Chapter 209: The Fish Takes the Bait!

Jiangbei, the Kingdom of Qing.

An old man with a full head of white hair and beard was seen strolling leisurely through a courtyard filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, amusing himself with a scaled, armored bird inside an iron cage in his hand.

Immediately after, a streak of splendid light was the first to descend.

"Old Monster Hua, since the True Lord of the Mo Sect personally issued a conscription order, half of Jiangbei has been stirred into action, yet here you are in such fine spirits, still in the mood to take your bird for a walk."

From within the splendid light, a middle-aged man stepped out at a measured pace.

The Old Monster Hua he spoke of, however, was no small name in Jiangbei — he was the Zhang Sect of the Five Elements Sect, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, bearing the title True Person of the Five Elements.

At this moment, the True Person of the Five Elements was seen smiling as he held up the birdcage in one hand:

"Meet soldiers with soldiers, water with earth, that's all. Xia Weiming, have you already relocated your clan?"

"The entire Zhao Xia Clan has moved into the Kingdom of Qing, and the Five Elements Sect is no different, is it? Regardless, the only path left for us is to see it through to the end."

Having said this, the middle-aged man still seemed somewhat melancholy.

"Hmph, so what if the path leads only into darkness?"

Just then, another voice rang out, and this time the one who stepped forward in response was a youth: "Under the Mo Sect's rule, we had no way out to begin with."

"Joining the Dao Court, at least gives us a chance to fight for it!"

"Old Monster Chen." Xia Weiming sighed at the sight.

The other party was named Chen Anze, and like him, was also the patriarch of a prominent immortal clan; in fact, the name of the Yuan Chen Clan was considerably greater than his Zhao Xia Clan's.

A moment later, a sudden waft of fragrant breeze came sweeping in.

Immediately after, wisps and strands of cloud Qi could be seen drifting through the courtyard, then coalescing into a human form before suddenly dispersing, from which a lady in palace attire stepped forth.

"The Cloud Lotus Fairy of the Cloud-Climbing Sect has also arrived."

"What about the Supreme Mystery Sword Sect?"

Before the True Person of the Five Elements could finish his words, a piercing sword-humming sound rang out from the vault of heaven, and a streak of sword-light suddenly descended, transforming into a human figure as it landed.

At a single glance, it was unmistakably a young man with sword-brows and starry eyes, his expression cold and stern; a golden sword on his back continuously emanated sharp sword Qi, drawing clicking sounds of wonder from the True Person of the Five Elements: "They say the Supreme Mystery Sword Sect received support from Jiangnan and obtained three superior-grade flying swords — truly, the reputation is well-deserved."

"Xu Jin Sword Master, at your service, Senior Hua."

The young man cupped his fist toward the True Person of the Five Elements: "Our Zhang Sect is still in closed-door cultivation, currently attempting to break through to late Foundation Establishment, and thus is unable to come pay his respects to you, Senior."

"No matter, no matter."

The True Person of the Five Elements waved his hand, his gaze bright: "If Fellow Daoist Supreme Mystery can break through to the late stage and attain the position of a Great True Person, it would be of even greater help to the war effort."

Immediately after, the group came to a stand within the courtyard.

Five Foundation Establishment cultivators, with the True Person of the Five Elements clearly at their head.

After all, only he was at mid Foundation Establishment; the rest, whether Xia Weiming, Chen Anze, the Cloud Lotus Fairy, or the Xu Jin Sword Master, were all at early Foundation Establishment.

And just then, all five of them simultaneously felt an indescribable sense of oppression well up within their hearts; in the span of a single breath, the ambient spiritual Qi, previously as obedient as an extension of their own arms, suddenly slipped beyond their control, cast aside by it like a worn-out rag, and surged en masse toward another direction — where a handsome youth was seen walking over.

"Lord Top Scholar."

The True Person of the Five Elements was the first to cup his fist in greeting, and the other four hurriedly followed suit with their salutations; the handsome youth, however, appeared very amicable, and earnestly returned each of their bows in turn.

"This junior is Zhong Xin, paying respects to all you seniors."

"I am unworthy of such courtesy."

The True Person of the Five Elements shook his head: "Lord Top Scholar is the foremost scholar of this imperial examination, and has won the deep trust of Your Majesty; at such a young age, he already holds the rank of a Zheng San Pin high official."

At this point, the True Person of the Five Elements stole another glance at Zhong Xin — he cultivated a dharma-eye divine ability that allowed him to see many things ordinary people could not; and at this moment, looking at Zhong Xin, he could see the thick official Qi accumulated upon him, condensing into a cloud-crane and a fierce tiger, spiraling around him in protection.

