"It wasn't Lord Luo Hai." Wei Qing shook his head, his expression heavy. "Lord Luo Hai… he has also perished."
"What?"
A wave of sharp intakes of breath swept through the hall. Every single Elder of the Fire Radiance Sect stared at Wei Qing in shock, their faces displaying a disbelief even more exaggerated than when they had heard of their own Grand Elder's death.
"The news is not wrong. I received the message from the Cuiwei Star two months ago. The Star Lord's statue in Cuiwei Star's Star Lord Temple crumbled, and the imprint of Lord Luo Hai's aura vanished entirely. He has truly perished, and judging by the timing, it most likely happened during those few days when he was heading toward Ice Heart Valley."
"The Grand Elder has perished, and Lord Luo Hai along with him? Who in Ice Heart Valley has such power?"
"Come to think of it, several months ago, there was indeed an earth-shaking wave of energy from the direction of Ice Heart Valley. Could it have been when it happened?"
"Don't tell me it was done by Ice Heart Valley's founding ancestor? I've heard rumors before that she never actually died."
"How is that possible? Ice Heart Valley has been established for nearly thirty thousand years. If their founding ancestor truly hadn't died, why would she have stayed hidden all this time?"
"What's the point of discussing this now? Ice Heart Valley has already launched a full-scale invasion. What we need to do right now is quickly come up with a plan to deal with them!"
"How are we supposed to deal with them? Our Grand Elder is already dead, and Luo Li from Ice Heart Valley will certainly take action personally. Our Fire Radiance Sect… doesn't have the strength to resist!"
"Stop demoralizing us! So what if it's Luo Li? I'll fight her to the death—even if I die, I'll tear a piece of flesh from her!"
…
After learning of Chi Huo's death, the group of Elders lost all their earlier optimism and ease. Every one of them wore a grave expression as they voiced their opinions and views.
Wei Qing sat in the seat of honor in complete silence, like an outsider looking in.
A long while later, he finally raised a hand, and the clamorous hall fell quiet in an instant. Every gaze turned to him.
"Enough. Stop arguing!" Wei Qing spoke calmly. "Ice Heart Valley's full-scale invasion may indeed be a great calamity for our Fire Radiance Sect. But if we play our cards right, it doesn't mean we can't compete with them. Luo Li is a Void King Realm powerhouse, that's true, and none among us is her match. But don't forget—they attack, we defend. We have formation arrays and prohibitions we can use to wear down their strength. Moreover… there are rumors that Luo Li previously made an error during cultivation and carries a hidden ailment. She likely can't unleash her full power."
"That's right! The Sect Master speaks truly. Defending rather than attacking puts us at an advantage!"
"Heh heh… Have you all forgotten that we still have that thing? If we release it, even Luo Li will have a nasty time of it!" Someone let out a strange laugh, their grin filled with madness and ferocity.
The others quickly realized what the person was referring to, and their expressions changed one by one.
Even Wei Qing's face grew extremely solemn. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "Unless it is absolutely the last resort, that thing must not be released! Hear my command—all Disciples are to prepare for battle. Today's fight: if there is an enemy, there is no us!"
"If there is an enemy, there is no us!" the Elders roared in unison.
…
Five warships glided steadily toward the depths of the Fire Radiance Mountains, closing in on the Fire Radiance Sect's main stronghold.
Along the way, they encountered some formation arrays and prohibitions, but these did nothing to slow the Ice Heart Valley contingent. The crystal cannons aboard the warships fired casually, demolishing every formation array and prohibition in their path.
"Bing Long, go ahead and deliver a message to the Fire Radiance Sect. I have come this time only to execute the upper echelon of the Fire Radiance Sect. Tell the lower-ranked Disciples that if they wish to live, they should flee immediately. When our Ice Heart Valley warships arrive, anyone who has not fled will be treated as an enemy of Ice Heart Valley and executed without mercy." Luo Li suddenly spoke.
"Yes!" Bing Long acknowledged and flew out on her own.
Moments later, Bing Long's spiritual sense fluctuations spread from ahead, transmitting the message—only the upper echelon would be killed, and the ordinary Disciples were urged to flee.
The Fire Radiance Sect's upper echelon sensed this transmission and couldn't help but erupt into furious cursing, calling Bing Long despicable, venomous, shameless, and low.
The Fire Radiance Sect had tens of thousands of Disciples. Though their cohesion was remarkable, when faced with life and death, not everyone could stand with their Sect to the bitter end. Compounding this, Bing Long deliberately spread the news that Chi Huo the Old Freak had perished, which truly shattered the courage of a good number of Fire Radiance Sect Disciples.
People began to flee the Fire Radiance Mountains.
Those who attempted to escape and were discovered were promptly struck down by the Fire Radiance Sect's own upper echelon, as a warning to others.
Though this bloody and cruel method temporarily intimidated most of the lower-ranked Disciples, as time passed, more and more Fire Radiance Sect Disciples grew terrified, and even more began to run.
Streaks of light rose from various locations throughout the Fire Radiance Sect, shooting outward in every direction.
Luo Li's vast spiritual sense blanketed the entire Fire Radiance Mountain range.
Those martial artists below the Return to Void Realm were left to their own devices, allowed to flee. But if any Return to Void Realm martial artist attempted to escape, Luo Li would kill them personally.
Every single Return to Void Realm martial artist in the Fire Radiance Sect had hands drenched in the blood of countless Ice Heart Valley Disciples. There was no way Luo Li would allow them to leave.
Soon, the martial artists below the Return to Void Realm also noticed this pattern, and their hearts filled with joy. No longer heeding their Sect's pleas, even more people began to flee.