Chapter 589 - 75: Whereabouts Unknown

From the moment he received news that He Tai’s Soul Lamp had been extinguished, Wang Yuesong, the former Sect Leader who had remained to guard the Sect, knew that the heavens over Yang Province were about to change.

At that point, he was still relatively optimistic. ’Even though He Tai has fallen,’ he thought, ’the foundation of the Lieyang Sect is still intact. As long as we can withdraw to Yang Province and hold our ground for a while, once the new generation of disciples matures, Yang Province will still belong to the Lieyang Sect.’

But in less than a day, he watched as the Soul Lamps of the Sect’s disciples and Elders went out in vast numbers.

This middle-aged man, who had toiled for the Sect for half his life, was consumed by shock and rage. A surge of blood rose in his throat, and he coughed up a great mouthful before collapsing to the floor.

Shortly after, when Zhang Hongguang returned alone, dragging his grievously wounded body back like a beaten cur, Wang Yuesong finally realized it wasn’t that the heavens over Yang Province were about to change—they had already fallen.

Of the Sect’s two Purple Mansion Cultivators, one was dead and the other was gravely injured. Of the eighteen accompanying Foundation Establishment Cultivators, eleven had fallen. It was unknown whether the remaining seven had escaped with their lives or been captured by the Song Clan.

What plunged Wang Yuesong into even deeper despair was that more than half of the nearly one thousand disciples who had gone to battle had been lost.

’These were the elites of the Lieyang Sect, the very foundation of our power in Yang Province.’

Now...

They were all gone.

In this situation, forgetting about dominating Yang Province was a given. Not only would they have to abandon many of their assets abroad, but they would even have to guard against their subordinate factions turning on them, just like the Song Clan of old after losing their presiding Purple Mansion Cultivator.

No, their situation was even more tragic than the Song Clan’s. At least the Song Clan’s foundation had remained intact.

The Lieyang Sect, on the other hand, still had a Purple Mansion Cultivator, but he had lost an arm and his severe injuries had not healed. He posed no threat whatsoever.

The remaining disciples under their banner consisted of a few decrepit, elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the new generation of disciples who had yet to come of age. It would be impossible for them to recover without at least one or two hundred years.

Facing this cataclysmic outcome, Wang Yuesong’s vision swam, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

But he forced himself to remain conscious and issued several crucial commands.

"Only the few of us know of the Sect’s disastrous defeat. Suppress this information immediately. Remember, you are not to tell even the disciples within the Sect.

Furthermore, recall all disciples from the outside. No matter where they are, they must return with the utmost speed to defend the Sect.

Abandon all of the Sect’s assets abroad. Bring back any resources you can carry and destroy all that you cannot. Remember, you must be swift and secretive. Do not hesitate for a moment. We must withdraw to the Sect before anyone else can react... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH."

As he spoke, Wang Yuesong became agitated and coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood. The surrounding Elders’ hearts ached as they watched.

In this situation, Wang Yuesong was their pillar of strength. If he fell, the Lieyang Sect would truly be finished.

"Grand Elder, please, get some rest."

Wang Yuesong shook his head weakly. "Time waits for no one. Too many people are coveting the Sect’s holdings. How can there be time to rest? Every second counts.

Let’s begin the slow contraction of the Sect’s power. Aside from the main peak, everything can be temporarily abandoned. Everyone... we must do what we can to survive. The Sect’s foundation, built over centuries, cannot be destroyed in our hands."

The few elderly men exchanged a look and could only nod in helpless agreement.

A bleak cloud of sorrow hung over the Lieyang Sect, and the Rong Clan was not faring much better. Although Rong Mingtao had narrowly escaped death, his very essence had been severely damaged, and Blood Evil Qi had invaded his organs. It was clear he didn’t have many years left.

Upon learning that his clansmen in Ling Province had been completely wiped out, Rong Mingtao was so overcome with rage that he fainted on the spot, leaving only the Young Clan Leader, Rong Shaoyuan, to deal with the utter mess left in his wake.

Compared to the seasoned and decisive Wang Yuesong, Rong Shaoyuan was clearly far more green. Because of his poor handling of the situation, news of the clan’s catastrophic defeat quickly leaked out.

Instantly, panic swept through the Rong Clan, and the various Foundation Establishment Influences in Xiang Province began to stir, eager to make a move.

This phenomenon soon spread to Yang Province. On the surface, all was calm, but beneath, a fierce undercurrent was raging. The various Foundation Establishment Influences began to interact with a sudden, newfound frequency.

At first, they acted in secret. But after seeing no reaction from the Lieyang Sect, they grew bolder, eventually holding blatant meetings to conspire on how to carve up the Sect’s assets.

Wang Yuesong saw what they were doing, but he was powerless to stop them.

The best way to shatter their ambitions and force them to fall back in line would be to have Zhang Hongguang go on a killing spree.

A grievously wounded Purple Mansion Cultivator was still a Purple Mansion Cultivator. As long as he executed the most audacious ringleaders, the rest would naturally fall back into submission.

Once Zhang Hongguang’s injuries healed in time, the Lieyang Sect would once again be the overlord of Yang Province.

Unfortunately, Zhang Hongguang was only concerned with his own path of cultivation and flatly refused upon hearing the suggestion. Wang Yuesong’s persuasion was fruitless, and he could only watch helplessly as those men conspired right under his nose.

"The legacy of our ancestors, ruined at the hands of vermin!" Wang Yuesong slammed a fist into the wall, his heart filled with bitter resentment and helplessness...

While Yang Province and Xiang Province descended into chaos, an oblivious Song Xianming and the Drunkard had already rushed to the location Song Changsheng had messaged from.

The scene was a complete wreck, with the lingering Mana of several people still hanging in the air.

"It’s the auras of Sheng’Er and He Tai. They fought here!" Song Xianming’s expression was grim; no one was more familiar with their auras than he.

"Fellow Daoist Song, do not be anxious," the Drunkard quickly reassured him. "From my observation, the battle here wasn’t overly intense. This suggests Young Friend Song wasn’t tied down and must have broken through. Fortune favors the blessed; he will certainly turn this peril into safety."