Hearing these words, Gongsun Bei's eyes flickered slightly.
He looked around the hall and did not see the figure of Xu Zhouling, the Sect Master of the Star-Plucking Sect, but he was not surprised.
He knew very well.
Since he had come with such a major matter, if the Star-Plucking Sect had no intention of getting involved, they could easily use the Sect Master's absence as an excuse to politely decline.
Thus, Gongsun Bei set down his teacup, slowly swept his gaze over the three Academy Heads present, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice:
“Some days ago, the Nine Anhuai Fiends sneaked into the prefecture capital to plot the assassination of the Prefectural Governor. I am sure you Academy Heads have already heard of this.”
“The scoundrels of the demon path have grown increasingly rampant lately, even daring to establish a hidden branch in the very heart of the prefecture capital. Although eight of the fiends were slain in that battle, the Entangling Silk Fiend managed to escape and has yet to be captured.”
At this point, he looked around at everyone, his tone rising slightly:
“Therefore!”
“I have come here today to deliver the Guangwu Order!”
“I intend to gather the experts of Nanxiang's Four Sects, Ten Clans, and eighty-odd counties to launch a campaign against the demon path.”
As his voice fell, a sudden silence enveloped the hall.
The Guangwu Order!
This was a mobilization order issued decades ago, when the old Marquis of Zhenhai, Daoist Master Guangwu, Dong Daosheng, was nearing the end of his lifespan. At the time, he had led the Four Sects of Nanxiang to invade the Shengjiang Prefecture of the Yue State—which was now Guangwu Prefecture!
Once this order was issued, the leaders of the Four Sects of Nanxiang would naturally gather to discuss the eradication of the demons.
But the problem was...
Ever since Daoist Master Guangwu passed away in Guangwu Prefecture, this order had never appeared in the world again.
This was because the Qi State had already occupied Guangwu Prefecture and gained immense benefits. Thus, all parties maintained a tacit understanding with the Yinsha Sect, each guarding their own borders and unwilling to engage in a major conflict.
As could be seen from the fact that Guangwu Prefecture still had no expert of the Daoist Master Rank guarding it to this day, this tacit understanding was also mutually understood between the Qi imperial court and the Yue State.
Therefore, when Gongsun Bei voiced his intention to reactivate the Guangwu Order,
Lei Xiao's expression changed abruptly. He sat up straight, his tower-like frame causing his chair to creak loudly as he said in a deep voice:
“Brother Gongsun!”
“I have also heard about the Yinsha Sect's assassination attempt on the Prefectural Governor. This matter has indeed crossed the line.”
“According to past precedent, we should naturally retaliate and teach them a lesson.”
“But if we reactivate the Guangwu Order, it will ignite a new war. I fear the situation will spiral out of control!”
“Out of control?”
Gongsun Bei's expression was freezing cold, the killing intent between his brows cutting like a blade. He said coldly:
“If we do not strike them hard and make them feel the pain in their very bones, these heretics will only grow more insolent. If they dare to assassinate the Prefectural Governor today, they will dare to slaughter an entire city tomorrow!”
“For Academy Head Lei to make such excuses, could it be that you fear the Yinsha Sect's great power?”
“You! How dare you!”
Lei Xiao stood up abruptly, his tower-like body suddenly casting a shadow. His eyes were like great spears unsheathed, a piercing spear-glow shooting straight at Gongsun Bei. His chest heaved violently, his heavy breathing clearly audible!
“Senior Brother!”
Beside him, Yi Nanping, who had remained silent all this time, raised her fair hand and gently pressed it against Lei Xiao's arm. Her voice was clear and cold, yet carried an unquestionable calmness.
Lei Xiao grunted and sat heavily back into his chair, the chair legs clattering against the blue bricks with a dull thud.
Yi Nanping turned her beautiful eyes to Gongsun Bei. Her gaze was as calm as the moon reflected in a cold pond as she asked softly:
“Young Master Gongsun...”
“Since you wish to deliver the Guangwu Order, you must have already traveled to the various sects and met with their leaders... Why don't you tell us what the other three sects have to say?”
Gongsun Bei said coldly:
“Marquis Dong has naturally agreed. He will dispatch many First-Tier Sea Patrol Guards to join me in campaigning against the demon path.”
“The Qingyuan Sword Pavilion has also agreed and will send out their elite disciples.”
“Bixia Villa has also consented. Elder Feng Buting is willing to personally take action to bolster the prestige of our righteous path.”
“Now, only the Star-Plucking Sect is left...”
“Wait!”
Yi Nanping raised her hand to cut him off. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at him without blinking:
“What about the Bixia Yue clan?”
As those words fell, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.
Three pairs of eyes, six gazes in total, all locked onto Gongsun Bei.
Gongsun Bei's facial muscles twitched imperceptibly before he whispered:
“Yue Lingsong... refused! He is unwilling to get involved in this matter.”
He paused, then added, “But as long as we have Elder Feng...”
“Gongsun!”
