Chapter 253

“Yulan Peak has sent emissaries to surrender!”

The messenger feared the old Guard Commander hadn’t heard clearly, so he repeated it at once.

“How could they surrender?”

Sikong Xuan, his head full of white hair, frowned deeply, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Instantly he understood: it must be that the peak lord of Yulan Peak had become aware of the situation in Bailian City.

After all, he was a peak lord—seeing even a hint of trouble, he surrendered without lifting a finger. Such spinelessness was truly disgraceful.

Thinking of this, Sikong Xuan sighed inwardly, deeply regretful.

If he’d known the Luoshen Peak was filled with such cowards, he’d have urged the Great Li Emperor to strike directly back then—why waste so many years waiting, wasting his life!

Still, though he thought this, Sikong Xuan knew well: the only reason Yulan Peak surrendered without a fight was the Eighth Imperial Prince.

One man alone slew the Luoshen Peak’s patriarch and four Venerables—if he were the peak lord, he’d surrender too.

At that moment, Sikong Xuan suddenly turned his head and fixed his gaze on the Tianjin Guard messenger, speaking in a low, heavy tone:

“Go tell the Yulan Peak lord, Yumianjiao: if she wants to surrender, fine—but let her crawl here and kneel before me, and take one of my palms. If she doesn’t die, I’ll accept her surrender.”

Hearing this, the Tianjin Guard messenger glanced at Sikong Xuan. Though aged, the old commander now looked terrifyingly fierce.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this old Guard Commander might be planning to kill Yumianjiao with that palm.

Still, he dared not ask or speak further—he immediately bowed and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the messenger at the gate turned back hesitantly and asked Sikong Xuan:

“My lord, should I continue issuing orders?”

At this, Sikong Xuan waved his hand, then gave a new order:

“Your task now is to spread Lord Fu’s message throughout the Tianjin Guard. Such good news deserves celebration!”

“Yes, my lord!”

The messenger hurriedly responded, then withdrew, his steps light and his whole body brimming with excitement.

…

The other two Tianjin Guard assault columns attacking Luoshen Peak also received Fu Qiwén’s message.

Marquis Longshan, known in the Jianghu as “Iron Arm Azure Dragon,” heard his subordinate’s report of Fu Qiwén’s brief message—and became even more agitated than Sikong Xuan.

He had come to exterminate Luoshen Peak to repay Fu Qiwén’s kindness, but he was not like Sikong Xuan—a man near death.

Yet he was a man of deep loyalty and righteousness; even knowing the mission was likely fatal, he had still firmly agreed to Fu Qiwén’s request.

After all, Fu Qiwén himself had come with the resolve to die—if he didn’t repay this debt now, he might never get another chance.

Still, though Marquis Longshan had long accepted death and knew he would likely perish at Luoshen Peak—even having arranged his funeral affairs before leaving Shangyang City—he still did not wish to die.

So when he learned that Li Muxian, the Eighth Imperial Prince who had just slain Chi Huo Venerable, had now killed Luoshen Peak’s patriarch and the other three Venerables,

he was utterly stunned—and his first thought was: I won’t die after all!

“Just what manner of man is this Eighth Imperial Prince?”

Regaining his composure, Marquis Longshan couldn’t help exclaiming aloud; he had heard rumors of this exiled imperial prince while in the capital.

But back then, he’d merely found it curious, paying it no real attention—after all, though the Great Li imperial family reclaiming a prince was significant, the man had no roots or power in the capital, and seemed utterly without value to court connections.

Yet this very prince, whom everyone had ignored, had secretly possessed such terrifying martial prowess—it was simply unbelievable.

At this moment, Gu Shengfeng, patriarch of Lingjiao Sect, after hearing Fu Qiwén’s message, remained frozen for a long while before finally snapping back to awareness.

His face was filled with shock and doubt as he asked:

“Even the Marquis doesn’t know the Eighth Imperial Prince’s true identity—is this truly real?”

Before this, they’d received Fu Qiwén’s message that Li Muxian had slain Zheng Yunfeng, peak lord of Bailian Peak—and then another message that the Eighth Imperial Prince had killed Chi Huo Venerable.

And everyone had seen the terrifying strength of Chi Huo Venerable; they’d felt only utter despair.

