Chapter 385 - 205: Level Luoyun, Pacify the Jianghu

Chapter 385: Chapter 205: Level Luoyun, Pacify the Jianghu

Inside the Council Hall, Temple Master Daoist Qingxu’s expression was more solemn than ever. His gaze, sharp as lightning, fixed on Liang Jingxing, who had just rushed in.

"The intelligence is confirmed!"

Liang Jingxing’s face was grim as he spoke rapidly:

"Chen Sheng is personally leading the main force of the Jingwu Bureau, supported by a detachment from the Military Preparation Army. Their numbers exceed two thousand, all elites. From the looks of it, this isn’t a bluff. I’m afraid... they’re really going to make a move!"

The elders gathered in the hall immediately erupted in an uproar.

"The Government Office... do they really dare to tear off all pretenses?!" a white-haired elder cried out in disbelief.

"Have Xie Jingze and Nie Xuanfeng lost their minds? Aren’t they afraid of the Ning’an Six Sects retaliating together, sparking a massive conflict that could engulf the entire prefecture?!" another hot-tempered elder exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table as he stood.

"Once the balance is broken, it will mean nothing but bloodshed! Even our Qingfeng Temple, which stands aloof from worldly affairs, will find it hard to stay out of it!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their faces etched with shock and deep worry.

They all knew of the grudge between Luoyun Manor and Chen Sheng. They had even heard that Luoyun Manor had previously asked the Wang Clan to mediate.

To most of them, it seemed the matter would most likely end with Luoyun Manor paying a hefty price and both sides reaching some sort of compromise.

After all, Luoyun Manor was a top-tier power that had dominated Ning’an for two hundred years, and it was backed by a behemoth like the Vast Sea Upper Sect.

No matter how strong Chen Sheng was or how highly he was regarded, he still had to consider the bigger picture.

What’s more, the six sects had a long-standing agreement.

Open conflicts and hidden struggles among themselves were one thing, but when facing the Government Office or oppression from outside forces, they had to stand united.

Qingfeng Temple, as one of the de facto leaders of the Ning’an Martial World, would never allow anyone, or any power, to so easily shatter this balance.

Even if Chen Sheng had no personal grievance with Qingfeng Temple.

Daoist Qingxu raised his hand, and the hall fell silent. His voice carried an unquestionable resolve:

"Things have come to this; further talk is pointless. Since Chen Sheng has already dispatched his troops, he is openly challenging the established rules of our Ning’an Martial World. Qingfeng Temple will not, and cannot, stand idly by!"

"Elder Liang, Elder Wu! Immediately gather our elite disciples and rush to Luoyun Manor. You must prevent this battle from erupting. Tell Chen Sheng, and tell all the other powers present, the rules of Ning’an must not be broken!"

Liang Jingxing took a deep breath and asked solemnly:

"Temple Master, what if... what if Chen Sheng is determined to have his way, and the Government Office is dead set on making a move?"

A sharp glint flashed in Daoist Qingxu’s eyes.

"Then we will let them witness the true power of the united Ning’an Six Sects! With more than ten Profound Mastery experts and several thousand elite disciples, if the Government Office wants to swallow this force, they’ll shatter all their teeth trying.

"Knowing Xie Jingze’s character, he will... inevitably compromise in the end."

"As the Temple Master commands!"

Liang Jingxing and Elder Wu bowed in acceptance of the order and turned to leave quickly.

...

At almost the same time, Golden Spring Temple also received an urgent message.

In a Zen Room beside the Great Heroic Hall, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Kongjian, the First Seat of the Precepts Institute; Xuanbei, the First Seat of the Prajna Hall; Xuanming, the First Seat of the Arhat Hall; Xuan Ku, the First Seat of the Bodhi Institute; and Profound Heart, who had just been initiated, were all gathered together.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Monk Kongjian’s face was grim as he fingered his Buddhist Beads.

"That demon, Chen Sheng, truly couldn’t restrain himself. He is about to commit this perverse act. Golden Spring Temple absolutely cannot tolerate this demon bringing chaos to Ning’an."

A vicious light flickered in Monk Xuanbei’s eyes.

"The assassination attempt last night failed, and now he’s this impatient. He must have a guilty conscience. In that case, let’s show him that Ning’an doesn’t belong to the Government Office alone! Junior Master Kongjian, what should we do?"

Kongjian pondered for a moment before making his decision:

"Xuanbei, Xuan Ku, Xuanming, and Profound Heart, my four junior brothers, immediately lead eight hundred Martial Monks to reinforce Luoyun Manor. You must rendezvous with our allies from the other sects and resist the Government Office together.

"I shall remain here at the temple to guard against any unforeseen events."

"As Junior Master commands!"

The four who were named answered in unison.

A cold glint flashed through Chu Kuangfeng’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

...

