Attacking the Xiao Sect

Attacking the Xiao Sect . . .

With her freedom regained, Zi Qingxuan made her way toward Qin Wentian. Though no words passed between them, her eyes held a different expression as they locked onto his.

Qin Wentian, filled with concern, inquired, "Are you alright?"

"Only minor injuries, nothing serious," Zi Qingxuan replied, shaking her head. Her gaze shifted to Qing'er before she positioned herself at Qin Wentian's side.

Turning his attention to Xia Qianhan and his companions, Qin Wentian's eyes glittered with an icy resolve. "Leave."

Frustration and hostility bubbled within Xia Qianhan and his cohorts, their yearning for a confrontation with Qin Wentian palpable. They harbored little confidence in defeating him now that he had dissipated the energy of the God's Hand. It remained uncertain if he could reassemble it in such a short span. Their earlier encounter had allowed him to form it only once before it was destroyed by the Xuan Emperor, and he hadn't managed to replicate it a second time.

However, Qin Wentian was not alone. Princess Qing'er, ranked #5 in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, was at his side—a force beyond Xia Qianhan and his allies' reckoning.

"Take Tu Teng with us; we're leaving," Xia Qianhan commanded coldly. Tu Teng was escorted away, and the Twin Stars Alliance members swiftly retreated. They needed to inform Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue, the only two capable of challenging Qin Wentian and Princess Qing'er. Xuan Yang, ranked #4, could contend with Princess Qing'er, while Xiao Lengyue should be able to face Qin Wentian despite his possession of the God's Hand. Moreover, the Twin Stars Alliance boasted other formidable talents, and with Qin Wentian's reveal, they could afford to bide their time. Unless he was willing to employ high-risk tactics, such as injuring himself repeatedly, his chances were slim. Considering the time it took for him to reappear after his initial self-inflicted injury, he wouldn't endure it more than a few times.

Notably, the most significant revelation was Qin Wentian's advancement to the eighth level of Celestial Phenomenon.

As the members of the Twin Stars Alliance departed, spectators remained behind. Qin Wentian and Princess Qing'er stood side by side, not more than an inch apart, leaving no doubt about their relationship—they were indeed lovers.

"Senior Brother, your timely arrival saved us," Jun Mengchen remarked. Qin Wentian shook his head, responding, "If it weren't for me, Xuan Yang wouldn't have targeted you both."

"You shouldn't shoulder the blame. Comrades share in both fortune and misfortune. It was the Xuan brothers who went too far. You made the right call when you killed Xuan Xing earlier. I would have done the same in your place. Now, with Xuan Yang pursuing us, my own weakness is the only regret. But I vow to make them rue the day when I grow stronger in the future," Jun Mengchen declared, his frustration evident. Despite being at the seventh level of Celestial Phenomenon, he struggled against the supreme geniuses of the Twin Stars Alliance.

The Twin Stars Alliance boasted an abundance of experts, most of whom ranked in the Immortal Ascension Rankings. Like Tu Teng, any of them could effortlessly overpower Zi Qingxuan.

"Oh, yes," Jun Mengchen turned to Hua Taixu, a grateful smile on his face. "I haven't thanked you yet. We were opponents back at the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect—I didn't think you would reach out to help us today."

Qin Wentian also regarded Hua Taixu, acknowledging the unexpected assistance. The grudge they once held had long dissipated, and now, with Hua Taixu willingly offering his aid, they found themselves indebted to him.

"Many thanks," Qin Wentian expressed his gratitude.

Hua Taixu waved off their thanks nonchalantly. "Wouldn't you have done the same if I were in trouble?" he asked, as if it was a given. Qin Wentian was taken aback but realized that, given their current relationship, he would have extended his help if Hua Taixu were in a similar situation. Hua Taixu had merely voiced what Qin Wentian hadn't consciously recognized.

"Now, with five of us here, and Sister-in-Law holding the #5 spot on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, why don't we consider forming our own power to take on the Twin Stars Alliance?" Jun Mengchen suggested eagerly, his eyes shining with anticipation as he glanced between Qin Wentian and Hua Taixu.

"Sister-in-Law?" Qin Wentian's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Then he noticed Jun Mengchen awkwardly rubbing the back of his head while sneaking a glance at Qing'er.

Qing'er blinked, her expression unchanged as she appeared to ignore Jun Mengchen's remark.

"Senior Brother, what do you think? Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue have joined forces and created a new Twin Stars Alliance. You and Sister-in-Law are no weaker than them. If we establish our own faction, perhaps other experts will join us, and we might surpass the Twin Stars Alliance in strength. I'd love to see them try to treat us arrogantly then," Jun Mengchen suggested with a hint of frustration.

"That's actually a brilliant idea. I've heard there are numerous ancient ruins in the City of Ancient Emperors. With a group of experts working together, our chances of obtaining an inheritance would increase significantly," Qin Wentian marveled at Hua Taixu's surprising agreement.

"Qingxuan, do you share this view?" Qin Wentian inquired of Zi Qingxuan.

"I think it's worth a try. Even if no one else joins us, we'll have five members in total. Once we all reach the ninth level, we should be formidable enough to rank among the top few in the City of Ancient Emperors," Zi Qingxuan responded. At present, Princess Qing'er was at the ninth level, while Qin Wentian, herself, and Hua Taixu were at the eighth level, and Jun Mengchen at the seventh level. Their prolonged stay in the City of Ancient Emperors meant they would eventually break through to the ninth level, transforming their strength considerably.

