Zhu Yinxi's single word immediately settled the team's next course of action.
Everyone understood that the road ahead would be filled with the flash of blades and ruthless pillaging.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold and heavy. Although there had been clashes before, they were mostly accidental skirmishes or competitions for unclaimed flags.
Now, the objective had clearly shifted to seizing them by force from other teams!
This meant more intense conflicts, higher risks, and even the possibility of severe injury. Although the rules of the secret realm offered protection, accidents were always inevitable.
Jiang Yifan took a deep breath and looked at Zhu Yinxi. Their eyes met, and they instantly reached a consensus.
Zhu Yinxi spoke softly, "For our targets, we will prioritize teams with high points, those we have a history with, or those whose strength makes them vulnerable. Try to make the Sword Heart Sect, Xuan Tian Sect, and Wuji Sect our primary targets."
"Next, we focus on teams that are relatively weak and easy to handle. Our actions must be fast, precise, and ruthless—one strike and then a quick retreat. We must avoid getting bogged down in prolonged battles or being surrounded by multiple teams."
His meaning was clear: pick the easy targets, prioritize enemies, and use lightning-strike tactics without any hesitation.
Feng Qingping added, "I will strengthen our concealment and interference arrays along the way to hide our tracks as much as possible. At the same time, we need to consider the possibility of being counter-hunted, so we should pre-set retreat routes and emergency plans."
Li Nanzhu also actively participated in the discussion, "We can use the complex terrain and mist of the secret realm to our advantage by setting ambushes or luring enemies deep into traps!"
Duan Xianxing rubbed his palms together, "Right! Catch them completely off guard!"
Although Feng Weilan's injuries had not yet healed, his eyes were sharp, clearly having entered a combat state.
However, during the discussion, everyone simultaneously thought of a key figure—eldest senior brother Mu Wenyan.
Jiang Yifan sighed softly with a hint of regret in his voice, "It is a pity that Eldest Senior Brother has not yet joined up with us. If he were here, our strength would increase significantly, and our actions could be even bolder."
Li Nanzhu nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it would be great if Eldest Senior Brother was here! He is at the Nascent Soul stage! With him, even if we encounter an opponent of Qin Lie's level, we would have the strength to fight back!"
Mu Wenyan was the only Nascent Soul stage cultivator in the Five Elements Dao Sect; if he could join the team, he would undoubtedly be a decisive force.
However, through the induction of the Soul-Sound Bell, they knew that Mu Wenyan was in a stable state and not in danger; they just did not know why he had been delayed for so long.
Ling Suxin, who had been quietly listening to the discussion, spoke up slowly with another suggestion, "Since your sect's eldest senior brother is temporarily unable to join us, should we consider meeting up with my sect's eldest senior sister, Rong Yuying, and the others first?"
She looked at everyone and analyzed calmly, "Although my sect's team strength is not as great as when your eldest senior brother is present, Senior Sister Rong is also at the Golden Core stage, and our disciples are skilled in combined strike techniques and illusionary support. If we can merge, our combined strength will give us more confidence, whether in attacking or defending."
This proposal made everyone's eyes light up.
The strength of the Hehuan Sect's eldest senior sister, Rong Yuying, was not to be underestimated, as they had witnessed before. Joining her team would indeed greatly enhance their overall power.
Jiang Yifan exchanged looks with Zhu Yinxi and Feng Qingping, and they quickly reached a decision.
"Junior Sister Ling makes sense," Jiang Yifan nodded. "Joining your sect's team is indeed the best choice to increase our strength at the moment. Do you know their general location? Is there a way to contact them?"
Ling Suxin replied, "Through a secret sect technique, I can roughly sense Senior Sister Rong's direction. They don't seem to be too far from us. I can try to use a secret method to send a signal and arrange a meeting point."
"Good!" Jiang Yifan said decisively. "Then it is settled. We will first attempt to meet up with Senior Sister Rong and then plan our next move!"
This decision received unanimous approval.
Every bit of extra strength meant an extra bit of hope for victory.
However, while everyone was preparing for the upcoming meeting and battle, there was one person in the corner whose heart was conflicted and was even trembling slightly—it was Liu Qingyang.
Listening to them discuss how to join the Hehuan Sect and how to take the initiative to snatch flags from other teams, Liu Qingyang's heart was in turmoil, a mixture of various emotions.
'The Hehuan Sect and Five Elements Dao Sect have an official partnership, so joining forces is perfectly natural... but my Water Moon Sect doesn't!'
He felt like he wanted to cry but had no tears.
What if... what if they ran into his own senior and junior brothers from the Water Moon Sect in the next operation?
Would Li Nanzhu, Zhu Yinxi, and the others show mercy for his sake?
Liu Qingyang had no confidence at all.
He knew all too well that in a team competition concerning sect rankings and core interests, no matter how good personal friendships were, they would likely have to step aside for the greater sect interest.
Li Nanzhu and the others might not attack him and might even share some points with him, but if they faced other Water Moon Sect disciples, it would be a different story!
For the sake of points, they would inevitably fight to seize them!
'I'm doomed... if we run into my senior brothers, which side should I help? Help my brothers? The Five Elements Dao Sect definitely won't agree; they might even eliminate me as a hostage first!'
'Help the Five Elements Dao Sect? Then wouldn't I become a sinner who betrayed his sect? If the old man finds out, he'll definitely kick me out of the sect!'
Liu Qingyang felt his head spinning, feeling as though he was being roasted over a fire.
He peeked at the members of the Five Elements Dao Sect who were heatedly discussing tactics, then looked at the calm Ling Suxin, and lamented in his heart, 'Sigh, I've boarded this pirate ship, and now there's absolutely no getting off!'
All he could do now was use the break to secretly activate the sensing technique unique to the Water Moon Sect, attempting to perceive the location of his fellow disciples.
'I hope... I hope the others are far away from us... it's best if we don't meet... or later, I'll plead with Nanzhu and see if we can avoid the direction they're in...'
The more Liu Qingyang thought about it, the bleaker his future seemed. Overwhelmed by grief and unable to vent his frustration and helplessness, he could only turn his sorrow into an appetite.
He took a huge bite of the spirit fruit he had just snatched from Duan Xianxing, chewing vigorously as if the fruit were his unreliable fate—sweet and bitter, with a hint of sourness.
"Crunch, crunch..." He chewed with particular force, his cheeks bulging, and his eyes filled with the grievance of how difficult his life was.
Duan Xianxing was startled by his sudden, savage eating and instinctively protected the remaining spirit fruits in his arms, whispering, "Eat slower, no one's fighting you for them..."
Liu Qingyang gave him a glare, said nothing, and continued to bury his head in his food.
While Liu Qingyang was worried about his situation and the Five Elements Dao Sect members were discussing how to merge with the Hehuan Sect and begin their plunder, they did not know that the eldest senior brother they were longing for, Mu Wenyan, as well as all the Nascent Soul stage cultivators who had entered the secret realm, were currently facing an entirely different predicament.
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