Chapter 144

After hearing what Yanshan Hai said, everyone felt a surge of emotion. They felt moved by Yanshan Hai's breadth of mind, and also moved by the strength of the Five Absolutes Palace.

No one mocked Yanshan Hai for losing to the Young Palace Master's hands; they even pondered, if they replaced Yanshan Hai with themselves, how many moves could they withstand?

"No matter what, I must give it a try." Chen Yi He picked up Dongfang Xing, slowly rose to his feet, intending to bring Dongfang Xing to the Northern Five Absolutes Palace.

"You need to think this through clearly; this is no child's play." Recalling the scene from twenty years ago, Yanshan Hai's memory remains fresh; he does not want Chen Yi He to retrace his old path.

After all, Chen Yi He is him, a young man admired by everyone present.

"If it's as Sect Master Yan says, I think the Palace Master won't move against me, Young Palace Master—there's only one battle. Master Ye, thank you! Thanks to all of you for saving my life! I, the junior Chen Yi He, will owe you a favor in my lifetime; if needed, I will go through fire and water to repay it!" Chen Yi He said firmly, and after speaking he strode away.

The Young Palace Master left a deep impression in Chen Yi He's mind—her fiery, brilliant red robe, those flashes of lightning like blooming flowers—all made his memory vivid.

Back in the subterranean world of Qianzhong Men, if it weren't for the Young Palace Master, he Chen Yi He would long ago have become a snack in the belly of a flood dragon.

The Young Palace Master's strength is beyond doubt. Chen Yi He is not unafraid.

Chen Yi He has taken a stand; no matter how strong the opponent, he will always be on their side.

Everyone watched Chen Yi He go, their feelings tangled and complex—a truly loyal and righteous junior.

His back view is so resolute; though he is neither tall nor big, why does he always give the feeling of a towering mountain? Endless mountains, the summit unseen, the edges unseen!

"What should we do next?" Luo Qingkui asked.

Only today did Luo Qingkui realize he had been deceived in his feelings by Feng Yichu. Feng Yichu had repeatedly assured him he would help him eliminate the Songshan Sect and merge the Qingshan Sect into the Five Peaks, but Yanshan Hai's ability and strength are so great—he even brought the Songshan Sect to occupy the leadership of the Five Peaks Alliance—so where was his chance!

Luo Qingkui wanted to merge the Qingshan Sect into the orthodox martial world, having devoted half his life to the effort; he never missed any gathering in the jianghu, all to make the Qingshan Sect's name known. This time, responding to Zhang Gonggong, it was both to settle an old debt from three hundred years ago and to let all jianghu sects remember that the Qingshan Sect also has merit.

The Qingshan Sect differs from such first-rate jianghu sects as the Five Peaks, Shaolin Temple, and Southern Heaven Gate; those either have deep foundations or overwhelming strength, whereas the Qingshan Sect's overall strength in the jianghu is middling, and in terms of foundation it is merely a short four hundred years—insignificantly small in jianghu history.

Thus today, Luo Qingkui's heart inevitably sighed again, truly not knowing when there would be a breakthrough. "Could it be that my Qingshan Sect will never have its day to rise?"

"From today onward, we and Zhang Huayu will go our separate ways," Yanshan Hai said, frowning, "even becoming enemies."

"Damn, that bastard eunuch, messing with us! He tricked us onto the battlefield, then just patted his butt and ran!" Thinking of Zhang Gonggong, the Ximo Sword Devil flared with anger—he is straightforward and hot-tempered, absolutely unable to tolerate being betrayed! "My bloodthirsty sword will drink his blood!"

"Hahaha! Aren't you afraid his blood will dirty your sword?" Duansheng laughed, holding his belly, amused by his fellow practitioner.

"It's not that simple now; he is at least at the level of the Seventh Heaven." Shang Rong Shitai's remark silenced everyone.

"I never expected this." Linghu Shang sighed.

"We have no way to deal with Dongfang Wuji, and now Zhang Huayu has shown up—jianghu, jianghu, another bloody storm is about to erupt." Duansheng said.

"He's already at the Seventh Heaven, so why does he still need to use others to get rid of us?" Shang Rong Shitai asked.

"Exactly, one hand could crush us; picking us off one by one, why gather us together?" Duansheng also asked.

The air fell silent again, everyone sinking into deep thought.

The lingering glow gradually sank westward, the scene no more.

Yanshan Hai spoke, breaking this not-long-not-short silence: "I think Zhang Huayu isn't merely aiming to pick us off one by one..."

"How so, Sect Master Yan?" Hu Bao asked.

"He wants to use our hands to inflict a heavy blow on Dongfang Wuji……!" Yanshan Hai replied, his words shocking everyone! "To him, we are merely pawns, incapable of threatening him in a lifetime, but Dongfang Wuji can—Dongfang Wuji is able to threaten him!"

While everyone was shocked, they also suddenly realized, firmly believing Yanshan Hai's words were correct—they were merely sacrifices of Zhang Gonggong.

Duansheng paced uneasily.

The Ximo Sword Devil carefully wiped his bloodthirsty sword.

Hu Bao lowered his head, burying his face in his knees.

Shang Rong Shitai gazed at the distant sunset about to vanish, remaining silent for a long time.

After a spell of silence, Luo Qingkui sighed, "What a fine move—borrowing a knife to kill!"

Everyone couldn't help but admire Zhang Gonggong's brilliance; they were outmatched in both strength and strategy.

"Zhang Huayu's goal has been achieved." Yanshan Hai said.

"What should we do next?" Luo Qingkui asked, having already decided to follow Yanshan Hai's steps onward.

Not only Luo Qingkui, but also sect leaders and chiefs like Hu Bao and Hongliang, as well as proud swordsmen like Duansheng and the Ximo Sword Devil, were utterly convinced of Yanshan Hai's leadership ability. For a moment, everyone's gaze fixed on Yanshan Hai.

Yanshan Hai glanced around, then spoke seriously, "I will share my thoughts; you may take them as reference only."

Seeing no reaction from the crowd, Yanshan Hai slowly said, "Zhang Huayu this time has toyed with us in the palm of his hand, already deciding we will die on the Dong Hai shore; once we die, his Western Depot will have no rival, and thereafter the court and jianghu will let him run rampant. But he won't expect us to survive; we and he are bound to be enemies! Even if our strength is lacking, even if our strategy insufficient, we must still fight him!"

"Yes, fight on!" everyone exclaimed.

Who among those who wander the jianghu doesn't have a bit of temper? They are righteous heroes of the jianghu, top experts of the martial world—how could they endure being toyed with and spun around?

"Damn, I'll stake my old life on it—I'll fight that eunuch dog to the end!" The Ximo Sword Devil pointed his freshly wiped bloodthirsty sword at the dim sky, speaking excitedly.

"The key is how we should fight on?" Shang Rong Shitai asked.