In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 146: Magician's Palace, White-haired Beauty
Bright Peak is on the route that the Kunlun Sect is attacking.

Broken weapons and wrecked armor lay scattered on the ground, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

On the mountain path where the battle had just ended, a dozen or so rogue martial artists, dressed in various styles but not in the uniform of the six major sects, were like greedy vultures and bloodthirsty jackals, scavenging among the corpses of Ming Cult disciples that had not yet been cleared away after the battle.

After a man pulled half of a secret manual from the corpse of a Ming Cult disciple, his first action was to scan his surroundings.

When no one noticed him, he swiftly stuffed the money into his pocket, then searched the Ming Cult disciple in front of him until he had also taken all the hidden silver.

Occasionally, someone would kick the corpse on the ground a couple of times after a lot of hard work that yielded nothing, and then grumble and smear it on another corpse next to them.

But the others seemed to have gotten used to it, and didn't even have the idea of ​​taking the lead to look. They were just focused on moving around the corpses.

Just then, several figures came up from the rugged mountain path at the foot of the mountain.

The leader was a tall, handsome young man in fine clothes.

She wore an exquisitely tailored plain white brocade robe, with a silver belt inlaid with black jade around her waist, and gently fanned herself with a folding fan as she walked.

She had a fair and beautiful face with a high nose bridge. Her eyes, in particular, were bright as autumn water and cold stars, clear yet revealing an indescribable wisdom and insight.

It was Zhao Min, whom Gu Shaoan had met in Luyang Prefecture before.

As she walked, Zhao Min casually glanced around. When her eyes fell on the corpses on the battlefield, she showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a faint smile remained on her lips.

However, the two elders of Xuanming were not following closely behind Zhao Min today.

At this moment, the people closest to Zhao Min were a woman and a monk.

The woman wore an extremely gorgeous, colorful palace dress that seemed to be woven from clouds. As she moved, the skirt fluttered, and colorful ribbons of a unique material were wrapped around her arms and waist, moving without wind, as if they were alive and swirling around.

Although her face was not as pretty as Zhao Min's, it could still be described as beautiful, but her eyes were full of charm and captivating allure.

On the far right is a dignified-looking monk.

The monk appeared to be in his forties, tall and upright, with a deep and resolute facial structure, yet his skin was as smooth as jade, clearly indicating that his internal energy cultivation had reached its peak.

His deep eyes flashed with a sharp light as they opened and closed, revealing a wisdom that seemed to understand the ways of the world.

He wore a faded yet exceptionally clean, earth-yellow monk's robe—the most ordinary attire for a wandering monk—yet it exuded an extraordinary air about him.

Anyone who sees it will immediately feel a sense of closeness.

If there were any martial artists from the Great Yuan Kingdom present, they would surely recognize the identities of the two people behind Zhao Min.

One of the two great protectors of the Demon Master's Palace, nicknamed "Beauty," is Hua Jieyu, and the new abbot of the Great Wheel Temple of the Great Yuan Kingdom, nicknamed "Great Wheel King," is Kumokong.

As the group approached, the dozen or so rogue cultivators who had been looting the corpses all looked up at them.

However, upon seeing these people, none of the rogue martial artists stepped forward to cause trouble; instead, they stood still.

Those rogue cultivators who dare to engage in such corpse-robbing activities are bold, but they also have a certain level of discernment.

They also knew that someone who could leisurely climb the mountain while the six major sects were fighting the Ming Cult was no ordinary person.

At this moment, naturally no one would be foolish enough to go looking for trouble.

Just then, Zhao Min, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped.

Noticing Zhao Min's actions, the rogue martial artists were immediately frightened and took several steps back, their hearts pounding in their chests.

However, as Zhao Min stood still, she did not show any hostility. Instead, she smiled brightly at these rogue martial artists.

As he fanned himself with his folding fan, he said in a clear voice, "You're busy, don't worry about us."

Faced with Zhao Min's words, these people dared not continue what they were doing. After looking at each other, they remained standing still like wooden statues.

Seeing this, Zhao Min's smile vanished, and she said irritably, "I already said I wouldn't do anything to you, but you still don't dare to do anything. You're so cowardly, yet you still do these kinds of shady things?"

After saying "Boring," Zhao Min turned around and continued walking up the mountain path.

But just as Zhao Min had taken a dozen or so steps forward, the people behind her seemed to notice something and looked up.

