Chapter 438

Chapter 438: Entering the Mountain Range

Before the Longfeng Mountain range, row upon row of flying boats brought a surging, imposing atmosphere.

Within one such flying boat, Zhou Chang Le stood amidst a group of disciples. His gaze was profound as he looked toward the mountain range beneath the sea of clouds, his face revealing no emotion.

This was his first time coming to the Longfeng Mountain range.

Back at the sect, he’d learned of this place’s dangers from other disciples. Now that he was finally here, it was under such circumstances—unexpected.

The vast mountain range stretched endlessly, its many peaks shrouded in mist, indistinct.

Occasionally, spiritual lights would surge into the sky, and thunderous roars would echo between heaven and earth.

The battles between cultivators stirred the very forces of heaven and earth, their influence immeasurable.

As the flying boats advanced deeper into the mountains, vast swathes of spiritual light blanketed the entire area. The innate formation power of the flying boats also radiated downward.

These belonged to the Qinyuan Sect’s faction, so they remained completely unaffected.

Only then did the disciples of the Qinyuan Sect get a clear view of this mountain range.

They saw the mountains, the immense valleys, the plains, and countless mysterious ruins of unfathomable depth.

This place was once the legacy site of an ancient Immortal Sect. It held a fractured spiritual vein. Across this immense territory, how many treasures from antiquity lay hidden remained unknown.

But now, the atmosphere was tense, everyone alert to every sound. The treasures buried by time could no longer be their focus.

Upon entering the mountain range, Zhou Chang Le smelled a sharp, acrid scent of blood.

In theory, such a vast territory shouldn’t carry the smell of blood so far, especially with the flying boats shielded by formations.

Unless… someone had exploded and their vital blood had filled the entire area!

At this thought, Zhou Chang Le’s brow furrowed.

The Great Battle was proving more brutal than he’d ever imagined.

He turned to his brothers and sisters nearby and transmitted his voice: “Be extremely cautious later. If you’re overpowered, retreat decisively—no stubborn heroics.”

His tone was deadly serious, prompting solemn nods from the others.

Before setting out, Zhou Luo had privately instructed him: protecting his siblings’ safety was paramount.

All those years ago, it was his own carelessness that led to his eldest brother, Zhou Chang An, dying at the hands of the Lu Family.

Through all these years, that event had been deeply etched in his mind.

He silently vowed: even if it cost him everything, he would not let his brothers and sisters come to harm. He would not fail his father’s expectations.

“Don’t worry, elder brother. Father gave us plenty of backup moves,” Zhou Changqing responded.

For this campaign, Zhou Luo had essentially equipped each of his children with one flask of Second Level spiritual potion and ten Second Level symbols.

These items alone would grant them immense advantage against opponents at the Foundation Establishment level.

Short of a Golden Core master intervening, their lives would not be threatened.

“Don’t grow complacent,” Zhou Chang Le said coldly.

Boom—

Just then, a tremendous roar echoed from the front. The leading flying boat began its descent. The others followed suit, one after another landing.

The Longfeng Mountain range had been lost, and the Qinyuan Sect established a base in a valley plains area, deploying several Third Level formations.

When the flying boat landed, the top-level members of the sect flew towards the central grand hall that occupied a large area, while the other disciples began distributing according to the initial arrangements.

Zhou Chang Le and others were elders, and they also dealt with assigning disciples.

As per the higher-ups’ requirements, he was assigned to the main division, specifically responsible for the main output.

It seemed to be the main output, but as long as the decisive battle had not fully started, most of this so-called main division did not act rashly, so this could be considered the sect’s protection for these important disciples.

Besides him and some key Heavenly Alliance disciples, what surprised Zhou Chang Le was that Zhou Changqing was unexpectedly assigned to the vanguard division.

The vanguard division differed from the main division; before the decisive battle arrived, the vanguard division was meant as a sharp knife thrust into the enemy’s heart.

Therefore, there, you needed to fight daily, duel with people from the Chimagong Sect, and constantly seize and expand territory.

Previously, the vanguard division had consisted of ordinary outer disciples because the sect could not bear the loss of important disciples.

But now the war situation had escalated, and even disciples like Zhou Changqing had to join the vanguard division and fight.

Besides him, Zhou Chang Le discovered numerous Heavenly Alliance disciples were assigned to the vanguard division, whereas the sect’s direct disciples were all in the main division.

Clearly, the Qinyuan Sect did aim to target the Heavenly Alliance.

As the largest power among disciples, its existence now severely constrained the direct disciples’ performance.

Since the Qinyuan Sect was a larger family, those at the top naturally desired greater influence for their faction, especially the blood-related direct disciples.

In fact, to counter the Heavenly Alliance, these direct disciples had privately formed various factions big and small.

But without exception, those factions could not compare to the Heavenly Alliance, and even in contests for benefits and perks, they lost out.

Ultimately, because they belonged to different factions and lacked unity, scattered sand could never compete.

Thus, it was wise for the Qinyuan Sect to choose weakening the Heavenly Alliance’s power in such circumstances.

This also served as a warning to prevent excesses.

Facing this, Zhou Chang Le, the Heavenly Alliance founder, had no recourse; he could only follow his father Zhou Luo’s planned arrangements.

"Be cautious in all things."

In front of the large force, Zhou Chang Le pulled Zhou Changqing aside and spoke gravely.

"Relax, big brother, do you unknown me?" said Zhou Changqing with full confidence.

His nature contrasted sharply with Zhou Luo; he acted flamboyantly and relished combat.

Before arriving, he had applied to enter the Longfeng Mountain range, but his master refused.

Now finally here, he eagerly looked forward to fighting enemies on the battlefield.

Duels within the sect could not affect lifespan and had many constraints.

But here, he could defy limits freely, without worry about breaking sect rules.

"It is precisely because I know you, do not overexert yourself." Zhou Chang Le rolled his eyes at him.

"Mm-hmm, I still have things to do, leaving now."

Zhou Changqing nodded vigorously and hurriedly turned away.

Compared to enemy fighters, he found his fussy older brother far more frightening.

Soon, small teams from the Qinyuan Sect side departed the base, entered the Longfeng Mountain range, and began hunting enemies.

Zhou Changqing was a Foundation Establishment strong person; he also needed to lead a small team.

That small team primarily comprised Heavenly Alliance disciples.

Seeing who they followed, their previously unsettled hearts eased down immediately.

In recent years, Zhou Changqing’s fame in the Qinyuan Sect approached that of long-established strong persons, and he earned immense private reverence.

Because his conduct differed starkly from the scheming, treacherous world of cultivation, he became a beacon of hope for countless weak individuals, widely admired.

If he was their leader, even in peril, he certainly would never abandon a comrade.

Their minds calmed with such thoughts.