Chapter 1307: I'm Going to Fight Ten of Them! (Combined Chapter)

"Let go, let go! You old geezer, at your ripe old age, with a three-inch beard, you've eaten, played, and seen it all — what major event haven't you encountered? Some random nobody attacks our mountain gate, and you're bawling like a child?"

"I've eaten and seen the River God's Great Fish, I've had eight concubines, nine outer estates, over a dozen illegitimate children. Normally I'd secretly line my own pockets a bit, eat some kickbacks from the elders, act conveniently. But I've truly never served as Deputy Sect Master of a second-rank sect. My minor conduct may be lacking, but in major matters and great virtue, toward the sect I am wholeheartedly devoted. Waaah— just thinking we can only last three more years, I just, I just———— wah!"

"Damn it, you son of a bitch, you wiped your snot on my pants!"

"Ah."

Liang Qu kicked out with a flying foot; Shen Zhongliang flew backward, smashing through three walls, shattering eight ancient trees, crashing dozens of zhang away, and fell sprawling inside the Dan Hall.

Sunlight shone down; fine gray dust swirled in the air, revolving around several vortices.

The disciples were utterly silent.

Shen Zhongliang coughed twice, wiped away his tears without a trace, climbed from the ruins as if nothing had happened, and bowed toward the direction he had come from: "The Sect Master has been in secluded cultivation for two and a half years, undisturbed by external matters; his strength is truly extraordinary, advancing by leaps and bounds. Just now Zhongliang clearly went all out, yet still fell short of the Sect Master's casual try — ashamed, ashamed."

"What are you all looking at? Do what you're supposed to do. I may be a sorry sight, but you should be happy! Not snickering — happy that we have a Sect Master of surpassing strength! Our River God Sect has a beam that spans the sea, a jade pillar that props the sky! The Nine Mountains are nothing to fear!"

"Do you know why the Nine Mountains dared send us a challenge? Because our River God Sect's atmosphere is too lax! Male disciples don't think of cultivation, spending all day chasing glory; female disciples don't strive to advance, spending all day dolled up in flashy attire. They think going against the current means they can relax and get careless, think they can lie on the merit register and eat interest. If any of you learned even half the Sect Master's cultivation attitude, would this mess exist?"

Turns out the Deputy Sect Master was sparring with the Sect Master who had just emerged from seclusion.

Turns out the Nine Mountains attacking the mountain gate was because the sect, top to bottom, had grown slack.

The snickering disciples felt shame and lowered their heads one after another.

"Mm, to recognize a mistake and correct it — no greater good. Good, all are fine disciples of my River God Sect." Shen Zhongliang shook his sleeves, strode out of the cave; halfway there, his upper body leaned back in: "Right, Elder Dan Yang, the Dan Hall's repair costs come from the Finance Bureau — come find me later for reimbursement."

Elder Dan Yang bowed in salute.

Shen Zhongliang didn't look back; once trees blocked the view and he was out of sight, he immediately switched from long strides to a quick trot.

Liang Qu stood with arms crossed at another cave entrance, watching Shen Zhongliang scurry back.

Shen Zhongliang, formerly Sect Master of the fourth-rank Profound Bright Sect, a Fifth Realm expert — heard his father was a son-in-law who married up, and because of his outstanding talent was chosen by Profound Bright Sect for a marriage alliance. During the Reverse Flow process, he was absorbed by River God Sect and became an Elder of the Finance Bureau, managing finances; his ability was clearly there, and not bad. Later, when Liang Qu was about to revive, he was promoted in one go to Deputy Sect Master to help manage River God Sect's affairs. He acted as a hands-off shopkeeper for two years, occasionally dropping by the Netherworld to check, and things developed quite well.

"Sect Master!"

"Calmed down?"

"Calmed down, calmed down. Your kick — it had force, it had warmth, its power unfathomable; it kicked awake this panic-stricken me!"

"Speak then — what exactly happened?" Liang Qu sat on the enclosure's brick and stone. "What sect is Jiuyi Mountain? I've never heard of it. How did it suddenly Reverse Flow against us?"

The Blood River Realm has no "River Stones"; there are only Blood Steles that take the sect as a unit. When a sect produces a Sixth Realm powerhouse, a Blood Stele descends. Sects with Blood Steles are few — how could they just Reverse Flow whenever they want?

