Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Baiting the Enemy
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Jiangbei, Qingguo.
An old man with hair and beard as white as snow strolled idly through a courtyard filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, fiddling with an armored scale bird inside an iron cage in his hand.
Right then, a beam of brilliant light descended first.
"Old Freak Hua, with the Demon Sect's True Lord personally issuing the summons, half of Jiangbei is scrambling to respond, and here you are with such fine leisure, still taking your bird for a walk."
From within the brilliant light, a middle-aged man stepped out leisurely.
The Old Freak Hua he addressed had some reputation in Jiangbei as well. He was the sect master of the Five Elements Sect, at mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, known as the Five Elements True Person.
At that moment, the Five Elements True Person lifted his bird cage and chuckled.
"Soldiers come, the general blocks; water comes, the earth dams it up. Xia Weiming, have you finished relocating your clan?"
"The entire Zhaoxia Clan has fully moved into [Qingguo]. The Five Elements Sect has done the same, hasn't it? No matter what, we can only walk this path to the end."
With that, the middle-aged man seemed somewhat wistful.
"Hmph, walk this path to the end? So what?"
Just then, another voice rang out. This time, a youth stepped forward in response.
"Under Demon Sect rule, we never had any real way out to begin with."
"Joining the Dao Court at least gives us a shot at it!"
"Chen Old Freak..." Xia Weiming sighed at the sight.
The other man was named Chen Anze, an old ancestor of an immortal clan just like him. In fact, the [Yuan Chen Clan]'s renown even surpassed that of his Zhaoxia Clan.
A moment later, a burst of fragrant breeze suddenly swept in.
Next, wisps of cloud qi drifted through the courtyard, condensing into human form before abruptly dispersing, from which emerged a beauty in palace robes.
"Climbing Cloud Faction's Fairy Yun He has arrived too."
"And the Supreme Profound Sword Sect?"
Before the Five Elements True Person finished speaking, a piercing sword cry echoed from the heavens above. A streak of sword light flashed down abruptly, transforming into a figure as it landed.
At first glance, it was a youth with sharp sword-like brows and starry eyes, his expression stern and cold. A golden sword hung at his back, radiating razor-sharp sword qi. The Five Elements True Person clicked his tongue in admiration.
"They say the Supreme Profound Sword Sect received backing from Jiangnan and obtained three superior dharma swords. The reputation is well-earned."
"Profound Gold Sword Master greets Senior Hua."
The youth cupped his hands toward the Five Elements True Person.
"Our sect master is still in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough to late Foundation Establishment, so he couldn't come to pay respects in person."
"No matter, no matter."
The Five Elements True Person waved it off, his eyes gleaming brightly.
"If your sect master breaks through to the late stage and ascends to the rank of great True Person, it'll provide even greater aid to the war effort."
With that, everyone took their positions in the courtyard.
Five Foundation Establishment cultivators, clearly led by the Five Elements True Person.
After all, he alone was at mid-Foundation Establishment. The rest—Xia Weiming, Chen Anze, Fairy Yun He, and the Profound Gold Sword Master—were all merely at the early stage.
It was right then that an indescribable sense of oppression surged in all five their hearts simultaneously. With each breath, the heaven-and-earth spirit qi that had always obeyed their command like an extension of their limbs suddenly slipped from control. It discarded them like worthless rags, surging instead toward another direction.
There, a handsome youth approached.
"Top Scholar."
The Five Elements True Person was the first to cup his hands. The other four hurriedly followed suit.
The handsome youth, however, returned each salute earnestly with a friendly demeanor.
"Junior Zhong Xin greets the various seniors."
"No need for such courtesy."
The Five Elements True Person shook his head.
"The Top Scholar is the current head of the imperial examinations, deeply trusted by His Majesty, and at such a young age already holds a third-rank official post."
As he spoke, the Five Elements True Person glanced at Zhong Xin again. He cultivated a dharma eye divine ability that let him perceive things others could not. Looking at Zhong Xin now, he could see the thick aura of officialdom accumulated on him, condensed into cloud cranes and fierce tigers that swirled and guarded his body.
Atop his head floated a prominent official title:
[Capital Governor Following the Way and Serving Heaven]
This third-rank position in [Qingguo] oversaw all affairs of the capital, a post of great authority. Holding it granted early Foundation Establishment cultivation.
