I Become a Martial Arts God in the Chaotic Demon World

Gongyang Qu certainly couldn't swallow this insult.

However, he always prioritized the interests of the Sect above all. As long as the matter was in the Sect's interests, even if it required him to swallow his pride and endure in silence, he would do so.

But now, as Sima Chengzong planned to kill Han Zheng and take the blame himself, all he needed to do was to hold off Wan Zhongshan, which seemed like quite a profitable deal.

Even if Lin Qing couldn't secure a good ranking at the Weapon Casting Conference after eliminating Han Zheng, he could at least rank a bit higher.

"How do you plan to lure out Wan Zhongshan? And for what reason should I intercept Wan Zhongshan?

You kill Han Zheng, but I do not want to have any involvement with this matter, at least not any overt involvement."

Sima Chengzong spoke gravely, "The leader of the Yinshan Wolf Bandits, Luo Tianzuo, is a close friend of mine. The Yinshan Wolf Bandits have developed to their current scale all thanks to my covert support and resource delivery.

I have already instructed Luo Tianzuo to lead the Yinshan Wolf Bandits and prepare to take action outside of Qianjiang Prefecture; with Luo Tianzuo's deterrence, he will surely draw out Wan Zhongshan personally."

Gongyang Qu looked at Sima Chengzong intently.

He had already been aware of this man's great ambition and uncontented nature.

Now he saw that Sima Chengzong's reach was indeed long; he had been secretly supporting bandits and colluding with them!

The Yinshan Wolf Bandits were also a well-known group of bandits in the Southern Mountain, with fewer than a hundred people, but all of them experts, with five martial artists in the Xuan Gang Realm.

Although their leader Luo Tianzuo was not in the Dan Sea Realm, he had a fortuitous encounter in his early years, surviving after ingesting a Demon Lord's Demon Core. In critical moments, by invoking the power of the Demon Core and undergoing demonic transformation, he could match a practitioner of the Dan Sea Realm.

Although the transformation didn't last long, it had the deterrent power comparable to that of the Dan Sea Realm.

Such strength in a bandit organization was indeed worth Wan Zhongshan's personal attention.

"Luo Tianzuo is no match for Wan Zhongshan and is bound to be defeated. That's when Elder Gongyang needs to make his move."

Gongyang Qu furrowed his brow and said, "You want me to help a bandit like Luo Tianzuo? I am an Elder of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, how can I collude with bandits?"

Gongyang Qu didn't care about his own reputation but was concerned about the reputation of the Sect.

The Cang Mountain Sword Sect was one of the Five Families and Seven Sects. How could he, an Elder, collude with bandits and care about reputation?

"It's not collusion—it's that the Yinshan Wolf Bandits wish to repent and submit to the Cang Mountain Sword Sect!

Isn't this reason enough for Elder Gongyang to take action?"

Sima Chengzong stated forcefully, "Moreover, this isn't just an excuse but a fact.

The Yinshan Wolf Bandits have always been supported by my Sima Family, otherwise how could a bandit organization have grown this large? The outcome would have been either to be wiped out or to stagnate.

Now, my Sima Family no longer has the ability to continue supporting the Yinshan Wolf Bandits; it would be better to have them submit to the Cang Mountain Sword Sect.

As long as the Cang Mountain Sword Sect is willing to provide some resources to them, the Yinshan Wolf Bandits could immediately become a sharp knife in the hands of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect!

For the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, bringing a group of reformed bandits under its wing shouldn't affect its reputation, should it?"

"Are you serious!?"

The look in Gongyang Qu's eyes changed instantly.

If the Yinshan Wolf Bandits could submit to the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, that would be a tangible benefit.

Some of the dirty work the Cang Mountain Sword Sect didn't want to handle could be directly assigned to the Yinshan Wolf Bandits.

Although the strength of the Yinshan Wolf Bandits wasn't much for the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, it was definitely not weak.

"I have already discussed it with Luo Tianzuo; we're just waiting for Elder Gongyang's response."

Gongyang Qu stood up, his voice grave, "I'll take care of this matter. Brother Sima, rest assured and go kill Han Zheng. I'll hold off Wan Zhongshan!"

Seeing Gongyang Qu's agreement, Sima Chengzong tried to squeeze out a smile, but his face twitched twice, making him look strangely grotesque.

He was already on the path of no return and certainly wasn't able to smile.

Even if he killed Han Zheng, his Sima Family's collusion with Black Mountain Demon would be tantamount to cutting themselves off from the Human Clan.

The following morning.

Han Zheng awoke from his meditation.

After a night of cultivation, he had almost completely recovered the vital energy he had lost the previous day.

