Chapter 53: Might Shaking a Thousand Li

Jin Mingxiu, who was approaching, was shocked in his heart: "This is not the technique of our sect; what kind of cultivation method is so domineering?"

Shen Tang did not reveal the purple qi this time, making it hard to distinguish for a while. Jin Mingxiu's thoughts flashed like lightning; the sword light quickly plunged into the dead man's back, then he apologized: "This old man reacted insufficiently and struck too late... Fortunately, the Sect Master's divine might is invincible, not invaded by petty villains."

"Boom—!" Amidst the thunder, Shen Tang turned her face slightly, smiling ambiguously: "It is good that Hall Master Jin knows; later, you may offset your crimes with merits."

In Jin Mingxiu's heart, Shen Tang's smile, beautiful beyond the human world, was like that of a demon, making people tremble with fear: "Thank you, Sect Master, for your forgiveness..."

The wind stopped, and the thunder vanished.

In the square lay five Daoist Priests of the Lingyun Gate, utterly dead from the combined strike of heavenly thunder and earthly fire.

Farther away, before Wang, the Deputy Leader of the Dongjiang Gang, stood a white-haired woman; her ice sword pointed horizontally, and a mere single person blocked the Dongjiang Gang's five or six men from advancing an inch.

Lu Xingzhou sat in the center of the square, gazing toward the high platform, and just happened to see Shen Tang looking at him too; in their mutual gaze, both smiled at the same time.

The entire audience stood with mouths agape and eyes wide.

In the eyes of the people in the arena, this man and woman smiling at each other were simply two monsters.

One was a mere Seventh Rank, using the earth fire of Danxia Mountain as a foundation to set up a top-tier array utilizing heavenly timing and earthly veins; the Lingyun Gate cultivators who broke the array did not even have time to use a magical artifact, all being ruthlessly buried and killed here. Among them, True Person Xuanhe's innate magical artifact was shattered by Shen Tang's flying sword; he remains severely injured and paralyzed to this day, his expression as if fallen into a dream.

One was a Fourth Rank... seems quite high, but her opponent was equally high. Her flying sword severely injured Xuanhe, and without a flying sword, she instantly killed two peers from the Incense Tower in a flash of lightning and spark of fire; is this even human?

And that white-haired woman over there; before, people's gazes were not there, so they did not know why a single person could hold back so many from the Dongjiang Gang. Deputy Leader Wang is also a Fourth Rank Wu Xiu; was not that woman merely Fifth Rank?

What kind of monsters are these, gathering in this so-called fallen Tianxing Sword Sect?

Fallen your ghost... even if this sect claimed to be stronger than before, people would believe it.

Sheng Yuanyao touched her chin and quietly asked A Nuo: "Why did you not strike?"

A Nuo blinked her eyes: "I am just a child; what can I do..."

"Tch." Only Sheng Yuanyao knew in the entire audience that this group was actually hiding their true strength; at least A Nuo had not struck. Previously, when she investigated the soul-stealing traces left by the Huo family guards and Liu Qingcang's corpse, none had appeared here.

That thing was naturally not good to reveal publicly.

She did not even know that Shen Tang could actually stand up now; this was even more hidden within the hidden, absolutely not to be revealed to the outside world.

In other words, even while hiding a stack of killer moves, this group still achieved absolute suppression on the surface. Looking at the terrified eyes of the people in the square below, Sheng Yuanyao truly did not expect this beforehand.

After this battle, the Tianxing Sword Sect can truly be said to have shaken a thousand li with its might, and no one dares to challenge its sharp edge again.

Lu Xingzhou invited her to the ceremony; it seems he really did not trick her this time, she had to do nothing, and instead ate a complete piece of gossip, feeling fully satisfied.

She asked A Nuo in a low voice: "Killing so many people, you have offended these powers to death. Even if they dare not besiege the Tianxing Sword Sect now with Your Majesty's edict before them, are you not afraid that trouble will arise once the storm passes?"

