Chapter 11: Five Mountains Sword Alliance

Ever since the transmission of the sword techniques, Lu Li had not seen Feng Qingyang again.

According to what Feng Qingyang had said, the cause of the Sword-Qi Conflict was actually the scarcity of Spirit Qi in the world.

It seemed to have been this way since after the time of the Divine Eagle.

As for the two secret manuals Feng Qingyang mentioned, Lu Li knew they were the ambiguous Sunflower Manual.

Many fan-fiction novels of later generations wrote conspiracy theories, believing that the Shaolin Temple was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

As for the specifics, the current Lu Li did not know, and he did not intend to investigate further.

But if he were to truly encounter Shaolin causing trouble, he would not mind breaking into Shaolin!

Lu Li cultivated in a secluded spot for another half-month, thus bringing both the Dugu Nine Swords and the Five Mountains Sword Technique to Major Accomplishment, before he found Yue Buqun and confessed everything about the cave behind Siguo Cliff.

He would not be like Linghu Chong in the original work, keeping secrets and suffering suspicion for no reason.

That very night, Yue Buqun went up to Siguo Cliff together with Lu Li, then called for Linghu Chong, and the three of them entered the cave together.

The master and his two disciples held torches, looking at the martial arts on the stone walls, each with their own thoughts.

"I suppose you have already learned the martial arts on these walls?"

Lu Li and Linghu Chong both nodded.

Yue Buqun said, "Very well, the Songshan Sect is pressing us hard now; learning them is good for self-preservation."

At this time, the bright moon hung in the sky and the stars were faintly visible; Yue Buqun, for the first time ever, did not criticize the two, but instead spoke to his two disciples about the situation of the Five Mountains Sword Sects.

"The Songshan Sect is aggressive and has already sent a letter, arranging to convene a Five Mountains Sword Alliance in one month.

Zuo Lengchan is ambitious; I fear he is about to start making trouble."

Although Linghu Chong was impatient with trivial matters, after Lu Li's guidance, he was now discussing it seriously.

Even though the ideas he proposed were of no use, it still made Yue Buqun feel gratified.

After the group discussed for a while, Yue Buqun made three decisions.

1. Linghu Chong, Lu Li, Yue Buqun, and Ning Zhongze will first cultivate the Five Mountains Sword Technique on the stone walls to improve the strength of Huashan's upper echelon.

2. Lu Li, possessing the Dugu Nine Swords, volunteers to improve the Huashan Sect Sword Technique to enhance the strength of the Inner Disciples.

3. If necessary, the other lost secret manuals can be used to win over the Mount Heng (Hunan), Taishan, and Hengshan sects to oppose Songshan.

Regarding Yue Buqun's decision, Lu Li expressed his agreement.

But at the same time, he also voiced his own thoughts.

"Master, let us speak behind closed doors; I will speak bluntly, so please bear with me."

Lu Li cupped his hands toward Yue Buqun and Linghu Chong and said, "Power is the fist.

Your reputation as the Gentleman Sword has indeed preserved Huashan, but it has also become your constraint."

"Since the Songshan Sect wants to convene an alliance, then let this disciple, the Shura, step forward and let Zuo Lengchan know that we are not to be trifled with."

Yue Buqun and Linghu Chong looked at the unruly look in Lu Li's eyes and were momentarily dazed.

They had spent many days with Lu Li and knew that Lu Li was not as soft as he appeared on the surface.

He was gentle with people in his daily life only because he did not care.

Yet they had not expected that Lu Li's temper was actually so violent!

For Lu Li, his obsession with transmigrating here was to revive Huashan.

And the first step was to stop the Songshan Sect's merger of the Five Mountains.

He had been lying low and developing for a long time; now, his development was complete.

And he had only one attitude toward enemies, whether they were the demon cultivators of the Tianxuan Continent or the enemies of the Smiling Proud Wanderer; they were all the same.

Fight!

