Crash!
Over ten thousand soldiers of the Blazing Flame Army retreated like a tide, leaving behind a thousand members of the Azure Light Sect.
Every member of the Azure Light Sect widened their eyes in shock, their hearts surging with waves of astonishment, unable to calm down.
They felt both the joy of survival and the shock of what had just transpired.
Who was that mysterious powerhouse who suddenly appeared?
He actually killed Prince Zhennan, as well as the Black-Armored General and the Senior Eunuch, both Spirit Transformation Realm experts!
Without that powerhouse's intervention, the Blazing Flame Army would never have retreated, and they would have faced certain death, leading to the inevitable destruction of the Azure Light Sect.
Zhang Yunyi gazed in the direction where Lin Xiao had disappeared, his brows slightly furrowed.
The powerhouse moved too quickly and wore a mask, so he couldn't see the person's appearance clearly, but there was a sense of familiarity about him.
Moreover, the Gale Saber Art!
The martial technique used by the stranger was the Azure Light Sect's Gale Saber Art, something he was absolutely sure of.
After pondering for a moment, he couldn't figure out who would help the Azure Light Sect and also know the Gale Saber Art.
After a short while, Zhang Yunyi sighed, turned, and looked at the disciples and elders of the Azure Light Sect.
Fortunately, only a few dozen were lightly injured, a few severely injured, and less than ten had truly died in battle.
"Who was that powerhouse?"
"Could he be a hidden expert of our Azure Light Sect?"
"So powerful! He killed nearly a hundred people in just a moment!"
The disciples of the Azure Light Sect immediately began to discuss, each filled with excitement and curiosity.
"Sect Master, the Blazing Flame Army might not withdraw so easily!"
Grand Elder Gong Feng approached Zhang Yunyi, looking towards the foot of the mountain with a grave expression.
At this moment, the Blazing Flame Army that had charged into the mountain gate had indeed retreated, but they hadn't truly withdrawn.
They had only retreated to the foot of the mountain, and the army still tightly surrounded the Azure Light Sect.
"With Prince Zhennan dead, they probably won't attack again for a while!"
Zhang Yunyi took a deep breath and then said in a deep voice, "Grand Elder, arrange for some disciples and elders to take turns guarding the various entrances of the mountain gate. If the Blazing Flame Army attacks, notify us immediately. The rest can return for now!"
After speaking, Zhang Yunyi glanced at everyone once more before turning to walk up the mountain.
He was eager to find out who that powerhouse was and whether he was a member of the Azure Light Sect.
With the strength to protect the Azure Light Sect, even the royal family would have to take notice.
A short while later.
In the Sect Hall.
Zhang Yunyi sat at the head seat, looking around at the dozens of elders and some true disciples and inner disciples below.
"Everyone, does anyone know who the powerhouse that appeared today is?"
Zhang Yunyi asked in a deep voice.
"Sect Master, I feel that this person is somewhat similar to the one who defeated me over a month ago, but it seems the cultivation level doesn't quite match?"
Feng Yuan spoke up.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yunyi immediately recalled when Feng Yuan was injured by a masked man at the foot of the mountain over a month ago.
At that time, Feng Yuan said the opponent used the Gale Saber Art.
However, that person was only at the 3rd Layer Meridian Opening Realm, whereas today's powerhouse was at the Spirit Transformation Realm 2nd Layer, clearly not matching.
"It shouldn't be the same person!"
Zhang Yunyi shook his head slightly.
Then, he looked at an elder and said, "Elder Wang, go to the Library Pavilion and find Granduncle Master to compile a list of those who have practiced the Gale Saber Art in recent decades!"
"Sect Master, is that necessary?"
The Grand Elder shook his head and said, "Over the past few decades, too many in our sect have practiced the Gale Saber Art, and some have left the Azure Light Sect for various reasons, so we can't determine anything just by this saber art."
"Isn't there also the Phantom Step? There shouldn't be many who practice both the Gale Saber Art and the Phantom Step, right?" Zhang Yunyi said.
"Ah!"
The Grand Elder sighed, shaking his head, "The person helped our Azure Light Sect, and since he doesn't wish to reveal his identity, why should we investigate?"
Zhang Yunyi was taken aback, pondering slightly before nodding.
The Grand Elder made a valid point; since the person didn't want to reveal his identity, it would be disrespectful to continue investigating.
