Puchi! Puchi!
A strange bird, entirely azure with feathers shimmering like jade, flew past in a blur, piercing through thick fog. Beyond it, a sprawling architectural complex became visible.
Though located deep within the mountains, this architectural complex was built with utmost luxury, each brick and tile exquisitely crafted, revealing the immense effort and ingenuity invested during its construction.
Around the complex, powerful auras lay hidden, like vigilant guards watching in all directions. Upon seeing the blue bird, however, they paid no heed and allowed it to fly unhindered through the mountain gate.
Inside the mountain gate lay the domain of a great martial arts sect. Frequently, one could see talented young boys and girls dressed uniformly, following their masters and practicing martial arts techniques diligently.
“It’s the thousand-mile azure bird returning!”
Several female disciples, with red hair ribbons, oval faces, and a touch of baby fat, gazed at the bird shrinking into a black dot, their eyes filled with surprise: “What’s happening in the outside world that the thousand-mile azure bird must be dispatched to deliver news?”
“Jiji!”
Of course, the azure bird did not respond. It circled once more and flew to a secluded spot behind the sect, on a cliffside.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fierce winds howled, yet atop the cliff stood a verdant bamboo pavilion, miraculously standing firm amidst the gale.
“Qing’er has returned!”
Hearing the bird’s cry, the window of the bamboo pavilion opened. A hand as white as jade reached out to stroke the bird’s head before removing the bamboo tube tied to its foot.
The hand belonged to a girl with sparkling eyes that seemed to speak. After glancing at the scroll inside the tube, her expression abruptly changed.
Creak!
The bamboo door opened, and a beautiful woman in her twenties stepped out. Dressed in a light green gown, her skin was crystal clear and snow-like, exuding an indescribable charm. She walked calmly to the cliff’s edge and suddenly leapt down!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The wind roared on both sides as her figure plummeted rapidly.
Peng!
Her expression remained unchanged. In mid-air, she flicked her fingers repeatedly. A series of astonishing finger forces struck the cliffside, leaving deep marks and gradually countering her downward momentum.
At the bottom of the cliff lay a lush green meadow, surrounded by hot springs with rising mist, flowers blooming in all seasons, creating a paradise-like valley.
The green-clad woman landed gently, not even crushing a single blade of grass. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she slowly entered a nearby cave.
The cave wasn’t deep, and soon she reached its end, where a stone door was visible.
“Is that Biqiu? Come in!”
A magnetic voice came from behind the door, as if whispering directly into her ear.
“At once, Young Master!”
Biqiu pushed open the stone door, revealing a vast cavern inside.
Various oddly shaped stalactites adorned the surroundings, creating a surreal, radiant spectacle.
At the center of the cavern stood a massive block of ice jade, nearly hill-sized. Through its semi-transparent surface, a human figure could be seen inside!
The figure appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, wearing a flat-topped crown and brocade robe. His eyebrows were sharp like swords, extending into his temples. His ears resembled jade pearls, and his nose was high and straight. His face was sharply defined, clearly indicating a person of strong will and commanding nature.
Of course, at this moment, he resembled an insect trapped in amber. Were it not for his glowing eyes, anyone would mistake him for a masterfully crafted artwork.
“You’ve come?”
At this moment, the young man’s eyes shifted and locked onto Biqiu.
Though his lips didn’t move, his clear voice echoed loudly around.
“Your humble servant has urgent matters to report and dares disturb your cultivation! Congratulations on your further progress in martial arts!”
Biqiu bowed deeply, looking joyfully at the young man whose features were becoming increasingly distinct.
“Hmm… Although I possess both the Qian and Kun sections of divine martial arts passed down from the ancient Wu Huang, and recently received the Gen section from Qianshan Holy Land, even with my intelligence and talent, I cannot master them directly. I must rely on the power of this ten-thousand-year-old icy mountain to integrate the true energy of myriad mountains with my existing skills…”
The young man sighed: “Until my martial arts are fully perfected, I cannot leave this place even a single step… That’s why I entrusted the major tasks to you!”
“Biqiu deserves death!”
The young woman immediately broke into a cold sweat: “Our arrangements in Cangwu Prefecture… have encountered trouble! Yu Wenlong was killed, our forces scattered, and some even captured and assimilated by the enemy… They can no longer serve us…”
“Cangwu Prefecture is a minor matter. Still, Yu Wenlong, no matter how incompetent, was a high-level expert on the Earth Yuan List. Who killed him?”
“Wudao Ren, ranked third on the Earth Yuan List!”
Biqiu said slowly: “This person is a newly emerged expert from the Daoist sect. He once defeated Ding Jiao at Sanyang Sect, causing two thousand martial artists to kneel before him with just one word… Later in Cangwu Prefecture, he broke through eighteen defenses of Heitushan Mountain in succession, defeating the combined forces of Snake Elder, Hundred Flowers Lady, and Yu Wenlong in just a few moves, as easily as playing with infants!”
Though not present in Cangwu Prefecture, she seemed to know Wu Ming’s exploits in great detail, as if she had intimate knowledge of them.
“Unable to summon natural phenomena, he is ultimately not a Heaven Phenomenon expert! As long as he isn’t on the Heaven Phenomenon List, he poses no real threat to our grand plan…”
The young man spoke confidently:
“Wudao Ren’s true feat was defeating Snake Elder and two other Earth Yuan List experts combined. With such strength, he indeed ranks among the top on the Earth Yuan List… With him present, it’s no wonder Yu Wenlong failed. I had originally wanted to obtain the ‘Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Scroll,’ said to be painted by Wu Huang himself, just to admire it…”
“If the Young Master desires it, I shall personally lead a team to retrieve it!”
