Chapter 72: Luntai Trial

At the end of the tenth month, the wind was biting and the snow was cold.A thick layer of clouds covered the sky, with no stars or moon visible.Hundreds of people shivering in the north wind gathered at the foot of Danxia Mountain, waiting for their companions to assemble.Chang Qing, a Grade Three Alchemist leading the group, kicked the ground at the foot of Danxia Mountain, sighing with a good deal of envy, jealousy, and hatred: "Even on such a windy and snowy night, the soil of Danxia Mountain is still slightly warm. What a piece of ground fire mountain! It was actually picked up cheaply by the Tianxing Sword Sect."Someone beside him asked: "Since we can launch a strong attack on the Tianxing Sword Sect, why didn't we simply attack the Danxia Gang a few days ago? Liu Qingcang couldn't have defended it. Why did we let Bai Chi go and eat that 'absolute household' of his? It was a waste of time and only served to benefit others.""What do you understand? Liu Qingcang is a dog raised by the Huo family. It's one thing to scheme to seize his industry, but a strong attack? How many lives do you have to cope with the Huo family's revenge?""The Huo family..." The questioner shrank back his head: "Isn't it said that His Majesty has decreed support for the current Tianxing Sword Sect? For us to attack like this...""That's why I say you people only know how to fight and have no brains," Chang Qing said disdainfully. "The so-called support is just talk. We publicly assassinated someone at the Tianxing Sword Sect's grand ceremony and faced no punishment, only being told not to let other families get involved. Is that the attitude of support?""Uh... What does that mean?"Chang Qing sneered: "It means His Majesty also wants us to fight the Tianxing Sword Sect to the death! Not letting other families get involved is just to avoid being too excessive. It's to define this matter as an enmity and conflict between two sects. That way, even if the Tianxing Sword Sect is wiped out, it's just the result of ordinary Jianghu animosity.""So that's how it is..."Chang Qing's tone became somewhat anxious again: "Why haven't Zhang Shaoyou and the others arrived yet! Those who aren't family are indeed unfamiliar."This sentence was deliberately spoken very low, to avoid being overheard by the group of "not self-family" standing in the distance.An iron-tower-like strong man leaned against a distant tree trunk with his arms crossed. He looked like a body-forging martial cultivator. Hearing something from a distance shouldn't have been possible, but at this moment, he revealed a trace of a mocking smile.Don't think that body-forging people have few profound scriptures and wonderful methods. In fact, they have their own way of doing things, otherwise they would have been killed in the shadows long ago.He was Zhao Guishan, the Grade Four Upper Level body-forging martial cultivator mentioned in the data, a pure "hire" come protector. Finding work to exchange for cultivation resources was a common matter for many scattered cultivators as well as disciples from ordinary sects. Even Lu Xingzhou had hired the chief alchemist of the Danxia Gang.Zhao Guishan had also hoped that the Incense Burning Tower, this famous alchemy sect, could give him the opportunity to break through to Grade Three, but the reality was that he hadn't even been qualified to touch the Grade Three Breakthrough Pill in the two years he had been there.This item was precious, and if one's merit wasn't enough, it wouldn't be given. Zhang Shaoyou had obtained it only after going through life and death countless times. Zhao Guishan understood this. He was not a greedy person and silently accumulated merit and experience.Coming to attack the Tianxing Sword Sect this time was a good opportunity to exchange for great merit.But accidentally hearing such a sentence, he suddenly felt very meaningless. Zhang Shaoyou, who had protected them through life and death for so many years, a representative figure among the "outsiders," the object that these later arrivals wanted to imitate, was still considered "not self-family, indeed unfamiliar" in their eyes?Then how long would he, Zhao Guishan, have to "raise" to be considered familiar?Going against his inner convictions, yet still risking his life to attack others' mountain gates, could it be for that little bit of salary? It was truly laughable.Just as he was contemplating, two figures quickly arrived: "Sorry, we're late."It was Zhang Shaoyou and Qin Buwang. The two looked at each other, both seeming to understand the reason for the other's delay, and both turned their heads pretending nothing had happened.These two, who had been deliberately targeted and seduced by the dog man and woman, were