Chapter 44: Shaking the Thousand Miles

Jin Mingxiu, who was approaching, was horrified in his heart: "This is not our sect’s method; what kind of cultivation technique is so overbearing?"

Shen Tang didn't reveal any purple energy this time, so it was hard to distinguish for a while. Jin Mingxiu’s thoughts raced, and his sword light quickly sank into the dead man’s back, then he apologized: "It was my slow reaction, I was too late to make a move... Fortunately, the Sect Master is invincible and was not invaded by the petty people."

"Boom!" Amidst the thunder, Shen Tang turned her face slightly, smiling: "Hall Master Jin knows, just make up for the crime with merit in the future."

In Jin Mingxiu’s heart, Shen Tang’s beautiful smile was like a demon, making people terrified: "Thank you, Sect Master, for your leniency..."

The wind stopped and the thunder vanished.

In the square lay five Lingyun Gate Daoists, who had been struck by the heavenly thunder and geothermal fire and were thoroughly dead.

Further away, in front of Vice-Gang Leader Wang of the East River Gang, stood a white-haired woman, her ice sword held horizontally, blocking the five or six people of the East River Gang from advancing even an inch.

Lu Xingzhou sat in the center of the square, looking toward the high platform, and happened to see Shen Tang looking at him too. In their eye contact, they both smiled.

The entire venue was dumbfounded.

In the eyes of the people in the square, the man and woman looking at each other with smiles were simply two monsters.

One was a mere Seventh-Grade, using the geothermal fire of Danxia Mountain as a base to set up a top-tier array that utilized the timing and veins of the earth. The Lingyun Gate cultivators who broke into the array didn't even have time to use their magic tools before they were all killed, which was extremely ruthless. Among them, True Person Xuanhe’s natal magic treasure was shattered by Shen Tang’s flying sword, and he was still seriously injured and paralyzed, his expression as if he had fallen into a dream.

One was Fourth-Grade... it seemed quite high, but her opponent was just as high. She seriously injured Xuanhe with a flying sword, and without a flying sword, she killed two Fourth-Grade powerhouses of the Incense-Burning Tower of the same level in the blink of an eye. Is this still a human?

And that white-haired woman over there, people hadn't paid attention to that side before, and didn't know why she could block so many people from the East River Gang by herself. Vice-Gang Leader Wang was also a Fourth-Grade martial cultivator; wasn't this woman only Fifth-Grade?

What kind of monsters are these, gathered in this so-called fallen Profound Heaven Sword Sect?

Fallen, my foot... some people would even believe that this sect is stronger than before.

Sheng Yuanyao touched her chin and quietly asked A Nuo: "Why don't you make a move?"

A Nuo blinked: "I'm just a child, what can I do..."

"Tch." Only Sheng Yuanyao in the entire venue knew that this group of people was actually still hiding their strength; at least A Nuo hadn't made a move. The evil cultivator soul-snatching traces she had seen when investigating the Huo family guards and Liu Qingcang’s corpse hadn't appeared here either.

Of course, that stuff couldn't be shown in public.

She didn't know that Shen Tang could actually stand up; this was even more hidden, and absolutely could not be revealed to the outside world.

In other words, this group of people, while hiding a bunch of trump cards, still achieved absolute suppression on the scene. Looking at the terrified eyes of the people in the square, Sheng Yuanyao really hadn't expected this beforehand.

After this battle, the Profound Heaven Sword Sect could truly be said to be shaking the thousand miles, and no one dared to provoke them anymore.

Lu Xingzhou invited her to the ceremony, and it seemed he really didn't trick her this time; she didn't have to do anything, but instead ate a complete melon, feeling very satisfied.

She whispered to A Nuo: "You killed so many people, you offended these factions to death. Even if they don't dare to siege the Profound Heaven Sword Sect in front of the Emperor’s edict now, aren't you afraid that something will happen after the limelight passes?"

A Nuo was stunned: "After the limelight passes... how long is that?"

Sheng Yuanyao was also stunned: "A year or a half."

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

Sheng Yuanyao: "?"

"A year or a half later, will we still have our current strength?"

Sheng Yuanyao: "..."

Shen Tang’s voice rang out: "True Person Xuanhe... you said that the array’s power has no eyes and life and death depend on fate; that should count, right?"

True Person Xuanhe, who was slumped on the ground, looked at the corpses of his attendants, his face ashen, unable to even speak.

If he had known that his "suppression" would result in such a miserable outcome, he should have kicked Yang Dechang out the day he came to provoke them, and he shouldn't have come to this ceremony at all.

But now everything was too late... Life and death depending on fate was something he said in public; how could he swallow it now?

Those words were said while being hung up by Lu Xingzhou... True Person Xuanhe looked at Lu Xingzhou’s always smiling expression, and finally, there was some fear in his eyes.

Shen Tang didn't let him off: "So, what does the True Person think of the ability of my sect’s disciples, as well as the way of breaking techniques and the way of arrays?"

True Person Xuanhe still didn't speak.

There was no need to speak at all. Showing such power in front of everyone, the faces of the various factions in Xiazhou were white at this time.

Liu Qingcang once drove such a pervert as Lu Xingzhou out?

Shen Tang couldn't wait for his response and continued to speak her own: "Vice-Gang Leader Wang, does the East River Gang also want to compare notes with us?"

Vice-Gang Leader Wang looked at the white-haired, blue-eyed woman in front of him, was silent for a long time, and then slowly said: "Misunderstanding, the East River Gang is just here to observe the ceremony."

