The red-robed youth spoke slowly.
"These four clans have a total of seven Golden Core cultivators. Among them, the Cangyu Sect, the Snow Moon Wolf Clan, and the Wind-Rending Clan each have a late-stage Golden Core existence. This is based on previous information. Later, I will personally go and investigate to make a final confirmation."
"Martial Uncle, have you decided to make a move against them?" Lin Xinghe was shocked to hear the red-robed youth's words. Before the Sacred Demon Palace had made its stance clear, although the four clans were targeting them more and more, as long as he came forward to escort large transactions, there were no problems for the time being. The Falling Star Valley could still manage to survive.
But the white-robed elder, who was called "Xing Ming," did not show any surprise. He knew his martial uncle's temper far better than his junior brother did. Since their master had passed away early, he had been the one to teach his junior brother most of what he knew. Lin Xinghe had had far less contact with their martial uncle. And in that one battle, his martial uncle's killing intent had been heaven-shattering. He had slaughtered the entire enemy sect and returned with their heavily injured master. The overwhelming scent of blood that had washed over him was something the white-robed elder would never forget.
"What? You think we should keep waiting? These years have made you bear the burden of a sect alone, treading on thin ice, but you can't lose your fighting spirit. If this goes on, the morale of the disciples in the valley will collapse in less than a month. And the other party won't give us much time either. Just look at how they've pushed you to this point in just a few months. Do you still think they are just completely waiting for the 'Sacred Demon Palace's' attitude?"
The red robe on the red-robed youth suddenly moved without any wind. A heat wave surged around his body, but he kept it firmly controlled within three inches of his skin.
"Xinghe, you should have contacted the 'Green Wind Sect' and the 'Six Plates Hall,' right? What did they say?" The red-robed youth squinted his eyes and directly changed the subject.
The Green Wind Sect and the Six Plates Hall had a deep friendship with the Falling Star Valley. The Green Wind Sect was also a human cultivator sect, but it was only a second-rate sect. And the Six Plates Hall was a cultivator sect established by the Six-headed Rainbow Python clan, but they had always maintained a close relationship with the Falling Star Valley. The disciples of the two clans would also have an exchange of techniques about once every ten years. With the Falling Star Valley's business connections, they knew countless large and small sects, of course, not just these two, but relationships always had their degrees of closeness.
"Reporting to Martial Uncle, the few disciples who went to deliver the message in secret only returned one after another yesterday, but one of them is still missing. Sect Master Feng of the Green Wind Sect said that his great elder is in death seclusion, and he is trying to contact the great elder. He will give us a reply as soon as possible. After all, the Green Wind Sect is sixty thousand li away from us. If Sect Master Feng leaves the sect, there will be no one to guard it. As for the Six Plates Hall, which is within the range of a Ten-Thousand-Li Voice Transmission Talisman, they have already agreed that their second elder can lead people over to assist. We just need to notify them by voice transmission, and they can set off on the same day," Lin Xinghe replied immediately.
After hearing Lin Xinghe's reply, the red-robed youth did not speak for a moment. Instead, his fingers began to tap rapidly on the stone table again.
"I didn't expect the Six Plates Hall to agree this time. It's a bit unexpected. And they even sent Xuan Caijun, whose strength is second only to the great elder... This..." As he said this, the red-robed youth paused. "However, the attitude of the Green Wind Sect is hard to say. They only have two Golden Core cultivators in their sect, unlike the Six Plates Hall, which has three Golden Cores guarding it. If it's really that old ghost Qing Yu who is in death seclusion, the Green Wind Sect really doesn't have the strength to support us here. But I'm afraid it's just an excuse."
The red-robed youth seemed to be muttering to himself as he lowered his head and quickly thought.
The Green Wind Sect was of the same human race as them, and the two sects had always had a very good relationship. So logically, the other party shouldn't just stand by and watch them die. And the red-robed youth also knew that the Green Wind Sect's great elder, Qing Yu, had been stuck at the late-stage Golden Core for more than three hundred years, and had indeed started his seclusion forty years ago. But as a cultivator, he still preferred to judge with the heart of a petty man first.