Biqiu immediately offered.
“Hehe… Just a piece of ink painting. The secret within it was already told to me by our agent inside Qinglian Holy Land. It’s merely an ultimate foundational cultivation technique, nothing significant…”
The young man sneered coldly: “My parents come from the Tianyuan and Di Ji holy lands. Now with the secret allegiance of Qianshan Holy Land, I already possess three of the eight supreme martial arts techniques once held by Wu Huang. Soon, I will propose marriage to the Holy Maiden of Qinglian Holy Land. According to our prior agreement, the Dui section martial art they safeguard will become part of her dowry! Thus, the four supreme martial arts techniques of Heaven, Earth, Mountains, and Marshes will all be under my control. Once I integrate them, who in this world can rival me?”
“Wu Huang was once the supreme ruler, subduing all under heaven… If I capitalize on his remaining prestige, subdue the other four holy lands, and then conquer the world, I will surely recreate his glorious achievements!”
“And then, I shall become the hegemon ruling over all, the new master of the Shenwu world after the Wu Dynasty!”
Listening to the young man’s grand plan, Biqiu couldn’t help but blush, her eyes filled with admiration and adoration: “Even if it costs me my life, I will help the Young Master fulfill this great ambition!”
“The ‘Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Scroll’ originally came from Qinglian Holy Land. I had originally planned to have Yu Wenlong present it as a gift of appeasement. Its loss isn’t that significant… However, Cangwu Prefecture is strategically important and must be secured. No information should leak out. As for Wudao Ren… eliminate him!”
The young man made the decision immediately.
“I understand… I will immediately dispatch the Thirty-six Heaven Mechanism Guards. Though their names are not well-known, when they combine their forces, even the top expert on the Earth Yuan List would fall before them!”
“Not enough!”
The young man countered: “Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion uses its full strength! Send Shan Lao as well! He should be near Cangwu Prefecture now, perfect for handling this matter together!”
“Shan… Shan Lao?”
Biqiu was startled: “With my status, I’m afraid I cannot command such a senior figure!”
“You can command him!”
The young master smiled, and a beam of light flew out from the ice jade mountain.
Biqiu received it with both hands, revealing a white jade token inscribed with the words “Tianmeng” on its front. Though similar in appearance to the Tianmeng token Wu Ming had previously obtained, its intricate patterns and craftsmanship were hundreds of times more refined.
“With my token, all Heaven Phenomenon-level martial artists under Tianyuan, Diji, Qianshan holy lands, and the Tianmeng alliance must obey without hesitation!”
The young man’s voice resonated with an air of absolute authority.
“At once!”
Biqiu held the token with both hands, slowly backing out.
Creak!
After the stone door closed, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence once more, with only the ice jade mountain and the surrounding stalactites emitting a faint glow.
“Just three sections of martial arts are already in such conflict. How did Wu Huang manage to integrate all eight sections back then? I refuse to believe…”
The young man’s voice, filled with struggle and low growls, echoed:
“I am a genius beyond compare; how could I possibly be inferior to Wu Huang back then… Just wait! I will surely surpass you!”
…
Jixing Prefecture.
This prefecture bordered Cangwu Prefecture. Though far less prosperous than Cangwu, it was still a well-known land of abundance.
Moreover, since no major factions considered it particularly valuable, Qingzhu Sword Sect stood alone and dominant in Jixing Prefecture. Without rival sects constantly clashing, the area enjoyed relatively good security, which could be seen as a blessing in disguise.
But today, a massacre was underway within Qingzhu Sword Sect.
No! It couldn’t even be called a massacre; it was sheer oppression, a blatant slaughter!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Gales howled, and the heavens and earth seemed to invert.
At the entrance of Qingzhu Sword Sect, thick dark clouds gathered without dispersing, covering an area of several miles. Faint ghostly cries could be heard from within.
At the boundary, the other side basked in bright sunshine, while here, dark clouds loomed, creating a bizarre contrast.
Of course, true connoisseurs among martial artists, upon witnessing this, would immediately feel their hair stand on end, fleeing in terror like stray dogs.
Changing the heavens and earth!
This was a unique ability of Heaven Phenomenon-level martial artists!
Such a martial artist could alter the environment over several miles with their own power. Facing a thousand opponents alone was no exaggeration; one person could indeed destroy an entire sect.
Wuwu!
Within the Qingzhu Sword Sect, accompanied by what seemed like an entire mass of oppressive dark clouds, numerous translucent spectral creatures flickered in and out of sight. Whenever they spotted a living person, they would lunge forward. Any disciple caught by them immediately developed a bluish-black pallor on their face, collapsing to the ground and turning into a desiccated corpse.
“Ten thousand ghosts demand the soul!”
You are ranked thirty-sixth on the Celestial Phenomenon List—Shan Guixiong!
Zzzt!
Several azure sword lights shot out, transforming into a few elderly martial artists whose eyes burned with grief and indignation. “Why resort to bullying the weak and exploiting your strength like this?”
“Hehe… You haven’t offended me, but you’ve provoked an even more formidable force!”
Shan Guixiong let out a series of cold laughs. “Since you know of the Heavenly Alliance Decree and have refused it, there is only one path left for you—death. It’s too late for regrets now!”
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