Xie Chuan also noticed the abnormality, his face tensing with concern.

“Young Master Lingrui, these three sent a message. Solitary Moon Mountain will surely send reinforcements now,” Xie Chuan murmured.

The three enemies were only early-stage Gathering Qi practitioners, posing no real threat to him or Yang Lingrui.

But after their message reached the mountain, everything would change.

Knowing Solitary Moon Mountain’s ways, they’d dispatch at least one late-stage Gathering Qi practitioner.

Neither Xie Chuan nor even Yang Lingrui would be safe then.

Yang Lingrui maintained his composure. “Master Xie, evacuate your clan immediately.”

Xie Chuan nodded urgently, hurridly rescuing surviving Xie Family members from the rubble and leading them away.

He returned half an hour later.

“They’re all gone, Young Master.”

“Good. Now you must leave too.”

Xie Chuan opened his mouth to protest, but Yang Lingrui cut him off gently, “Your presence would hinder me. This battle could claim your life.”

The young master tilted his head with a warm smile. “Should you die, the Xie Family ends. Withdraw now before this conflict consumes you.”

Xie Chuan froze.

He’d invited Yang Lingrui solely to shield his family.

The Yang Family’s initial intervention had seemed generous enough. Now that reinforcements were coming, Yang Lingrui could’ve just released them and let the Xie Family perish.

Yet here he stood – genuinely protecting them, urging Xie Chuan to safety while facing Solitary Moon Mountain alone!

Guilt flooded Xie Chuan’s chest.

Previously, he’d only cooperated with other families and hunted evil cultivators for profit.

He’d dismissed the Yang Family’s “mutual protection” pledge as empty words, believing they’d abandon others during crises.

How wrong he’d been!

The Yang Family truly lived by their promises!

“Your clan’s nobility humbles us! The Xie Family owes an eternal debt!”

After bowing deeply, Xie Chuan retreated.

Yang Lingrui was right – his Fourth Level cultivation meant nothing against incoming enemies. Better to leave than burden the young master.

Though partly concerned for the Xie Family, Yang Lingrui mainly wanted to hide his techniques.

The diamond talisman and mountain-opening talisman remained Yang Family secrets.

With Xie Chuan gone, Yang Lingrui relaxed. He could now unleash his full power against the reinforcements.

His piercing gaze returned to the three trembling disciples.

Their spines turned to ice under his killing intent. The slightest breeze made their sweat-drenched backs shiver violently.

“Will we… be okay?”

“Don’t panic. He’s just trying to scare us. If he wanted to kill us, he’d have done it earlier instead of waiting.”

“Right! The message was already sent. Our senior brothers and sisters will come soon. He won’t dare attack now.”

The three disciples exchanged glances, their tension easing slightly.

But they didn’t understand Yang Lingrui.

Since beginning cultivation, he’d never hesitated when killing.

His stillness meant only one thing—he too was waiting.

The Solitary Moon Mountain disciples awaited reinforcements. He simply needed confirmation.

The four stood deadlocked until sunset.

As the sun dipped behind distant peaks, darkness fell. The messaging bracelet on one disciple’s wrist glowed.

“The communication talisman’s working!”

“Great! The sect’s help must be close!”

“Hey! Yang! Our Solitary Moon Mountain reinforcements are coming! Release your spell now if you value your life!”

“Stop this, and we’ll beg our seniors to spare you!”

Yang Lingrui nearly laughed.

These fools still thought their sect’s name protected them, unaware their lives already hung by a thread.

Any sensible person would know the Yang Family alone wouldn’t dare attack Solitary Moon Mountain disciples.

Yang Lingrui acted only because greater powers backed him.

He remained silent, waiting.

Soon two flickering shadows appeared in the southern region.

The figures danced around each other—one bathed in moonlight, the other blazing like white fire.

Flashes of light illuminated distant explosions of techniques.

The disciples’ initial joy turned to confusion.

“Why’s someone fighting our senior brother?”

“Who dares oppose Solitary Moon Mountain?!”

“Why’s everything gone strange since we left the mountain?”

At the sect, they’d heard tales of their mountain’s fearsome reputation below.

They’d been told Zhuhu Dynasty officials showed them respect, that Moon Watching City’s lord Song Kaiyang even canceled tributes for their Mountain Master.

Yet reality proved different.

They’d been refused entry in dynasty towns. Even a Gathering Qi small family had defied them.

Seven years ago during Wang Xiong’s son’s selection, Solitary Moon Mountain’s name truly commanded fear.

Back then, the dynasty focused on northern and eastern border areas, letting sects grow bold.

But now border stability let the dynasty curb sect excesses.

The Yang Family served as one of the dynasty’s hidden blades near Solitary Moon Mountain.

The young disciples couldn’t grasp these complexities.

Nor would they get the chance.

As the distant figures clashed, another glowing shape burst from the woods.

Zhao Qi clutched a divine movement talisman. Spotting Yang Lingrui, he roared:

“Senior brother! By the Master’s orders! Kill the enemies!”

Three necks split before “kill” finished echoing.

Confusion lingered in the disciples’ eyes as darkness swallowed their minds.

“BASTARDS! DIE!!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep