Then, he used the low-grade demonic sect artefacts he had brought to deliberately create traces of fierce combat and demonic art erosion at the scene. Claw marks were left on the rocks, and a faint demonic qi lingered in the air.
Finally, he left one of the most representative demonic sect artefacts in a conspicuous position at the site.
Having done all this, he retreated like the receding tide, leaving no trace of his own aura.
Next came the question of how to ensure this forged secret order would be discovered by the higher-ups of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect in a way that was perfectly timed yet thrillingly alarming.
Chen Ping chose a more direct and impactful method.
Relying on his extraordinary concealment arts and mastery over space, he strolled leisurely, skilfully evading the numerous open and hidden sentries on the periphery of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, as well as various alert arrays.
As if entering an uninhabited realm, he arrived directly inside the sect, outside the seclusion chamber of an inner elder responsible for daily mountain patrols, a figure of considerable status.
With great care, he placed the forged jade slip in a position at the chamber door that was both conspicuous and unlikely to be overlooked.
Then, with a flick of his finger, a strand of energy simulating the distinctive yin cold and secretive soul force characteristics of the Myriad Souls Demonic Sect gently triggered the defensive restriction at the chamber entrance.
“Buzz…”
The restriction emitted an almost imperceptible ripple.
Inside the chamber, the elder who had been meditating and regulating his breath suddenly opened his eyes, sharp light flashing. “Who dares trespass?!”
He appeared outside the door in an instant, his divine sense sweeping the surroundings like mercury spilling onto the ground, yet finding no one.
Just as he frowned deeply, suspicion rising in his heart, his gaze fell upon the jade slip on the ground at the entrance, emitting pure, yin cold demonic sect soul force fluctuations…
Events unfolded exactly as Chen Ping had anticipated, link by link, rapidly hurtling towards an irreversible direction.
Profound Heaven Sword Sect, core area: Lingxiao Hall.
Sect Master Ling Yunzi held the forged jade slip, his face as overcast as the sky before a storm.
His powerful divine sense swept over the jade slip again and again, meticulously examining every detail.
That familiar, loathsome soul force fluctuation of Hun Sha, that unquestionable commanding tone, that vicious plan targeting the core array eye of the sect-protecting grand array… with each probe, the fury in his heart burned hotter.
Below, the various sword sect elders, having heard the contents of the jade slip and the earlier news of the outpost attack by the demonic sect, were already filled with righteous indignation, seething with rage.
“That old devil Hun Sha! How dare he bully our sword sect like this! Plotting to coordinate from within and without, launching a surprise assault on our mountain gate array! This is a grudge that digs at our very foundation: irreconcilable!”
“No wonder! No wonder they’ve been making frequent unusual movements at the border lately, assembling heavy forces! So they were using open repair of the plank road as a feint while secretly crossing at Chencang!”
“The outpost attack must have been their vanguard spies, scouting paths and clearing obstacles!”
“Sect Master! The demonic sect harbours undying intent to destroy us, and the arrow is already on the string! If we hesitate further, once their preparations are complete and they strike from both inside and out, our sect will be in peril! We must strike first!”
Just as the hall surged with emotion and calls for war dominated overwhelmingly, another urgent military report arrived from outside.
“Report!”
“Sect Master, honoured elders! Urgent border report!”
“The main forces of the Myriad Souls Demonic Sect have completed assembly and are departing the Crimson Blood Plain. The direction of their vanguard troops… after multiple confirmations, is highly suspected to be aimed at our Myriad Swords Mountain Range!”
This final urgent report acted like the last spark igniting a powder keg, completely shattering the last remnants of hesitation and reason among the Profound Heaven Sword Sect higher-ups.
Ling Yunzi rose abruptly from the sect master throne. The sword qi that had been restrained around him erupted with a boom.
Like tens of thousands of invisible sharp swords unsheathed simultaneously, it sliced the air in the hall with hissing sounds. The biting sword intent caused every elder present to feel stinging pain on their skin.
In his eyes, not a trace of calm remained, only towering rage and resolute severity.
