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墨書 Inktalez
The Hua Shan Uprising had come to an end, and disciples from various sects, led by their higher-ups, made their way down the mountain. They gazed at the crowd below, a mass of dark figures that obscured any clear view of what was happening.
Each sect had hoped to gain something from the condemnation meeting against Yang Hao at Hua Shan, but the Five Major Sects had little to share. The knowledge that Yang Hao acquired from the Martial Dao Classic would never be returned, leaving everyone with nothing but a broadened perspective from this trip to Hua Shan.
What was even more disheartening was the battle with Yang Sanqian and his wife, where Yang Sanqian had unleashed forbidden techniques to decimate Eight Thousand Disciples. If he hadn't been stopped in time, the death toll would have exceeded ten thousand.
Everyone finally understood. This middle-aged man, who appeared scholarly and mild-mannered, could not be contained when he truly went wild.
No wonder he had boldly declared twenty years ago that if anyone dared to assassinate the Yaochi Saintess, he would slaughter all disciples of any sect involved.
The Divine Hero was known as such for a reason; tales spoke of his chivalry and almost superhuman abilities. Though he was generally gentle and avoided disputes, he was unyielding when it came to matters concerning his son Yang Hao and wife Jiyao. This time, many sects had offended the Divine Hero by yielding to the Five Major Sects.
“Huzi, how is Guo Daozhen so formidable? Wasn't he persecuted for decades at Futu Ridge?” asked Wu.
Huzi replied, “I don't know either; perhaps it has something to do with his Dao Body.”
Yang Sanqian explained, “Once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, the Nascent Soul becomes their Dao Body. Cultivating away from the body can yield great results, but if the Dao Body leaves the body, the main body loses its Dao Qi and stagnates in Qi Sea. No one would forsake their divine nature to become mortal; even those who retreat into mountains face dangers. Therefore, it's safest for the Dao Body to remain within its original form. Guo Daozhen's Dao Body was trapped by Old Scholar in Futu Stupa for decades, absorbing sunlight and moonlight, even drawing on Dragon Vein energy. It has become far more powerful than an ordinary person's Dao Body.”
“I see,” Wudao said. “Daoists are indeed prone to misfortune. It’s likely that Guo the Blind experienced a narrow escape before reclaiming his Dao Body. His achievements are not surprising; however, since he is a disciple of Old Scholar, why does he harbor such deep enmity?”
“Guo the Blind's mother was nailed into her coffin by Old Scholar—immortal for seventy years without decay…”
As Yang Sanqian and his group descended the mountain, at a high slope at the foot of Hua Shan, Li Fugui in simple military attire gazed up at the Daoist Sect members on the mountain.
“Report, sir! The missiles are ready and awaiting your command for launch!” A tall soldier stood at attention behind Li Fugui.
“Hmm,” Li Fugui responded calmly. “Cancel the missile launch; instead, we will execute in batches at several forks in the road.”
“Yes!” The soldier turned and headed back in the direction they came from.
After a while, a young military officer in uniform approached with an unhappy expression and said, "What’s going on? You gathered so many troops here and even requested missiles to wipe out these cult organizations that are neither human nor ghost. Now you’re saying we won’t use them? Do you have any idea how many resources this operation consumes and how much money it costs? Have you consulted with your superiors?"
The young officer pointed at Li Fugui, criticizing him harshly. In response, Li Fugui slapped the young leader across the face, causing his head to spin several times before he collapsed, dead from the blow. Li Fugui remarked, "Even the commander of the military district doesn’t dare speak loudly to me, yet a lieutenant thinks he can challenge me repeatedly."
Li Fugui looked at the numerous disciples descending from Mount Hua but did not see Huzi among them. He waved his hand, signaling the large contingent of troops behind him. "Kill them all, leave no one alive."
Soon, the area around Mount Hua was filled with the sound of gunfire. The troops were armed with heavy machine guns; while ordinary bullets could be caught by those of Daoist Sect strength, heavy machine gun rounds were far more lethal. These bullets could pierce through walls, making it impossible for even those in the Nascent Soul Realm to defend against them.
