harleyscars Chapter 159 Human Pill Addiction, Elders Hold Him Accountable
Chapter 159 Human Pill Addiction, Elders Hold Him Accountable
Chapter 159 Human Pill Addiction, Elders Hold Him Accountable
Outside the gate of the Su residence, a group of elders from Hidden Sword Peak stood with grim expressions, attracting a crowd of disciples from various sects and wandering martial artists who had come to join the fun.
Everyone was speculating why Hidden Sword Peak had made such a fuss.
It's quite rare for all the elders to come out.
On the roof of a house, Lu Dayong and his junior brother Fu Fangheng stood side by side, stepping on the roof tiles and looking down at the group of elders.
"Senior brother, what are these elders trying to do by blocking someone else's door?" Fu Fangheng asked in confusion.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Lu Dayong said irritably, rolling his eyes at him. "We came here to see what they're up to, didn't we?"
He chuckled and said, "That's true... By the way, senior brother, did you see that Hidden Sword Peak disciple leading the way in front of that group of elders?"
"You don't need to tell me, I'm not blind." Lu Dayong squinted and searched his memory for a while, but found no recollection of that disciple.
This means he's just a nobody and probably not very famous.
"But the Su residence up ahead... isn't that Elder Su's residence from Hidden Sword Peak? Why are they blocking it?"
Lu Dayong wondered, could it be that the order was placed inside the Hidden Sword Peak?
If that's the case, it might not be a bad thing.
The five factions appear to be closely connected, but in reality, they are quite competitive.
Seeing the Neijiang River at Cangjian Peak is also a good thing for the other four sects.
After all, the power of Hidden Sword Peak is too great, especially after Wan Jinghan repelled an army of 100,000 with a single sword strike. Its power has grown even more, and it seems to have the potential to overwhelm the other four sects.
If this continues, there might not be five sects in the future, but only one Hidden Sword Peak.
"Let's fight, let's fight..." Lu Dayong whispered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Fu Fangheng covered his face with one hand and quietly moved two steps away from him.
Not far from the two Zixia Sect disciples, five masked Zhenwu Guard agents, under the instructions of Commander Yu, were scattered and hidden in various houses, ready to make a move at any time.
If the Styx Daoist is of average strength and easy to control, then take the opportunity to kidnap him.
If he is too strong and difficult to control, then cooperate with the elders of Hidden Sword Peak to try to assassinate him.
In short, capture them alive if you can, and kill them if you can't.
All five of them were Zhenwuwei who had been lurking in Tianyong City for many years. They knew this place like the back of their hand, and they knew every alley and every house inside and out.
Once they succeed, they can use their previous arrangements to escape quickly.
Everything is ready; all that's left is for Hidden Sword Peak to make its move.
"Hoo." The hunched old beggar exhaled a breath of stale air, staring at a token in his hand with the three characters "Zhenwu Guard" engraved on the front.
On the back is engraved his name, Zhao Li.
Looking at this name that hadn't been called for who knows how many years, Old Qigong was somewhat dazed and fell into memories.
Since Cangjian Peak infiltrated and took control of Tianyong City, the Zhenwu Guards within the city have either been secretly eliminated or forced to leave.
These five men were the only remaining secret agents of the Zhenwu Guard in Tianyong City, and each of them had received help from the Zhenwu Guard during the most difficult times in their lives.
Therefore, they willingly devoted the rest of their lives to the Zhenwu Guard and to the imperial court.
"I eat the king's food, so I must be loyal to the king," the old beggar muttered to himself.
If it weren't for the momentary kindness shown by Zhenwuwei back then, there would be no Zhao family later on.
Even though the Zhao family no longer exists, he is still willing to repay this kindness, even if it means facing the large number of people at Cangjian Peak.
On the top floor of the restaurant, a woman with effeminate features and fair skin held a wine cup, glancing out of the corner of her eye in the direction of the Su residence, her expression playful.
"One, two, three......fourteen, a full fourteen Divine Realm experts. Is this all the hidden strength that Hidden Sword Peak has revealed so far?"
Yu Guangzhi sighed and drank the wine in one gulp.
"As expected of the leader of the five sects, their foundation is so profound. Together with the other four sects, they can rival the Great Qian Dynasty, even though their grassroots strength is not as great as the Great Qian Dynasty."
Even though their grassroots strength is insufficient and their disciples cannot compare to the tens of thousands of troops of the Great Qian Dynasty, in this world, what determines success or failure is often not the grassroots, but the top.
This is a very frustrating fact. Yu Guangzhi knows very well that even an army composed of 100,000 soldiers at the bone and filth refining level, equipped with Zhenwu Guard military gear, cannot withstand a Grandmaster's sword strike.
Even a few Divine Realm experts could defeat this army with minimal cost.
An army needs morale to sustain it; it cannot fight to the death without retreating.
