Chapter 113: Chapter 99: Shock from All Sides
After Eunuch Ye helped the envoy clean up the aftermath, he left with the bodies of the four Celestial Being strong persons from the Demon Sect.
Meanwhile, the butcher had not yet received orders to leave. He smiled at Taoist Longshan, then returned to True Martial City.
Some disciples of the True Martial Sect recognized his identity and were secretly astonished.
They knew he sold pork in True Martial City, and a select few had even conversed with him, but they never realized he was a Celestial Being strong person hidden by the Imperial Court.
Ye Qinghe widened her eyes, remembering that she and her junior brother had once bought pork at this butcher’s stall.
"What a stroke of fate!"
She sighed in her heart.
And then she suddenly panicked, where was her junior brother?
She searched everywhere but couldn’t find Ning Qi, and her heart filled with anxiety, wondering if he had been injured in the previous chaos.
Ye Qinghe quickly reported to Taoist Longshan:
"Master, junior brother is missing!"
Taoist Longshan paused, then smiled and said:
"Don’t worry. I’ve already transmitted a message to Tiansheng, telling him and Jiu to hide."
Ye Qinghe immediately felt relieved.
Taoist Longshan looked at Ye Qinghe, secretly sighing. It was better to keep Ning Qi’s identity as True Man Tianjian hidden for now; the fewer people who knew, the better.
If the Demon Sect knew that the esteemed True Man Tianjian wasn’t an elder on the brink of death but an eight-year-old child, it would likely cause unrest.
Even.
The Great Yan Dynasty might not be able to accept Ning Qi.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before.
Ning Qi reappeared, looking dusty but unharmed, causing Ye Qinghe to laugh. Ning Qi and Taoist Longshan exchanged a glance and smiled, understanding each other without words.
...
The news of the True Martial Sect being attacked by five Celestial Beings from the Demon Sect spread from True Martial City throughout the Qing State.
In the attack by the five Celestial Beings, one was as formidable as a master from the Celestial Being List.
But it happened that the Town North King was visiting, and he swiftly wiped out four of the Demon Sect Celestial Beings, sending their strongest member fleeing in terror.
The whole Qing State was in an uproar.
The renown of the Town North King reached new heights.
As details emerged, people realized that before the Town North King appeared, True Man Tianjian had already intervened, resisting the Demon Sect’s strongest Celestial Being, clearly displaying his Celestial Being List-level strength. Many swordsmen became fanatical, declaring that True Man Tianjian would surely enter the Celestial Being List next time.
The Martial Realm is full of opportunists, and the weapons used by those on the Celestial Being List—whether sword or blade—are closely watched, as the majority of martial artists use either a sword or a blade.
Therefore.
If swordsmen outnumbered blademen on the Celestial Being List, those using a sword would take pride in it.
Currently, the swordsmen and blademen are equal in number on the list, with the last spot occupied by a blademan.
If True Man Tianjian could enter the list, displacing the last spot, it would mean swordsmen would outnumber blademen on the Celestial Being List, making True Man Tianjian’s achievements highly watched.
To this.
Ning Qi felt somewhat helpless.
He only wished to cultivate quietly and seek the path of immortality.
Meanwhile.
Not only did the attack on True Martial Mountain cause a sensation in Qing State, but the Wang Clan was also attacked by the Demon Sect on the same night!
But unlike True Martial Mountain, where they had the good fortune of the Town North King’s presence,
the Wang Clan wasn’t so lucky.
Although the Imperial Court paid more attention to the Wang Clan, stationing three Celestial Human Realm experts there, they were no match for Ghost Mask Vice Sect Leader, who also brought four Celestial Human Realm experts. The outcome was predictable.
The newly rebuilt main residence of the Wang Clan was once again razed to the ground, this time even more completely.
The three Celestial Human Realm experts from the Imperial Court were slain.
The Wang Family Ancestor was missing.
Some say they saw the Wang Family Ancestor crushed to dust, with no remains left, others say the Demon Sect strongmen took him away, and still others say he used a secret technique to escape.
