Azure Spirit Sect.
It was filled with countless spiritual energy flowers, and the mountains intertwined and overlapped. On the most central, majestic peak, a grand palace was situated.
At this moment, in the main hall.
A white-robed elder bowed slightly to the person seated at the head and said, "Reporting to the Sect Master, our sect's disciples went out for experience and have not yet returned. I fear something unexpected may have happened."
"Hmm? Is that so? Which disciples?" the person at the head asked.
"A total of ten elite disciples. Most are at the first and second levels of Foundation Establishment."
"Grand Elder, the implication of your words is that there are also disciples with higher cultivation among them?" The person at the head asked with some surprise.
The white-robed elder nodded.
"Among these ten is your fourth disciple, Yu Mingkong!"
As the elder finished speaking, the aura of the person at the head suddenly erupted, causing the void to tremor, and then he stood up directly.
The person at the head had a Nascent Soul, and this aura was clearly that of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.
These two were precisely Yu Xuzi, the Sect Master of Azure Spirit Sect, and Bai Hesheng, the Grand Elder.
The reason Yu Xuzi was so agitated was that Yu Mingkong was not only his fourth disciple but also his only daughter.
"Grand Elder, how many days have they been gone?" Yu Xuzi asked.
"They have been gone for 15 days. Their mission this time was primarily to go to Spirit Beast Mountain to capture demonic beasts for experience. According to calculations, they should have returned in about 10 days, but 15 days have passed, and there's still no news," Bai Hesheng sighed.
"Then send disciples to search, and also have a few elders go search," Yu Xuzi said to Bai Hesheng.
Just as Yu Xuzi finished speaking, a voice transmitted over.
"Father, you don't need to go. I am the only one who returned. The other junior brothers and sisters all suffered at the hands of the Fallen Cloud Sect."
The person who arrived was none other than Yu Mingkong, who had previously been pursued by the Fallen Cloud Sect.
Upon seeing the badly injured Yu Mingkong, Yu Xuzi's figure flashed and he appeared before her.
"Linglong, are you alright? Let Father examine your body." Saying so, he placed a hand on Yu Mingkong's wrist, and strands of spiritual energy directly entered her body.
After a moment, Yu Xuzi exhaled and then said, "Linglong only suffered some minor injuries, nothing fundamental was harmed. She's fine!"
"Father, I'm fine, but those junior brothers and sisters..." Yu Mingkong said, tears streaming down her face.
"Linglong, quickly tell us what exactly happened," the Grand Elder Bai Hesheng, who was standing by, said.
"It's the Fallen Cloud Sect. Everything is their conspiracy. Father, quickly gather everyone in the sect and prepare. The Fallen Cloud Sect is coming to deal with our Azure Spirit Sect. Their ambition is great; they want to rule the Southern Desolate Barren of the Heavenly Desolate World, and our sect is their first stepping stone."
Yu Mingkong spoke rapidly.
Bai Hesheng and Yu Xuzi exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
"Linglong, is what you said true? You must be responsible for your words. This is no small matter," Bai Hesheng said.
And Yu Xuzi also showed a solemn expression.
Yu Mingkong also knew what her father and the Grand Elder were worried about.
She nodded earnestly to both of them.
Yu Xuzi then took out a cyan-white jade token from his waist and poured spiritual energy into it.
At the same time, all the elders of the Azure Spirit Sect received a message.
At noon, they were to proceed to the Sect Master Hall for a discussion, requiring all elders to be present. Those who did not attend would be punished according to sect rules.
Everyone who received the message understood the seriousness of the matter, so they did not delay.
A moment later, inside the Azure Spirit Sect's main hall.
Yu Xuzi looked at the many elders in the hall, most of whom were at the Golden Core Realm of cultivation.
"Elders, today, I have urgently summoned you with the sect token to inform you of an important matter. According to reliable information, the Fallen Cloud Sect intends to annex the Southern Desolate Barren, and our Azure Spirit Sect is their first battle."
Inside the main hall, when everyone heard this news, their faces showed expressions of shock.
At this moment, an elder in a green robe stood out:
"May I ask the Sect Master, is the source of this information accurate? If this matter is false, it will be extremely detrimental to our sect."
Yu Xuzi glanced at the green-robed elder and said, "Second Elder, what you said is not without reason. You should understand the principle of being prepared for danger in times of peace. Let alone if this matter is false. If it is true, then our sect's century-old foundation will be destroyed in an instant."
"Zhuge Jin, since the Sect Master has summoned everyone to announce this matter, he has already made a judgment on its authenticity, so you don't need to be confused, and the other elders don't need to say more. Today, the Sect Master is just informing everyone to prepare for battle. Once the Fallen Cloud Sect attacks, we absolutely cannot let them succeed!"
Bai Hesheng said from the side.
"Grand Elder, we all understand what you're saying, but the Fallen Cloud Sect has as many as five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, and there's also an Old Ancestor whose strength is unfathomable. Whereas we only have the Sect Master at the Nascent Soul Realm, and the Old Sect Master has been in closed-door cultivation for many years. If this battle truly begins, then..."
Zhuge Jin shook his head.
Although these words were unpleasant, they were also the truth.
At this moment, the main hall fell silent.
"I have a way. At that time, it will definitely ensure that our Azure Spirit Sect is not destroyed."
A female voice transmitted into everyone's ears at this moment.
Everyone turned their heads to look, and it was indeed Yu Mingkong in a purple dress.
Yu Xuzi looked at Yu Mingkong with confusion.
But Yu Mingkong then spoke to the elders in the hall.
"Elders, perhaps you have questions. This news was brought back by me. Just a while ago, my junior brothers, junior sisters, and I were out capturing demonic beasts for experience, and we ended up being ambushed by the Fallen Cloud Sect. My strength was slightly higher than my junior brothers and sisters, so fortunately, I escaped at the last critical moment."
Yu Mingkong said remorsefully, with tears occasionally dripping down.
She then continued, "I thought I had escaped, but I was then pursued by several Fallen Cloud Sect disciples of the same realm as me, until a mysterious senior saved me. Only then was I able to rush back to report the news."
Listening to Yu Mingkong's narration of the events, several elders among them spoke.
"No wonder my disciple went out a few days ago saying he was going for experience, but he hasn't returned for many days. So he has already met with misfortune!"
"Seventh Elder, don't be sad. My disciple also went. Alas, it's all because of this Fallen Cloud Sect. We must avenge this hatred."
"Right!" several elders echoed.
Yu Xuzi, at the head seat, spoke at this moment.
"The Fallen Cloud Sect is ambitious, and their actions are obvious. We must act quickly. Our sect's ally, the Flowing Sword Sect, is a bit far. Can someone go to seek their aid?"
Yu Xuzi looked at the crowd.
"I'll go!" Zhuge Jin, in a green robe, said.
"Good, then I'll trouble the Second Elder. You shall set off immediately, go early and return early. I hope you can return before the Fallen Cloud Sect makes a move against our sect."
"As per the Sect Master's command! I'll take my leave first!"
With that, Zhuge Jin summoned a blue jade sword glowing with a faint light and directly flew away.