The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 510 People’s hearts are floating
Within a single day, the entire Ming Cult and the entire Bright Peak were shaken as if by an earthquake; though not quite a cataclysmic event, the earth trembled violently.

Countless disciples at the main altar witnessed the dignified leader of the Ming Cult being carried back to the main altar on a stretcher. When Yang Xu's weak appearance was presented before them, no one would think that this leader was unapproachable anymore.

In the martial arts world where martial arts are revered, the role of martial arts is magnified infinitely. The reason why the Five Greats are the Five Greats is because they have basically never lost to anyone else.

The Ming Cult leader's status was partly due to his superb martial arts skills. It was hard to believe that Fang Yu died at the hands of Wu Chengyu, but everyone thought it was because Fang Yu was nearing the end of his life and had first fought with Hong Qigong, which depleted his internal energy. At least his reputation remained intact.

However, Yang Xu, as the new leader, was easily and seriously injured by a strange lama who appeared out of nowhere. Those who followed Yang Xu up the mountain had already spread the news, intentionally or unintentionally.

From beginning to end, Yang Xu struck first, and after only three moves, he suffered a crushing defeat. With such a performance, how could he possibly intimidate others?

Half of the disciples looked worried, concerned about the future of the Ming Cult, while the other half had a more inexplicable look in their eyes.

Especially those forces that were once affiliated with Nangong Luan, the leaders have all been eliminated, but there are always some treacherous people hiding beneath the surface.

There were also the former subordinates of Xiong Wang and Hu Wang. Xiong Wang and Hu Wang died tragically and mysteriously. These people were once indignant, but Yang Xu forcibly suppressed them and dared not raise their heads. But when Yang Xu was seriously injured and could not get out of bed, how could these people continue to be obedient?

Just as Wu Chengyu had predicted, once Yang Xu was unable to suppress the situation, the various forces that had been forcibly suppressed in the past would inevitably rise up. Where there are people, there is a world of martial arts. The Ming Cult, with its nearly ten thousand disciples, was already divided into numerous factions.

As soon as Yang Xu returned to Bright Peak, he went into seclusion to heal his injuries. It took him three days to leave his quiet room. This time, he was finally able to walk with difficulty, but his face was frighteningly pale, and his aura was visibly weak.

Wu Chengyu controlled the force of his attacks with great precision. Yang Xu exchanged several blows with Wu Chengyu, and his arm and palm bones fractured, making it natural that he could not lift his arms.

More importantly, the internal energy that Wu Chengyu injected into Yang Xu's body was constantly rebelling, causing damage to Yang Xu's internal organs and meridians. He absolutely could not fight anyone for a short period of time.

Just as Wu Chengyu said, he would need at least six months to recover from his injuries. He would be unable to fight for the first three months, and in the last three months, his martial prowess would be at most top-tier, which would not be enough to absolutely suppress the other masters of the Ming Cult.

"Master, how are you?" Wu Du asked respectfully and considerately.

"It's alright. Although I was defeated, it was only because that lama's attack was strange and I underestimated him. My arms were weak and my internal organs were shaken. I will recover soon, so there is no need for the Left Envoy to worry."

As for that lama, once I've recovered from my injuries and thoroughly studied the Great Nine Heavens Hand technique left by my master, I will surely be able to personally slay this fiend and avenge today's humiliation.

Yang Xu said things against his will, seemingly to comfort Wu Du, but his eyes were always on Wu Du's reaction. Seeing that Wu Du looked concerned and that he could not tell from the surface that Wu Du was not in any abnormality, he felt a little relieved.

He was also a shrewd person, and he knew that he had only recently become the leader of the sect and had not yet won the hearts of all his disciples. Various forces were stirring up trouble, and he had not yet secured his position.

At this point, being seriously injured would inevitably tempt those with ulterior motives, so no matter how severe the injury, it could only be described as a minor injury to outsiders.

"Left Envoy Wu, tell me, what have you found out?"

"That strange lama had excellent lightness skills. After descending the mountain, he quickly disappeared. The difference in martial arts skills was too great, and our disciples could not find out anything about him."

