Sect Master's Immortal Journey

Chapter 507: Change in Situation

Initially, when Meng Zhang received a hint from Jin Li Daoist Master, he learned that the Flying Swan Sect was about to target the Northern Desert Qi Family. Besides discreetly informing the Northern Desert Qi Family and preparing Taiyi Sect for assistance, he also secretly conveyed this information to the Fire Cloud Sect.

At first glance, the Fire Cloud Sect seemed inactive. As for whether the Fire Cloud Sect had any contact with the Northern Desert Qi Family in secret, that remained unknown.

Later on, instead of attacking the Northern Desert Qi Family, the Flying Swan Sect made a massive move and launched a surprise attack on the Crow's Nest. After the Flying Swan Sect cultivator army set off, only Fei Yu Daoist Master remained behind.

It was at this moment that the Fire Cloud Sect suddenly launched an assault, heading straight for the Flying Swan Sect. After a fierce battle, the remaining cultivators from the Flying Swan Sect suffered a crushing defeat, and even Fei Yu Daoist Master appeared to have been injured.

Cultivators from the Fire Cloud Sect continued their advance, killing their way into the Endless Sea of Sand until they reached the heart of the Flying Swan Sect.

On this side of Demon Wind Gobi, there was some delay in receiving news from the Endless Sea of Sand. An Moran, responsible for the Taiyi Sect Secret Hall, had taken measures to strengthen surveillance in the Endless Sea of Sand, particularly around the Flying Swan Sect, following his previous mistake.

After much effort, he managed to establish some reliable sources of information to keep track of the latest developments there. An Moran, the Secret Hall Master, personally went to investigate the situation after Fire Cloud Sect invaded the Endless Sea of Sand again.

Subsequently, powerful members of the sect, such as Shocking Thunder Spirit General, were dispatched by Meng Zhang to assist An Moran in monitoring the situation in the Endless Sea of Sand.

As the experts sent by Taiyi Sect arrived, more and more information flowed back to Taiyi Sect. It turned out that two of the three Gold Core Daoist Masters from the Fire Cloud Sect, Daoist Master Dark Cloud and Daoist Master Fiery Cloud, who were seriously injured in the last confrontation with the Flying Swan Sect, had already recovered from their wounds.

Fire Cloud Sect had kept this secret hidden from the Flying Swan Sect all along. This made the words of Daoist Master Scarlet Flame, who came to persuade Meng Zhang before, more credible.

Upon receiving the news secretly transmitted by Meng Zhang, Fire Cloud Sect intensified its surveillance over the Flying Swan Sect. When the three Gold Core Daoist Masters from the Flying Swan Sect led their army to attack the Crow's Nest, the Daoist Master Scarlet Flame, Daoist Master Dark Cloud, and Daoist Master Fiery Cloud of the Fire Cloud Sect seized the opportunity and led their cultivator army to launch a sudden attack on the Flying Swan Sect.

Although the Flying Swan Sect cultivator army did not attack the Northern Desert Qi Family, as the news received by the Fire Cloud Sect suggested, and instead aimed to attack the Crow's Nest, it played to their advantage as it delayed the Flying Swan Sect's response.

With the main forces of the Flying Swan Sect absent, they were too vulnerable. Even the lone Fei Yu Daoist Master could not withstand the combined strength of the three Gold Core Daoist Masters from the Fire Cloud Sect.

After a fierce assault, the Fire Cloud Sect cultivator army advanced rapidly, pushing forward continuously. Despite Fei Yu Daoist Master's efforts to delay, the difference in strength was too great, and he achieved little success.

The losses suffered by the Flying Swan Sect were immense. Almost all their remaining cultivators were annihilated, and even Fei Yu Daoist Master, after being seriously injured by Daoist Master Scarlet Flame, was relentlessly pursued by Daoist Master Dark Cloud and Daoist Master Fiery Cloud until he met his demise.

After the death of Fei Yu Daoist Master, the Flying Swan Sect collapsed completely. They not only lost the majority of their territory but also failed to hold onto Flying Swan City, which fell into the hands of the Fire Cloud Sect.

Upon the return of Fei Shi Daoist Master and Wu Mingwei with their cultivator army, they faced a wretched and desperate situation.

Fei Shi Daoist Master's injuries were severe, and he could barely muster any combat strength. During their time at the Crow's Nest, they captured only a few light clusters, and Wu Mingwei even voluntarily abandoned most of his captures.

They refrained from seizing others' light clusters not because they didn't want to but because they couldn't. Qi Nanfei, a renowned Gold Core Daoist Master, had fled Myriad Layers Peak, and they had no time to intercept him.

Furthermore, they were unaware of the conflict and internal strife between Meng Zhang and Qin Hongying within the Taiyi Sect.

With Meng Zhang as a Gold Core Daoist Master and a powerful cultivator army on the Taiyi Sect's side, facing the Flying Swan Sect's two Gold Core Daoist Masters and their cultivator army in that state, their chances of winning in a direct confrontation were not high.

Therefore, Fei Shi Daoist Master made a very difficult decision. Instead of leading the cultivator army to directly clash with the Fire Cloud Sect army, he chose to retreat and withdraw to the Yellow Sand Ridge.

