A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 183 Preemptive Measures
The capital city, the residence of the Xuanxin Sect

Inside the Xuanxin Hall, Sect Master Yan Chixia was discussing the "Heavenly Demon's Surge Against the Seven Fiends" with everyone.

"The Holy Maiden of the Three Realms has calculated that on the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Seven-Life Enemy Couple will be born in Honghe Village, eight hundred miles away. This time, we must not let the Yin Moon Dynasty succeed, otherwise the common people will suffer."

Yan Chixia spoke in a deep voice, and everyone present tensed up. Killing the Seven-Life Vengeful Couple was one of the missions of the Xuanxin Sect when it was founded. They were just fulfilling their duties. However, once they calculated the time and location, the Yinyue Dynasty would soon find out, so they had to make preparations in advance.

"Sect Master, what should we do?" asked Qinglong, one of the Four Generals of Xuanxin.

"There is still a month until the Lantern Festival. I will request the court to order the relocation of everyone in the village. As for the pregnant women, they will be placed in a safe place and dealt with after the babies are born."

"Doing this would cause too much of a commotion; it probably won't be kept secret from the Yin Yue Dynasty."

A handsome young man with a golden mark between his eyebrows objected, saying that while this method would minimize the damage, it also carried the greatest risk. If the Yin Yue Dynasty knew that the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect had made preparations in advance, it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't do something outrageous.

“What Jin Guang said makes sense. If we make a big fuss, the Yin Yue Dynasty will definitely get more information and fall right into their trap. Now, the most reasonable thing to do is to wait and wait for them to come to us. For the sake of the well-being of the people, sacrificing a village is worthwhile.”

As soon as Bai Huxuan said this, he was immediately opposed by the sect leader's wife, Sima Sanniang.

"No, the Xuanxin Sect is a prestigious and righteous sect. If we do this, how will we be any different from the Yinyue Dynasty? How will we face other sects then? I absolutely disagree with this!"

Jin Guang listened to Sima San Niang's words and his heart sank. In the end, she was just being kind-hearted. If this matter went wrong, the whole world would suffer because of it. Exchanging kindness for calamity was an absurd idea no matter how you looked at it.

"Sect Master, I agree with Baihu's statement. If we can kill the Seven-Life Vengeful Couple and severely damage the Yin Yue Dynasty, sacrificing Honghe Village is still worthwhile. If the court asks for an explanation afterward, we can push all the responsibility onto Xuanwu and never let the sect be disgraced."

The middle-aged man in black armor stood up and bowed to Yan Chixia.

As he stood up, Baihu and Jinguang also stood up and said to Yan Chixia, "For the future of all living beings, please make a decision as soon as possible, Sect Master."

Sima San Niang and Zhu Que's expressions changed upon hearing this. The fact that the three of them agreed to this move was already far beyond their expectations. Although the sect leader had the right to make the decision and it wouldn't matter if he rejected the proposal, it would inevitably plant a seed of resentment in the hearts of both sides.

Zhuque turned to look at Qinglong, who had been silent all along. He saw that Qinglong's eyes were closed, and Zhuque sighed softly.

"We'll discuss this later. You may leave now."

Jin Guang was slightly unwilling upon hearing this, but then he thought of something and didn't pursue the matter further. He and the four generals, including Xuan Xin, left the main hall.

After bidding farewell to the four, Jin Guang continued walking until he arrived at the door of an ancient house. The two disciples guarding the house greeted him hurriedly.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Jin Guang."

Upon hearing this, Jin Guang nodded, clasped his hands in a salute to the person inside the door, and said loudly, "Is Senior Brother Gu Xu here? Jin Guang has come to visit."

"come in."

A gentle voice reached Jin Guang's ears, and the latter's face lit up with joy. He greeted his two junior brothers, pushed open the door, and went inside.

"Senior brother."

Jin Guang bowed respectfully to Gu Xu.

"sit down."

Jin Guang sat down in response.

"Is there something you need today?" Gu Xu knew his junior brother's temperament; he would only come to him when he was unsure about something.

"Senior brother, the birthplace and time of the seven-life vengeful couple have been calculated."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xu's mind stirred, and he said calmly, "Isn't this great? As long as we find the Seven Lifetimes of Enmity Couple in advance, then part of the Xuanxin Sect's mission will be completed. What's there to say? The Sect Master will decide everything."