Upon hearing.
Ning Qi’s eyes remained calm.
Acts of heaven cannot be lived with; why involve oneself in such massive conflicts? One could only say the Wang Ancestor underestimated the Demon Sect’s vengeance; even with the Imperial Court’s protection, one can’t be guarded forever.
Ning Qi speculated that it might have been the last straw, frustrated by being humiliated by his master, a younger generation, coupled with the Wang Ancestor nearing his end, which drove him to gamble by allying the Wang Clan with the Great Yan dynasty.
After all, the Wang Clan had made numerous enemies over the years. If the Wang Ancestor fell and there weren’t any new Celestial Humans, it was inevitable that they would be eroded and destroyed.
Better to gamble.
Alas, the gamble was lost.
The Wang Clan, which prospered in Qing State for hundreds of years, vanished into thin air. Even the few branch families or the luckiest survivors would have to hide their identities in the future.
As for whether the Wang Ancestor died, Ning Qi didn’t dwell on it.
If he did survive, he’d just deal with him casually when the time came.
Ning Qi lay on a rattan chair, comfortably changing positions. He felt the seed of the Enlightenment Tea Tree underground was noticeably more active, full of life.
Elder Wang’s body lay beneath, providing nutrients to the seed.
Ning Qi couldn’t help but remark:
"The flesh of a Celestial Human Realm being is truly something."
Thinking this, he felt a bit of regret.
The four other corpses of the Demon Sect’s Celestial Beings had all been taken away.
If the Wang Ancestor were still around, he could have borrowed his body to use.
Perhaps then the Enlightenment Tea Tree would sprout soon.
...
The two instances of Celestial Human Realm battles involving the True Martial Sect and the Wang Clan shocked everyone and gradually instilled a sense of unease.
It’s too frequent!
In the past, battles between Celestial Human Realm beings were rarely seen, but now they were falling one after another.
If this is how Celestial Human Realm beings fare, what about everyone else?
Are they just cannon fodder?
Some people consulted records and discovered the situation was somewhat similar to one hundred years ago when the Demon Sect was similarly menacing until a Martial Saint of Great Yan intervened, suppressing the Demon Sect’s strongest, leading to their disappearance. Now it seems they’re poised for a comeback.
Some people have keenly noticed that the current omens seem even more fierce than a hundred years ago.
Many have started to be cautious, avoiding getting involved.
After all, even if the Martial Saint from Great Yan intervenes, countless people may die in the process.
Yet there are those who are looking forward to it, even choosing sides secretly.
In chaotic times, heroes emerge, fortune is sought in danger, and the more chaotic Great Yan becomes, the more opportunities there are to accelerate growth.
The Martial Realm of Great Yan gradually descends into chaos.
No matter how the Martial Realm views this situation.
Both factions are extremely angry.
Great Yan feels that although both sides lost four Celestial Human Realm experts, the Demon Sect exterminated the Wang Clan, leaving them at a disadvantage.
On the other hand, the Demon Sect feels that this time they lost five Celestial Being experts, along with a strong Elder like Elder Wang, suffering heavy losses.
The Underground Palace of the Demon Sect.
The atmosphere was incredibly oppressive.
Ghost Mask sat atop the throne without speaking, but anyone could imagine the solemn expression beneath the bronze mask, making everyone afraid to speak.
After a moment.
Ghost Mask’s indifferent voice sounded:
"Elder Wang has not returned yet?"
"Reporting to the Vice Sect Leader, he... he has not."
"It’s been days, it seems Elder Wang has indeed fallen." Ghost Mask stood tall.
"I secretly investigated and discovered traces of a battle, suspected to be between Elder Wang and an unknown strong person. Elder Wang suffered a one-sided defeat and disappeared, and the person used a Fist Technique resembling Heaven-Suppressing Fist, likely Town North King, but it could be an impersonator."
A chilling aura instantly filled the entire hall.
"I have never heard of Town North King teaching Heaven-Suppressing Fist to anyone else."
