Chapter 393 - 209: The Great War Concludes

Chapter 393: Chapter 209: The Great War Concludes

Monk Xuanbei clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

At that moment, the killing intent in his heart surged to an explosive peak—not directed at the people around him, but at the Iron Sword Sect, the Danxia Sect, and the other powers who had turned on them.

’If they hadn’t betrayed them at the critical moment... with six major powers and over a dozen Profound Mastery experts united, how could the government have dared to be so brazen?’

’Despicable!’

"Go!"

Monk Xuanbei squeezed a single word from between his teeth, turning to leave.

’This place has become a death trap. There’s no point in staying.’

"Wait."

Chen Sheng’s cold voice suddenly rang out:

"You come and go as you please? Do you really think this place is your Golden Spring Temple’s private garden?"

Monk Xuanbei froze. He spun around, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"What? Does Donor Chen intend to keep us here?"

Before the words had even left his lips, the Buddha Light surrounding Monks Xuanming and Xuan Ku flared brightly, and the faint sound of Sanskrit chants filled the air.

The eight hundred Martial Monks at their rear roared in unison and snapped into formation, a murderous aura surging skyward.

Meanwhile, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of Chu Kuangfeng, who had remained silent until now. He mobilized the potent True Essence in his Dantian and the Qi and Blood Power throughout his body.

With just a signal from Chen Sheng, he would erupt and strike without hesitation.

’Time to give those bald bastards a taste of something nasty.’

The atmosphere grew tense once more, thick with hostility.

Liang Jingxing and Wu Chengfeng of Qingfeng Temple exchanged a quiet, grave look.

As things stood, the government faction held the absolute advantage.

’If a real fight broke out, Golden Spring Temple’s four Profound Mastery experts would likely not survive.’

’And if Golden Spring Temple were crippled, Qingfeng Temple would lose its most important ally in maintaining the balance of power...’

’This was an outcome Qingfeng Temple absolutely did not want to see.’

’If a chaotic battle were to break out, they would not hesitate to act this time.’

"Hehehe..."

Just then, a clear laugh echoed, approaching from a distance.

Everyone looked up to see a gray-robed figure approaching through the air. His steps seemed slow, yet his speed was incredible, and in the blink of an eye, he had arrived in their midst.

The newcomer had white hair but the face of a young man, his Daoist Robe billowing around him. His aura was as profound as the sea, rivaling Nie Xuanfeng’s—and perhaps even surpassing it by a small margin. His identity was obvious.

It was the Temple Master of Qingfeng Temple, Daoist Qingxu.

"Governor Nie."

Daoist Qingxu’s gaze swept over the scene below. It lingered on Chen Sheng for a moment before finally settling on Nie Xuanfeng. His tone was calm as he spoke:

"Where you can forgive, you should. Don’t take things to the extreme. My fellow Daoist Kongjian of Golden Spring Temple has already been informed and will arrive at any moment. Do you, Governor Nie, believe another conflict is necessary today?"

His words were level, but they carried a sharp, hidden threat.

Nie Xuanfeng snorted.

"Are you threatening me, Fellow Daoist Qingxu?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

Daoist Qingxu shook his head slightly.

"I simply do not wish to see Ning’an plunged into war again, bringing suffering to its people. The matter of Luoyun Manor is concluded. Why not each take a step back for the sake of the greater peace?"

He was giving both sides a graceful way out, while also drawing a line in the sand.

’Luoyun Manor could be destroyed, but Golden Spring Temple could not be touched.’

Nie Xuanfeng fell silent for a moment, his cold gaze sweeping over Monk Xuanbei and his men.

"Fine. For the sake of the people of Ning’an, I will spare your lives today. But if you ever dare meddle in the affairs of the Government Office again, I will personally send you to the Western Paradise to meet your Buddha!"

"Scram!"

Chen Sheng took a timely step forward, unleashing his killing intent without reservation.

Monk Xuanbei’s face twitched violently. Being berated in public by Chen Sheng sent a surge of fury through him. Veins bulged on his forehead as his enraged eyes locked onto Chen Sheng.

His chest heaved violently a few times before he forcibly suppressed his rage and spat out a single word through clenched teeth:

"Go!"

A golden light flared. Without another moment’s delay, the three high-ranking monks transformed into streaks of light and shot toward Golden Spring Temple.

The eight hundred Martial Monks swiftly changed formation, guarding the core members of their order as they retreated. Their steps were orderly but hasty, their disciplined withdrawal failing to conceal a thick air of humiliation and stifled anger.

Chu Kuangfeng was among them, his body moving with the crowd. But in the instant he turned, he shot an extremely discreet glance back at Chen Sheng.

That one look held a question, regret, and a hint of disappointment that he hadn’t been able to make a move.

"Governor Chen, you are truly a formidable member of the younger generation. Such impressive methods."

Once the Golden Spring Temple contingent was gone, Daoist Qingxu turned his full attention to Chen Sheng, his eyes filled with unconcealed scrutiny and solemnity.