"Sect Master, you truly have a noble person's forgetfulness. Jiuyi Mountain is precisely the original site of the sect we Reverse Flowed into."

Liang Qu blanked: "The one I Reverse Flowed into wasn't Heaven Gate Sect? Oh, a bit of an impression — after Reverse Flow there's a three-year settlement period, right? Seems Heaven Gate Sect Reverse Flowed Jiuyi Mountain, but before the three years ended, Jiuyi Mountain moved away, and then we Reverse Flowed them again, saving a three-year gap? Because of this, Heaven Fire Sect couldn't find us for a while?"

"Ha." Shen Zhongliang clapped. "Sect Master, you truly are a noble person — forget fast, think fast. That's exactly it. Jiuyi Mountain renamed to River God Mountain, and the calligraphy was even done by you!"

Liang Qu understood even less, resting his bent arm on his knee: "Jiuyi Mountain was Heaven Gate Sect's defeated subordinate; Heaven Gate Sect was my defeated subordinate. How did they end up Reverse Flowing against us? What are you afraid of?"

Shen Zhongliang sighed deeply: "Because Jiuyi Mountain's Laozu Sect awakened early — wonder if Sect Master has any impression?"

"Oh~"

Liang Qu suddenly realized.

After a prompt, something from who knows how long ago suddenly connected.

Pick the soft persimmons to pinch.

Back then, Heaven Gate Sect's Cold Cicada Martial Saint Reverse Flowed Jiuyi Mountain precisely because Jiuyi Mountain's Laozu Sect had fallen into slumber. Running into Cold Cicada, they could only obediently admit defeat. Being able to use various rituals and even the sect's grand array to strip a layer of 【Cicada Slough】 from Cold Cicada already counted as success — one might even say Cold Cicada shed it on purpose, just liked watching enemies struggle through all kinds of efforts, only to discover it was all useless, achieving a gray, defeated sense of accomplishment in utter despair.

Of course, the elder brother doesn't speak of the second brother.

Liang Qu's Reverse Flow was also picking soft ones — he fought the newly advanced Cold Cicada.

"That's just one Laozu Sect. Woke early, woke early — what's to fear? Maybe they didn't sleep enough and'll doze off mid-fight. Old thing — what specific realm? What creation art? Any hidden injuries or vital weaknesses?" Liang Qu didn't care in the slightest. The Blood River Realm doesn't follow basic laws of size change; many things have higher degrees of freedom.

It's just the early awakening that's suspicious — could it be————

Heaven Fire Sect's probe?

"Not just that!" Shen Zhongliang's expression turned solemn.

"Not just that?"

"Sect Master may not know: the reason Jiuyi Mountain's Laozu Sect awakened early is because a second Sixth Realm powerhouse emerged inside Jiuyi Mountain!

Powerhouse Qiuye! Upon his advancement, he should have forged his natal weapon, but Powerhouse Qiuye didn't do that — he poured all the residual resonance into Jiuyi Mountain's Laozu, which caused the Laozu to awaken early!"

"So———— Jiuyi Mountain now has two powerhouses?"

"Correct." Shen Zhongliang sighed. "Two months ago, Jiuyi Mountain came knocking with a challenge letter. Disciples' hearts were in panic, none had the mind to cultivate.

Sect Master, you've been in seclusion the whole time. We went to Shuyu Pavilion to find your direct disciple — same, couldn't make contact. This might be our River God Sect's final three years. This kind of challenge can be delayed at most half a year. Waaah— our River God Sect is going to follow in Heaven Gate Sect's footsteps."

Snap.

Liang Qu sucked his teeth.

Half a year gone, first thing back and I land in big trouble — what kind of situation is this?

"Does Reverse Flow have any rule against gang-beating? Like only one-on-one, one fight a month?"

"Seems not? Wait, Sect Master, you're still an Elder of Heaven Fire Sect — could you set a new rule?"

Liang Qu was speechless: "You dare imagine. Even if Heaven Fire Sect, for various considerations, actually made such a rule, it could never be right when we're the ones being Reverse Flowed — how would outsiders see it?"

"Then what do we do?"

Shen Zhongliang slumped to the ground, flustered and at a loss. He could govern the sect, mediate left and right, teach disciples — only thing he couldn't do was fight powerhouses.