"Since it's like this, then later you will send three more trusted Foundation Establishment experts. Let them secretly rush to the Green Wind Sect in batches to confirm what the result is." The red-robed youth's fingers finally tapped lightly once more before stopping.
The Green Wind Sect was too far from here. Even their strongest "Ten-Thousand-Li Voice Transmission Talisman" could not reach it. They could only send disciples. But now, there were many eyes staring at the Falling Star Valley from the outside. The red-robed youth was afraid that a messenger would be discovered and killed, so he decided to send a few more people.
"As you command, Martial Uncle. What about the Six Plates Hall? Since Martial Uncle has already decided..." Lin Xinghe nodded and then thought, why hadn't his martial uncle mentioned the Six Plates Hall? He had just made it very clear.
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the white-robed elder, Xing Ming.
"Junior Brother, you are confused. Even if we usually have a good relationship with the Six Plates Hall, we cannot call them over at this time. It's fine that you asked; Martial Uncle just wanted to know the attitude of the Six Plates Hall. They agreed so readily, and it's even Xuan Caijun who is coming. This is not like joining hands with them for a treasure hunt. Do you understand?"
Lin Xinghe was stunned for a moment, and his face immediately changed. But he was no fool. On the contrary, he was an experienced person. It was just that all the major and minor matters of the sect were handled by him, and recent events had left him distraught. The enemy's methods against the Falling Star Valley had become more and more intense, and he was also very anxious. Although he looked the same on the surface, he was already in the thick of it without realizing it.
With the white-robed elder's words, although not explicitly stated, Lin Xinghe already knew why his martial uncle had not mentioned the help from the Six Plates Hall again. The Six Plates Hall had a good relationship with them, but more importantly, the other party was not a human cultivator. This point alone was enough. This time, it was foreign cultivators who wanted to seize their foundation. To bring a Golden Core and a group of disciples from the Six Plates Hall into the Falling Star Valley at this time... if the other party was truly coming to help, it would be a great fortune. But if they also had other intentions, it would be no different from leading a wolf into the house.
Therefore, after knowing how readily the Six Plates Hall had agreed, the red-robed youth was even more afraid to ask for help. The further one went in cultivation, the more suspicious one became. They would rather give up hope than not place themselves in the safest possible position.
'Martial Uncle has a deep relationship with the several Golden Cores of the Six Plates Hall. Every time they discuss the Dao, he brings out treasured immortal fruits and wine to entertain them. I have only tasted those things once, but he still doesn't trust the other party.' Lin Xinghe thought to himself, but he also understood the red-robed youth's idea of preferring to trust human cultivators more.
"Martial Uncle, you have broken through again and have reached the Pseudo-Nascent Soul stage..." the white-robed elder Xing Ming suddenly asked.
The red-robed youth glanced at the white-robed elder but did not answer directly, which made Xing Ming immediately shut his mouth, not daring to ask again. But the red-robed youth knew that Xing Ming was extremely mature and had not offended him out of curiosity, but rather because his own realm would affect the course of this major event, which was why he had asked so anxiously.
"Xing Ming, your new realm has not yet been completely consolidated. You will not participate in this great battle. According to the plan I mentioned before, after you go back today, let Xinghe select a batch of elite disciples. You will secretly take them away before the battle begins. Remember, the background of these disciples must be crystal clear. This is the most important thing. You will lead these people to migrate to the 'Sacred Demon City.' I have a deed here. There is a courtyard in the 'Sacred Demon City.' Although it is not very large, it should be enough for you to take root..."
Xing Ming and Lin Xinghe were shocked to hear this. Although their martial uncle had mentioned this plan before, they had thought that a decision could only be made when the overall situation became clear. But now it seemed that not only did this matter have to be carried out immediately, but their martial uncle had long had a backup plan. When had the Falling Star Valley acquired a property in the 'Sacred Demon City'? They had no idea.