Upon hearing this, Jin Guang was secretly pleased, knowing that his senior brother was dissatisfied with Yan Chixia. However, this was not surprising, as three years ago, Yan Chixia had used the sect leader's golden token to recall Gu Xu, disregarding Gu Xu's personal wishes, because of the safety of the court. It was for this reason that the Black Mountain Demon was given a chance to catch his breath and disappeared.

"Senior brother, this is what happened..." Jin Guang recounted the matters discussed in the hall, occasionally glancing up at Gu Xu to observe his every move.

After a moment, Gu Xu said in a deep voice, "Junior brother, your approach is a bit too radical. Although it is sacrificing the small for the big, this plan is not without flaws. If it fails to be implemented, it will not only fail to achieve the desired result, but will also cost many innocent lives, which is something I do not want to see."

Upon hearing Gu Xu's words, Jin Guang's expression turned serious. He said, "Senior Brother, I am not a heartless person. The Sect Master always thinks of a way to achieve the best of both worlds, but opportunities are fleeting. The Yin Yue Dynasty has not yet reacted. With a little preparation, we can definitely cripple them in one fell swoop. As for those weaknesses, I hope to get Senior Brother's help."

Gu Xu gave Jin Guang a deep look and said in a low voice, "Junior brother should know that as a member of the Xuanxin Sect, I must obey the sect leader's orders. Without the sect leader's order, I cannot leave the capital city even a step."

Jin Guang frowned, feeling even more disgusted with Yan Chixia. Senior Brother Gu Xu's cultivation was far above theirs. If he weren't indifferent to fame and fortune, the position of sect leader would surely have fallen into Yan Chixia's hands.

"However, I can lend you this item; it might be of some help to you."

As he spoke, Gu Xu reached out and summoned a white Ruyi scepter, which landed in front of Jin Guang. It was surrounded by auspicious clouds and golden rain, and it seemed as if a dragon was swimming inside.

Upon seeing this object, Jin Guang was startled and exclaimed in surprise, "The Spirit Dragon Ruyi!"

This item is Gu Xu's personal magical artifact, and it also has the effect of breaking restrictions and creating illusions, which is impossible for ordinary people to see through.

"With this in hand, you can discuss it with the sect leader again. Although the sect leader cares about all living beings, he is indecisive. If you don't push him, he may not be able to make a decision. Remember, your identity must not be exposed unless absolutely necessary."

Jin Guang was looking at Ruyi when he heard Gu Xu's last words. He immediately stood up in shock and looked at the other party with a look of horror.

"Brother, you..."

"The identity of the Inspector is known only to me and you in the entire Xuanxin Sect. Remember, the position of Sect Leader must be obtained honorably and fairly. Do not do anything petty. Once you become the Sect Leader, you will naturally understand what happened today. Go."

Jin Guang looked at Gu Xu, who had closed his eyes, took the Spirit Dragon Ruyi, bowed respectfully, left the room, greeted his two junior brothers, and then went to find the Azure Dragon General.

Outside the Azure Dragon Hall, the golden light departed with satisfaction.

Three days later, Yan Chixia led most of the elite troops of the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect to Honghe Village.

Just as Xuanxin Zhengzong arrived at Honghe Village, in the Yinyue Dynasty, Demon Lord Liudao had already received news that the Seven Lifetimes of Enmity had appeared, and the location was in Honghe Village.

“Your Majesty, we are already too late. Your subordinates have already discovered that the Xuanxin Sect has led most of its forces to Honghe Village. They have probably already made preparations. If we go there now, we will surely fall into an ambush.”

The evil dragon, one of the four sages of the Demon Palace, spoke first. "The will of Heaven is still on the side of the righteous path. We are already a step behind in predicting the secrets of Heaven. One step behind means we will be behind at every step. Now we can only try our best to make up for it."

"The elite of the Xuanxin Sect have left the capital. Should we take this opportunity to attack their headquarters, using a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao', and weaken their strength as much as possible?"

The Asura, dressed in red, uttered astonishing words. Apart from the Demon Lord Liudao, the other three were all tempted. However, a playful voice rang out.

"If you're courting death, then send more people. Xuanxin Sect should have deployed its elite forces; they've naturally left themselves a backup plan. Just don't get caught up in it."

"Lord Black Mountain, what do you mean by this?" The Sage of No Return asked, looking at the middle-aged man in black robes at the head of the table, puzzled.

The others also looked at Black Mountain, their eyes filled with doubt.

Demon Lord Liudao waved his hand and asked in a deep voice, "Black Mountain, do you have any new information? Tell me about it." Liudao originally wanted to agree with Shura's words, but after hearing Black Mountain's sarcastic remarks, he suddenly became a little suspicious. Although Black Mountain's cultivation was slightly inferior to his own, he had many spies under his command, which was much stronger than the closed Yin Moon Dynasty.