Hua Jieyu, who was following behind Zhao Min, immediately reminded her, "Princess, someone is approaching from ahead."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Min looked into the distance and indeed saw a figure rapidly approaching from afar.

However, he was a man who looked to be in his forties.

The man was dressed in a pure white robe, his snow-white hair casually draped over his shoulders. His appearance was fairly decent, but there was a cold and sinister air about him. His phoenix eyes were long and narrow, with a chilling glint that seemed to pierce the soul deep within them.

As he walked, he held a nine-section flute in his hand, which was crystal clear and made of a material that resembled jade but was not.

It was another protector in the Demon Master's Palace, nicknamed "White Hair" Liu Yaozhi.

In just a few breaths, he had already covered a distance of several dozen feet and appeared in front of Zhao Min.

"The princess!"

However, after bowing, the newcomer did not speak directly, but turned to look at the rogue cultivators who were still standing still.

Seeing this, Zhao Min lightly raised the folding fan in her hand.

"Senior Deer, Senior Crane, please clear the area."

As soon as the words were spoken, both Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng set off at the same time.

In less than five breaths, amidst screams and pleas for mercy, all the wandering martial arts practitioners who had been searching for corpses were killed by Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng, leaving no survivors.

"Alright, there are no outsiders here, Protector Liu, please speak freely!"

Zhao Min reopened her folding fan and casually spoke as she gently fanned herself.

His emotions remained completely unaffected by the fact that over a dozen people had died from a single casual remark.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yaozhi slowly spoke.

As Liu Yaozhi recounted the information she had just gathered, Zhao Min and even Hua Jieyu behind her gradually became serious.

"Is Protector Liu certain that Zhang Wuji has mastered the Nine Yang Divine Skill?"

Liu Yaozhi nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"I heard it with my own ears."

Zhao Min slammed her folding fan shut and said with bright eyes, "Originally, I only came here to kidnap Song Yuanqiao of Wudang and the monk Kongzhi of Shaolin for my master's cultivation. I didn't expect to have such an unexpected surprise."

"The Nine Yang Divine Skill, which has been lost for nearly a hundred years, has actually reappeared in the martial arts world, and we even came across it."

"I've heard that the Nine Yang True Qi cultivated through the Nine Yang Divine Skill is extremely strong and yang, making it the perfect furnace for Master's cultivation."

Upon hearing Zhao Min's words, Hua Jieyu, who was behind Zhao Min, asked, "Since this person is helpful to the cultivation of demon masters, why don't we take advantage of this opportunity to capture him and bring him back to the Great Yuan Kingdom?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Min waved her folding fan and said, "It's alright! We're already trapped like turtles in a jar, so there's no need to rush."

"Let's talk about it after this big show is over."

"After all, we have been preparing for this big show for nearly three years. If we act now, we will inevitably alert the enemy."

After saying that, Zhao Min looked at Liu Yaozhi in front of her and said, "I'll trouble Protector Liu to keep an eye on things. We can't let this excellent furnace escape. As for other matters, I will arrange for others to do them later."

"it is good!"

Upon receiving Zhao Min's instructions, Liu Yaozhi nodded and then used her lightness skill to disappear into the distance.

After Liu Yaozhi left, Zhao Min's face lit up with a bright smile again, and she led the group behind her on a leisurely stroll along the mountain path.

fourteen.

The bloody battle that lasted for seven days left Bright Peak in ruins.

Especially along several mountain routes, thick blood has already seeped into the soil of the hillsides. As you walk along the way, you can smell a heavy, pungent, rusty stench and a hint of decay.

Broken weapons and fallen corpses can be seen everywhere along the main roads leading to the summit.

At this moment, about a mile below the summit platform of Bright Summit, there is a protruding, suspended stone platform.

Gu Shaoan stood quietly at the edge of the stone platform, with a steep mountain wall below. The biting mountain wind swept up from the valley floor, but Gu Shaoan's figure remained motionless, his feet as solid as a rock extending from the cliff itself.

With his eyes lightly closed, the solidified true essence flowed back and forth within and around Gu Shaoan's body like water.

Sunlight fell on his handsome face, and the howling mountain wind made his blue and white robe flutter constantly.

Just then, a graceful figure, like a nimble antelope in the mountains or a swallow skimming over the cliff, made a few extremely light turns along the steep slope and landed steadily on the stone platform.

The toes touched the stone slab without making the slightest sound.

As the figure drew closer, Gu Shaoan kept his eyes closed and slowly spoke.

"Everyone is here?"