Back when Heaven Gate Sect finished beating Jiuyi Mountain, waited out three years only for them to steal the fruit — now River God Sect hasn't even lasted three years, and looks like Jiuyi Mountain is about to take it back. Could it be————

"Click-click-click." Liang Qu cracked his knuckles one by one. "What 'hand it over' nonsense. If we can beat them we fight; if we can't we hand it over? Either way we have to fight! Pass the order down — tell disciples and elders their Sect Master has emerged from seclusion. Contact Jiuyi Mountain — seven days from now, initiate the Reverse Flow War! Oh right, last time I had you find disciples to cultivate 'Human Form Returning to Origin' — how's that going? Bring the people to me."

Shen Zhongliang stared in shock: "Sect Master, you————"

"No wheel battle? Fine, no wheel battle. Jiuyi Mountain, Eight Doubt Mountains — old ones, young ones, let them all come at once! Damn it, treating me like a soft persimmon — two is two, ten I can also beat!"

Whoosh!

Leaves fluttered down.

Shadows cast overhead.

Lao Mengyao lay napping on a tree branch when something suddenly blocked the sunlight; her eyes twitched, she opened them, almost thought she was seeing things, rubbed them, confirmed she wasn't: "Master! My heavens, you've finally emerged from seclusion — another huge thing happened these past six months!"

Liang Qu stood on empty air: "You mean the Ni River God Sect of Jiuyi Mountain?"

"Right right right, you already know?" Lao Mengyao flustered, "Jiuyi Mountain now has two major powers, Master you only advanced two and a half years ago — isn't this absolutely doomed?"

"Soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth dams. What use is panic? If you panic can you turn into a Sixth Realm cultivator and join the River God Sect to help me?"

"Me? Might as well count on my big brother. Sigh, why do Master and big brother both go into seclusion at the drop of a hat lately." Lao Mengyao sighed.

"Speaking of your big brother — — — look at who this person is."

Liang Qu turned sideways.

Only now did Lao Mengyao discover there was actually another person behind Liang Qu.

The moment that person showed his face, revealed in the sunlight, Lao Mengyao gasped: "Big brother, you've emerged from seclusion too?"

"Lao Ying Tian" bowed deeply.

Alarm bells rang in Lao Mengyao's head; the foot she had stepped forward withdrew, she gripped her dagger: "Wait, that's wrong, you're not my big brother, who are you?"

"Lao Ying Tian" spoke: "Direct disciple of River God Sect Master Shen, Liu Xiao, greetings Miss Mengyao."

"???" Lao Mengyao looked at "Lao Ying Tian", then at Liang Qu, retreated several steps, "Th- th- this."

"Since you can't recognize him, then it's fine." Liang Qu took out a small pouch, handed it to Liu Xiao, "You'll cultivate in seclusion right here, take these blood treasures, cultivate well."

Liu Xiao clutched the pouch, inexplicably excited: "Yes! Sect Master, I will definitely not disappoint your expectations or Sect Master Shen's!"

Lao Mengyao's head was a paste; she saw clearly, a pouch full of First-Rank blood treasures, by the fullness, about twenty-four of them!

What the hell, so generous? Twenty-four First-Rank — enough to buy her life several times over.

Wait, Master collected salary up to April last year, now it's January, three per month, exactly twenty-four — — —

No way, illegitimate child? Gave away most of half a year's salary?

Watching Liu Xiao enter the secret room to cultivate, Lao Mengyao sidled up to Liang Qu: "Master Master, that guy — — is he your illegitimate son?

Does Madam know? Don't worry, just tell me, my mouth is sealed, I absolutely won't tell Madam."

Liang Qu gave her a sidelong glance.

Lao Mengyao sighed long: "I knew it, Master you and my big brother, did you do something earth-shatteringly bad? Need to hide it this much? Will I get dragged in?"

"Smart! This matter is very important, also very dangerous, so — — —"

Lao Mengyao nodded like a chick pecking rice: "Guard the secret like a bottle! If anyone asks, I'll cover with all my might!"

"Good! You've always been dying to meet your Madam Master, right? Day after tomorrow Madam Master cooks, you can also meet your eldest senior brother, call Xi Ziyu along too."

