The Sect Master, Ling, swore revenge for being defeated by Ye Fan and the humiliation of being imprisoned. As a grandmaster, she couldn't bear the disgrace of being a prisoner.

The strength of the Earth Sect was not weak, with some cultivators scattered in secret realms and on different planets. These individuals were either the disgruntled ones left behind by Ling or those with grievances against the sect. After leaving the Earth Sect, they cultivated independently. However, in times of crisis, Ling could still summon them.

This time the Sect Master Ling planned to call these people back to engage in a life-and-death battle with Ye Fan, completely extinguishing Ye Fan's idea of uniting the Seven Major Sects, and also causing Ye Fan and his associates to taste the bitterness of imprisonment.

The male cultivator asked, "Sect Master, have you recovered your cultivation technique?"

"What?" Ling scrutinized the male and female cultivators, detecting their ill intentions as she noticed their concern for her injuries. "Of course, I have recovered. Otherwise, how could I command the hermits scattered across the Earth Sect to rally for a battle against Ye Fan and the six major sects?"

The female cultivator said, "Sect Master, now Ye Fan is uniting the seven major sects to combat the heavenly tribulation, which is a good deed. Why do we have to kill Ye Fan and even annihilate the six major sects? Is it true as rumored that the heavenly tribulation is actually caused by our Earth Sect people?"

"What are you saying, daring to question me as the Sect Master?" Ling was furious.

She didn't care who was before her or their status; she only knew that now, within the Earth Sect, she was respected, and everything must follow her orders.

However, both the male and female cultivators seemed to harbor ulterior motives. The male cultivator appeared ambitious, planning to eliminate Sect Master Ling and seize her position while she was yet to recover, and the female cultivator seemed to shun slaughter, apparently wanting to leverage Ye Fan's power to halt the incessant strife within the secret realm and bring peace to the world.

The male cultivator respectfully said, "Sect Master, you misunderstand. We just want to clarify some things to mobilize the sect disciples. Otherwise, there are fears that someone may disobey the Sect Master and attempt to harm you!"

Sect Master Ling thought, it's you who want to harm me, right?

But she couldn't expose the male cultivator's ambition; instead, she had to guard against it. She couldn't reveal any weakness in front of the male cultivator, as he was the most formidable among her subordinates in terms of cultivation and also posed the greatest threat to her. Ling thought, "Should I not have brought him here?"

"Sect Master, I have something to report!" Yet, the male cultivator's disciple intentionally wanted to test whether Sect Master Ling's injuries had healed, stepping slowly towards her.

The spiritual energy aura of the male cultivator's disciple was substantial. Previously, Ling, being at the early stage of crossing tribulation, wasn't apprehensive of it. But now it was different; her injuries had not healed, and without external aid, it could take years, even decades, to recover. She had initially called these two here to use their high cultivation to heal her injuries, but who knew she had invited wolves into the house, and now she found herself unable to escape easily.

"If you have something to say, report it from a distance." Ling, afraid the male cultivator would notice something amiss, maintained a calm expression.

"How can it be clearly explained from a distance... Actually, I've long admired you, Sect Master..." The male cultivator suddenly said something that revealed a flaw in Ling's heart.

Within the Earth Sect, romantic relationships were absolutely forbidden. Anyone showing signs of affection would be executed by the Sect Master, at the very least expelled from the sect, never to set foot on its grounds again. Throughout her century-long cultivation journey, Sect Master Ling had never considered matters of the heart, yet everyone harbors a seed of emotion within.

It's akin to how even Min Shang, who previously didn't understand emotions, became deeply enamored with Ye Fan upon meeting him, learning the mutual support and sacrifices between lovers. When Ling heard the male cultivator's "confession," she was momentarily lost in thought.

"Ah!" When Ling realized the gravity of the situation, the spiritual energy and the female cultivator's body had already shadowed her from the back, putting her in a passive position.

She was guarding against the male cultivator but lacked necessary vigilance against the female disciple behind her. It was only after the female's attack that Ling reacted, and now with her severe injuries, she struggled to deal with even one individual, let alone two.

Yet, Ling, being a master-level cultivator, managed to dodge, albeit with extreme difficulty, even under such adverse conditions. Even with fortified spiritual energy defense, her guard was breached instantly, damaging her meridians.

"You... ugh!" Ling spat out a mouthful of blood.

When she spat out the blood, the male and female cultivators realized she was heavily injured and hadn't recovered, for even with a sneak attack, the female disciple's cultivation normally wouldn't harm Ling in the slightest.

"Kill her, there's only one chance. Either she dies, or we die!" The male cultivator ordered decisively upon seeing the female hesitating.

"What?" The female cultivator was momentarily stunned.

In the Earth Sect, each generation's Ling was chosen through selection. Even if one were to challenge the Sect Master, it had to be done openly before fellow disciples, not secretly teaming up against the Sect Master, which is an unforgivable act of betrayal, punishable by death.

The male cultivator said, "Do you want to be oppressed by her, unable to lift your head for life? When I become the Sect Master Ling, I will marry you!"

This statement actually exposed the affair between the male and female cultivators. Only at this moment did Ling realize, but it was too late.

Although her servants were intentionally made to forget emotions, they were flesh and blood, capable of human feelings. It was understandable for them to grow close and pledge lifelong companionship. Ling merely hated herself for not noticing earlier. Now that they were a couple, everything was different.

"You..." Sect Master Ling glared at the two before her. She knew she couldn't confront them and could only look for an opportunity to escape.

"Sect Master, don't blame us; accept your fate as Ye the Alliance Hierarch's prisoner, forever confined, or his servant. Why come back to disrupt us when we must now ensure your death!" The male cultivator spoke, brandishing his sword toward Ling.

The adjacent female cultivator also advanced with her sword, yet her intent to kill Ling wasn't as forceful in terms of cultivation or determination, giving Ling a glimmer of opportunity.

"Traitors! I'll crush you!"

Sect Master Ling bellowed. Even if she couldn't rival the two combined, she could still defend, and their attacks left no retreat. They understood that it was a do-or-die situation; there was no third way.

Under the Earth Sect's rules, there's no escaping. They were unafraid of Sect Master Ling fleeing.

Previously, Ling indeed upheld the duties of an Earth Sect Master, aiming to annihilate the six major sects and dominate the Pan Gu secret realm, never backing down from challenges.

However, after being imprisoned by Ye Fan for some time, she began to understand that many tasks were beyond human effort. Sometimes, learning to retreat a step for broader horizons, preserving oneself for future fights, was essential.

In this context, she dared a stab in the back from the male cultivator to break through the female's defense area, paving a bloody escape route.

As the male and female cultivators realized her intent to escape, Sect Master Ling had already vanished from their sight in an instant.

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