Liang Jingxing and Wu Chengfeng had just secretly sent a mental message, informing him of everything that had occurred: Chen Sheng’s astonishing display of power, the sudden betrayal of Lu Qingsong and the others, and the strange, sudden shift in the entire situation.

This young Governor’s cunning, power, and methods all far exceeded their initial estimates.

"Master Qingxu, you flatter me."

Chen Sheng’s tone remained impassive, but inwardly, he was extremely grim.

’This Master Qingxu’s Cultivation has reached the peak of the late Profound Mastery realm. Though he usually lives in seclusion and rarely concerns himself with worldly affairs, his status and power are undeniable. He’s publicly acknowledged as the strongest expert in all of Ning’an Prefecture.’

"I hope that in the future, Governor Chen, you and Qingfeng Temple can coexist peacefully and jointly maintain the peace in Ning’an," Daoist Qingxu said slowly.

"That is my wish as well."

A practiced smile appeared on Chen Sheng’s face, but his tone was laced with a certain significance:

"But whether we can be ’harmonious,’ in the end, will depend on the choices Qingfeng Temple makes."

Daoist Qingxu gave Chen Sheng a long, hard look, then said no more.

His gaze swept over Lu Qingsong, Bai Qing, and Wangqingshan, who stood nearby. A cold glint flashed deep in his eyes for an instant, but his expression remained placid and unreadable as he slowly looked away.

"Since the matter here is concluded, I will take my leave."

As soon as the words were spoken, Daoist Qingxu gave the Duster in his hand a gentle flick, turned, and departed.

Wu Chengfeng and Liang Jingxing followed closely behind him.

"A pity."

Sun Yuzhi gazed toward the horizon where the Golden Spring Temple members had vanished. She shook her head slightly, her face filled with unconcealed regret.

"If we could have taken care of those bald-headed monks, Golden Spring Temple would no longer be a threat. It would have saved us a world of trouble down the road."

Nie Xuanfeng stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He slowly shook his head, his tone grave, "We can’t make a move against Golden Spring Temple without absolute certainty."

"Why not?"

Sun Yuzhi’s fine brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "With the forces we gathered today, plus Sect Leader Lu and his people, it wouldn’t have been impossible to flatten Golden Spring Temple. We should stamp out evil completely. Why leave a lingering threat?"

"If we were to join forces now, we would certainly have a chance of destroying Golden Spring Temple. But the key is that one move could upset the entire balance. The moment we acted, Qingfeng Temple would be forced to intervene; they would not stand by and watch again.

Moreover, they have the Celestial Dragon Upper Sect as their backer!"

Golden Spring Temple wasn’t like Luoyun Manor.

Luoyun Manor was merely a vassal of the Vast Sea Upper Sect.

But Golden Spring Temple was a part of the Celestial Dragon Temple. To make a move against Golden Spring Temple, one had to consider the Celestial Dragon Temple.

This was why he had chosen to make an example of Luoyun Manor first.

For one, he wanted the Cold Marrow and the White Jade Cold Toad, which were vital to his own path of cultivation; for another, it was a carefully calculated move.

Compared to Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple, with their deeper foundations and more extensive connections, Luoyun Manor was the softer target—a tough nut to crack, perhaps, but the easiest one available.

Even so, dealing with the fallout from its backer, the Vast Sea Upper Sect, would require careful planning.

In all things, one must advance cautiously, weighing every advantage and disadvantage. That is the only way to ensure long-term success.

Nie Xuanfeng nodded in agreement, his gaze toward Chen Sheng holding a new level of approval.

"It is good that you understand this. The affairs of the Jianghu are not won in a single moment. The overall situation is decided. I am leaving you in full command of the cleanup here. I must return to the Jingwu Bureau immediately to handle the aftermath and report to the State Mansion."

"Rest assured, Governor. Your subordinate will handle things properly."

Chen Sheng replied with a cupped-fist salute.

"This general won’t linger either. However, Governor Chen, about the distribution of the spoils afterward..."

Li Qianzhou, who had been silent until now, suddenly said with a grin.

"Rest assured, General Li. The Military Preparation Army will not be short-changed."

Although Li Qianzhou had not acted today, his mere presence was a statement, enough to intimidate Qingfeng Temple and Golden Spring Temple.

"Governor Chen is indeed straightforward!"

Hearing this, Li Qianzhou laughed heartily and cupped his fist in a salute.

"In that case, this general will return to camp and await your good news, Governor Chen."

After saying this, Li Qianzhou said no more and departed through the air with Nie Xuanfeng.

And now, only Chen Sheng, Sun Yuzhi, Zhang Wen, as well as Lu Qingsong, Bai Qing, and Wangqingshan remained.

The gloomy sky seemed to be stained by the thick stench of blood, reflecting on Luoyun Manor below, which was littered with corpses. The sounds of roaring and screaming continued...

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