In the Sand Village, the clones are everywhere, and the Arkham game begins

Chapter 473 The Secret of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley
More than a decade ago, Zhang Huaiyi traveled to almost every part of China, taking down a bunch of veteran masters who had survived from that era.

If it weren't for the Tang Clan of Shu mobilizing the former Yang Lie to forcibly exchange one for one using Dan Shi, Zhang Huaiyi would probably have continued killing.

Zhang Huaiyi at that time possessed absolutely unparalleled strength.

Ruan Feng and Zhang Huaiyi were both possessors of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, and they are still alive today.

No one doubts whether this guy possesses top-tier strength.

To deal with a top-tier expert, besides having the ability to exchange one expert for another, one would have to ask another top-tier expert to take action in order to stop them.

Otherwise, they would be slaughtered just like the masters from various sects who hunted down Zhang Huaiyi back then.

To kill a top-tier expert, either the person must be the Old Celestial Master, or multiple top-tier experts must attack together.

Upon hearing this, Shimizu understood why Zhao Fangxu had come.

"So how do you plan to get these experts involved?"

Qingshui took a sip of tea, looked into Zhao Fangxuri's eyes, and asked.

"Lure them with benefits."

Zhao Fangxu answered without hesitation.

"What benefits can you offer? Just offering benefits might not be enough to convince those people. At least I'm sure that benefits won't sway the Old Master."

"One is a guess, and the other is related to the Jia Shen Rebellion, the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, and Wu Gensheng. I know that Zhang Chulan deliberately concealed most of his experiences in the Twenty-Four Seasons Valley. But with Wang Zhenqiu's report, as well as the relevant historical records of the company and even the country over the years, I can probably figure some things out."

"You mean Qu Tong is currently in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley?"

Zhao Fangxu nodded slowly.

Shimizu thought about it and realized it made a lot of sense.

Throughout the country, the National Security Bureau has coordinated with all available locations; they've already thoroughly investigated every corner.

Even overseas, people have been sent to search for them.

Given the strength and influence of Dongda University at that time, finding someone like Qu Tong might be somewhat difficult, but it was impossible to leave no trace at all.

If we still can't find her after searching for so long, it means that Qu Tong is hiding somewhere that no one can find.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Grain perfectly fits this characteristic.

If it weren't for someone who had already been to Twenty-Four Seasons Valley leading the way, it would be almost impossible for anyone else to get in.

"Yes, with Ruan Feng there, she can find her way in. The reason we discovered her is because someone we had previously noticed, who was suspected to be Qu Tong's mole, contacted Lü Liang of Quanxing from the outside."

A few days later, all the Quanxing members secretly gathered in Qinling and were taken in by Qu Tong's people.

It was precisely because we caught the clues left behind by those Quanxing members who were summoned that we were able to follow the trail and find other information. Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that Qu Tong deliberately led us in.

Qu Tong's abilities are too dangerous, and what she has done is too harmful. If it weren't for the fact that even satellites can't locate the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, and that equipment and instruments would malfunction there, I would have applied to mobilize missiles and troops.

However, since the army cannot be mobilized, the only way to deal with Qu Tong and his group is to deploy a large number of experts.

We have many ordinary experts, but when it comes to top-tier...

Zhao Fangxu shook his head regretfully.

In fact, the official ranking is that of a master, even if he is not as good as the Celestial Master, he is still at the level of being invincible below the Celestial Master.

But that's not something Zhao Fangxu can mobilize, because the person is stationed in Zhongnanhai and has more important matters to attend to.

Shimizu asked again:
"You mentioned using profit to lure them, but what profit is there in the twenty-four solar terms?"

Zhao Fangxu replied:
"That's right. The country has collected the manuscript of the Enlightenment Golden Treatise of the Ziyang Master who left behind the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley. In fact, the content is the same as the internal alchemy techniques that are circulating outside. However, at the end, there are some vague words about the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley. Some scholars speculate that the Ziyang Master ascended to immortality here."

Unsurprisingly, it was here that Wugensheng obtained the secret to immortality left behind by the True Man Ziyang, and shared it with several other members of the Thirty-Six Thieves, allowing them to create the Eight Extraordinary Techniques by cross-referencing their own knowledge.

Shimizu's eyes flickered slightly.

Considering that Zhao Fangxu was going to lead so many people into the Twenty-Four Seasons Valley, a guess immediately formed in my mind.

"Didn't they say Wugensheng destroyed those murals? Could it be that..."

"Hmm, perhaps by reuniting the Eight Extraordinary Skills in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, we can once again have the chance to become immortals."

