Seven days, a full seven days.
Jiang Huai had no idea where Tang Zhaoxue had gone. He could only devote himself to cultivation in his residence, surrounded by the increasingly grim and oppressive atmosphere of the sect.
The entire Xuanxian Immortal Sect felt like a tautly drawn bow, permeated by an unyielding martial law.
He had tried to take Zhu Siyao out again, but was bluntly stopped by the disciples on guard duty.
“The entire sect is under martial law. The Xie Tide is stirring. Please, Young Master and Miss, remain quietly at your residence. Do not go out. Once the Sect Master returns, everything will be made clear.”
An Elder in charge, his expression grave, personally came to deliver this message. Though his tone was courteous, his attitude left no room for argument.
Helpless, Jiang Huai could only return to Cloud Rest Pavilion with Zhu Siyao and continue his cultivation, though an ominous sense of an approaching storm loomed in his heart.
He couldn’t help but wonder: Tang Zhaoxue was only a Huan Shen, but by all rights, she was the strongest in this world.
What could possibly keep her from returning to the sect for seven days?
Seven days later, Tang Zhaoxue still had not returned, but the sect’s atmosphere abruptly changed.
The horns sounded long and loud, countless streams of light streaking from the various peaks toward the largest plaza on the main peak.
Xuanji Immortal Sect, the Martial Arts Discussion Platform.
“Let’s go see what’s happening,” Jiang Huai said, grabbing Zhu Siyao’s hand and following the flowing lights to the Discussion Platform.
On the huge platform, a dense crowd of female disciples stood in uniform blue robes, wielding various magical tools. Their cultivation ranged from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul, their auras mixed but uniformly grim.
On the platform stood an old woman with white hair and a sharp, eagle-like gaze. She was the sect’s Decree Elder and was currently exercising the authority of the Dai Zongzhu.
“All members of the Xuanji Immortal Sect, listen to orders!”
Her voice rolled like thunder, suffused with overwhelming spiritual power and unwavering decisiveness, echoing throughout the plaza and spreading to every corner of the sect.
Zhu Siyao immediately donned her red armor, staring blankly at the scene before her, silently stepping closer to Jiang Huai.
“The Xie Tide has returned once more, its momentum overwhelming. It has already broken through three of our outermost defense lines and is now pressing directly against Ironwall Pass!”
“If the pass falls, millions of lives will be lost, and the pure land will know no peace. Countless territories will be turned into cursed lands!”
“The reason the Xuanxian Immortal Sect established its home here was to stand on the front line against the Xie Tide, to repel it beyond Ironwall Pass!”
The old woman’s voice suddenly rose, filled with reverence and resolve.
“Our Sect Master is currently standing firm beneath Ironwall Pass itself!”
“She, as a Huan Shen, leads us in the first wave of battle against the Xie Tide!”
“She is waiting for us! Waiting for her sect to join her in battle!”
“Battle?!”
The Elder raised her arm and shouted, “Tell me, why do you fight?!”
A thunderous chorus rose like crashing waves:
“To protect our homes from desecration!”
“For the safety of all!”
“So the men of the world will not fall into the demon’s grasp!”
“For our Jade Realm’s pure land, and the continuation of our Dao for a thousand generations!”
Countless female cultivators below the platform fixed their gazes with unwavering determination. They shouted in unison, the sound shaking the heavens and earth, their fierce fighting spirit and protective resolve soaring to the skies.
Jiang Huai noticed one disciple standing at the forefront—Tang Zhaoxue’s personal disciple, who had once treated him coldly but later changed her attitude drastically.
She had shed all arrogance, her face only showing the resolute determination of one who faces death without fear and the decisive will to march into battle.
“Facing death with no fear,” Jiang Huai muttered, feeling a brutal chill.
Cultivators of Tang Zhaoxue’s caliber all understood one truth: this world likely had no future. The Xie Tide seemed endless, devouring territory step by step.
Zhu Siyao, watching nervously, instinctively clutched Jiang Huai’s sleeve.
She came from the outside world and was deeply shaken by this atmosphere of total mobilization and willing sacrifice.
The Blazing Sun Sect was a great sect, but it had never seen such a scene. The Five Provinces Continent had never faced such an external enemy.
Jiang Huai suddenly recalled the Outworld Heavenly Demon Zhu Siyao had mentioned last time and quietly asked, “Do you think the Ancient Era on the Five Provinces Continent was like this as well?”
If the Ancient Era saw such Xie Tides, then surely there were people willing to sacrifice themselves for the people even then.
The world was full of petty struggles, but it was never short of such loyal guardians.
Zhu Siyao shook her head, somewhat confused, “I don’t know.”
Jiang Huai gazed at everything before him, at the figures who, fully aware that the path ahead was a meat grinder, nonetheless marched forward without hesitation. His heart stirred deeply.
Zhu Siyao felt uneasy and asked Jiang Huai, “Will we also fight against the Xie Tide?”
For the first time, she truly felt abandoned, uncertain when she would be able to return home.
Even though Zhu Siyao often went out to train and boasted she would never rely on her mother, never using her mother’s name, no matter what she encountered, deep down she always knew she had a powerful Sect Master mother to back her up.
On the Five Provinces Continent, as long as you didn’t meet someone like Qin Qingyue, you could almost walk with impunity.
But now, Zhu Siyao realized that her mother, a powerful Sect Master at the Great Ascension stage, couldn’t help her anymore.
She had truly become an ordinary cultivator, without background, without strength, and without outstanding talent.
A sense of crisis and urgency welled up in her heart, uneasy and restless.
Jiang Huai patted her hand, soothing, “It’s alright, it’s alright. I’m here, I’ll bring you home.”
With that, he led Zhu Siyao back to their residence, immediately taking several Spirit Fruits before sitting cross-legged to meditate.
Zhu Siyao sat beside him, also cross-legged, staring blankly at his profile, inexplicably feeling a sense of calm.
It seemed she was not entirely without support; at least Jiang Huai was reliable.
At that moment, a surge of spiritual energy gathered forcefully around Jiang Huai, pouring into the Chaos Dao Platform.
A powerful sensation filled his entire body, the quality of his spiritual energy suddenly rising by a whole rank.
Jiang Huai slowly opened his eyes, sharp light gleaming within. He had broken through to mid-Foundation Establishment.
Zhu Siyao sensed the aura emanating from him and was shocked.
With Jiang Huai’s current strength, she wasn’t sure if she could withstand two blows from him even at full effort.
For a male cultivator, he had already become this powerful?
If that was the case, it was quite reassuring—and he was gentle too.
Zhu Siyao studied him carefully. Indeed, he fit the image she had in her heart.
Jiang Huai slowly looked toward Zhu Siyao and softly said, “Don’t worry. Focus on your cultivation.”
“The other matters are none of your concern, understand?”
Zhu Siyao stared at his face, momentarily stunned, just quietly looking at him.
“Understand?” Jiang Huai repeated, puzzled.
What was wrong with her? Had she been scared senseless?
Only then did she come back to herself and hurriedly nodded.
“Understood. I got it.”
After a moment, she realized belatedly: when had she become so obedient to him?
But she couldn’t find the words to object now.
A month later.
The oppressive atmosphere had not dissipated with the passage of time; it instead hung over the entire Xuanxian Immortal Sect like a dark cloud.
Until this day, a wave of fluctuations came from the sect’s massive formation at the entrance, signaling the return of the expedition force.
But those returning were not victors.