Only those who are standing have the right to speak!

For the next half-month, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze often went to Siguo Cliff to practice sword techniques, while Lu Li refined himself and slowly modified the Huashan Sword Technique.

During this period, Yue Lingshan secretly ran up to Siguo Cliff several times, only to be caught red-handed by Yue Buqun and his wife.

Because of Lu Li's presence, this Linghu Chong was much more reliable, and the Yue family also approved of Linghu Chong very much.

Seeing this, Yue Buqun did not even scold them excessively,

having already secretly consented to this marriage.

Half a month later, Yue Buqun took Lu Li and several disciples to Songshan to attend the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, while Linghu Chong remained in seclusion on Siguo Cliff.

Suffice it to say, when the group arrived at Songshan, they saw that Songshan was lofty and towering, reaching the heavens; unlike the strange dangers of Huashan, it was a quite spectacular sight.

Walking to the middle of the mountain, four Songshan Sect disciples came flying over.

Seeing these people's light footsteps, they arrived in a flash; their cultivation seemed to be even higher than Liang Fa's.

The leader cupped his hands and said, "Junior, Songshan Sect disciple Di Xiu, welcomes Master Yue and all the senior brothers; Master Zuo has been waiting for a long time."

These disciples led the group past attractions like Guansheng Peak and Xianxiao Cave, introducing them enthusiastically and acting quite hospitable.

But the arrogance between their words and expressions was like a rich girl showing off her newly bought schoolbag to her classmates.

Soon, the group arrived at the Fengchan Platform to assemble.

At this time, the people from Taishan and Mount Heng (Hunan) had already arrived.

Seeing the Taishan Sect Master, Tianmen Daoren, his gaze was like lightning, and his whole body exuded an air of defiance; he was certainly a man of unyielding character.

And although Mo Da of the Hengshan Sect was expressionless, no matter how Lu Li looked at him, he seemed to be wearing a long face, carrying his own bitter-sorrow domain buff.

Seeing Mo Da, Lu Li thought of a line of dialogue.

"One tune breaks the liver and intestines; where in the world can one find a soulmate?"

Not long after, the nuns of the Hengshan Sect also arrived.

After everyone exchanged greetings, Zuo Lengchan said, "Everyone, our Five Mountains Sword Sects are of one breath and one branch; for over a hundred years, we have joined hands in alliance, already as close as family.

It is excellent that we all move forward hand in hand."

It is just that in recent years, the Demonic Cult has become increasingly rampant; the veteran martial artist Yu Laoquanshi from Jiangxi, the Sect Leader of the Dragon Phoenix Blade in Jinan Prefecture, and others have all met with foul play.

If we, the Five Mountains Sword Sects, remain a loose sand, it will not be easy to resist the methods of the Demonic Cult in the future."

What Zuo Lengchan said was indeed true.

The entire family of twenty-three of the veteran martial artist Yu Laoquanshi from Jiangxi was captured by the Demonic Cult and all nailed to a large tree; they did not even spare a three-year-old child, and the young and strong in his family wailed and groaned for three days before they died.

When Zhao Dengkui, the son of the Sect Leader of the Dragon Phoenix Blade in Jinan, was getting married and the place was decorated with lanterns and streamers, members of the Demonic Cult suddenly broke in, cut off the heads of the newlyweds, and laughed wildly: "This is a wedding gift from the Sun Moon Holy Cult."

These events were described in the original work and various fan fictions.

And since Lu Li arrived in this world, he has also fully recognized the evil deeds of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

Some novels and television dramas always like to add a layer of filter to create a sense of contrast.

By giving members of the Demonic Cult a certain merit, they become good people.

And by adding a flaw to the disciples of the righteous sects, they become bad people.

A white dot appearing on black paper is, of course, obvious.

A bit of black stuck on white paper is also infinitely magnified.

