It was before dawn.
In the West City of the Capital City, at Fuchai Square, inside a certain courtyard compound on Shi Fuma Street.
Dozens of core believers of the Celestial Fragrance Sect gathered in the hall. Dressed in fine silks and satins, wearing gold and silver jewelry, they knelt perfectly straight on meditation cushions. With devout expressions, they listened intoxicatingly as the Sect Leader, Wang Sen, preached from the head seat.
At Capital University, surveillance was strict. Wang Sen had finalized his preaching strategy before entering the capital. He divided the Capital City into several districts, prioritizing the recruitment of the wealthy in these areas as believers. He then instructed them to establish main branches, which would subsequently develop smaller branches within their respective territories. Developing downward layer by layer in this manner would ultimately reach every corner of the Capital City.
The people attending today’s gathering were the Association Leaders and Preachers of the major branches Wang Sen had developed. They were all the heads of believers in their respective districts, representing the core strength of the Celestial Fragrance Sect in the Capital City.
"Never born, never extinguished, infinite joy. The Ninth Grade lotus, surrounded by fragrant winds. Heavenly robes and ribbons, prolonging eternal life. Through millions of tribulations, forever proving the golden body..."
Wang Sen recited the *Imperial Golden Pill Nine Lotus True Faith Return Home Treasure Scroll*. With smoke swirling from the incense and his melodious chanting, the Heart Spirit of the believers below became clear and tranquil. It was as if their souls had transcended this mortal Dust, forgetting all sorrow and joy. Even when Wang Sen stopped preaching, the people below remained fully immersed, unable to extricate themselves for a long time.
Wang Sen waved his hand, summoning the eight disciples serving nearby. "Go and fetch the Celestial Fragrance. These benefactors have spread the true scriptures, sensed the three tribulations, and attained sudden enlightenment of the nine lotuses. It is only right to bestow the incense upon them!"
"Yes!" All the disciples bowed respectfully, turning around to enter the Inner Hall.
After a while, the disciples filed out. Each solemnly held a tray neatly stacked with several sticks of Sandalwood incense. The Sandalwood was wrapped in streaks of purple patterns, making it look incredibly miraculous. Sitting perfectly straight on their cushions, the Association Leaders and Preachers immediately stared at the Celestial Fragrance on the trays with burning eyes.
They had tested the miraculous effects of this incense several times already. It strengthened their foundations and consolidated their yang energy, allowing them to intimately conquer countless partners and completely restore their masculine vigor within a single night.
Wang Sen spoke slowly, "The founding master said to spread the Infinite Dao, touch upon true profoundness, discuss wondrous meanings, and persuade and convert all living beings.
"This is a great virtue that saves the world, a divine incense bestowed by heaven!"
With a grand wave of Wang Sen’s hand, the disciples, met with fiery gazes, approached with the Celestial Fragrance trays and distributed one stick to each person. After distributing the divine incense, the eight disciples split into two groups of four on the left and right, returning to Wang Sen’s side.
"You benefactors should strive forward, continuing to persuade and convert all living beings, spread the Infinite Dao, and disseminate the doctrines of our Celestial Fragrance Sect." Glancing around at the crowd below, Wang Sen left these words behind and quickly departed the main hall.
"We shall bear it in mind!" the Association Leaders and Preachers responded, raising their faces and carefully cradling the Celestial Fragrance.
Then, one disciple shouted loudly, "At five quarters past midnight, the true scriptures will be taught again!"
After he finished speaking, the other seven shouted in unison, "At five quarters past midnight, the true scriptures will be taught again!"
In the side chamber.
Wang Sen took the tea handed to him by a disciple and drank it all in one gulp.
"Venerable Zhenyan, is there anything unusual outside?" Setting down his teacup, Wang Sen asked the monk beside him, whose chest and breast were fully exposed.
This monk was Venerable Zhenyan, who had been constantly guarding Wang Sen. His true identity was an outcast of Shaolin at the Outer Realm Level, proficient in the *Scattering Flower Palm* and the *Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt*.
"To answer the Sect Leader, Fuchai Square only has the routine patrols of the Five Cities Military Department and the Night Patrol Captains. Their focus remains on the Changfeng Escort Agency in Huanghua Square," the monk replied leisurely.
"Very well. Thank you for your trouble, Venerable Zhenyan." Hearing this, Wang Sen felt a bit relieved. He hadn’t expected Meng Yuanshu and Zhou Yin’s scheme to be so effective, actually managing to divert the attention of the Divine Robe Guards and the Wind-Catching Secret Agents to the east of the city.
"With this Celestial Fragrance Vegetarian Gathering held flawlessly, our sect will surely blossom all over the Capital City. The contributions of Venerable Wuxiang and Meng Association Leader are unparalleled," Wang Sen said. Holding the gathering stabilized the recently restless minds of his people, and bestowing the Celestial Fragrance motivated them to continue preaching. In a daze, Wang Sen seemed to see the scene of this Dynasty’s Capital City overflowing with fragrance everywhere. When that time came, their Celestial Fragrance Sect might be able to shake off the control of the White Lotus Sect, perhaps even standing as equals with them.
Suddenly, a burst of noisy commotion came from outside. It sounded like it was originating from the main hall.
