Chapter 87: The Taoist Sect Goes to War

Lu Ye still remembered his first encounter with Amber. Facing its amber-colored pupils, he felt a momentary daze. After that, Amber showed no significant abnormalities, until now.

Yiyi thought for a moment and said, "I don't think so." She then turned to ask, "Amber, can you use spells?"

Amber let out a low growl in response.

Yiyi then said, "It says no."

Lu Ye's mouth twitched. To this day, he still couldn't figure out how Yiyi communicated with Amber. It was truly astonishing how she could decipher its intentions from its sounds. It could only be attributed to Yiyi's unique ability as a familiar spirit. Lu Ye didn't press further. He had only asked casually, remembering the incident.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lu Ye began his cultivation, while Amber lay beside him, sound asleep.

The night passed without incident.

At the Xuanmen Sect outpost, Chu Tian was collecting spirit pills and food from his fellow disciples, as per Lu Ye's request. Consequently, news of the "Over-Mountain Tiger" Lu Ye's impending departure spread quickly.

Before dawn, Chu Tian contacted Lu Ye to confirm his location. He then brought two junior disciples to meet Lu Ye. After the exchange, Lu Ye received a large quantity of food and over two hundred Spirit-Nourishing Pills.

By then, it was fully daylight. Lu Ye mounted Amber's back. Chu Tian cupped his hands and said, "Until we meet again. Let's keep in touch when you have time." Lu Ye nodded slightly, and Amber dashed forward, heading deeper into Fissure Gorge.

Watching Lu Ye's receding figure, Chu Tian suddenly felt a pang of envy. Such a nomadic cultivation life truly seemed free and unrestrained. However, Lu Ye hailed from a major sect, possessing the confidence and resources for it. If Chu Tian were to attempt the same, he likely wouldn't survive more than a few months.

Leading his two junior disciples back to the Xuanmen Sect outpost, Chu Tian was immediately summoned by Wang Yang and hurried to meet him. Upon arrival, he realized something was amiss. Everyone in the outpost had been assembled, not just the sect's own disciples, but also the independent cultivators affiliated with the sect. Hundreds of people gathered in a plaza, where Wang Yang stood tall and straight, hand resting on his sword hilt, seemingly waiting for something. The atmosphere was somber, even chilling.

Chu Tian stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed, "Senior Disciple!"

"Has the Over-Mountain Tiger left?" Wang Yang asked.

"Yes, he's gone," Chu Tian replied.

Wang Yang nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction on his face. "Good, he's gone. Take your place in the formation." He seemed almost eager for Lu Ye's departure.

"Yes!" Chu Tian walked into his designated queue, utterly confused by the current arrangement. However, Wang Yang's sudden assembly of everyone clearly indicated a major operation. Chu Tian had a faint suspicion. If his hunch was correct, there would be a significant battle today.

Time slowly passed. After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Wang Yang, who had been standing motionlessly, suddenly raised his eyebrows and announced loudly, "Our Xuanmen Sect and the Nine Stars Sect outpost have been neighbors for thirty years. During these thirty years, disciples of both sects have constantly clashed, resulting in many casualties. The blood feud between us is irreconcilable. Although our Xuanmen Sect won the recent battle in Fissure Gorge, as long as the Nine Stars Sect outpost remains, our Xuanmen Sect disciples will not know peace! Therefore, I intend to capture the Nine Stars Sect outpost, and I ask all my junior disciples to lend me your strength!"

As soon as he spoke, the entire plaza erupted in an uproar. The war declaration had only ended yesterday, yet Wang Yang was already planning to seize the Nine Stars Sect outpost. This stunned all Xuanmen Sect disciples. Xuanmen had won the previous conflict; at this time, they should be enjoying the fruits of their victory, not stirring up more trouble. Capturing an outpost was no simple matter. It was protected by a grand formation, which had to be broken before the outpost could be taken. However, recalling Wang Yang's actions over the years, everyone knew that he must have made arrangements for this.

Chu Tian was the first to raise his arm and shout, "We are willing to follow Senior Disciple and uphold the might of our Xuanmen Sect!"

The crowd collectively shouted, "We are willing to follow Senior Disciple and uphold the might of our Xuanmen Sect!"

At the front of the crowd, Wang Yang smiled faintly. "Excellent!" He turned to Chu Tian. "Send a message to the Over-Mountain Tiger. Tell him that Dong Shuye personally went after him an incense stick's worth of time ago."

Chu Tian was startled by this. He was surprised by Dong Shuye's audacity and even more so by Wang Yang's well-informed network. Dong Shuye was the highest-cultivated practitioner guarding the Nine Stars Sect outpost. With him there, the outpost was impregnable. But if he left, the outpost's defenses would immediately be compromised. It seemed the death of the Nine Stars Sect's young sect master had caused them significant loss of face. They could lose the conflict with Xuanmen, but the Over-Mountain Tiger absolutely had to die. Otherwise, Dong Shuye wouldn't risk leaving the outpost to personally hunt him down. He wouldn't have left openly, as that would give Xuanmen an opportunity. Yet, Wang Yang had still received precise information, clearly indicating prior arrangements outside the Nine Stars Sect outpost. As soon as Dong Shuye left, Wang Yang's side would immediately be informed. He also recalled that several fellow disciples had been absent from last night's celebration banquet.

But how did Dong Shuye know that the Over-Mountain Tiger had already left? Chu Tian was not foolish; in an instant, he understood the whole story. The information had been leaked from the Xuanmen Sect's side. No wonder when he reported the Over-Mountain Tiger's trading demands to Senior Disciple Wang Yang last night, Wang Yang told him to collect from fellow disciples, when it would have been simpler to directly allocate from the sect's internal stores. While collecting the spirit pills and food, many people had asked him why, and he hadn't hidden the reason, mentioning that Lu Ye was preparing to leave. It was impossible for the sect's own disciples to send messages to the Nine Stars Sect. Therefore, the ones who leaked the information must have been those affiliated independent cultivators!

Just as he was thinking this, Wang Yang suddenly looked at a cultivator in the crowd and spoke, "Shi Jun, do you have anything to say?"

The independent cultivator named Shi Jun broke into a sweat, replying nervously, "N-no..."

Wang Yang simply stared at him.

Shi Jun's expression grew even more tense, and he blurted out, "Senior Disciple Wang, spare my life!"

"It seems you truly have nothing to say." With a flick of his thumb, Wang Yang drew the longsword from his waist. A clear sword hum resounded as the blade transformed into a streak of light, appearing before Shi Jun in an instant, circling his neck once. Shi Jun's body immediately stiffened. As the sword light returned to its sheath, Shi Jun's head fell to the ground, blood gushing like a fountain from his neck, and his headless corpse collapsed.

This sudden turn of events made all the independent cultivators break out in cold sweat, staring at Wang Yang with shock and uncertainty. Wang Yang's expression was icy. "This Shi Jun publicly affiliated with our Xuanmen Sect, but in reality, he was a mole for the Nine Stars Sect. Today, I executed him to serve as a warning. I hope all of you will conduct yourselves appropriately."

At these words, everyone was incredulous, but recalling Shi Jun's last plea, they realized this must be the truth. Shi Jun's final plea for mercy clearly showed a guilty conscience.

"Forward! Destroy Nine Stars!" Wang Yang waved his hand decisively.

Moments later, hundreds of Xuanmen Sect cultivators streamed out of the outpost. The entire outpost instantly became desolate and empty!