Meanwhile, back before Ji Wuye struck Murong Yu, as he was now still engrossed in the intense clash against the Wudang disciples, the Inner Courtyard—where the grand Hall of Insight had proudly stood that very morning—lay tightly secured.

The massive wooden doors, carved with intricate depictions of sages in meditation, were firmly shut.

A handful of Official Disciples stood vigil outside, their eyes narrowed and shoulders squared, hands resting on the pommels of their swords.

Inside, the air hung heavy with tension as Elders from Kunlun and their distinguished guests had gathered as usual.

The tap of their shoes against the polished marble floor echoed faintly in the cavernous space, mixing with the sibilant crackle of torches burning brightly among the towering pillars.

A long, polished oak table stretched before them, its surface littered with ceramic green tea cups, now cold and forgotten amid their heated discussions and arguments.

The lingering aroma of jasmine tea mingled with the smoky scent of the torches.

Elder Tan, his brow furrowed and lips pressed into a grim line, sat at the head of the table, fingers massaging his temples as he read aloud from a parchment report.

"A large number of unorthodox martial artists have been spotted near Tianmu Village—over five hundred, boldly announcing their presence to us..." he said. "Sky Demon Cult, Phantom Mist Sect, Black Scorpion Society..." he continued, listing the notorious unorthodox factions that were soon to march on Kunlun.

With each name, the expressions of the Kunlun Elders darkened.

An Elder from Wudang, his features schooled into a mask of calm, leveled his gaze at the increasingly grim faces of the Kunlun Elders. "Didn't you claim that Kunlun destroyed their base?" he inquired, his tone even but laced with an unspoken implication that none of them seemed willing to address.

Another Elder from the Quanzhen Sect interjected, his narrowed eyes gleaming with suspicion. "We saw it—burning in the dead of night," he stated, leaning forward slightly. "For the unorthodox to rally such a massive force, there must be something extraordinary driving them to madness..."

His probing gaze sweeping over the Kunlun Elders, whose faces remained inscrutable.

It was evident to everyone present that Kunlun had uncovered something during that attack on the unorthodox base, some catalyst that had ignited this impending upheaval.

Yet, for reasons unknown, they had chosen to remain silent, revealing only the barest details of the assault that now threatened their very doorstep.

But whom could they refuse? As guests of Kunlun—and those desperate for Kunlun's assistance in dealing with the strange, otherworldly creatures emerging from the Dungeons—they could not simply turn a blind eye to the situation unfolding before them, nor could they flee from the impending storm.

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Not only that, they too followed the orthodox path, bound by the same principles and codes that guided Kunlun. To forsake their brethren in such dire circumstances would be a betrayal of everything they stood for.

Elder Xia remained standing, his robes rustling softly as he cupped his hands and bowed his head slightly. "I apologize to everyone for dragging you into this," he spoke, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "However, if anyone is concerned for their safety, we will arrange for a secure escort out of Qinghai." His sharp gaze swept across the Elders from the other sects and schools, gauging their reactions.

Before this gathering, Kunlun had already recalled all its disciples, giving them the advantage in both manpower and strategic location atop the towering mountain peaks. Because of this, they did not outwardly fear the unorthodox faction's impending attack.

What they feared most, however, was the exposure of a secret they had recently uncovered—the very catalyst that had driven the unorthodox factions into a frenzy, prompting this unprecedented assault.

'But that is Kunlun's matter. It would be disastrous if the secret were to leak,' Elder Xia thought to himself, his brow furrowing ever so slightly.

Despite their shared orthodox path, he knew well that the sects and schools gathered here were also competitors, constantly vying against one another for supremacy and influence.

The secret in question, The Grapes of Longevity—potent enough to drive all factions into a desperate frenzy to claim it for themselves.

Each of these sects and schools had revered experts and elders teetering on the brink of death, their lifespans rapidly dwindling.

The allure of such a miraculous, life-extending this item was irresistible, a temptation that could shatter even the most steadfast loyalties.

But then...

As the Elders guarded their suspicions and kept their true thoughts hidden behind inscrutable masks, the enormous wooden doors—tightly shut until now—suddenly creaked open, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a knife.

A sliver of flickering torchlight spilled into the hall as the doors parted slightly.

"Greetings, esteemed Elders! I beg your pardon for interrupting this important meeting!" A figure hurried inside, his flowing white martial robe adorned with blue stripes billowing behind him. His pale face and flustered demeanor revealed his identity: none other than Hao Hanying.

"Speak, young man," Elder Xia commanded, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his stern gaze upon the flustered Hao Hanying.

For a fleeting moment, his glance flickered toward the entrance, where two Official Disciples stood guarding the doors. They cupped their hands and bowed respectfully behind Hao Hanying.

"There's been a disturbance in the sparring session between the Official Disciples and the guests, Elder!" Hao Hanying blurted out, his words tumbling forth in a rush. "We—"

Before he could elaborate further, a heavy sigh cut through the tense air, emanating from another Elder clad in a plain blue martial robe. Rising to his feet with a rustle of fabric, he leveled a sharp look at Hao Hanying.

"Are you saying there have been casualties? Injuries?" His voice held a touch of exasperation. "Isn't that normal for such sparring matches?"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the gathered Elders as they exchanged subtle gestures and knowing glances.

Their expressions remained carefully neutral, scrutinizing Hao Hanying with guarded gazes that betrayed little outward concern. Even Elder Xia regarded the flustered young man with a composed demeanor, showing no visible reaction to his words.

"No, this is not about mere casualties!" Hao Hanying insisted, his voice trembling with a sense of urgency that seemed to clash with the Elders' unruffled calm. "All the common people have fled, and not a single Official Disciple is guarding the area!"

...

Meanwhile, as Hao Hanying delivered his frantic report within the confines of the Hall of Insight, events were unfolding across multiple locations throughout Kunlun.

Inner Disciples tasked with guarding various posts began to notice an alarming exodus: flocks of common people running for their lives, fleeing from the mountain in a panic.

"What's going on?" muttered one Inner Disciple, perched high in a tall bamboo tree near a precarious cliff. Blinking in surprise, he watched the distant figures scatter in disarray, their movements frenzied and erratic.

"Wait... are they leaving in a hurry?" another Disciple questioned, stationed near the thundering roar of a waterfall. He looked up, squinting as he caught fleeting glimpses of the fleeing crowd, their shadows flickering amidst the mist and spray.

"They're fleeing from... the Central Courtyard," observed a third Disciple, standing on the high ground of the Inner Courtyard. From his elevated vantage point, he could see the once-bustling Central Courtyard now eerily barren, the silence unsettling in its abruptness.

...

"That man..."

On another Elder's cliff, an imposing figure stood, her long black hair billowing in the wind like a raven's wings. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she observed the fleeing masses, her cold expression suddenly shifting as a realization dawned.

Without hesitation, she leapt, descending swiftly down the stairs.