Chapter 175: The Fish Has Taken the Bait!

Jiangbei, State of Qing.

An old man with white hair and beard was leisurely strolling through a courtyard filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, toying with an armored scale-bird inside an iron cage held in his hand.

Immediately after, a beam of brilliant light descended first.

"Old Monster Hua, a True Person from the Mo Sect has personally issued a mobilization order, and nearly half of Jiangbei has moved at the news, yet you are in high spirits, still in the mood to walk your bird here."

From within the brilliant light, a middle-aged man stepped out.

The "Old Monster Hua" he spoke of held some reputation in Jiangbei; he was the Zhang Sect of the Wuxing Sect, possessed a cultivation base at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, and was known as True Person Wuxing.

At this moment, True Person Wuxing, holding the birdcage in one hand, smiled and said:

"When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it. That is all. Xia Weiming, have you finished relocating your clan?"

"The entire Zhaoxia clan has already moved into 【State of Qing】, and the Wuxing Sect is no different, I presume? Regardless, we can only walk this one path to the very end."

Having spoken, the middle-aged man seemed somewhat melancholic.

"Hmph, so what if we walk one path to the very end?"

Just then, another voice rang out, and this time a youth stepped forward in response: "Under the rule of the Mo Sect, we originally had no path to speak of."

"By joining the Dao Court, at least we still have a chance to fight for something!"

"Old Monster Chen..." Xia Weiming sighed upon seeing him.

The other party's name was Chen Anze; like him, he was an ancestral founder of an immortal clan, and the reputation of the 【Yuan Chen clan】 was even greater than that of his own Zhaoxia clan.

A moment later, a sudden gust of fragrant wind swept in.

Immediately, wisps of cloud qi began to drift within the courtyard, then condensed into a human form before suddenly dispersing, from which a beauty dressed in palace attire emerged.

"Fairy Fairy Yunhe of the Panyun Sect has also arrived."

"What about the Shangxuan Sword Sect?"

Before True Person Wuxing could finish speaking, a piercing sword cry rang out from the sky above, followed by a sword light that swiftly fell, transforming into a human figure who stepped out.

At a glance, he was clearly a young man with sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, his expression cold and fierce; behind him, a golden sword continuously emitted sharp sword qi, causing True Person Wuxing to click his tongue in wonder: "They say the Shangxuan Sword Sect received support from Jiangnan and possesses three superior-grade flying swords; indeed, their reputation is well-deserved."

"Master of the Profound Golden Sword greets Elder Hua."

The young man bowed his fists to True Person Wuxing: "My Zhang Sect is currently in closed-door cultivation, attempting to break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, and thus cannot come to converse with Elder."

"No matter, no matter."

True Person Wuxing waved his hand, his eyes bright: "If Daoist Shangxuan can break through to the late stage and achieve the position of a Great True Person, it will be of even greater help to the battle situation."

Immediately after, the group took their positions within the courtyard.

Five Foundation Establishment experts stood there, with True Person Wuxing clearly as their leader.

After all, only he was at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment; the others, whether Xia Weiming, Chen Anze, Fairy Fairy Yunhe, or the Master of the Profound Golden Sword, were all at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Just then, the five of them suddenly felt an indescribable sense of oppression arise in their hearts; in the space of a breath, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which had previously obeyed them like arms and fingers, suddenly lost control, abandoning them as one discards worn-out shoes, and surged toward another direction, where a handsome young man was seen walking over.

"Top Graduate."

True Person Wuxing bowed his fists first, and the other four quickly followed suit with salutes, while the handsome young man appeared very friendly, earnestly returning each salute.

"Junior Zhong Xin greets the various Elders."

"We dare not accept such courtesy."

True Person Wuxing shook his head: "The Top Graduate is the foremost scholar of the current imperial examinations, deeply trusted by Your Majesty, and holds the position of a Third Grade official while still young..."

Speaking thus, True Person Wuxing glanced at Zhong Xin once more; he had cultivated a Dharma Eye divine ability that allowed him to see many things invisible to outsiders, and at this moment, looking at Zhong Xin, he could see the heavy official qi accumulated on his body, condensed into cloud cranes and fierce tigers, circling and guarding around him.

Above his head floated a prominent official title:

【Prefect of Fengtian Prefecture, Following the Dao】

This official title ranked Third Grade within the 【State of Qing】, governing all affairs of the capital city, demonstrating his high status and great power; after empowering this official title, one could gain a cultivation base at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

And this was merely in the tiny land of the 【State of Qing】.

