System's Super Sect Chapter 1040 963: Kui Qing's Calm Composure

A sudden exclamation from Celestial Sea, like water from a well, shattered the calm within the Curved Realm Passage, stunning everyone gathered in the fifth echelon.

Hei Zhao, Celestial Traveler, Lan Feng... had they turned traitor?

How could such a thing be possible?

They were esteemed members of the Battle Division!

How could they possibly defect to a minor force like Heaven and Earth Lake?

Were they not concerned about the annihilation of their kin?

Even if they harbored no fear for their families,

Did they simply yearn for death?

The combined might of the first, second, third, and fourth echelons numbered over two hundred thousand souls.

How little time had passed since their entry into the Curved Realm Passage?

And already, a complete annihilation?

It seemed utterly impossible, didn't it?

Amidst the pervasive doubt, Celestial Sea emerged hastily from the Curved Realm Passage, his countenance grim.

The Vanguard Army stationed outside the passage remained dumbfounded.

The unbelievable truth was unfolding before them!

They could scarcely credit that the formidable Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted Celestial Sea would utter such a preposterous fabrication.

"How can this be?"

"Is the Immortal Sect not merely a nascent, insignificant force at Heaven and Earth Lake? How could they possibly have annihilated our four echelons in such a fleeting span?"

"A total of two hundred thousand individuals, wiped out in less than a quarter of an hour. This conflict with the Immortal Sect has barely commenced, and our losses are already catastrophic..."

"Hold your astonishment for now. Does it not strike you as peculiar that Lord Celestial Traveler, Lan Feng, and Hei Zhao would betray the Overcasting Tower? Yet, was not Lord Celestial Traveler already confirmed dead? The Hundred Sects Alliance at Heaven and Earth Lake bore witness to this event with their own eyes."

"Indeed, wasn't Senior Celestial Traveler already deceased?"

"Can the deceased participate in acts of betrayal?"

One hundred thousand individuals gazed upward at Celestial Sea, suspended in the sky, their eyes straining to pierce the mysteries within the Curved Realm Passage.

Yet, nothing was visible.

Only faint reverberations reached their ears.

The distinct sounds of a colossal battle!

For a harrowing moment, the remaining hundred thousand stood frozen in disbelief.

Two hundred thousand had already perished.

Should they venture inside, would it not be an equally fatal outcome?

Amidst their burgeoning panic, Kui Qing, observing from his vantage point in the sky, bellowed with fierce indignation, "A mere fledgling force from Heaven and Earth Lake instills such terror in you? Are the warriors of my Battle Division truly so craven?"

Kui Qing's enraged roar managed to quell the nervous murmurs rippling through the crowd of a hundred thousand.

However, no matter Kui Qing's admonitions, the deep-seated unease within them remained largely unassuaged.

Had there been a righteous cause to champion, their hearts would have been fortified with unwavering conviction.

For instance, if they were engaged in the extermination of operatives from the Ghost Country,

Then, their fearlessness would have been absolute.

Mere conviction alone would have been sufficient to sustain an inner state of dauntless courage.

In such a scenario, death itself would lose its terrifying aspect.

But confronting the Immortal Sect from Heaven and Earth Lake, they were merely executing orders.

They acted under duress, their participation even against their will.

In the brief span of moments, twenty thousand soldiers of the Vanguard Army from the Battle Division had fallen; how could they not be plagued by apprehension?

Death itself was not the primary fear.

The greatest dread stemmed from dying without understanding why.

Dying in utter futility!

Having momentarily pacified the hundred thousand with his fiery words, Kui Qing urgently questioned Celestial Sea, "Celestial Sea, what transpired?"

"Celestial Traveler is not dead; this entire affair is a conspiracy orchestrated by Hei Zhao and Lan Feng! They have defected to the Immortal Sect, their power drastically augmented, leaving us with no quarter. Nearly ten thousand soldiers of the Vanguard Army from the Battle Division perished under their insidious Vein Technique. Furthermore, formidable figures from the Immortal Sect launched relentless assaults at the exit of the Curved Realm, obliterating our warships before they could even breach the passage. Over fifty percent of the twenty thousand Vanguard Army soldiers met their demise within the confines of the Curved Realm." Celestial Sea's expression was one of profound grimness, but recalling Ye Yi and the others who were still engaging Celestial Traveler and his companions, he hastily implored, "Since joining the Immortal Sect, Celestial Traveler's trio has experienced a substantial surge in their capabilities, rendering us five utterly outmatched. I beseech you, sir, to personally intervene and vanquish these three traitors!"

Kui Qing listened intently, his countenance abruptly adopting a rigid, unyielding cast.

The five War Gods of the Battle Division exchanged glances, their eyes blazing with righteous fury.

"Celestial Traveler, Hei Zhao, and Lan Feng possess a truly audacious nerve! To dare betray the Overcasting Tower, I swear I shall rend them limb from limb!"

"Utterly contemptible!"

