Jing Yuan and Bai Yue exchanged glances, falling completely silent.
Previously, helping the Hua Xia Sect was merely a small, convenient investment for them, but now the situation was completely different.
This was betting the entire sect's foundation; a single misstep would lead to total defeat, and the destruction of the sect was a foregone conclusion.
The Ziwei Sect and Hehuan Sect had been established for tens of thousands of years, growing from small sects to their current first-grade status, built step by step by countless ancestors.
If they were to be destroyed in their hands, they would undoubtedly be nailed to the pillar of shame.
To go all out, or to stick to the old ways?
If they won, the entire sect would soar to prominence and embark on a glorious path.
If they lost, everything would turn to dust, the sect would be destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of disciples would be slaughtered.
Even though both of them were in the Transformation God Realm, with mental fortitude beyond ordinary people, facing such a choice still left them in a dilemma.
Jing Yuan looked behind him; Mo Li and the other two were in hot pursuit, and further back were hundreds of thousands of cultivators, dense like a swarm of locusts.
"Chu Xiaozi, give me the bottom line. How confident are you in this battle?" Jing Yuan's expression was solemn as he stared intently at Chu Huaian.
Beside him, Bai Yue's purple eyes swirled as she carefully observed Chu Huaian's facial expression.
Chu Huaian pondered for a moment before giving his answer: "Less than twenty percent."
Hearing his answer, Jing Yuan and Bai Yue were slightly surprised.
They had both expected Chu Huaian to say less than ten percent, but it was twenty percent, and they wondered where he got such confidence.
A small sect, recently established, actually dared to contend against dozens of sects. What kind of courage was that?!
"Since that's the case, I am willing to believe you. In this battle, all members of my Ziwei Sect will go to the battlefield and stand with the Hua Xia Sect!"
Jing Yuan's voice was low, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
After speaking, he and Chu Huaian simultaneously looked at Bai Yue, who was beside them.
Bai Yue hesitated for a moment, then her eyes gradually became firm, and she said solemnly, "The Hehuan Sect is willing to create a future with both sects!"
At this point, the three major sects reached a consensus, forming an alliance to face this battle of life and death.
With the support of the two major sects, Chu Huaian inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, immediately activated his lightning spirit, grabbed both of their shoulders, and vanished from the spot.
"Chase!"
Behind them, Mo Li and the other two instantly burst with speed, invoking the power of the laws and disappearing from the spot as well.
At the same time, at the Hua Xia Sect.
Above the entire sect, dense crowds stood.
Magical artifacts and divine abilities continuously bombarded the Sect Protection Array.
Min Hong and Meng Ke'er, leading several demonic beasts, were exerting all their strength to control the formation and resist.
Zhao Mubai and the others had never seen such a spectacle, and at this moment, they were trembling in fear, hiding inside the main hall.
Along this journey, their country was first destroyed, then they joined the Hehuan Sect, thinking they could peacefully await the rise of Fang Yuan and Qin Hao.
Unexpectedly, in just one month, they followed the two and defected from the Hehuan Sect, fleeing to the Hua Xia Sect.
During this period, they witnessed the power of the Hua Xia Sect and were just marveling at their immense luck when they encountered the Hua Xia Sect's crisis of destruction.
They were on the verge of tears; in just a few months, they had experienced several life-and-death escapes, and this time was even more intense, with nowhere to run.
"Imperial Sister, I'm scared..." A little princess, around sixteen years old, hid in Zhao Mubai's arms, speaking timidly.
"Don't be afraid, the Sect Master and the others will definitely return." Zhao Mubai gently stroked the little princess's hair, her eyes filled with unconcealable worry.
"Mubai, do you think the Sect Master, Senior Brothers, and Senior Sisters will make it back?" Shang Lianxue's face was pale, clearly having prepared for the worst.
"Yes, they will definitely come back!" Zhao Mubai nodded with immense conviction.
"But... I heard Elder Min Hong say that Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters all died in the central region, and the sects attacking us number over fifty..."
"Shh, don't talk nonsense!"