Zhao Fangxu nodded, confirming Shimizu's guess.

"Aren't you very averse to the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, considering them techniques that invite chaos? If the opportunity to become an immortal were to emerge, wouldn't that create even more chaos?"

"I ask you curiously," Shimizu said.

Zhao Fangxu sighed helplessly.

"Do you think I want this? But if Qu Tong isn't eliminated, this mess will always be stirred up. So let us decide how to create this mess, so that we can end it more easily."

In any case, with the Celestial Master and Lu Jin present, they should be able to keep things in order. If possible, I hope that the opportunity to become an immortal can be erased on the spot.

Even if it can't be erased, it must still be subject to state control.

"I see, then I'll go take a trip too."

Shimizu nodded slowly.

"You can't do it, it's too dangerous. No matter how skilled you are, it's not enough."

Zhao Fangxu immediately shook his head like a rattle drum.

"Tsk, Lao Zhao, what you say is not what you think."

Shimizu looked at Zhao Fangxu with a half-smile.

"Ahem, well, I know you possess a clone technique that can inherit most of the original's strength, and your armor is a magical artifact that is immune to interference from the Qi system. Your skills are no less than those of Elder Lu, so..."

Zhao Fangxu's idea was to have Shimizu use a shadow clone dressed in platinum armor to go there.

Old Zhao was quite familiar with Qingshui's strength, because whenever Qingshui's strength increased or he researched something new, the test was always conducted at the Na Du Tong training ground with the highest level of protection. Each sparring session involved his shadow clone, Yue Qian, and several bodyguards, along with Wang Ye and some experts from Na Du Tong, accompanying Qingshui in his practice.

Fatty Zhao wasn't sure about Qingshui's exact strength, but he knew that Qingshui was definitely a top-tier expert, even if it was just a clone, he was still a top-tier expert, albeit a slightly weaker one.

Once you add that armor, he's basically a normal top-tier player.

Even his clones are this strong; Old Zhao couldn't even imagine just how incredible this professor's current strength truly was.

Can an army and modern weapons deal with a powerful being whose mere clone possesses top-tier combat strength?

But Fatty Zhao knew that asking Shimizu to send a shadow clone would be beneficial and harmless, adding a top-tier combatant to their side without any risk, thus providing insurance for this operation.

Moreover, given the other person's personality, they most likely won't refuse.

After all, this concerns the so-called opportunity to become an immortal, and Zhao Fangxu didn't believe that Qingshui wouldn't be tempted.

This thing will eventually only fall into the hands of a few of the most powerful experts.

It would be best if it could fall into Qing Shui's hands.

With the strength of the Qing Shui clone, even if he can't snatch it, he can still hold out until the end and see what this opportunity is and who got it. Then, he can activate the various contingency plans he prepared in advance to deal with the situation.

The nation is not lacking in the ability to target top-tier powerhouses, but the cost is simply too high. Unless it is absolutely necessary to eliminate them, it is not worth it.

In the past, there was only one Celestial Master who stayed peacefully in Longhu Mountain. He spent his days either teaching his disciples and attending meetings of the Taoist Association and the Bureau of Culture and Tourism. He had not made any moves for decades.

With the entire Longhu Mountain involved, Zhang Zhiwei wouldn't overstep the line, so it would naturally be a win-win situation for everyone.

The remaining owners of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques were nowhere to be found. Apart from Zhang Huaiyi, who was forced to take action because he had no choice but to do so, their presence was even less than that of the old Celestial Master who cultivated himself. It was as if they did not exist, and there was no need to target them.

If these people really cause trouble and show up, the country also has its trump cards. The top officials might not be willing to fight to the death with another top official, but they still have various high-grade talismans and magical artifacts collected over the decades. If these things are handed over to experts of the Ten Elders level, they can still barely have the ability to intervene in the battle and influence the outcome.

Of course, doing so would not only use up a large number of high-level talismans, but also kill many important experts. If it were not necessary, the country would not be willing to pay this price.

Whether or not to use this price this time depends on what exactly happened in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, and what the secret to immortality left behind by Master Ziyang is all about.

After thinking about Zhao Fangxu's suggestion for a moment, Shimizu felt there was nothing wrong with it and nodded in agreement.

The nation could not allow his physical body to be risked; it would rather forgo the secrets of immortality within the Twenty-Four Valleys than allow him to be harmed.

Becoming an immortal? How many people in ancient times actually became immortals?
Those grown men must have thought about it too, but how many people throughout history have become immortals? Even emperors like Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, who dominated their era and could mobilize countless sects and cultivators in the world of supernatural beings with a single word to help them find a way to become immortals, ultimately achieved nothing.

