CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 94: NEWS OF THE FAMILY’S DESTRUCTION_1

The setting sun cast a brilliant glow across the landscape, and a gentle breeze stirred waves of golden ripples.

Ling Chen and Bai Susu had already parted ways. After bidding farewell to Ling Chen, she returned to the Medicine King Sect.

Their friendship was merely the result of a chance meeting and sharing a similar temperament. They were friends in the Jianghu, but it would never transform into a deeper connection.

Riding a swift horse, Ling Chen returned to the Divine Intent Sect by dusk.

As he entered the Sect, he passed by groups of Disciples engaged in deep discussions.

"Have you heard? The Fire Blade Sect has been wiped out. No one out of the almost a thousand members survived."

"What!? The Fire Blade Sect was thriving recently, wasn’t it? Such a major Sect, how could it be annihilated just like that?"

"Who knows? The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Remember when our Divine Intent Sect was at its peak? We were still ambushed by evil demons. If we hadn’t had such a profound foundation, we would have ended up just like the Fire Blade Sect."

"What a disaster! Of the entire Fire Blade Sect, only Sect Leader Lie Tianxing, who had just returned from the Thunder Country, survived. It’s unbelievable that within a single night, Lie Tianxing, who had such great aspirations, suddenly became a lonely man."

Ling Chen walked along the Sect’s main path, surrounded by such discussions.

Despite hearing the discussions, Ling Chen was only slightly taken aback, not truly shocked. Given the terrifying force he had witnessed the night before, wiping out the Fire Blade Sect—especially when its Sect Leader was absent—was highly probable.

"With this major incident, I’m afraid the Martial World of the Wind Country will be reshuffled."

Ling Chen shook his head. While he held no particular fondness for the Fire Blade Sect, the massacre of nearly a thousand lives was undoubtedly a horrific tragedy.

If the Demonic Sect is not eradicated, peace will never grace the land. The Saint Witch Religion, the Myriad Beasts Sect... these Demonic Sects are like malignant tumors within the Five Kingdoms, poisoning living beings and committing countless evils. To protect the common people and uphold justice, one must take it upon oneself to eliminate the Demon Way. Since childhood, Ling Chen had been taught by his father to clearly distinguish between right and wrong. He understood the principle: when prosperous, one should benefit the world; when destitute, one should focus on personal integrity. But now, lacking the position and power to address such grand affairs, he, as a mere Righteous Path Disciple, could only express these heartfelt sentiments.

Picking up his pace, Ling Chen quickly headed towards the Wuchen Courtyard.

「The following day.」

In the central region of the Wind Country stood a place named Red Maple Mountain. Atop a cluster of mountains there lay the entrance to the Fire Blade Sect.

The Fire Blade Sect was itself a major sect of the Martial World with a legacy of nearly three hundred years. When the Fire Country was first established, "Flaming Blade" Wang Cong built a renowned reputation across the land. His cultivation reached the Ninth Layer Great Master, and he founded the Fire Blade Sect.

Ten years later, the new Sect Leader, "Flaming Cloud Divine Blade" Lu Wenxiu, made her mark on the Martial World. She was the only Top Sky Apex Strong among all Sect Leaders in the history of the Fire Blade Sect; under her leadership, the Sect reached its peak power.

Thereafter, the Sect gradually declined until the current Sect Leader, Lie Tianxing, came to power. Taking advantage of the Divine Intent Sect’s decline, he actively engaged in external activities, causing the Sect’s reputation to spread once again throughout the Five Kingdoms.

Unexpectedly, just when things were looking up, the Sect was hit so hard.

Bodies lay everywhere on the mountain peaks: Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Disciples, Core Disciples, officeholders, Deacons, Outer Door Elders, Inner Door Elders, and the Elders’ families. Everyone lay sprawled on the ground, bodies haphazardly strewn about, their blood forming rivers.

In front of the grandest hall, several figures were already present. Among them was none other than the Vice Leader of the Divine Intent Sect, Ye Nantian.

Beside him stood three others. One, a man in a crimson robe with a gloomy face, was Lie Tianxing, the Sect Leader of the Fire Blade Sect. The other two were a man in a golden robe and an old woman in plain clothes. These two were Tie Xiong, the leader of the Golden Shark Gang, and Medicine Granny from the Medicine King Sect.

