Chapter 396 - 211: The Blood Bell Rings! Family Ruined, People Dead

Chapter 396: Chapter 211: The Blood Bell Rings! Family Ruined, People Dead

The reason for the shockwaves was actually quite simple.

Although the secret alliance between the six major powers had never been publicly announced, it was an open secret within Ning’an Prefecture—an established, unspoken rule.

But now, that unspoken rule had been shattered.

The Danxia Sect, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Wang Clan had directly sided with the Government Office.

The once-standing alliance crumbled in an instant.

And everyone knew what the consequences of this collapse would be.

It would inevitably plunge the entire Ning’an Prefecture into chaos!

Suddenly, the entire Ning’an Prefecture was abuzz with discussion about the matter.

Chen Sheng was once again thrust into the eye of the storm.

The reason was that, at the secret instigation of Qingfeng Temple and Golden Spring Temple, the blame for the Government Office’s oppression of Luoyun Manor was placed squarely on Chen Sheng’s shoulders.

As this narrative spread, Luoyun Manor was painted as the victim. The so-called collusion with water bandits was dismissed as a mere pretext by the Government Office, with Chen Sheng himself being the chief instigator.

Golden Spring Temple had intended to incite conflict between the Jianghu and the Government Office, smearing Chen Sheng’s name and painting him as a tyrannical official. However, the outcome was far from what they had anticipated.

While some did indeed grumble in private, a far greater number of people came to hold Chen Sheng in deep awe.

To single-handedly orchestrate the downfall of Luoyun Manor, one of the six major powers.

How terrifying was that?

How utterly dominant?

Combined with the prior destruction of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Chen Sheng’s brilliant track record was on full, vivid display.

The name "Chen Sheng" gradually morphed into "King Chen of the Underworld." This moniker was no longer confined to Ning’an Prefecture; it began to spread to the surrounding prefectures as well.

The fame of his title, "Blood Bell Chen Sheng," reached its zenith.

People even came up with a little rhyme about him.

When the Blood Bell chimes, homes fall and families die!

.....

「Golden Spring Temple.」

The long, drawn-out toll of the ancient temple’s bell carried an unprecedented heaviness.

Inside the Great Heroic Hall.

The First Seats of Golden Spring Temple’s various institutes were all gathered.

First Seat Kongjian of the Precepts Institute, First Seat Xuanming of the Arhat Hall, First Seat Xuanbei of the Prajna Hall, First Seat Xuan Ku of the Bodhi Institute, and the recently converted Xuanxin were all present.

There was only one topic of discussion: the destruction of Luoyun Manor.

The atmosphere was tense to the breaking point.

"Amitabha Buddha. The current situation is far from ordinary. Do any of you First Seats have a good plan?"

Monk Kongjian was the first to break the silence. His two white eyebrows twitched, and his gaze was heavy.

"Junior Master, with Luoyun Manor destroyed, Chen Sheng’s next target will surely be our Golden Spring Temple. We must ask the Abbot to return to the sect and take charge of the situation," Monk Xuanming said grimly.

The enmity between Luoyun Manor and Chen Sheng ran deep. ℴ

But the enmity between Golden Spring Temple and Chen Sheng was no less profound.

Golden Spring Temple had once plotted to lure Chen Sheng into a deadly trap, but he hadn’t taken the bait. After that, the temple secretly encouraged Luoyun Manor and the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s water bandits to set an ambush for him.

Then there was the recent incident where Xuanxin went to Yunze City to assassinate Chen Sheng.

One incident after another.

Chen Sheng couldn’t possibly be unaware.

What’s more, on the day Luoyun Manor fell, Lu Canghai had taken it upon himself to inform Chen Sheng of the temple’s involvement. Chen Sheng surely knew, and given his vindictive nature, he was certain to retaliate.

And now, Golden Spring Temple was no longer as powerful as it once was.

With the defection of the Iron Sword Sect and the other two sects, the Government Office’s power now far exceeded that of Golden Spring Temple. Although the government might not dare to make a rash move with the Celestial Dragon Temple providing protection, what if they did?

What if Chen Sheng actually dared to?

After all, the Government Office had just proven it would brazenly annihilate a major power.

Making a move against Golden Spring Temple was not out of the question.

"And then there’s Qingfeng Temple. The situation in Ning’an is treacherous and unpredictable right now. It isn’t just our Golden Spring Temple that feels threatened. I believe Qingfeng Temple must also be discussing how to respond.

Perhaps we could form an alliance with them. However, I agree that recalling the Abbot is the most prudent course of action," Monk Xuanbei said, his voice grave.

A year ago, the Abbot had encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation and went to the Upper Sect for intensive training, seeking to achieve Core Formation. However, according to the news they’d received, it seemed his attempt to break through to the Pill Realm had failed.

It was high time he returned to the sect to oversee things.

Otherwise, having only Junior Master Kongjian, a single late-stage Profound Mastery expert, was not very reassuring.

"The Abbot is already on his way back. There is no need for any of you to worry," Kongjian replied in a low voice, his gaze then shifting to Chu Kuangfeng.

"Martial-Nephew Xuanxin, didn’t you once say that Chen Sheng’s strength was, at best, only enough to contend with a mid-stage Profound Mastery expert? Then why do the other martial-nephews claim his power is far beyond that of an ordinary Profound Mastery master? Why is it that even Donor Lu died at his hands?"

"How should I know?"

Chu Kuangfeng was anxious, but his face revealed nothing.

"When I fought him that day, I was indeed keeping him firmly suppressed. If Sun Yuzhi hadn’t suddenly appeared, I am confident I could have put him down for good. But the strength he displayed at Luoyun Manor was certainly something else.

He must have been hiding his true strength before."

"This fiend is always like this. His true strength is impossible to gauge, and he grows stronger at an alarming rate. In my opinion, we must find a foolproof way to eliminate him.

Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable," Monk Xuanbei’s expression was grim.

"But the man is exceedingly cautious, and he’s already a fifth-rank official. If we make a rash move against him, the Government Office will surely not let the matter rest. It could even bring about a massive disaster," Xuan Ku said, frowning.

"Are we just supposed to remain at a standstill? Wait for that fiend to make a move against us?"

"Enough."

Seeing the rising agitation, Monk Kongjian’s voice cut through the noise, his face cold and decisive.

"That fiend, Chen Sheng, is a dagger pointed at our heart. If he is not eliminated, he will surely plunge the people of Ning’an into misery and suffering one day. I already have a plan. Once the Abbot returns, we can finalize the plan to slay this fiend."