Chapter 407
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Chapter 407: Bullying the Qiao Family?
Trying to move a tree, the foolish old man acting beyond his abilities?
Right now, a huge mountain covers the sky, and the suffocating feeling descending from the sky is like a rushing flood engulfing people.
When this sentence reached the fearful crowd, it stirred up ripples in their hearts.
They had seen Qiao Shuangxin wielding his sword to break through the big formation, but facing the towering mountain, they felt powerless.
There is no doubt in their hearts.
But only until now, when they saw the giant blurry shadow carrying the mountain on his shoulders, did they vaguely understand the other’s intentions…
Many people felt something in their hearts.
Despite being touched, their fleeing footsteps did not slow down at all.
This scene was naturally noted by the leader of the Xuantian Sect.
"Do they know they are like ants challenging a tree?" the leader of Xuantian Sect chuckled.
"But you also see clearly now that even though the mantis shakes the tree, it may show courage, but first, it’s of no help at all, and your efforts are useless; second, no one will thank you for it."
The leader of the Xuantian Sect suddenly felt like chatting at this critical moment and started talking with the almost-dead Qiao Mu.
This is not being arrogant, forgetting the lesson that "the villain dies from talking too much."
The villain dying from talking too much in the storyteller’s tale is either to stall for time, to heal themselves, or to allow strong reinforcements to arrive.
Or they are caught off guard by the enemy during the process and get counter-killed.
The current situation does not fit this, as Qiao Shuangxin is now stuck between the Stone Mountain and Qingming Cave Small World, unable to find a way out, with no chance of turning the tables.
As for reinforcements… the Xuantian Sect leader also knows that within the entire Nan Province, no one can threaten his life.
As for the rumor about the "Qiao family member’s once-in-a-lifetime teleportation trick…"
It’s okay to deceive others, but it’s not okay to deceive the knowledgeable Soul Changing Taoist Lord like him.
Even the ability to shrink into tiny earth, which can deceive others, cannot escape the notice of the Soul Changing Taoist Lord.
The Soul Changing Taoist Lord has a powerful spiritual sense that constantly covers the surroundings. Every detail inside and outside of Qingming Valley is within his grasp, and whether there is strong backup support, he naturally knows.
At this moment, he suddenly felt like speaking, partly because he knew he had the upper hand, and partly out of curiosity about martial artist Qiao Shuangxin.
Like waking up from a winter’s hibernation to find his own bear cub being killed by harmless rabbits in his former territory…
Therefore, he wanted to attack his mind before he died, making him mentally collapse in order to extract more information about the Qiao family member.
"Weren’t you adamantly against the rules of cultivators before?" whispered Xuantian Sect’s leader.
Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow.
From this sentence, he could tell that the Xuantian Sect’s leader was not unaware of his previous conversation with Taoist Jinyang.
Could it be that he had known all along, but had not acted on it.
The leader of Xuantian Sect waved his sleeve.
In an instant, the inside of Medicinal Valley was filled with flying sand and rolling stones.
Many Spiritual Farmers who had difficultly fled to the entrance of the valley were swiftly swept up by the powerful storm, lifted into the sky, and all their previous efforts were in vain.
With just a gentle wave of his sleeve, thousands upon thousands of people were engulfed in the leader of Xuantian Sect’s wide sleeve.
"Did you see that?" asked the leader of Xuantian Sect gently.
"This is the way of cultivators, as well as the way of this world here," he explained softly.
"The law of the jungle, that is the will of heaven."
"The strong stand high above, able to soar in the sky, with one technique they can move mountains and fill seas, burn the heavens and boil the oceans, and with a wave of their sleeve, they can determine the fate of thousands upon thousands of people."
"Cultivators can achieve longevity, rise above countless others, move mountains and fill seas, become immortal ancestors, and be worshipped and revered."
"But you are confined by the rules of ordinary people and are unaware of it, thinking that you are doing good deeds and accumulating virtues, only to end up with a tragic outcome of being torn to pieces and not having a complete body."
"Are the rules of cultivators also about the strong preying on the weak? Isn’t this the same as what Martial Saint believes in?" Qiao Canxue whispered softly.
She was almost swept away by the fierce wind caused by the leader of Xuantian Sect’s large sleeves, looking somewhat disheveled.
"Rather than saying that the rules of cultivators are the same as what Martial Saint believes in, it’s more like… Martial Saint only understood the law of the jungle after suffering a defeat at the hands of cultivators." Wang Songhe said softly.
He is now free from the trap, standing in mid-air in a spiritual state.
