Upon hearing Lin Xinghe's words, a sharp glint flashed in the depths of the red-robed youth's eyes.
Xing Ming's lips twitched, but seeing the resolve in Lin Xinghe's gaze, he knew any attempt at persuasion would be futile. He was aware that while Lin Xinghe could be somewhat indecisive, once he made up his mind, he would see it through to the bitter end. Besides, he no longer dared to refute the red-robed youth's words.
"Martial Uncle, what should be done with the sect's Earth Fire Spirit Vein?" Lin Xinghe suddenly remembered an important matter they had yet to discuss.
"This Earth Fire Spirit Vein can only be abandoned. Without the cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage, it's impossible to collect it and carry it with you. Isn't acquiring it one of the goals of these four clans? Since we can't take it, we'll destroy it. When the time comes that we can no longer hold them off, Xinghe, you will directly self-detonate the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation. The resulting blast will be powerful enough to obliterate Falling Star Valley several times over. This is a grand formation personally refined by a Nascent Soul Ancestor; it will ensure that all our enemies are buried here with Falling Star Valley. Xinghe, during the self-detonation, you will have about two breaths of time to escape. There is a Gate of Life left behind by the Ancestor back then. You will still have a chance to leave." (TN: A Gate of Life is a term for a built-in escape route within a formation.)
The red-robed youth spoke in a flat, even tone, making no mention of his own escape. It was as if he wasn't discussing matters of life and death at all, as though it all had nothing to do with him.
"Should we not secretly summon the vassal families and sects? Their combined strength is considerable, with quite a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Once Falling Star Valley is annihilated, as human cultivators, do they think they will fare any better under the assault of those four sects? Therefore, for their own sake, they too must fight with their lives on the line."
Xing Ming suddenly interjected. The red-robed youth nodded in satisfaction. He had always appreciated Xing Ming's ruthlessness. Besides, Falling Star Valley had protected these vassal families and sects in ordinary times; now that a great enemy was at their doorstep, how could they allow these people to stand aside? Even if they were all doomed to perish in the end, they would perish in the final battle for Falling Star Valley.
"Mm, Xinghe, arrange this matter as soon as possible. It's no secret that Falling Star Valley is being targeted. If any of them try to shirk their duty, Xinghe, you will go directly and annihilate their entire sect. Do not show any hesitation or mercy. You must understand that a true man acts with resolution when a decision must be made. Otherwise, I will act myself, and at that point, you will have disappointed me greatly."
Fearing Lin Xinghe would be too soft-hearted to act, the red-robed youth's words were already laced with killing intent.
Lin Xinghe felt an overwhelming bloody aura suddenly erupt from the otherwise placid youth, pressing down on him in an instant. For a moment, his chest felt tight, and despite his cultivation, he found it difficult to breathe. He was already a Mid-stage Golden Core expert, yet in that instant, he felt like a helpless child.
"Right, Martial Uncle, there are two Foundation Establishment cultivators who have joined the sect in recent years. We haven't been able to thoroughly investigate their backgrounds. We can only be about seventy percent certain they are not a problem. What do you think should be done? Should we kill them now, or observe them a while longer?"
Seeing his Martial Uncle was again worried about Lin Xinghe, Xing Ming quickly changed the subject. He knew that while Lin Xinghe could be indecisive, he never wavered in carrying out his or his Martial Uncle's orders, even if he harbored private reservations.
"Oh? It has been three months since the Feng family executed that spy, and there are still two outside Foundation Establishment cultivators who haven't been cleared, with only a seventy percent certainty?" the red-robed youth murmured, stroking his chin before speaking in a deep voice.
"Forget it. In any case, this battle will mainly be fought by Golden Core cultivators. The influence they can have is limited. However, Xinghe, arrange for these two to be stationed near me. At the slightest sign of trouble, I will cut them down myself. That's the gist of it. We will make a more detailed plan after I have scouted the specific situation of the four clans. If there is nothing else, you two may go back and arrange the list of disciples to be evacuated and attend to the most urgent matters. I need to meditate properly."
Having said this, the red-robed youth felt that the main issues had been decided and waved his hand dismissively.
"Martial Uncle, why don't I accompany you? I will just follow you in secret. Is that acceptable? In any case, Junior Brother's presence just needs to be felt within the sect. The enemy can't probe your location here anyway, so it won't attract too much attention. What do you think?"
After exchanging a glance with Lin Xinghe, Xing Ming still felt it was not appropriate for his Martial Uncle to go scouting alone. Although the four enemy sects were not located together, as soon as his Martial Uncle was discovered and tied down by one, the others could quickly rush over. Out there, with no Sect-Protecting Grand Formation to aid him, he would be in grave danger if he were cornered. In the end, it was Xing Ming who spoke up; as a Late-stage Golden Core, his presence would certainly be a great help.
"There's no need. If you are exposed, we will have lost our only trump card. Besides, these four clans are not together and are quite far apart. I will be careful. This matter is not up for discussion. You may withdraw. Oh, right, if I do not return within four days, you may proceed with destroying the Earth Fire Spirit Vein. Then, Xinghe, you will remain behind to draw the enemy's attention while Xing Ming evacuates the elite disciples. Remember this! Remember this!"
The red-robed youth paused for a moment, quickly calculating the time he would need. Though the four clans were far apart, a full day and night should be enough to investigate one location. His words were filled with a chilling coldness, including a disregard for his own life. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the back of the courtyard.
