Zhong Han was full of anger, but what could he do now? He had no solution at all.
The Enforcement Hall was where Lu Yuan held power, and since Lu Yuan supported Luo Zhen, Luo Zhen now controlled the Enforcement Hall.
Besides the Enforcement Hall, Luo Zhen also gained the support of the five peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect. The only peaks Zhong Han could control were the Main Peak and Flowing Cloud Peak. If Zhong Han clung to the control of the Merit Hall and the Treasure Pavilion, then the next step would be a battle. He couldn't afford to fight Luo Zhen, and moreover, Mo Daozi and Ling Yunzi supported Luo Zhen, which was one of the reasons for Luo Zhen's smooth ascension to power.
With a flick of his sleeve, Zhong Han and Su Shanhe left with the people from the Main Peak and Flowing Cloud Peak. He knew there was no point in staying any longer. He couldn't fight a hard battle, and his position as Sect Master was constrained by the Azure King's Edict. He was utterly helpless.
"The Sect Master's decision pains me greatly. It goes against the true heart of a Sword Cultivator. According to his strategy, the Azure Cloud Sect might be able to weather the current crisis peacefully, but only temporarily. The Blood Saber Sect and Wolf King Hall's ambition to destroy our Azure Cloud Sect will absolutely not diminish. Furthermore, without a fearless heart and undaunted courage, does the Azure Cloud Sect still deserve to be a Sect of Sword Cultivators?" Ling Yunzi spoke, having rarely interfered with Sect matters in the past, but this time he truly couldn't hold back.
"As a Sword Cultivator, how can one compromise so humiliatingly without even the courage to draw a sword? Therefore, we must fight!" Luo Zhen declared.
"What about the Main Peak and Flowing Cloud Peak?" An Nan looked at Luo Zhen.
"Ignore them. We'll fight our battle. Peak Master Lei, you must secure the Resource Hall and the Treasure Pavilion. Peak Master An, proceed with arranging for the elite inner Disciples of our five peaks to retreat to a safe place. Fighting is essential, but we also need to make preparations. The Legacy of the Sect's flame must be preserved," Luo Zhen said to Lei Yin.
Hearing Luo Zhen's arrangements, Mo Daozi and Ling Yunzi both nodded in satisfaction. Luo Zhen's plan was in line with the overall situation.
"Two Grand Elders, Qin Chu possesses the Sword Spirit Realm, and furthermore, his Sword Intent has Broken Through to the second layer, so he must be taken seriously. Luo Zhen has already arranged for people to search for him," Luo Zhen said to Mo Daozi and Ling Yunzi. Qin Chu's mastery of the Sword Spirit Realm was no great secret in the Azure Cloud Sect, so he spoke of it directly.
"He must be found. Perhaps protecting Qin Chu will cost our Azure Cloud Sect dearly, but we must understand one fact: once a Genius emerges, an era begins. Enduring a difficult period to usher in an era is worthwhile; looking at all major Sects, it has always been this way," Mo Daozi stated.
Qin Chu returned to the vicinity of the Azure Cloud Sect. While eating in a restaurant, he heard news of the Azure Cloud Sect's drastic changes. The Sect Master was still Zhong Han, but the one in charge of the situation was now Luo Zhen.
This situation made Qin Chu very happy. He didn't care about the Azure Cloud Sect as a whole, but he cared deeply about Azure Bamboo Peak. With Luo Zhen in power, Azure Bamboo Peak would not become cannon fodder. Furthermore, he knew that the Wolf King Hall and Blood Saber Sect had allied and were preparing to attack the Azure Cloud Sect, and forces from the Star Pavilion were also on their way.
This was a fight to the death. Qin Chu felt conflicted. He left the Azure Cloud Sect because he didn't want to make things difficult for Luo Zhen. He left a letter stating his departure from the Azure Cloud Sect, hoping the Sect could shift blame, so the Blood Saber Sect and Wolf King Hall would have no reason to fight him. But after Luo Zhen took power, his letter of departure from the Azure Cloud Sect was not made public, which indicated that Luo Zhen was fully protecting him. In this situation, could he truly ignore the matters of the Azure Cloud Sect? It clearly felt inappropriate, even a bit shameless.
