Chapter 70: Who's Death Date

This list truly creates immense pressure.

If we exclude Miss Qingli, speaking only of the Tianxing Sword Sect itself, after Jin Mingxiu's death, the entire sect has only Shen Tang remaining at the fourth grade; everyone else is unworthy of a strike.

Yet this list from the Incense Pavilion alone has three at the third grade, two of whom are in the combat sequence; even the alchemist leading them, though not formidable in actual combat, would crush low-level opponents just as one crushes shrimp.

Even if Shen Tang is invincible within her own grade, the gap between her and the third grade is a massive chasm; overcoming a higher level is very difficult, and merely matching them would be quite remarkable, yet there are three of them on the other side.

No matter how one looks at it, this is a crushing match; when Sheng Yuanyao saw the list, she couldn't even imagine how the Tianxing Sword Sect could possibly win.

The so-called strategy of divide and conquer requires you to at least offer conditions that entice the other side... given that the Tianxing Sword Sect is such a fallen sect, no matter how much Sheng Yuanyao ponders it, she can't understand why; could it be that they must break the tacit understanding and publicly announce the Princess's identity?

The consequences of that might be even more severe.

Could the Tianxing Sword Sect be wiped out by this single move...

No power in Xiazhou dares to easily participate in a war involving imperial intent, and no power can accept and hide the Incense Pavilion's experts in large numbers. To avoid the alertness of the government and the Tianxing Sword Sect caused by a large gathering of experts in Xiazhou, the Incense Pavilion members entered in batches and hid separately.

Some stayed directly in inns, while others went to stay with familiar friends, waiting only for the signal to all rush upon the Tianxing Sword Sect.

Zhang Shaoyou sat quietly in the private courtyard of the inn, polishing and nurturing his beloved flying sword.

The snow has been getting heavier these days. Killing in a snowy night fits the style of a swordsman well; although it is an atmosphere he quite likes, Zhang Shaoyou felt some unease in his heart for some reason.

Perhaps it was the sudden inquiry from the Demon Suppression Bureau today?

Although the people from the Demon Suppression Bureau just learned the situation and left, if it is discovered that so many from the Incense Pavilion entered Xiazhou, one doesn't know what the reaction of the Xiazhou City Lord would be.

If it were Zhang Shaoyou making the decision, he should choose to launch early; he can no longer wait for the scheduled date. If some haven't arrived yet, so be it; after all, the existing forces are already enough to plow the Tianxing Sword Sect over several times...

If the Tianxing Sword Sect actually takes precautions, there might instead be casualties. Zhang Shaoyou is a sword cultivator himself and clearly knows what kind of power a former third-grade sword sect's protective formation would have; once the opponent reacts and prepares, it adds unnecessary difficulty.

Unfortunately, the leader is not him, but the alchemist Chang Qing. Not only is there the alchemist Chang Qing, but also Zhu Lianfeng, who has always been at odds with him.

Zhang Shaoyou's face unconsciously grew a bit gloomy.

To put it plainly, the Incense Pavilion does not truly trust us outsiders, the external guardians. On the surface we are their own people, but at critical moments, they have never given Zhang Shaoyou the chance to act independently.

A knocking sound suddenly rang out in the small courtyard.

Zhang Shaoyou's heart stirred: "Who is it?"

There was no answer outside, yet the door opened automatically. A white-haired girl pushed a wheelchair, upon which sat a beauty of exquisite temperament, smiling politely at him: "Forgive me for coming uninvited, Guardian Zhang."

As her smile bloomed, it was like a begonia flower opening.

Shen Tang!

Zhang Shaoyou instinctively gripped his sword hilt.

"Guardian Zhang need not be nervous; no one outside knows." Shen Tang smiled slightly: "I am not here to be your enemy, Guardian Zhang."

Zhang Shaoyou said coldly: "Sect Master Shen recently killed two of our guardians and publicly declared that meeting us from the Incense Pavilion means fighting to the death. I do not believe there is a relationship where we can face each other and converse."

"I do not think so," Shen Tang said leisurely: "Otherwise, if you are alone here, I could simply concentrate our elites to hunt and assassinate; why would I come here to speak openly?"

Zhang Shaoyou fell silent; Shen Tang's words were correct.

He felt that the white-haired girl beside Shen Tang was a fourth-grade sword cultivator, and Shen Tang's combat power was clearly demonstrated during the Grand Ceremony, instantly killing two peers as if chopping vegetables. It is said the Tianxing Sword Sect also has a Head of the Sword Edge Hall who is fourth-grade; with these three as a foundation, under conditions of calculated surprise, there is indeed a certain success rate for assassination.

At least if he wanted to ambush Shen Tang now, without knowing the arrangements outside, he had little confidence and dared not act rashly.

But Shen Tang chose to come for a dialogue.

Moreover, does Shen Tang's arrival here mean that our Incense Pavilion's plan has been completely exposed to the eyes of the Tianxing Sword Sect?

Seeing Zhang Shaoyou's silent expression, Shen Tang knew he had figured it out and smiled: "In fact, in my heart, Guardian Zhang and the Incense Pavilion are not viewed as one entity."

Zhang Shaoyou instinctively said: "Please do not speak rashly."

Shen Tang said leisurely: "Is it not so in the eyes of the Incense Pavilion?"

Zhang Shaoyou hesitated, unable to respond to this statement.

"Mr. is ultimately an outsider; compared to someone like Zhu Lianfeng who was cultivated since youth, there is naturally a difference in closeness. In the eyes of the Incense Pavilion, Mr. broke through to the third grade only because he consumed their pills; they treat Mr. with the attitude of having done a favor, correct?"

