Chapter 100: Five Lines of Defense
Chapter 100: Five Lines of Defense
After discussing for an hour, Revered Qin and Revered Mo finally had a preliminary plan for pursuing and exterminating the Monster Beasts heading towards the Xuanxin Sect.
“Hangzhi!”
The first command from the two Revered Ones as they entered the main hall fell upon Lu Hangzhi.
He had been immersed in understanding the Sword Spirit’s power and snapped back to attention upon hearing his name, springing to his feet.
“Student is here.”
“After discussion with Revered Qin, we decided we must prepare for both offense and defense. First, we must conduct reconnaissance and take the initiative to intercept and eliminate any remaining, escaped Monster Beasts, preventing them from further harming the people in the cities within the Xuanxin Sect’s territory.”
Everyone in the main hall nodded in agreement.
“At the same time, the Xuanxin Sect is our rear fortress and must be absolutely secure. Otherwise, even if we eradicate the Monster Beasts, if anything happens to the Xuanxin Sect, our efforts would be in vain! Therefore, I have decided to personally oversee the defense of the Xuanxin Sect’s headquarters. Nangong Jun, Hu Bugui, you will stay and instruct the fellow disciples, teaching them battle tactics and experience against Monster Beasts. As the strongest combatant under Revered Qin, Hangzhi, not only will you lead the assault team to pursue and exterminate the Monster Beasts, you will also be responsible for scouting the Monster Beasts’ movements and relaying intelligence on incoming threats. You have authority to command Revered Qin’s forces, and may also request aid from Xuanxin Sect personnel for your mission.”
Leading the assault to hunt down Monster Beasts was straightforward enough.
As for scouting and intelligence relay, with Qi Yuanfeng and the disciples of the Spirit Beast Hall, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Lu Hangzhi stepped forward and accepted the order.
Since returning to the Xuanxin Sect!
His state of mind had undergone a complete change.
The anxiety and unease brought by the upheaval at Two Realms Mountain had long since vanished. Surrounded by familiar senior brothers and sisters, seeing the kind and benevolent gaze of his Master, who was like an elder, and the Sect Elders, Lu Hangzhi knew this was the feeling of coming home.
The Xuanxin Sect…
It was his home in this world.
Here, he felt at ease.
Here was everything he desperately wanted to protect.
Here, he was fearless!
But he also knew.
Once the Monster Beasts arrived, this place would become a front line like Two Realms Mountain, with no retreat possible.
Taking command was only natural!
Once the two Revered Ones announced the appointments, Lu Hangzhi stepped up without hesitation and began directing the deployment.
“Qi Yuanfeng and I will handle the scouting.”
“The rest of you, stick to the prearranged plan. Form teams of three and operate as squads.”
“Elders of Xuanxin Sect, I request some of you form tactical squads as well, arranged in a fan formation to guard the southeastern approach to the Sect!”
“To ensure absolute security, Master, please retrieve the map of the Sect’s vicinity. We will divide the area like the war zones at Two Realms Mountain, with each team of three guarding a section! If any escaped Monster Beasts enter the Xuanxin Sect’s territory, you will be able to handle them easily.”
His words made everyone in the hall see the light!
This was an excellent plan!
“But what if a team encounters multiple Monster Beasts?”
An Elder pressed.
“Simple.”
Lu Hangzhi smiled slightly.
“I propose the Sect Leader, my Master, the head of the Discipline Hall, and the head of the Spirit Beast Hall form four rapid response squads. They will serve as the Second Defense Line, ready to reinforce any team that needs aid.”
He paused here, then turned and cupped his hands respectfully towards Revered Qin.
“If large groups of Monster Beasts are encountered, Revered Qin will hold the central war zone. If any of you face overwhelming enemies beyond your ability to defeat, send a signal, and Revered Qin will come to your aid.”
“Agreed!”
Revered Qin’s brief response conveyed his full support.
Everyone understood:
“Three lines of defense!”
“Elite personnel each fulfilling their roles!”
“A very clear and excellent arrangement!””With this setup, our Xuanxin Sect’s defense now resembles a small Reinforcement Department like at Two Realms Mountain. No wonder the two Revered Ones value Hangzhi so highly.”
Lu Hangzhi’s tone turned serious.
“These arrangements are only for dealing with scattered, escaped Monster Beasts, and do not include encounters with multiple Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts… In the event of a Beast Tide, if the three lines of defense are endangered and Revered Qin cannot control the situation, everyone must immediately fall back to the Xuanxin Sect itself. Activate the Sect Protection Array to resist the Monster Beast assault using the protective ward.”
People exchanged smiles:
A Fourth Defense Line!
Revered Qin and Revered Mo also showed expressions of relief and approval.
Lu Hangzhi’s arrangements were excellent. They could advance to attack, hold ground to fight, or retreat to defend. The tactics and manpower were both flexible, especially the step-by-step reasoning in the final points, which greatly boosted morale.
Lu Hangzhi himself would scout at the dangerous frontline, providing intelligence. At the rear, four Cultivators at the very peak of the Ninth Grade of Comprehension Stage would personally lead the rescue squads. Beyond that, the formidable Revered Qin sat as the anchor. Even in the worst scenario, they could fall back within the Sect Protection Array.
“Your disciple is becoming more and more impressive,” Revered Qin sent a voice transmission to Revered Mo. “The Xuanxin Sect has hope of rising to become a mid-sized sect one day.”
“Indeed,”
Mo Li replied mentally with a wry smile, too embarrassed to voice that Lu Hangzhi was already accomplishing feats beyond his own capacity, likely capable of facing a Soul-Concentrating Monster Beast alone now.
Just as everyone thought the plan was perfect, Lu Hangzhi turned again to his Master, Chen Ji.
