Chapter 420: A Heaven-Sized Lie

The story of Yan Yuke is actually not complicated.

One of those who pursued Yan Yuke back then was actually an elder of the Moon Palace, though she concealed this fact, and the Moon Palace remained unaware.

At that time, the Moon Palace had no intention of participating in the struggle for the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Splitting Hammer; it was merely observing.

To prevent the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Splitting Hammer from falling into the hands of those who could threaten the Moon Palace.

That Moon Palace elder concealed her identity, but was eventually discovered by Yan Yuke.

After escaping and hiding, Yan Yuke took no disciples and sought out the most dangerous physician in the jianghu—the Ghost Doctor.

With the Ghost Doctor's help, he spent several years becoming the present-day Dong A Niu.

Reemerging into the jianghu under another identity, he launched his revenge campaign.

As for the remaining enemies, Yan Yuke had basically dealt with them all, but the Moon Palace was not an easy target, so he deliberately approached Lian Hua Gongzi.

He planned to launch a revenge filled with the scent of rhododendron flowers.

Back then, for the sake of the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Splitting Hammer, Yan Yuke was pursued to the brink of death, surviving only through his vengeance and obsession with the hammer.

This sacred weapon had already become Yan Yuke's inner demon.

Even being temporarily deprived of it by Tang Luo drove Yan Yuke nearly mad; in his fury, he unleashed his cultivation, exposing a flaw.

A tale of revenge through disguise and approaching one's enemies.

Such stories are not uncommon in the jianghu; the only unique aspect is encountering Tang Luo.

One cannot do such things in front of monastics.

And then he met tragedy.

Of course, Tang Luo did not know Yan Yuke's story.

Obtaining the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Splitting Hammer was a pleasant surprise; after leaving the Moon Palace, Tang Luo quickly found Ao Yu Lie and the others.

Tang Yuhan and Nai Taisheng were poisoned by a group of jianghu people in a sneak attack.

All were injured, but none died—Tang Luo's healing-type kai guang played a tremendous role.

The attackers were a group claiming to act on heaven's behalf, to exterminate demons and uphold the Dao, to slay evil monks—righteous individuals.

As for why they did not directly target Tang Luo but first dealt with Nai Taisheng and others, the reason is simple—naturally, they wanted to first eliminate the demon lord's followers.

Why use poison?

Because when dealing with heretics and evil paths, one need not speak of jianghu ethics.

All were full of righteous indignation, yet were beaten into howling by Ao Yu Lie wielding a sacred weapon.

"I thought it would be the Hate Heaven Sect," Tang Luo said, looking at Ao Yu Lie.

Speaking of the Hate Heaven Sect, back then, under the leadership of the Hate Heaven Divine Lord, it flourished, suppressing the four great holy lands into silence.

They tacitly approved his actions of slaughtering and destroying the Buddhist gates.

Later, with the death of the Hate Heaven Divine Lord, it gradually declined.

But even a dead camel is bigger than a horse; though the Hate Heaven Sect no longer bears its former awe-inspiring might, it remains one of the top powers in the jianghu.

Tang Luo, in the guise of a monk, seized two sacred weapons; logically, the Hate Heaven Sect should have reacted.

Yet this time is strange—already a month has passed, and the Hate Heaven Sect has sent no one to cause trouble for Tang Luo and his companions.

It seems as if the rumors spreading through the jianghu about the evil monk simply do not exist.

This has left many in the jianghu deeply disappointed.

If the Hate Heaven Sect had taken the lead, everyone could have charged forward shouting, and perhaps good fortune would have fallen upon them.

Wandering the jianghu, everyone has dreams.

What difference is there between a jianghu person without dreams and a salted fish?

After a period of disappointment, someone could no longer hold back and began to act.

Although this action ultimately ended in failure, it also signified that Nai Taisheng and the others had truly entered a dangerous time.