I have already sent my disciples to Tibet to see if there really is such a Great Wheel King at the Great Wheel Temple in the Great Snow Mountain. However, the journey is difficult and the distance is too far. It will take at least several months for a round trip.

What truly worries my subordinates now is that those guys who suddenly appeared and killed more than 400 of my Five Elements Banner members are actually only about 50 people. They are all highly skilled in martial arts, at least second-rate, and their fighting style is mainly based on military formations and charges, which is completely military style.

In the past, it was always the Five Elements Flags of our Ming Cult that used this fighting style. Who would have thought that when the Five Elements Flags disciples fought against them, they were defeated at the first touch and had no power to fight back.

The leader is an exceptionally skilled individual who single-handedly killed the leader of the Sharp Gold Banner and severely injured the leader of the Thick Earth Banner. He then fought the leader of the Blazing Fire Banner one-on-one. His combat strength is likely above that of his subordinates.

But what worries me most is that after the battle, these people fled towards Bright Peak. I sent my disciples to pursue them, but they disappeared without a trace as soon as they entered the area of ​​Bright Peak.

What I fear most is that these people are actually Ming Cult disciples, but I don't know which faction they belong to, nor do I know when such a fighting force emerged within my Ming Cult. This is the real threat.

Yang Xu's face was also ashen. This strange lama had extraordinary martial arts skills, which he suspected were at the pinnacle level, otherwise he wouldn't have defeated him so easily.

There was one thing he hadn't told anyone: Yang Xu had followed Fang Yu for a long time and had some understanding of top experts. He could tell that this Deyun Gangzi wasn't using his full strength at all, and was more like toying with him.

Yang Xu was completely baffled as to what this person's purpose in coming to challenge him was. It was definitely not just to beat him up.

The claim that he would take revenge after mastering the Great Nine Heavens Hand is all a lie. This guy didn't even learn the Great Nine Heavens Hand completely. The Ming Cult's ultimate secret technique was already lost by the time he got to him.

Yang Xu was not worried about just one outside expert. With nearly ten thousand disciples of the Ming Cult, even if Deyun Gangzi was highly skilled, as long as he stayed obediently at Bright Peak, this guy could not do anything to him.

The most pressing concern right now is the one Wu Du mentioned. Nobody wants such a powerful force hidden among their disciples, lurking near Bright Peak.

So close, yet fraught with danger. Who knows if they might suddenly appear one day and stab us in the back? The key issue is that the area around Bright Peak covers several hundred square kilometers, where Ming Cult disciples and their families live. It's a large area with a large population. Fifty people hiding there are like sand in the ocean, impossible to trace.

Yang Xu pondered for a moment: "Left Envoy, this matter still needs you to handle. From now on, thoroughly investigate whether there are any hidden foreign forces among my Ming Cult disciples, especially the new faces who have recently joined. They must be carefully identified."

I just hope it was done by outsiders. What I fear most is that it was done by one of my own people who have been with my Ming Cult for many years, because then it's impossible to guard against.

In addition, send more men to monitor those guarding the sacred flame, Master's personal guards, and the four gates of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, to see if they sneak down the mountain.

"Does the cult leader mean these people are up to no good?"

"That's right. It's not easy for Ming Cult disciples to gather more than fifty second-rate or above experts in an instant. Don't forget that the four sects of Wind, Rain, Thunder and Lightning still have more than a hundred people left. Apart from the former leader's personal guards, I can't think of anyone else for the time being."

These guys are fiercely loyal to the former leader and already harbor great hostility towards me. They only dutifully guarded the sacred flame because my junior sister intervened. But who can know what they're really thinking?

If it really is these people, that would be easier to handle; at least the target is clear. I'm most afraid of them.

"Understood, I will send someone to monitor them. In addition, the Five Elements Banner needs the leader to come forward and appease them in the next few days. The Five Elements Banner has suffered such great losses this time, and their morale is already unstable. They are related to the outer defense of Bright Peak, so they cannot be taken lightly."

If the cult leader's injuries can be managed, it would be best if the cult leader himself could personally comfort him.

If it weren't for Old Flag Master Jiang falling ill five days ago and being unable to participate in this operation, the vast Five Elements Flag would probably be completely wiped out, without even a single flag master left.