So they’d still harbored doubts about whether the Eighth Imperial Prince could truly have defeated him.

Now Fu Qiwén sent word again: the Eighth Imperial Prince had annihilated Luoshen Peak’s patriarch and all four Venerables.

This news was like a thunderclap—so shocking, so overwhelming, that even these Jianghu figures struggled to accept it.

“Knowing Lord Fu as I do, this cannot be false. He would never lie to us at such a moment.”

Marquis Longshan shook his head—he had no doubt about Fu Qiwén’s message; he was merely stunned by the Eighth Imperial Prince.

Hearing this, Gu Shengfeng and the other Jianghu figures exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

They desperately wanted to believe Marquis Longshan—because if true, Luoshen Peak’s destruction was certain.

For those with blood feuds against Luoshen Peak, this was cause for unbridled joy.

But they feared celebrating too soon, only to face the cruel truth later—this would be even more devastating.

Marquis Longshan scanned the gathering of Jianghu masters, guessing their thoughts.

But he had no way to prove it—so he thought for a moment, then ordered:

“Immediately summon all forces. March toward the Fourth Peak.”

In Marquis Longshan’s view, if Luoshen Peak’s strongest figures were truly gone, then once they seized the Fourth Peak and advanced straight to the main peak, the truth would reveal itself.

But just then, the same scene as Sikong Xuan’s unfolded again.

Shortly after Marquis Longshan gave his order, a messenger rushed in to report: the peak lord of the Fourth Peak had sent emissaries to surrender!

Upon hearing this, Marquis Longshan and the Jianghu figures all froze in stunned silence.

The Jianghu masters found it utterly unbelievable.

Marquis Longshan, quickly understanding the reason, could barely contain his excitement. He swept his gaze over the gathering—including Gu Shengfeng—and suddenly spoke in a low, firm tone:

“Didn’t you all just ask me whether Lord Fu’s message was true? This is the best proof!”

At these words, Gu Shengfeng and the Jianghu figures fell utterly silent.

Then, one by one, they realized—each face breaking into uncontrollable joy.

Even Gu Shengfeng, patriarch of Lingjiao Sect, wept with happiness, then burst into loud laughter—he could finally avenge his sect!

The sect master of Lingjiu Sect, Gu Shengfeng, wept with joy, then suddenly burst into loud laughter—he could finally avenge his sect!

After the death of Luoshen Peak’s patriarch and four Venerables, among the six peak lords, three surrendered, three fled, and none resisted to the end.

The reason, beyond their own desire to live, was far more crucial: after the patriarch and Venerables died, facing Li Muxian—a being of such terror—there was not a shred of hope left.

Only two paths remained: perhaps they could save their lives, and the martial cultivation they’d spent most of their lives striving for.

Many Luoshen Peak elders, disciples, and students also fled or scattered, making the Great Li Tianjin Guard’s assault nearly effortless.

The four Tianjin Guard columns met no resistance and easily seized all four peaks.

The Tianjin Guards attacking Mount Luoshen from four directions encountered virtually no resistance and easily seized the four peaks.

On a hill dozens of li from Bailian City, the Xuan Yin Trio, Silver Moon Sword Lord, and the two commanders of the Tianxia Alliance waited silently through the night.

Eventually, they received the falcon message from the two commanders’ dispatched agents.

Confirmed: Luoshen Peak’s patriarch and four Venerables were all dead—their corpses still lay unattended in the ditch outside Baixiang Pavilion.

Upon learning this, their emotions were turbulent—even though, during the wait,

including the Xuan Yin Trio, they’d already suspected the outcome.

But confirming their suspicions still filled them with shock.

After all, this meant the Great Li court had won tonight’s battle—Luoshen Peak would vanish from the Jianghu forever.

Earlier, the Xuan Yin Trio had said only three sects would remain after tonight—and now it had come true.

Yet the Xuan Yin Trio and others felt no joy.

Everything that happened in Bailian City tonight, they’d watched from afar.

Chi Huo Venerable, Luoshen Peak’s patriarch, the other Venerables—all terrifying figures—had been wiped out in a single night by a Great Li court expert.

Logically, the four Jianghu sects were rivals, entangled in grudges.

In fact, due to certain reasons, Taiyin Yuan Sect and the Tianxia Alliance had once plotted to join Dàyǎn Sword Sect in destroying Luoshen Peak.