"Qing'er, how do you feel about this?" Qin Wentian turned to Qing'er for her input.

"Make the decision; I'll support whatever you choose," Qing'er replied calmly, prompting a smile from Jun Mengchen. "Since Sister-in-Law put it that way, let's not delay any further, Senior Brother."

"Very well, then let the five of us establish our faction. But what should we call it?" Qin Wentian looked to the others.

"Senior Brother, we'll follow your lead. Sister-in-Law will support your choice, so how about we keep it simple and name it the Qin Sect? No need for overly ornate titles," Jun Mengchen suggested cheerfully, proposing that Qin Wentian serve as their sect leader. Hua Taixu, nodding in agreement, voiced no objections.

"Then it's settled, our newfound power shall bear the name Qin Sect. Now, we must decide on a location for our headquarters. What do you all think about the place where the God Extermination Palace is situated?" A mischievous glint danced in Jun Mengchen's eyes. They had come a long way from their initial encounters with the God Extermination Palace, and now it was time to assert their dominance.

"There's no longer any point in taking on the God Extermination Palace. Mengchen, with the merger of the Xiao Sect and the Twin Stars Alliance, what's the status of their old headquarters?" Qin Wentian inquired.

"They remain separate, with Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue each presiding over one. However, the former Xiao Sect's headquarters has fewer occupants," Jun Mengchen informed.

"In that case, let's set our sights on the Xiao Sect's old headquarters," Qin Wentian declared, a glint of determination in his eyes. He was proposing a direct assault on the Xiao Sect. The idea sparked sharpness in Jun Mengchen's gaze.

"Indeed," Jun Mengchen agreed. "Let's do it."

As they conversed, the five of them continued on their journey, heading toward the Xiao Sect's headquarters. Onlookers couldn't help but react with disbelief. Were these five individuals out of their minds? Regardless of their strength, launching a direct attack on the Xiao Sect seemed audacious. Even with fewer defenders at the former Xiao Sect's headquarters, there were still dozens of formidable geniuses stationed there. Could the five of them really succeed?

Furthermore, despite Princess Qing'er holding the #5 ranking, was she truly formidable enough to back such a bold plan?

"Let's go see what unfolds. If they manage to pull this off, I might consider joining the Qin Sect in their fight against the Twin Stars Alliance."

"Agreed, and the Qin Sect has two remarkable beauties as well. Plus, Qin Wentian himself is no slouch. They seem evenly matched with Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue." The audience, caught up in the excitement, began to flock to the former Xiao Sect's location. As word spread, more and more people joined the growing crowd.

Inside the headquarters, the Xiao Sect's premises were still bustling, now functioning as a branch of the Twin Stars Alliance. Greedwolf, who was responsible for this branch, sat in deep meditation on the cultivation grounds. Despite his high ranking on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, he understood the need to continually improve his strength, aiming to enter the immortal foundation realm as soon as possible.

The eerie howl of the wind pierced through the silence, and Greedwolf's eyes snapped open to behold an unexpected visitor standing before him. "Greedwolf, it seems that Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan have been located. Rumor has it that Lengyue dispatched her people to hunt them down. Should we intervene?" The messenger's words hung in the air, a hint of concern etched across his face.

Greedwolf, however, remained unperturbed. He replied, "There's no need to trouble ourselves with minor matters like this. Lengyue has her own methods of dealing with such situations. We should leave it to her."

Satisfied with the response, the messenger nodded. But just as they were about to return to their own concerns, a sudden rush of wind from a distance caught their attention. Squinting at the approaching figures, the messenger's expression changed. Five distinct silhouettes were closing in, and none of them appeared to be from the Xiao Sect.

"Hmm?" The messenger observed the newcomers more closely, his frown deepening. "Greedwolf, they're here."

"Who? Lengyue?" Greedwolf inquired.

"No, it's Qin Wentian and his group," the messenger muttered, his realization sinking in. Moments later, Greedwolf leaped to his feet, his voice echoing like thunder. "It seems we have some old friends paying us a visit! Everyone, come out and greet our guests!"

His proclamation reverberated through the Xiao Sect's headquarters, summoning several figures to appear almost instantly. They faced the five approaching individuals, forming a protective barrier.

Outside the Xiao Sect, Qin Wentian and his companions came to a halt, their eyes locked onto the Xiao Sect's formidable defenders. Greedwolf strode forward, his voice carrying the weight of the moment. "Qin Wentian, are you here to rejoin the Xiao Sect?"

"Let's finish this quickly. Qing'er, you'll be my protector, and Taixu, provide support. Mengchen and Qingxuan, ensure no one escapes after we incapacitate them," Qin Wentian swiftly ordered. With a surge of power, he activated the God's Hand, his form expanding dramatically, emanating a fearsome runic light.

-BOOM, BOOM, BOOM- Without hesitation, Qin Wentian launched his assault, prompting the geniuses from the Xiao Sect to react instantly by summoning their constellations. In an instant, a multitude of terrifying auras swept across the battlefield.

"To the left!" Qin Wentian directed, and a surge of spatial energy enveloped them, teleporting them before two geniuses from the Xiao Branch positioned on the far left. Hua Taixu took the lead, casting his samsara eyes upon them, ensnaring the two in a captivating illusion.