Chapter 247: Refusing Battle


    Aunt Jin nced at Meng Zhang and said, "Sect Master Meng, you have suffered serious injuries. The three of us received distress signals and went to reinforce the Golden de Sect, but we arrived a step toote."


    "The Golden de Sect''s entire force was annihted under the siege of the sand monster army, and even Brother Ruan didn''t manage to escape; unfortunately, he got trapped within the sand monster horde."


    "We engaged in a fierce battle against the sand monster army, but we were vastly outnumbered and unable to hold our ground."


    "We managed to break free after great difficulty, but got separated from Sect Master Meng."


    "Now that we see Sect Master Meng safe and sound, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief."


    Upon hearing Aunt Jin''s words, Daoist Guang Hong responded sharply, "Who would have expected such a ferocious attack from the sand monster army this time?"


    Zhao Jiudou interjected sarcastically, "Your Forest Spring Watch''s Sect Master Guang Hui Daoist personally led the army to pursue the sand monster group. I wonder where he chased them to; unexpectedly, such arge group of sand monsters appeared here."


    Guang Hong Daoist''s expression turned gloomy upon hearing Zhao Jiudou''s words, but he remained silent.


    Seeing Meng Zhang''s puzzled expression, Jin Qigu exined to him:


    "After receiving the distress signal from the Golden de Sect, Aunt Jin and I went to provide assistance. As for whether the Golden de Sect was ambushed by the roaming sand monsters or if they discovered the sand monster nest, leading to the attack, we are unsure."


    "The area where the Golden de Sect was located waspletely upied by the sand monster army, making it impossible for us to get close."


    "After the Golden de Sect sent out the distress signal, the Forest Mountain School also suffered a surprise attack from the sand monsters."


    "Two Second Rank sand monsters proficient in the Earth Escape Spell sneaked into the vicinity of the Forest Mountain School''s camp from underground andunched a sudden assault, targeting Xu Yishan, a Foundation Building stage cultivator."


    "Following that, arge group of sand monsters rushed towards the Forest Mountain School''s camp."


    "If it weren''t for the timely reinforcements from Guang Hong Daoist and Zhao Jiudou, the Forest Mountain School would likely have beenpletely destroyed."


    "After a bloody battle, Xu Yishan was severely injured, and Lin Shenpo''s injuries were not light either. The Refining Qi stage disciples of the Forest Mountain School suffered heavy casualties."


    "After hearing Jin Qigu''s ount, Meng Zhang recounted the sand monster group''s attack on Taiyi Sect."


    "Meng Zhang greatly exaggerated the strength of the sand monster group that raided Taiyi Sect. Taiyi Sect also suffered considerable losses, and the Deep Earth Spirit General was critically injured and now immobilized."


    Originally, Guang Hong Daoist had nned to rally cultivators from the three sects andunch a counterattack against the sand monsters. However, after hearing Meng Zhang''s ount, he realized that both Taiyi Sect and Forest Mountain School were severely damaged, and a counterattack was out of the question.


    Looking at the gloomy sky and the raging sandstorms from the flying vessel, which indicated the marauding sand monster army, Guang Hong Daoist could only order everyone to retreat together, temporarily avoiding the full force of the sand monster army. At the same time, he used a secret method to contact Forest Spring Watch''s Sect Master Guang Hui Daoist, requesting reinforcements.


    Guang Hong Daoist, leading the army alone, felt quite frustrated with this situation.


    With the joint forces of the three sects retreating, Liu Family''s mountain gate was leftpletely exposed to the sand monster army. The sand monsters besieged Liu Family''s mountain gate and beganunching probing attacks.


    The three sects were preupied and naturally had no strength left to support Liu Family.


    Guang Hong Daoist and Zhao Jiudou could only hope that Liu Family''s mountain protection great formation could hold on a bit longer, allowing them to endure until Guang Hui Daoist''s reinforcements arrived.


    Considering Liu Family''s attitude, Aunt Jin and the others certainly didn''t care much about Liu Family''s fate. As for Meng Zhang, he even hoped that the sand monster army would take Liu Family''s mountain gate and exterminate Liu Family entirely.


    After discussing the next strategic n, everyone dispersed. Meng Zhang left the flying boat and returned to his own team. The flying boats of the three sects dispersed to avoid being surrounded by the sand monster army together. However, they remained rtively close, maintaining a distance that allowed them to assist each other if needed.


    Not long after Meng Zhang returned to the Taiyi Sect''s flying boat, Jin Qigu came to visit. Jin Qigu imed to discuss coordinated operations and stood with Meng Zhang at the bow of the flying boat to chat.


    After some small talk, Jin Qigu began to probe whether Meng Zhang had seen the circumstances of Ruan Dadao''s death. Meng Zhang pretended to be confused at this moment, stating that when Ruan Dadao was surrounded by sand monsters, he was too far away to rescue him in time and could only watch as Ruan Dadao was besieged and killed by the sand monsters.


    Listening to Meng Zhang''s words, Jin Qigu stared at him for a while and then revealed some private information. He mentioned that Qiaoshou Sect and Golden de Sect were closely rted, and some Qiaoshou Sect female disciples had married into the Golden de Sect. Over the years, Qiaoshou Sect had established reliable sources of information within the Golden de Sect.


    It was revealed that Ruan Dadao colluded with the demonic beings from the Yellow Lotus Sect and leaked Jin Qiao''er''s whereabouts, leading to the ambush near Firewell Market. Jin Qigu then specifically urged Meng Zhang not to disclose this information. Ruan Dadao was already dead, and it was best to preserve his reputation for the sake of the Golden de Sect.


    With the mid-Foundation Building stage leader Ruan Dadao gone, the Golden de Sect could not solely rely on the Refining Qi stage disciples to defend its foundation. The decline of the Golden de Sect was now inevitable. Their territories, as well as the territories they had seized during expansion, had be attractive targets.


    While Forest Spring Watch would likely im thergest and most valuable piece, if Qiaoshou Sect and Taiyi Sect joined forces, they could still secure a smaller portion. The alliance between Qiaoshou Sect and the Taiyi Sect could not be maintained with the weakened Golden de Sect as an ally. They should support each other and share both prosperity and adversity in the future.


    In terms of benefits, Qiaoshou Sect would follow Taiyi Sect''s lead. Meng Zhang looked at Jin Qigu, remaining silent for a long time. Many years ago, he deliberately befriended Qiaoshou Sect to alleviate the pressure they and the Golden de Sect posed to Taiyi Sect. He had never anticipated that things would develop to this extent.


    Even if the Golden de Sect were not to be destroyed this time, it could no longer retain its former status and interests. Fate had brought Taiyi Sect and Qiaoshou Sect together to be allies. Regardless of the reliability of Jin Qigu''s promises or the trustworthiness of Qiaoshou Sect as an ally, Taiyi Sect undeniably needed an ally.


    Originally a small and inconspicuous sect, Taiyi Sect gradually rose after Meng Zhang became the Sect Master. With insufficient overall umtion and ack of connections, they were easily isted. Having Qiaoshou Sect, even if not entirely reliable, as an ally would help Taiyi Sect make up for its shorings. Both sects hadplementary strengths, and Taiyi Sect genuinely needed Qiaoshou Sect as an ally.


    With determination, Meng Zhang agreed to form an alliance with Qiaoshou Sect. However, this alliance was only verbal; no formal agreement or detailed arrangements were made. Both sects were vassals of Forest Spring Watch, so it was best not to arouse suspicion and let them get too close, though a closer rtionship was eptable as long as Forest Spring Watch didn''t discover their alliance.


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