Wen Qingye, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. He looked at Gongsun Bei and said in a calm yet sharp tone that cut straight to the heart of the matter:
“You should be able to see that apart from Feng Buting, the other factions are merely going through the motions.”
“If they truly cared, they wouldn't just send some disciples to make up the numbers.”
Gongsun Bei remained silent, his lips pressed into a tight line, speechless for a long moment.
“Forget it...”
Wen Qingye suddenly chuckled softly, dusted off his robes, and stood up. “This time, I will accompany Gongsun.”
Lei Xiao knitted his brows and said with dissatisfaction:
“Senior Brother! You don't have to do this out of courtesy...”
“Junior Brother Lei!”
Wen Qingye raised a hand, turning his dark eyes to cast a flat glance at him.
“You seem to have forgotten...”
“Between me and the Yinsha Sect, there is still a blood debt!”
Lei Xiao's face stiffened. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and he forced himself to swallow the words that had risen to his lips.
He silenced for a long time, then spoke in a muffled voice:
“In that case... I will go with you, Senior Brother!”
Hearing this, Gongsun Bei's furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly, and a hint of joy that could not be concealed flashed in his eyes.
Himself, Wen Qingye, Lei Xiao, Feng Buting...
Four experts of the Outer Gang Rank!
Coupled with dozens of Huajin Rank experts, and hundreds or thousands of Anjin and Mingjin Rank masters...
This demon-slaying expedition was already eighty percent assured of success!
Gongsun Bei was about to stand up and finalize the matter.
Just then,
another set of footsteps echoed outside the hall, neither fast nor slow, but exceptionally steady.
Immediately after, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the door. Its tone was flat, yet carried an unquestionable weight:
“I do not agree.”
The newcomer was none other than the Sect Master of the Star-Plucking Sect, Xu Zhouling!
Upon seeing this peak Inner Gang Rank powerhouse who had condensed six ‘divine seeds’ enter the hall, Gongsun Bei did not dare to show any of his dissatisfaction. He stood up and greeted him:
“Greetings, Sect Master Xu!”
Xu Zhouling wore a trace of a smile on his face as he waved his hand politely. “Sit.”
Without waiting for Wen Qingye to ask, he got straight to the point:
“Everyone! In the Changyun region under our Nanxiang Prefecture, a Blessed Land is about to emerge. Its name is...”
“Diaohai!”
The moment those words fell, the entire room fell dead silent!
After a long silence,
“Huff, huff...”
Lei Xiao's heavy breathing suddenly grew rapid. He stood up abruptly, his cheeks flushed, making no attempt to hide the ecstasy in his voice:
“Senior Brother! Is this true!?”
“Has a Child of Destiny appeared?”
“Has their identity been locked down?”
“Can we capture them and bring them to our Star-Plucking Sect?”
His barrage of questions came fast and furious, each word exploding like a rapid-fire cannon.
Beside him,
Yi Nanping's beautiful eyes also rippled with emotion. Her usually cold face showed visible excitement, and her full chest heaved a few times before she managed to steady her voice:
“Diaohai...”
“Is that the sect of Daoist Master Fengye, under the lineage of that ‘Heavenly Ren Mystic Hidden Sea-Overturning Daoist Monarch’?”
Xu Zhouling was in no hurry to answer. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gongsun Bei, whose expression was shifting rapidly, and the smile on his lips deepened:
“Brother Gongsun, this Diaohai Blessed Land is just like the Nanxiang Blessed Land, having remained hidden for hundreds of years. The treasures and spiritual items within must be countless. If you are interested, why don't you join us?”
Gongsun Bei remained silent for a long time, the expressions on his face shifting constantly.
As the Sect Master of the Star-Plucking Sect, Xu Zhouling would definitely not deceive him about such a major matter.
He also knew in his heart that the Star-Plucking Sect lacked a Divine Ability Rank inheritance. The emergence of this Blessed Land was nothing short of a godsend opportunity for them.
If they could truly obtain a Divine Ability technique from the Blessed Land...
What demon-slaying?
What Guangwu Order?
Compared to such a fortune, those were nothing but trivial matters!
Wen Qingye's eyes flickered slightly, and he silently sat back down in his chair, saying no more.
Seeing this, Gongsun Bei sighed softly. He finally stood up, cupped his hands to everyone in the hall, and said in a low voice:
“The Prefectural Governor's kindness to me is as profound as giving me a new life. Although the Blessed Land is good, it is not where my heart lies.”
“I appreciate the Sect Master's kind intentions... Everyone, farewell!”
Having said his piece, Gongsun Bei walked out without looking back, his steps resolute and his sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Behind him, Xu Zhouling's unhurried voice rang out:
“What if I told you that within the Diaohai Blessed Land... there is a treasure with the wondrous effect of extending one's lifespan?”
Instantly, Gongsun Bei's footsteps halted. It was as if he had been seized by an invisible hand, and he froze right at the threshold!
Rate on N.U.