"Figures like Martial Saint and Xuantian Taoist Lord, make decisions based on their own thoughts and desires, replacing ordinary people in determining their fate and life and death." Wang Songhe said.
"In this Medicinal Valley, whether it’s a Spiritual Farmer or a Medicine Man, life and death are in the hands of others. Even weak individuals are bound by these rules of conduct…"
Qiao Canxue vaguely felt that there was more to Wang Songhe’s words and asked further:
"So, what about the Qiao family members according to you?"
"There were some differences among the Qiao family members," Wang Songhe said.
"They don’t expect help from others, they don’t care about what people say, they just focus on their own tasks," she explained.
"So don’t worry, top martial artists like them are strong-willed and resilient. Even if their bodies perish, their spirits may not break," she reassured.
"Unless—"
"Your determination remains unwavering, even in the face of death," the leader of Xuantian Sect remarked calmly.
"However, if I tell you that while you were undercover at Yunxiao Sect, they have already scattered and reached the temples in the major cities of Nan Province, how would you respond?" he questioned.
Qiao Mu, struggling to lift his head under the weight of the towering mountains, finally showed a slight hint of emotion in his expression.
While he wasn’t short of tricks, he only had one flesh clone, who was Qiao Xin, the owner of Peach Blossom Villa.
During the time of destroying temples in Nan Province, Qiao Mu and his clone acted separately.
The main character, Qiao Mu, went on a military expedition with the Southern Army to fight in the mountains and temples in Nan Province, fishing and waiting for a counterattack from the Immortal Gate.
Meanwhile, a copy of Qiao Xin made of flesh left Peach Blossom Villa and went to Heyang City alone, hoping to catch some fish.
No matter how long they waited, the counterattack from the Immortal Gate did not come until the Southern King, Wang Songhe, was out of body.
"The leader of Xuantian Sect seems quite insightful." Wang Songhe said calmly.
"Indeed, he has hit the weak spot of the Qiao family member."
"The Qiao family member focuses on fighting immortals but lacks expectations for ordinary people. In my opinion, this is also a flaw of his."
Qiao Canxue closed her eyes and looked at Wang Songhe.
Wang Songhe, a Medicine Man, had the same cultivation level as her at the Golden Core Stage, but he appeared very weak, especially in his current out-of-body state.
However, listening to him talk, he seemed to have a sense of strategic planning, much like the leader of Xuantian Sect.
"What do you want to say?" she asked.
"The strongest people in the world mostly rely on their strength," said Wang Songhe.
"Leaders like Xuantian Sect’s leader, people in high positions like Martial Saint, often ignore regular people, seeing them just as numbers, using their own desires to determine their fate."
"Though Qiao family members are different, they also do not expect much from regular people, but they do not know…"
"In this world, not only Qiao family members have the ambition to challenge immortals." Wang Songhe looked down at the civilians fleeing in panic in Medicinal Valley.
"Generation after generation, Qiao family members have sacrificed, how many have died until now? And how many have been born because of them?"
"A few righteous individuals are like sparks; but what kind of blaze are a few dozen righteous ones, like the famous Qiao family in Jiu Province?"
"Qiao Shuangxin said just now, that one should act within their limits, not blocking his way… but not all ordinary people in this world only know how to settle, think and act cautiously."
"The rest of the people in this world are not all just running around in panic, not all are seeking help from heroes, not all are cowardly, they also show the spirit of Qiao family members…" Wang Songhe spoke.
He is not impulsive, but someone who plans before taking action.
After deciding to break ties with the Xuantian Sect and destroy the mountain and temple, he naturally made some plans of his own…
………………………………………….
Heyang City.
On a small barren hill that had been burnt almost completely.
Qiao Xin sat cross-legged in the ruins of the Taoist temple, frowning in contemplation.
In front of him lay the bisected body of a Nascent Soul cultivator, with even a small glowing figure in his palm – the Nascent Soul of this Nascent Soul Elder.
This physical body of his was a flesh clone left behind when he was in the Southeast Province.
Although not as strong as his main body, it shared the same consciousness, allowing for the same understanding of martial arts and skills as his main body, Qiao Mu.
Controlling a flesh clone to kill an invading Nascent Soul cultivator was not difficult for Qiao Mu.
The challenge lay in dealing with other Nascent Soul cultivators.
"How many Nascent Soul Elders does your Xuantian Sect have, Qiao Xin pressed.
"Counting me, there are five Nascent Soul Elders," replied the Nascent Soul figurine in his hand.
"Apart from Elder Yao Yin overseeing Qingming Medicine Valley, the other three Nascent Soul Elders have mobilized, dividing our forces into four groups…."
