In the wake of the battle, Wanchun Valley buzzed with activity.

Outer Disciples like Zhong Yue and Sun Kang made an initial visit to the Spirit Field Department, followed by Inner Disciples such as Jin Qi and Sheng Yan, who arrived over an hour later. They assessed the structural damage and brought with them the remaining personal effects of the late Ji Yida.

Hua Qi accepted the belongings with a heavy heart, vowing that if she ever visited Ji Yida’s homeland, the Western Moon Kingdom, she would ensure his family was taken care of.

As evening approached, Deacons Lu and Fang returned to the Spirit Field Department. They summoned Senior Sister Li, Hua Qi, and Han Yu to a private meeting to discuss the current situation.

Senior Sister Li, with her dual Spirit Roots and reputation as one of the more distinguished Inner Disciples, faced the Deacons’ inquiries without hesitation. She asked directly about the sect’s state of affairs.

Facing these three loyal disciples who had survived a life-and-death ordeal, Deacon Lu spoke candidly. After cautioning them not to spread panic among the Laborer Disciples—who would find out eventually, but needed stability for now—he shared some hard truths.

The Supreme Elder had detonated his Golden Core in a final act of sacrifice. Elder Zhao, revealed to have cultivated the forbidden Blood Refining Art, had perished alongside the loyal Elder Wang. Another Deacon had also met his end due to the same dark art.

The death toll was staggering: over three hundred Laborer Disciples, twelve Outer Disciples, and three Inner Disciples.

The silver lining was that a Golden Core cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect had been slain by the Supreme Elder, and the invading demonic leader, the Saint Blood Perfected One, had been executed by Ye Guxing of the Spirit Sword Sect. For the moment, Wanchun Valley was safe.

“But I still don’t understand… Deacon Lu, why did the Spirit Beast Sect attack us?” Senior Sister Li asked.

“Unknown,” Deacon Lu replied, his brow furrowed. “Their pretext was that we colluded with demonic cultivators. Ironically, it seems they coordinated quite well with the demonic forces themselves. The real reason for their alliance against Wanchun Valley remains unclear, but it likely involves carving up our sect’s cultivation resources.”

“And the Spirit Sword Sect… why did they leave in such a hurry? Aren’t they forming an alliance with us?”

Deacon Lu gave a bitter smile. “If alliances were easy, the sects of the Southern Region would have united long ago. Our ancestral teachings explicitly forbid entangling alliances, instructing us to focus solely on our own development.”

“An instance like a century ago, when the Demon Blood Sect wreaked havoc across the Southern Region, forcing five sects to join hands and exterminate them, was a rare exception. Now, the Spirit Beast Sect, Mystic One Sect, and Little Sky Net Sect claim they want to destroy us for ‘colluding with demonic cultivators.’ That doesn’t count as a unifying cause for an alliance.”

He sighed. “Forming ties with other sects is difficult, especially with an aloof, cold-blooded sect like the Spirit Sword Sect. We only considered seeking their aid because three neighbors are now eyeing us like wolves, leaving us with no other path.”

“What Ye Guxing cares about isn’t Wanchun Valley. He cares about hunting demonic cultivators. After confirming that none of our surviving Elders or Deacons were tainted, he left a personally crafted Sword Heart Talisman and hurried off to inspect the Spirit Beast Sect, Mystic One Sect, and Little Sky Net Sect.”

“If Wanchun Valley is besieged again, we can activate that Sword Heart Talisman. He will sense it immediately and come to our aid once.”

“But beyond that… if we are ostracized or bullied by other sects again, the Spirit Sword Sect won’t intervene unless those aggressors are colluding with demonic forces.”

So that’s how it is?

The Spirit Sword Sect’s primary goal wasn’t aiding Wanchun Valley, but purging the world of demonic influence.

Lifting the siege and leaving behind a talisman was indeed a significant favor. But it clearly fell short of the formal alliance and protection Wanchun Valley had desperately hoped for.

“If the Spirit Beast Sect, Mystic One Sect, and Little Sky Net Sect also show no traces of demonic cultivators… does that mean the Spirit Sword Sect will just walk away? And Wanchun Valley will remain besieged by three hostile neighbors?” Han Yu asked quietly.

On this topic, both Deacon Lu and Deacon Fang actually smiled.

