Chapter 636

As a result, the three great empires all believed Yunzhou had only the Houtianxia Society.

After the Houtianxia Society's downfall, the large Yuan and Tang dynasties, situated closer to Yunzhou, prepared to extend their influence into Yunzhou.

Unexpectedly, the Yunzhou imperial dynasty proved to be no weak power.

First, the general of Shanhai Pass, Shi Dingtian, appeared on the list; now, the state protector Gong Feng Xiongwu has emerged.

It seems Yunzhou's imperial house must have other experts!

"Your Majesty! Yan Kuangtu said that during the battle at Yunzhou's imperial city, just as the battle's residual waves were about to destroy the palace,

five elderly swordsmen suddenly emerged from within the Yunzhou imperial house.

These five elderly swordmasters seemed to have some connection to Wu Ming, and their strength was unfathomable."

"Have you managed to uncover any information about these five?"

Wu Zetian had long known of these five's existence and had long ordered Shangguan Wan'er and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to jointly investigate them.

"We don't yet know specifics, but I received word that after receiving guidance from these five, Wu Ming's Wu Gong suddenly returned.

He seized the opportunity to master Wanjiangui Sect, and his strength has gradually restored to its former glory.

Thus, the Heavenly Demon deduces that these five are most likely the mysterious Jian Sect of Yunzhou!"

Shangguan Wan'er had no concrete evidence to prove these five's identities; her statements were largely speculative.

"Didn't Jian Hui freeze the entire Jian Sect with the Huitian Bingjue, killing twelve experts, and cause it to vanish from the world?"

How could there still be Jian Sect members left alive?"

Strictly speaking, Wu Ming, Jian Yu, and even Di Shitian had all once been members of the Jian Sect.

But Wu Ming, due to Jian Hui's selfish act, lost all faith in the Jian Sect.

Jian Yu was even tricked into the Sword Realm, his physical body destroyed in the process.

As for Di Shitian, after mastering Wanjiangui Sect, he founded Tianmen and has since joined the Qinglong Society.

That is to say, the Jian Sect was not eradicated by Jian Hui's selfishness; instead, many Jian Sect members remain hidden deep within Yunzhou.

Shangguan Wan'er had also gathered some information on this.

"Your Majesty, after extensive inquiries, I've finally learned that long ago, the Jian Sect had many branches.

The branch Jian Hui destroyed was merely the main Jian Sect headquarters.

There were also the Xiejian Sect and the Nijian Sect, among others!

These five elderly swordsmen are most likely from the Nijian Sect!"

"Oh? Why?"

Wu Zetian was puzzled—hadn't she just said nothing was confirmed?

Why suddenly claim these five elderly swordsmen were from the Nijian Sect?

"Because the Xiejian Sect—we once knew someone who said the Xiejian Sect consists only of women, with no men."

Shangguan Wan'er smiled faintly and said.

"If you've made contact with the Xiejian Sect, why not invite them to join Tang?"

Women, and Jian Sect experts—even if from the Xiejian Sect—would be extraordinary.

Such experts and sects were precisely what Wu Zetian most desired.

"Your Majesty, I've already begun contacting them; news should arrive soon."

Because it was unconfirmed, Shangguan Wan'er had previously refrained from speaking.

"Very well. Do you think, besides these five suspected Nijian Sect members, Yunzhou's imperial house has other experts?"

Shi Dingtian, Xiongwu, and these five suspected Nijian Sect swordsmen—

Yunzhou's imperial house now has seven supreme experts, a formidable force indeed.

"I've heard that their recent abdication was actually a trap."

Shangguan Wan'er's expression turned strange; before Wu Zetian could ask, she said,

"Rumors say You Dongying has long coveted Yunzhou, and the Yunzhou imperial house is well aware.

Over the years, they've clashed openly and covertly with You Dongying countless times.

The recent bizarre abdication was precisely because they sensed You Dongying's movement and deliberately lured them into striking first."

"That doesn't make sense."

Wu Zetian frowned and asked,

"During the battle at Yunzhou's imperial city, it was clearly Xiao Jingtian and Xiao Aoshi who intervened.

Didn't those five Nijian Sect elders merely ensure the palace wasn't damaged?"

"I've heard the imperial city battle was merely a ruse—for both Yunzhou and You Dongying."

Shangguan Wan'er's intelligence was well-informed; she knew a little about the Bai Long Xi battle.

One side in that battle was You Dongying's Tianhuang Lian Chengzhi and his many elite followers.

Xuanwu Jun even died at Lu Xueqi's sword for Lian Chengzhi's sake.

The other side was Emperor Wenlong of Yunzhou's imperial family and Ao Jue of the Jianzhuang.

None of these three parties would ever voluntarily reveal this battle.

Thus, the information Shangguan Wan'er now possesses is only fragments.

"Then where was the main battlefield?"

Wu Zetian was deeply curious—if the imperial city battle was a ruse, there must have been another main battlefield.

Suddenly, she recalled how Xuanwu Jun had rapidly appeared and vanished from the list, with no complete introduction.

"Could Xuanwu Jun have been killed in this battle?

Is Yunzhou's imperial house truly this terrifying?"

Every name on the Heaven's Path Golden List is an extremely rare expert within the Nine Provinces.

The original ranking of Xuanwu Jun was also not low.

The one who could kill him must surely be far superior in strength.

Thus, Wu Zetian's lack of information and her mistaken judgment were only to be expected.

"Your Majesty's servant does not know, but I will continue to investigate."

Shangguan Wan could not reach a conclusion either.

"Good! Quickly uncover the Qingzhou Imperial Court's hidden cards; if possible, form an alliance with them."

If they possess only this much strength, once we subdue the Xuanxinzheng Sect, we can replace them and rule Qingzhou."

Qingzhou, You Dongying, and Pingzhou appear to have similar names.

In truth, Qingzhou is a separate continent.

Its area surpasses even that of the Great Tang.

Moreover, Qingzhou's martial culture surpasses that of all other major imperial courts.

Thus, controlling Qingzhou is one of Wu Zetian's goals.

"We could not reach the Xuanxinzheng Sect, but we made contact with someone connected to Yan Chixia."

Shangguan Wan gave a bitter smile—the Xuanxinzheng Sect had not even been contacted yet, and her own sovereign was already thinking of subduing it.

Judging from the current state of the Heaven's Path Golden List, the Xuanxinzheng Sect's strength is nearly second only to the Three Imperial Courts.

If Yan Chixia returns, he will stand equal to the Three Imperial Courts—how could the Great Tang possibly have the capital to subdue him?

"Excellent! I don't care who it is—arrange it quickly."

If you can use this person to subdue Yan Chixia, it will be more valuable than subduing the entire Xuanxinzheng Sect."

Yan Chixia is a top-tier expert acknowledged by Cang Qu himself.

Such a person, even within the Qinglong Society, is probably rare indeed!

Subduing this man would be far more worthwhile than subduing many other experts.

"Your servant accepts the order!"

Shangguan Wan had already gathered some intelligence and knew this person was closely tied to Yan Chixia—perhaps she could truly accomplish the sovereign's objective.

After Jue Wushen, in his arrogance, came to the Land of War God's Temple and challenged the Qinglong Society, he was instantly slain by Li Taibai.

The Wu Shen Jue Palace, which had once ruled You Dongying, was instantly reduced to ashes.

Jue Wushen's son, Jue Xin, with no other options, surrendered to the newly appointed Heavenly Locust Lian Chengzhi and became his lackey.

Not long ago, Jue Xin happened by chance to encounter a mysterious strongman.