Chapter 134: Wait, You Just Said We

Meanwhile, Gao Xuan stood at the prow of a flagship, his posture straight as a pine, long hair whipping wildly in the wind.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed down at the battlefield preparations, his expression cold and stern.

“This campaign concerns the honor and rise or fall of our Taiqingmen. All disciples must press forward with courage—no retreat, no hesitation!”

Gao Xuan’s voice echoed across the heavens, thunderous and deafening, prompting all disciples to shout in unison: “We obey the Dharma Decree—victory is assured!”

The roar shook the sky, as if ready to tear open the heavens themselves.

“The hour has come—set sail!” Gao Xuan sharply swept his sleeve, and the flagship’s spiritual light flared brilliantly.

The Sect Master’s divine seal illuminated the night sky, followed by the complete opening of the mountain gate’s barrier.

One by one, the warships slowly activated and began moving toward their rendezvous point.

Half an hour later, three more warships silently emerged from the mountain gate, eerily quiet inside—Lu Yaoyao had barely stuck her head out when a pair of hands shoved her back down.

Then the warships vanished like ghosts, speeding off in another direction.

It was deep into the night when dozens of thousands of Tianji Men disciples waited silently in the Yinan Ridge mountains.

Beside them, countless captives bound in iron chains knelt on the ground as if resigned to death.

They were all gathered by Xuanjizi to impersonate Taiqingmen disciples and march along the first route as cannon fodder.

“Master, the time has passed—why haven’t they arrived yet?” asked an elder dressed in white robes, his voice filled with worry.

Xuanjizi frowned deeply, continuously performing calculations, then a smile spread across his face.

“No need to worry—they’re coming!” As if on cue, after another incense stick’s time, countless warships appeared from the horizon.

Seeing this, everyone exhaled in relief.

Xuanjizi’s lips curled into a sly smile.

The big picture was settled!

But just as everyone rose to welcome them, the warships suddenly halted midair—then reversed, their rear becoming their front, accelerating away at full speed.

This sight left everyone stunned.

Wait—what does this mean?

Instantly, a figure appeared before them.

“Master Xuan!” Gao Xuan bowed urgently.

Xuanjizi pointed toward the sky, puzzled: “Gao brother, what’s going on?”

Gao Xuan said: “We just received word—an unknown force is attacking Taiqingmen. Our Sect Master and others plan to return immediately to reinforce. This expedition took nearly everyone out—we’re now defenseless in the rear.”

“Impossible!” Xuanjizi exclaimed in disbelief.

Gao Xuan replied: “Exactly. So many warships leaving the mountain gate couldn’t have gone unnoticed—someone deliberately wanted to prevent our reinforcement.”

Xuanjizi hurriedly said: “But we’ve prepared everything—your side—”

“We prepared too, and we came as agreed—you can see that. But they caught us off guard; there’s nothing we can do. We can’t risk being attacked from both sides,” Gao Xuan said helplessly.

Soon, Gao Xuan sensed something and immediately pulled out his identity token to check, then said: “The Sect Master says we must postpone until tomorrow night. With Qingyu Immortal Sect’s reserves, they can hold out for a while.”

“How about this—Master Xuan, come back with us to Taiqingmen? Once we handle the rear, we can discuss further!” Gao Xuan proposed.

Xuanjizi frowned, glancing at the massive fleet retreating—he could tell Gao Xuan wasn’t lying; the warships were packed to bursting, their blood aura surging.

But—but—

This wasn’t the plan—who the hell are the Cangyan Dao Palace people playing at?

“Enough. Since Taiqingmen is under sudden attack, and I now know of it, I must lend aid!” After brief thought, Xuanjizi made his decision.

He immediately ordered ten warships to prepare and depart at once, while the rest remained in place, awaiting further orders.

Gao Xuan, deeply grateful, bowed and said: “Thank you, Master Xuan, for your righteous aid.”

Xuanjizi gave a bitter smile and sighed: “At such a critical moment, only by supporting each other can we survive.”

With that, everyone hurried aboard the warships.

“Where are Master Cao and the others?” As Xuanjizi stepped aboard, he frowned and asked.

Gao Xuan replied: “Due to time constraints, they’ve already returned ahead.”

“Then increase speed. Since we’ve decided to assist, I won’t settle for merely adding flowers to brocade,” Xuanjizi said with a smile.

Gao Xuan nodded and called out loudly: “Director Li Bin!”

At once, a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator hurried forward—it was Li Bin, Director of the Spirit Fields Bureau.

“I and Master Xuan will race ahead to catch up with the Sect Master. You are fully in charge of the main fleet!” Gao Xuan ordered gravely.

Li Bin bowed respectfully and shouted: “Yes, sir!”

Then Gao Xuan and Xuanjizi sped off toward Taiqingmen at maximum speed.

