Chapter 239: Gang Force, Succeeded

Chapter 239: Chapter 130: Gang Force, Succeeded

He asked.

“At least five thousand men, led by a Postnatal Realm Elder named Han Qianshan.”

Zhong Taiheng replied.

Gu Peiyuan fell silent.

A Postnatal Realm Elder leading the charge with five thousand disciples in tow. A force like that was impossible for the Five Elements Sect to stop alone.

Meng Shouzhen also fell silent.

He knew that now was not the time to bicker over the grudges between the Three Sects.

The Jingyuan Sect’s advance was ferocious. If they didn’t join forces, the Three Sects would be crushed one by one.

“Let’s form an alliance.”

Meng Shouzhen said slowly.

Zhong Taiheng and Gu Peiyuan exchanged a look and both nodded.

The three Sect Leaders quickly reached an agreement, forming the Three Sects Alliance to jointly oppose the Jingyuan Sect.

When the news reached their respective Sects, a palpable tension gripped all three.

Disciples were urgently summoned, and defensive lines were redeployed.

Everything was set in motion with urgent haste.

…

「The Guiyuan Sect’s Grand Hall.」

Built atop a mountain peak, the grand hall was an imposing and magnificent sight.

The hall’s doors stood open, and the mountain wind blew in, carrying a slight chill.

The Ten Great Martial Vein Masters were arranged on either side, with numerous Postnatal Realm Elders standing behind them.

The expressions on their faces were grim.

Meng Shouzhen sat in the center, holding the latest battle report.

With every pass of his eyes over the report, his brow furrowed a little tighter.

Inside the grand hall, many of the Elders sat in their respective seats.

Yet the vast hall was deathly silent, the atmosphere utterly oppressive.

Meng Shouzhen finally lowered the report, raised his head, and swept his gaze across everyone in the hall.

His voice was somewhat hoarse as he began to speak slowly. “You’ve all seen the report. In the past three months, this marks the Three Sects Alliance’s fifth defeat. If this continues, how much longer can the alliance hold out?”

A trace of exhaustion laced his tone.

Three months, five defeats.

Each defeat meant the deaths and injuries of many disciples.

The Five Elements Sect’s outer defensive lines had all fallen, the borders of Medicine Valley had been breached, and while the Guiyuan Sect had yet to clash directly with the Jingyuan Sect, the situation was far from optimistic.

If this continued, the Jingyuan Sect’s army would soon be at the very Mountain Gates of the Three Sects.

“Does anyone have a way to turn this situation around?”

Meng Shouzhen asked.

The Elders below exchanged glances, their faces filled with dismay.

‘Turn the situation around?’

‘In the face of absolute power, what was there to turn around?’

The Three Sects Alliance had already considered every possible solution.

Lu Cangfeng, the Master of Yishui Peak, rose to his feet. He cupped his hands toward Meng Shouzhen and said in a solemn voice, “Sect Leader, the Jingyuan Sect’s strength far exceeds our previous estimates. Not only do they have an Elder at the Peak of the Postnatal Realm anchoring their forces, but they also have an elite team of disciples. Though few in number, each one possesses a Cultivation at the Embracing Pill level or higher, and their combat prowess is immense. While the disciples of the Three Sects Alliance have superior numbers, the gap in strength is simply too wide. It is difficult for us to achieve victory in a direct confrontation.”

Lu Cangfeng paused before adding, “Furthermore, the Jingyuan Sect has a combined-attack formation. When a hundred or more of them form this great array, it is seamless in both offense and defense. The disciples of our Three Sects Alliance are completely unable to break through it.”

His words cast an even deeper gloom over the hall.

The Three Sects Alliance had explored other avenues.

They had considered seeking external aid, from powers outside the Jing Kingdom, for example.

Or petitioning the Upper Sect for mediation.

But the Upper Sect wouldn’t concern itself with such matters.

The Upper Sect was far too lofty; it would never intervene in a mere internal squabble within the Jing Kingdom.

Besides, the Jingyuan Sect had more connections within the Upper Sect. It was impossible for the Three Sects Alliance to rely on the Upper Sect for mediation.

As for seeking help from powers outside the Jing Kingdom, the Three Sects Alliance had tried that as well.

They had sent emissaries to the Canghai Sect east of the Jing Kingdom, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect to the west, and even as far north as the Profound Ice Palace.

But the conditions proposed by those powers were each more demanding than the last.

Even if the Three Sects Alliance invited such wolves into their house, it was no guarantee of genuine assistance.

Those powers made pleasant promises, but once invited in, they would likely prove even more difficult to handle than the Jingyuan Sect.

Seeing the Elders fall silent, Meng Shouzhen knew there were no better options.

Just then, Tuoba Cangshu, the Master of Thousand Mechanism Peak, suddenly spoke up.

Seated toward the rear on the left side, he wore a gray robe, his expression placid.

“Sect Leader, has the Five Elements Sect made any new proposals?”

Tuoba Cangshu asked.

Meng Shouzhen nodded.

“The Five Elements Sect has proposed a solution: have the Celestial Prides of the Three Sects Alliance challenge the Celestial Prides of the Jingyuan Sect. The two sides will engage in a Battle of Celestial Prides!”

A Battle of Celestial Prides.

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall instantly changed.

A flicker of light appeared in the eyes of many Elders, only to dim just as quickly.

A Battle of Celestial Prides… it sounded like a solution.

‘But could it really work?’

Meng Shouzhen continued, “If the Celestial Prides of the Three Sects Alliance are victorious, the Jingyuan Sect will call a three-year truce and halt their southern advance. If the Jingyuan Sect wins, the Three Sects Alliance must pay tribute to them and cede some of our territory. While humiliating, it is still better than being annihilated completely.”

Lu Cangfeng, the Master of Yishui Peak, frowned. “And the Jingyuan Sect would agree to this?”

Meng Shouzhen nodded.

“The Jingyuan Sect has already agreed. After all, even though they hold the advantage, they are still facing the Three Sects Alliance alone. They’ve suffered great losses over the course of these battles. If they were to try and forcibly annex the Three Sects, they might succeed, but the Jingyuan Sect itself could be shattered in the process. In that event, the only ones to benefit would be the powers outside the Jing Kingdom.”

That much was true.

Although the Jingyuan Sect was stronger than the Three Sects Alliance, their campaign had not been without cost.

In five major battles over three months, the Jingyuan Sect had lost over a thousand disciples. One of their Postnatal Realm Elders had been killed, and another was wounded.