Chapter 43: Dispatching Troops to Suppress the Rebellion (Part 3)

The Changle Sect!

Gu Huaixuan, the Sect Master of the Changle Sect, was meditating in seclusion when he suddenly received a telepathic plea for help from Hong Xiaotian, the Sect Master of the Sword Sect. He immediately declared that he would dispatch reinforcements to the Sword Sect. Just at that moment, a disciple of his sect rushed in hurriedly.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, disciples of the Morning Light Sect have launched an attack on our gates!"

Gu Huaixuan never expected that the Morning Light Sect would split its forces to launch a surprise attack. He quickly put down the voice-transmission talisman and ordered, "Sound the alarm bells and activate the sect's grand protective array!"

"Understood, Sect Master!" The messenger disciple acknowledged the order and hurried away.

Hu Ling'er and Ye Wushuang, leading the sect's disciples, saw the Changle Sect activating its protective array from afar. The two of them exchanged a smile, entirely unconcerned. In their eyes, the Changle Sect was merely putting up a dying struggle; today, their contingent was bound to take down this sect. When they arrived in front of the Changle Sect's gates, Gu Huaixuan had already been waiting for a long time with the entire sect's forces.

Seeing Hu Ling'er and Ye Wushuang, Gu Huaixuan asked with a cold, stern voice, "I wonder why the two fellow Daoists have led your sect's disciples to my Changle Sect? It seems our two sects have no grievances between us."

The opponent was asking a question while knowing the answer full well. Hu Ling'er sneered, "Sect Master Gu truly has a selective memory. Your Changle Sect has detained members of the Great雍 Imperial Family who belong to our junior sister. Shouldn't you give us an explanation? As for the grievances Sect Master Gu speaks of, our two sects naturally have no direct enmity, but since our junior sister is a member of the Great雍 Imperial Family, she has requested assistance from her sect. As her fellow sect members, we naturally cannot stand idly by and ignore this."

Seeing that the Morning Light Sect dared to come and muddy the waters, Gu Huaixuan knew they must possess a foundation of confidence. Earlier, he had already received a plea for help from the Sword Sect's Master, and not long ago, another request for assistance had arrived. Now it appeared that the Morning Light Sect had come with ill intent, so he naturally would not send anyone to the Sword Sect anymore.

To avoid following in the Sword Sect's footsteps, Gu Huaixuan decided to spend wealth to avert disaster, release the captives, and smooth things over. Therefore, he cupped his fists in apology and said, "Two fellow Daoists, this is perhaps merely a misunderstanding. Although our Changle Sect has detained the members of the Great雍 Imperial Family, we have not subjected them to any untoward treatment. Since the Morning Light Sect wants them, we naturally will not continue to detain them. We will return all of them to you. What do the two fellow Daoists think of this arrangement?"

Hu Ling'er immediately refused, saying, "Sect Master Gu calculates well, thinking he can just release people and call it a day. I'm afraid this matter won't be resolved so easily!"

Gu Huaixuan furrowed his brows deeply and continued, "Since the fellow Daoists are unsatisfied, we can make some concessions. How about this: our sect is willing to offer one hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones as compensation."

Hu Ling'er burst into loud laughter. "Sect Master Gu, do you take me for a three-year-old child? If you want to put this matter to rest, your sect must not only release the captives, but also hand over ten million lower-grade spirit stones. Otherwise, the Changle Sect shall be annihilated!"

Hearing the other party's exorbitant demand, Gu Huaixuan felt a pang of heartache and said, "Fellow Daoist, please do not open your mouth like a lion demanding the impossible. Although our sect possesses some spirit stones, we simply cannot produce ten million lower-grade spirit stones all at once. However, I can guarantee payment in installments over the span of ten years."

Knowing that this was merely a stalling tactic on the other's part, Hu Ling'er did not quibble and nodded, saying, "Very well, since Sect Master Gu is so sincere, I shall agree on behalf of Junior Sister Li. Release the people now!"

Gu Huaixuan had not expected this young girl to be so easily fooled, so he immediately ordered the imperial family members to be released. Soon, Li Wei and the others were freed. Although they did not recognize Hu Ling'er and her group, the sight of the Morning Light Sect's grand army banners fluttering behind them made the situation instantly clear.

Li Wei wanted to express his gratitude to the Morning Light Sect disciples, but Hu Ling'er said coldly, "There is no need to dawdle here. Hurry up and get lost back where you came from!"

Not daring to disobey, Li Wei and the others quickly strode away. Once these hostages had departed, Hu Ling'er and her companions remained standing in place without leaving. Puzzled as to why these Morning Light Sect disciples refused to leave, Gu Huaixuan asked, "Fellow Daoist, why haven't you left this place yet?"

Hu Ling'er sneered, "I am staying to watch a show!"

"A show?" Gu Huaixuan looked at her with even greater confusion and said, "Fellow Daoist, surely you must be joking? According to our previous agreement, you were supposed to leave after we released the prisoners."

Hu Ling'er retorted, "I naturally intend to leave, but I will leave only after watching your Changle Sect get annihilated!"

"What? Was everything the fellow Daoist said previously just hot air? Your Morning Light Sect is, after all, a super sect; why are you so untrustworthy? Do you really take my Changle Sect for a pushover?" At this, Gu Huaixuan was furious. Originally, he thought the matter was settled, never expecting the other party to play him for a fool. How could he not be enraged?

Hu Ling'er replied with a straight face, "Sect Master Gu, when did I ever say that the Morning Light Sect canceled the destruction of your Changle Sect? I only said I would spare your Changle Sect for the sake of Junior Sister Li. As for whether the Morning Light Sect decides to call off the annihilation of your Changle Sect, that is not something for me, Hu Ling'er, to decide! Furthermore, I never planned to launch an attack on your Changle Sect myself, so I am not breaking any promises. The one who intends to attack you now is my Junior Brother Ye Wushuang. Since they refuse to let you off, there is nothing I can do."

