Sect Master Mu harrumphed. “One-sidedly attacking my sect… what nerve!”

Hui stared slack-jawed at Sect Master Mu. Such shamelessness… how could anyone have such a thick face? Attacking us, then blaming us for causing trouble in his sect? How ludicrous.

But then, it’s his sect! If none of us escape, he can simply claim that we attacked first, that the whole conference was some kind of despicable sneak attack on our part, and then righteously destroy us! Without survivors, our sects won’t even be able to protest!

Hui narrowed his eyes. He glared at Sect Master Mu. I won’t let that happen. By any means necessary, I’ll survive, even if everyone else dies here!

…though I’d rather everyone didn’t die.

Slashing out a red blast of sword qi, Lan Taijian forced Erlan back. He glared up at Sect Master Mu. “You’re declaring war on the Southern Sect Conference!”

“I absolve the Southern Sect Conference,” Sect Master Mu replied, waving his hand. “Do I hear unanimous approval? Wonderful.”

“You’re still declaring war on three sects. Can Mysterious Heavenly Forest stand up to all three of us at once?” the Azure Fang Sect representative snarled, resting a hand on her giant, flame-spitting lizard.

“Not if you all perish here, after your cowardly sneak attack on my sect,” he replied calmly.

“Cowardly sneak—” the Azure Fang representative stared at him, struck dumb.

Sect Master Mu cleared his throat and flicked his sleeve. In the distance, an alarm bell clanged, ringing out over the entire sect. The forest’s wood qi swirled madly, charging toward the heavens as if the forest itself had been roused. Underfoot, the entwined branches bucked and twisted. Overhead, cultivators burst over the top of the forest atop shuttles and swords. They hurtled toward the lotus chamber, faces ferocious.

“Why?” the Azure Fang representative shouted.

Sect Master Mu scowled. “Conferences? Alliances? Don’t make me laugh. At the end of the day, there’s only so many cultivation resources in the world. If we continue to split them, all that will happen is our four sects will continue to languish in mediocrity. It’s better if one of us surges ahead than if all four of us continue to suffer here forever, little more than ants under the feet of the truly great sects!”

Hui’s eyes widened. Is that why he was so concerned over Weiheng Wu? If he wants to conquer the other three sects and stand atop this region of the world, then he needs powerhouses. Powerhouses… exactly like Master! In fact, in some ways, Master’s very existence prevents him from accomplishing his goal. If he had Master, he could easily conquer the other three sects. Instead… ah! His hatred of Starbound Sect… is that because we’re currently the ascendent sect of the Southern Sect Conference, due in part to Master’s influence as the fastest-growing cultivator in the region?

But then, why ally with Yunxu and Black Asp Sect? True, a demonic sect benefits from a righteous sect’s fall, but what does Sect Master Mu get out of it? Support growing demonic plants? But Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect cultivators are… well, they cultivate in a forest! They’re plant cultivators. Backup power? Black Asp Sect only sent a dozen or so cultivators. And Erlan, who’s worth a lot, but surely they didn’t need a single expert so badly that they were forced to ally with a demonic sect.

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That, and it seemed as if… their enmity toward Starbound Sect, perhaps… went deeper than mere jealousy toward Starbound Sect gaining Master?

The sky grew dark as the cultivators surged overhead, blocking out the sun. Hui drew a breath and stepped back, flicking talismans into his hand. Across from him and the other righteous cultivators, the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect cultivators tore off their black robes, revealing green robes underneath. The black-robed Black Asp Sect cultivators, Erlan included, melted into the shadows, fading away before the other cultivators arrived. Hui glanced around, searching for Jin Xian and Gu Tian.

Before I worry about that, this small cultivator needs to worry about getting out of this place alive! I’m sure I can fake my death and escape, but what about Li Xiang? What about Jin Xian and Gu Tian?

And if I escape alone… it’s my small voice versus an entire sect’s! All those disciples running here now have no idea what happened. In their eyes, it will seem as if our sects did one-sidedly sneak attack Mysterious Heavenly Forest! Even if there’s a Li-Xiang-like existence amongst them, that person could honestly say that our sects launched a cowardly sneak attack on Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, without intentionally saying any falsehoods.

How crafty! Cultivators are scary, scary! This scheming… to attack us and leave no trace, then use that to gain the initiative to attack our sects! I can’t let this happen!

Jin Xian kicked away from Huang Yan and charged toward Hui. Huang Yan chased after her, but jumped back when Jin Xian sent a handful of threads toward her. Huang Yan jumped well out of the way of the threads, clearly unable to see them, yet nonetheless aware of and wary towards them. In that gap, Jin Xian charged toward Hui.

Down on the ground, Hui caught sight of Gu Tian. Gu Tian danced backward, desperately playing his flute. The Qi Seed plants moved at his beck and call, fighting off a pair of demonic cultivators. The demonic cultivators slashed at the plants, cutting them back.

Hui looked at Jin Xian and pointed at Gu Tian. Midair, she changed course and charged down to Gu Tian, slamming into the ground at his feet. She charged at one attacker and ripped his throat out, leaped off him, and tackled the other to the ground. Horrible wet sounds burst out from that part of the battlefield, and Gu Tian’s eyes went wide. His flute warbled off, and he clasped his hands over his mouth, on the verge of puking.

Hui grimaced. I’m sorry, Gu Tian! Jin Xian, can’t you tone it down, even a little!

A sharp cry sounded out. Hui and Jin Xian whipped around at the same time, their movements synced. Blood dripping down her face, Jin Xian licked her lips, and as if caught in a trance, Hui did the same.

Across the battlefield, Li Xiang fell back, clutching her midriff. A Mysterious Heavenly Forest disciple charged at her. The disciple’s body was twisted, her form twisted into that of a tree. Bark and branches crawled over her body. A bushy canopy spread over her head. The roots throbbed where they merged into her body, as if rather than being one with the tree, she instead was only the foundation of the tree, a source of food and energy. Likewise, she wore a blank expression, her eyes dulled. She lashed out at Li Xiang, punching down on her with a thorned wooden fist.

Li Xiang jumped back, desperately blocking, teeth grit. Reversing her momentum, she dug her toes in and stepped forward. Her sword flew from her hand and danced back into it. The disciple’s fleshy arm went flying.

As soon as it did, the tree wriggled in a bizarre, frightening way. It surged over the disciple’s body toward the severed limb. Soft green flesh quickly formed into a thick, bark-covered arm.

The whole time, her expression never flinched. She charged toward Li Xiang again, drawing back her fist to punch.

Hui threw a wind talisman toward the cultivator. It scythed through her arms and severed them at the elbows. Her blow swung short.

Li Xiang’s eyes flashed. Her sword glowed silver, and she executed a quick step toward the disciple. The moment her foot hit the floor, the disciple trembled, then directly split in two.

Drawing a short breath, Li Xiang looked around. She caught sight of Hui and tossed him a short nod. Hui nodded back, letting out a sigh of relief. It’s not much, but as long as I can keep these three from dying, I—

Hui gazed up at the darkening sky. Magical attacks shot down like bolts of lightning, smashing toward the cultivators below. He tightened his grip on the talismans, wrinkling then without realizing it. He swallowed.

But… how is this small cultivator supposed to keep them safe against… this?