wen Yuan Bai and the Holy Sons of the Xuan Sect in one fell swoop."
"But Wang Wenchun insisted that just the three of them would suffice. The result was not only failing to stop the Xuan Sect's forces but also leading to their elites being dispatched now. Morally, our Holy Sect has no standing."
The figure standing on the left spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction, then turned away with a huff, his hands behind his back.
"Elder Zu, Wang Wenchun and the others could have completed the mission back then, but the Xuan Sect's reinforcements arrived too quickly, leading to the current situation."
"Furthermore, if it weren't for Elder Zu ordering Wang Wenchun to personally kill the disciple who slew your grandson, and if Wang Wenchun and the others hadn't been preoccupied with attacking Wen Yuan Bai, the Xuan Sect's people might not have waited for Hong Cheng En and the others to arrive."
"Now that the Xuan Sect has come with their entire sect, our Holy Sect must naturally meet them. Do you expect us to bow our heads and apologize to the Xuan Sect?"
Sheng Tai Xu slowly turned around at these words, looking at the elder with a half-smile. His tone contained a subtle hint of questioning.
"This..." The elder standing on the left was Zu Xiao Yao, the grandfather of Zu Le Tian, whom Li Xuan had killed. Hearing Sheng Tai Xu's questioning words, his momentum involuntarily softened.
What Sheng Tai Xu said was true. If Zu Xiao Yao had not insisted that Wang Wenchun personally kill Li Xuan to avenge his grandson, Zu Le Tian, it was likely that Wang Wenchun, Yuan Qiong Jin, and Rong Xi Xiao, with their combined strength, would have already dealt with Wen Yuan Bai.
"Sect Master, Elder Zu only has this one direct grandson, so a degree of bias is understandable. The past is the past; we should now focus on the Xuan Sect's advance." The elder on the right, seeing Zu Xiao Yao falter, spoke up.
"Consider? The Xuan Sect coming with their entire sect is merely to regain some face. Do you truly believe the Xuan Sect dares to wage war with our Holy Sect? The Old Ancestor Cang Xuan has been missing for so long, and who within the Xuan Sect can match me?"
Sheng Tai Xu's voice grew colder. "I imagine the people from the Myriad Flowers Palace and the Ghost Prison Sect are already here."
"Sect Master, with the personalities of Xuan Yi Xian and the others, they would absolutely not dare to do this. Is it possible that Old Ancestor Cang Xuan has quietly returned to the Xuan Sect?" The elder on the right speculated.
"Old Ancestor Cang Xuan..." Hearing the elder on the right's words, Sheng Tai Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of solemnity flashing within them.
Seeing Sheng Tai Xu fall into thought, both Zu Xiao Yao and the elder on the right fell silent, quietly awaiting Sheng Tai Xu's decision.
After a long pause, Sheng Tai Xu slowly raised his head. "Let the six Hall Masters accompany me. Elder Zu and Elder Lin, lead the sect disciples and await news."
"We obey the Sect Master's decree!" Zu Xiao Yao and Lin Zhen Tian bowed in response. As their voices faded, both disappeared.
"If it weren't for your Zu family's great contributions to the Holy Sect, how could I tolerate your current arrogance? It seems after this, I will need to make some serious adjustments. This Holy Sect is *my* Holy Sect!"
As Zu Xiao Yao and Lin Ba Tian departed, a cold, sharp glint flashed in Sheng Tai Xu's eyes. He then moved, slowly merging into the void.
Three days passed, and the Holy Yuan Continent was in turmoil, with various forces stirring.
Their destination was the Holy Mountain, the Holy Sect's location.
Although various powers were aware of the ongoing feuds between the Holy Sect and the Xuan Sect, and that they had reached an irreconcilable point, the Holy Sect's increasing might and the Xuan Sect's lack of initiative in recent years had made them accustomed to the latter's forbearance. However, the Xuan Sect's sudden, overt march to wage war on the Holy Sect had piqued the curiosity of many.
Boom!
On the outer mountain range of the Holy Mountain, the Xuan Sect disciples, led by the Holy Sons of each peak, descended. A resounding boom echoed through the heavens.
The actions of the Xuan Sect caused widespread shock among the various forces that had already arrived. The collapsing mountain peaks undeniably showcased the Xuan Sect's fierce determination.
"Judging by the Xuan Sect's momentum, it seems they are truly going to war this time," various factions murmured, their gazes shifting towards the direction of the Holy Mountain.
There, six figures slowly appeared.
These six were the Hall Masters of the Holy Sect's six great halls!