At the Danxia Sect, the Ning’an Wang Clan, and the Iron Sword Sect, the reactions were just as swift upon receiving the news.

The three leaders, Sect Leader Bai Qing, Patriarch Wangqingshan, and Sect Leader Lu Qingsong, each led their own secretly prepared elite forces out from their mountain gates and residences, speeding towards Luoyun Manor.

Their destination was clear, but their true intentions were known only to themselves.

In an instant, the entire Ning’an Prefecture was thrown into turmoil.

With Luoyun Manor at its center, torrents representing the various powers were converging rapidly from all directions.

The conflict between the Government Office and the Jianghu, which had been brewing for a hundred years, seemed about to be set ablaze by the spark that was Chen Sheng.

...

「Luoyun Manor.」

Inside the study.

Lu Canghai was carefully mulling over the message that had arrived from Golden Spring Temple this morning.

’A pity... If last night’s plan had succeeded, I wouldn’t be facing this trouble today.’

Setting down the secret letter, Lu Canghai rubbed the bridge of his nose, a hint of regret in his heart.

"Manor Master, this is bad!"

The Great Elder, Lu Qingfeng, burst into the study, his face fraught with panic.

Lu Canghai’s heart skipped a beat as he snapped his head up.

"What has you so flustered?"

"We just received an urgent report from our scout in Yunze City! The Jingwu Bureau and the Military Preparation Army are making a large-scale move. Over two thousand elites have already left the city, and their direction... is straight for our Luoyun Manor!"

Lu Qingfeng spoke at a frantic pace, his face pale.

"Judging by their formation, this is no ordinary deployment. They’re... coming for us!"

"What?!"

Lu Canghai’s pupils contracted sharply. He shot to his feet, jostling the desk.

Beside him, Lu Maozhi cried out in shock.

"How can this be? Didn’t the Iron Sword Sect just say yesterday..."

Lu Canghai cut him off with a wave of his hand, his expression terrifyingly dark.

He quickly forced himself to calm down, his mind racing.

Chen Sheng had just floated rumors of reconciliation through Wangqingshan yesterday, and today he was bringing an army to their doorstep.

’Either he saw through my delaying tactics and decided to go for a quick, decisive battle, or he’s trying to use absolute force to intimidate us, forcing the manor to pay a far greater price than expected.’

"Manor Master, what should we do now?"

The Second Elder, Lu Guangting, who had also rushed over upon hearing the news, asked urgently.

Lu Canghai took a deep breath, suppressing the storm raging in his heart. The ruthless determination of a powerful hegemon solidified once more in his eyes.

He walked to the window and gazed at the Vast Sea Smoke Cloud Grand Array, an invisible yet tangible layer shimmering with faint, watery ripples above the manor. His voice, when he spoke, was calm again, tinged with a cold edge:

"What’s there to panic about? The sky isn’t falling!"

Turning around, Lu Canghai’s gaze swept over the two elders and Lu Maozhi. His tone was decisive and firm:

"The Vast Sea Smoke Cloud Grand Array is a Tier Four Array. No one below the Pill Realm can even dream of shaking it. Even if Chen Sheng brings the entire Jingwu Bureau, it will be a fruitless effort. He’ll just be sighing in despair before our array."

"Furthermore, Luoyun Manor does not stand alone. With a commotion this big, Golden Spring Temple, Qingfeng Temple, the Danxia Sect, the Ning’an Wang Clan, and the Iron Sword Sect have certainly all heard the news by now.

"The pact that binds the Six Major Sects as one is no empty promise.

"They will never sit by and watch the Government Office act so unscrupulously! Reinforcements are definitely on their way as we speak!"

At this point, Lu Canghai paused, his voice growing even more steady:

"Chen Sheng is merely a Vice Governor. What authority does he have to risk universal condemnation in Ning’an and throw the entire region into turmoil? Xie Jingze and Nie Xuanfeng would never allow him to act so recklessly.

"This deployment of troops is most likely a bluff, an attempt at extortion!"

"Relay my orders!"

Lu Canghai raised his voice:

"All disciples, deacons, and elders of the manor are to report to their positions at once! Inspect the array nodes and prepare to meet the enemy! At this critical juncture, everyone in Luoyun Manor must be of one mind and united in purpose!"

Then, his gaze became as sharp as a blade as he spoke, word by word:

"I would like to see what he, Chen Sheng, a mere snot-nosed brat, will use to shake the majestic, two-hundred-year foundation of my Luoyun Manor!"

"As you command!"

Lu Qingfeng, Lu Guangting, and Lu Maozhi felt their spirits lift. They answered in unison, their panic assuaged by Lu Canghai’s composure. They quickly turned and left to relay the orders.

Lu Canghai remained alone in the study. Listening to the urgent ringing of bells and the shouts of assembly outside, the composure on his face gradually melted away, replaced by a deep, gloomy expression.

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