But now, witnessing Luoshen Peak’s fall, they felt no satisfaction.

Instead, they felt deep unease—a sense of “when the hare dies, the fox grieves.”

For they knew well: the Great Li court had long eyed the four Jianghu sects. Now, with its strike against Luoshen Peak, it had finally revealed its claws.

If this campaign against Luoshen Peak had failed, it would’ve been fine.

Luoshen Peak would remain, the Great Li court would be humiliated, and it would never again dare touch the four sects.

Their three sects’ positions and safety would be secure for at least the next decade.

But now, Luoshen Peak had lost.

And lost so swiftly—it hadn’t even held back the Tianjin Guard for a single night.

Worse still, Luoshen Peak’s strongest figures—its patriarch and four Venerables—had all perished.

Even worse: in the hands of that Great Li expert in Bailian City, they hadn’t even escaped.

This outcome filled everyone—including Silver Moon Sword Lord and the Xuan Yin Trio—with profound terror.

Or rather, terror of that Great Li expert.

They simply could not fathom the extent of his martial cultivation.

The Xuan Yin Trio’s faces were dark and grim. One elder stood atop a pine needle tip, gazing toward Bailian City, his eyes shifting with uncertainty.

“What do you think of this?”

One of the Xuan Yin Trio suddenly turned to Silver Moon Sword Lord and asked.

The white-robed elder’s face was equally grim. After a long silence, he replied solemnly:

“Luoshen Peak’s destruction is the most significant event in the Great Li Jianghu in a century. We must send this news to our sects at once.”

The destruction of Luo Shen Peak is undoubtedly the most significant event in the Great Li martial world in nearly a century; we must immediately send this news back to our sect at the fastest possible speed.

Hearing this, the eldest of the Three Yin Elders sneered and said:

“You know I’m not talking about that.”

“The Shennu Peak was destroyed by the Great Li court—you must know that next, the Great Li will strike at our Three Sects. The only unknown is which one the Yuanwu Emperor will choose first.”

The white-robed elder glanced at the Three Yin Elders, then let out a heavy sigh and said:

“I understand your meaning perfectly, but what good does it do? This is not something we can decide. It must be settled by our Sect. Talking more now is useless.”

At this, the Three Yin Elders shot the white-robed elder a cold look, then continued:

“Our meaning is simple: previously, your Great Expansion Sword Sect rejected our alliance proposal with our sect and the Heavenly Alliance. Now, facing the Great Li court, you don’t still intend to stubbornly wait for the Great Li to pick you off one by one, watching your own sect be wiped out?”

At these words, the two commanders of the Heavenly Alliance—who had remained silent until now—both shifted their expressions from grim to alert, and immediately spoke up:

“The elder speaks truly. To be honest, we never realized the Great Li court was this powerful. A single Tianjin Guard unit could crush Shennu Peak—it utterly surpassed our expectations.”

“Though we are lowly and our words carry little weight, we understand that under these circumstances, unity is advantageous. Only together can we counter the Great Li court’s coming schemes.”

At this, the white-robed elder swept his gaze over the group and shook his head:

“I have never said the Great Expansion Sword Sect refuses to ally with you. On the contrary, my thoughts align exactly with yours.”

“But this matter must be decided by our Sect. Our most urgent task now is to swiftly relay the situation here back to the Sect, so they can make a decision and handle the coming turmoil in the Great Li’s martial world.”

Hearing this, the Three Yin Elders exchanged glances and said no more.

This Silver Moon Sword Lord is no fool; everyone knows what must be done.

At this moment, one of the Three Yin Elders pondered briefly, then turned to the two Heavenly Alliance commanders and said gravely:

“When you report to your Alliance the details of this battle between the Great Li Tianjin Guard and Shennu Peak, you must emphasize everything you saw and heard tonight—ensure the Heavenly Alliance gives it the utmost attention.”

“Especially the experts from the Hundred-Forged City. If the Heavenly Alliance shows even the slightest underestimation of them, the cost will be unimaginably terrible.”

The two Heavenly Alliance commanders nodded. They understood perfectly: only by taking the Great Li court seriously could the Three Sects’ alliance proceed smoothly.

(End of Chapter)