Essentially, the leaders of all major Sects in the Wind Country were present.

"Who on earth did this? In just one night, over a thousand people were killed, their methods so ruthlessly swift and efficient."

Tie Xiong and Medicine Granny surveyed their surroundings, their gazes heavy.

The mountain was now filled only with the bodies of the Fire Blade Sect, with not a single attacker’s body in sight. While such a massive attack would surely have incurred casualties on their side, they had immaculately cleaned up the battlefield.

The meticulousness of the enemy’s plan suggested that this annihilation of the Fire Blade Sect was likely premeditated.

"No need to guess. It was the work of the Saint Witch Religion."

Ye Nantian sneered coldly, then turned to the other two, "The scene of the Fire Blade Sect’s destruction is almost identical to when our Divine Intent Sect was attacked."

"The Saint Witch Religion again! They are truly too audacious."

The faces of Tie Xiong and Medicine Granny changed. To their Golden Shark Gang and Medicine King Sect, the Saint Witch Religion was undoubtedly a colossal entity.

If the Saint Witch Religion intended to stir up trouble in the Wind Country, their two Sects would also be in grave danger.

"Audacious?" Ye Nantian glanced at Lie Tianxing, then chuckled. "I don’t think so. Wasn’t Sect Leader Lie discussing joining forces with the Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect to crusade against the Saint Witch Religion not long ago? I’d say it’s highly probable the Saint Witch Religion struck first to gain the upper hand. The Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect are difficult targets, so they chose the weakest, the Fire Blade Sect."

"Besides, after our Divine Intent Sect was ambushed by them, our strength has greatly diminished. To them, the entire Wind Country is like an undefended territory. Eradicating the Fire Blade Sect was all too easy, wouldn’t you agree?"

Ye Nantian looked at the other three with a mocking smile.

"That makes sense. The opponent is the Saint Witch Religion, after all..."

Tie Xiong and Medicine Granny exchanged glances, then both shook their heads. "An enormous power like the Saint Witch Religion is not something we can deal with. It will require the Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect to take action."

They now felt somewhat fortunate that they hadn’t joined any Righteous Path Alliance to crusade against the Saint Witch Religion; otherwise, their fate might have been the same as the Fire Blade Sect’s.

"Brother Lie, I deeply sympathize with the tragedy that has befallen your esteemed Sect," Ye Nantian said, a smirk playing on his lips. "However, there’s no need for excessive grief. With the Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect to avenge Your Excellency, vengeance will surely be served within a few days."

He then turned and departed.

The Fire Blade Sect’s destruction? He was overjoyed; what did it have to do with him? The Fire Blade Sect answered to the Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect, those two major Sects. Let them seek revenge. Besides, the Saint Witch Religion was not to be trifled with. If they were so easily destroyed, the conflict between the Righteous and Demonic paths wouldn’t have lasted to this day.

"That bastard," Lie Tianxing muttered, his face ashen with rage as he watched Ye Nantian’s retreating figure.

"Sect Leader Lie, please calm yourself," Tie Xiong said. "Given the circumstances, I think it’s best for Sect Leader Lie to accept the current situation. Perhaps find another mountain to rebuild the Fire Blade Sect. If you require any assistance, our two Sects will certainly lend our full support."

Tie Xiong and Medicine Granny knew the Fire Blade Sect was finished. Even if rebuilt, it would at best be a minor, third-rate sect, incapable of amounting to anything significant. How formidable was the Saint Witch Religion now? It was precisely because of the Saint Witch Religion’s sneak attack that the Divine Intent Sect had suffered such a devastating blow, falling from its position as a hegemon of the Martial World. This showed just how powerful the Saint Witch Religion was. Of course, a major reason the Divine Intent Sect suffered such a great loss was due to an internal traitor. To annihilate the Saint Witch Religion, it would likely require mobilizing the entire strength of the Righteous Martial World. However, given the current fragmented state of the Martial World, like a tray of loose sand, it would be incredibly difficult to truly consolidate that power. Unless a peerless powerhouse like Supreme Sky Feather emerged, someone capable of unifying the Jianghu with astonishing strength, such a feat would be impossible. Currently, neither Palace Master Xu Feihong of the Sky Void Palace nor Sect Master Lu Youzhen of the Myriad Dao Sect had reached that level.