When everyone heard the news, they fell silent.
Li Guanqi turned to look at the ruins beside him, feeling a mix of emotions.
The once majestic mountain gate was now in ruins.
The entire plaza of Heavenly Sword Peak was shattered, and half of the mountain had collapsed.
But these things were insignificant compared to the deaths of their sect brothers.
Walking on the flagstone paths of the sect, seeing the bloodstains on the ground, everyone remained silent.
They all donned black robes and slowly made their way to the back mountain.
There, all who slept were considered the heroic spirits of the Great Xia Sword Sect!
Soon, the disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect arrived at the sect’s cemetery.
The back mountain was almost entirely filled with disciples in black robes.
Yet, no one took to the air; they all stood silently in place.
Lu Kangnian, whose face had been as pale as paper, seemed to have recovered somewhat.
He slowly walked to the front of the group, looking sorrowfully at the dozens of new graves before him.
Pa!
He was even somewhat unfamiliar with the names engraved on these tombstones.
Lu Kangnian led all the sect disciples in silent tribute.
They bowed three times, silently placing high-quality incense in front of each tombstone.
Qin Xian’s deep voice commanded, “Draw your swords and salute in silence!”
Clang! Clang!
The once sharp sound of swords now seemed somewhat muted.
Everyone drew their swords and placed them against their chests!
They bowed their heads in silent mourning.
Boom!!!
After a long time, the silent Lu Kangnian suddenly raised his head!
“Disciples of all peaks, hear my command!”
“Today, Purple Sun Hall has gone too far. How can we let them have their way?”
“In one hour, we will point our swords at Purple Sun Hall!!”
“If we’re going to fight this war, we’ll fight it to the end!”
“Perhaps we will lose, perhaps some will die.”
“But today! We will show all the heroes of the Northern Territory the unyielding spirit of the Great Xia Sword Sect!”
“Before dawn, we will plant the flag of the Great Xia Sword Sect on the ruins of Purple Sun Hall!!!!”
His voice, infused with primordial energy, shook everyone to their core!
The crowd, already seething with anger, became even more resolute.
Li Guanqi felt a surge of emotion and murmured passionately.
“With my body, I forge an indomitable spirit!”
“With my blood, I inscribe the sect’s will!”
“May my sword slay all enemies!”
“Through the baptism of war, we will be forever bound to the Great Xia Sword Sect.”
“Everything we do today, when we look back tomorrow, will be… supreme… glory!!”
The powerful murmurs spread further and further.
These heartfelt words instantly resonated with all the disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
It was as if everything they experienced today had transformed them completely.
Now, it felt like everyone’s hearts were connected.
There might have been some friction between the peaks before.
But today, they were willing to bare their backs and fight for their fellow brothers.
It was like a couple arguing; they could argue among themselves, but if an outsider pointed fingers, they would unite against the common enemy.
Gradually, the voices merged into a torrent of steel!
Countless people roared with all their might!
At this moment, the backbone and spirit of the sect awakened in the hearts of all the disciples!!
Since Lu Kangnian had decided to counterattack Purple Sun Hall before dawn, he was prepared to sacrifice himself!
Lu Kangnian’s sharp gaze swept around, and he asked softly.
“Do you know why I made this decision?”
“Even though we’ve already won, already repelled Purple Sun Hall, which seemed several times stronger than us.”
“Why would I risk more casualties to decide on a counterattack?”
All the disciples remained silent, though many had the same question in their hearts.
“Elder Ling asked me the same thing when I first woke up.”
“I told him, just repelling Purple Sun Hall is not enough!”
“Not satisfying enough! Not ruthless enough! Not painful enough!”
“I want to hurt them! Defeat them! Crush them!!”
“I want to plant the flag of the Great Xia Sword Sect on the ruins of Purple Sun Hall!!”
“Tell me!! Can we do it!!!”
Instantly, the echoing voices resounded to the heavens!!
“We can!!!”
Lu Kangnian waved his hand, and thousands of jade tokens floated above his head!!
Li Guanqi, standing at the front, looked up and saw this scene, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
He didn’t understand why the sect master would take out so many disciple jade tokens at this moment.
However, the elders beside Li Guanqi were all visibly excited.
Li Nanting looked up at the jade tokens in the sky and spoke softly.
“Those jade tokens belong to disciples who left the sect within the last hundred years.”
“Disciples who leave the sect for over a hundred years are no longer interfered with by the sect.”
“When the sect is in trouble, all disciples are summoned back!”
“This is an unwritten rule of the Great Xia Sword Sect, silently passed down for over five thousand years!”
Boom!!!
A wild pressure shook the void, and Lu Kangnian’s stern face showed rare majesty!
In a resounding voice, he declared, “In the name of the thirty-eighth sect master, I summon all disciples to return!”
As he spoke, a glimmer of light flashed in Lu Kangnian’s eyes.
He paused for a moment and then roared.
“Flatten! Purple! Sun! Hall!!!”
Boom!!!
In an instant, primordial energy shot into the jade tokens!!
But the countless sect jade tokens remained dim.
One breath… two breaths… three breaths…
Suddenly!
One of the jade tokens burst into dazzling light!
A steady voice suddenly emanated from the jade token!
“Disciple Ji Hua of Heavenly Gold Peak. Sword to Purple Sun Hall!!”
Immediately, the previously dim sect jade tokens began to light up one after another!!
“Disciple Duan Chunqiu of Heavenly Wood Peak, returning swiftly!”
“Disciple Lü Yiyao of the Great Xia Sword Sect, returning swiftly!”
“Disciple Zong Hui, returning swiftly!”
“Disciple Ding Yang of Heavenly Thunder Peak, sword to Purple Sun Hall!!”
“…”
One voice after another echoed continuously!
Among the countless jade tokens, some remained dim.
But everyone believed that these people were not unwilling to respond.
Perhaps… they could no longer respond.
Everyone watched this scene with tears in their eyes.
Li Nanting turned to Li Guanqi and the others, speaking softly.
“Do you understand now why you must protect your identity jade tokens?”
“It’s not just so the sect can contact you in times of trouble.”
“It’s also so that when you face grievances outside, the sect can be your most steadfast support!”
Lu Kangnian’s eyes reddened slightly as he slowly collected all the jade tokens.
In a deep voice, he commanded, “Bring out the Eight Gods Breaking Formation Crossbows!!”