The four people led by Tian Wang were very anxious: "Master, Master, why not just forget it? Look, you already have two pieces of equipment. You and Young Master Yu Long each take one; we'll find a safe place and pass through this mission safely, wouldn't that be better?"

We just want to live a peaceful life!

"There are four," Tang Luo said, producing the Seven-Colored Immortal Gauze and the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Splitting Hammer.

Everyone froze, then sucked in a breath of cold air—terrifying beyond measure.

Originally, we thought going to the Moon Palace was merely to scout the path; we planned to deliberate long-term and obtain the Seven-Colored Immortal Gauze through strategy.

I never expected Tang Luo to simply take it in hand.

Does the Moon Palace not care about face?

And... where did this enormous hammer come from?

Is the Moon Palace hiding a second sacred weapon?

"I said I would definitely obtain the nine sacred weapons," Tang Luo said. "If you feel following me is dangerous, you may leave on your own—I will not stop you."

A group gathered together can help Tang Luo and his companions with some miscellaneous tasks.

They can also fight occasionally and occasionally provide merit power.

But Tang Luo also has no intention of forcibly retaining anyone.

Tian Wang and the others wanted to cry but had no tears—the gap was too great; when immortals clash, mortals suffer.

They are precisely those unfortunate mortals; had they known today's situation would arise, they would have clung to no one from the start and relied on themselves.

"Today's situation, don't you bear responsibility?" Perhaps pent up with emotion, having just survived a calamity, Tian Wang's feelings exploded: "Since you chose to protect, then protect properly to the end! Why must you keep us in constant danger?"

Tang Luo had not yet spoken.

Beside him, Nai Taisheng rushed over and kicked out.

Tian Wang was kicked flying, landing in a dog-eat-shit fall.

"Master, don't mind him—this guy reads light novels and manga until his brain is rotted," Nai Taisheng said to Tang Luo with an apologetic smile.

He didn't care about Maeda Wang's life or death; he was worried Tang Luo would redirect his anger onto him.

Crashing onto the ground, the pain snapped the agitated Maeda Wang back to his senses; he hurriedly apologized: "Master, I was wrong, just now it was me——"

Tang Luo cut off his words: "Seems there's a bit of sense to it too — the greater the power, the greater the responsibility, eh? It's this poor monk's fault."

"……"

"……"

This development seems a bit off.

"So, this poor monk has thought of a good way to make amends." Tang Luo slapped his palm. "You just betray me!"

"Hah?" Maeda Wang froze.

"Come, come." Tang Luo laughed, pulling Maeda Wang up. "Tonight, you sneak out quietly; I'll have people chase and kill you for a while, and you barely escape. Afterwards, spread it far and wide that I've already obtained the true secret hidden within the Holy Weapons. Seven days from now, on the day the Nine Stars align, a great change will occur at the bottom of the Heavenly River Valley."

"This matter concerns all the Holy Weapons, even the secret of the entire jianghu."

"The demon monk Xuanzang collected Holy Weapons for this very reason."

"……Master, I was wrong!" Maeda Wang wept bitterly, just short of rushing up to hug Tang Luo's thigh.

This is clearly bait!

"Relax, relax." Tang Luo said. "Once you spread the matter, you'll have cut ties with me; with all the intelligence spilled, you'll no longer have value as a hostage, and then few people will care about you — at that point you can even 'die' at my hands."

"I'm afraid I'll be caught and tortured to death right at the start." Maeda Wang screamed inwardly.

"Of course, for your safety." Tang Luo shoved the Seven-Colored Immortal Silk into Maeda Wang's hand. "Lend you this; with it, you can fly. How about it, aren't you moved?"

"……" Maeda Wang froze. For real?

Not sending him to his death?

"If Master wants to kill you, would he need this much trouble? One palm slap and you're dead." Ao Yulie said.

Young man, why do you always overthink?

Maeda Wang's head swelled.

This Tang Xuanzang is laying a sky-high lie to trap the whole jianghu inside.

As for whether the important intelligence he leaks is credible?