“Even without demonic cultivators, those three sects will have to give Ye Guxing an explanation,” Deacon Lu said with a grim satisfaction. “Pursuing his disciple, enticing his junior brother into treason, and forcing him to execute said junior brother—they will certainly pay a price.”

“If they lack the means to contend with Ye Guxing, it’s entirely possible their Golden Core ancestors could be cut down!”

Senior Sister Li’s eyes lit up. “It would be best if he killed all their Golden Core cultivators! Let them stop coveting our valley! We never provoke trouble; I don’t know why they have to bully us!”

“Ideally, yes. But no matter how strong Ye Guxing is, he can’t single-handedly breach a sect’s Guardian Formation. Our Wanchun Valley has the Ancestral Tree left by our founder. The Spirit Beast Sect and the others undoubtedly have formidable defenses of their own.”

Deacon Lu offered his speculation. “Ye Guxing probably can only vent his anger and demand reparations.”

“Unless he discovers they truly are colluding with demonic cultivators. In that case, Ye Guxing will fight them to the death, sparing no cost…”

“He hates demonic cultivators that much?”

“It’s more than hate; it’s an utter, irreconcilable vendetta. We don’t know the specific reason, but the Demon Blood Sect committed monstrous crimes in the past. They refined the blood of entire cities—tens of thousands of commoners slaughtered for power. Even our Wanchun Valley considers them sworn enemies. That shows how truly detestable they are.”

Senior Sister Li, Hua Qi, and Han Yu nodded in solemn agreement. Even a sect as peaceful as Wanchun Valley despised them; they truly were a scourge.

The next day, another Deacon arrived at the Spirit Field Department. He escorted four people with sealed cultivation bases, sentencing them to labor in the fields.

These were cultivators captured by the demonic forces from the Green Grain Market. They had been drained of some essence blood to serve as ‘blood slaves’ but had not yet been forced to cultivate the Blood Refining Art themselves.

Among them was a former Outer Disciple of Wanchun Valley and three Rogue Cultivators. All were dejected, their spirits broken.

The former Green Grain Market Deacon, Hu Biao, also had his cultivation sealed. He was sent to labor in the Medicine Garden.

Another day passed, and the Laborer Disciples gradually learned the truth of the sect’s upheaval.

Meanwhile, Senior Sister Li brought back the latest news from the main peak.

Over the past two days, Ye Guxing had single-handedly blockaded the gates of the Spirit Beast Sect, Mystic One Sect, and Little Sky Net Sect. He forced the three sects to send representatives to apologize publicly and promise never to oppose the Spirit Sword Sect again.

He also compelled them to publicly expel the Golden Core cultivators who had pursued Qi Wanfa that night, declaring that he, Ye Guxing, would kill them on sight whenever they left their sanctuaries.

Ultimately, Ye Guxing couldn’t breach the three sects’ Guardian Formations, nor did he find more traces of demonic cultivators.

However, the Spirit Beast Sect’s Song Wanxiong, the Mystic One Sect’s Daoist Lingyin, and the Little Sky Net Sect’s Qin Ting were now prisoners in their own homes. Once they stepped outside their sect grounds, they faced the very real threat of being cut down by the Lone Star Sword.

Three major sects cowering before a single man—it was a rare spectacle indeed.

“No wonder Elder Yan didn’t dare kill Li Tonghai when he learned whose disciple he was,” Hua Qi marveled as Senior Sister Li recounted the tale. “And the moment there was a chance to contact Ye Guxing, he took him straight to the Sect Leader. This Master Ye truly suppresses the Southern Region with his sword! It’s just a pity he didn’t force the three sects to leave Wanchun Valley alone.”

Senior Sister Li sighed. “I heard from the Deacons that relying on others is never as good as relying on oneself. The Spirit Sword Sect resolved our immediate crisis and left a Sword Heart Talisman; that is already extreme generosity.”

“We have no deep ties with them. We can’t expect them to protect us forever.”

“Thinking about it this way, Wanchun Valley is going to need new arrangements…”

Before the sect’s new policies were announced, the rewards for Senior Sister Li, Hua Qi, and Han Yu arrived.

For jointly killing one demonic cultivator, each received ten Minor Merits, one session of technique study in the Technique Pavilion, and one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills.

For individually killing one demonic cultivator, Han Yu received one Major Merit, one session of technique study in the Technique Pavilion, and the right to choose any one pill or Magical Artifact usable in the Qi Refining stage.