Chapter 51: Attacking the White Sword Sect—A Piece of Cake?-Deixam você cultivar e fundar uma seita, mas que história é essa de dissuasão nuclear?(Em cima da batata)

"Senior Brother, if you had already decided to kill him just now, why did you..." Liu Ruyan asked, unable to fully understand.

Liang Chuan hurriedly explained, "I only wanted to extract information regarding the Bloodthirsty Sect."

Just then, his mind was entirely occupied by cultivation techniques. After all, demonic cultivation techniques were extremely valuable in the modern era; methods involving cultivation through fresh blood were virtually extinct nowadays.

Given the extermination of demonic cultivators over tens of millions of years, having even one or two techniques survive was already quite remarkable.

Although killing the opponent would allow him to retrieve things from their storage ring, there was no guarantee that the opponent hadn't hidden the technique elsewhere. That was why he had pretended to want to join the Bloodthirsty Sect.

Hearing this, the disciples let out a collective sigh of relief. Their backs had been drenched in cold sweat just moments before.

"The Sect Master really scared me to death just now. I genuinely thought we were going to defect to the Bloodthirsty Sect."

"Those demonic cultivators look less than human and more like ghosts. I'd rather you just killed me."

"Still, to think the Sect Master was merely gathering intelligence! That acting was so convincing!"

"..."

Although they feared the retaliation of the Bloodthirsty Sect, they would rather die than join them just to stay alive.

Becoming a demonic cultivator not only made one a target for everyone, but it could also drastically alter one's temperament, especially since the vast majority of such practices required fresh blood for cultivation.

Only now did they truly set their minds at ease.

"I was really terrified just now. I thought Senior Brother was about to walk down a path of no return."

Liu Ruyan patted her chest, her pale little face regaining a hint of rosy color.

"Did you really think I would defect to the Bloodthirsty Sect?" Liang Chuan chuckled wryly, shrugged, and shook his head, saying, "I haven't fallen so low as to do such a thing just to gain power."

Yet, judging from the lingering terror in the disciples' expressions, his previous stunt had undoubtedly frightened them quite a bit.

"Alright, now that our internal troubles have been resolved, aside from the disciples tasked with scouting outside the mountain, everyone else will resume cultivation!"

Liang Chuan waved his hand to dismiss the disciples before calling Liu Ruyan to follow him into the main hall.

"Junior Sister, Zhao Wu's whereabouts are currently unknown. If he returns, capture him immediately."

Liang Chuan had not forgotten this scourge; if not for him, the sect would certainly never have faced such a massive crisis.

However, every cloud had a silver lining. Because he had slain Liang Ke in front of all the disciples, their dread toward the Nascent Soul stage would be somewhat diminished, ensuring they wouldn't panic excessively when the time came to deal with the Sun-Rising Sect.

"Understood, Senior Brother!"

Liu Ruyan bit her lower lip fiercely.

If Liang Chuan hadn't merely been putting on an act before descending the mountain, she might well have been deceived.

She didn't even dare to imagine what would have happened to the sect if Liang Chuan hadn't been present!

"Oh, right, Senior Brother, what about the Sun-Rising Sect's impending attack?"

The furrow in Liu Ruyan's brow remained unrelaxed, for the Sun-Rising Sect still hung over them like a sharp sword suspended above their heads.

"There's no need to worry. They certainly won't come to assault the sect in the short term."

In truth, the moment he heard that the enemy had headed toward Nanyang City, he had already deduced that they intended to minimize their losses by advancing steadily and surely.

Had they attacked the sect directly, they would still have had to contend with the sect-protecting array. But by establishing a foothold in Nanyang City first, they could effectively choke the sect's lifeline.

At present, every batch of pills produced by the White Sword Sect had to pass through Nanyang City to be sold, and essential supplies like grain also needed to be purchased there. Therefore, the enemy intended to await leisure while the sect labored in exhaustion.

If the sect rushed over to attack now, they would only be forced into a passive defensive assault, which played right into the enemy's hands.