Naturally it must be believed — better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't.

Once the vortex forms, no one can escape.

"I, I'm willing to give it a try!" Maeda Wang looked at the Seven-Colored Immortal Silk in his hand and declared loudly.

Tool man activated, bait deployed!

"Master, we can go together." The other three Sakura Island Divine-Demon Walkers said.

"Just you." Tang Luo pointed at one of the Xio sisters. "No need for too many people; tonight the escape, dawn the pursuit — neither side holds back, a few can completely 'die'."

"Worthy of Master! This plan is exquisitely ingenious! Flawless!"

Nan Taisheng instantly activated sycophant mode; the remaining Sakura Island Divine-Demon Walkers quickly followed suit.

Li Suibian's eyes narrowed; Chu Chongtian, kid, compared to these few you're still far off.

"Then, who's willing to die under my gun?" Zhang Xiuping cradled that sniper rifle, gently stroking it.

Ever since getting this gun, he basically never lets it leave his side twenty-four hours a day, living like a pervert.

Of course, the deeper reason is to raise the "intimacy" between him and this gun as fast as possible.

Many of Zhang Xiuping's skills are affected by equipment; the more familiar with the equipment, the higher the "intimacy", the greater the power.

A group of people started discussing how many would die later, who would die, how to die more convincingly, discussing with great relish.

The dead ones would naturally find a place to hide.

How the subsequent mission world experiences go will depend on each person's struggle and opportunities.

"Master, are you planning to lure out the other Holy Weapon holders?" Ao Yulie asked.

"Yes, the Moon Palace intelligence network is not bad." Tang Luo said. "Still unable to accurately determine the Holy Weapons' whereabouts; our time is short."

"If we don't complete it, next mission we can offer the Golden Hoop and return to this mission world." Ao Yulie said.

They still have the Golden Hoop on hand to use as offering.

If this mission fails to accomplish everything we want to do.

Next mission we'll have to use the Golden Hoop to re-enter.

"Mm." Tang Luo nodded.

The Golden Hoop's existence preserves a way out, so we won't find clues to Zhu Bajie only to lose them painfully at the end.

That would be too much of a pit.

"You keep an eye on them, ensure things proceed smoothly; I'm making a trip to Chengtian Pavilion." Tang Luo handed the Cursed House to Ao Yulie.

"Good." Ao Yulie accepted the Cursed House.

The time was already approaching evening, but Master Xuanzang is a very diligent person.

Diligently collecting Holy Weapons, day and night without distinction.

Chengtian Pavilion is located in a valley; this valley has a wonder.

Half ice, named Cold Pool; half lava, named Flame Pool; presenting a Taiji shape, named "Chengtian Terrace".

It is also Chengtian Pavilion's unique forging ground; countless divine weapons and sharp tools originate from Chengtian Terrace.

The Armor Unmoving Divine King is also enshrined in the Divine King Tower of Chengtian Terrace.

The Four Great Holy Lands' Holy Weapons, apart from the Soul-Separating Twin Swords, the rest are not carried on one's person every day.

The Moon Palace Master also only wore the Seven-Colored Immortal Silk because of Tang Luo's arrival.

Outside the Divine King Tower, Chengtian Pavilion disciples stayed awake all night; six squads took turns patrolling and guarding. Special crushed stone taken from the Flame Pool, after processing,

emitted light that illuminated the area outside the Divine King Tower as bright as day.

The defenses were tight; not even a mosquito could get in.

The Divine Tower King took the form of a three-story treasure pagoda.

The first floor displayed superior-grade weapons forged by Chengtian; the second floor displayed supreme-grade weapons; the third floor held the Immovable Divine King.

The first two floors were also guarded by four elders inside; candlelight flickered, now bright, now dim.

The third floor, by contrast, had no one — only candlelight.

At this moment, on the third floor of the Divine Tower King, Tang Luo pressed his hand against the Immovable Divine King armor before him: "Didn't expect it to actually be a fake."