Yang Yan nodded and said, "He Taichong from the Kunlun Sect arrived a short while ago. Now all six major sects have gathered. My master asked me to inform you that the final attack will begin in a quarter of an hour."

With the Emei Sect having settled their disciples in the forbidden area, and free from any worries, Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen, among others, no longer held back in their attacks.

In just three days, he led a hundred Emei disciples to break through the route planned by the Emei Sect.

Even the Five Wanderers of the Ming Cult were all killed by Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen together.

Especially in Emei, where the forces of the Wudang and Ming Cults joined forces, the Ming Cult had to devote more energy to dealing with them, which indirectly reduced the pressure on the other four factions.

After the Five Wanderers of Xiaoyao were killed by Abbess Miejue, Abbess Juechen, and Song Yuanqiao yesterday, the Ming Cult, lacking powerful figures to protect them, could only suffer repeated defeats.

The defeat is obvious.

Upon hearing Yang Yan's words, Gu Shaoan quickly withdrew his circulating true energy, opened his eyes, and cast his gaze across the raging mountain winds to the distant Bright Peak. A cold glint flashed in Gu Shaoan's eyes.

"Hopefully, they'll be more sensible!"

The thought flashed through his mind, and Gu Shaoan said, "Let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Shaoan's figure disappeared from the edge of the cliff. He did not leap into the abyss, but rather swept along the mountain wall like a dragon soaring through the air.

Walking on the sheer cliffs as if on flat ground.

Compared to Yang Yan, she appeared more composed and relaxed.

Seeing this, Yang Yan took a light breath, lightly touched the stone slab with her toes, gathered her energy, and leaped away, also using her lightness skill to follow closely behind.

As Gu Shaoan and Yang Yan returned to the agreed meeting place, Gu Shaoan immediately spotted He Taichong and his wife's Kunlun Sect group.

This time, the six major sects besieged the area, and apart from Emei, the other sects all mobilized a thousand disciples.

But now, even the Shaolin and Wudang sects have lost nearly a hundred disciples.

After several days of fighting, the Kunlun Sect, Kongtong Sect, and Huashan Sword Sect suffered heavy losses, with more than half of their disciples and elders killed.

This was still within the Ming Cult, where there weren't many experts.

Without going into too much detail, if the Azure-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao hadn't died, his uncanny lightness skill alone would have been enough to cause hundreds more casualties within Kunlun, Kongtong, and Huashan Sword Sect in the past few days.

If they are not careful, even the sect leader He Taichong and Xianyu Tong could be killed by Wei Yixiao with his strange lightness skill.

It is conceivable that without the map provided by Gu Shaoan and others, which marked the traps and mechanisms set up by the Ming Cult at Bright Peak in advance, not only would the Kongtong, Huashan Sword Sect, and Kunlun sects suffer heavy losses, but even the Wudang and Shaolin sects would have lost at least half of their disciples this time.

Even if the six major sects successfully destroy the Ming Cult this time, the three forces of Kongtong, Kunlun, and Huashan Sword Sect will also suffer heavy losses.

Once we get back, we need to keep a low profile and minimize our presence as much as possible.

However, if they can recover in these few years, the three factions will surely be able to greatly improve their overall strength by acquiring a large amount of money and new martial arts manuals from the Ming Cult.

This is how the power of the martial arts world grows.

It's like raising a venomous insect, using the accumulated knowledge of other sects as nourishment to sustain itself.

Therefore, the world of martial arts will never be at peace.

After a short while, Master Kongzhi of Shaolin slowly stood up.

A Buddhist chant was uttered, its sound as resounding as a great bell, enveloped in rich and pure true energy, clearly and slowly reaching the ears of the thousands present.

“Amitabha Buddha, all evil has been committed, and karmic obstacles lie ahead. Fellow practitioners, the time has come.”

That sound seemed to ignite the final fuse.

Song Yuanqiao, Abbess Miejue, He Taichong, Xianyu Tong, and the leader of the Five Elders of Kongtong all stood up one after another, their eyes becoming sharp.

"Reaching the summit!"

"Crush the Demonic Sect!"

"Avenge our fallen comrades!"

The anger and fighting spirit that had been suppressed for several days suddenly erupted. Led by the leaders and elders of the six sects, thousands of elite disciples from the six major sects, like a flood breaking through a dam, began to walk along the wide but steep gray stone steps.