"They're protecting me, so I have to step into the fray. Let's fight!" Qin Chu sighed, draining the wine glass in his hand.
"You haven't evaded it and are still planning to step in. As an Enforcer of the Azure Cloud Sect, I am very pleased." A man in a green robe sat down opposite Qin Chu.
"Who are you?" Qin Chu asked, looking at the green-robed man.
"Duan Feng of the Azure Cloud Sect's Enforcement Hall! You might not know me, but you definitely know my Master, Elder Lu Yuan," Duan Feng said. He was sent to find Qin Chu and unexpectedly met him in this small tavern.
"How could I evade it? If Azure Bamboo Peak didn't protect me, then this turmoil would have nothing to do with me; whoever wants to fight can go. But now it's different; Azure Bamboo Peak hasn't failed me, so I will certainly not fail Azure Bamboo Peak. Going back means dealing with those dog-like people from the Main Peak again. It's frustrating!" Qin Chu sighed, utterly annoyed with Su Shanhe.
"Don't worry about them. Although the Sect Master has come out of seclusion, he only handles matters of the Main Peak and Flowing Cloud Peak. The other five peaks have all decided to fight, or rather, accept the Azure King's Edict to fight. After you return this time, you won't suffer any grievances," Duan Feng said.
Saying no more, Qin Chu followed Duan Feng out of the small town and, after a detour, returned to the Azure Cloud Sect's mountain gate.
"Azure Cloud Sect, I'm back again. Last time I came, I was bullied. I wonder if I will be this time." Qin Chu mused as he entered the Azure Cloud Sect.
"You were bullied before? Perhaps you were, but as far as I know, you never once held back!" Duan Feng said with a smile.
"Haha! I can't help it. My strength isn't great, but my temper isn't very good." Qin Chu rubbed his nose, realizing he had gained a bit of fame within the Azure Cloud Sect.
Duan Feng led Qin Chu to Azure Bamboo Peak, to the main hall of Azure Bamboo Peak.
Inside the Azure Bamboo Peak's main hall, Mo Daozi, Ling Yunzi, Luo Zhen, and other high-ranking members of the pro-war faction were all present!
Seeing Qin Chu enter the hall, Mo Daozi stood up, walked out from his seat, and with Origin Qi energy pressing down on Qin Chu, he tapped Qin Chu's head, "Who told you to leave? Who allowed you to leave? You irresponsible brat, do you still want me to do things for you?"
Mo Daozi asked a question and tapped his head with each one.
Pressed by Mo Daozi's Origin Qi, Qin Chu had no temper at all and could only endure the tapping.
"Qin Chu felt he was making things difficult for Peak Master Luo and Azure Bamboo Peak, which is why he intended to leave. Besides, I left a letter, didn't I? I intend to go to war with the Blood Saber Sect and Wolf King Hall, so this isn't evasion," Qin Chu explained.
"You want to go to war? How many can you kill?" Mo Daozi scolded Qin Chu gruffly.
"As long as they don't have anyone alone, if I see one alone, I'll kill them. I'll make them fear the name Qin Chu. Although I don't have much cultivation temporarily, I can spend ten or twenty years doing this." Qin Chu declared.
Everyone in the Azure Bamboo Peak's main hall could now confirm that Qin Chu was a ruthless person. To spend ten or twenty years doing one thing was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
"Then I ask you, if you left, did you no longer intend to ask me for help?" Mo Daozi asked, looking at Qin Chu.
"How could that be! I believe that after I've killed a large number of people from the Blood Saber Sect and Wolf King Hall, you, Senior, will still help me," Qin Chu said. This was also his plan before he left.
"Take back your letter. You are still a Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect." Mo Daozi took out the letter Qin Chu had left.
"Senior, Qin Chu is willing to be a Disciple of Azure Bamboo Peak, but he no longer intends to be a Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. It's meaningless. I don't want to be abandoned after the battle!" Qin Chu shook his head.