Chapter 941: Give Li Taibai Up

"Senior Brother, what exactly happened?" Lin Yue's expression also changed.

Zhang Kun's expression was solemn: "You only know that the one who was beheaded was named Tan Shu, but do you know who is behind him?"

Lin Yue frowned: "No matter who is behind him, the Vast Sky Alliance wouldn't disregard the bigger picture just because one person died in battle, would they? Over the years, many have died in skirmishes at these two passes, including disciples from prestigious sects, and no one has ever made a big deal out of it. Senior Brother, I know Tan Shu was a disciple of the Heavenly Yuan Sect, but what is his background that makes you so wary?"

Zhang Kun said, "Since you know he's a Heavenly Yuan Sect disciple, can't you think of someone?"

Lin Yue pondered for a moment: "Are you saying... that old hag Yu Huajin? Tan Shu is related to her?"

"Sigh!" Zhang Kun sighed, "Junior Sister, you reached the Divine Sea Realm relatively late, so you might not be aware. Yu Huajin's husband's surname was Tan. They had a son who was said to be remarkably talented and made a name for himself decades ago. However, due to some transgression, he was beheaded by Feng Wujiang on the battlefield to boost morale. That Tan Shu is this man's descendant. Tan Shu was still in his mother's womb when his father died."

"So... Yu Huajin is Tan Shu's grandmother?"

Zhang Kun nodded solemnly: "Now, do you understand?"

Lin Yue's expression also changed.

Zhang Kun said, "Because of what happened back then, that old woman Yu Huajin has held a grudge against the Azure Blood Sect. Even though they are both in the Vast Sky Alliance, she has repeatedly suppressed them openly and secretly. It's said that many Azure Blood Sect disciples' deaths were related to her, but unfortunately, the Azure Blood Sect had no definitive proof, and with their sect in decline, they could only let it go. Yu Huajin had only one son, who was beheaded by Feng Wujiang, and that son had only one descendant. Now, he has died at our hands. His lineage is essentially cut off. How could Yu Huajin let this rest? If it were anyone else, they would prioritize the bigger picture and not cause such a fuss over one person's death. But she is Yu Huajin; who knows what she'll do?"

Lin Yue suddenly felt a headache. Earlier, she had felt immense pride because Lu Ye had defeated a stronger opponent and beheaded Tan Shu. Now, she realized this was a colossal mistake.

As Zhang Kun said, if it were any other Divine Sea Realm cultivator, they would prioritize the bigger picture, even if they were angry. But Yu Huajin was a madwoman, and madwomen always do the unexpected.

Especially since Yu Huajin now held significant power at Tianmen Pass, there was no telling what actions she might take.

It now seemed that the reason Tan Shu was assigned to Jinglan Lake Pass was because the fighting here was not intense. That madwoman had a selfish desire to protect her descendant, and since Jinglan Lake Pass was subordinate to Tianmen Pass, it was even more convenient for her to look after him.

As Lin Yue pondered, the guard tokens at her and Zhang Kun's waists simultaneously stirred. Their hearts leaped, and they both had a bad feeling. They quickly checked them, exchanged a glance, and their expressions changed.

What they feared... had happened!

And it came so quickly that it made them deeply realize Yu Huajin's madness.

"Prepare for battle!" A low shout, amplified by spiritual power, instantly spread throughout Dark Moon Forest Pass.

Instantly, the entire pass erupted like salt sprinkled into a hot oil pan. Numerous Myriad Devil Ridge cultivators rushed to their positions, and cries of preparation echoed in all directions.

In less than thirty breaths, all Myriad Devil Ridge cultivators within the pass had sprung into action, demonstrating their high efficiency.

Lu Ye, who was cultivating and recuperating, was also startled.

Sensing the anomaly, he quickly pushed open his door, though his face remained pale.

His mental energy had been replenished, but he had told Tong Shuyao earlier that he had used a forbidden technique to defeat a stronger opponent and kill Tan Shu.

Since it was a forbidden technique, the consumption was naturally immense, and it would be impossible for an ordinary person to recover so quickly.

He immediately spotted Tong Shuyao standing not far away, looking up.

"Senior Sister Tong, what happened?" Lu Ye asked.

"The Vast Sky Alliance is attacking the pass," Tong Shuyao quickly replied, feeling very strange. Jinglan Lake Pass and Dark Moon Forest Pass had been peaceful for a long time, so why would the Vast Sky Alliance suddenly attack for no reason?

She vaguely felt that it might be related to what had happened earlier, but she couldn't be sure.

Lu Ye listened, frowning deeply.

The Vast Sky Alliance was attacking the pass. Li Taibai was from Myriad Devil Ridge. If he encountered someone from the Vast Sky Alliance, should he fight or not?

If he fought, it would go against his true nature. If he didn't, he would easily expose himself.

As he thought, his face grew even paler, his steps faltered slightly, and his aura was extremely weak.

"Junior Brother Taibai!" Tong Shuyao quickly stepped forward to support him.

Lu Ye waved his hand: "That forbidden technique consumed too much; I'll be fine with a few more days of rest."

Tong Shuyao had no doubts: "Then Junior Brother, return to your room for now. You don't need to participate in today's battle."

Lu Ye nodded decisively: "Senior Sister Tong, be careful."

"Go back. I'll report to the Pass Lord; you won't be accused of dereliction of duty." Tong Shuyao said, then soared into the sky.

Seeing her leave, Lu Ye quickly turned, entered his room, and closed the door. He absolutely could not get involved in today's commotion.

