The Heavenly Dao Society fell into a chilling silence.
In the heart of winter, a bitter cold swept through Astral Glory City, casting a heavy gloom over every heart.
"Leader, I'm afraid the Liu Clan won't be able to hold out much longer," Mu Tianli said as he stepped forward, his brow deeply furrowed.
"I know. We'll leave it to fate," Xu Yilin replied, sitting quietly with a flicker of worry in his eyes.
The Liu Clan had joined forces with the Heavenly Dao Society. They would either rise together or fall together.
The three clans had encircled the Liu Clan, while the Profound Cloud Sect, Scarlet Dragon Cult, and Spirit Jade Pavilion pressed in on the Heavenly Dao Society. The six forces split into two assault groups and launched a synchronized attack.
"Father, please hear me out. We must help the Heavenly Dao Society this time," Zhao Chao pleaded as he knelt before his father, urging him to let the Nine Profound Sect's ancestor take action.
The upper echelons of the Nine Profound Sect stood in silence, their expressions unreadable. They had already missed their chance to cooperate with the Heavenly Dao Society. Although they had recently hosted an alchemy exchange, it was nothing compared to a direct partnership.
"Are you sure about this?" Zhao Chao's father asked, his voice grave. It wasn't a decision to make lightly. One wrong move could drag the entire Nine Profound Sect into ruin.
They couldn't match the strength of so many Heaven Profound Realm experts.
"I'm certain. I believe Big Brother Liu will return and turn the tide," Zhao Chao said, his voice unwavering. Missing this opportunity now could make future cooperation even harder to achieve.
It was easy to support a winner—but helping someone at their lowest held the most significant value.
Many sects in the Central Plains stayed quiet. Even former allies of the Heavenly Dao Society remained silent now.
If the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy continued to aid the Heavenly Dao Society, the Nine Profound Sect wouldn't hesitate to follow. But the current situation had become more complicated.
An inner demon had plagued the grandmaster of the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy. To kill it, he had damaged his cultivation. The academy had lost many disciples, and the grandmaster had entered seclusion to recover. They could no longer intervene.
"I can't decide this alone. That's why I've gathered all the elders today," Zhao Chao's father said. "Let's put it to a vote. Those in favor of aiding the Heavenly Dao Society—raise your hands."
Even as sect master, he needed the elders' approval to mobilize the sect's full power, especially in a crisis that threatened their survival. The sect master needed the elders' vote.
But none of the elders moved. They kept their heads low. Helping the Heavenly Dao Society looked like a suicide mission. After all, the sect had produced only one Heaven Profound Realm expert—far from enough.
"Uncles, you all watched me grow up," Zhao Chao said suddenly. He turned to the elders and bowed low. "I've never asked for anything before. But please—believe me this once!"
"Chao'er, it's not that we don't want to help," an elder said gently as he stepped forward and helped Zhao Chao up. "This matter is bigger than all of us. We can't change it alone."
"Do you think we'll be safe if we do nothing?" Zhao Chao argued, refusing to rise. "If they survive this, how will we ever face them again?"
Indeed, the Nine Profound Sect would lose nothing by staying out of the conflict. But if they helped now, it could open the door to deeper cooperation, possibly even allowing them to surpass other sects.
"I think Chao'er has a point," another elder said as he stood. "If the Heavenly Dao Society falls, the Profound Cloud Sect will surely target us next."
The Nine Profound Sect and the Profound Cloud Sect had always been hostile neighbors, frequently clashing over resources. If the Heavenly Dao Society fell, the Profound Cloud Sect would gain control of their knowledge—alchemy, blacksmithing, and more—and would likely ally with the Scarlet Dragon Cult to devour the Nine Profound Sect next.
Several elders nodded in agreement.
"Grand Elder, what do you think?" Zhao Chao's father asked.
Although he wasn't siding with his son, he had to consider the bigger picture. Helping the Heavenly Dao Society meant defending themselves as well. However, not everyone shared that perspective.
"I suggest we send some experts to assist them," the grand elder said. "Not all. Just enough to show our stance. If the tide turns, we can withdraw."
It was a balanced proposal. Sending their full force would expose their base.
"What about the others?" Zhao Chao's father asked, looking around.
