The moment the mountain-protecting formation was breached, just before the Wind Whispering Spell, disguised with Elder Wan’s voice, transmitted to Elder Jiu Wu—Li Changshou felt a brief flash of doubt in his heart.
The Sect Leader…
Was he really up to this?
As the head of the Duxian Sect, and the acknowledged disciple of their founding ancestor, the True Immortal Du’e, the Sect Leader should, in theory, be a minor yet legitimate figure of the Renjiao lineage.
He had gone out to protect the formation, yet ended up getting slammed right into it by a single enemy sword strike?
Still, considering the Sect Leader was currently facing two enemies alone—and those three mysterious Golden Immortals were working under the infamous Mosquito Daoist from the Great Desolation…
Sigh.
Being the leader of a sect might look impressive, but it’s far from easy.
Li Changshou, while mentally preparing to flee at any moment, also made a firm decision:
Even if he one day became a Da Luo Golden Immortal, he would never start his sect. It only brought endless karma and trouble.
With the protective formation shattered, there was nothing left shielding the sect.
Though Po Tian Peak appeared to be the most central and secure location, it was, in truth, the most dangerous spot of all.
If another strike from the Golden Immortals fighting overhead fell, it would undoubtedly target the main peak.
So, Li Changshou chose to sacrifice some of his usual caution and concealment, ensuring that neither he, his master, nor his junior sister stayed at Po Tian Peak. Instead, he had Ling’e carry “Ren San” and escort their master toward the Earth Vein Shift Formation.
Remaining hidden was to avoid being plotted against. Ultimately, it all came down to one goal: survival.
The priority could not be flipped.
With three paper clones guarding her, Li Changshou wasn’t too worried about Ling’e’s safety.
—Paper Puppets “Ren One” and “Ren Two” had long since been given to his master and junior sister for protection.
After sending the message to Elder Jiu Wu, Li Changshou swept Po Tian Peak with his spiritual sense and saw his fellow disciples…
Looking at their confused and slightly panicked expressions, he sighed inwardly.
“Can’t expect too much from others. Just do your part, that’s enough.”
He continued controlling his paper avatar, tunneling through the ground toward the sect gates.
…
“It broke?”
“The formation’s broken!”
In front of Bai Fan Hall, the disciples stared at the shattered protective array. Feeling the sudden surge in oppressive pressure from the Golden Immortals, most began to panic.
Youqin Xuanya bit her lip, standing on the eaves of the grand hall, looking up at the sky where the intense immortal battle raged.
Waves of residual power from the clash came sweeping toward them like gusts of storm wind.
In the northwest and southwest skies, two massive skirmishes between thousands of cultivators burned bright.
Flashes of light streaked across the sky as shadowy figures slowly approached Po Tian Peak.
From the looks of it, the Duxian Sect was losing ground.
What should they do?
Youqin Xuanya looked down at the jade talisman in her hand—it was the key to activating the Earth Vein Shift Formation, the escape route for all disciples.
“If Senior Brother Changshou were here, what would he do?”
He would evacuate the juniors first, then stay behind to fight to the death!
The thought gave her clarity and resolve.
“I’ll get all my fellow disciples out safely—every single one of them. Then I’ll come back to fight for the sect!”
Just then, Elder Jiu Wu flew in urgently with his sword, soaring over the disciples’ heads and straight into the hall.
Youqin Xuanya jumped down from the roof and quickly followed him in.
She assumed the elder was here to open the underground passage and wanted to help him.
But to her—and the disciples outside’s—surprise…
The squat elder let out a mournful wail, dropped to his knees in front of a portrait in the hall, and began kowtowing frantically.
“Oh, Great Patriarch above!
Please, reveal your divine might and save our Duxian Sect!
Our sect has always followed your teachings—seeking peace, tranquility, protecting the human race—yet now we suffer unjust disaster, manipulated into endangering the harmony of the Three Religions!
Please, Patriarch! Save us!”
Thud thud thud—he slammed his forehead against the floor several times, sobbing.
Youqin Xuanya felt her nose sting.
Could it be that the Duxian Sect wouldn’t survive this calamity?
But the fight had just begun. The protective formation had fallen, but there hadn’t been many casualties yet, and the main peak still had defensive arrays—none of the enemies had broken through…
Why did the elder’s crying sound like the entire sect had already been wiped out?
Even Youqin Xuanya, brave as she was, began to feel uncertain in the face of such a desperate display.
Elder Jiu Wu cried a while longer, but felt no divine presence, no sense of being watched…
He looked up at the portrait with doubt in his eyes, then sucked in a breath and repeated his earlier plea, word for word, in the same mournful tone.
Disciples gathered at the door, listening to his wailing, faces filled with sorrow and dread.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Li Changshou, controlling four paper puppets in secret, had completed preparations to cut off the enemy’s retreat.
These paper men were far more advanced than his usual creations—each one costing nearly ten times the materials of a normal puppet.
They were infused with his full immortal power and laced with his most potent, undetectable poisons.
Now they lay hidden beneath the earth, moving slowly forward as the battle lines shifted.
If they emerged now, they’d be instantly destroyed.
They had to wait. Be patient. The moment would come.
Only when they struck at the perfect time would they fully honor the efforts and resources of the old trees that had sacrificed themselves to create them.
Sneak attacks, after all, required boldness, caution, ruthless execution, and a clean getaway.
As predicted, the Duxian Sect’s immortals on both flanks fought while slowly retreating.
This delay was exactly what Li Changshou had been waiting for.
The sect’s unity was on full display.
Any time someone was injured, others would immediately pull them back or jump in to help.
But this mutual support also prevented any one cultivator from fully unleashing their power, forcing them to steadily fall back.
Six outer peaks had already been lost. Though casualties were few thanks to the coordinated defenses, over half the sect’s immortals were injured.
The mosquito puppets, however, fought with reckless abandon.
They didn’t care about one another’s lives—only about charging forward with everything they had, fighting like synchronized beasts, seeking maximum destruction.
Li Changshou sighed inwardly.
This Mosquito Daoist is something…
Still, it wasn’t time to strike just yet.
A part of his mind stayed focused on what he saw as the true linchpin of the battle—Elder Jiu Wu.
If they wanted to truly resolve the Duxian Sect’s crisis—and prevent the Western Sect or other malicious actors from ever targeting them again—there was only one real solution:
Get the big backer to show up.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152