…………

Dawn broke, a faint pale hue spreading across the horizon like a gauzy veil, gently shrouding the land.

Soon, three massive warships appeared silently, hidden among the trees.

All core disciples and true disciples—including Lu Yaoyao—emerged from the cabins onto the decks, standing ready.

Duanmuxu and the other six Supreme Elders exchanged glances, then nodded.

The next instant, all runes on the three warships flared to life with spiritual energy, and multiple powerful arrays began rumbling into motion.

Then, brilliant hues of deep blue, crimson gold, and dark purple erupted, intertwining as if weaving a net of destruction.

As the six Supreme Elders at Soul Transformation peak continuously formed hand seals, the grotesque beast heads carved at the warships’ prows suddenly opened their jaws wide.

Three terrifying beams of energy roared forth like dragons surging from the sea, radiating an aura of annihilation, straight toward the Cangyan Dao Palace’s mountain gate barrier.

Where the beams passed, air was instantly torn apart, shrieking sharply, space itself seeming to warp.

When they struck the barrier, the once calm, glasslike surface rippled violently.

Ripples spread outward from the point of impact, causing the entire barrier to tremble under the force.

“Who dares attack Cangyan Dao Palace!” came a roar—but no one dared emerge.

Seeing this, Duanmuxu and the others grew confident and intensified their assault.

They then threw out array flags; the previously transparent, rapidly spinning array instantly shifted into three-colored energy.

Vast quantities of spirit stones were fed into the arrays, causing the three beams to blaze with renewed intensity…

…………

Meanwhile, eighteen figures tore through space, their qi chaotic and ragged, barely making it to Jin Leizong’s territory.

Looking up, they saw Jin Leizong’s mountain gate sealed by an odd force, as if cut off from the world.

Cao Zhengyang’s expression darkened; he pulled a delicate miniature bracelet from his robe and crushed it without hesitation.

As the bracelet shattered, only a faint purple lightning arc flickered before vanishing into the air.

“Given Jin Leizong’s condition, the message probably can’t get out—or in, can it?”

Mo Xingjian, while quickly absorbing spiritual energy from spirit stones to replenish his own, asked skeptically.

Among the Five Great Sects, which didn’t have hidden agents? Yet so far, Taiqingmen had received no word at all—no idea what was happening inside.

Cao Zhengyang, also rapidly restoring his spiritual energy, replied: “This bracelet was given to me by Brother Gao Xuan. He said one of the elders guarding the Thunder Pool once owed him his life. If the bracelet breaks, that elder should appear—unless something went wrong.”

Mo Xingjian frowned slightly.

He vaguely recalled Zhou Qing once telling him that after learning the boy cultivated the Cang Lei Sword Art and needed to condense a thunder-shaped sword embryo, Gao Xuan had mentioned Jin Leizong possessed a man-made Thunder Pool and could help arrange access.

But the boy had refused—he’d already used a Lightning-Attracting Talisman to successfully form the embryo.

Time passed. Just as everyone began doubting the bracelet’s reliability, the mountain gate barrier rippled.

Then, an old man’s head cautiously poked out, scanning the surroundings, confirming no danger, then smiling ingratiatingly as he turned back to whisper to someone inside.

After reaching an agreement, he bowed repeatedly, handed over some items, then hurried out of the barrier toward the spot where the bracelet had shattered.

“Brother Gao, why are you here now—”

The old man hurried forward, face drawn with distress—but when he saw Cao Zhengyang and the others, his expression turned pale.

“Cao… Cao Sect Master—”

Cao Zhengyang bowed slightly: “Are you Elder Gong Zhen? This item was given to me by Brother Gao Xuan. Could you kindly inform Lord Lei Ting that Cao Zhengyang of Taiqingmen seeks a secret audience?”

Elder Gong Zhen’s face twisted in discomfort—he immediately shook his head in refusal.

Cao Zhengyang quickly added: “Brother Gao Xuan said if you help, your debt to him is settled—no further obligations.”

Elder Gong Zhen frowned, his expression troubled. After brief hesitation, he said: “Cao Sect Master, I don’t refuse out of unwillingness—our Sect Master is currently occupied, unable to receive visitors.”

“Occupied with attacking Qingyu Immortal Sect?” Cao Zhengyang asked.

Elder Gong Zhen froze, eyes wide with shock and confusion: “Attack whom?”

Seeing Gong Zhen’s expression, Mo Xingjian and the others finally exhaled in relief.

This move had been correct.

Cao Zhengyang immediately pulled out the memory stone left by Tong Min and handed it forward: “So the one attacking Qingyu Immortal Sect isn’t Lei Wují?”

Elder Gong Zhen took the memory stone—his gaze touched the image, and he froze in place.

“This… how is this possible? Our Sect Master is injured…” His words died mid-sentence as he suddenly realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut.

