"Luckily, after returning from the Demon Battlefield, I had an epiphany and made a breakthrough yesterday!"
The speaker was none other than Master Li Guanyi from Fulong Temple, who had returned with Chen Yuan from Weiyuan Pass. Other Taoist friends who came back with him, except for Qing Yangzi from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and Taoist An from the Su Nu Sword Sect who stayed at Chuanzhong Pass, made different choices. Some decided to go back east to meet the disciples who had retreated from Guang’an Prefecture, while others stayed in Jingguan City to heal their injuries. He, however, due to certain gains, secluded himself in a remote mountainside tens of miles outside of Jingguan City for a breakthrough and just emerged yesterday.
Upon hearing this, Yue Heng showed a complex expression and said:
"Brother Guan Yi, to speak the truth, I truly envy you. The title of ’Weiyuan Eight Heroes’ is resounding throughout Shu, and I somewhat regret it. Initially, I had too many concerns and didn’t accompany you on that venture."
Hearing this, Li Guanyi’s expression became stern,
"Sect Master Yue, it’s not too late."
"You and I have known each other for many years. I am well aware of your nature, Sect Master Yue. After I came out of seclusion, I learned about the recent events in Jingguan City, hence, I took advantage of the night to come here, precisely to warn you, Sect Master Yue, do not come into conflict with the Nine Colonels."
"Alas, Brother Guan Yi!" Yue Heng chuckled bitterly upon hearing this, "It’s not that I, Yue, want to clash with this personage, but rather that this individual has been making aggressive moves, step by step pressing against the power structures within the city, especially our Four Sects and Eight Families. You must have also heard that this Colonel intends to make each family submit. Now, every household is in danger, and even I don’t feel safe."
"The truth is not what you imagine!"
However, Taoist Li shook his head, then sighed with emotion, "If Sect Master Yue had gone to the Demon Battlefield and personally experienced and witnessed the brutality of that battlefield, you would understand this personage’s actions."
"At that time, the demons broke through, and living beings suffered miserably. The Overseers issued a Recruitment Order, calling for support at the front lines to resist the demons, but how many responded?"
Master Li Guanyi asked, his eyes exceptionally sharp as if they could pierce directly into one’s soul.
Yue Heng’s face changed slightly, his throat bobbed, and he ended up without a response.
"Too many have died! The Mountain-cutting Army is almost annihilated, fallen cities stacked with mountains of bones, and yet, in Jingguan City, throughout much of Shu, these people turned a blind eye, all wishing others to stand in front for them. If it were you, what would you think?"
Yue Heng remained silent for a long time.
"I implore Sect Master Yue not to deceive yourself. These are heartfelt words from a Taoist!"
Just as the air grew silent, an abrupt cold snort shattered the calm.
"Hmph! A fine ’do not deceive yourself!’"
Along with the explosive sound, a gust of wind blew past the outside of the great hall, suddenly pressing down the candle flames. Then a dark shadow swept through the hall, causing both men to stagger.
The shadow settled in the seat of honor in the great hall, revealing a figure with black hair like ink, dressed in a wide green robe, with eyes like a dragon and a tiger – an imposing aura like a firm mountain.
It was like having a great mountain standing before them!
Li Guanyi was startled. Once he clearly recognized the person, he became even more astonished, his memory snapping back to a figure from ten or twenty years ago.
Hair turned black, appearing younger, and his presence had broken through to Martial Vault.
Now, the figure above spoke up with a cold snort,
"Fulong Temple’s Taoist, I remember you, it’s been many years, you have obtained your Tao Fruit, hmph, daring to act recklessly in my Shaking Mountain Sect!"
"Where is that old ghost of a master of yours?"
This person was none other than the former Sect Master of Shaking Mountain Sect who had left for many years, Yue Heng’s master!
Upon seeing this person, Li Guanyi performed a saluting gesture.
"I have seen Senior You. My master ascended to the Dao and passed away five years ago."
"Dead is dead, what’s the need for those refined terms." This Martial Vault with the surname You was not at all polite, flicking his sleeve and snorting, "It seems he was after all not my equal."
Then his gaze turned cold, "You come to plead on behalf of the Ninth Mountain; speak your plea, but you advise my Shaking Mountain Sect not to deceive itself. This Nine Colonels must really have grand capabilities to make you so willingly speak on his behalf. It seems I’ve stayed secluded in the mountains too long, and no one regards my Shaking Mountain Sect as anything anymore."
"One day, I will indeed meet this Nine Colonels!"
Taoist Li Guanyi saw that this Senior You began with such an overt hostility and sensed ill omens, but he did not back down,
"Senior has experienced many years and finally broken through to Martial Vault, which is a matter for jubilation. Why provoke a conflict? I am willing to mediate."
Senior You with the surname You, however, did not see it the same way.
It sounded as if the Shaking Mountain Sect was begging you, begging the Nine Colonels.
After years of effort, he finally stepped into Martial Vault and now needed to declare his return to Shu’s Martial World with all its grandeur. His spirits were high, and he could not tolerate such an affront.
With a raise of his hand,
Instantly, the candles in the entire hall bent, and a fierce wind charged straight at Taoist Li.
Seeing this, Taoist Li flicked his whisk, sending strands of it shooting through the air to break the momentum.
But it only held for a breath’s time before the whisk was forced back, and a large hand emerged out of thin air, gripping down on Fulong Temple’s Taoist Li.
"Master, no!" Yue Heng intervened, unleashing a move to aid his friend of many years.
Yet that large hand stood firm as a rock, trapping Taoist Li.