"However, thanks to the legacy of the Feast Cult, and the years of research by countless colleagues in the Zhenwu Division, the days when Grandmasters and Divine Warriors determined the course of war are bound to be a thing of the past."
As if he had thought of something pleasant, Yu Guangzhi smiled slightly and put down his wine cup.
Five years ago, the five sects spared no expense to wipe out the Feast Cult, but they did not know that the imperial court had secretly taken in a group of Feast Cult members long before the siege began.
Those followers had anticipated the danger and contacted the imperial court in advance, using their bargaining chips and loyalty to secure the court's protection.
The bargaining chip they handed over was their research project at the time, which was also the reason for the five attacks.
After those followers defected to the imperial court, they worked closely with the Zhenwu Division to gradually improve the unfinished project, finally giving the imperial court the confidence to completely defeat the Five Sects.
This time, Yu Guangzhi came to Tianyong City not only to contact the five remaining Zhenwu Guard agents in the city, but also to find out how many people from the five sects had come.
Discovering the Styx Daoist, a remnant of the Feast Cult, was merely an unexpected delight.
Yu Guangzhi was well aware of the value of the Food Cult members, and even more aware of the great harm they could cause.
After all, those followers of the Food Cult who defected to the imperial court set a good example.
In addition to cooperating with the Zhenwu Division in their research, they also created a heinous substance called "Ren Dan" and bewitched many powerful figures, including the current emperor, who became addicted to it.
Yu Guangzhi loathed such things, but under the joint protection of the princes, nobles, and the current emperor, he was powerless against the group of people who practiced the Feast Cult.
On one occasion, he arrested a cultist who abducted infants to make human elixirs. Just as he was about to sentence him, an order from above stopped him.
Afterwards, the believer walked out of the prison with a smug look on his face, leaving behind only his clenched hands. Not long after, he was falsely accused and suspended from his job.
It can be said that he is now extremely conflicted, knowing that the imperial court cannot do without the Feast Cult, yet wanting to kill the people of the Feast Cult.
"If we can capture Daoist Styx alive, we might be able to get the answer from him on how to cure the 'Dan addiction' of the Feast Sect."
If not, then we'll have to nip it in the bud.
"The dead remnants of the Feast Cult are the good remnants."
His eyes were cold. He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and looked down into the distance.
"The five sects attach great importance to this competition. Most of their middle and lower-level members have come. Apart from those responsible for guarding their sects, many of their higher-ups have also come. If we can eliminate them all, the five sects will surely suffer heavy losses."
"It's time to inform General Huangfu."
Yu Guangzhi vanished in an instant, leaving only his murmurs fading away in the wind.
Xia Yunyi narrowed his eyes, glanced at the plaque of the Su residence, a smile playing on his lips. He turned, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed his head, saying:
"Elders, the remnant of the Food Cult who calls himself the Styx Daoist is inside."
After saying this, he slightly raised his head, put on a resentful expression, and gritted his teeth, saying, "I beg you elders to uphold justice for those dead refugees and the people who have been harmed by the evil sorcerers."
Seeing his sincerity, the leading elder, Bai Zhanfeng, nodded and patted him on the shoulder.
"Very good. As a disciple of Hidden Sword Peak, one should hate evil as one's enemy."
Bai Zhanfeng stroked his beard and said in a pretentious manner:
"A large number of refugees outside the city were brutally slaughtered, their bones exposed in the wilderness. This is truly an outrage against heaven and man. If the facts are true, we will definitely give the innocent people justice."
"But, but I heard he has Elder Su's protection, could it be..."
:
Xia Yunyi was interrupted before he could finish speaking: "If Elder Su insists on protecting her, I will inform the sect leader to revoke her position as elder."
After saying that, he exchanged a glance with the black-robed elder beside him. The elder had white hair and beard, and his face was expressionless, except for the anger burning in his eyes.
"That evil Taoist priest killed Feng'er, I will never let him go," said Wan Canghai, the Palace Master of Qingming Palace, indignantly. "Even if Feng'er really made a mistake, it is only up to the laws of Qingming Palace to punish him. How dare an outsider like him interfere?"
"Junior Brother Wan, I understand your feelings, but don't let anger cloud your judgment." Bai Zhanfeng stroked his long beard and stepped forward.
Watching his retreating figure, a sinister glint flashed in Wan Canghai's eyes, and he followed him.
Upon reaching the door, Bai Zhanfeng unleashed a powerful palm strike, slamming his hand against the door.
According to his plan, even if the door didn't shatter into pieces, he should have been able to blast it open with a single palm strike.
However, after a moment, the door remained motionless, and his expression froze on his face.
Bai Zhanfeng moved his hand away, glanced at the gate where not even a palm print remained, and said word by word, "The four elements circulate, what a wicked Taoist, truly a remnant of the Feasting Cult."
It turns out that the entire door, along with the mansion, is shrouded in the cycle of the four elements. The force of his palm strikes will disperse throughout the mansion along with the flow of the four elements, eventually reaching the ground.
