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第三千三百零四章 进退两难

At this point, the situation had taken a turn that the Cloud Conceal Sect did not anticipate. Consequently, they found themselves in an unprecedented crisis.

They weren't afraid of the Plump and Slim Sovereign; the key issue was that Lin Xuan wasn't at the main headquarters.

However, the Cloud Conceal Sect couldn’t simply say this, as it would be seen as a sign of weakness.

If you said that the Supreme Elder wasn't at the main headquarters but had gone out to travel?

Sure, no problem. We can postpone the duel and wait for him to return before deciding the outcome.

The other party’s response seemed reasonable, yet the Cloud Conceal Sect found themselves in a difficult position. They didn’t know where Lin Xuan had gone. Ordinary disciples were unaware that the Supreme Elder had left as well. Only the silver-eyed maiden and the Long family youth knew, but even then, Lin Xuan only said he was going to an extremely distant place without specifying his exact destination, just mentioning that this time it would be a long journey.

The Three Realms were vast, with hundreds of small spirit realms within the Spirit Realm. Lin Xuan had left no means of contact, so where could the Cloud Conceal Sect look for him?

But the other party didn’t care about these difficulties. Even if they told him, he would only see it as a sign of cowardice.

The saying goes, "Lose in spirit but not in battle." The Cloud Conceal Sect was no longer what it used to be; it had risen to become the top force in the Dragon Pillar Realm. How could it stoop so low as to explain itself?

Clearly, the other party wanted to humiliate Lin Xuan. Words wouldn’t solve the issue. To protect their sect’s reputation, they had no choice but to fight.

This was the only solution, laid out very clearly. But with Lin Xuan not at the main headquarters, who could the Cloud Conceal Sect send as a representative?

Don't look at how formidable the Cloud Conceal Sect has become, a respected and revered sect that countless other sects looked up to. Its rise had been too rapid, relying solely on the reputation of Lin Xuan. It lacked depth.

Given enough time—say, several thousand or even tens of thousands of years—it could have steadily grown stronger, perhaps producing a few Transcendence Realm cultivators. Then, the Cloud Conceal Sect would truly be formidable and deserving of its status.

But now, despite having gathered many outstanding disciples, they hadn't yet matured. With Lin Xuan present, they naturally could hold their ground. But without him, facing such a challenge, the Cloud Conceal Sect’s situation became awkward.

Of course, this was something Lin Xuan had not anticipated either. The various means he left behind were meant to defend against external threats.

For example, if the Plump and Slim Sovereign intended to attack the main headquarters, there would be no other outcome but defeat for them.

But crucially, others hadn’t done that; they wanted a fair duel with Lin Xuan. If the Cloud Conceal Sect was just an unknown minor sect, it wouldn't matter. But now, as the top force in the Dragon Pillar Realm, it couldn’t be ignored. Refusal wasn’t an option; otherwise, their reputation would suffer.

In any case, they had to fight!

Even if they couldn’t find Lin Xuan, there was no reason to retreat. They must protect the Cloud Conceal Sect.

But while easy to say, doing so proved incredibly difficult.

Who should go?

The Cloud Conceal Sect had three Supreme Elders, but only Lin Xuan had reached the Transcendence Realm. The silver-eyed maiden was a minor Transcender, with strength far beyond the Shen State realm, but still incomparable to true Transcenders. At best, she could muster only one-third of her Transcender power.

Facing the Plump and Slim Sovereign, they had no chance at all.

But apart from her, the other Cloud Conceal Sect members were even weaker.

This was a martial contest; there couldn’t be an advantage in numbers.

The silver-eyed maiden convened the elders to discuss strategies. But with such a significant power gap, unless Lin Elder could return, their chances of winning this duel were nil.

"Let it be," sighed the silver-eyed maiden. "As headmaster, I can't back down."

"But Senior Sister, you won’t win either," said the Long family youth anxiously.

"I know, but what can we do? Even if we delay, the problem remains unsolved. We'll end up being mocked by the cultivation world. It’s better for me to fight and lose than to be seen as a coward."

The silver-eyed maiden's voice was low and resolute, indicating her determination.

"But Senior Sister, your words are right, but how do we know the Plump and Slim Sovereign’s mood? What if they attack with all their might?" The Long family youth's face still showed his anxiety.

These two were ascetic cultivators; they didn’t understand. But from their actions, it was clear that both had very proud personalities.

Although they said this duel should be a mere formality, in the end, the power of magic wasn't always predictable.

"Junior Brother, I know you have good intentions, but being overly cautious will get us nowhere. The Cloud Conceal Sect’s rise is due to Lin Xuan's efforts. He has just left; how can we let others bully us? Even if there are dangers, at least they’ll know that our Cloud Conceal Sect cultivators aren’t cowards."

The silver-eyed maiden smiled softly but her tone was firm.

"Senior Sister, what about me stepping in for you?" The Long family youth’s concern was evident.

They had been comrades-in-arms for countless eons; their bond far exceeded that of ordinary siblings.

"Not appropriate," the silver-eyed maiden shook her head.

Sending junior brother would be equally dangerous. She had advanced to a minor Transcender and could defend herself, but junior brother had only just reached the Shen State late stage, his foundation still unstable. Sending him would be truly perilous.

After some discussion, they found no other options and had to proceed this way.

At that moment, a respectful voice entered their ears: "Report to the Supreme Elder and all Senior Uncles, Sister Sun Yu'er has returned."

"Yu'er is back; let her in without further ado," the silver-eyed maiden’s tone was reproachful yet tinged with joy.

Sun Yu'er was an internal disciple and Lin Xuan's disciple as well, known for her intelligence and strategy. Even Lin Xuan held her in high regard. Now she had rushed to Cloud Fox Mountain; could she have a good idea?

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