"You! You! You! You are merely quibbling! Hu Ling'er, since your Changle Sect is so tyrannical, my Changle Sect will certainly not sit still and await our doom!" Gu Huaixuan was so angered he could barely speak. Yet, matters having reached this point, he could change nothing, so he immediately retreated back into the sect and activated the grand protective array.

Seeing this, Hu Ling'er turned to Ye Wushuang beside her and said, "Junior Brother Ye, I'll leave the rest to you!"

Ye Wushuang flashed a wide grin and replied, "Rest assured, Senior Sister Hu, today we shall definitely annihilate this Changle Sect!"

Immediately afterward, he retrieved the Exquisite Array Pagoda and declared to the sect disciples behind him, "Everyone, follow me and wipe out the Changle Sect!"

Following this, the Morning Light Sect disciples began frantically channeling their spiritual energy into the ten Exquisite Array Pagodas. The pagodas were activated and launched a violent assault against the Changle Sect's grand protective array. Previously, the Morning Light Sect had delayed their attack because they knew the Changle Sect was holding members of the Great雍 Imperial Family hostage. Now that the hostages had all been safely rescued, the Morning Light Sect had no more reservations and continuously bombarded the defensive barrier.

An hour later, the Changle Sect's protective array was finally shattered. At this moment, the members of the sect were struck with panic and their will to fight plummeted drastically. After all, they were well aware of the fearsome reputation of the Morning Light Sect, and they could easily foresee what fate awaited them next.

On the other side, seeing the grand array broken, Ye Wushuang revealed an excited smile. He shouted loudly toward Gu Huaixuan, "Gu Huaixuan, come out and meet your death!"

Seeing Ye Wushuang act so insolently, Gu Huaixuan raged, "Brat, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

With that, he brandished his long sword, rushed out of the sect, and engaged Ye Wushuang in combat. Wielding their long swords, the two traded blows back and forth, unable to determine a victor for a sustained moment. This instantly made Gu Huaixuan feel that he was holding his ground well; as long as he exerted himself a bit more and slaughtered this brat, the entire Morning Light Sect would surely lose its backbone.

However, after dueling for an entire hour, the two remained evenly matched, causing Gu Huaixuan's heart to grow increasingly alarmed. One had to realize that his cultivation was at the Third Heavenly Layer of the Saint Realm, whereas his opponent was merely at the peak of the Imperial Realm. By comparison, there was a gap of an entire major realm plus three minor realms between them. Whether in terms of spiritual energy or martial arts techniques, he ought to have surpassed Ye Wushuang. Yet the reality was that Ye Wushuang had fought him for an hour without showing any signs of spiritual energy depletion. What this implied went without saying.

As for martial arts, Gu Huaixuan practiced the Heaven-tier technique, the *Clear Heart Sword Technique*, and logically, there was no possibility for Ye Wushuang to defeat him. What he simply did not know was that Ye Wushuang's greatest mastery was not swordsmanship, but fist techniques. Ever since he practiced the Heavenly Dao Fist technique bestowed upon him by Liao Chen, he had elevated this fist technique to the Grandmaster realm.

Beyond that, Ye Wushuang frequently sparred with his senior brother of the sword, Qin Tian, giving him a certain level of insight into the Dao of the Sword. Therefore, it was impossible for Gu Huaixuan to defeat him through swordsmanship in a short span of time.

Seeing that the time had come, Ye Wushuang said to Gu Huaixuan, "Sect Master Gu, I'm done playing with swords with you. Receive my fist strike next!"

"Heavenly Dao Fist Technique!"

The moment his words fell, a massive fist formed of spiritual energy hurtled toward his opponent. Gu Huaixuan attempted to block it with his sword, only to discover that his quasi-Emperor-grade weapon was sent flying.

"What the hell! Why is this brat's fist technique so powerful? My treasured sword!" Gu Huaixuan scrambled to find his sword, retrieved it, and gripped it tightly in his hands.

At this moment, a trace of fear finally gripped him, and he poured all his spiritual energy into the treasured sword. On the other side, Ye Wushuang executed the Heavenly Dao Fist technique—Mountain-Crushing Strike. Gu Huaixuan met the opponent's fist head-on with his sword, but in the end, his entire body was blasted backward, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth and his heart meridians damaged.

"How can your fist technique be so powerful? Are you human or a ghost?" Gu Huaixuan stared at him in terror and demanded loudly.

Ye Wushuang sneered, "I am neither human nor ghost, I am a god! A god capable of executing you!"

"Have another fist from me, Heavenly Dao Fist Technique—Shooting Star Descent!"

A colossal fist plummeted from the heavens, fiercely smashing toward Gu Huaixuan. Gu Huaixuan resisted with all his might, but ultimately he had underestimated Ye Wushuang. Under the augmentation of the Heavenly Dao Fist technique, Gu Huaixuan could not withstand the blow, and in the end, he was beaten to death by a single punch.

With the death and transcendence of Gu Huaixuan, the entire Changle Sect instantly lost its backbone, and continuous cries for mercy rang out from its members. The battle ended swiftly. Afterward, under the watchful eyes of onlookers, the entire Changle Sect premises were literally uprooted and carried away by the Morning Light Sect disciples. So ruthless! The reputation of the Morning Light Sect as a band of formidable bandits grew increasingly prominent. By now, a total of four sects had been uprooted and moved away by the Morning Light Sect, making it clear to the entire world that the Morning Light Sect was truly not a force to be trifled with lightly.