"I understand. Left Envoy, please go and carry out your business. Just as you said, these fifty-odd people are a major threat. We must find them immediately, or there will be a great disaster."

After Wu Du left to carry out his orders, Yang Xu felt a churning in his chest. His recent excitement had aggravated his injuries. He immediately tried to heal himself, but his mind was too unsettled, and the treatment was ineffective.

The Five Elements Flags issue is also quite troublesome. Although the Ming Cult's higher-ups have always suppressed and belittled the Five Elements Flags, Yang Xu, as a young and promising figure, doesn't really care about the grudges between the Five Elements Camp and the Ming Cult from a hundred years ago. After all, too much time has passed, and the Five Elements Flags have been quite well-behaved in recent years.

However, the Five Elements Banners had few members but strong combat power, and most importantly, they were very obedient, making them a very useful and easy-to-use weapon for Yang Xu.

This time, they ambushed the Five Elements Flag forces at the foot of the mountain, thinking it would be a piece of cake, but unexpectedly, the Five Elements Flag suffered heavy losses.

Each of the Five Elements Banners has 1,500 people, which together is nearly half of the Ming Cult disciples. However, this time only 400 people were brought, but the banner leaders and deputy banner leaders of three of the banners came, and the people they brought were the most loyal elites of the Five Elements Banners.

The simultaneous death of these people greatly shook the foundation of the Five Elements Flag, significantly reducing Yang Xu's control over it.

Hou Tu Banner is doing alright now. The original banner chief and deputy banner chief have been eliminated as Nan Gongluan's henchmen. Only Zhou Dao, the new deputy banner chief, spends his days drinking and gambling.

Although Jiang, the old flag leader of the flood flag, was a cunning old fox and a fence-sitter, he was old and posed no threat.

However, the flag leaders and deputy flag leaders of the Fiery Banner, Sharp Metal Banner, and Giant Wood Banner were extremely loyal to Yang Xu. With all six of them killed at the same time, it would be strange if their disciples didn't rebel. How could they possibly be controlled?

What's even more troubling for Yang Xu is that, among the Ming Cult's high-ranking members, besides himself as the leader and Wu Du as the newly appointed Left Envoy, the positions of the Right Envoy of Light and the Four Great Protectors have not yet been filled with successors, and these positions are already fiercely contested.

The Five Elements Banner suddenly lost four banner leaders and three deputy banner leaders. Where could he find trustworthy and respected individuals to fill all these positions?

Yang Xu was filled with frustration. He looked in the direction Wu Du had just left. He was naturally suspicious and used to be confident that he could keep Wu Du firmly under control so that the guy wouldn't have any ulterior motives. But now, Yang Xu estimated that he would definitely not be a match for Wu Du within half a year.

Just as Yang Xu was filled with worries, fifty Beiwei soldiers were resting inside the Ming Cult's secret passage. Wu Chengyu did not return to Bright Peak alone. Hong Niangzi divided half of her hundred Beiwei soldiers, led by Li Geda, to follow Wu Chengyu back to Bright Peak.

The Five Elements Banners also employ military tactics, but they excel more in technique. In terms of individual combat skills and mastery of military formations, they are far inferior to the Beiwei Army.

Li Geda is a master of sneak attacks. He is patient and ruthless. Back when he was training troops with bandits in the Hidden Dragon Cave, everyone else would charge in openly, but Li Geda would sneak in a day in advance and assassinate them in the most insidious way.

This guy is like a lone wolf by nature. If it weren't for Wu Chengyu's training, who knows what he would have become.

Having followed Hong Niangzi for over two years, he rarely spoke, yet he shielded her from numerous assassination attempts. He finally advanced to the top-tier level, becoming the number one fighter in the Beiwei Army in terms of lethality.

In the battle against the Five Elements Banner, even though his martial arts were a level above the three banner leaders, this kid still prioritized assassination. Five of the three banner leaders and deputy banner leaders died at his hands.

Hong Niangzi assigned Li Geda to Wu Chengyu as his assistant, fearing that not enough members of the Ming Cult had died, or that the death would be tragic enough.

(End of this chapter)