A Nuo paused: "Once the storm passes... how long is that?"

Sheng Yuanyao also paused: "Perhaps in a year or half a year."

A Nuo looked at Sheng Yuanyao as if looking at a fool: "Sister, I used to think you were very smart."

Sheng Yuanyao: "?"

"In a year or half a year, will we still be of our current strength?"

Sheng Yuanyao: "..."

Shen Tang's voice rang out: "True Person Xuanhe... what Your Excellency said, that the array's might has no eyes, and life and death depend on heavenly fate, should that count?"

True Person Xuanhe, collapsed on the ground, looked at his attendant's corpse; his face was ashen, and he could not even speak.

If he had known his "suppression" would yield such a miserable result, he should have kicked Yang Dechang out the day he came to instigate; he should not have come to this ceremony at all.

But now everything is too late... "Life and death depend on heavenly fate" were words he said publicly himself; how can he swallow them now?

Those words were spoken while hanging from Lu Xingzhou... True Person Xuanhe looked at Lu Xingzhou's ever-smiling expression, and finally fear appeared in his eyes.

Shen Tang was not yet sparing: "So, regarding the abilities of my sect's disciples, and the ways of breaking techniques and arrays, what does True Person think?"

True Person Xuanhe still did not speak.

There was absolutely no need to speak; displaying such might before ten thousand people, the faces of all powers in Xiazhou were pale white at this moment.

Did Liu Qingcang once drive out this pervert Lu Xingzhou?

Shen Tang waited for no response from him and continued speaking on her own: "Deputy Leader Wang, does the Dongjiang Gang also wish to spar with us?"

Deputy Leader Wang looked at the white-haired, blue-eyed woman before him, remained silent for quite a while, then slowly said: "A misunderstanding; the Dongjiang Gang merely came to observe the ceremony."

He and Du Gu Miss Qingli had only exchanged one strike and did not move again.

Say a thousand things, say ten thousand things; this is someone else's sect founding ceremony, and the Emperor's decree still presses down. A public challenge might be passable, but besieging amidst chaos means waiting for the Xiazhou City Lord to submit a memorial against you; perhaps the Dongjiang Gang will be destroyed by this matter. Previously, under the chaos, there was some heat-headedness, but once blocked by Du Gu Miss Qingli, they sobered up; only a fool would continue to oppose at this time.

Shen Tang also offered a sedan chair: "The Dongjiang Gang is the number one gang in this commandery; surrounding goods are basically handled by your gang for transport and circulation. In the future, our sect's goods may also be entrusted to your sect; we can fully cooperate."

Deputy Leader Wang forced a smile: "Of course; today, Sect Master Shen's divine might shook a thousand li; our gang is very willing to cooperate."

Shen Tang's gaze fell again on Wu Jianchen: "Just now, Sect Master Wu did not cause trouble amidst the chaos like the Incense Tower; Shen Tang thanks you here."

Wu Jianchen slowly said: "A public challenge before ten thousand people; if one's skills are inferior, there is nothing to say. Such acts of assassination amidst chaos, our sect does not commit."

Shen Tang nodded, looking at the corpses beneath her feet: "Whether it is Sect Master Wu or True Person Xuanhe, a public challenge is beyond reproach. Only the Incense Tower, while others were competing, secretly launched a sneak attack... Our sect declares here: from now on, we are enemies with the Incense Tower; if we meet on the road, we will fight to the death!"

Bai Chi, supporting the collapsed Bai Jingtian, shouted sternly: "Shen Tang! You dare!"

"Then let us see if I dare." Shen Tang said indifferently: "Someone, take them away and lock them up."

Soon, a Tianxing Sword Sect disciple formerly of the Danxia Gang went over with a sinister smile, "Bang!" slapped Bai Chi so hard two teeth fell out: "Damn it, eating our orphan's food, was it tasty?"

