"Master, Elder, how are you all doing?" Lu Xing approached and saw that all three elders were grievously injured, which made him frown deeply.
With the abilities of Lu Xing and Yingzi, in addition to real masters' disciples like Xiao Haiyang and Wang Chengpeng, they could barely withstand the black-clothed elder and others. However, the sect patriarch and the Top-grade Corpse Demon were beyond what they could overcome.
"We're fine, just need some rest. But I'm afraid the array won't hold much longer," Cheng Ying sighed.
Xiao Xing also quickly helped Dong Xiangyun, her eyes red as she said, "Master, how are you?"
"Your two elders and I have done our best. We won't leave Star Sect, but we can't let you throw away your lives for us. You can leave Star Sect through the back mountain; I believe the forces of Puppet Corpse Sect won't be able to catch up with you in time," Dong Xiangyun said as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her voice as thin as a thread.
"No, I won't leave," Xiao Xing said, tears welling in her eyes. She shook her head vigorously. "Since I was little, I've been by Master's side. Without Star Sect, I have nowhere to go. I would rather die here."
"Yes, we would rather die here," Xiao Haiyang clenched his fists and said angrily. Many disciples in Star Sect were children adopted by the three elders, orphaned at a young age. Some disciples from the Outer Sect were children from clans that were affiliated with Star Sect and had been selected to join. Seeing the three elders defeated, it seemed only a matter of time before Puppet Corpse Sect would break through. Many showed hesitation.
"Those who want to leave, leave now. We would rather die in battle for Star Sect," Wang Chengpeng said, his eyes red.
The crowd helped the three elders into the Council Hall for a rest. The situation in Star Sect was precarious, and almost everyone was shrouded in despair. The Puppet Corpse Sect practiced evil cultivation techniques, and if they were killed by them, surely their bodies would be turned into corpse soldiers, even their souls destroyed, preventing rebirth.
"My family head has not come out yet; he will definitely save you when he does," Yingzi said.
Cheng Ying, Qiu Xingjian, Dong Xiangjun, and others were startled and then remembered Lin Mo. It seemed Lin Mo had reached the last level of the Starry Sky Tower, but even if he came out, what could he do?
"He's not even qualified to be our Sect Leader of Star Sect. When disaster has struck Star Sect, he's still inside the Starry Sky Tower. Who knows if he's too scared to come out," Wang Chengpeng said.
Although many disciples did not speak, they nodded in agreement.
Even though Lin Mo had made it to the last level of the Starry Sky Tower, many believed it was only because the Sect Leader had given him a magic treasure. Otherwise, how could he, at such a young age, have made it to the last layer?
"Don't gossip," Cheng Ying frowned, "Lin Mo was the Sect Leader appointed by our senior brother. We once promised that if he could successfully reach the Seventh Level, we would let him serve as the Sect Leader of our Star Sect."
Xiao Haiyang clenched his fists, his chest heaving, "But our Sect Leader is still not coming out now, huh, I see him as a coward afraid of death."
Lin Mo was an outsider, and naturally, his prestige could not compare to Xiao Haiyang's. Even in many people's hearts, Xiao Haiyang was already regarded as the next candidate for Sect Leader. Suddenly, with Lin Mo's emergence, of course, they were not willing to accept him as the Sect Leader.
Moreover, Star Sect was currently besieged by the Corpse Demon Sect, and the supposed 'Sect Leader' had not stood up to lead, leaving many unwilling to follow.
...
"Patriarch," the black-clothed elder said respectfully, bending slightly to the elder before him, "They have now hidden inside the Mountain Gate, and the Mountain Protection Array Formation has been activated. We can't break through it at the moment."
"I want to see how long they can hide. What's the use of a Mountain Protection Array Formation? Just smash it," the sect patriarch snorted coldly and waved his hand. A Golden Corpse that had been standing behind the black-clothed elder flew to the front of the Top-grade Corpse Demon. The Corpse Demon, as if seeing a delicacy, swallowed the Golden Corpse whole. Yet, its body size did not change at all. But by the same token, if the size remained the same while the weight increased, the density would be greater too.
The Top-grade Corpse Demon looked up to the sky and sprayed a stream of Death Energy from his mouth, his eyes blood-red. He walked up to the Mountain Protection Array Formation and pounded his fists against it relentlessly; the entire Array Formation of Star Sect trembled violently, as if it could possibly shatter under his fists at any moment.
The expression on the face of the Black-clothed Elder showed a flash of distress. It had not been easy to create the Golden Corpse, and just like that, it was consumed.
"What, are you feeling sad?" The Ancestral Master glanced at him with a hint of disdain in his peripheral vision.
The Black-clothed Elder immediately bowed his head and cupped his hands in respect, "Disciple dare not."
"Hmph," the Ancestral Master snorted coldly. "With the Top-grade Corpse Demon here, how long can his array possibly last? At most less than an hour, and the Mountain Protection Array Formation could be smashed apart."
The people of Star Sect could naturally feel the Array Formation shaking intensely. They estimated it wouldn't take too much time before the invaders from the Puppet Corpse Sect would break through the Mountain Protection Array Formation and barge in. At that time, the disciples of Starry Sky would truly become fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.
"Elder, that person has come out," suddenly a disciple rushed into the Council Hall, reporting.
Everyone was startled for a moment; they naturally knew he was talking about Lin Mo.
"Let's go have a look," Cheng Ying frowned and stood up quickly, leading everyone towards the Starry Sky Tower. At this point, everyone had placed all their hope on Lin Mo, hoping to witness some kind of miracle.
As expected, they saw Lin Mo, who had already come out, outside the Starry Sky Tower. Lin Mo had used a spell to transform himself into a suit, tall and straight as a sword, with features as fine as a painting—he did have the air of a handsome celebrity.
Lin Mo waved a fist at the air, which emitted a shrieking sound, his face at that moment revealing a brilliant expression.
Having just come out from the Nineteenth Level of the tower, Lin Mo was still not quite accustomed to it since the pressure on the Nineteenth Level had been so intense. Suddenly coming out, he found it a bit hard to control his own power.
It was like a student who had been playing basketball with sandbags tied to his legs and then one day the sandbags are removed. He would feel an indescribable relief, an exhilarating freedom, and his body was filled with a sense of power.
"If only I could find someone to practice with," Lin Mo sighed lightly, but then saw that many people were waiting for him outside.
"Master, you've come out," Yingzi exclaimed happily.
Lin Mo nodded his head and looked curiously at Cheng Ying and the other two elders; the three Elders looked as if they had just come out of a major battle with severe injuries.
"Elder Cheng, what's happened here?"
Soon enough, Lu Xing quickly briefed him on the situation. Upon hearing that there was an immensely strong Corpse Master outside, Lin Mo clenched his fists excitedly, "I was just worrying I couldn't find a punching bag. Just don't disappoint me, let's go take a look."
"Go out?" Wang Chengpeng furrowed his brow, "Lin Mo, we're not joking with you. Even the three elders are no match for him. Do you want us to go out and get killed?"
Lin Mo smiled faintly, "If you don't go out now, when they break through the Mountain Protection Array Formation, they will still come in."
Having said that, Lin Mo paid no attention to the others and strode towards the Mountain Gate.