Li Yan could never have imagined that a great war would be decided so abruptly, a decision that would also determine the course of his infiltration plan. A war breaking out between alien-race sects on the Forsaken Continent was absolutely different from one between the sects on the Desolate Moon Continent. When one side felt threatened, it would typically launch the most ferocious counterattack immediately, unlike the human sects of the Desolate Moon Continent, who had to consider a web of complex relationships. To put it bluntly, there was more so-called "humanity" involved there.
Li Yan, who was in the "Earthen Patch" refining the Essence Blood of the Undead Nether Phoenix, suddenly felt a wave of unease, forcing him to stop his cultivation.
By now, Li Yan's cultivation and physical body had seen some improvement. However, the rule that he must appear once a month prevented him from cultivating with complete peace of mind. As a result, his overall cultivation speed was not particularly fast; his progress was only incremental. Moreover, this was something that couldn't be rushed on the surface. If he suddenly reached the eighth level of the Qi Condensation stage, it would surely arouse suspicion.
His current cultivation was at the cusp of breaking through to the sixth level. At this rate, it would take him nearly two more years to meet the requirement for entering the "Shattered Star Chamber."
Li Yan left the "Earthen Patch" space. Cultivators all believed in the supernatural, and their cultivation was precisely about how to utilize the laws of heaven and earth. Therefore, they paid close attention to their own intuitions.
With a flicker, Li Yan's figure appeared in the cultivation chamber.
The Snow Mosquito King, which had been bored out of its mind, saw a blur before its eyes. It immediately perked up, its eyes staring intently at the door, as if it had been diligently listening to the surrounding movements all along. Only when it heard Li Yan's footsteps did it turn its head in confusion, as if it had just noticed Li Yan's presence.
"Master, why are you out so soon? It hasn't been a month yet. Master's divine arts are world-shaking. Your subordinate was confident he could sense the movements of all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the vicinity, yet Master was right beside me, and I was completely unaware..."
The Snow Mosquito King's flattery now flowed effortlessly.
"Has anyone come looking for me recently?" Li Yan asked, ignoring the praise.
"Of course not, Master. Otherwise, your subordinate would have informed you at the first opportunity. I have always been conscientious in my duties."
The Snow Mosquito King couldn't tell if its master was in a good or bad mood and could only answer cautiously, while scoffing inwardly.
'I've been stuck here every day, I can't even sleep properly. If someone had come, I would have sent them spinning in circles before telling you.'
Li Yan nodded and walked straight out of the courtyard, leaving the Snow Mosquito King to sigh in its heart.
'Just let me go back to cultivating. No matter how painful it is, at least I'd be increasing my own strength. Staying here like this, I'm going to end up with as many problems as you.'
As Li Yan walked through the valley, he could already sense the tense atmosphere permeating the air. He had actually felt this the last time he came out, but back then, some disciples still had smiles on their faces, and most people were carrying on with their duties as usual. Today, however, he saw disciples either rushing about with grim expressions or gathered in small groups, whispering amongst themselves. They would fall silent whenever someone approached.
But the cultivation gap between them and Li Yan was too vast. Never mind whispering, even if they used voice transmission, they couldn't hide it from him.
"Junior Brother Ding, is your supply of artifact refining materials still normal? We've already used up many of our alchemy ingredients recently. Every time I go to the Materials Hall to exchange for them, the deacon says the martial uncle in charge of procurement has not yet returned. It's been nearly ten days, and I still haven't gathered the ingredients for a single second-rank medicinal pill."
"It's the same for us. Aside from the new recruits and Outer Sect disciples, who isn't searching everywhere for materials? In the current situation, even the martial uncles don't dare to venture out alone..."
"When will these days end? It's not a long-term solution for us to be trading materials privately like this. After all, the materials we have are limited..."
"I heard the Sect Master went out again a few days ago and came back covered in blood, his killing intent soaring to the heavens..."
"Are we going to war with the enemy? Starting from the day before yesterday, many disciples in the valley have been gathered and taken deep into the valley..."
"I think so. Yesterday, Senior Brother Ma Xingkong, whom I know, was summoned. But when he returned, he looked terrible. He wouldn't say what he was summoned for, acting all mysterious. We guess he might have been assigned some secret mission..."
"Those alien-race cultivators all deserve to die! They caused Junior Sister Chen to lose her life in the last ambush. Just patrolling the surrounding area is no longer effective. Why hasn't the sect given the order to attack their home base..."
Along the way, Li Yan overheard all sorts of news, but it was all basically related to the valley being targeted by some enemy. The atmosphere was exceptionally tense. When Li Yan emerged from the Hall of Deacons, he finally knew that the situation was truly not looking good. A deacon had told him that the Hall was about to issue an order: from now on, all cultivators below the seventh level of the Qi Condensation stage were to be on standby at all times. Furthermore, they were forbidden from leaving Falling Star Valley without permission, and even disciples from nearby vassal cultivator families and smaller sects were not allowed to return.
After leaving the Hall of Deacons, Li Yan began to rapidly piece together everything he had seen and heard that day.
'The enemies are likely two alien-race sects that have joined forces against Falling Star Valley. But doesn't Falling Star Valley have any friendly sects? With an alliance, this kind of minor issue should be resolvable. Yet, it's been about four months, and I haven't seen any outside help arrive. It has even escalated to the point where disciples can't cultivate normally.'
The information Li Yan had gathered was similar to what most disciples in Falling Star Valley knew. The ones making a move on the sect were two alien-race sects, supposedly the Cangyu Sect and the Wind-Severing Clan—one a clan of deep-sea spiny fish, and the other a clan of black-feathered vultures.