Caught off guard by the military's sudden attack, Nangong watched in fury as half of his disciples were shot down. He commanded Coiling Dragon to charge at the troops, who quickly retreated to avoid its wrath. Dongfang Jiu saw dozens of his disciples fall to bullets and stepped in front of a Sword Sect disciple, wielding his sword and charging forward. With a single swing, mountains and rivers trembled; even though the soldiers wore bulletproof vests, they were cleaved in two by his strike. Dongfang Jiu rampaged through the battlefield, his Dao Qi protecting him from bullets that couldn’t penetrate.
Li Fugui ordered a retreat while the ambushing troops provided cover fire, avoiding close combat with the Daoist Sect experts. Members of Emei Sect and Wudang Sect gathered together and retreated through side paths. In no time, the foot of Mount Hua was littered with corpses from the Daoist Sect.
On a path led by Wu, he turned to Huzi, who was carrying Iron Bull on his back, and asked, "Huzi, why does your grandfather want to lead an army to slaughter members of the Daoist Sect?"
Huzi replied, "The military has always believed that the Daoist Sect is the greatest source of unrest. The Daoist Dark Turmoil over a hundred years ago also seemed to stem from conflicts between the military and the Daoist Sect."
"Why do they think that?" Wu asked in confusion.
Yang Sanqian explained, "The military governs ordinary people while the Daoist Sect operates freely. Especially those cultivators who have reached advanced levels appear godlike to common folk; their abilities may not destroy cities but pose a significant threat to ordinary lives. Thus, whether in ancient courts or modern states, military generals are typically powerful martial artists who seek to eradicate all members of the Daoist Sect because governance requires mediocrity among the populace."
Huzi nodded and said, "When Futu Ridge was destroyed by Snake Goddess and Guo the Blind, my grandfather took me away to a military camp filled with martial arts experts. Later during the battle at Azure Cloud Mountain, my grandfather also led troops to slaughter many from the Daoist Sect."
"What position does your grandfather hold in the military?" Wu asked.
Huzi shook his head and replied, "I don’t know; I only know he follows someone else's orders. That person has never shown himself; his voice is very old-sounding and seems quite aged. My grandfather respects him greatly."
"Isn't the chairman of the military always held by the ruler?" Wu questioned.
"I don't know about that."
...
The turmoil within the Daoist Sect at Mount Hua was thought to have ended with the death of Yang Hao and the disappearance of the Yang Family. However, no one expected the military, which had always kept its distance from the Daoist Sect, to suddenly intervene. Li Fugui led a well-equipped army and slaughtered tens of thousands of Daoist Sect members. The casualties were devastating, especially for the Five Major Sects, with only a few Elders and elite disciples managing to escape back to their sects.
News of this incident quickly spread throughout the Central Plains, and members of the Daoist Sect realized that perhaps the enmity between the military and the Daoist Sect from over a hundred years ago would resurface once again.
That evening, a Female Taoist Priest holding a floating dust arrived at the foot of Mount Hua. She had white hair but a youthful face, dressed in simple robes, with a red mole in the center of her forehead.
The Female Taoist Priest looked at the corpses scattered across the ground as if they were invisible to her. Then she gazed up at Mount Hua Summit. Beneath her feet, a lotus flower bloomed, lifting her into the air. She passed through the clouds and landed on Wuzhang Rock at the peak of Mount Hua, where corpses were also strewn about.
The Female Taoist Priest traced a circle in front of her with her finger, and mist swirled as water light flickered, replaying the events that had transpired on Mount Hua.
Furrowing her brow, she said, "If the Book of Life and Death falls into Yang Kaishan's hands, it would be disastrous."
With that, she raised her hand to tear apart the void and vanished from Mount Hua as if she had never been there.
Underneath the starlight, a large contingent from the Yang Family was hastening toward Yin Mountain. Among them were four individuals carrying a Palanquin. In the night, the Palanquin creaked ominously, sounding quite eerie. The High Priest, leader of the Yang Family's Nine Elders, followed behind it, supported by two young men.
Although the Yang Family understood Void Technique and excelled in crafting Hundred Li Talismans and Thousand Li Talismans, items like Thousand Li Talismans were as precious as Holy Medicine; each talisman was invaluable and could only be used to save important disciples or high-ranking members. Guo Daozhen's sudden appearance forced them to flee in panic. They used Void Technique but only managed to escape to a forest several dozen miles away; even then, they had only covered a hundred miles distance and still had a long way to go before reaching Yin Mountain.