a little early to say they had completely betrayed, but their hearts were certainly wavering. They also wanted to observe one or two more things. One was to see if Chang Qing would deliberately send these "outsiders" to step on the thunder and die, and the other was to see exactly how strong the Tianxing Sword Sect was. If it collapsed with one charge, then there was nothing more to say.Chang Qing said with a stern face: "Why are you so slow?"Zhang Shaoyou's status was not low, and he responded calmly: "It hasn't exceeded the agreed time limit, what's the talk of fast or slow? Since everyone is here, the Great Elder can make arrangements."Chang Qing said lightly: "You are a sword cultivator, most familiar with the procedures of a sword sect. Then you shall lead the way, with Zhao Guishan, the body-forger, and Qin Buwang, the Dao cultivator, protecting your left and right. Any problem?"Zhang Shaoyou glanced at the First Protector, Zhu Lianfeng, and asked: "What about you all?"Zhu Lianfeng said: "We will follow closely behind. If there is any problem, we will rescue immediately."It sounded very normal. If he hadn't had that conversation with Shen Tang before, Zhang Shaoyou might have felt it was reasonable, but at this moment, everything sounded uncomfortable. You are the First Protector, you are the strongest in the Incense Burning Tower, and you receive the most resources, and now you say I am a sword cultivator, I'll lead the way?Qin Buwang and Zhao Guishan are not sword cultivators, so why should they accompany me first, and not you, Zhu Lianfeng, come up with me side by side?Looking left and right, Qin Buwang and Zhao Guishan both had a trace of a half-smile on their faces.Chang Qing said: "What are you still hesitating about? How could the Tianxing Sword Sect know we are suddenly attacking today? Even if they have a mountain-protecting great array, they probably won't have time to activate it. Letting you go first is letting you establish merit!"Zhang Shaoyou laughed heartily: "Okay."Saying that, he pointed to some familiar subordinates: "They will follow me."Chang Qing naturally had no objection. Zhang Shaoyou quickly led the crowd and rushed straight up the side of Danxia Mountain.Chang Qing, Zhu Lianfeng, and others followed cautiously several dozen zhang behind. They watched as Zhang Shaoyou and the others rushed straight towards the buildings where the mountain gate was located. They never triggered any mountain-protecting sword array, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.It seemed that the sudden attack tonight was the right move. The Tianxing Sword Sect had not yet received the news of the Incense Burning Tower's large-scale entry into Xia State, so they were naturally unprepared for the enemy.Seeing that Zhang Shaoyou and the others had already climbed over the courtyard wall and entered the Tianxing Sword Sect, sounds of shouting came from inside. Soon, sword qi overflowed in all directions, indicating that they were already fighting with people. Chang Qing saw that the sword qi was definitely not from some terrifying sword array, and immediately waved his hand: "Up!"However, they didn't know that Zhang Shaoyou and the others who had entered the Tianxing Sword Sect were此刻 covered in cold sweat.Where was there no terrifying sword array... The terrifying sword array was clearly right in front of them!It was just that the great array that should have protected the entire mountain had been concentrated within this small courtyard. Ten thousand swords were suspended around, trapping the dozens of people who had first entered within the center of the sword array.Zhang Shaoyou was certain that if they moved even slightly, ten thousand swords would be unleashed together, and all these people who had first entered would be turned into sieves.This was not a Grade Three sword array... But Shen Tang boasted that even a Grade One array was overestimated. They had a Grade One array, but unfortunately, they didn't have enough high-end materials to arrange it, so it couldn't form the power of a Grade One array. However, when the great array was concentrated within such a small range, it could still have the power comparable to Grade Two, which was enough for deterrence.The one hosting the array was not Shen Tang, but a sloppily dressed, full-bearded, and barefooted middle-aged man wearing tattered straw sandals. His qi was very close to Zhang Shaoyou's... A Grade Three sword cultivator!Chang Qing and others outside saw the sword qi strike, which was caused by Zhang Shaoyou and this person exchanging one sword strike.Zhang Shaoyou swallowed a mouthful of saliva and forced himself to open his mouth and say: "Cabinet down, what is the meaning of this?"The sloppy man seemed