"Wow, my never-met Madam Master and eldest senior brother, I finally infiltrated the inner circle? Master you free-ranged me and junior brother for over two years, taught nothing, just gave elder tokens to fetch techniques, have I finally passed the test, can get perks and do big things like my big brother?

Wait, Master, don't leave! Hey — — —"

Lao Mengyao sat on the tree branch, head drooping.

Peach trees bore blood treasures in clusters, All Are Extraordinary Items; many peach trees grew completely against season, lush blood-red leaves blocked sunlight, swaying in the wind.

She raised her head; golden light stabbed and jumped through the gaps.

"Do you want a First-Rank Disciple big brother?"

"Want my ass, big brother's a fool, got hooked by two Bian'an Flowers and turned into a Second-Rank Disciple, Second-Rank is fine, who cares about you showing off, Elder Yu all mysterious, crafty crafty, what if he has ill intent, can't outplay him, sigh, unlucky unlucky — — — hope big brother's safe, Master is a good fish — — —"

"Ha!" Wen Wen Shi Yun scratched his butt, yawned, always felt the sky outside was somewhat reddish, like evening glow, "Strange, wasn't I napping? Is it evening?"

Muddle-headed thinking this, Wen Wen Shi Yun's eyes widened, he flung off the quilt, flipped up sitting.

Slacking off feels good for a moment, but neglecting cultivation means paying it all back later; key is he didn't even enjoy it, zero feeling of having slept a whole afternoon comfortably.

"Gonna be trouble, gonna be trouble!"

Hastily jumped off the bed, put on underpants, Wen Wen Shi Yun casually opened the window for air, just about to go out, his steps paused, he slowly turned his head.

Red light permeated the horizon — not surprising.

Overslept, it's evening glow.

But — — —

Swallowed saliva, Wen Wen Shi Yun carefully shuffled back, dared not fully approach the window, tiptoed, stretched his neck, eyeballs strained downward, caught a glimpse, immense fear enveloped his head, clutched his heart dead tight, breathing stopped.

Blood — — — blood-colored river!

Th- th- where did this come from? This is still Dashun, is it the Yellow Sand River?

Cold sweat slid down his spine, hair stood on end.

Wen Wen Shi Yun's mind blanked a moment, immediately dropped to the ground, crawled against the wall.

Wrong, very wrong.

Today's too quiet, excessively so — no boatman's grunts, no Monkey King's roars.

Could it be could it be — — —

I'm the only survivor?

No, impossible, within Dashun borders, who could silently kill Master? Even if Master's not here, Madam is a Celestial Being, "River Stone" can't enter, Celestial Beings are invincible!

Wen Wen Shi Yun brainstormed half a day, slowly calmed down, twitched his nostrils, smelled a faint floral fragrance.

Not blood scent, no blood stench either!

Not a blood river?

Could it be — — —

Illusion technique!?

When?

Wen Wen Shi Yun bit his tongue tip hard, circulated the "Huai Wang Jing", intending to clear his spirit platform — — —

"No use? What a powerful illusion technique!"

In the Ghost Mother Ritual, where soul and shell separate, Long Eying, Long Binglin, Long Yanrui and the others stood to the side, curiously sizing up the surroundings.

Long Eying was stunned by the grandeur of the Blood River, and instinctively turned to look for Liang Qu, only to find that he, who had been by her side just moments ago, had vanished without her noticing. When she finally found him in the meditation chamber, she saw him fiddling with his own motionless "shell" seated on the futon—pinching his small hands, pinching his cheeks, and having already pulled off half of the boot on his left foot.

Standing outside the door, watching Liang Qu fiddle with "himself," she felt an inexplicable strangeness and couldn't help but scold him.

"What are you doing?"

"Hehe, just curious, that's all." Liang Qu lowered his hands, slipped his cloud boots back on, and said nonchalantly, "Come on, come on, we're done with our business—we can go out now. If we don't leave soon, that brat will start shouting for people."

Outside Ze Guo, Ze Shi Yun struggled in the room to restrain her qi, frantically probing, biting her tongue several times, but the environment remained unchanged. Helpless, she gave up, then cautiously pushed open the door and looked left and right.

"Beep! Beep!"

"Master~ Mistress~ Boat Captain~"