NOVEL WEB Chapter 129: War Breaks Out!
Just when Hong Yuan was preparing to condense his Taoist True Body and cultivate the incomplete version of the Nine Blood Clone Technique, an earth-shattering change took place at the distant Qinglu Taoist Temple.
Darkness enveloped all things, and thunder judged mankind.
The region of Green Heaven above the Qinglu Taoist Temple had been shattered by the Martial Saints, and the aftershocks of the Martial Saints' great power even reached the earth!
Facing such a terrifying scene, countless Taoist priests looked up. Whether they were from the lineage of master and disciple or from the lineage of prestigious families, all were speechless.
Shortly after, four longswords of different colors and shapes stood out against the sky, followed by the appearance of four figures with elusive Tao Rhyme, akin to the great sun high in the sky.
For a moment, the Qinglu Taoist Temple was in an uproar.
"It's the 'Four Sword Masters of Slaying Emperor' from the sword cultivator Li Family!"
"One family overpowers a Holy Land, did the sword cultivator Li Family really do it?"
"Generations of Celestial Masters, Generations of Celestial Masters, alas and alack."
The Martial Saints' Great Turmoil had lasted for years. When the people of Qinglu Taoist Temple saw that its ultimate winner was the sword cultivator Li Family, voices of disbelief erupted from them.
But soon, there were cries, cheers, and sounds of lament...
The lineage of master and disciple grieved, while the sword cultivator Li Family and its allied prestigious families cheered, and the hidden operatives from other Overlord Sects felt sorrow for the fall of their kind.
One of the 'Four Sword Masters of Slaying Emperor', Breaking Army Sword Master Li Taihao, steadied his breath and said, "Effective immediately, King without Ego will resign from the position of Taoist Temple Head, and the Family Head of the Li Family, Li Weiquan, will assume the position."
His voice was as mighty as a hurricane.
In the main hall of the Taoist Temple Head, King without Ego, with his fifth-order pinnacle cultivation, was pale-faced, clenching his fists. Meanwhile, outside the hall, Li Weiquan, the Family Head of the Li Family, had a slight smile on his lips as he strode forward.
From that point on, the position of Celestial Master of the Qinglu Taoist Temple belonged to the sword cultivator Li Family's lineage, and the Family Head of the sword cultivator Li Family became the new Celestial Master for generations to come!
New officials take office with new policies.
In this situation that was like changing the sky and the earth, the Qinglu Taoist Temple launched an attack on the various Overlord Sects, starting to recover its old territories.
Qingmu Mansion, Xuehong Mansion, Shuntian Mansion...
And the Nanyang Government!
The war gradually began.
「...」
「...」
The shocking change in the Qinglu Taoist Temple was even heard by Hong Yuan, who stayed indoors in Phoenix River Town.
Three Sting Bee Worms carried 'Little Armor', drifting along the main street and lurking on the rooftop of a tavern in front.
Engraved on 'Little Armor' was a small Sound Tao Energy Array, an improvement Hong Yuan made after previously being unable to hear the audio during live broadcasts.
For the first time in a while, Hong Yuan paused his cultivation and started listening to the conversations of the tavern patrons.
"Speaking of those Qinglu warriors, they are truly brave, nearly managing to break into Nanyang County."
"No kidding, just hearing about it gives me the chills."
"You know about Guan Lan, right? He has thwarted General Muluk's plans once again and saved Luo City."
"..."
The tavern patrons were enthusiastically discussing the battles ahead, as if they were strategists pointing out the landscape from afar.
When Hong Yuan heard Guan Lan's name becoming widely known, he sat up a little straighter.
He had a very clear memory of this martial arts heavenly talent who was wholeheartedly devoted to the path.
War has truly erupted. Heroes from all walks are sharpening their weapons and feeding their steeds, each awaiting their turn on stage, Hong Yuan mused.
Guan Lan is impressive indeed. If he survives and returns to the Sect, he'll surely receive its full support, putting him far ahead of his peers, Hong Yuan inwardly praised.
