The night passed without incident.
At dawn.
Dozens of figures had gathered at the mountain gate, all visibly tense, whispering among themselves, with some even pacing anxiously, their expressions grim.
At the front of the disorganized crowd stood two outer sect elders, their faces seemingly expressionless, yet their eyes betrayed complex emotions, as if they couldn’t even muster the energy to reprimand the disciples.
Clearly, none of them were pleased to be assigned such a mission. After all, the Red Heaven Sect had recently gained a fearsome reputation for its ruthless methods, and the odds of survival on this journey were uncertain.
To make matters worse, under such perilous circumstances, they were being led by a newly appointed elder, which only deepened their discontent.
At that moment, Yi Feng strode forward with light steps.
"Greetings, Elder Yi."
The crowd offered a perfunctory salute, their enthusiasm lacking.
Yi Feng, who had initially been in high spirits, was momentarily taken aback by the listless atmosphere. Out of courtesy, he clasped his hands with a smile."Respects to the two elders. There’s no need for formalities, everyone."
The group nodded politely but remained silent.
Twice now, the entire party had shown no energy whatsoever.
Their demeanor was far from that of a group shouldering a critical mission—it was as if the words "unwilling and reluctant" were written plainly on their faces.
Still, hoping to rally their spirits, Yi Feng offered some encouraging words.
"Everyone."
"This mission is of great importance to the future of Moon God Pavilion. We must steel our resolve."
At these words, the two elders finally responded half-heartedly.
"As Elder Yi commands."
The words were spoken, but the lack of enthusiasm remained.
Yi Feng smiled faintly, taking no offense, and instead reassured them. "I understand. This journey is perilous, and it’s only natural for everyone to feel uneasy."
"If any of you wish to withdraw, I won’t hold it against you. You may step back now without consequence!"
Yet, rather than accepting the offer, they hurriedly clarified their stance. While their morale was low, their loyalty to Moon God Pavilion was beyond question.
"Elder Yi, you misunderstand!"
"We are disciples of Moon God Pavilion, and we would gladly go through fire and water for our sect. If Elder Yi can undertake this task, how could we dare to lag behind?"
As the two elders voiced their determination, the other disciples quickly echoed their words.
"If Elder Yi can go, how could we dare to lag behind?"
Yi Feng gave a faint smile. "That’s good to hear."
"In that case, let us set out at once to gather intelligence on the Red Heaven Sect. If we can eliminate that sect, we’ll return in glory!"
His words made the two elders shake their heads again.
Their eyes flashed with resignation, and they couldn’t help but exchange silent messages.
"Ah, this young fool truly doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth."
"Indeed. I thought he was just brash and impulsive for accepting such a heavy responsibility, but to think he’d be so overconfident as to speak of destroying the Red Heaven Sect?"
"The Red Heaven Sect isn’t some minor faction to be wiped out so easily—they’re a sinister sect that has already annihilated two heavenly sects!"
"Exactly. He’s nothing but a reckless hothead, relying on a bit of cultivation to act so arrogantly and rush headlong into danger. He’s hardly fit for great responsibilities."
"Well, if we can just survive this trip, it’ll be a blessing. Let him have his way—after all, he is a Heaven-rank expert."
"Sigh. For the Pavilion Master to place trust in such a newcomer is truly worrisome."
"Enough. Let’s just set off."
After their silent exchange, the two elders composed themselves and took the lead.
With the elders guiding the way, Yi Feng and the disciples followed, transforming into streaks of light as they soared from the mountain gate, speeding into the distance.
By midday, they had traveled far from Moon God Pavilion, arriving in the territory where the Red Heaven Sect had been sighted.