But the two of them were very smart. The Falling Star Valley had been managed by Lin Xinghe for so many years. Naturally, the Spirit Stones used to purchase this property had not come from when they were in charge of the sect. The red-robed youth had prepared this at least two hundred years in advance.
But these were not the reasons that made Xing Ming most anxious. His martial uncle was planning to stay behind with his junior brother to fight to the death. How could he agree? Lin Xinghe was nominally his junior brother, but the two of them were also like master and friend. Most of Lin Xinghe's cultivation methods had been taught by him. To let him escape at this time and leave Lin Xinghe behind, he was naturally unwilling in his heart, so he immediately spoke up and rashly interrupted his martial uncle.
"Please forgive me, Martial Uncle, but it's better for Junior Brother to do this..."
After the red-robed youth was interrupted, he turned his head slightly. He didn't speak, just stared quietly at Xing Ming, which made Xing Ming, who was halfway through his sentence, not dare to continue.
"Could it be that you are both Golden Cores now, and my words no longer have any effect? Then why did you come and ask me?" the red-robed youth's face grew colder, his voice filled with a chilling frost.
"Martial Uncle, please calm your anger. Senior Brother was just anxious for a moment and spoke without thinking. Senior Brother treats me like an elder brother. I ask Martial Uncle to be understanding."
Lin Xinghe was greatly alarmed. He quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Xing Ming, bowing deeply. These three were all Golden Core cultivators. According to the true seniority of the cultivation world, there was no difference. Although Lin Xinghe did not kneel, it was a grand salute to an elder.
The red-robed youth's face was still cold, looking unmoved.
"How can the legacy of the 'Falling Star Valley' be replaced by emotion? You two should know this better than anyone. If it weren't for the need for Xing Ming to become another trump card for the 'Falling Star Valley' as soon as possible... With the methods he used to manage the sect back then, the 'Falling Star Valley' would not have fallen to the point of being coveted by others now. Xinghe, you are flexible in dealing with people and matters. Although you can manage the sect in an orderly manner, your heart is still not ruthless and decisive enough to deter external enemies. If I were to choose the last hope of the 'Falling Star Valley,' I would only arrange it for Xing Ming. What's more, we may not necessarily lose this battle. It's just that I alone cannot deal with so many powerful enemies and can only rely on the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation to kill people. And this grand formation was left by the founder. Although it has the power to trap a Golden Core cultivator, it also requires the person controlling the formation to have equally high cultivation. Then one of you must stay behind to assist me. If the grand formation could exert its maximum power on its own, I wouldn't need either of you to stay. It would be better for you to scram as far away as possible!"
As the red-robed youth said this, he looked at the two somewhat terrified people before him, and the coldness in his eyes softened a little.
Xing Ming was about to speak again, but Lin Xinghe was still one step ahead. "Martial Uncle, you are right. This disciple has not yet seen the true power of the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation. This time, I can witness Martial Uncle slaughtering all the incoming enemies with my own eyes. I have long heard that Martial Uncle is unparalleled in bravery. To be able to fight alongside you is something this disciple could not ask for more."
As he said this, Lin Xinghe immediately turned his face to look at Xing Ming. "Senior Brother, Martial Uncle is right. I am really not as good as you in defending our foundation. You don't want the 'Falling Star Valley' to face a situation like today's again in the future, do you? Hehe, besides, apart from having to listen to Martial Uncle's words, I am still the Sect Master now, and you are just a hidden figure. My words are still orders, and you cannot go against the will of the Sect Master. What's more, Senior Brother has always been in a hidden state. Your disappearance will not attract anyone's attention, but I am completely different. I am always being watched. The moment my aura disappears from the sect, I imagine the other party will start searching everywhere, and that would truly ruin the grand plan."