This is a common tactic used by the Food Cult.
As for the person who set up this formation, whether they were a true remnant of the evil forces or a lucky person who stumbled upon the cultivation technique, it was not important to him.
Anyone who has any connection with the Food Cult should be killed rather than let go; this has been a long-standing consensus among the five sects.
Bai Zhanfeng's face turned ashen as he channeled his true energy into his palm.
He then struck out with a palm.
boom!
The mansion shook, and the stone table wobbled, causing some tea to spill.
On the chessboard, the black and white pieces that had been placed earlier were thus moved.
Su Youli raised her eyebrows slightly and looked towards the door. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mo Di subtly moved the chess pieces, pretending that nothing had happened, and took a sip of tea infused with goji berries.
Turning her gaze away, Su Youli stared at the chessboard for a while, comparing it to her memory, and said softly, "You moved a piece, didn't you?"
"Really?" Mordy glanced sideways. "With my chess skills, what need is there for me to cheat?"
Su Youli remained silent, licked her lips, stared at him with a meaningful look, and casually placed a piece on the board.
He pretended to be completely unaware and then placed a piece.
Seeing the five black pieces lined up on the chessboard, Modi downed his tea in one gulp. "I've won this game."
"Just winning a game of Gomoku." Su Youli shook her head, and suddenly the entire mansion trembled again.
She said, "The mansion's Four Qi Cycle Formation won't last long. Are you confident you can defeat the elders outside?"
"They are no match for me." Modi's smile faded, his face calm, and his tone confident. "They will serve as a whetstone to test what I have learned and understood during this time."
"Everything is going according to plan. The prophecies of the etheric layer have already revealed this to me, and the next scene is crucial."
He was referring, of course, to chasing Xia Yunyi to the point of falling off a cliff, where they eventually encountered the Heavenly Book.
Recently, he took some time to scan the area around Tianyong City, especially the places with cliffs and precipices, but he couldn't find the prophetic book.
Therefore, he deduced that the Heavenly Book could only be encountered by chance under the right circumstances, such as the prophecy of Xia Yunyi falling off a cliff.
Surviving a fall from a cliff and stumbling upon a celestial book—this must be Xia Yunyi's destiny.
boom!
Another loud crash, accompanied by a howling gust of wind, and two door panels slammed heavily onto the two of them.
Modi lowered his eyelids slightly, grabbed a corner of the chessboard, and flung it, along with the black and white chess pieces on it, away.
The chess piece first collides with the door panel, like a bullet, making holes in the door panel and turning the two thick door panels into pieces.
The chessboard, still surging forward, emitted a sonic boom and spun as it flew towards the door.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold, Bai Zhanfeng's pupils shrank. He first swung his sword to block dozens of flying chess pieces, and then saw a chessboard spinning towards him.
Memories of past sword training were etched into his muscles, and he instinctively swung his three-foot-long sword, attempting to split the flying chessboard in two.
The sword light flashed and disappeared in an instant. The sword, forged from celestial iron, was naturally superior to the wooden chessboard in terms of material, and unsurprisingly, it split the chessboard in two.
However, the immense force transmitted from the sword made Bai Zhanfeng's hand go numb, and he even took a step back.
The chessboard fragments, cut apart, are deeply embedded in the walls of the Su family mansion, one on the left and one on the right.
"You've damaged the gates and walls of my Su residence; this debt will be attributed to you."
Su Youli took a sip of tea, then without warning kicked the stone bench away, sending it hurtling towards Bai Zhanfeng.
Bai Zhanfeng drew his sword again, without holding back, and the wisps of sword energy shattered the stone bench.
"Oh, right, we also need to add a stone bench, and the chessboard and pieces from before."
"Su Youli, are you really going to protect the remnants of the Feasting Cult and obstruct the Enforcement Hall from carrying out its duties?!" Bai Zhanfeng's face was full of anger, and his hand holding the sword was slightly numb.
"Protecting?" Su Youli said expressionlessly, manipulating the four elements with one hand, the cold and warm energies flowing through her hand.
Not only Bai Zhanfeng, but all the other elders he brought with him had their expressions change drastically.
He pointed his sword at Su Youli and said angrily, "So you're Su Youli! You've secretly practiced the evil arts of the Feast Sect. Even if you are an elder and the master of Bitter Mountain, I will take you back to the Enforcement Hall for interrogation today."
Fellow practitioners, when dealing with the remnants of the Feast Cult, there's no need to talk about chivalry; let's all fight side by side!
As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Canghai, who had been standing beside him, moved immediately.
Amidst the fluttering of the black robes, a flash of black streak streaked past.
Seven layers of divine energy appeared on the divine weapon "Ink Cloud Sword," and the sword's edge pierced straight towards the red-robed Taoist.
Ink-black clouds surged forth from nowhere, quickly obscuring his vision.