But in reality, looking at it from the perspective of later society, the Five Mountains Sword Sects and other Jianghu sects are at best gangsters in the underworld, and even the righteous sects have already secretly turned legitimate and washed their hands clean.

However, the burning, killing, looting, and cruel torture at Black Wood Cliff is completely the style of terrorists!

Calling the Sun Moon Holy Cult the Demonic Cult is by no means an exaggeration.

Zuo Lengchan says he wants to resist the Demonic Cult, but in secret, he has often sent people to disguise themselves as the Demonic Cult, only to step in and stop them himself.

Relying on this credit and reputation, the prestige of the Songshan Sect has gradually grown, and it has already become one of the giants of the righteous path in the Jianghu.

Zuo Lengchan's idea of merging the five sects was brought up as early as the last alliance meeting; bringing it up again now, his attitude is even more severe, intending to force everyone to state their position.

Logically speaking, the Five Mountains Sword Sects are far apart, and there is no point in merging the sects.

However, after listening for a long while, Lu Li finally understood Zuo Lengchan's true intention.

He wants to collect the secret martial arts manuals and income of the other four sects, making the Songshan Sect the head of the Five Mountains, with the other four sects being nothing more than branch halls of the Songshan Sect!

Previously, the territories of the Five Mountains were each in charge of their own affairs, but Zuo Lengchan now wants to be the one who calls the shots!

Once these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed.

Tianmen Daoren had a fiery temper and was the first one unable to sit still.

"Brother Zuo, my Taishan Sect has existed for over three hundred years since its founding.

Although I, this poor Daoist, am without virtue or ability and cannot carry it forward, I also do not wish to be a sinner and let the foundation of Taishan be severed in my hands.

As for the intention to merge the sects, I beg your pardon, but I cannot comply."

Tianmen Daoren did not speak with any tact at all and directly stood up to him.

Both Lu Li and Yue Buqun gave a thumbs up in their hearts to this fellow from the Taishan Sect; a good teammate.

On the other side, Mo Da sighed: "My Hengshan Sect is devoted to music; I am not used to the matter of merging."

After saying this, he stopped speaking, but his expression was miserable; Zuo Lengchan got angry just looking at him, only wishing he would not play that shrill two-stringed fiddle here, and unexpectedly did not force him further.

Zuo Lengchan looked at Dingxian Shitai and threatened: "Dingxian Shitai, the Hengshan Sect is closest to the Demonic Cult, and there are many commoners at the foot of the mountain; are you not afraid that you will not be able to hold off the harassment of the Demonic Cult?"

Dingxian Shitai of the Hengshan Sect appeared quiet and non-contending, but at this moment, involving the interests of her sect, she also firmly refused.

Yue Buqun further solidified his reputation as the Gentleman Sword, saying with a face full of righteousness: "The Demonic Cult is rampant; my Huashan Sect and they are irreconcilable.

Those who offend my Huashan, though they be far away, will be punished."

On the surface, he was talking about the Demonic Cult, but in secret, he meant that if your Songshan Sect offends my Huashan, that won't do either!

Zuo Lengchan sneered: "Since you all refuse like this, it must be that your sects are full of talent, so you do not fear the Demonic Cult.

Why not take advantage of today's opportunity for the disciples under your command to spar a little."

"Sect Leader Zuo, this move is inappropriate."

"Swords have no eyes; let us not hurt anyone."

"What is inappropriate about it!

Could it be that while your disciples can block the Demonic Cult, you are afraid of a little sparring among the Five Mountains?"

"If the disciples under your command cannot win against my Songshan disciples, I fear they will not be able to withstand the attacks of the Demonic Cult demons either.

Hmph, by then, the Five Mountains will have to merge."

Zuo Lengchan waved his hand domineeringly, and one of his disciples stood out; it was Di Xiu, who had led the way earlier.

Di Xiu bowed to those around him, stood proudly holding his sword, and said: "Disciple Di Xiu, which senior brother will come up to offer instruction?"