Within the secret realm, Qi Shan had naturally perused some of the ancient texts already. The moment he laid eyes on those books, his spirit surged, and he felt he had reaped immense rewards, considering them exceedingly precious. Yet, these treasures were dismissed as trash in Chu Fan's words? This conviction solidified Qi Shan's belief in Liu Yunqing's earlier analysis: although Chu Fan did not hail from the six major sects or the five hidden families, he undoubtedly belonged to a power no less formidable than either. Only someone who had witnessed far greater treasures would regard what they considered invaluable as mere refuse.
Liu Yunqing secretly met Qi Shan's gaze, a flicker of excitement surging deep within his eyes.
"Later, I will provide you with more suitable items!"
Upon hearing such good news, Liu Yunqing and Qi Shan immediately cupped their fists in thanks. After moving a considerable distance from the courtyard, Qi Shan asked Liu Yunqing, "Yunqing, isn't he just stringing us along?" He had been naturally excited upon hearing Chu Fan's promise of better things to come. But upon further thought, Chu Fan seemed to have brought nothing with him; how could he possibly bestow anything upon them? It was then he instinctively wondered if Chu Fan was merely making empty promises.
Liu Yunqing had always placed unwavering faith in Chu Fan, shaking his head, "No!" "I've known him for quite some time, and he's not the type to make baseless promises!" "If he says he will give us better things, he absolutely will!"
Qi Shan nodded. Recalling that he would soon depart Cloud Mountain Sect with Liu Yunqing, he hurried to the library, intending to review more of the ancient texts brought from the secret realm and jot down what he needed before leaving. This way, even if Chu Fan failed to produce anything, he wouldn't be completely empty-handed.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. At noon, the sound of a bell suddenly echoed. An enemy attack! All members of Cloud Mountain Sect, regardless of their actions or whereabouts, immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed to the mountain gate. Liu Yunqing had anticipated this day, having received news the previous evening that the Blade Sect's forces had already arrived in the town outside the mountain.
Liu Yunqing entered Chu Fan's courtyard and addressed him as he sat in the pavilion, "Wuming, you might need to make a move!" "The Blade Sect is approaching!" "The Blade Sect is the supporting sect behind Tiger Roar Hall. I'm unsure if they're here because of Tiger Roar Hall or for the items within the secret realm."
Chu Fan opened his eyes, stood up, and as he walked out of the pavilion, he inquired, "Is it only the Blade Sect that has arrived?" According to his initial expectations, once the news of the secret realm spread, numerous forces would undoubtedly flock to Cloud Mountain Sect to seize its spoils. His presence here was to help Cloud Mountain Sect fend off enemies drawn by the secret realm. The arrival of just the Blade Sect clearly wouldn't satisfy Chu Fan's appetite.
"There are three other forces, but they haven't reached the immediate vicinity. They are stationed in towns further away, and their strength isn't considerable; they're likely waiting to observe!" Liu Yunqing understood that Chu Fan desired all forces to appear so he could deal with them all at once. He added, "In reality, if we merely deal with the Blade Sect, those observing forces will disperse!" The Blade Sect, being the only force with a strength superior to third-rate sects like Cloud Mountain Sect and Tiger Roar Hall within a five-hundred-mile radius, would, upon their defeat, deter any observing factions.
Chu Fan nodded, asking no further questions. Under Liu Yunqing's guidance, he proceeded towards the mountain gate. Outside the Cloud Mountain Sect's mountain gate, over thirty individuals clad in uniform attire, each carrying a large saber on their shoulder, fixed their gaze menacingly upon the converging Cloud Mountain Sect members. The Blade Sect's strength was consistently higher than Cloud Mountain Sect's. The presence of over thirty people together exuded a formidable aura, with the weakest among them being a Grandmaster.
In contrast, the Cloud Mountain Sect members' strength was varied, their faces etched with panic and tension, like lambs awaiting slaughter. In the past two days, the Cloud Mountain Sect members had learned that Liu Yunqing would relinquish his position as sect leader and depart Cloud Mountain Sect. At this juncture, with the Blade Sect arriving, everyone greatly feared that Liu Yunqing, knowing he was no match for the Blade Sect's arrival, would abandon Cloud Mountain Sect to save his own life. Without him, a Grandmaster, Cloud Mountain Sect would face annihilation against the Blade Sect.
"The Sect Leader has arrived!" A cry came from the rear. The tense crowd, upon seeing Liu Yunqing and Chu Fan, especially Chu Fan, visibly relaxed their apprehension. Although the Cloud Mountain Sect members had not personally witnessed Chu Fan's prowess, they knew that the missing Tiger Roar Hall and Hundred Flowers Gate had undoubtedly been defeated by Chu Fan. With him present, Cloud Mountain Sect's fate would be altered.
As Liu Yunqing walked, he briefly introduced Chu Fan to the identities of the Blade Sect's representatives. The Blade Sect Leader had not personally come; instead, two Vice Sect Leaders, both second-rate Grandmasters, led the contingent. The Left Vice Sect Leader, Kuang Fengshuang, stepped forward upon seeing Liu Yunqing and questioned him, "Liu Yunqing, Tuoba Lie and the rest of Tiger Roar Hall have all disappeared. You must be involved, correct?" The walls have ears. Moreover, any normal person would deduce as much.
Upon hearing the news of the secret realm's appearance, Tuoba Lie had immediately transmitted the information to the Blade Sect. Due to the considerable distance of the Blade Sect's location, they instructed Tiger Roar Hall to proceed first and contend for the items within the secret realm. Little did they know that their arrival would be their last. After losing contact with Tuoba Lie, the Blade Sect began investigating Tiger Roar Hall's movements, ultimately tracing their disappearance to the mountain forest where they entered the secret realm. Conversely, Cloud Mountain Sect had successfully opened the secret realm and obtained its contents, leading them to deduce that Tiger Roar Hall had likely been annihilated by Cloud Mountain Sect.
"They didn't cherish the opportunity to live; their deaths are not regrettable!" Liu Yunqing responded directly. He understood that even if he informed Kuang Fengshuang that Cloud Mountain Sect had no involvement in Tiger Roar Hall's disappearance, Kuang Fengshuang would not believe him. The Blade Sect did not place much importance on a single Tiger Roar Hall. Their gathering of forces here was primarily for the treasures obtained within the secret realm. Therefore, whether he admitted it or not, the situation of the Blade Sect drawing their blades against Cloud Mountain Sect would not change. With a demon god like Chu Fan standing here, Liu Yunqing would not harbor the slightest fear, let alone if two more Blade Sects were to arrive.
"Very well!" Kuang Fengshuang said with a ferocious smile, "In that case, we can settle this account properly!" "You knew full well that Tiger Roar Hall was an affiliated sect of our Blade Sect, yet you dared to slaughter them all. It seems you wish for the blades of our Blade Sect to taste blood!" "Draw your blades!" he commanded. With the falling of his low shout, a crisp, uniform sound, laced with intense coldness, echoed through the forest. The exquisitely crafted, gleaming sabers were dazzling.
Beside Liu Yunqing, Chu Fan, whose demeanor had been languid, frowned as he noticed something around Kuang Fengshuang's neck, his eyes narrowing. The next moment, he stepped forward towards Kuang Fengshuang. "What is that you're wearing around your neck?" "Take it out and let me see!" Chu Fan spoke, his voice clearly laced with tension.