Chapter 238: Chapter 235: A Choice by a Twist of Fate

The night passed peacefully.

Sensing that the peaceful atmosphere outside remained, Li Ping couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

’A delay is a good thing, because right now, time is on the Flying Snow Sect’s side.’

’If Qianxue Master can emerge from the grief of losing her husband, or if Xiao Yunzhi can trigger the celestial phenomena of Core Formation—as long as one of these two things happens, the Flying Snow Sect will be as solid as a mountain.’

’And as time goes on, the probability of these two things happening is constantly increasing.’

’The Loose Cultivators who survived in the city are all ruthless characters. How could it be so easy to unite them?’ Li Ping nodded to himself. ’It’ll be a miracle if they don’t turn on each other.’

’Besides, it’s confirmed that Mu Yun Master is dead, but Qianxue Master is still alive. Even if there are rumors she suffered a cultivation deviation, would the Loose Cultivators dare to take that bet?’

’Winning the bet only gets them some cultivation resources. Losing it means their lives, the end of their cultivation path!’

’Constantly thinking about getting something for nothing isn’t good. People should just work hard and honestly. You all should just leave quickly!’

After giving this silent lecture to the unseen Loose Cultivators, Li Ping closed his eyes and resumed his seated meditation to practice Qi Refining.

...

Shi Yutong and Elder Lei stood outside the hall where Qianxue Master was resting, chatting all night.

At first, they talked about Sect affairs. Gradually, the conversation shifted to Shi Yutong’s embarrassing childhood stories, to Mu Yun Master, to Qianxue Master, and on and on...

In the course of their conversation, Shi Yutong’s eyes reddened without her realizing it.

Recently, she had suffered one blow after another: her father’s death, and her mother’s heart-wrenching cultivation deviation. While her heart was filled with grief, she also had to shoulder the responsibility of leading the Sect forward.

Moreover, she hadn’t been the Sect Leader for long. Before, with her parents around, they were always there to back her up even if she made mistakes or handled things poorly.

But now, she had to make all the decisions herself. A single misstep could lead to irreparable consequences.

Her fallen father, her ailing mother, her panicked disciples, and her shattered self.

The pressure on her was immense!

But she bore it all in silence, not letting anyone see the weakness within her.

Only she knew that if Li Ping hadn’t successfully refined the Profound Heart Pill, giving her a glimmer of hope, she probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on.

In front of Elder Lei, who had cared for her since she was a child, she no longer had to put on a facade.

When her true feelings finally surfaced, she couldn’t help but hug Elder Lei and begin to sob quietly.

Elder Lei gently stroked her back with a kind expression, carefully comforting her until dawn.

After dawn, she was no longer that shattered girl. She was the Sect Leader of the Flying Snow Sect!

...

In a small courtyard several miles from the Flying Snow Sect’s Protection Array, seven figures were seated scattered around. They were none other than the Seven Immortals of the North Pole.

"Big Brother, if the Sect Protection Array breaks later, are we really going to charge into the Flying Snow Sect?" Bai Yi couldn’t help but ask, her voice laced with worry. "What if Qianxue Master isn’t dead? Wouldn’t we be walking right into a trap?"

Hearing Bai Yi speak, the others remained silent, but their faces all showed agreement.

Even the impetuous Barbarian couldn’t help but show fear on his ugly face when he heard Bai Yi mention a Core Formation Master.

Although there seemed to be only one tier between a Core Formation Master and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the difference in power was as vast as heaven and earth.

The moment a Magical Treasure appeared, mountains would crumble and the earth would split.

Facing a Core Formation Cultivator, they wouldn’t even have a chance to resist before being turned to ash!

"We’re not going," the white-robed scholar said, shaking his head and putting the others at ease.

Hearing this, Bai Yi couldn’t help but look at the triangle-faced old man. She knew that Big Brother had been at the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment for many years and was not far from reaching the Peak of Foundation Establishment and attempting his breakthrough to Core Formation.

’Big Brother must be hoping to gather enough resources for Core Formation during this chaos in the Flying Snow Sect.’

’If we don’t take the risk, will Big Brother agree?’

’Or... is Big Brother planning to enter the Flying Snow Sect to plunder it alone?’

Thinking of the oath the seven of them had sworn, she stammered, "But..."

"Don’t worry," the white-robed scholar interrupted her. "Yiyi, I know what you’re worried about. But you can rest assured, Big Brother and I already discussed this before we came back."

"We won’t be breaking into the Flying Snow Sect, but we are determined to get the Core Formation Spiritual Object!"

As he spoke, he slapped the Spirit Beast Pouch at his waist.

A black shadow flew out and landed on his shoulder.

Looking closely, one could see the black shadow was a rat-shaped Demon Beast, about a foot long. Its body was a deep black, with light golden spots evenly distributed from its back to its head.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK~"

The little mouse’s eyes darted around, holding a somewhat human-like expression.

The white-robed scholar explained with a smile, "We’ll wait right here. As soon as Long Jie and the others break into the Flying Snow Sect, grab a Treasure, and leave, they won’t escape the Treasure Hunting Beast’s senses.

Then we’ll chase them down and snatch the Treasure from them."

The others’ expressions brightened when they heard this.

According to the white-robed scholar’s plan, they didn’t need to break into the Flying Snow Sect. They would let others do the plundering, and then they would rob the Cultivator who obtained the Treasure.

This way, even if Qianxue Master was just fishing for them, they had nothing to fear.

At worst, they could just give up on the Treasure!

The plan was perfect for both advancing and retreating, putting them in an invincible position.