Yellow Sand Ridge was the location of the Flying Swan Sect's headquarters back when the Purple Gold Sect ruled the Endless Sea of Sand hundreds of years ago. Situated on the easternmost side of the Endless Sea of Sand, it was remote and desolate, far from the core area of the Endless Sea of Sand, where Flying Swan Sect's main forces had relocated after replacing the Purple Gold Sect.

Yellow Sand Ridge was a place that Flying Swan Sect didn't abandon; instead, they arranged some disciples to remain and continue their operations. As Flying Swan Sect gradually established a foothold in the core area of the Endless Sea of Sand, the significance of Yellow Sand Ridge, its original headquarters, diminished over time. Eventually, it became a location for exiled disciples who had committed serious crimes. Fei Shi Daoist Master led the Flying Swan Sect's cultivator army to retreat swiftly, successfully avoiding the Fire Cloud Sect's cultivator army and withdrawing all the way to Yellow Sand Ridge. Upon arrival, the Flying Swan Sect's cultivator army immediately fortified the area, bolstering their defenses using the mountain-guarding great formation.

Fei Shi Daoist Master's decisive action preserved what was left of the Flying Swan Sect's main force and retained hope for a future counterattack. However, many of the Flying Swan Sect's vassal families couldn't retreat in time and were effectively abandoned by the sect. Faced with the invading Fire Cloud Sect's overwhelming forces, some vassal families were annihilated, while others surrendered willingly.

Most of the cultivation forces that were formerly under the authority of the Flying Swan Sect in the Endless Sea of Sand chose to submit to the Fire Cloud Sect, except for a few die-hard loyalists who were subsequently eradicated. Fire Cloud Sect's relentless and powerful offensive allowed them to seize control of most regions in the Endless Sea of Sand, and the majority of the cultivation forces there surrendered.

Fire Cloud Sect now replaced the Flying Swan Sect as the new dominator and ruler of the Endless Sea of Sand. Curiously, the Fire Cloud Sect's army did not pursue its victory further and continued to advance against Yellow Sand Ridge or eradicate the Flying Swan Sect completely. Many believed that Fire Cloud Sect's army likely suffered significant casualties during the previous battles and needed time to recuperate. Moreover, conquering such a large territory required careful consolidation and absorption, leaving them temporarily unable to completely eliminate the Flying Swan Sect.

Various pieces of information trickled back to Grand Lion Ridge, reaching the ears of Meng Zhang. Some of this intelligence came from Taiyi Sect cultivators conducting their own investigations, while some were mere speculations. Most of the news proved authentic, but some were less reliable.

After the Flying Swan Sect's army retreated from Demon Wind Gobi, Meng Zhang led the Taiyi Sect's cultivator army back to Grand Lion Ridge to be prepared for any changes in the Endless Sea of Sand. The recent series of events in the Endless Sea of Sand left Meng Zhang feeling overwhelmed.

Fire Cloud Sect's decisive action had achieved unprecedented gains, which somewhat surprised Meng Zhang. On careful consideration, he found it understandable and even suspected that his secret communication with Fire Cloud Sect may have played a role in fueling the situation.

During Daoist Master Scarlet Flame's last visit to Grand Lion Ridge, he brought goodwill from Fire Cloud Sect, but Meng Zhang had not responded promptly. At that time, Daoist Master Scarlet Flame sought Meng Zhang's support to counter the mighty Flying Swan Sect. Now that the tide had turned, and Fire Cloud Sect had gained the upper hand, Meng Zhang wondered if the same goodwill and promises still stood.

Meng Zhang had no answer in his heart and couldn't afford to lower his guard against Fire Cloud Sect. Consequently, he refrained from interfering in the situation in the Endless Sea of Sand and instead prepared for a potential large-scale battle while observing how things would unfold.

During this waiting period, he diligently continued his cultivation. The Third Rank pills he obtained included some that could help Gold Core stage cultivators enhance their Cultivation Base, and Meng Zhang put them to good use. With a steady supply of spiritual energy from Grand Lion Ridge's Third Rank spirit vein, he was no longer restrained by the small piece of spiritual marrow in his possession.

With ample spiritual energy, the spiritual marrow was no longer necessary. Combined with the aid of the pills, Meng Zhang's Cultivation Base progressed rapidly. Currently, among the early Gold Core stage cultivators, he was considered a formidable presence.

The intense life-and-death battle with Qin Hongying had granted him substantial experience and insights, enough to keep him occupied for a long time.

After the Fire Cloud Sect's cultivator army entered the Endless Sea of Sand and occupied the original territories of the Flying Swan Sect, causing the major cultivation forces to submit, there were no further actions. They did not encroach on Taiyi Sect's territory or bother the members of the Hanhai Alliance.

Under these circumstances, Meng Zhang had no intention of actively provoking Fire Cloud Sect. Nonetheless, with Flying Swan Sect's downfall, he saw an opportunity to gain some advantages. He dispatched Taiyi Sect's Foundation Building stage cultivators to lead their forces and occupy all the territories previously held by the Flying Swan Sect in Demon Wind Gobi. With most of the Flying Swan Sect's forces retreating to Yellow Sand Ridge, the territories in Demon Wind Gobi were no longer adjacent to the Flying Swan Sect and became isolated enclaves.

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