"Your Majesty may not know, but the strength of the Xuanxin Sect has not diminished but increased compared to a hundred years ago. It boasts countless experts. Besides the sect leader Yan Chixia and his wife Sima Sanniang, there are also the Four Xuanxin Generals, the Seven Lingyun Sons, and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals—all top-tier experts, and moreover..."

At this point, Heishan paused, his expression turning solemn as he said, "Within the Xuanxin Sect, there is another person whose cultivation far surpasses that of Yan Chixia. I once exchanged a palm strike with him from a distance, and it took me three years to recover. If the Holy Lord intends to deal with the Xuanxin Sect, this person absolutely cannot be ignored."

"what!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Dao was startled. Although he could defeat Heishan, it would take at least a hundred moves, and that would still include the One Night Sword. This person could defeat Heishan with a single palm strike, making him an extremely difficult opponent.

The four sages of the Demon Palace were startled by these words. Although they were arrogant, they were not fools. To charge forward knowing they were no match for the enemy was foolish, not heroic.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured for now. This person has a bad relationship with Yan Chixia and has been left in the capital to keep watch. We don't need to deal with such a master. Our main target now is Honghe Village. We must not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of a small matter."

Despite the Black Mountain Demon's earnest advice, he was unwilling to confront that person again. He was merely a guest of the Yin Moon Dynasty and was not yet willing to risk his life for them. Therefore, he earnestly advised against provoking that person.

“Heishan is right. Hehe, Yan Chixia has cut off his own arm. Without him, we can save some effort. However, the truth of this matter still needs to be confirmed. If this person is secretly hiding among those ordinary disciples and suddenly appears when the two sides are fighting, that would be very bad.”

Thinking of this, Liu Dao turned to a scholar-looking man beside him and asked, "Jing Wuyuan, when you were speculating about the secrets of heaven, did you discover anything? Is this journey auspicious or ominous?"

Upon hearing this, Jing Wuyuan stood up and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have already performed three calculations, one auspicious, one inauspicious, and one neutral. Now that the fortunes of the righteous and demonic factions are intertwined, it is difficult to make any further calculations."

Liu Dao nodded upon hearing this. It seemed that there was only a 50% chance of success in this matter. But the Demonic Path was gambling on that 50% chance of success. The Seven Lifetimes of Enmity was related to the dynasty's millennium-long plan, and there could be no accidents.

"Mirror is out of reach. Four sages, heed my command: tomorrow we will muster our troops and depart for Honghe Village."

"Yes!"

Jing Wuyuan bowed to the four sages at the same time and stepped down in response.

"Black Mountain, you will accompany me on this journey. Once it's accomplished, the Dark Nether Pearl will be yours."

Upon hearing Liu Dao's telepathic message, Hei Shan's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded in agreement.

This Dark Nether Pearl is a supreme treasure of the demonic path, crafted from the yin energy of the earth. It is extremely rare and highly beneficial to those who cultivate demonic techniques, especially for a demon like him who specializes in earth magic, it is an unparalleled treasure for enhancing his cultivation.

With this item, one can save decades of arduous cultivation and lay a solid foundation, making one's path to enlightenment smoother.

Just after Zhongren left the main hall, a faint light flashed behind Liudao, and a charming woman dressed in green appeared, leaning against Liudao.

"Your Majesty, this Black Mountain Demon is not trustworthy. To say he's opportunistic and treacherous is an overestimation. Right now, he's only being kept in check by the Black Nether Pearl. If something unexpected happens, it would be good enough if he didn't take advantage of the situation. Does Your Majesty have another plan?"

Liu Dao chuckled upon hearing this, and stroked You Yue's face, saying, "You're right. Although Black Mountain is overburdened, if used properly, it can still be a valuable asset. Don't worry, I have other plans for the Red River Village matter."

Hearing Liudao say this, Youyue gradually felt relieved.

“I must go with you this time. The Xuanxin Sect is not easy to deal with. My wood magic can help the Holy Lord.”

Liu Dao frowned upon hearing this, but then relaxed and said apologetically, "You've worked hard for our child."

"This is all my duty, Your Majesty, please don't say that. By the way, what are Your Majesty's plans regarding the Blue Demon?"

"Let her go. Zhuge Qingtian is a member of the Xuanxin Zhengzong sect. In the end, it will be the Xuanxin Zhengzong sect that will not let him go. Let's save our energy. But we cannot abandon that child. This child is half human and half demon. His future is limitless. If we nurture him, he will be able to become our child's right-hand man."

