“Sister Yuanshuang, do you know what fortune is?”
At several thousand yards above the ground, Ji Xuan stood proudly at the bow of the ship, overlooking the boundless land below.
The howling wind was blocked thirty feet away by the barrier of his qi.
Xu Yuanshuang was also within the barrier, the graceful girl withdrew her gaze from the earth, turned her head to glance at her cousin, and frowned slightly,
“You asked me out just to ask this?”
The qi barrier confined their conversation to a space within thirty feet.
Ji Xuan narrowed his eyes, his face wearing the usual gentle smile, and said,
“I’m not quite at ease, so I wanted to confirm once more.”
Xu Yuanshuang frowned slightly, not quite understanding him. She considered for a moment, then said,
“Everything in the world has its own measure of fate, and each is different. People, beasts, plants, the noble and the humble, rich and poor, these all determine the amount of fate.
“Dynasties also have fate, but in the words of arcanists, this is called fortune.”
Ji Xuan put away his smile, his gaze looking into the distance. After a long while, he suddenly asked,
“Seventh brother wants to know, are fortune and fate the same thing?”
Xu Yuanshuang nodded, “They are essentially the same. But individual fate is as insignificant compared to the nation’s fortune as a drop in the ocean.”
Ji Xuan spoke no more. He gazed into the distance and smiled,
“We’re at Quanrong Mountain!”
…
Xiao Yuenu glanced over the scene, seeing the Shenquan Gang, Ink Pavilion, and other powerful sects in their prime, as well as some lesser factions.
Some had dozens of people, others fewer than ten. All now turned at the sound.
The heroes gathered in the square all had bright eyes, their gazes glued to the women of Wanhua Tower.
Most of those glancing at Xiao Yuenu were sizing her up.
As the most beautiful woman in Jianzhou, Xiao Yuenu was always the undisputed centre of attention wherever she went.
If it were only about looks, she would have merely attracted covetous and disrespectful stares from men, but Xiao Yuenu was also a fourth rank martial artist.
In terms of individual power, none of the gang or sect leaders present dared claim with certainty that they could defeat her.
With powerful cultivation as foundation, and breathtaking beauty as embellishment, she had become the woman all Jianzhou heroes dreamt of.
“What are you all waiting here for?”
Xiao Yuenu’s eyes sparkled, her gentle, magnetic voice flowed out from beneath her veil.
“Alliance Leader Cao has gone to the rear mountain.”
“The Alliance Leader is not here right now, he’s been gone over an hour.”
“Did you meet anything unusual on your way here, Tower Master Xiao?”
The Wulin Alliance heroes started talking at once.
At the Ink Pavilion camp, Young Master Liu’s teacher glanced at his disciple and followed his gaze, finding this unworthy student staring dazedly at the peerless Xiao Yuenu.
He instantly felt a surge of anger and said,
“You could at least look at Miss Rongrong, then I’d have an excuse to go to Wanhua Tower and propose, so you could get yourself a wife.”
Once a teacher, always a father. And as a father, one must naturally worry about the disciple’s marriage.
Yet this unfilial disciple was smitten with Xiao Yuenu, without considering whether a toad like him could eat such swan meat.
Young Master Liu muttered,
“Master, you haven’t taken a wife yourself. You should hurry up and find a wife.”
His master replied,
“Your teacher is a swordsman. With a sword, I am content. Only if you treat it with true devotion will it repay with sincerity.
“The road is long, and only the sword accompanies me. Do you understand?”
As he spoke, he stroked his sword at his waist fondly.
This sword had been given to them by the Sitianjian as compensation on behalf of Silver Gong Xu.
Young Master Liu protested quietly,
“Master, this sword is mine.”
“Didn’t I say? When I die, I’ll pass it on to you.”
The middle-aged swordsman glared and said earnestly, “You must treat it with true devotion.”
“I’ll treat it like a wife, just as you do,” Young Master Liu licked his lips.
After speaking, both master and disciple felt something was odd about that line. Meeting each other’s gaze, they fell silent.
At this moment, a middle-aged man emerged from the Alliance Leader’s residence, gentle and urbane, with a scholarly air.
He wore a black robe embroidered with gold and silver thread and a golden coronet, dressed with great care and sophistication.
It was Wen Chengbi, Vice Alliance Leader of the Wulin Alliance.
The Wulin Alliance’s organisation followed the old military system, only changing the names of ranks.
The great General became “Alliance Leader”.
Deputy Generals and military advisers became “Vice Alliance Leaders”.
Vice Alliance Leaders through the generations had mostly been scholars, valued for their intelligence and wisdom, not force.
“Alliance Leader Cao has returned. Please, come inside with me.”
Wen Chengbi stood at the door, bowing.
In tacit agreement, the sect and gang leaders stepped forward to enter, side by side.