As soon as Han Zheng arrived at the grand hall of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, he saw Wan Zhongshan holding the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, with Fang Jueming nearby gathering the Xuanjia Guards, all appearing ready for dispatch.

"Wan, is there an emergency? Could it be that people from the Cang Mountain Sword Sect are causing trouble?"

Han Zheng's first thought was that Gongyang Qu couldn't accept defeat and had rallied the Cang Mountain Sword Sect to start trouble.

Wan Zhongshan shook his head and said, "That Gongyang Qu scum puts the interests of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect above all else. Without orders from above, he wouldn't dare to directly confront the Demon Cleansing Bureau.

There's been another disturbance outside the city. The Yinshan Wolf Bandits, notorious outlaws of the Southern Mountain, have appeared outside Qianjiang Prefecture, having just breached a minor noble house last night.

Damn it, when it rains it pours, this is seriously a pain in the ass."

"Wan, let Su Wuming and me go. I've already restored the vital energy I lost last night."

Wan Zhongshan flatly refused, "Though the leader of the Yinshan Wolf Bandits, Luo Tianzuo, is of the Xuan Gang Realm, his trump cards give him the strength comparable to the Dan Sea Realm.

I do believe you possess the might comparable to the Dan Sea Realm.

However, the Weapon Casting Conference is imminent, and you must remain at your peak at all times. You shouldn't risk injury over these matters.

Elder Xu sent you here to participate in the Weapon Casting Conference, not to help this old man deal with all this mess.

I'll handle this matter myself; you just stay put in Qianjiang Prefecture.

Your battle with Song Tianqing from the Cang Mountain Sword Sect yesterday has already deterred many disciples from the major sects.

A core disciple cultivated by a sect being crippled before the Weapon Casting Conference is enough to chill others' hearts. They probably won't dare cause any more trouble."

Wan Zhongshan insisted that Han Zheng should not go, and Han Zheng didn't press the matter any further.

Since the Yinshan Wolf Bandits were numerous, Wan Zhongshan ordered Fang Jueming to lead more than fifty Xuanjia Guards to pursue and exterminate them.

Wan Zhongshan might be aging, but he was still hot-tempered and decisive.

In some matters, if you're not going to do it, then don't start. But once you start, do it thoroughly, leaving not a single bandit alive.

After mustering his forces, Wan Zhongshan swiftly departed Qianjiang Prefecture with his men.

Meanwhile, outside Qianjiang Prefecture, Sima Chengzong was patiently waiting outside the city with over a hundred elite members of the Sima Family.

Wan Zhongshan had just left the city and wasn't yet far away; now was not the time to make a move.

Sima Zongcheng was a ruthless man as well.

This time, he didn't bring the Sima Family's best to Qianjiang Prefecture simply to kill Han Zheng, but to escalate the situation drastically—to storm the Demon Cleansing Bureau of Qianjiang Prefecture and to slaughter all Xuanjia Guards within the city!

Having killed Han Zheng and allied himself with the Black Mountain Demon, Sima Chengzong had no path of retreat left.

So, if there was no turning back, why not go to extremes?

Sima Chengzong had lived through the era when the Black Mountain Demon swept over the Southern Mountain.

This demon was not brutal; in fact, it was fairer to its subordinates than many of the Human Clan's sect leaders.

As long as you earned merits, whether you were Human Clan, demon, or whatever else, you could receive the benefits you desired.

Since Sima Chengzong planned to join the Black Mountain Demon, he couldn't simply offer Han Zheng's head; he needed to deliver the whole Demon Cleansing Bureau of Qianjiang Prefecture!

With Sima Feng's death, the future of the Sima Family among the Human Clan was cut short.

But as long as Sima Chengzong could successfully solidify a pill and greatly extend his life span, his own future was still alive!

After waiting for about an hour, Sima Chengzong estimated the timing: Wan Zhongshan would have already engaged with Luo Tianzuo by now, and Gongyang Qu was likely to have made a move as well.

At such a juncture, even if Wan Zhongshan sensed something was wrong, it would be too late for him to rush back.

Sima Chengzong waved his hand, and over a hundred Sima Family disciples, dressed in plain white and exuding a chilling aura of death, stood up.

Their white attire wasn't to mourn for Sima Feng and the others but to prepare for the ultimate sacrifice of the whole Sima Family.

Today's battle would lead to revenge and a new path if they won.

In defeat, they would have no grave to rest in, doomed never to recover.

Thus, Sima Chengzong made his disciples wear white to remind them to be prepared for a fight to the death.

Staring at the gates of Qianjiang Prefecture, Sima Chengzong commanded coldly, "Enter the city! Any wearing Xuan Armor, kill on sight!"