He and Dugu Qingli had only fought for one round and didn't move again.

No matter what, this was someone else’s sect-opening ceremony, and the Emperor’s decree was still pressing on them. Public challenges were justifiable, but if you took advantage of the chaos to siege, you would just wait for the Xiazhou City Lord to report it to the top; maybe the East River Gang would be destroyed by this incident. He had been a bit hot-headed in the chaos before, but after being blocked by Dugu Qingli, he sobered up. Only a fool would continue to oppose them at this time.

Shen Tang also gave them a lift: "The East River Gang is the largest gang in this county, and your gang is basically responsible for the transportation and circulation of goods in the surrounding area. In the future, our sect might also entrust your gang with goods; we can fully cooperate."

Vice-Gang Leader Wang smiled reluctantly: "Of course, today Sect Master Shen’s divine power shook the thousand miles, and our gang is very willing to cooperate."

Shen Tang’s gaze fell on Wu Jianchen again: "Just now, Sect Master Wu didn't take advantage of the chaos to make trouble like the Incense-Burning Tower. Shen Tang thanks you here."

Wu Jianchen said slowly: "Challenging publicly in front of everyone, there is nothing to say if the skill is not as good as others. Our sect does not do such things as assassinating in the chaos."

Shen Tang nodded, looking at the corpses at her feet: "Whether it is Sect Master Wu or True Person Xuanhe, challenging publicly is indisputable. Only the Incense-Burning Tower secretly launched a sneak attack while others were competing... My sect hereby announces that we are enemies with the Incense-Burning Tower from now on; if we meet on the road, it will be life or death!"

Bai Chi supported the slumped Bai Jingtian and said sternly: "Shen Tang! You dare!"

"Then let’s see if I dare." Shen Tang said calmly: "Someone, take them down."

Soon, a Profound Heaven Sword Sect disciple who had belonged to the Danxia Gang grinned and walked over, slapping Bai Chi so hard that two of his teeth fell out: "Damn it, eating our family’s property, was it delicious?"

Bai Chi: "..."

The disciple sealed Bai Chi’s mute acupoint, and a group of people dragged the two Bai family members away like dogs.

Shen Tang looked at the sky and showed an embarrassed smile: "Sorry everyone, I didn't expect the alchemy to take so long before, and now it’s dark, and dinner time has passed..."

Sheng Yuanyao: "?"

Someone immediately got up wisely: "We still have things to do, so we will take our leave first. Congratulations to Sect Master Shen on opening the sect; may you make great progress in the Dao and shake the four directions."

Shen Tang said politely: "In the future, I hope you will all strongly support our sect’s elixir and flying sword business."

"That is certain." Someone even started shouting: "Sect Master Shen, I will buy that Mountain Breaker you just used; name a price."

Shen Tang smiled with her eyes curved: "We have a dedicated External Affairs Hall responsible for this; if you are interested, you are welcome to consult."

In an atmosphere of harmony between host and guest, Sheng Yuanyao was pulled away by her subordinates, still kicking her feet and scolding: "Lu Xingzhou, you stingy ghost, I helped you hold the field for so long and you didn't even invite me to drink a sip of water; you just wait for me..."

In the noisy square of ten thousand people, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Shen Tang looked at the setting sun and sighed with some exhaustion.

Lu Xingzhou rowed his wheelchair over and smiled: "Tired?"

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

This ceremony was a mess and shouldn't have been a conventional ceremony at all, but the desired effects were all achieved.

The external momentum was built, the necessary deterrence was there, the goodwill toward the local Xiazhou people was released, and all the advertising that needed to be done was done. The powerful surrounding sects were also pulled in and hit, not all offended to death; the Incense-Burning Tower was focused on, followed by the Lingyun Gate. Possibilities for friendship were left with the East River Gang and the Cangshan Sword Sect.

The most critical thing was that enough energy was gathered. Relying on themselves alone, they couldn't have gathered so much.

The overall planning was completely in accordance with Lu Xingzhou’s ideas, without any deviation.

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "Our Princess’s work has always been the most reassuring."

Shen Tang curled her lips slightly. These things sounded simple; who to strike hard and who to let go lightly were all planned. If it weren't for Lu Xingzhou, Shen Tang knew it would be difficult for her to do it so methodically.

Under the evening glow, the two looked at each other quietly, light and shadow flickering in their eyes, but both were silent.

Dugu Qingli and A Nuo stood on the side, expressionless.

"Cough." Lu Xingzhou coughed to change the subject: "Now the Incense-Burning Tower is truly life or death, and the Lingyun Gate won't let it go after so many people died. Is the Sect Master afraid?"

"If you aren't afraid, what am I afraid of?" Shen Tang smiled, glanced at Jin Mingxiu and others standing around, and said lazily: "Everyone is tired today, go and rest."

The crowd saluted and dispersed, but Shen Tang didn't return to her room. Lu Xingzhou made a gesture, and the group quickly circled toward the prison.

"When you interrupted Jin Mingxiu’s battle, did you see that he had a problem?" It wasn't until they were far away that Shen Tang asked.

"I wasn't very sure at the time, but seeing him hesitate, I felt it was better to be safe. What if he deliberately lost a battle during the fight? All the momentum we accumulated would be ruined by him." Lu Xingzhou sneered slightly: "Looking at his attitude of going to help you later, it was certain that he had ulterior motives. If you hadn't dealt with those two Incense-Burning Tower people so cleanly and decisively, and delayed for a moment, his sword might have pierced your body."

Shen Tang sighed in a low voice: "It’s really hard to want some people you can trust..."

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