Chapter 231: Probing, Collapse
Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Probing, Collapse
In the hall, Shi Yutong asked her question.
After a moment’s thought, Li Ping shook his head slightly. "I simply saw you leave in a hurry, Sect Leader Shi, and thought I might be of some help. That’s why I followed. There’s nothing else."
Hearing the concern in Li Ping’s voice, Shi Yutong’s eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears.
She had always thought Li Ping was a man singularly focused on the path of cultivation, someone who could not be moved by anything.
But she never expected him to notice her emotional state today, and not only show concern but also come all this way to help.
Although her mother, Qianxue Master, had already reached the Core Formation Stage in her cultivation, she was usually well-protected by her father. Aside from her bitter training, she rarely involved herself in the Sect’s management.
The moment she learned of her father’s death, she was plunged into deep sorrow, locking herself in her hall and refusing to come out!
Although Shi Yutong’s heart was just as filled with grief as her mother’s, she knew her duty. She had to do everything she could to stabilize the situation in the city and prevent internal strife from erupting within the Flying Snow Sect.
So, she suppressed her grief, forced herself to be strong, and issued a series of orders to ensure her father’s death would not cause too great a disturbance in the city!
But with her loving father so suddenly gone, the pain, the sorrow, the helplessness in her heart... who could possibly know?
"Brother Li, Yutong is deeply grateful for your kindness!" Shi Yutong said solemnly, her voice choking slightly. "There may be some turmoil in the city soon, and we’ll need Pills for restoring Magical Power and healing injuries. If you have the time, Brother Li, could I ask you to help refine some more Pills?"
"No problem," Li Ping nodded, agreeing immediately.
Although he didn’t know what had happened to Shi Yutong, the city center was the Flying Snow Sect’s main base. With two Core Formation Masters present, it could be called the safest place in the city.
Staying here was, in fact, safer for him than returning to Changping Square.
Having received Li Ping’s promise, Shi Yutong immediately ordered a Qi Refining Steward to lead Li Ping to a side hall for Alchemy.
As they walked, Li Ping noted the Steward’s respectful demeanor and asked him the reason for the city-wide lockdown.
However, the Qi Refining Steward was just as clueless as Li Ping and had no idea what had happened.
When Li Ping asked, he couldn’t offer any explanation at all.
Li Ping shook his head and asked no more questions.
Upon arriving at the side hall Shi Yutong had arranged for him, the Qi Refining Steward excused himself and hurried away, leaving Li Ping alone.
He was in no rush. He immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate while he waited.
After a few hours, someone did indeed arrive with Spirit Medicine, requesting that Li Ping begin his Alchemy.
Li Ping didn’t refuse. He took out his Pill Furnace and patiently began refining the Pills.
...
「In a cave residence in Changping Square.」
Bai Yi was telling the triangle-faced elder what she had seen on her way back. "Big Brother, when I was returning, I saw that the entire city is under lockdown. All the Flying Snow Sect’s Cultivators look tense. From the looks of it, I have no idea what’s happened."
Hearing this, both the triangle-faced elder and the white-robed scholar fell into thought. At that moment, the brawny Barbarian at their side couldn’t hold back any longer. He stood up and roared, "Big Brother, they’re not planning to arrest us, are they? Let’s just make a move now and fight our way out of the city! If we wait, it’ll be too late!"
"Don’t talk nonsense. Sit down!" The triangle-faced elder’s expression darkened. "We haven’t done any ’business’ in Flying Snow City, and we haven’t shown our faces at all. Why would they randomly arrest us? What’s with all this fuss?"
Having been scolded, the brawny Barbarian sat back down, unconvinced.
At this point, the white-robed scholar beside them spoke with a smile. "Big Brother is right. Don’t worry. If they wanted to capture us, why would they make such a big show of it? If a Core Formation Master took action, we could only surrender without a fight."
The others, including the brawny Barbarian, all nodded, agreeing that Second Brother’s words made a lot of sense.
Their small group consisted of two Late-stage Foundation Establishment, three Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and two Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators—a total of seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
As long as they worked together and no Core Formation Master intervened, who could possibly stand against them?
"Right, since the city is under lockdown, why don’t we have Yiyi and Jingjing invite Li Ping over to our cave residence as a guest?" The white-robed scholar pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting to the twin sisters. "After all, even mortals know that ’a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.’ With the situation so unstable, gathering with a neighbor would provide a greater sense of security, wouldn’t it?"
The triangle-faced elder’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, clearly appreciating the white-robed scholar’s scheme.
But Bai Yi shook her head. "A short while ago, I ran into Li Ping in the city and was going to return with him, but he said he had to visit a friend. So he’s probably not in his cave residence right now. Jingjing and I can go check later."
The triangle-faced elder nodded, then brought up another matter. "Besides Li Ping, Second Brother, I want you to go into the city right now and find out exactly what has happened with the Flying Snow Sect."
Normally, with two Core Formation Masters in charge, Flying Snow City should be as stable as a mountain. It would be impossible for Loose Cultivators to shake the Flying Snow Sect’s rule.
But now, with the sudden lockdown, he suspected something major had occurred.
For example, had something happened to the Flying Snow Sect’s Core Formation Masters?
If something really had happened to Mu Yun Master and Qianxue Master, he would no longer be satisfied with just plundering the wealth of a single High-tier Alchemist.
