Chapter 41: CH. 41 | Sect or An Xiao? Choose Now!

"You?! If you dare attack the Shuzhou Sect, I’ll kill her!"

"I’ll definitely do it!" Yun Zhao shouted.

Lin Tian stopped in his tracks, still holding back the white dragon flying above his head.

His attention remained fixed on the scene before him as he watched Yun Zhao recklessly prepare to end An Xiao’s life.

If he did not act immediately, Lin Tian would remain trapped under Yun Zhao’s threat.

The White Dragon continued circling above the Shuzhou Sect’s formation, as if waiting for Lin Tian’s command to destroy the entire sect.

However, Lin Tian still did not dare make that move because of An Xiao’s safety. If Yun Zhao truly killed her, she would die, and Lin Tian’s mission would fail completely.

To pull this off, he had to proceed carefully.

"Are you sure... this is worth the risk?"

"What do you mean?" Yun Zhao asked.

"The foundation of the Shuzhou Sect has stood for hundreds of years. It was protected by the sect’s ancestors, as well as your brother’s blood and sweat."

"Are you really willing to let your sect be destroyed just because of An Xiao?" Lin Tian asked.

Many of the sect’s disciples listened to Lin Tian’s words. They began turning toward Yun Zhao, trying to persuade him to abandon the idea.

No matter what, the Shuzhou Sect was far more important than An Xiao. Their lives were worth more than hers.

Yun Xi stepped in front of Yun Zhao. She firmly grabbed her younger brother’s hand and urged him to reconsider his decision.

"You want to destroy the sect, Yun Zhao?!" Yun Xi complained.

"Yun Xi?"

"Can’t you feel the power contained within that White Dragon technique? It’s more than enough to shatter the sect formation’s barrier wall," Yun Xi said firmly.

"Besides, we have no idea what other techniques he possesses," Yun Xi added as she glanced forward.

After enough people had tried persuading him, Yun Zhao remained silent for a long time, lost in thought.

In the end, he nodded in agreement.

His hand fell to his side. His head lowered as he abandoned his pride for the sake of the Shuzhou Sect’s future.

Lin Tian watched Yun Zhao’s actions.

He immediately flew away and deactivated the White Dragon technique above the sect.

The White Dragon soared back into the roaring black clouds.

The lightning ceased.

The dark clouds gradually dispersed on their own.

The situation within the sect slowly returned to normal. Their worries faded as they watched Lin Tian leave the Shuzhou Sect’s territory while still carrying An Xiao in his arms.

"I... won’t give up!" Yun Zhao snapped.

"His cultivation is higher than mine, but I won’t surrender!" he declared again.

He turned to the side, his sharp gaze piercing toward Yun Xi.

"I’m going to the bottom of the lake for secluded cultivation. Until I reach Nascent Soul, I won’t come out no matter what happens."

With an irritated expression, Yun Zhao flew away from the sect and descended into the lake’s depths.

Yun Xi did not stop him.

In her opinion, it would be much better if Yun Zhao could break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

His strength would increase.

The Shuzhou Sect’s prestige would rise.

Perhaps he would even have a chance to reclaim An Xiao from Lin Tian.

Yun Xi quickly stepped forward until she stood directly before the sect formation’s barrier, gazing toward the distant forest sky.

Lin Tian and An Xiao were already gone from sight.

"Yu Hao," Yun Xi called.

The elder named Yu Hao arrived and stood beside Yun Xi atop his flying qi sword.

Yun Xi turned her head toward him.

"Go to the Kingdom Sect Alliance and inform them about this matter. The Lingxian Sect has risen with a Nascent Soul Master."

"Understood, Sect Master Yun."

Yun Xi fell silent once again.

Her mind remained troubled as she weighed the advantages and disadvantages of what had happened, worried about the consequences that might follow.

Still, she had to be careful with every decision she made.

After all, every word that left her mouth became a decision for the sect.

One wrong step could place the sect in danger, just like what had happened earlier.

Elsewhere, Lin Tian sensed that no cultivators from the Shuzhou Sect were pursuing them.

That brought him some relief.

The pain in An Xiao’s body had begun to ease, and the sealing array was already showing signs of weakening.

Lin Tian felt that now was the perfect opportunity to destroy the array and completely free An Xiao.

He flew toward Cloud Mist Hill and discovered a small cave within a rocky cliff.

It was damp and cold, but secluded and difficult to find.

"What... are you planning to do, Master Lin Tian?" An Xiao asked.

Lin Tian gently seated An Xiao on the cave floor, "I can’t bring you back to the Lingxian Sect while the sealing array is still attached to your body."

"An Yue will panic and be heartbroken."

"I’m going to destroy the sealing array here!"

The man instructed An Xiao to begin cultivating immediately, restore her strength, and calm her mind.

An Xiao knew exactly what she needed to do.

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Her hands formed a series of hand seals as she activated the cultivation technique she had learned in the Shuzhou Sect.

Lin Tian had to wait.

An Xiao’s current condition was not stable enough for the destruction process, because it would be extremely painful.

If her body had not recovered, Lin Tian feared she might die during the process of destroying the sealing array.

While waiting, Lin Tian stepped outside the cave and stood high in the sky.

He activated a protective formation by firing array runes toward several points.

The formation activated and created a four-sided barrier around the rocky hill before gradually fading into transparency.

Not only was it invisible to ordinary cultivators, but its strength was also sufficient to protect both of them throughout the sealing array destruction process.

This should be enough to protect An Xiao. I’m certain Yun Xi won’t interfere in this matter.

Lin Tian moved quickly and returned to the cave.

He watched spiritual qi flow into An Xiao’s body.

There were no signs of qi turbulence within her. The sealing array remained completely unaffected by her cultivation.

The man sat cross-legged in front of An Xiao and helped accelerate her recovery.

If he relied solely on An Xiao’s cultivation, the process would take far too long.

Lin Tian raised both hands, formed a hand seal, and directed a beam of white qi light forward.

His spiritual qi flowed perfectly into An Xiao’s body without any sign of rejection.

What would have originally required hours now progressed within minutes.

Lin Tian could visibly see An Xiao recovering. The pale color had disappeared from her face.

Sweat no longer covered her body. Even her breathing had become steady.

An Xiao slowly opened her eyes, a sign that she had completely recovered.

Lin Tian stopped channeling his spiritual qi.

"How are you feeling?"

"I’m fine. Thank you, Master Lin Tian."

"So your answer back at the lake pavilion was a lie because the sealing array forced you to say it?" Lin Tian asked.

"Yes."

"That sealing array is called the Heart Lock Seal."

"I am only allowed to act in ways that benefit my husband and the Shuzhou Sect."

"If I do otherwise, lightning from the seal’s core will shake my heart and leave my entire body weak and in pain," An Xiao replied.

Normally, they used that on slaves, but I never expected them to use it on An Xiao.

"I’m here now. I’ll free you from that seal."

An Xiao smiled softly and nodded, "Of course, Master Lin Tian."