to be nonchalantly sitting to the side catching lice, and said lazily: "Why ask me what is the meaning, why not ask yourself what is the meaning... Being driven like dogs to step on the sword array, and still being so honest, can you say how you feel?"Zhang Shaoyou was silent.Beside him, Zhao Guishan cupped his hands and said: "Although we act according to orders...""Less of that..." The sloppy man laughed: "Could it be that you think you are not testing our strength? If you could flatten it with one shovel, then there would be nothing to say."The crowd was silent.The sloppy man laughed: "The Sect Master values you very much. The mountain-protecting sword array was specially taken out for you to see, and even the power that should not appear in front of people was deliberately displayed here. You should know the sincerity of various positions."It was a display of strength, and also a show of force.With so many of them gathered, there was certainly an opportunity to break out of this sword array, but there would definitely be heavy casualties. People also had a Grade Three sword cultivator patrolling the array. This casualty was really hard to estimate. What life were they playing for with that little bit of monthly salary, pills, and spirit stones?Zhang Shaoyou knew what was going on in his heart. He sighed and said: "I heard that after the old Sect Master of the Tianxing Sword Sect passed away, there were no more Grade Three powerhouses. I don't know who Cabinet Down is..."Shen Qi chuckled: "I am called Shen Qi, a guard of the Sect Master. I have no interest in sect positions, that is left for you..."Zhang Shaoyou was silent for a moment, then finally said: "If we easily betray our original sect, perhaps noble sect would not dare to trust our character. Why is it like this?"Shen Qi looked at him with an indifferent expression: "We don't need you to betray. As long as you stay here and don't run around, it's fine... I believe you also have no need to risk your life to break through—even if Cabinet Down thinks so, others may not cooperate."Zhang Shaoyou's heart jumped violently, and his palms were covered in cold sweat.Of course, there was no way for them to break through... Just as Shen Qi said, even if several people were willing to fight with their lives, it would be useless. In this situation, only by being united and fighting with heavy casualties would it be possible for the strongest ones to break out. But now, such unity was impossible.So they could only wait.But if they, this group of people who came in first, were unharmed afterwards, while Chang Qing, Zhu Lianfeng, and others behind them suffered heavy casualties, how would that look in the eyes of others? How would the Incense Burning Tower look upon them?Then they would certainly not be able to go back!Zhang Shaoyou's eyes changed: "Is this Shen Sect Master's scheme?"That woman who looked and felt exquisite, magnanimous, and gentle, was she so sinister?Shen Qi was silent for a moment: "Lu Elder's scheme."He had already led our princess astray... We also find it very difficult to accept.Beside him, Qin Buwang took a deep breath: "If noble sect does not plan to use our power to defect... Then the mountain-protecting sword array and Cabinet Down are all tied up here with us, aren't you afraid that Shen Sect Master's side won't be able to handle it, and everything will become empty talk?"Shen Qi said lightly: "Wipe your eyes and wait. You also want to wait for the result, don't you?"Behind them, Chang Qing and others discovered that after Zhang Shaoyou's group unleashed the first wave of sword qi, there was no sound, while they had just rushed to the edge of the courtyard wall, and the scenery suddenly changed.It was clearly a windy and snowy night, but at this moment, the wind and snow had disappeared.Around them, it was pitch black, and the cries of ten thousand ghosts echoed through the mountains, disturbing their hearts and making them want to go mad.The Grade Three cultivators Chang Qing and Zhu Lianfeng could still see the people beside them clearly, but other than the two of them, everyone else had lost their sight and hearing. Even their companions within a chi's distance couldn't be seen or heard. It was as if they were in a ghost prison.Long before, the dead soldiers who had intruded into the backyard of the Shen family's business courtyard would tell them, this is familiar...Yanluo Hall's famous illusion array... Not those confiscated spoils, but Yan Jun Yuan Mu Yu's own true legendary array, Youming Ghost Prison, Wheel Platform Trial.No matter how many people came, it seemed as if only they themselves were in the Wheel Platform, facing despairing darkness, waiting for Yan Jun's judgment.Please read: m.badaoge.org