Qiao Xin scratched his chin, feeling a bit uncertain.
…………………………………………………………..
Nan Province, Tiger City.
A rainbow light broke through the sky from afar, transforming into the appearance of Xuantian Sect Elder Sun, standing on a cloud.
After waiting for this moment, Elder Sun finally could make a move," Elder Sun breathed a sigh of relief.
During this time, the Xuantian Sect felt very frustrated while the sect leader was away in the Medicinal Valley.
Knowing that the South King and a member of the Qiao family were causing trouble outside by damaging mountains and temples, they could only stay hidden within the sect.
Even though cultivators have a long lifespan and can wait patiently for the rebuilding of the temple, losing the recent incense supply would not heavily impact the sect but for Elder Sun, a Nascent Soul cultivator, it meant the risk of declining cultivation.
So naturally, he decided to take action.
The reason for choosing Tiger City was quite simple and direct.
First, among the larger temples in the Nan Province, Tiger City’s temple was one of them.
Second, this city’s temple was the last one destroyed by the Southern Army, and currently, there are still a significant number of Southern Army troops stationed in the city.
Choosing this city as the target was a way to show strength and to warn others against opposing them.
Besides Tiger City, the selection of other locations followed the same principle, choosing large temples and cities.
Elder Sun descended slowly from the clouds, his divine consciousness scanning the already dilapidated temples on the ground.
Everywhere there were shattered statues, crumbling walls, and a scene of chaos.
In the surrounding residential area of the temple, there were still some elderly believers pointing at the destroyed temple and whispering:
"Aren’t they afraid of divine punishment for doing this?"
"Man proposes, God disposes, heaven sees all!"
"Even though the temple is gone, the believers remain." Elder Sun felt a little comforted.
However, he also knew that if he, as a celestial being, did not intervene, allowing the army of the South King to rampage in Nan Province.
Over the years, the worship in the cities of Nan Province would inevitably decline.
And that is the reason he came.
Elder Sun secretly chanted a spell, and dark clouds immediately covered the sky, causing the weather to change.
Beneath his feet was a cloud of auspiciousness, his robe emitting a faint light, looking very divine and extraordinary, like a True Immortal descending to the mortal world.
"Disrespecting gods, offending immortals, and having insincere hearts will bring retribution."
His voice was like rumbling thunder, echoing throughout the city. Suddenly, strong winds swept in, lightning struck like rain, and the thunderous sound was continuous.
In an instant, some of the believers in the city were astonished, kneeling down towards the revealed figure of the immortal from Xuantian Sect, praying and pleading continuously.
However, at that moment.
Among the crowd, an old man walked out.
This old man had white hair on both temples, a figure carried the weight of years, just based on his back view, he seemed to be around eighty or ninety years old.
But looking closely at his appearance, there were not many wrinkles, his skin was smooth, and his face looked like that of a middle-aged person.
Between his eyebrows and eyes, there was a resemblance of about seventy to eighty percent with the former Earth Sword Immortal, just with a bit more righteousness and a distinctly different temperament.
"Wang Songhe’s prediction seems accurate. It seems that his cultivation in the Dao of Immortals has not been in vain. He understands the ways of the Immortal Gate very well."
Lu Yanbei spoke, almost as if talking to himself.
He placed a hand on the stone sword hanging by his waist, drew the sword out.
"No, Fifth Brother, I’ve told you eight hundred times, don’t touch my sword hilt." A resentful voice came from the stone sword.
The title of "Fifth Brother" made Lu Yanbei’s eyes twitch, but this time, he didn’t scold his younger brother. Instead, he spoke solemnly:
"I’m sorry, just bear with it."
"My martial arts skills are still lacking. Even though I’ve mastered the ‘Divine Transformation Technique’ and reached the 1st rank of True strength, I’m afraid I’m still no match for an Immortal Gate Nascent Soul Elder."
"How long do we need to wait?" asked Stone Sword.
"Just three breaths," answered Lu Yanbei.
"Three breaths, can you handle it, or is it too quick? Do you need more time?" Stone Sword said with disdain.
"No, three breaths are enough to say three sentences."
Lu Yanbei held the Stone Sword in his hand, looked up at the sky, the roaring wind rustling his robes and lifting his hair.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the Elder Sun in the sky and spoke with determination:
"When the Qiao family member was here, no one challenged the Immortal Gate. Why act tough now?"
"Old thief, bullying the Qiao family in their absence?"
"Heavenly Slashing Swordsmanship!" A sword light soared into the sky like a galloping horse, cutting through the wind and pointing straight up.
…
