The morning sun bathed the Spirit Field Department in a warm glow.

The slender stalks of Green Grain Spirit Rice stood tall, their fine leaves unfurling with vibrant life.

Early-rising Laborer Disciples had already begun their rounds, inspecting the growth of their assigned plots. Han Yu stepped out of the steward’s quarters, his feet automatically leading him toward his own spirit field.

On the way, some Laborer Disciples noticed his green robes and jade pendant. They approached and bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with admiration.

“Senior Brother Han!”

Initially, Han Yu had felt a bit awkward, but after a few such greetings, he learned to respond with a slight, dignified nod. Arriving at his spirit field, he cast a brief glance over the crops before slowly making his way back to the steward’s office.

Cultivators typically minded their own business, so there was no custom of communal breakfasts. However, before Han Yu could enter the building, a Plantain Leaf flew in, carrying two Outer Disciples dressed in green robes.

The moment they landed, they called out urgently, “Is Senior Sister Li from the Spirit Field Department here? Something terrible has happened!”

Han Yu asked in surprise, “Senior Brothers, what’s the matter?”

“The Main Peak’s formation and the Guardian Formation are both operating at full power, prohibiting all entry and exit!” the two Outer Disciples explained, their voices breathless. “We from the Alchemy Department, along with disciples from the patrol team, the Artifact Refining Department, the Ancestral Mausoleum, the Medicine Garden… no one can go to the Main Peak anymore!”

Senior Sister Li, Ji Yida, and Hua Qi, hearing the commotion, rushed over, their faces showing alarm.

“For the formations to be activated to this extent… could it be that enemies have arrived?” Hua Qi asked, his voice tinged with worry.

“Why aren’t we allowed to go to the Main Peak to assist? What use is staying here?” Ji Yida added, his fists clenching.

“Now that the formations are activated, we can neither go to the Main Peak nor leave the area covered by the Guardian Formation. Isn’t this—” Hua Qi trailed off, his face pale.

The two Outer Disciples from the Alchemy Department looked anxious, and Ji Yida and Hua Qi couldn’t help but grow restless as well.

Senior Sister Li frowned, her voice grave. “It seems this matter is urgent. To be safe, the sect can’t even spare attention for us Outer and Inner Disciples.”

“The Deacons and disciples at the Green Grain Market outside the Guardian Formation also can’t return. They can’t even take shelter within the array, so their situation is even worse than ours,” she continued.

“Has no one gone to inquire at the Main Peak?” Han Yu asked.

The two Alchemy Department Outer Disciples shook their heads. “We only discovered this today and came to inform you. However, some senior brothers have already gone to inquire about the situation outside the Main Peak’s formation. They should return soon.”

“You wait here, keep an eye on the Spirit Field Department. I’ll go and ask as well,” Senior Sister Li instructed. She mounted her Magical Artifact and sped off toward the sect’s Main Peak.

Not long after, Senior Sister Li returned, her expression serious.

“The Sect Leader and the Supreme Elder went to the Spirit Sword Sect to seek help and have not yet returned,” she announced.

“Wanchun Valley is currently at its most critical moment. The dual formations are operating at full power precisely to prevent enemy Golden Core cultivators from infiltrating silently and utterly destroying our sect.”

“All we can do now is perform our respective duties and await good news. Do not alarm the Laborer Disciples and Servants to avoid causing panic,” she said, her tone firm.

Hearing this, Han Yu, Ji Yida, and Hua Qi fell silent, their minds racing with the implications.

An Outer Disciple from the Alchemy Department couldn’t help but ask, “What if there is no good news?”

Senior Sister Li glanced at him but did not respond.

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken dread.

If the news was bad, Wanchun Valley would cease to exist. Whether these disciples lived or died—and what status they would have if they survived—would depend entirely on the whims of their conquerors.

The two Alchemy Department Outer Disciples, feeling the topic too distressing to discuss, mounted their Plantain Leaf again and returned to the Alchemy Department.

Back in the steward’s office, Senior Sister Li, Ji Yida, Hua Qi, and Han Yu looked at each other, none speaking.

“If the sect truly falls…” Hua Qi began, then couldn’t bring himself to continue.

“Then we’ll each face our own fate. There’s nothing more to say,” Senior Sister Li said, her lips pressing together tightly. “For now, just perform your duties. Junior Brother Ji, Junior Brother Hua, accompany me to patrol the Spirit Field Department. Have the Laborer Disciples return to their rooms and stay inside.”

Ji Yida and Hua Qi nodded.

Senior Sister Li then looked at Han Yu. “Junior Brother Han, is your tamed crow here? Go look for it now. See if it’s within the sect’s Guardian Formation. If you can find it, bring it back.”

Han Yu nodded. “Yes, Senior Sister Li. It might be another helper.”

The usually aloof Senior Sister Li gave an inexplicable, wry smile. “You… well, you might understand when the time comes!”

If the worst truly happened, what use would a mere low-grade spirit beast be as a helper? It was just that among the enemies, there might be members of the Spirit Beast Sect. Perhaps, seeing he also tamed spirit beasts, they might appreciate his talent and accept him into their ranks. That would be better than the fate awaiting the other disciples.

Was this small mercy all she could offer him?

Senior Sister Li led Ji Yida and Hua Qi to begin patrolling the spirit fields. The Laborer Disciples who had just stepped out were gradually herded back into their stone houses, waiting quietly, unaware of what was happening.

Han Yu found the large and small crows, along with the flock, in the dense forest at the edge of the Spirit Field Department’s valley.

Faced with the current situation, Han Yu felt a knot of unease in his heart.

Could Wanchun Valley survive this crisis?

If he were at the Green Grain Market outside the Guardian Formation, Han Yu would have a way out. But now, trapped within the Guardian Formation’s coverage—unless Wanchun Valley opened the array or the enemy breached it—escape was impossible.

If he truly became a prisoner of another sect, his life and death would no longer be his own. Even if he survived, he would surely be exploited harshly, with no hope of preferential treatment. That was certainly not what Han Yu wanted.

As an Outer Disciple in Wanchun Valley, he still had considerable freedom. If captured, he would have no autonomy at all, a fate far more miserable than that of a Laborer Disciple.

If the Guardian Formation was truly breached and Wanchun Valley had no hope left, then he would have to seize the chaos to escape! He could only hope the invading sects wouldn’t bother hunting down ordinary disciples…

Having made up his mind, Han Yu took the large crow and returned to the Spirit Field Department.

Just as he arrived, before he could speak to Senior Sister Li, the ground suddenly darkened, tinged with a faint red hue.

Han Yu and the others looked up in shock.

Half the sky had turned a bloody crimson, like an inverted sea of blood. A thick, metallic stench of gore descended upon the valley.

Dozens of figures floated silently in that bloody sky, hovering just outside the Guardian Formation.

At their head was a figure in pure black robes, with blood-red hair cascading down his back. A sinister, mocking laugh pierced through Wanchun Valley’s Guardian Formation, echoing in everyone’s ears.

“Hehehehe!”

“This Seat is the Saint Blood Perfected One. I heard Wanchun Valley’s Golden Core cultivators have perished, leaving only you weaklings behind, helpless and pitiful.”

“Today, I come specially to show great kindness and offer you some assistance!”