Their disciples remained outside.
Xiao Yuenu and the other faction leaders entered the residence and came to the council hall.
With a broad, square face and a stern air, Cao Qingyang, dressed in a pale azure robe, sat in the main chair, looking at the group as they arrived.
After everyone sat down, he said deeply,
“Gentlemen, Ladies, the Wulin Alliance is about to face a grave crisis.”
The sect leaders in the hall exchanged glances, as if they had been expecting such news, and did not seem too surprised.
The leaders of the minor factions dared not speak and kept silent.
On such occasions, everyone just kept quiet and waited for Fu Jingmen to speak.
Fu Jingmen, the ringleader of the nine major factions, in dark blue short robes, spoke loudly,
“Which fool dares provoke our Wulin Alliance? Just fight! Even if it’s the imperial army, I’m not afraid.”
As the conversation began, Xiao Yuenu said quietly,
“It’s probably not the court.”
Fu Jingmen frowned, “Why do you say so?”
Opposite him, a fat middle-aged man sneered, tapped his head and said,
“Think with something other than your fists. Famine is raging, and the court is busy maintaining order and settling the people. Why would they trouble us at a time like this?”
He was Qiao Weng, head of the Jianzhou Merchants’ Association.
Most of the garrison at the base of the Quanrong Mountain was funded by the Jianzhou Merchants’ Association.
They held the purse strings to the Quanrong Mountain.
Fu Jingmen immediately looked to Cao Qingyang. The latter nodded, sweeping his gaze over them once more and said,
“This will take time to explain…”
He then revealed the details of the Dragon Qi matter.
The spirit of the dragon ley had collapsed, turning into Dragon Qi that scattered across the Central Plains…
Dragon Qi concerned the fortune of the nation, the fate of the Central Plains hung in the balance…
Buddhist Vajras, Church of the Warlock God experts, and even an unheard-of Tianjigong now coveted the Dragon Qi…
The hall fell silent. Having heard Cao Qingyang’s words, the leaders struggled to digest both the concept and the shocking news itself.
Especially with the mention of their future foes, the term “Vajra” alone was enough to leave these unruly warriors with no bravado whatsoever.
Yang Cuixue, Master of Ink Pavilion, sighed,
“The collapse of Dragon Qi has brought endless disasters and suffering. Countless people have frozen to death.
“Foreign peoples eye us hungrily, seeking to snatch the Central Plains. Has the Great Feng truly fallen so far?”
Ink Pavilion’s founder had been a scholar, who repeatedly failed the imperial exams, then gave up on study for the sword and founded his sect in Jianzhou.
Disciples here kept the habit of reading and writing, and their dress was scholar-like, though the folding fan scholars favoured was replaced by a three-foot blade at the ready.
At this moment, Yang Cuixue showed the indignation of a scholar disillusioned with the world.
All fell silent, the atmosphere within the hall as if frozen.
Cao Qingyang’s voice was steady and powerful, neither hurried nor slow:
“This matter concerns the survival of the court, but if we shoulder it, then first we must worry about the survival of the Wulin Alliance.
“We cannot bear to see our ancestral legacy destroyed overnight, but even less can we tolerate foreigners meddling in the Central Plains. That is why I have specially invited you all to join forces against this great enemy.”
“Alliance Leader!” As a merchant, Qiao Weng was first to weigh the pros and cons:
“I think this is not a question of whether we can shoulder it, but whether we are able to withstand it at all.”
Fu Jingmen, brash and impulsive, grew angry when he heard this:
“What do you mean, not able to withstand it?
“The court may be incompetent, but that doesn’t mean we, the people of the Central Plains, are too. Those bald donkeys from the Western Regions and those Church of the Warlock God scoundrels want to seize the Dragon Qi, covet the Central Plains, and have bullied us right to our doorstep.
“Do they really think there are no men left in the Central Plains? Damned Vajra, if he dares to show up, I’ll dare to fight!”
The Sect Master of the Qianji Sect, Han Xie, spoke in a sinister tone:
“Fu Jingmen is as brainless as ever, but I agree with his view. So what if it’s the Buddhist sect, can a Vajra really snatch the Great Feng’s Dragon Qi in the Central Plains with impunity?”
Yang Cuixue, the Pavilion Master of the Ink Pavilion, tapped the desk lightly before asking:
“What is the attitude of the Sitianjian?”
Cao Qingyang said, “The Sitianjian will provide a certain level of assistance. The Jianzheng’s second disciple, Sun Xuanji, is currently in Jianzhou, he is a third-rank arcanist.”
He had already become familiar with Sun Xuanji’s background and rank during their painful conversation.
“What about the old alliance leader?”
The question came from a middle-aged Daoist, the Temple Head of the Baihe Temple.