After all, the system of the 【State of Qing】 was derived from the Dao Court, but because its governed territory was limited and its population small, it could not truly reach the level of the Dao Court.

Otherwise, if this were in the Jiangdong Dao Court, a Third Grade official would be a true "Heavenly Official," starting at least as a Great True Person at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment; how could they possess only an early stage cultivation base? Indeed, looking across the entire 【State of Qing】, only the current King of Qing could condense an official title comparable to a Great True Person at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Nevertheless, even so, obtaining a cultivation base so easily was enough to make one envious.

The next second, this Third Grade Top Graduate of the 【State of Qing】, Zhong Xin, asked curiously: "Elder has summoned us; may I ask what great matter is there to discuss?"

"... t concerns the enemy approaching from Jiangbei."

True Person Wuxing reined in his thoughts and solemnly took out a flying letter: "Two good friends I recruited in Jiangbei sent word, saying they encountered a True Person from the Mo Sect."

"That friend has invited us to go together."

"My friend's cultivation base is not weak; he is also at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment. For someone like him to want to surround and kill a person, nine times out of ten that target is also at the mid stage, not to mention they originate from the Mo Sect..."

"I suspect that the other party is very likely the main organizer sent by the Mo Sect this time to attack our nation!"

True Person Wuxing adapted quickly; although he too was a Foundation Establishment expert originally from Jiangbei, his words now already treated himself as a person of the State of Qing.

Seeing this, Zhong Xin also showed a look of interest: "What does Elder mean?"

"I intend to go and surround and kill them!"

Hearing this, True Person Wuxing raised his eyebrows slightly and declared vigorously: "With a great battle imminent, if we can kill a True Person from the Mo Sect beforehand, we will surely be able to挫 the enemy's momentum."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xin showed hesitation on his face; after pondering for a long time, he shook his head: "The Astronomical Bureau of the Dao Court has issued an decree stating that the True Person Master Chongguang of the Mo Sect has reincarnated; our most urgent task should be to first locate where Master Chongguang has reincarnated. Elder only needs to hold the defensive position here..."

"Top Graduate, your words are mistaken!" True Person Wuxing shook his head.

Hold the defensive position? How can one achieve merit by merely holding the defense!

He had brought the entire Wuxing Sect to join the 【State of Qing】 and defect to the Dao Court for the sake of securing a future position within the Dao Court; he must achieve some merit.

And slaying a True Person of the Chusheng Sect would undoubtedly constitute such merit.

Otherwise, if they win in the end but the person who captures Master Chongguang's reincarnation claims the greatest merit, what then of those like them who merely held the line awaiting reinforcements?

They would likely be labeled as free-riders who won by lying down!

Therefore, True Person Wuxing was now eager for battle, wishing he could immediately go out and kill several True Persons from the Mo Sect, so that the Dao Court would know of his hard work and great contributions.

And it was not just him who thought this way.

Including the four Foundation Establishment True Persons standing behind him, who had also defected to the Dao Court and come this time to aid the 【State of Qing】 against the Sheng Sect, shared the same thought.

Seeing this scene, Zhong Xin could only nod helplessly: "... understand."

"I can agree to this matter."

"However, since this involves penetrating deep behind enemy lines, please, Elder, be extremely cautious; if the matter proves difficult to accomplish, return as soon as possible, and do not become trapped in the lands of the Jiangbei Mo Sect."

"Rest assured, Top Graduate!"

Having received Zhong Xin's permission, True Person Wuxing immediately showed an excited expression, then turned to look at the others: "Everyone, our chance to achieve merit has arrived!"

Leaving the Jiaoyi Society, Lu Yang flew all the way toward Gaizhu Mountain, yet he was in no hurry, instead leisurely riding his遁 light, appearing completely at ease.

"It should be about time for them to catch up, right?"

"If they truly harbor malicious intent and chase over to kill me, then it won't count as me ambushing them halfway, but rather self-defense; either way, I am in the right."

That's right, Lu Yang was fishing.

"These scattered cultivators of Jiangbei are all too young; these tricks might fool True Persons of the Sheng Sect like Wu Cang, who also have a scattered cultivator background..."

"But using them to deceive me is still too naive."

"Even putting myself aside, they couldn't even deceive True Person Yinshan."

Soon, seeing a beam of遁 light appear in the distance and speed toward him, Lu Yang also revealed a smile, simply folding his hands behind his back and remaining stationary to wait.

"The fish has taken the bait!"

(End of Chapter)