Cao Zhengyang and the others narrowed their eyes.

Elder Gong Zhen continued staring at the memory stone, his face darkening further.

Cao Zhengyang said gravely: “I don’t know what’s truly happening in your sect, leaving you unaware of such a major event—but someone is impersonating Jin Leizong to attack Qingyu Immortal Sect. That much is undeniable.”

“A sect with millions of disciples—can you really slaughter them all? When the reckoning comes, who will bear the blame? Who will be the first to shatter the balance among the Five Great Sects?”

“Put it this way: after Qingyu Immortal Sect falls, Jin Leizong will be next—especially since your Sect Master is conveniently injured. At the very least, Cangyan Dao Palace can rally troops under the banner of avenging Xuan You Immortal.”

As Cao Zhengyang spoke, Gong Zhen’s face turned increasingly ashen.

Everyone knew that Kong Yan of Cangyan Dao Palace had long pursued Xuan You Immortal.

But this matter was never done by them.

“Wait—”

Elder Gong Zhen suddenly seemed to grasp some crucial point; his pupils shrank sharply, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“Why now, of all times? And why shut down the entire mountain gate, cutting off all news?”

Gong Zhen muttered to himself, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Cao Zhengyang, seeing this, bowed again, his tone sincere and earnest: “Elder Gong, though I don’t know what’s truly happening inside Jin Leizong, you must already sense the gravity of the situation. If you trust us, Taiqingmen is willing to lend a hand!”

Gong Zhen gazed at Cao Zhengyang and the others, his face twisted in torment—this matter was too grave; one misstep, and he would become Jin Leizong’s eternal traitor.

Mo Xingjian stepped forward, speaking calmly: “Elder Gong, precisely because we firmly believe Jin Leizong had nothing to do with the attack on Qingyu Immortal Sect, did we risk coming here to warn you. Besides, we are merely eighteen people—could we possibly destroy your entire sect even if we entered? It is we who should be worried about our own safety.”

“And if Qingyu Immortal Sect falls, how long can Jin Leizong remain untouched?”

Hearing Mo Xingjian’s words, the turmoil in Gong Zhen’s eyes deepened; he glanced again at the image stone in his hand, bit his lip, and as if coming to a decision.

He bowed deeply to Cao Zhengyang and the others, then spoke openly: “To be frank, Jin Leizong is now mired in internal chaos, the situation exceedingly complex. In short, many disciples are taking sides,” Gong Zhen admitted.

Cao Zhengyang and the others were stunned—they had never imagined it was this way.

Gong Zhen continued: “Jin Leizong has now split into two factions. In recent days, they’ve clashed repeatedly, even fought to the death. The Sect Master himself has been gravely wounded. To prevent other sects from exploiting our weakness, the mountain gate was sealed ten days ago.”

“I’ve remained neutral all along—no matter who eventually takes control, I only need to safeguard the Thunder Pool. But the timing of this incident, instigated by the Vice Sect Master and others, is far too suspicious. How many disciples are still in the dark?”

“If both sides exhaust themselves in battle, and before either can recover, Cangyan Dao Palace marches in under the guise of avenging Qingyu Immortal Sect, I won’t even have the luxury of neutrality—Jin Leizong will face annihilation, erased from existence.”

By this point, Gong Zhen fully understood the hidden conspiracy behind it all.

They had been deliberately manipulated—how laughable, that they were still locked inside, fighting like fools.

“I beg you, Master Cao, to lend your aid!” Gong Zhen said, immediately clasping his fists in a deep bow.

After this explanation, Cao Zhengyang and the others finally grasped the full complexity of the situation.

Clearly, Cangyan Dao Palace had played a key role in orchestrating it all.

Their scheme was meticulously woven, flawless—impossible to guard against.

If Taiqingmen and Xuanjizi had left together and been ambushed, even if they barely escaped, they would have suffered catastrophic losses, their strength crippled beyond recovery.

At that moment, Cangyan Dao Palace would only need to raise its banner, rallying the enraged remnants of Qingyu Immortal Sect to launch a retaliatory strike against Jin Leizong—the outcome was obvious.

After all, Jin Leizong had already bled itself dry in civil war.

Then, they could easily turn their attention to the few remaining Taiqingmen forces.

Though I don’t know what agreement Tianjimen and Cangyan Dao Palace reached, in the end, those who bargain with tigers will inevitably be devoured.

Thus, in the eastern lands of Lingyun Prefecture, the Five Sects will vanish—only Cangyan Dao Palace will stand supreme.

At that point, what use would the truth be?

The scattered disciples, like homeless dogs, could stir up no great wave—only two choices remain.

Submit, or die!

“Since you trust me, Elder Gong, what should we do?” Cao Zhengyang asked.

