Chapter 15
Song Lun entered the Shu Prefecture to assist the Huayan Temple. It is obvious that he is opposing the Demon Cult. Ask him to come and see the Demon Cult Master alone? Would he dare to come? Would he not be afraid that the Cult Master might kill him here?
However, after seeing Chen Luoyang’s calm and collected expression, Azure Dragon 3 could only lower his head and said, “This subordinate shall comply with Cult Master’s orders. I will send a message to Dragon Claw 17 right now. But to keep it a secret and not alert others, it might need some time.”
“It doesn’t matter. Carry on.” Chen Luoyang waved his hand.
Azure Dragon 3 immediately asked to be excused.
When the room didn’t have anyone else, Chen Luoyang used both his hands to rub his cheeks.
It was deep into the night, and Chen Luoyang was standing at the entrance of the palace while looking into the distance. Within the night, at the remote horizon, there was a hazy golden light in a certain direction. It was faintly visible in the mountain range.
That was the Golden Summit. Generations of senior monks in the Huayan Temple had cultivated there. After days and months of accumulation, the Buddha’s aura on the Golden Summit had never extinguished these past many years. Even at night, the radiance was still obvious like during daytime.
Within the radius of 50 kilometers, one could vaguely hear the Buddhist chants of sanskrit. The Buddha’s aura had attracted and placated the hearts of many worshippers. At the same time, it was a layer of protection and restriction for the Golden Summit.
When Huayan Temple fought in their home ground, they had the advantage of location. Of course, the Huayan Temple alone wouldn’t be able to resist the invasion of the Demon Cult. It was all because of the assistance from other orthodox factions.
On the next daybreak, Shangguan Song departed for battle again. This time, with the assistance from Hong Yan, he was much more relaxed.
Zhang Tianheng and Wang Dubao didn’t offer any assistance, but they were happy to watch, with amusement, Shangguan Song making a fool of himself. However, when the two of them appeared with their subordinates, the opposition had to spare some of their attention to be on guard. As such, it made things easier for Shangguan Song.
Despite the case, Shangguan Song and Hong Yan were still obviously lacking a little.
Chen Luoyang stood in the palace on the mountain peak. He looked at the battlefield from afar while filled with myriad feelings.
These two individuals from the opposing elder faction had truly arrived at a perfect time. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why he, the Great Cult Master Chen, wouldn’t personally go into battle and wipe out the Golden Summit single-handedly. Right now, either his side or the enemy side would think that he was just making use of the orthodox factions to teach a lesson to Shangguan Song and Hong Yan. The value of the vanguards — Seventh Elder and Protector Hong — had been fully exhibited.
These two individuals are great…
Chen Luoyang laughed in his heart without conscience.
He scanned the entire mountain range. There wasn’t just one martial king involved, and the battle was spread over a wide area. The battlefield was massive, and it covered dozens of kilometers.
Apart from Shangguan Song and Hong Yan in the heart of the battlefield, there were other Demon Cult members at the outer borders who were fighting with the enemy.
There were direct-line disciples of the Demon Cult and also the other small factions that were vassals to the Demon Cult. The Demon Domain was vast, and apart from the Demon Cult disciples, there were plenty of other people trying to make a living by paying allegiance to the Demon Cult.
This time, three protectors accompanied the Cult Master to conquer the Shu Prefecture. Apart from the Demon Cult disciples from each branch, these factions that served the Demon Cult had to provide military forces too. From their numbers, it seemed more than those who served in the actual Demon Cult army. Since they were making a living under the Demon Cult’s rule, they naturally had to risk their lives on such occasions too.
Chen Luoyang observed them carefully and couldn’t help feeling something.
In terms of cultivation stage — the C-class factions’ leaders and chiefs, the A-class faction Huayan Temple’s direct-line disciples, the Demon Cult’s direct-line disciples like Dragon Scale 45 and others — all were rather similar.
They were all connate martial experts from the 4th Connate Stage to the 6th Union Stage. However, people like Dragon Scale 45, and the young monks of the Huayan Temple were all around 20 years old. They were far younger than the leaders and chiefs of the C-class factions.