Cao Qingyang shook his head:
“The old ancestor is in seclusion. I waited for a long time at the rear mountain just now, but did not manage to wake him.”
This… Everyone present felt their hearts sink.
The old alliance leader was always the Wulin Alliance’s bedrock. In peaceful times, he mostly served as a deterrent.
But now, with formidable enemies on all sides, the old alliance leader was unable to emerge from seclusion, meaning the Wulin Alliance had lost their greatest trump card.
At this moment, the always-silent Xiao Yuenu spoke softly:
“What about Silver Gong Xu?”
Everyone turned to look at Cao Qingyang, hope in their eyes.
Cao Qingyang nodded simply, giving a definite answer.
Phew… almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Knowing Silver Gong Xu would come to their aid soothed the hearts of the previously anxious sect and guild leaders.
With the old alliance leader staying in seclusion, a sole third-rank arcanist couldn’t reassure them.
Besides, the white-robed arcanist was a stranger, what was his strength, his character? Would he flee at the first sign of trouble?
These were all potential concerns.
But if it was Silver Gong Xu, they had no such worries at all.
Fu Jingmen laughed heartily, spirits lifting:
“That day, when I joined hands with Silver Gong Xu to kill that young man of unknown origin, and now have the chance to fight such a powerful enemy together again, what a joy in life!”
Yang Cuixue, who had also assisted Xu Qi’an once before, looked expectant:
“At that time, Silver Gong Xu was not even fifth rank, it was Alliance Leader Cao who helped him comprehend Transforming Force.
“But when he killed the tyrant, he was already a beyond-mortal martial artist. I wonder whether his cultivation has progressed further now. It is truly something to look forward to.”
…
On the southern peak of Quanrong Mountain, Li Lingsu, concealing his presence with the ‘Shifting constellations’ technique, stood atop a giant pine, gazing down at the archway at the foot of the mountain.
“The Wulin Alliance’s subordinate sects have nearly all arrived, the garrisons are on high alert and ready to fight,”
The Holy Son mused, “But I feel that these core Wulin Alliance troops will be of little use.”
Miao Youfang stood beside him, looking down as well. “Why do you say so?”
Li Lingsu explained:
“Sister Rong possesses a supreme magic artefact called the Wind-riding Boat.
“If I were Ji Xuan, I’d ride the Wind-riding Boat straight to the rear mountain where the old alliance leader is in seclusion, capturing the ringleader first.
“Once the old man is dealt with, their job is basically done. After that, no matter the troops or the Wulin Alliance martial artists, they’ll be lambs to the slaughter.”
“This is the most advantageous tactic, and that old ancestor is clearly in a dire condition.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the nearby Xu Qi’an, hoping for confirmation.
A short while ago, Xu Qi’an had suddenly told them about the situation in Jianzhou, saying the great battle was imminent, taking both Li Lingsu and Miao Youfang by surprise.
Though battlefields were ever-changing, this turn of events felt far too sudden.
Especially for Miao Youfang. One moment he’d been engaged in protracted battle with several girls in bed one moment, and the next Li Lingsu had burst in and called off the battle, the fight was over!
Miao Youfang had been completely bewildered at the time.
Xu Qi’an had kept his eyes shut, ignoring Li Lingsu’s probing.
After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked to the distant horizon, saying:
“They’re here!”
…
On the Wind-riding Boat, three factions had gathered at the bow. Dongfang Wanrong, as master of the magical artefact, stood at the centre. The two Buddhist Vajra stood on the left, Ji Xuan’s team and the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations on the right.
Below them stretched a majestic mountain range hundreds of miles long.
Quanrong Mountain, according to the Geography of the Great Feng, was in Jianzhou. Upon it lived a beast, human face and dog body, with six tails, able to swallow the moon, known as “Quanrong”.
Sweeping his gaze over the group, Ji Xuan smiled and said:
“I do not know whether Xu Qi’an has already arrived at Quanrong Mountain. To be cautious, let us probe things out first.
“The strange beast Quanrong is the descendant of gods and demons. However, its bloodline is thin, and it is no match for ordinary fourth-rankers. Who will go down and meet it?”
The warrior monk Jing Yuan stepped forward and said calmly, “I will.”
He possessed the Invincible Vajra Body, making his defence far superior to martial artists of the same rank.
Seeing that his master Du’nan, as well as the Asura Vajra Dufan, did not object, Jing Yuan raised his hand and tapped the centre of his brow.
Clang!
With a bell-like ringing, golden lacquer glowed at his brow and surged over his entire body like flowing water.
Jing Yuan leapt from the flying boat.
…
Alliance Leader Manor.
Cao Qingyang lead the group of sect and gang leaders in rushing out of the great hall. They raised their heads to the heavens, and saw a streak of golden light arc through the sky, falling towards the rear mountain.
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