Hearing this, Gong Zhen immediately rose, exhaled deeply, and said: “Calm down, everyone. The one guarding the barrier is a close friend of mine. I’ll go explain the situation to him—he’ll know what to do!”

With that, Gong Zhen turned and hurried back into the barrier, image stone in hand.

After about a cup of tea’s time, the barrier rippled again; out stepped Gong Zhen and another elder.

Everyone rushed forward.

“Yu Fuzian bows to Master Cao, and to all fellow Daoists!” The elder’s face was anxious as he hurriedly bowed.

Everyone returned the greetings.

“Please enter!” Yu Fuzi, now aware of the urgency, cried out, opening the barrier to let them in.

Once inside, they saw several disciples lying on the ground, bound tightly with ropes, groaning helplessly.

“Trying to sneak out and warn others,” Yu Fuzi snorted, then turned to Cao Zhengyang: “I won’t go with you—I’ll stay here to guard the entrance. If anything happens, I can still come to your aid.”

“Thank you,” Cao Zhengyang said, leading the others in a respectful bow.

Gong Zhen spoke: “The current situation is chaotic, too many eyes. I know a secret passage that leads straight to the Sect Master’s hall. If you trust me, follow me.”

“Please lead the way, Elder Gong!” Cao Zhengyang decided at once.

Gong Zhen nodded, then led them swiftly in a specific direction.

Yu Fuzi watched until their figures vanished, then exhaled slowly, his face heavy with worry, muttering: “Please, don’t let anything go wrong…”

…………

Luanyun Gorge was filled with ancient towering trees, layered peaks, deep valleys like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast.

But upon closer inspection, one could see dozens of array flags glowing with cold light, planted at various corners.

Between the flags, spiritual energy threads flickered faintly, weaving into a vast, intricate array pattern—the Cangyan Dao Palace’s ultimate array: the “Flame Hell Sky-Ensnaring Array.”

Once activated, searing flames would sweep all directions, trapping every intruder in an endless inferno where neither life nor death was possible.

And such flags had been placed in no fewer than thirty locations, with nearly one hundred thousand disciples hidden among them.

A hundred li farther, the Cangyan Dao Palace Sect Master, Sikong Yan, stood atop a mountain peak, arms crossed, the mountain wind howling, his robes flapping.

Gazing ahead, his eyes gleamed with sharp brilliance.

Master Cao Zhengyang of Taiqingmen possessed a premonition realm—this setup ahead was merely an appetizer.

The true battlefield lay behind him: a vast army of cultivators, gathered like dark clouds, silent and still, yet radiating a suffocating aura of lethal intent, tangible as mist.

Several Cangyan Dao Palace Elders hovered in midair, their gazes cold as they surveyed every detail of the setup, occasionally exchanging spiritual thoughts to fine-tune minute errors.

“Confirm every array node once more!” Sikong Yan ordered.

“Yes!” One elder immediately departed at high speed.

Time passed slowly; as dawn approached, Sikong Yan’s once-confident gaze grew icy, like a frozen deep pool.

“Did Xuanjizi trick me?” He frowned, then pulled out a jade talisman to send a message.

Soon, the talisman replied: no reinforcements had arrived from Qingyu Immortal Sect.

As he puzzled over this, another jade talisman lit up.

“Turned back halfway? Someone attacked Taiqingmen?” Sikong Yan’s brow tightened further.

No outsider dared interfere in the affairs of the Five Sects; the thousands of minor sects surrounding them all understood this well.

Even if a few of these minor sects had Soul Transformation experts, none dared take sides—misstep once, and annihilation followed.

To ensure this plan remained flawless, Sikong Yan had not dared to recruit any of these minor sects.

So who, at this moment, dared launch a direct assault on Taiqingmen?

“Self-sabotage?” Sikong Yan’s eyes narrowed sharply, a glint of cold light flashing.

The next moment, another jade talisman lit up. When he saw its message, his pupils contracted.

“Enemy forces stormed the mountain gate—number unknown, but the barrier is cracking. It won’t hold! Send reinforcements immediately!”

After a brief pause, Sikong Yan burst into wild laughter, a strange gleam of excitement flashing in his eyes.

“Xuanjizi, you fool—but now this is interesting!”

…………

On the way toward Taiqingmen’s mountain gate, Xuanjizi suddenly felt a premonition of ill fortune, followed by a series of sneezes.

“Someone’s cursing me!” He immediately moved to calculate.

Gao Xian, running beside him, saw his expression and suddenly laughed. “Brother Xuan, that Four Flowers Top Array Disc in Cangyan Dao Palace’s hands—wasn’t it made by your Tianjimen?”

Xuanjizi froze mid-step, his face paling, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes—but he quickly regained composure, feigning confusion: “What are you talking about, Brother Gao? I don’t understand.”

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(End of Chapter)