From the previous reports that Chen Luoyang had listened to in Amrita Manor, a sect leader of a C-class faction, the Green Thunder Sect Master, had died under the hands of Dragon Scale 45. Right now, there was this C-class faction’s chief that was being oppressed by Dragon Scale 45 too.
Both of them might have similar cultivation stages, but the martial arts they cultivated were worlds apart.
This C-class faction’s chief had a violent and fierce rod art and might be considered famous in some counties of the Shu Prefecture. However, his opponent, Dragon Scale 45 was using a martial art that was one of the Demon Cult’s 36 secret arts, Extreme Yin Sunbreak Claw.
Dragon Scale 45 attacked without weapons and used his physical hands to grab at the giant rod that could shatter rocks and defeated his opponent. All the 36 secret arts of the Demon Cult were powerful, and the Extreme Yin Sunbreak Claw was only one of them.
The absolute art used by the Huayan Temple’s direct-line members might be able to contest with the 36 secret arts, but the B-class and C-class factions wouldn’t be able to do anything.
When a young monk fought an intense battle with Dragon Scale 45, the former still lost with a slight difference.
This was the case with the posterior martial artists and the connate martial experts. It was also the same for the martial masters and martial kings.
The direct-line members of the Demon Cult were basically among the most outstanding individuals of their cultivation stage. They were even able to overcome enemies with higher cultivation stages. Only a rare few successors of the martial dao sacred factions were able to barely contest.
When Chen Luoyang took a glance at the battle, it seemed like his faction was having an indistinct advantage. However, when looking at the battle between the two armies’ leading figures, Shangguan Song was in a rather sorry state.
However, the enemy wasn’t having a good time either. Whenever they saw the group of dragons circling around the remote mountain palace, they would feel immense pressure.
As Chen Luoyang was watching, his jade pendant rang once. He responded by knocking once, and Vajra quickly appeared in front of him.
“Reporting to Cult Master, the things that you instructed us to gather at the Amrita Manor have mostly been collected by the servants. Right now, only two items had yet to be found. I have ordered the men to search for them urgently,” Vajra reported.
When the gray-clothed Elder Fu left to follow Ying Qingqing, he had handed over his tasks to Vajra who was serving beside the Cult Master.
Chen Luoyang asked, “What are the two missing items?”
When Vajra listed the two items, they weren’t part of the ingredients for the Ten Revolution Primary Elixir. They were the additional items that he randomly added in as a cover after referring to the .
All of the ingredients required to concoct the elixir were already collected.
“Hurry up and search for the missing items. Deliver the rest of the items to This Seat,” Chen Luoyang instructed.
Vajra bowed and said, “Yes, Cult Master.”
After Vajra left, Chen Luoyang continued to observe the battlefield. From the start of the battle until now, there had been plenty of casualties. The blood-red serum within the black pot was steadily increasing.
Chen Luoyang was witnessing this scene with an emotionless face. Perhaps it was because he had already personally witnessed blood and death in his previous life? Or was it because they were still too far from him? He realized that his emotions were far calmer than he had imagined.
At this moment, Azure Dragon 3 came to report. “Reporting to Cult Master, Dragon Claw 17 sent back a message saying that Song Lun wishes to see Cult Master.”
Chen Luoyang noticed the disbelief that was within Azure Dragon 3’s eyes, and those eyes were looking at Chen Luoyang with increasing reverence.
Song Lun really took the initiative to visit!
Chen Luoyang had an unchanged face as he said in a composed manner, “Is he confident of being able to hide what he’s doing from the others?”
“He stated that it should be fine tomorrow night,” Azure Dragon 3 reported.
Chen Luoyang responded with an “mm”. He had already inspected the map of the vicinity and gave his instructions, “Then make it tomorrow night. Order them to wait for This Seat at the peak of Gaoyang Mountain that is 50 kilometers to the west of this place.”
Azure Dragon 3 replied, “I shall comply with Cult Master’s orders.”
He paused for a moment and asked with slight hesitation, “Cult Master, there is also some uncertain information stating that the Sword Sovereign might personally visit the Golden Summit. Do you think that this is a trap?”
“If he comes, then we will just have another fight,” Chen Luoyang said indifferently.