Once the battle order was issued, Dark Moon Forest Pass quickly mobilized, despite a long period of peace. Information constantly flowed back from the front, but soon, all sources of intelligence were cut off.

Clearly, the scouts gathering information had exposed their positions, and their fate was grim.

On the city wall, Lin Yue and Zhang Kun, the two Pass Lords, stood side by side, straining their vision to look into the distance. They could vaguely discern the Vast Sky Alliance's immense formation.

"That old hag acts crazy, but her identity is sensitive, so she definitely won't lead the charge herself. Even so, I'm certain that the Divine Sea Realm cultivators invading this time aren't just the two from Jinglan Lake Pass; there must be reinforcements dispatched. Junior Sister Yue, send word to the passes on our left and right, telling them to be ready to assist at any moment!"

"Yes!" Lin Yue acknowledged the order and immediately sent messages to the Divine Sea Realm cultivators in the neighboring passes, instructing them to prepare for reinforcement.

It wasn't good to call them over immediately. Requesting assistance before a battle had even begun was ultimately inappropriate. Not only would it weaken their own morale, but what if the Vast Sky Alliance was feinting an attack here while actually focusing on the passes to the left and right? If that were the case, asking for aid now would fall into the enemy's trap of luring the tiger out of its mountain, exhausting the neighboring passes and putting them in danger.

Moreover, Divine Sea Realm cultivators were very fast. If they sensed trouble and came to assist from nearby, they could arrive in less than half an hour.

With Dark Moon Forest Pass's defenses, they could certainly hold out for half an hour.

The Vast Sky Alliance army drew closer, causing Zhang Kun and Lin Yue to frown deeply. Based on the current formation, Jinglan Lake Pass had almost completely emptied out, with even its two Divine Sea Realm Pass Lords arriving.

These two, a man and a woman, had cultivation levels similar to Zhang Kun and Lin Yue. Although they had never fought before, if they were to engage, they would certainly be evenly matched opponents.

They didn't see any other high-level Divine Sea Realm cultivators, but if the opponents intended to conceal themselves, they wouldn't be able to detect them.

"We just received news that Liu Yuemei is Tan Shu's birth mother!" Zhang Kun softly spoke, looking at the two palace-attired Divine Sea Realm women opposite them.

"They must be insane!" Lin Yue's delicate brows furrowed tightly.

Just because one person died, they were truly making such a huge fuss. Two passes that had long been peaceful were actually going to war over this; if news spread, it would only invite ridicule.

However, at Tianmen Pass, Yu Huajin held half the authority, and Liu Yuemei was the Pass Lord of Jinglan Lake Pass. Tan Shu's death had clearly caused both the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to lose some of their rationality. Now, they only thought of avenging Tan Shu, disregarding everything else.

Even if this matter reached the Elder Council of Vast Sky City, the council wouldn't harshly reprimand them. The two factions were inherently hostile, like two tigers that cannot share one mountain. Sending troops to attack a pass was a normal course of action; the death of a descendant was merely a pretext.

"Activate the formation!" As Zhang Kun's shout rang out, Dark Moon Forest Pass's protective grand formation was activated. A transparent light screen, shaped like an inverted bowl, enveloped the pass.

On the city walls, the lights of numerous magic formations began to glow, waiting for the approaching enemy to reach a certain distance before striking hard.

Since ancient times, in offense and defense, the defending side always held an advantage. Therefore, although Jinglan Lake Pass had emptied out this time, Zhang Kun and Lin Yue weren't overly worried, as, given the current situation, it was impossible for the opposing side to conquer Dark Moon Forest Pass.

Their only concern was whether there were any hidden Divine Sea Realm cultivators.

The approaching Vast Sky Alliance army had clearly seen Dark Moon Forest Pass's response, so they stopped outside attack range.

Liu Yuemei, dressed in white palace robes, her face as cold as ice, stepped forward from the crowd and stopped five hundred zhang away from Dark Moon Forest Pass.

Her gaze swept over every section of the city wall, as if searching for someone, but she found nothing. She eventually withdrew her gaze, disappointed and angry.

"It is truly delightful to have a guest from afar. Fellow Daoist Liu, why did you come without a word? If you had informed me earlier, I would have come out to greet you," Zhang Kun said, smiling at Liu Yuemei.

His warm greeting met with a cold response. Liu Yuemei spoke softly: "Where is Li Taibai? Hand over Li Taibai, and I will withdraw my troops immediately!"

Zhang Kun raised an eyebrow. Although he knew the origin of today's battle must be the previous conflict, knowing was one thing; hearing the other party admit it directly was another.

He understood that Tan Shu's death had indeed greatly enraged Liu Yuemei and Yu Huajin. The other party didn't even try to conceal their intentions.

It wasn't surprising, he thought. More than thirty years ago, their son and husband were beheaded by Feng Wujiang on the battlefield. They had finally raised their grandson/son to adulthood, where he gained some cultivation, and even placed him in a pass with little fighting, fearing he might get hurt. Yet, he still died.

And he was killed by someone four cultivation realms lower than him.

No one would be able to accept that.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, you jest. Not only do I not know who this Li Taibai is, nor if he is a soldier of my Dark Moon Forest Pass, but even if I did know, it would be impossible to hand him over to you."

"Hand him over! Otherwise, I will ensure Dark Moon Forest Pass knows no peace!" Liu Yuemei's expression suddenly turned ferocious.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, don't forget you are a Divine Sea Realm cultivator. Before two armies, do not lose your composure!"

Liu Yuemei paid no heed to composure. Her gaze fixed on the city, she amplified her spiritual power and roared: "Li Taibai, get out here! Today, I will tear you into a thousand pieces!"