“Master, I request the senior brothers, sisters, and remaining Sect Elders assemble a logistics unit.”
“Hmm?”
Everyone was startled.
Chen Ji also showed surprise:
A logistics unit?
What was that?
Only Revered Qin, Mo Li, and the others who had recently returned from Two Realms Mountain quickly understood. Their eyes lit up, and they slapped the table, exclaiming in admiration.
“Hangzhi, you mean…” Cheng Fei blurted out, but then struggled to articulate it.
Lu Hangzhi said calmly,
“Our pursuit of the escaped Monster Beasts could be short or long. I believe it’s necessary to provide the frontline personnel with a stable supply base. I hope Master can mobilize the senior brothers and sisters of the Golden Jade Hall, along with all Elders, to dedicate their efforts to alchemy and talisman-making to prepare for unforeseen needs.”
“……” Revered Qin and Mo Li were stunned speechless.
Lu Hangzhi was thinking further ahead than even they were!
“But the materials…”
“Materials won’t be a problem,” Chen Ji interjected swiftly, dispelling his own fleeting worry. “Hangzhi has already provided the Sect with thousands of Monster Beast Inner Cores – thousands of Seventh-grade and Eighth-grade quality, plus enough Ninth-grade Monster Beast Inner Core to not only perfectly repair the Sect Protection Array but also have plenty leftover for alchemy and talisman-making.”
The numbers Master Chen Ji casually mentioned startled the entire council of Xuanxin Sect Elders and True Disciples!
“That scoundrel Chen Ji, he shouldn’t have presided over the Outer Sect Competition back then! Otherwise, Lu Hangzhi would be my disciple now!”
“You said it.”
“Sigh…”
A group of elders sighed deeply, filled with emotion.
First place in the Outer Sect Competition, first place in the Inner Sect Competition, stepping forward to the deadly Two Realms Mountain on the very day he became a True Disciple, and now, right after returning from Two Realms Mountain, providing the sect with a vast quantity of resources surpassing the entire inventory of a small sect… It would probably take centuries for any True Disciple to surpass this young man’s achievements.
His Master, Chen Ji, must laugh in his sleep!
The group ground their teeth in envy, finding Chen Ji more and more detestable the longer they looked at him.
“Excellent!”
“We will do as Hangzhi suggests!” Mo Li immediately agreed and announced:
“Starting now! The Golden Jade Hall is fully opened! All remaining Elders are to urgently craft talismans and elixirs to prepare for the coming battle!”
“Yes, sir!”
The cultivators in the main hall responded in unison.
…
While the group remained in the main hall, reorganizing into brand-new tactical squads and assigning districts based on the map, Lu Hangzhi and Qi Yuanfeng set off early with their Spirit Beasts to begin the preliminary mission before the great battle – reconnaissance.
Qi Yuanfeng’s Spirit Beasts were two mutated wind-thunder cloud leopards, as sturdy as rhinos. They were already at the Peak Eighth Grade level, just one step away from Ninth Grade. Carrying two people, they still moved like lightning, swift and agile across all kinds of treacherous terrain. The Xuanxin Sect’s Spiritual Peaks faded rapidly into the distance.
Look at his Spirit Beasts, capable of fighting and carrying, handling all sorts of hard labor…
Now look at this one on my shoulder.
Fast asleep, scarf-like. It’s always me, its owner, carrying it. It hardly lifts a finger all year, living a life of luxury, fed the best. Its only claim to fame is being good at eating and sleeping. I seriously wonder if it has pig blood.
Just as Lu Hangzhi was sighing inwardly, Qi Yuanfeng looked over, his gaze tinged with unmistakable envy:
“Hangzhi, let me tell you, if I hadn’t just seen what the Xuanxin Sect actually looks like today, I would have genuinely believed it was a grand sect nestled within that mountain range of Spiritual Peaks.”
“Why?” Lu Hangzhi blinked.
“Even in large sects, disciples as exceptionally talented and powerful as you are rare… Your strategic foresight is also extraordinary, not at all like someone from a small sect.”
“Haha.” Lu Hangzhi felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. “The Xuanxin Sect is my home. My Master, Senior Brothers and Sisters are my family. I only wish for Xuanxin Sect to avoid becoming like Two Realms Mountain. I have to give it my all.”
“Mhm.” Qi Yuanfeng nodded deeply, touched. “I lost both my parents when I was little. My Master brought me to the sect and raised me, treating me like his own son. I understand how you feel. Rest easy! With your four defensive lines set up, the Monster Beasts will pose no threat to the Xuanxin Sect.”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi’s expression became odd. He hesitated for a few seconds before replying:
“Actually… I set up five lines of defense.”
“Oh?” Qi Yuanfeng was instantly stunned. “One more is…?”
“Us!” Lu Hangzhi stared directly at him, enunciating every word clearly and firmly.
Qi Yuanfeng stared back, dumbfounded.
“But… isn’t our mission reconnaissance and reporting Monster Beast intel?”
“You handle the reconnaissance and reporting. My mission is to eliminate as many Monster Beast hordes as possible, far away from Xuanxin Sect, easing the pressure on our rear.”
Lu Hangzhi’s voice rang out firm and resolute:
“This isn’t Two Realms Mountain. The True Disciples of Xuanxin Sect are not comparable to the elite cultivators from those great sects. It’s good for them to gain experience, but the level of risk must be carefully controlled. Since I proposed involving the True Disciples in the Second Defense Line, naturally, I am the one who must grasp this control properly.”
“…” Hearing this, Qi Yuanfeng was filled with sudden and profound respect. At that moment, he had an illusion: despite being several years younger than him, the altitude Lu Hangzhi occupied and the foresight of his gaze were things he simply could not imagine.