Zhang Yong returned to the lands of the Gan family with heavy steps, his mind still occupied with the scroll.
But suddenly, Gan Luo's scream cut through the silence of his thoughts.
"Zhang Yong! I finally found you!" Gan Luo rushed toward him, his face pale and terrified. "There's an emergency… the Spring Demon Sect is attacking the Purple Star Sect right now!"
Zhang Yong trembled for a moment, his crimson eyes flashing with a spark of rage. "What? Now?"
"Yes! They've sent an entire army!" Gan Luo said with horror. "I should never have sent my son there."
"Calm down. How long has it been since the attack started?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
"Only a few hours, but many doubt the Star Sect's ability to withstand such a massive force."
Zhang Yong wasted no more time. He summoned Kuro and leaped onto its back. "I'm going now."
"Wait!" Gan Luo shouted. "Going there now would be suicide."
Zhang Yong smiled viciously. "Of course it is." Then he shot into the sky like an arrow, leaving Gan Luo standing in a daze.
...
At the Purple Star Sect
According to the original plan, a golden domain spread across the entire sect.
As predicted, the attack came from the north side of the sect.
Elder Gu Zixian stood at the northern edge, his narrowed eyes tracking the enemy's movements. "They've attacked from the north."
The Lightning Peak Master looked at the sect leader and smiled. "Sect Leader, now that we've confirmed it, what about making our move now?"
The sect leader showed no reaction, only turning his cold gaze toward the Lightning Peak Master. "Oh really?"
Moving swiftly, the sect leader waved his arm, and a storm wind shot directly toward him.
Immediately, currents of lightning erupted around the elder's body to form a protective barrier, and he retreated several steps. "Sect Leader! What is the meaning of this?"
"I'm eliminating a traitor. It's simple," the sect leader said coldly, staring at the elder.
A heavy silence fell after the sect leader's sudden attack on the Lightning Peak Master.
All the elders and disciples stood frozen in place, their eyes darting between the leader and the elder.
"Sect Leader, are you joking?" said the Lightning Peak Master, forcing a smile as lightning coiled around his arms. "You're accusing me of treason without evidence?"
The sect leader did not smile. "Evidence? I gave you a fake core. And now, here our enemies are attacking from the direction I told you belonged to Gu Zixian, intended to make me attack him, while in truth I told him it was the east side. How do you explain that?"
At that moment, a loud laugh erupted from the Lightning Peak Master. A long, mad laugh, full of contempt. "Oh, you fools! Did you really think I'd fall for your pathetic crap?"
He suddenly raised his hands, and a sphere of black lightning formed between them. "I've been playing with you from the start!"
The sphere exploded in all directions, shockwaves shaking the earth. The elders and leaders reeled backward, while the Lightning Peak Master seized the opportunity to pounce toward the sect's gate.
"Stop him!" shouted the sect leader.
But it was too late. The Lightning Peak Master disappeared behind the sect's gate and joined the ranks of the Spring Demon Sect's army waiting outside the defensive formation.
"Order to the elders! Attack the Spring Demon Sect members!" the sect leader commanded, and the elders rose to go out.
Immediately, the elders of the Purple Star Sect, led by the sect leader, stood on one side, and on the other, the Spring Demon Sect's army, led by their leader—a tall man in a red mask with snake-like yellow eyes.
"You've lost!" shouted the Lightning Peak Master from among the enemy ranks. "The defensive formation is partially broken, and the guardian spirit won't save you this time!"
The Spring Demon Sect leader raised his blood-red sword. "Kill them all! Today, the Purple Star Sect falls!"
At that moment, the earth in the center of the square exploded. Thick dust rose, and from within emerged a giant serpent—the sect's guardian spirit.
Its golden eyes blazed with anger, its massive mouth opening to reveal deadly fangs.
"The guardian spirit!" the sect's elders exclaimed with fervor.
The serpent charged like a tempest through the ranks of the Spring Demon Sect's army.
Its massive tail crushed dozens in a single strike, and its venomous aura was more than enough to dissolve flesh and bone in moments.
But the Spring Demon Sect leader seemed unperturbed. "Is that all you've got?" he shouted, raising his hand. Suddenly, the earth beneath the serpent split open, and four massive black pillars erupted from the ground, forming a cage of energy around it.
"Demonic Suppression Pillars!" whispered the Purple Star Sect leader, his eyes widening. "How did they get those?!"
These pillars were mentioned in the sect's records—mid-earth rank, with a high capacity for subduing spiritual beasts.
The serpent cried out in pain as the pillars rapidly drained its energy. Its metallic, shimmering skin began to lose its luster, and its movements grew slower.
At the same time, fierce battles erupted in every corner of the area.
Disciples and elders from the various halls engaged in desperate combat to defend their home.
Fighting broke out in every corner—swords crossed, energies collided, battle cries filled the air, and blood soaked the ground.
Elder Gu raised one arm, and his treasure talisman transformed into a sword, soaring high into the sky.
Immediately, he was surrounded in the air by three elders.
"Old Gu Zixian, it seems your old bones have returned to their former days," one of the elders laughed harshly.
"Tiao Di, it's been a long time, old man," Elder Gu said, raising a chain of talismans. "Unfortunately, this meeting will be brief."
Talisman Art – Boundary-Breaking Talisman
The talisman released by Elder Gu exploded in the air, unleashing a massive shockwave that pushed the three elders back.