The Spirit Stones on a High-tier Pill Master were nothing compared to the wealth the Flying Snow Sect had accumulated over many years.
If he could make a big score in Flying Snow City, he might even be able to attempt Core Formation.
At this thought, a hint of greed crept onto the triangle-faced elder’s face.
...
The news of Mu Yun Master’s demise could not be hidden for long.
Qianxue Master wasn’t the only one with his life tablet; another was kept in the Flying Snow Sect’s sacred grounds. When the tablet shattered, the guarding Cultivators discovered it immediately.
Furthermore, the Stargazing Pavilion was unable to contact Silver Moon City. After communicating with other cities, the news that Silver Moon City had been breached by Demon Beasts was quickly confirmed.
With so many people talking, the news was impossible to contain.
Silver Moon City had fallen, and Mu Yun Master had died in the beast tide!
This news gradually spread throughout Flying Snow City. The fall of a Core Formation Master was no small matter, and the situation in the city instantly became fraught with undercurrents.
If Qianxue Master could make an appearance at this time, she might have been able to intimidate those with ill intentions.
But Qianxue Master was a person of deep emotion. Traumatized by the death of her Dao companion, her grief became psychosomatic. Despondent, she felt that everything in the world had lost its meaning and spent her days locked in the great hall, never emerging.
Even when Shi Yutong went to persuade her, she remained lost in a daze, seeming not to recognize the person before her, having even forgotten that she was a Core Formation Master.
As time passed and Qianxue Master still did not show herself, the situation in the city grew increasingly unstable.
A rumor that ’Qianxue Master had suffered a qi deviation and lost all her Magical Power, becoming a cripple’ began to spread rapidly through the city.
Under the influence of this rumor, even with the city under lockdown and Flying Snow Sect Cultivators patrolling the skies, public order in Flying Snow City inevitably deteriorated.
Vicious incidents occurred one after another, and panic spread among the people of Flying Snow City!
Finally, on this day—
A patrol team sent out by the Flying Snow Sect—one Foundation Establishment Cultivator and ten Qi Refining Cultivators—was completely wiped out by a mysterious assailant!
Over the past few months, there had been many vicious incidents, but this was the first time a Flying Snow Sect patrol had been targeted!
...
In the great hall, Shi Yutong sat at the head seat, her expression grave.
The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Flying Snow Sect stood below, murmuring amongst themselves.
They were discussing the matter of the slain Flying Snow Sect Cultivators.
Everyone understood that the previous vicious incidents had been tests against the Flying Snow Sect, and this ambush of a patrol team was yet another test!
Those lurking in the shadows were probing the Flying Snow Sect’s true condition!
If the Flying Snow Sect couldn’t find the culprits swiftly and make an example of them, then... the subsequent tests would undoubtedly escalate.
They would push further and further, step by step, until they confirmed that the Flying Snow Sect was truly weakened and that Qianxue Master had indeed suffered a qi deviation.
Then, the Flying Snow Sect’s fate would face its final judgment!
Loose Cultivators would normally swallow their pride and yield when encountering Sect Cultivators. But once they saw an opportunity and their greed was stoked, they would not hesitate to play the part of robber cultivators.
Especially during this period, because of the beast tide, the Loose Cultivators who usually hunted Demon Beasts in the Ice Sea had been forced to return to the city.
In addition, Silver Moon City and two other Main Cities near the Ice Sea were under siege by massive numbers of Demon Beasts, so many Loose Cultivators, for their own safety, had chosen to leave and travel to Flying Snow City, which was further inland.
Therefore,
Flying Snow City was now home to far more Loose Cultivators than usual, including groups of Foundation Establishment Cultivators like the ’Seven Immortals of the North Pole’.
"Sect Leader, is it possible to ask Qianxue Master to make an appearance? Once the Master shows herself, those scoundrels will surely not dare to cause any more trouble," a white-haired Elder Cultivator said cautiously.
Although the Tier Three Grand Array was still under the Flying Snow Sect’s control, the Array’s attacks were directed outward, not inward. It was useless against Loose Cultivators causing trouble within the city.
"The Master is deep in grief right now and is in no mood to act," Shi Yutong said, not intending to hide the truth from them.
Another Foundation Establishment Cultivator said urgently, "Sect Leader, Brother Ba was killed! We must hunt down the murderer to comfort his spirit in heaven!"
The others showed their approval for his proposal. Only by doing so could they defend the honor of the Flying Snow Sect!
But to their surprise, Shi Yutong shook her head. "Everyone, this is a losing battle. I have decided to abandon everything outside the Sect. All Flying Snow Sect Cultivators and their families are to move within the Sect Protection Array and focus solely on defense! As for the territory outside the Sect... let them have it!"
An uproar instantly erupted in the hall at Shi Yutong’s words.
Their Flying Snow Sect was the master of Flying Snow City, yet now they were to voluntarily abandon most of the city, holding only the Tier Three Spirit Vein within the Sect grounds, and give everything else to those Loose Cultivators?
Shi Yutong’s face was etched with exhaustion. "They are only after wealth. I don’t want anyone else in the Sect to die."
She knew very well that without a Core Formation Master to hold the line, the Flying Snow Sect’s current strength was not enough to deter those Loose Cultivators.
It was better to take advantage of their current hesitation, consolidate their forces, and focus on defending the Sect’s core.
As for the other areas, let them have it.
Besides, as fellow humans, they surely wouldn’t go so far as to slaughter mortals.