Bai Chi: "..."

That disciple sealed Bai Chi's mute acupoint with one hand, and a group of people dragged the two from the Bai family away like dogs.

Shen Tang looked at the sky and showed an embarrassed smile: "Sorry, everyone; I did not expect that refining pills took so long before; now it is dark, and dinner time has passed..."

Sheng Yuanyao: "?"

Immediately, someone sensible stood up: "We still have matters; we will take our leave first. On the great joy of Sect Master Shen's sect founding, we wish you further progress on the Great Dao and might shaking the four directions."

Shen Tang politely said: "In the future, we hope everyone will strongly support our sect's pill and flying sword business."

"That is certain." Some people even started shouting: "Sect Master Shen, that broken mountain sword you just used, I will buy it; name your price."

Shen Tang smiled with curved eyes and brows: "This matter is handled exclusively by our External Affairs Hall; if anyone is interested, welcome to inquire."

Amidst a harmonious atmosphere between host and guests, Sheng Yuanyao was pulled away by subordinates, still kicking her feet and cursing: "Lu Xingzhou, you stingy ghost; I helped you hold the field for so long, and you didn't even offer a sip of water; just you wait..."

The bustling square of ten thousand people gradually emptied as the crowd dispersed.

Shen Tang watched the setting sun tilt westward and sighed wearily.

Lu Xingzhou wheeled over, smiling, "Tired?"

Shen Tang returned the smile: "Did my performance today fulfill your instructions?"

This grand ceremony was a mess and should never have been a regular ritual, yet every desired effect was achieved.

The external momentum was established, the intended intimidation delivered, and goodwill toward Xiazhou locals released; all necessary advertising was done. Surrounding powerful sects were handled by pulling some and striking others, ensuring none were completely alienated. The focus was on the Incense-Burning Pavilion, followed by the Lingyun Gate. Meanwhile, a chance for friendship remained with the Dongjiang Gang and the Cangshan Sword Sect.

Most crucially, enough energy had been gathered. Relying solely on themselves, they could never have accumulated so much.

The overall planning followed Lu Xingzhou's strategy exactly, without a single deviation.

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "Our Princess has always been the most reassuring when it comes to handling affairs."

Shen Tang pouted slightly. These matters sounded simple, but deciding who to strike hard and who to let off lightly required careful planning; without Lu Xingzhou, Shen Tang knew she would have struggled to execute them so methodically.

Beneath the twilight glow, the two gazed silently at each other, light and shadow flickering in their eyes, yet neither spoke.

Dugu Miss Qingli and A'nu stood aside, expressionless.

"Ahem." Lu Xingzhou cleared his throat to change the subject: "Now the Incense-Burning Pavilion truly has no choice but to fight to the death, and the Lingyun Gate, having lost so many people, will not let this go. Are you afraid, my lord?"

"If you are not afraid, why should I be?" Shen Tang smiled, glanced at Jin Mingxiu and others standing guard nearby, and said lazily, "Everyone is tired today; go rest."

The group bowed and dispersed, but Shen Tang did not return to her room. Lu Xingzhou made a gesture, and the group quickly circled toward the prison.

"When you stopped Jin Mingxiu from competing, did you suspect something was wrong with him?" Only after they had gone far away did Shen Tang finally ask.

"I wasn't entirely certain at the time, but seeing his hesitation, I thought it best to play it safe. If he had deliberately lost during the battle, half of the momentum we had built up would have been ruined." Lu Xingzhou sneered slightly: "Later, seeing his posture as he moved to assist you, I was truly convinced he harbored treacherous intentions. If you had not dealt with those two from the Incense-Burning Pavilion so decisively, delaying even a moment, his sword might have already pierced your body."

Shen Tang sighed softly: "Finding people one can truly trust is so difficult..."

Lu Xingzhou looked at Dugu Miss Qingli behind her and smiled: "You are already very fortunate, my Princess."

(End of this chapter)