"Very well! I merely wish to thank him in person. Since that's the case, let's leave it at that!" Zhang Yunyi sighed.
Afterward, Zhang Yunyi arranged a few more matters before dismissing everyone, leaving only his second disciple, Ye Qiudie.
"Qiudie, pay attention to who in the sect didn't participate in today's battle."
Zhang Yunyi said with a serious expression.
Ye Qiudie was momentarily stunned, then blinked her autumn-water-like eyes, instantly understanding.
Her master wasn't asking her to investigate, just to keep an eye out.
"Don't worry, Master, I understand!"
Ye Qiudie smiled slightly.
"Mm!"
Zhang Yunyi nodded slightly. Although his second disciple might not have the talent of his first disciple, Peng Yue, she was meticulous and reliable as a woman.
...
Imperial Capital.
Inside the Imperial Palace Hall.
Crash!
A delicate vase was smashed heavily onto the ground.
Emperor Chu Xiong of Kingdom Chu, clad in a purple-gold dragon robe, sat on the Dragon Throne, his face ashen, his eyes filled with a murderous intent almost tangible.
"Useless, all of them are useless. How could the Azure Light Sect have such a powerhouse, and yet there was no prior intelligence?"
Chu Xiong roared in fury.
After a moment, Chu Xiong suppressed his anger, pondering his next move.
Over the years, the four great sects of Kingdom Chu had grown increasingly powerful, and he had been deliberately suppressing them.
Ultimately, he decided to first target the relatively weaker Azure Light Sect, planning to destroy it before moving on to the other three sects.
Unexpectedly, the first target, the Azure Light Sect, had already caused him significant losses.
Not only had his most talented son, the Ninth Prince, been killed, but now even Prince Zhennan had been slain.
The Azure Light Sect, they all deserved to die!
"Ministers, who do you think is suitable to lead the Blazing Flame Army to annihilate the Azure Light Sect?"
Chu Xiong asked.
The ministers looked at each other, and then an elder minister stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe only our War God, Grand General Zhao Han, can undertake this task."
"Your Majesty, the Grand General is guarding the Northern Frontier, defending against the Kingdom Qian's invasion; he cannot be moved."
"Why not request the Changfeng Empire to send experts to assist us in annihilating the Azure Light Sect?"
"Not advisable, the distance is too great. It would take at least half a month for the Changfeng Empire's experts to arrive!"
"Ridiculous, it's just the Azure Light Sect. Why seek aid from the Changfeng Empire? Our Kingdom Chu has numerous experts and a million-strong army. Can we not destroy a single Azure Light Sect?"
The ministers argued, each expressing their opinions.
"Enough!"
Seeing the ministers begin to argue, Chu Xiong lightly shouted.
Then, he waved his hand, saying, "I have already made up my mind on this matter. You may all withdraw!"
With that, Chu Xiong rose and left the hall.
A short while later, Chu Xiong arrived at a tightly closed palace door deep within the Imperial Palace.
"Imperial Uncle, the Azure Light Sect has rebelled, and Prince Zhennan has been killed. I ask you to come out and quell the chaos!"
Chu Xiong said solemnly, cupping his hands slightly towards the palace door.
...
In the following days, the Blazing Flame Army continued to surround the mountain but did not launch an attack.
The news of Prince Zhennan's death, along with the deaths of Black-Armored General Wu and chief eunuch Xue Rong, quickly spread throughout the Kingdom Chu.
The siege of the Azure Light Sect by the Blazing Flame Army was a major event, attracting the attention of various forces within Kingdom Chu. Many spies from different factions were near the Azure Light Sect, making it impossible to keep such news hidden.
As soon as the news broke, it shook the entire Kingdom Chu, and the other three great sects were astounded.
The Azure Light Sect was unexpectedly powerful, with such a formidable expert hidden within.
Moreover, as the rumors spread, they became increasingly exaggerated.
Some claimed that the Azure Light Sect had an ancestor over two hundred years old, at the peak of the 9th Level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, who single-handedly slaughtered over a thousand Blazing Flame Army soldiers, invincible and nearly collapsing the entire army.
Others even said that the Sect Master Zhang Yunyi was actually a Spirit Transformation Realm 6th Layer expert who killed Prince Zhennan and Xue Rong with a single move.
The rumors grew more and more exaggerated, but all in all, they spoke of the Azure Light Sect's formidable strength.