And this was only in the tiny speck of land that was [Qingguo].
After all, [Qingguo]'s system was borrowed from the Dao Court. But with its limited territory and sparse population, it could never match the Dao Court's true scale.
Otherwise, in the Jiangdong Dao Court, a third-rank official would be a genuine "heavenly official," starting at the very least as a late Foundation Establishment great True Person. How could it be mere early stage? Even across all of [Qingguo], only the current Qing King could condense an official position comparable to a late Foundation Establishment great True Person.
Even so, obtaining cultivation so effortlessly was still enough to inspire envy.
The next moment, this third-rank top scholar of [Qingguo], Zhong Xin, asked curiously,
"Seniors, you've summoned us this time—what major matter is there to discuss?"
"It concerns the enemy advancing into Jiangbei."
The Five Elements True Person gathered his thoughts and solemnly produced a messenger talisman.
"Two friends I've rallied in Jiangbei sent word that they've encountered a Demon Sect True Person."
"That friend is inviting us to join them."
"My friend's cultivation isn't weak—he's also mid-Foundation Establishment. For him to want to encircle and kill someone, it's nine times out of ten another mid-stage cultivator. And coming from the Demon Sect, no less..."
"I suspect this foe may very well be the main commander the Demon Sect dispatched to assault our nation this time!"
The Five Elements True Person slipped easily into the role. Though he himself hailed from Jiangbei and was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his words now framed him firmly as one of Qingguo.
Zhong Xin, seeing this, revealed a look of interest.
"Senior's meaning is...?"
"I intend to go and encircle him!"
The Five Elements True Person's brows lifted slightly as he declared rousingly,
"With the great war upon us, if we can slay a Demon Sect True Person beforehand, it will surely break the enemy's momentum."
Zhong Xin hesitated at these words. After long contemplation, he shook his head.
"The Dao Court's Heaven-Observing Terrace has sent a decree stating that the Demon Sect's Heavy Light True Person has already reincarnated. Our top priority should be locating Heavy Light's reincarnation. Senior, you need only hold the line here."
"Top Scholar, you have it wrong!"
The Five Elements True Person shook his head.
Hold the line? How could holding the line earn merits!
He had brought his entire Five Elements Sect to join [Qingguo] and align with the Dao Court precisely to carve out a future there. He needed achievements.
And slaying a Primal Saint Sect True Person? That was an achievement par excellence.
Otherwise, if they won in the end but someone else who captured Heavy Light's reincarnation claimed the greatest merit—what then for them, the ones who just held and awaited aid?
They'd be branded as freeloaders!
Thus, the Five Elements True Person burned with eagerness for battle. He itched to rush out that instant and slay a few Demon Sect True Persons, letting the Dao Court see his toil and triumphs.
And he wasn't alone in this.
The other four Foundation Establishment True Persons behind him—who had also defected to the Dao Court and come to aid [Qingguo] against the Saint Sect—harbored the exact same notion.
Seeing this, Zhong Xin could only nod helplessly.
"I understand."
"I can approve this."
"But it's a deep incursion into enemy territory, so please, seniors—exercise utmost caution. If it proves impossible, withdraw swiftly. Don't let yourselves get trapped in Demon Sect lands in Jiangbei."
"Rest assured, Top Scholar!"
With Zhong Xin's approval secured, the Five Elements True Person's face lit up with excitement. He turned to the group.
"Everyone, our chance for glory has arrived!"
Leaving the trade fair behind, Lu Yang flew unhurriedly toward Gaizhu Mountain. Rather than rushing, he drifted along leisurely on his escape light, the picture of relaxed contentment.
"About now... they should be catching up, right?"
"If they truly mean me harm and chase me down to kill... then it won't count as me ambushing them midway. It'll be legitimate self-defense. I'll have the justification, either way."
That's right. Lu Yang was fishing.
"These Jiangbei loose cultivators are still too green. Tricks like this might fool a Saint Sect True Person like Wu Cang, who came from loose cultivator roots too."
But to fool me? A bit too naive.
Not even Perfected Being Yin Shan could be taken in by them.
Soon enough, an escape light appeared in the distance, hurtling toward him. Lu Yang smiled and simply clasped his hands behind his back, hovering in place to wait.
"The fish has bitten!"