However, when he reached the steps, Xianyu Tong of the Huashan Sword Sect paused slightly. With a seemingly casual wave of his wide sleeves, several heavy iron beads, each the size of a mung bean and gleaming with a dark luster, silently shot out from his sleeves.

These iron beads did not fly in a straight line at a speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. Instead, under the strange true energy he injected and the skillful finger strength, they flew out several feet away in a seemingly sluggish but actually exquisite and tricky arc!

"Sizzle... sizzle... sizzle...!"

Soon, a series of sounds, like a red-hot iron being plunged into cold water, rang out. The marbles that Xianyu Tong had just thrown with a special technique were now scattered across the dozens of steps leading to the mountaintop.

Some marbles are embedded directly into the stone steps, about an inch deep.

But as these iron beads scattered, some fell onto the steps and onto the stone slabs. Several seemingly ordinary stone slabs suddenly bounced up and flipped over, revealing dark holes underneath.

In an instant, a dense barrage of poisoned steel crossbow bolts rained down like a storm.

Some of them were even targeting Miejue, Song Yuanqiao, and others, but they were easily stopped by Abbess Miejue and her group.

However, sensing the residual force on the arrow, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of Abbess Miejue and Song Yuanqiao.

At this moment, the group was still three zhang away from the stone steps, yet these arrows still possessed such speed and power.

If ordinary disciples were to rashly step onto the steps, they would probably be pierced by these arrows before they even had a chance to react.

Thinking of this, Kongzhi of Shaolin said coldly, "The demonic cultists are indeed vicious; they have even set up such insidious traps on these mountain steps."

Xianyu Tongdao said from the side: "It is expected that the demonic cultists will stop at nothing to harm us, but the Ming Cult is underestimating us if they think they can hurt us with these traps."

After saying that, Xianyu Tong took a few steps forward and flicked his sleeve again, throwing out more iron beads in this way to continuously trigger whether there were other mechanisms on the steps.

Seeing Xianyu Tong use the iron beads to activate the two mechanisms on the steps again, Zhou Zhiruo couldn't help but say in surprise, "I didn't expect that this Sect Leader Xianyu would have such a high level of skill in using hidden weapons."

The lesson learned three years ago has made both Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan now habitually wrap their voices in their inner energy when they speak, so that their voices are not heard by others.

Therefore, although Zhou Zhiruo did not suppress her voice, only Gu Shaoan and a few others around her could hear it.

In response, Abbess Juechen said, "Xianyu Tong's strength is mediocre. Although he has reached the level of returning to the innate realm, in terms of actual strength, he is only at the same level as the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan."

"In order to make up for the lack of strength, he has been immersed in the study of hidden weapons in recent years. Looking at the six sects, there are few who can match him in terms of the mastery of hidden weapons alone."

Yang Yan spoke as if she had heard a joke: "This Xianyu Tong is really interesting. As the head of the Huashan Sword Sect, he doesn't focus on Huashan's martial arts, but instead spends his time on hidden weapons. I wonder if the ancestors of the Huashan Sword Sect would be so angry that they would jump out of their graves in the middle of the night if they knew about this?"

In response to Yang Yan's words, Abbess Juechen smiled and said, "It's unavoidable that you lack talent. After the Huashan Sword Qi Competition ended and the Huashan Sword Sect established itself, the reason why it was able to quickly gain a foothold was inseparable from the fact that the Huashan Sword Sect mainly focuses on swordsmanship. It only takes three or four years to be able to meet the enemy."

"But everything has two sides. While the Huashan Sword Sect's move can allow its disciples to leave the mountain and travel the world sooner, it also lacks the strength to continue because it does not pay attention to the cultivation of internal strength."

"Moreover, as swordsmanship progresses, if one lacks comprehension, it also requires a great deal of time to ponder and practice. Therefore, when disciples of the Huashan Sword Sect make their moves, they may seem strong at first glance, but they almost always lack the stamina to sustain a fight."

"To make up for this deficiency, Xianyu Tong came up with this idea: to have the disciples of the Huashan Sword Sect learn some hidden weapon techniques for self-defense."

"Although this approach is somewhat biased, it has still achieved some results."

At this moment, Yang Yan looked at Gu Shaoan curiously and said, "Senior brother, do you think Xian Yutong's hidden weapon technique is somewhat similar to the technique used by Shangguan Haitang three years ago?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan glanced at the iron balls that Xianyu Tong had thrown out, then shook his head and said, "They are worlds apart."

　There are still some issues to consider and adjust in Chapter Two, but it will definitely be posted before 8 o'clock!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)