So what makes you think that people today can do it too?
Moreover, whether Master Ziyang truly became an immortal is still highly controversial in the world of supernatural beings, and whether anyone has ever truly become an immortal is already a major topic at the Supernatural Beings Festival.

According to historical records, this person lived from the first year of the Yongxi era, which was not long after the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, to the fifth year of the Yuanfeng era, and lived to the age of ninety-eight.

This is considered quite long-lived among the ancients, and in the world of extraordinary people, this patriarch, one of the five founders of the Southern School of Taoism, was also a top-level master of that era.

According to Cui Xuanzi, a disciple of Master Ziyang and one of the five patriarchs of the Southern School of Taoism, Master Ziyang was not nearing the end of his life, but rather, having achieved perfect merit, he voluntarily underwent corpse liberation and ascended to immortality.

Whether the so-called "corpse disintegration and ascension" truly refers to ascension or death is difficult to verify.

However, it is certain that these eight extraordinary techniques are indeed derived from the treasures left behind by the True Man Ziyang in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley.

"The immortal treasure that gave birth to the Eight Extraordinary Techniques is something no extraordinary person would refuse to explore. Qu Tong was forced by us to start this plan ahead of schedule, but it can also be considered a well-intentioned scheme."

The Six Treasures Immortal Thief and the Double-Handed Technique are both with them. Ma Xianhong was once controlled by Qu Tong, but he didn't mind the Divine Hundred Refinements being spread. I don't believe that Qu Tong couldn't produce a superhuman like Qiu Rang who had mastered the Divine Hundred Refinements.

The Feng and Wang families are the ones who can summon spirits and command generals. It's hard to say about Feng Zhenghao, but given the Wang family's ambition, they will definitely go and investigate once they hear the news. As for the Qi Body Source Flow, the only one who is certain to know it right now is Zhang Chulan. Given his relationship with Feng Baobao, he will definitely want to go and investigate once he hears the news.

Even if we wanted to block this news, we couldn't.

If we refuse to go, Qu Tong will definitely have other plans to spread the news and lure them there.

As for the final three extraordinary techniques, Feng Hou Qi Men, Tong Tian Lu, and Da Luo Dong Guan, the masters of these three techniques are also strictly limited.

Wang Ye is one of your men. He might go, or he might not. I don't know.

But to be on the safe side, Qu Tong must have a way to lure Zhou Sheng there. As for how to lure Old Master Lu there, it's even simpler: a mention of Wu Gensheng's whereabouts is more effective than anything else.

On the contrary, the Great Luo Cave Temple... I suppose that woman also has a way to invite Gu Qiting there, so we need to be prepared that Gu Qiting and Zhou Sheng will also side with Qu Tong.

If that's the case, I'm afraid the Celestial Master and Mr. Lu Jin alone won't be able to handle it. Therefore, we'll need another supreme expert to intervene and stop it."

“Alright, I agree. But to prevent any accidents, my main body will be guarding outside the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley. At least I can’t let anyone take the things and run away.”

Shimizu nodded slightly.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley is too eerie; the government would never allow his true form to enter.

Now, having made countless groundbreaking contributions and led human development, he is the most valuable asset of this country.

As long as he is outside, in order to prevent accidents and for the sake of the things in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, the country will absolutely not mind sending troops and a large number of extraordinary experts to be stationed outside.

To surround the Qinling Mountains would require hundreds of thousands of troops, which would be too much of a commotion. However, if we only need to set up defenses and monitor the outer perimeter of the Qinling Mountains, with current technology, we wouldn't need that many people.

With so many people fighting inside, the commotion when they retreat is considerable. Even if someone manages to escape, Shimizu himself will be there to protect them from the outside.

"Yes, as long as you don't go in, we can protect you from outside."

Zhao Fangxu pushed up his glasses and breathed a sigh of relief.

He wasn't afraid that Shimizu wouldn't agree to help; he was afraid that Shimizu would want her true form to enter.

If something unexpected happens and he gets injured, then Zhao Fangxu, the powerful chairman of Nadutong, will be out of a job.

If it really works out, it will be a great achievement, and his position could be moved up quite a bit.

He's already at a high rank and is quite old.

Without such great merit, in theory, a few years later, he would only get a nominal promotion and a slightly better retirement benefit before he retires. It would be unlikely that he could get a real promotion.

But if this succeeds, then we can basically move up a bit more before that.

(End of this chapter)