"Town North King, excellent, truly excellent!"
Anger rose in everyone’s eyes.
The world rumors that this time both the Demon Sect and the Imperial Court lost four Celestial Being experts, seemingly evenly matched, while only they know that they lost five Celestial Being, and the Imperial Court merely lost three Celestial Human Realm experts.
Not to mention that they also lost an existence like Elder Wang, comparable to being on the Celestial Being List.
"Town North King acts without conscience!"
"Someday Town North King must pay with blood!"
"Rumors say Town North King and the Great Yan Emperor are friendly only in appearance, originally contemplating recruitment, but now it seems, this bastard was merely acting!"
Angry curses rang out.
Someone’s voice was filled with murderous intent:
"The True Martial Sect has repeatedly caused our Holy Sect to lose Celestial Beings. Though this sect is weak, it interferes with our Holy Sect’s rise. I suggest, Vice Sect Leader, that you lead us to destroy the True Martial Sect!"
Everyone’s gaze froze, looking at Ghost Mask.
Ghost Mask pondered, glancing at Qin Yun who had his head lowered.
"Qin Yun, what do you think?"
Qin Yun’s body slightly shook, he lifted his head, gaze calm:
"I believe... we should not."
A voice came from behind, dripping with sarcasm:
"I’ve heard before that Guardian Qin hails from the True Martial Sect, now preventing us from destroying True Martial, does he still harbor feelings for the old master?"
Mocking and questioning gazes fell upon Qin Yun.
Qin Yun remained silent, without refuting.
Ghost Mask stared at him:
"Give me a reason."
Qin Yun slowly spoke:
"Our Holy Sect has fought continuously, losing ten Celestial Beings. Continuing large-scale conflict is detrimental to our future; it’s better to recuperate for now."
"Though True Martial Sect is weak, it possesses True Man Longshan and True Man Tianjian, two Celestial Beings. If we continue to send multiple Celestial Beings there and fall into an Imperial Court ambush, our Holy Sect will suffer greatly."
"You want the Vice Sect Leader to go personally; if the Imperial Court has laid down a trap, wouldn’t that put the Vice Sect Leader in danger?"
"Dare I ask, what are your intentions?"
His words were calm, yet sharp, leaving the person speechless, his face turning pale.
"You! I am loyal to the Vice Sect Leader; how could a mere child like you speculate? The True Martial Sect, insignificant as they are, wouldn’t warrant such attention from the Imperial Court?"
Qin Yun faintly retorted:
"Then how do you explain Town North King? Do you claim it’s a coincidence? Are you going to use this coincidence to disregard the Vice Sect Leader’s safety?"
Ghost Mask’s gaze narrowed.
The person behind cold sweat pouring, knelt to the ground:
"I mean no such thing; Qin Yun clearly holds old sentiments for the True Martial Sect!"
Qin Yun bowed and cupped his fists towards Ghost Mask:
"Vice Sect Leader, I merely believe that the insignificant True Martial Sect is like an ant, unable to obstruct our Holy Sect; otherwise, it would be ridiculous. There is no need to persist in this at the current crucial juncture. Even if we are to destroy the True Martial Sect, wait a few years for the turmoil to pass, when the Imperial Court’s attention is elsewhere, and our Holy Sect can crush them effortlessly."
"At that time, I am willing to take the lead and personally take the head of Taoist Longshan."
His gaze was calm, as if he was discussing a trivial matter.
Ghost Mask chuckled, his gaze somewhat cruel and callous.
"You make a good point, I’ll give you three years, then you will personally lead to destroy True Martial Sect, how about it?"
Qin Yun’s heart trembled, but he finally took a deep breath:
"I accept the orders."
"However, I feel my strength is insufficient, and have a request."
"Say it."
"I’d like to enter the Blood Demon Pool."
The hall was silent, shocked gazes turned to Qin Yun.
This guy... is crazy?
Ghost Mask’s pupils contracted slightly, then burst into laughter:
"I permit it!"