Suddenly, an aged voice came from within the Palanquin: "Xuan Zong, take the Book of Life and Death back to the Yang Family first; someone is approaching through the void."
"Understood!" Yang Xuanzong replied and turned to everyone else: "Protect the High Priest; I will deliver the Book of Life and Death to Ancestor Zong before coming back for you."
"Got it, Head of Family," everyone responded verbally, but their hearts felt heavy. At this moment, Ancestor Zong's avatar was inside the Palanquin, yet Yang Xuanzong chose to leave first. It was clear that those coming were not ordinary figures—at least not ones they could handle.
Yang Xuanzong was surrounded by shimmering runes, and the void trembled as he swiftly dove into it, disappearing from everyone's sight. But soon after, a muffled grunt escaped him as he fell from the air, his face changing dramatically.
A woman dressed in simple robes descended gracefully. She looked at the Palanquin and said, "Yang Kaishan, long time no see."
"Who are you?" Yang Xuanzong asked.
"She is one of the Five Great Supremes, the South Sea Wonderful Guanyin," the old man in black robes from the Palanquin replied.
The old man lifted the curtain of the Palanquin and stepped out. He raised his hat's brim, revealing an extremely aged and twisted face. His eyes were chaotic, devoid of pupils, and upon closer inspection, they seemed to plunge one into a deep abyss, terrifyingly profound.
"Yang Kaishan. How did you end up like this?" Miao Guanyin asked in confusion.
Yang Kaishan replied, "Time waits for no one. I am already over a hundred and forty years old; it's only natural to look like this."
Miao Guanyin said, "I can sense your aura; back in the day among us five, you were the embodiment of righteousness and the leader of the Supreme. And now?"
"Times change; sacrifices must be made for longevity. But enough about me. What brings you here?" Yang Kaishan inquired.
Miao Guanyin explained, "I was in seclusion in the South Sea when I suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. It seems my time is drawing near, so I came out to find a disciple to pass on my teachings."
"Oh? I didn't expect that after all these years, you still haven't found a suitable disciple," Yang Kaishan remarked.
Miao Guanyin replied, "The South Sea Sect has always been passed down through a single line. Any successor from Nanhai Guanyin Monastery must be a Supreme. I have lived long due to the Book of Life and Death but haven't searched diligently. However, there was a woman named Rain Master Luo on Mount Hua who could have been suitable; unfortunately, she was killed by you all."
"So it is Senior Miao Guanyin. I am Yang Xuanzong, the current head of the Yang Family. May I ask what your intentions are in stopping me?" Yang Xuanzong questioned.
"Isn't it obvious? Hurry up and hand over the Book of Life and Death to Miao Daoyou so as not to affect our friendship," Yang Kaishan urged.
"Father." Yang Xuanzong's face was a mix of shock and anger. The sudden appearance of Miao Guanyin not only jolted him from the void, but before he could even speak, Yang Kaishan was already preparing to hand over the Book of Life and Death.
"Hmm?" Yang Kaishan looked at Yang Xuanzong.
"Yes." Yang Xuanzong lowered his head and took the Book of Life and Death from his bosom.
The Book of Life and Death was covered in black runes, emanating an evil power. Miao Guanyin took the Book of Life and Death and said, "Since you won't let me make things difficult, I won't harm anyone from the Yang Family. Farewell."
As she spoke, a lotus flower appeared beneath her feet, lifting her into the air, and in an instant, she vanished into the night.
Watching the direction in which Miao Guanyin had disappeared, Yang Xuanzong asked, "Father, is this Miao Guanyin really that powerful?"
Yang Kaishan sighed and replied, "I am not here in my true form. By the time I arrive, you would all be dead. If Miao Guanyin were to strike, you would not be her match. The South Sea Sect does not hold grudges against others; as long as you do not provoke her first, you will be fine."
"What about the Book of Life and Death?" Yang Xuanzong inquired.
"It doesn't matter if the Book of Life and Death falls into their hands. My powers will grow stronger, and when I emerge from seclusion, I will naturally seek her out."
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