The golden talisman chain coiled around his arms like a living serpent, each link radiating a different power.
"Do you think these old tricks will stop us?" Tiao Di roared as he raised his black sword, waves of dark energy racing along its blade.
Elder Gu did not reply. Instead, he turned his palm upward, and the golden talismans suddenly separated into hundreds of small pieces that scattered in all directions.
Talisman Art – Falling Star Rain
Each small piece exploded on impact, turning the sky into a sea of golden fire. The three elders tried to take cover, but the successive shockwaves tore apart their protective barriers one by one.
On the ground, the scene was even bloodier.
Disciples from both sects fought fiercely, blood staining the green grass.
Wang Fei, with his usual coldness, advanced with steady steps. Every movement released a cloud of deadly poison that turned his enemies into convulsing corpses in moments.
"Is this all you have?" he said calmly, stepping over the corpse of a Spring Demon Sect attacker. "I haven't even used half my strength yet."
Elsewhere, Liu Yan fought fiercely, her sword gleaming under the sun. "Qing Feng! Cover my back!" she shouted as she cut her way through enemy ranks.
Qing Feng, standing a few meters away, smiled fiercely as he unleashed a volley of arrows from a pre-loaded crossbow.
In an instant, at his signal, dozens of arrows flew through the air, hitting their targets perfectly.
But suddenly, a giant shadow appeared above their heads.
A massive man wielding a spiked iron mace leaped from the sky, slamming into the ground with such force that it shook beneath their feet.
"Oh, this isn't good..." Qing Feng muttered, his eyes widening at the sight of the man.
The massive man from the Spring Demon Sect laughed heartily as he gripped his iron mace with both hands. "Little children playing with swords! Let me show you what true strength means!"
Before Qing Feng or Liu Yan could respond, the man lunged at them with astonishing speed for someone his size. The iron mace crushed the ground where they had stood moments before, unleashing a shockwave that sent several nearby fighters flying.
"Scatter!" Liu Yan shouted, leaping aside, her long black hair whipping through the air.
Qing Feng rolled in the opposite direction, his hands releasing a series of poisoned arrows toward the giant man's eyes. But the man simply closed his thick eyelids, and the arrows bounced off as if hitting stone.
"Foolishness!" the man roared, raising his weapon again. "Our bodies are reinforced with Eternal Stone Elixir! Your puny weapons can't penetrate them!"
At that moment, a sharp sound of tearing air was heard. A sharp golden sword intent flew from the side like a golden dawn, sending the man's head flying through the air.
His wide eyes reflected shock before they glazed over. His colossal body swayed for a moment, then crashed to the ground with a thud, causing a small tremor.
"That's... impossible!" whispered one of the terrified Spring Demon Sect fighters.
From amidst the battle haze, Su Ming slowly emerged, his golden sword still dripping blood. "Are you two alright?" he asked Qing Feng and Liu Yan with concern.
"Barely!" Qing Feng answered, springing to his feet. "But why did you come back now? Where's Zhang Yong?"
Su Ming spun his sword deftly, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "That's what I'm trying to find out."
In the Sky
The Spring Demon Sect leader, the man with yellow eyes, hovered in the air above the battlefield.
Before him, the Purple Star Sect leader stood in direct opposition.
"You've lost!" the Spring Demon Sect leader shouted in a hoarse voice. "Your guardian spirit is trapped, your elders are exhausted. Surrender now, and I'll spare the lives of some of your disciples!"
The Purple Star Sect leader did not reply. Instead, he slowly raised his hands, and a long purple shroud of energy began to coil around his arms.
In an instant, a manifestation rose above his body.
Crystal Star Art – Pure Star Body!
The Pure Star manifestation that formed around the Purple Star Sect leader illuminated the sky with enchanting purple light. His body became semi-transparent, with small stars twinkling within him like a miniature galaxy.
The Spring Demon Sect leader laughed mockingly as he raised his hands, dark red energy flowing from his fingers. "The Pure Star Body? Do you think that old trick will stop me?"
The Purple Star Sect leader did not answer. Instead, he moved his hands in a complex pattern, and the stars within his body began to spin rapidly, forming a vortex of energy.
Crystal Star Art – Crystal Starlight!
A beam of pure purple light erupted from the Purple Star Sect leader's chest, heading directly toward the Spring Demon Sect leader.
The light was so dense it blinded anyone who looked directly at it, like the rays of the moon itself falling.
The Spring Demon Sect leader did not retreat. His yellow eyes blazed fiercely as he raised his hands before him, forming a shield of dark blood.
Eternal Blood Shield!
The purple light collided with the crimson shield, unleashing a shockwave that shook the earth beneath them.
Nearby shrubs and trees turned to ash in an instant, and rocks shattered as if made of glass.
But when the light dissipated, the Spring Demon Sect leader remained standing, his shield slightly cracked.
"Is that all you've got?" the Spring Demon Sect leader laughed, raising his hand. "My turn!"
He lunged like a thunderbolt, his hands transforming into dark red claws. Each strike unleashed waves of blood energy that tore through the air.
The Purple Star Sect leader evaded the attacks skillfully, his starry body gleaming with each movement. But even with his power, he retreated step by step under the constant pressure.
"You're weaker than you think!" the Spring Demon Sect leader roared, striking with all his might. "Your sect will end today!"