The only thing worth considering was whether they could handle the Cultivator who snatched the Treasure.

But none of the seven were too worried about that.

They were the Seven Immortals of the North Pole, working together. Two at Late-stage Foundation Establishment, three at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and two at Early-stage Foundation Establishment!

With such a lineup, how could they possibly fail against a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

What a joke!

...

Outside the Flying Snow Sect.

Long Jie stood atop a pavilion, gazing at the translucent Array Shield in the distance with a smile in his eyes. ’Once I get this Spiritual Object, I’ll return to Cloud City, attempt my breakthrough to Core Formation, and refine this Spiritual Object directly into my Lifebound Magical Treasure!’

The thought of the legendary Spirit Treasure’s glorious reputation made Long Jie’s heart burn with excitement.

He would be content if his own Lifebound Magical Treasure had even a fraction of that ancient Spirit Treasure’s power.

Suddenly, right before his eyes—

"BUZZ~"

The Flying Snow Sect’s Protection Array shook violently, letting out a sharp hum.

"It’s starting!"

Long Jie could feel the energy of the Flying Snow Sect’s Protection Array being rapidly drained. The Shield was also dissipating quickly. Clearly... the core of the Tier Three Sect Protection Array had been destroyed by an insider.

POP~

Long Jie seemed to hear the crisp sound of a bubble popping, and then the infinitely powerful Tier Three Grand Array simply vanished without a trace.

The Flying Snow Sect’s Tier Three Grand Array was gone!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! ...

The instant the Grand Array broke, hidden figures from all directions charged into the Flying Snow Sect, attempting to plunder the wealth it had accumulated over countless years.

Without hesitation, Long Jie also shot into the sky, flying toward his target location.

...

Li Ping was sitting cross-legged, cultivating in the main hall, when he suddenly sensed a violent fluctuation in the Spiritual Qi within the hall. Immediately after, like water from an opened dam, the surging Spiritual Qi rushed directly out of the Sect.

"What happened?" Li Ping’s eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

SWOOSH!

He shot to his feet in an instant, becoming a blur as he appeared outside the hall. He habitually looked up and saw a shocking sight.

The Tier Three Grand Array that had enveloped the Flying Snow Sect had, for some unknown reason, disappeared.

"The Loose Cultivators made their move. I didn’t expect them to have such a method." Li Ping’s expression turned ugly.

He had originally thought that even if the Loose Cultivators attacked the Flying Snow Sect, it would end in a long stalemate.

After all, a Tier Three Array wasn’t so easy to break.

But now, the Flying Snow Sect’s Protection Array had simply vanished. This was completely beyond his expectations!

’Sigh, time to go!’

Having reached his preset cut-loss point, Li Ping didn’t hesitate. He decisively prepared to flee.

All his belongings were in his Storage Bag, so he had no need to return to the hall.

SWOOSH!

His feet became a blur as he headed out of the Flying Snow Sect.

Now that the Sect Protection Array was broken, the Loose Cultivators in the city were bound to swarm into the Flying Snow Sect for a free-for-all. The Sect had become the most dangerous place.

The area outside the Sect, on the other hand, had already been picked clean by the Loose Cultivators. There was nothing of value left, so it wouldn’t attract much attention.

Li Ping planned to find a random place in the city to hide for a while and see how things developed.

He felt no psychological burden about running away.

He had a cooperative relationship with the Flying Snow Sect, and he had intentionally conceded profits during their collaboration. Technically, the Flying Snow Sect owed him a favor.

At this critical moment, choosing to sneak away instead of putting on a mask and rushing in to loot amidst the chaos could already be considered a mark of high moral character.

The only ones Li Ping couldn’t quite let go of were Xiao Yunzhi and Ji Shu Xuan’s family.

But he couldn’t worry about them now. He could only hope they knew how to protect themselves and survive the coming chaos.

Especially Xiao Yunzhi. As long as she didn’t try to be a hero and gave up on Core Formation when things became impossible.

With her strength, it would be easy for her to leave if she was determined to.

Li Ping was very fast. Moving against the flow of excited, restless Loose Cultivators, he soon left the Flying Snow Sect’s grounds.

He glanced back at the sounds of fighting and shouting behind him and sighed softly.

He picked a random direction and flew off, eventually stopping above a deserted courtyard. He flew down into it to wait patiently for the chaos to subside.

...

Just as Li Ping left the Flying Snow Sect’s grounds.

In the small courtyard where the Seven Immortals of the North Pole were, the Treasure-Seeking Rat, which had been resting quietly on the white-robed scholar’s shoulder, suddenly started squeaking wildly. It turned into a blur and shot out of the courtyard.

Based on the Treasure-Seeking Rat’s reaction, everyone knew it had sensed a Tier Three object appearing outside the Flying Snow Sect.

"They grabbed the Treasure and left so quickly? They’re fast!" the triangle-faced old man said, slightly surprised.

"Big Brother, have you forgotten that Long Jie mentioned he has an insider in the Flying Snow Sect?" the white-robed scholar said, shaking his head slightly. "The Loose Cultivators shouldn’t be this fast. Perhaps the insider stole the Treasure and is trying to leave directly."

"I don’t care who it is, that Treasure is ours!" The triangle-faced old man’s eyes glinted fiercely. "Even if it’s Long Jie, we’ll kill him all the same!"

For the sake of Core Formation, he would dare to kill anyone—not just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from a Sect, but even his own son if he were at the Core Formation stage.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! ...

Led by the triangle-faced old man, the seven figures followed behind the Treasure-Seeking Rat, speeding toward their target’s location!

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