Azure Dragon 3 immediately kowtowed and said, “Cult Master’s divine prowess is unrivaled. This subordinate spoke out of turn.”
Chen Luoyang might have a composed expression, but when it was time to head for the appointment on the next day, he didn’t refuse when Vajra volunteered to accompany him.
That giant dragon carriage caused too much of a commotion, and it was naturally unsuitable right now. However, his subordinate had already prepared a sedan chair to carry him to Gaoyang Mountain. There wasn’t a need for him to walk at all.
When the sedan chair arrived at the peak of Gaoyang Mountain, there was a dilapidated temple there. Vajra then looked around before frowning and said, “Cult Master, I don’t see Song Lun.”
Chen Luoyang sat on the sedan chair motionlessly. He pondered for a moment before saying something ambiguous.
“Opportunity, This Seat will only give it once.” Chen Luoyang said in a played-down tone. It was as though he was saying it for someone that was hiding in a certain place. It was also as though he was replying to Vajra’s statement.
When Vajra heard the statement, he revealed an evil grin. “This subordinate understands. Song Lun is actually so daring as to go back on his words. Our cult will not spare him. Cult Master, please wait here for a moment. I will attack the Golden Summit together with Old Shangguan, Little Zhang, Blockhead Hong, and the others right now. We will leave those wretched monks in the Huayan Temple for now and bring Song Lun here first for you to deal with.”
As soon as Vajra finished speaking, another voice echoed, and a lamp lit up in the temple. At the place where the lamp swayed, a pale face was illuminated. “Cough, cough… That is too serious. This humble Song is just trying to maintain secrecy and is observing the surroundings for eavesdroppers. As such, I was slow to show myself. I do not have the intention to make light of Cult Master Chen. If there is anything I’ve done to offend Cult Master Chen, I seek for forgiveness.”
Vajra’s smile vanished as he fixed his eyes on the person in the temple. With Vajra’s cultivation, nighttime was no different from daytime. Even without any lights earlier, he had already scanned the temple and didn’t notice Song Lun.
The light illuminated a middle-aged man who had a lean and handsome face. He looked like a learned scholar.
However, Vajra recognized that this refined middle-aged man was the Grand Divine Province’s underworld hero, the dictator of the Yu Prefecture, the Five Color Hall Master, “Nine Lives Soaring Dragon” Song Lun.
Vajra was wary as Song Lun’s strength was superior to the Law King Huijue. His words earlier might have been too excessive.
Song Lun calmly and unhurriedly walked out of the dilapidated temple and arrived in front of the sedan chair. He then cupped his hands and said, “The Five Color Hall has always been on friendly terms with your esteemed cult. This humble Song’s trip to the Golden Summit is just to put on a show and deal with the others. I do not have any intention to oppose your esteemed cult. Cult Master Chen please verify it.”
Chen Luoyang didn’t exit his sedan chair and asked in a dull tone, “Is that all?”
Song Lun said, “This humble Song and my brothers of the Five Color Hall didn’t hurt or kill any of your esteemed cult’s disciples. We will not do so in the future either.”
“That is far from enough,” Chen Luoyang stated.
Song Lun asked, “I wonder what is Cult Master Chen’s opinion?”
“Keep your little thoughts,” Chen Luoyang said. “This Seat has already said that you only have one opportunity.”
Song Lun said calmly, “Cult Master Chen’s divine skill is unrivaled. This humble Song has always been in admiration. But the Five Color Hall’s foundation was left behind by my ancestors. It might not be much, but it is worth a lot to me. This humble Song doesn’t dare to surrender it. Otherwise, I will be ashamed to see my late father in the netherworld…”
“Who is there? Show yourself now!” Vajra suddenly burst out with a yell at this moment. After being humiliated earlier, he was now more cautious.
Apart from paying attention to Song Lun, he carefully scanned the entire Gaoyang Mountain again. As a result, he did discover something else.
There was a resplendent sword light that flew into the sky and stayed suspended in midair. The sword light gradually vanished and revealed the figure of a youth.
Song Lun’s eyes flashed. “It turns out that it is the Sword Pavilion’s Third Sir.”