Zhao Mubai suddenly interrupted Shang Lianxue.
The two exchanged glances and silently lowered their heads.
The main hall was silent, and the shadow of death enveloped everyone's hearts, pressing down so hard that they could barely breathe.
The incessant bombing from above was like a hammer, pounding repeatedly on everyone's hearts.
Just then, six miscellaneous disciples on the other side suddenly stood up, gripped their flying swords, and resolutely walked out of the main hall.
"Where are you going?" Zhao Mubai urgently called out to them.
"We are disciples of the Hua Xia Sect. Now that the Sect Master, Senior Brothers, and Senior Sisters' lives are unknown, we disciples cannot sit idly by; we must hold out until the last moment!"
With that, the six of them abruptly turned around and quickly rushed towards the center of the square.
That was where the formation was located, and also the most densely attacked area.
Zhao Mubai stared blankly at their retreating figures.
After a while, she suddenly stood up and rushed out of the main hall, holding her flying sword.
"Imperial Sister!"
An anxious voice came from behind her.
Shang Lianxue bit her lip, chasing after her.
Immediately after, the remaining dozen or so people also rushed out of the main hall, heading towards the center of the formation with a determination to die.
At this moment, four Yuan Ying Stage elders suddenly appeared in the sky above.
"People of the Hua Xia Sect, listen up! Chu Huaian has committed heinous crimes. Now, the major sects have gathered hundreds of thousands of cultivators and are on their way. If you don't want to die, quickly remove the Sect Protection Array, and we can spare your lives."
Everyone in the sect looked at each other, completely unaware of what had happened.
They only knew that the Sect Master, Senior Brothers, and Senior Sisters were being besieged by enemies, but the specific reasons were unknown.
But now, hearing that hundreds of thousands of cultivators were going to besiege the Hua Xia Sect, it sounded like a fantasy.
"Just how much trouble did the Sect Master and the others cause?" A male disciple couldn't help but click his tongue, muttering.
"In my opinion, with the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters' personality of fearing no chaos, they probably did something that angered both heavens and men, which led to the collective crusade of the major sects." Someone secretly grumbled.
"I think so too, I'm just curious what they did?"
"Could it be that the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters were too heaven-defying and killed the geniuses of their sects in the North-South Hegemony Competition, so they're coming to retaliate against us?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone inexplicably felt they made sense and subconsciously nodded.
"Hmph, what a bunch of shameless scoundrels! They couldn't beat us, so they formed an alliance to attack our Hua Xia Sect, bah! We will fight to the death!"
"With the Sect Protection Array here, they can't do anything to us. Everyone, hold on, wait for the Sect Master and the others to return!"
The crowd completely ignored the verbal intimidation from the hostile sects, continuously channeling spiritual power into the formation.
Seeing that the people below were unmoved, one of the elders spoke, "When will the major sects arrive?"
"Approximately ten minutes, and this time they also brought fragments of Emperor Weapons. They are determined to annihilate the Hua Xia Sect and capture and kill Chu Huaian in one fell swoop."
"Good, then continue the bombardment to weaken the energy of the Sect Protection Array."
The sound of explosions rang out again, and the entire Hua Xia Sect shook violently.
"Pfft..."
Min Hong spat out a mouthful of clotted blood and collapsed in the center of the formation.
Seeing this, Meng Ke'er quickly reached out to support her, "Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I've already informed Chu Huaian; they are on their way back."
Min Hong waved her hand, sat up again, and, acting as the core of the formation, continuously channeled spiritual power.
Suddenly, a burst of light illuminated the back mountain, and everyone turned their heads, puzzled.
"It's Senior Brother Li Taibai! He's brought people back to fight!"
"That's great! We're saved!"
"No, who are those people behind Senior Brother Li Taibai? Where are the other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters?"
Someone noticed something amiss and had an ominous premonition.
Li Taibai and his group were covered in dust and did not even have time to catch their breath before immediately soaring into the sky.
"Those who violate my Hua Xia Sect shall be killed without mercy!"