No one objected after the grand elder spoke. His reasoning made sense.
"Then it's settled. We'll send half our experts to Astral Glory City," the sect master declared.
It wasn't perfect, but Zhao Chao was already satisfied.
Outside the Liu Clan's gates, a group suddenly appeared.
"Liu Xiaotian! You dare show your face again?" a guard shouted when he saw him.
"A lowly guard dares talk to me that way?" Liu Xiaotian roared. He lashed out with his palm, sending the man flying.
The disturbance reached the main hall, and countless experts rushed out.
A black-robed figure stood behind Liu Xiaotian, hiding his face and revealing only a pair of cold eyes.
"Liu Xiaotian, how dare you injure a Liu Clan guard! You're courting death!" Liu Dazhi roared, stepping forward to strike.
The Liu Clan had strengthened significantly in recent months. Liu Dazhi had even reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm.
"You're the ones courting death. We're here to save you. But keep pushing us, and you'll regret it," Liu Xiaotian snapped. He released a powerful aura that immediately forced Liu Dazhi back.
The three clans' armies would arrive in two hours. Once they crushed the Liu Clan, they would join the Spirit Jade Pavilion to destroy the Heavenly Dao Society.
The Scarlet Dragon Cult, Profound Cloud Sect, and Spirit Jade Pavilion bore no direct grudge against the Liu Clan—leaving the task of extermination to the three clans.
The Liu Clan's elders and disciples gathered nearby and prepared to fight at a moment's notice.
"Has Liu Xiaotian returned to help us?" a disciple whispered.
They all carried the same bloodline. Maybe, just maybe, Liu Xiaotian had come back to help in their moment of need.
"Bullshit! Liu Xiaotian never brings good news," someone scoffed.
"He's the type to kick us while we're down. You think he'd help us? Impossible," others muttered in agreement.
"He's definitely up to something," voices whispered around them. Everyone knew Liu Xiaotian's ruthless nature—after all, he had conspired with outsiders after the patriarch died.
"Liu Xiaotian, speak your piece," Liu Xiucheng said as he stepped forward, calm and fearless despite the looming crisis. "We don't have time for games."
"Liu Xiucheng, don't say I didn't give you a chance," Liu Xiaotian replied with a sharp tone. "You know the Liu Clan's situation better than I do. If you don't want the entire clan to perish, I can offer a way out. I can ensure the clan's survival."
The Liu Clan had stood for ten thousand years. If it fell today, it would never rise again.
"Spare us your schemes and get lost!" the other elders snapped, their voices filled with anger.
"Liu Xiucheng, think carefully," Liu Xiaotian continued, smiling coldly. "Only I can save the Liu Clan. Do you want all these people to die because of your pride?"
If the clan's legacy ended with Liu Xiucheng, history would remember him as the one who doomed them all.
"State your conditions," Liu Xiucheng said after a pause. If his sacrifice could save the clan, he would not hesitate. He had no better options.
"Patriarch, don't!" the elders cried, trying to stop him. "You know what kind of person he is!"
None of them had forgotten Liu Xiaotian's betrayal. They should have executed him when he last returned. Instead, they let him leave with several people, and now he dared to return, demanding more?
Liu Xiucheng raised his hand to silence them. He wanted to hear what Liu Xiaotian had to say.
"My terms are simple," Liu Xiaotian said. "Relinquish the patriarch's position and commit suicide. In return, I'll spare your bloodline and even arrange for their safe departure."
Outrage exploded among the crowd.
Not only did Liu Xiaotian want Liu Xiucheng to step down, but he also demanded his death. The elders and disciples were furious. Liu Dazhi and Liu Dashan nearly charged forward, barely restrained by those around them.
If Liu Wuxie hadn't come back earlier, someone would have poisoned Liu Xiucheng. And now Liu Xiaotian dared to demand his suicide? As his sons, how could they not burn with fury?
"Liu Xiaotian, I can accept stepping down," Liu Xiucheng said after drawing a deep breath. "If my death can secure the clan's future, I'll gladly take my own life. But you? You think a man like you can lead the Liu Clan? Who would ever follow you?"
If Liu Xiaotian took the patriarch's seat, the clan would fracture, and Liu Xiucheng refused to let that happen.