The four impulsively moved to charge forward.

However, Kui Qing intervened, halting their advance.

For Kui Qing possessed the swiftness of mind to regain composure.

He understood that in moments of collective rage, it was imperative for him to maintain absolute calm!

And to remain unswayed by the surrounding fervor!

Otherwise, further catastrophic losses would befall the Vanguard Army.

Should a severe reprimand descend from the higher authorities, they would find themselves unable to evade accountability.

The esteemed title of War God within the Battle Division carried immense prestige and considerable authority, yet it was a position coveted by many rivals.

Within the Battle Division and its various departments, ambition burns brightly in the hearts of many aiming for advancement. Consequently, further errors are simply unaffordable.

"Everyone, let not your judgment be clouded by rage. Celestial Traveler, Hei Zhao, and Lan Feng all spent their formative years under the aegis of the Overcasting Tower, dedicating one or two centuries to the Battle Division's cause. If betrayal were their intent, why would they choose this very moment?"

The four individuals present halted their movements.

The other formidable experts of the Battle Division, poised to charge into the Curved Realm Passage, also ceased their advance.

Kui Qing continued, his voice resonating with gravity, "In other words, why did their betrayal manifest immediately after their visit to Heaven and Earth Lake?"

"Kui Qing, what precisely is the implication of your words?"

"Cease this drivel! The trio of Celestial Traveler must be eliminated without delay!"

The four War Gods of the Battle Division found themselves in a precarious position, facing considerable resistance.

Observing their predicament, Kui Qing elaborated, "The repercussions for betraying the Overcasting Tower are a truth known to us, and even more so to them. Yet, they still chose this path. Regardless of the underlying motivations, we need not dissect them at length. The crucial understanding we must arrive at is this: there is undoubtedly an expert of the Celestial Unrestricted realm backing them!"

Kui Qing's declaration hung in the air.

The countenances of all present shifted once more.

"Are you certain of this?"

"A Celestial Unrestricted expert!"

The four War Gods grasped the gravity of the situation; if a Celestial Unrestricted expert truly orchestrated this, the complications would be immense.

As it stood, the Curved Realm Passage was incapable of accommodating Celestial Unrestricted experts. At most, it could permit Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted experts, but even they harbored a degree of apprehension towards the Curved Realm and could hardly contend with a fully realized Celestial Unrestricted expert.

Should they charge in rashly, and if Celestial Traveler's trio were merely pawns in a larger game, would they not be plunging headlong into a meticulously laid trap?

If a Celestial Unrestricted expert were to intervene, how could escape possibly be achieved?

Kui Qing pondered with a grave expression for several breaths before speaking again, "The Immortal Sect has made thorough preparations. A direct assault is no longer a prudent course of action. Furthermore, if a Celestial Unrestricted expert stands guard at the exit of the Curved Realm, even summoning more War Gods to our aid would prove futile. Such an expert could dispatch us with ease, especially considering we would be trapped within the confines of the Curved Realm. They would merely need to push us into it, and our chances of survival would vanish entirely."

As Kui Qing spoke, his expression grew increasingly somber.

The other four War Gods of the Battle Division were equally affected by his words.

"Kui Qing, your composure is invaluable. Had it not been for your foresight, we might have fallen prey to that Earth Unrestricted expert's scheme."

"If it is inadvisable for us to enter, what then of your subordinates, Ye Yi and his companions?"

Kui Qing responded with urgency, "Celestial Sea, you must re-enter immediately. Convey to Ye Yi and the others the order to withdraw from the Curved Realm Passage without delay. We must devise a new strategy; a reckless advance is no longer an option."

Celestial Sea nodded in understanding and swiftly transformed into a streak of light, re-entering the Curved Realm Passage.

However, aware of the presence of a Celestial Unrestricted expert lurking beyond the Curved Realm Passage, Celestial Sea made a firm resolution: he would not venture too deep!

Maintaining a safe distance was paramount.

After Celestial Sea’s re-entry into the Curved Realm, Kui Qing turned his gaze to the four individuals beside him. After a prolonged period of contemplation, he declared, "The Immortal Sect has established a formidable defense. Our combined might is likely insufficient to breach the Curved Realm Passage. We are left with two primary options: either forge a new Curved Realm Passage or petition other divisions for reinforcements."

The creation of a new Curved Realm Passage offered the advantage of complete concealment from the Immortal Sect.

This was due to the nature of their detection; Curved Realm Passages could only be pinpointed at the precise moment of their emergence, which caused specific disturbances in the spatial fabric.

Provided they did not foolishly announce the opening of a new passage a full day in advance, the Immortal Sect would remain entirely unaware of the exact coordinates of its subsequent appearance.

(To discover the continuation of this saga... the revelations will unfold tomorrow!

Will Wen Ping remain a passive observer?

Will Wen Ping uncover the clandestine operation of the second Curved Realm Passage?

Will an update grace your screens tomorrow?)