Zhang Shaoyou still said nothing, but this time it struck deeper in his heart.

Indeed, the Incense Pavilion treats him with the attitude of having done a favor, as if not repaying them would be ungrateful. However, things cannot be calculated this way; the pills were originally the reward for hiring him; he accepted the Incense Pavilion's pills, but he also sold his life to the Incense Pavilion; in all these years, whenever the Incense Pavilion clashed with others, was he not always charging to the front line?

Essentially, this is just receiving a salary for employment; how did it become a matter of gratitude and righteousness... It's just that in people's concepts in this world, they always feel that helping you break through is a great favor, and compared to that, contributing some combat power is truly not enough to repay it; even Zhang Shaoyou himself subconsciously thinks this way.

But now, with Shen Tang saying this, that feeling of grievance inevitably rose in his heart.

I risked my life working for you guys to get these pills; how did it become your favor?

Shen Tang smiled: "Furthermore, I also heard that Guardian Zhang receives significant resource allocation in the Incense Pavilion; are you an interest community?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Shaoyou instinctively blurted out, then immediately realized he spoke out of turn and closed his mouth.

"Let me guess... Guardian Zhang's cultivation is right here, holding a high rank, so the monthly stipend is naturally higher than others; this originally belongs to the legitimate income of the position. But in their eyes, they always feel that Mr. has taken a huge advantage or received so much cultivation..." Shen Tang smiled: "Zhu Lianfeng is the First Guardian, his stipend is even higher than yours, yet no one says he received any resource allocation... because he is one of their own, while Mr. is not; they want Mr. to feel that he owes them."

Zhang Shaoyou's breathing finally became coarse and heavy.

"Additionally..." Shen Tang paused, smiling lightly: "Since Mr. broke through to the third grade, it seems there has been no progress in these years, right?"

Zhang Shaoyou was silent for a while, then shook his head: "The nine grades have nine layers of heaven; each layer is more difficult than the last. My talent is insufficient, so it is just like this."

"That is not necessarily so; in fact, the difficulty of breaking from the third grade to the second grade is not higher than breaking from the fourth grade to the third grade... Is it not because the highest alchemy the Incense Pavilion can refine is only the third grade, so their help to Mr. has become very small? Just like Zhu Lianfeng is also stuck at the third grade."

Hearing this, Zhang Shaoyou couldn't help but laugh: "Could it be that the seventh-grade alchemist of your sect can produce pills more useful than those of the Incense Pavilion?"

Shen Tang instinctively spoke up for Lu Xingzhou: "First, he is already a sixth-grade alchemist; second, his ability to refine pills surpassing Bai Jingtian of the fourth grade has already been proven at our sect's Grand Ceremony."

Miss Qingli glanced at her, expressionless.

"Ahem." Shen Tang coughed dryly and added: "However, he indeed cannot refine pills exceeding the third grade; what Mr. and I are discussing is not about him."

"Then what is it?"

"Mr. is a sword cultivator; we sword cultivators originally do not like to rely on external objects."

Zhang Shaoyou fell silent. If there were no other way, who would love to recklessly consume pills... It's not like you Xiazhou people.

Shen Tang continued: "Since Mr. cannot improve by entering through pills, why not consider returning to the essence and thinking from the sword cultivator's perspective? The Incense Pavilion is an alchemy sect; what beneficial insights can they have for sword cultivators? Do they have the accumulated insights and realizations of sword cultivators over the years? Do they have various different sword intents for contemplation? Do they have trial grounds specifically set up for sword cultivators?"

Zhang Shaoyou's heart jumped uncontrollably, then he heard Shen Tang conclude leisurely: "And my Tianxing Sword Sect is a sword sect with a long heritage... We were once third grade, but that was only because my master was only third grade; however, our Tianxing Sword Art is a first-grade sword art!"

Zhang Shaoyou felt somewhat dry-mouthed and said with great difficulty: "Sect Master Shen... the meaning of these words..."

"It is merely to let Mr. consider clearly... as everyone knows, our Tianxing Sword Sect is now in ruins and desperately lacks talent; at this time, every person who joins counts as a founding elder for us. Whereas the Incense-Burning Pavilion does not trust you, nor is it a good tree. If Mr. continues to waste time, this life will end just so... it is better to open one's horizons elsewhere, perhaps there is a new sky."

"This old man... Zhang is not a traitor."

As he spoke, a cluster of fireworks in the distance shot straight into the clouds; Zhang Shaoyou turned his head to look, his expression changing drastically.

Shen Tang also glanced over, signaling Dugu Qingli to turn and leave; her final words echoed in the courtyard: "What is betrayal... the First-Rank Mountain-Protecting Sword Array turns all who enter without permission into dust. Does Mr. wish to go and test the sharpness of their array first, or turn around to look at the vast sky and high seas, belonging only to oneself?"

At almost the same time, in another inn, A'nuo pushed Lu Xingzhou out of the courtyard; Lu Xingzhou was looking at the fireworks in the sky and smiling lightly: "It seems your sect has already gathered its forces. Mr. Qin need not see me off far; being late would be bad... another day when Mr. visits, Lu will sweep the mat to welcome you."

Qin Buwang, the Fourth-Rank Guardian of the Incense-Burning Pavilion, saw Lu Xingzhou off, then watched the gathering fireworks in the distance from afar, silent for a long time.

He thought secretly in his heart: the sect ultimately felt that a surprise attack tonight was the best... only that, as it appears now, this cluster of signal fire means whose death date is unknown.

(End of this chapter)