She felt Ling Yue’s aura, which seemed to be hidden. “Not only are you on the same level as a core disciple of my sect or higher, there are a hundred like you. But still, they might cause damage already since we are a few days late.”
“Indeed,” Ling Yue shook her head with a tired smile and agreed. “The most they can do is destroy the city which is outside the forest. I just hope they spared the lower-ranking disciples and the mortals. They won’t be able to find the forest and break down the formation in just a few days.”
“I did that in like a few minutes,” Shen Yuan chimed in.
Ling Yue’s lips twitched slightly. “Of course, you are different, Young Master. How can those bastards from the Crimson Wolf Clan be compared to you?”
Shen Yuan smilingly nodded his head. “That’s true as well, I guess. Anyways, take out the entire Elite Squad and wipe out all the clans or sects participating in this attack. It’s about time you guys gave a big surprise to this world.” His lips formed a cold smile at the end of his words.
Ling Yue’s foxlike eyes flickered with excitement at Shen Yuan’s words. She bowed slightly, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. “Understood, Young Master. If you’ll permit me, I’ll take our squad from the Pagoda and have them ready to move the moment we arrive.”
Bing Rong raised an eyebrow, casting Shen Yuan a sideways glance. “So you really plan on letting them launch a full-scale offensive? Not just a defensive maneuver?”
Shen Yuan settled his hands on the ship’s control array, guiding them through a cluster of clouds. “Defensive if our enemies haven’t done much damage yet,” he said calmly.
“But if the Crimson Wolf Clan and their allies already rampaged across the Silver Fox Sect’s territory—destroying cities or harming innocents—there’s no point in holding back. A swift, decisive response will show the entire region that the Silver Fox Sect is not a weak target.”
Ling Yue nodded. “I’ll instruct them to confirm the situation, evacuate any loyal citizens if needed, and deal with the attackers swiftly.” A thoughtful light flashed in her golden irises. “Of course, I’ll wait for your final word, Young Master.”
Bing Rong tapped a finger against the railing. “Are you sure this won’t draw too much attention? If a hundred cultivators at near–Mortal Tribulation level start wiping out entire clans, the surrounding powers may panic or unify against you.”
Shen Yuan chuckled softly and glanced at her. “The surrounding clans won’t know who or what attacked those clans, much less the cultivation base of the squad members. And this isn’t about petty slaughter. It’s about sending a message—to all those who live on the land of Aurora Zone that there lies a group hidden within shadows not inferior to their own Elite Squads. All I need to do is improve the group’s power.”
Bing Rong gave a slight nod. “Alright. But do keep in mind the Aurora Competition is right around the corner. Getting embroiled in a large-scale conflict so close to it could cause… complications.”
A faint smile formed on Shen Yuan’s face. “Believe me, Big Sis, I’m not planning to be late. We’ll handle the Crimson Wolf Clan quickly. That said, if they’ve truly crossed the line, it’s best we clip their wings now.”
As if to punctuate the conversation, the flying ship soared over a ridge of dark, jagged mountains. On the far side, faint mists clung to thick forests, casting them in an eerie light.
Ling Yue gazed at the landscape with a nostalgic expression—this was roughly the region near her sect, though they were still hours away from the main gate.
She cleared her throat softly. “Young Master… if I may ask, do you want to deploy them right here in midair, or will we land first?”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “We need to keep the presence of the Elite Squad hidden. We can’t afford to fumble right now. We will look at your city, which is outside the forest, first to see the damage before heading for the sect. I will bring out everyone once we descend on the ground.”
Ling Yue nodded in acknowledgment, her fox ears twitching slightly. “Very well, Young Master. We’ll see what the city looks like before we make our move.”
Bing Rong leaned over the edge of the flying ship’s railing, peering into the distance. A haze lingered around the horizon, making it hard to discern details of the terrain below.
The occasional flashes of light—or perhaps fire—flickered faintly amid the mists. “It looks like there’s some activity already,” she remarked, her tone laid-back. “Could be skirmishes… or just random campfires.”
Shen Yuan guided the ship into a gradual descent, ensuring that they approached quietly rather than barreling in at top speed.
As the flying ship drifted closer, the grim reality of the city came into view. From the air, Shen Yuan, Bing Rong, and Ling Yue could make out collapsed buildings and jagged craters scarring the streets.
Even at this distance, there were no signs of life—no flicker of torches, no movement of survivors. It was as though a cruel wind had swept the entire populace away, leaving only desolation behind.
When the ship finally descended at the city’s perimeter, they stepped off onto rubble-strewn cobblestones. A cold silence greeted them, broken only by the faint crackling of dying fires. The once-bustling marketplace lay in ruins: stalls overturned, charred remnants of cloth and produce scattered around.
Ling Yue’s fox ears twitched in anger. “There’s nothing,” she said softly, eyes glancing at each empty place. “Not a single soul or living presence…”
Bing Rong knelt by a toppled cart, brushing aside ash to reveal a hand—stiff and gray, belonging to someone who had died clutching the wheel. “This is terrible,” she murmured. “They didn’t even spare the mortals.”
Shen Yuan’s gaze chilled. He surveyed the devastation with a rising anger simmering behind his eyes. Bodies lay strewn in alleyways, some still clutching crude weapons, but it was clear they’d stood no chance. “A complete slaughter,” he said grimly. “They must have descended on the city with their entire forces.”
Ling Yue knelt beside one fallen figure draped in a half-burnt Silver Fox insignia. Her fists clenched, and her tail quivered in fury. “They’re not even giving them the dignity of a burial,” she said, voice tight. “Crimson Wolf Clan… They’ve really gone this far?” She stood abruptly, golden eyes flashing with anger. “It seems they’ve forgotten what happened to Iron Mountain Sect not that long ago.”
Bing Rong raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. “Iron Mountain Sect… that was the group the Silver Fox Sect destroyed years back?”
Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire
Ling Yue nodded, expression cold. “Yes. They dared ambush our sect, and we wiped them from the map. That was the mission culminating in the elder’s… questionable methods. But we did win decisively.” She looked around at the slaughtered city. “If these fools think they can repeat the same game, they’re sorely mistaken.”
Shen Yuan pressed a hand to her shoulder. “We’ll make sure they regret this.” He let out a slow breath, calming down his own raging anger. “But staying here now does nothing for these people—only a proper burial crew can handle it. We need to keep moving, find the Crimson Wolf forces, and stop them before they do more harm.”