And above his head, a prominent official title drifted:

【Prefect of Fengtian Prefecture, Shundao】

This official title, ranked Zheng San Pin within the Kingdom of Qing, oversaw all affairs of Jingcheng, clearly demonstrating his lofty position and great authority; with the official title's blessing, one could attain early Foundation Establishment cultivation.

And this was only within the Kingdom of Qing, a mere speck of land.

After all, the Kingdom of Qing's system was adopted from the Dao Court, but because the territory under its rule was limited and its population was not large, it could not truly match the Dao Court's standards.

Otherwise, if it were in the Jiangdong Dao Court, a Zheng San Pin high official would be a true "Heavenly Official," starting from at least late Foundation Establishment, a Great True Person — how could it be only early-stage cultivation? In fact, looking across the entire Kingdom of Qing, only the current King of Qing himself could condense an official title comparable to that of a late Foundation Establishment Great True Person.

Yet even so, attaining cultivation so easily was still very much enviable.

The next second, this Zheng San Pin Lord Top Scholar of the Kingdom of Qing, Zhong Xin, asked with curiosity: "Seniors have summoned me here — might I ask what great matter requires discussion?"

". It concerns the invading force from Jiangbei."

The True Person of the Five Elements gathered his thoughts and solemnly produced a flying-message talisman: "Two friends I have won over in Jiangbei sent word, saying they have encountered a True Person of the Mo Sect."

"That friend has invited us to go together."

"My friend's cultivation is no weak matter either — he is also at mid Foundation Establishment; whoever he wishes to surround and kill is nine times out of ten also at the mid stage, let alone one who hails from the Mo Sect."

"I suspect that the other party is very likely the very person dispatched by the Mo Sect to lead the attack on our kingdom!"

The True Person of the Five Elements slipped into the role remarkably fast — though he too was originally from Jiangbei and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, in his words at this moment he had already regarded himself as a man of the Kingdom of Qing.

Zhong Xin, seeing this, also revealed a look of being tempted: "What does the Senior mean?"

"I wish to go and surround and kill him!"

The True Person of the Five Elements' brows rose slightly at this, and he declared in a resonant voice: "With a great war imminent, if we could slay a True Person of the Mo Sect beforehand, it would surely deal a blow to the enemy's momentum."

Zhong Xin's face showed hesitation upon hearing this; after pondering for a long while, he shook his head: "The Dao Court's Court of Celestial Observations has transmitted an edict, saying that the Mo Sect's Master Chongguang has already reincarnated; our most urgent task should still be to first locate the whereabouts of Chongguang's reincarnation. On your end, Senior, all you need to do is hold fast."

"Lord Top Scholar's words are mistaken!" the True Person of the Five Elements shook his head.

Hold fast? How can one earn merit by holding fast!

He had brought the entire Five Elements Sect into the Kingdom of Qing, throwing in his lot with the Dao Court, all for the sake of one day carving out a future for himself within the Dao Court — he had to produce some meritorious achievements.

And slaying a True Person of the Initial Saint Sect was undoubtedly a meritorious achievement.

Otherwise, when the time came and victory was won, the one who had captured Chongguang's reincarnation would have rendered the greatest service — and then they would look at those who had merely held fast and waited for reinforcements?

The label of freeloading dog would surely be pinned on them!

Therefore, at this moment, the True Person of the Five Elements was burning with the desire to fight, wishing he could rush out immediately and slay a few True Persons of the Mo Sect, so that the Dao Court would know of his toil and merit.

Even he was not the only one thinking this.

Including the four Foundation Establishment True Persons standing behind him, who had defected to the Dao Court and come this time to assist 【Qing State】 against the Holy Sect, they all shared the same thought.

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

"I can agree to this matter."

"However, since we are going deep behind enemy lines, please, Senior, be extremely careful. If the mission proves difficult, return as soon as possible; do not get trapped in the lands of the Jiangbeimo Sect."

"Rest assured, Top Graduate Gong!"

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

Walking out of the exchange, Lu Yang flew toward Zhushan along the way, yet he was not in a hurry; instead, he leisurely rode his escape light, appearing utterly at ease.

"It is about time they caught up, isn't it?"

"If they truly harbor ill intentions and chase me down to kill me, then it would not count as an ambush by me halfway, but rather self-defense; in any case, I would be in the right."

That is correct; Lu Yang was fishing.

"These Jiangbei loose cultivators are still too young, one and all; these tricks would only fool someone like Wu Cang, a Holy Sect True Person who also has the background of a loose cultivator."

Using them to fool me is still too naive.

In fact, not to mention me, even the Yinshan True Person could not be fooled.

Soon, seeing a beam of escape light appear in the distance, rushing toward him, Lu Yang also revealed a smile and simply stood with his hands behind his back, waiting in place.

"The fish has taken the bait!"

(End of this chapter)