Watching his resolute and confident demeanor, Liu Ruyan nodded and asked, "Shouldn't we make a preemptive strike, then?"

"I am currently biding my time. Before the battle begins, I must cultivate at least one practitioner in the late Foundation Establishment stage and ten in the mid Foundation Establishment stage."

Liang Chuan knew very well that since their weaponry was insufficient, they had to make up for it with sheer numbers.

It was impossible to imagine the other disciples merely standing on the sidelines shouting words of encouragement when a real battle broke out.

...

Meanwhile, inside Nanyang City.

City Lord Pang Yongchao looked out toward the city gates with an expression of utter despair.

He had no idea what kind of karmic retribution he had brought upon himself for the Sun-Rising Sect to arrive so quickly.

He had expected Liang Chuan to set up an ambush beforehand, but there was still no sign of him.

Watching the terrified soldiers stationed atop the city wall, he felt an even deeper wave of helplessness.

Relying on this ragtag bunch to defend the city? Wasn't that just a joke?

"City Lord, should we fire an arrow at them?"

A reckless young soldier gripped his bow and asked with a tense expression.

The enemy forces looked thoroughly lax; loosing an arrow right now might just take down one of them.

Crack!

Pang Yongchao immediately landed a blow on the back of the soldier's head: "Are you out of your mind, or am I? Firing an arrow at them—are you trying to get us all killed?!"

Even if those people stood completely still and let them hack at them, it was uncertain whether their blades could pierce their defenses. Mortals, in the end, remained utterly ignorant of the terrifying might of immortals.

Moreover, he could acutely sense that the Sun-Rising Sect had brought along some truly terrifying powerhouses this time.

"We can't just stand here and watch, can we?"

The soldier pouted and retorted with a look of grievance.

"Enough. Open the city gates."

Pang Yongchao knew he had no choice now but to resort to his ultimate technique.

With a hard swallow, he steeled his nerves and hurried out of the city.

Not far outside the city gates, Dai Xiao stood with his disciples, arms crossed, waiting for the White Sword Sect to show themselves.

As for entering the city, they could easily breach it whenever they pleased; nothing could truly stop them.

Just then, to their utter astonishment, the city gates began to slowly swing open.

They watched as a plump little man clad in lavish robes came sprinting at full speed in their direction.

"What is this Qi Refining cultivator trying to pull?"

Seeing the man's suicidal expression, the group slightly furrowed their brows, readying themselves to strike him down at a moment's notice.

Yet, right as the plump little fellow drew close to them, something unexpected happened.

He suddenly dropped to his knees!

Executing a smooth slide, he skidded right up in front of them with practiced fluidity.

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

How could anyone be that smooth?!

And it looked as though he had done this kind of thing countless times before!

"I am Pang Yongchao, the City Lord of Nanyang City!"

Pang Yongchao stated his identity without a second hesitation.

"The City Lord?"

Dai Xiao merely nodded slightly. "Capture him!"

At the same time, he walked toward the spirit boat moored behind him.

Standing outside the cabin door of the spirit boat, he cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to the Patriarch, how should we deal with the City Lord?"

Such external commotion naturally could not escape the Patriarch's notice.

"Forget it. Mundane mortals have their own ways of survival; there is no need to kill him. Just ensure the common people are managed properly."

The Patriarch's calm voice drifted out from within. "Handle the rest however you see fit; I am going to cultivate."

After stepping back, Dai Xiao gathered his disciples together once more.

"What are your thoughts on this White Sword Sect?"

Dai Xiao swept his calm gaze across the assembled group.

"They're just a tiny sect! We can just march straight up and crush them!"

"Since such a huge situation has unfolded, shouldn't we urge the Sect Master to return? Look at the state of things."

"Besides, we have our Patriarch with us! At most, the enemy has a Core Formation cultivator. What is there to be afraid of?"

The disciples expressed varying opinions, with the vast majority feeling that there was no need to be overly cautious.

However, Dai Xiao frowned and rebuked sternly, "We must remain on high alert!"