"I will obey the Holy Ruler's orders."

Honghe Village, cross street
Jin Guang and the four Xuanxin generals were setting up a magic array. This sizable village was already covered with deadly killing arrays. As soon as a demonic cultivator entered, those with high cultivation would have their power weakened, while those with low cultivation would likely be killed instantly.

"Jin Guang, the magic array is complete. It's time to take out the Spirit Dragon Ruyi."

As Qinglong watched the spiritual light rising around the village, he felt reassured and spoke to the golden light beside him.

"Ah."

Jin Guang responded and took out the Spirit Dragon Ruyi from his Qiankun Bag. Its spiritual light was dazzling and auspicious clouds were scattered around it. As soon as it appeared, it attracted the attention of the four generals.

"Senior Brother Gu Xu's magic weapon is indeed remarkable. With such a thing, setting up an illusion array is enough to achieve twice the result with half the effort. It's a pity that Senior Brother couldn't come in person. Otherwise, all the Demon Lords and Six Paths would be no match for him."

The White Tiger is the most violent of all, and he is very dissatisfied with the sect leader. He has a top expert like Gu Xu, but he doesn't use him. Instead, he has to go to such great lengths. If Jin Guang hadn't taken out the Spirit Dragon Ruyi, who knows what kind of arrangements he would have made.

After Jin Guang summoned the Spirit Dragon Ruyi, a burst of white light suddenly shone, enveloping the entire Red River Village. A moment later, the light dissipated, and the Spirit Dragon Ruyi vanished.

"It's done!"

Just then, a disciple rushed over, bowed to the five people, and said that the sect leader had something to discuss.

Jin Guang exchanged glances with the four people, nodded, and followed the messenger disciple. After a while, they arrived in front of a noodle shop.

Within the Xuanxin Sect, Gu Xu arrived at a secluded valley, the place where the Holy Maiden of the Three Realms cultivated.

"A true gentleman is courteous."

When the Holy Maiden of the Three Realms saw Gu Xu approaching, she greeted him, but her hands did not stop moving. In the center of the three altars, a celestial globe was rotating, occasionally emitting a beam of light. The Holy Maiden of the Three Realms reached out to grab it to examine it, but then put it back.

"How is the situation in Honghe Village?" Gu Xu was still a little worried. Although he had prepared a backup plan, it was hard to guarantee that the Yin Yue Dynasty also had its own plans. The only thing he needed to pay attention to now was the timing of the arrival of the Seven Incarnations of Vengeful Lovers. If there was even the slightest mistake, it would not be the Seven Incarnations of Vengeful Lovers.

"Reporting to the Master, the 'Heavenly Dipper Array' has been set up in Honghe Village, and there is also a illusory realm set up by the Master's magic artifact, so there should be no chance of failure."

"That's good. Has there been any movement from the Yin Yue Dynasty?"

"The celestial secrets are currently in disarray, and the other side is deliberately concealing them, making it impossible to discern the truth. Unless the other side engages in combat with us, it will be extremely difficult to make a calculation."

Gu Xu was not surprised to hear this. The Yin Yue Dynasty and the Xuan Xin Sect had been fighting for years and knew each other well. However, no matter what the reason, the Yin Yue Dynasty would definitely send a large number of troops this time. The main battlefield between the two sides would still be in Honghe Village.

"I believe the sect leader and the others can handle the matter of the Seven Lifetimes of Enmity. As for the Holy Maiden of the Three Realms, how is the situation in the Forest of Forgetfulness?"

"Just as you predicted, if it weren't for your reminder, this Netherworld Spring would have been hard to find. It's currently suppressed by the Moye Sword and should be safe for the next twenty years. However, if it can't be suppressed after twenty years, it's in danger of erupting."

"We'll discuss this matter when the sect leader and the others return. You all keep a close eye on things in Honghe Village. If there's anything unusual, send someone to inform us immediately."

"Yes," the three holy maidens replied in unison.

After asking a few more questions, Gu Xu left the valley and returned to his residence. Just as he was about to sit down to meditate, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and his figure disappeared instantly. A moment later, he arrived at a green mountain in the suburbs, where a tall figure stood with his back to Gu Xu.

"Qingyou, why aren't you cultivating properly at Bibo Mountain? What are you doing in the capital?"

Upon hearing this, Qingyou turned around, looked at Gu Xu, and said with malice, "Naturally, it's time to avenge the sword wound from back then."

(End of this chapter)