For disciples like Guan Lan, with exceptional talents and virtues, willing to sacrifice their lives for the Sect, any sane person would prioritize their cultivation.
The Phoenix Creek Sect, an overlord among Sects, understood this all too well.
By now, countless disciples within the Sect must be gearing up, eager to make a name for themselves at a young age, following in Guan Lan's footsteps.
Sadly, high rewards come with high risks. Opportunities that demand risking one's life are for those who want them, Hong Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly as he quickly filtered out the information about Guan Lan.
The three Sting Bee Worms remained on the roof of the tavern, earnestly gathering intelligence.
Perhaps due to the fluctuations of the Energy Array, quite a few Martial Artists in the tavern had noticed the three of them and were preparing to investigate.
Hong Yuan also felt the atmosphere of the Sting Bee Worms being watched, but he didn't care at all.
Sting Bee Worms were merely first-rank Worms, and they weren't Cultivation Worms at that; they were expendable and could simply self-destruct if needed.
Later on, through the three Sting Bee Worms, Hong Yuan heard news about siblings Chen Qingdai and Chen Zhen, as well as Liu Xiang'er. They were doing well and had gained some recognition.
From noon until the afternoon, Hong Yuan finally obtained news about Pengcheng, and about his Senior Brother Mo Jiuyou.
"Latest news, latest news! General Black Wolf, Mo Jiuyou, in coordination with the Elders of the Talisman Array Hall, has decisively repelled the large refugee force assaulting Pengcheng, achieving a decisive victory."
"General Black Wolf, it's been a long time since I've heard that title. So now it belongs to Mo Jiuyou..."
"Hey, I've heard a peculiar tale. It's said that a group of disciples from the Qinglu Taoist Temple intended to capture General Black Wolf's junior brother to threaten him, but no matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find General Black Wolf's junior brother."
The Sting Bee Worms didn't move an inch, yet the Sound Tao Energy Array on them was clearly operating in an overloaded state.
In the dim cultivation room, Hong Yuan felt puzzled, his eyebrows furrowing slightly before smoothing out again.
With a smirk, Hong Yuan said, "Tsk, tsk, to think they would try to target me as a way to deal with Senior Brother Nine Nether. How despicable."
If he hadn't left early, not waiting for the six-month period to end before returning, he might have actually been captured by those disciples of the Qinglu Taoist Temple.
After listening a bit longer and hearing no more useful information, Hong Yuan had a thought. Suddenly, three distinct POPS! erupted above the tavern.
The three Sting Bee Worms exploded into bits, and the Energy Array broke too.
Inside the tavern, several Martial Artists simultaneously stood up and swiftly rushed to check on the remains of the Sting Bee Worms.
"I need to find some time to re-cultivate the Sting Bee Worms," Hong Yuan said, rising from the secret chamber and stretching lazily, bored.
The half-year period was largely over. In another month, he could return to the Sect and be secure.
He had already progressed to the first layer of the Nine Blood Differentiation Skill and only needed the right opportunity to create a new external Avatar.
「...」
「...」
「More than a month earlier, in Dongyu District of Pengcheng.」
When the news arrived that the sword cultivator Li Family had triumphed, becoming the lineage of Celestial Masters for generations to come, and had launched an attack, Fan and his four associates, who were monitoring the Dongyu District Official, started to act.
Yes, there were five of them, not three.
Since Hong Yuan had been secluding himself for an extended period and only moved within the Dongyu District Official's jurisdiction, Li Zixing sent more manpower to capture Hong Yuan, determined to leave him no way out.
It was a profound night that perfectly fit the description: "A night with a dark moon and high winds is perfect for murder."
Accompanied by a thunderous boom, five skilled disciples from the Qinglu Taoist Temple brazenly stormed the Dongyu District Official's office.
Their aim was to corner Hong Yuan to threaten Mo Jiuyou and strike at the prestige of the Phoenix Creek Sect in Pengcheng.
But there was no sign of Hong Yuan!
In other words, they had not only waited for months in vain but had also exposed themselves, putting themselves in danger.