Wang Sen frowned. What kind of proper behavior was this, causing such a ruckus? What if it attracted the attention of the Officials on the streets outside?
"You, go see which Association Leader is causing trouble, and strip him of his Celestial Fragrance," Wang Sen said, pointing at a disciple.
The disciple complied, leaving the side chamber and running toward the main hall. Soon, the noise outside ceased entirely.
Wang Sen’s eyelids twitched. He felt increasingly that something was wrong. Although some of those Association Leaders and Preachers did not get along, they would absolutely never let conflicts erupt at a time like this. Could it be...
"Venerable Zhenyan," Wang Sen called out. He made a prompt decision to evacuate through a secret path, abandoning all these Association Leaders and Preachers. Even if this severely damaged the Essence Qi of the Celestial Fragrance Sect in the Capital City, he didn’t care. As long as he, the Sect Leader, was still alive, staging a comeback from East Mountain would not be a difficult task.
"Sect Leader, this is bad! It’s terrible!" Right at that moment, the disciple’s voice rang out from outside the door. "The Divine Robe Guards are attacking..." The disciple was jogging, his footsteps distinct.
CREAK. The door to the side chamber was pushed open.
SWISH!
Coming head-on was an unparalleled, fierce gleam of a blade! The intruder descended like heavenly fire. Utilizing an incredibly fast Lightweight Skill, he slashed his Long Blade right into the room.
The blade’s gleam shredded everything in its path with unstoppable force. The chair and tea set in front of Wang Sen were entirely pulverized, and even the tea floating mid-air seemed as if it were being cleaved in half by this strike!
Wang Sen was terrified out of his wits. Hovering between life and death, he completely froze in place, unable to move a single muscle. He only knew a little bit of superficial Martial Arts; how could he possibly counter this strike?
Fortunately, Venerable Zhenyan was by Wang Sen’s side. Taking a large stride sideways, the monk blocked in front of Wang Sen. He channeled the *Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt*, his entire body overflowing with an iron-gray radiance. With Gang Qi protecting his body, he could blunt any sharp edge and withstand any weapon; he was completely invulnerable!
"Brat, you have some nerve!" The monk shouted loudly, his expression solemn. He thrust out a pair of iron hands, aiming directly to grab that Long Blade. No matter how intensely the intruder’s blade gleamed, his power was still merely at the Inner Realm.
As if the intruder had anticipated this, his Sword Momentum abruptly changed. With a twist of his wrist, the Long Blade actually thrust diagonally at a bizarre angle.
This brat’s true target was himself! The monk was utterly shocked; how could he possibly know this spot?
SQUELCH!
The Long Blade pierced into the monk’s armpit, penetrating through the arm and stabbing out from his shoulder.
When the *Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt* reached Great Success, the Gang Qi protected the body like cast bronze and forged iron, making it unbreakable by anything. However, it would invariably leave a single vulnerable spot that could not be refined. The armpit was precisely the vulnerable spot of the monk’s technique. The iron-gray Gang Qi covering his entire body instantly shattered. Under the backlash of his True Qi, his Dantian felt as though it were about to explode.
Blood spilled from the corners of the monk’s mouth. Forcing his backlash-ravaged body to endure, he exchanged a palm strike with the intruder. The berserk Palm Wind of the *Scattering Flower Palm* forced the opponent back. Then, grabbing Wang Sen with one hand, he smashed directly through the wall of the side chamber and fled!
Inside the side chamber, Chen Xin held *Unstoppable* in a reverse grip, slowly circulating his Qi. That palm strike had been incredibly fierce. Since he possessed no Fist and Palm Technique and had merely relied on his True Qi to meet the strike, he had fallen to a disadvantage.
Outside the chamber, the monk had just lifted Wang Sen and was about to charge toward the secret passage. But the moment he stepped out, he noticed something was wrong. He looked up.
On top of the walls and roofs stood a dense crowd of Divine Robe Captains. They were holding Mechanical Crossbows in their hands, with Fine Steel Short Arrows nocked on the strings, all locked completely onto him.
"Venerable Zhenyan, protect me! Protect me!" Having just faced an unparalleled blade strike and now seeing this formation, Wang Sen was thoroughly terrified and clung desperately to the man beside him.
The monk, holding Wang Sen, retreated again and again. The cold glints of the arrowheads seemed to pierce straight into his heart.
It was the Divine Robe Guards’ Black-clothed Arrow Array! Even if his *Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt* hadn’t been broken, he wouldn’t necessarily have been able to charge through with Wang Sen and guarantee his survival. Furthermore, now that his *Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt* was broken, let alone keeping Wang Sen alive, even he himself would absolutely be turned into a pincushion by this Arrow Array.
The monk turned his head, looking at Chen Xin who had just walked out of the side chamber, and gritted his teeth. "Despicable and shameless."
"The Celestial Fragrance Sect has wreaked havoc upon the Divine Land. When dealing with your kind, do we really need to speak of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness?" Chen Xin scoffed dismissively and slowly walked forward. The moonlight draped over his body, illuminating the blade of *Unstoppable* until it gleamed brightly.
Two status panels faintly flashed within Chen Xin’s vision.
[Name: Shi Yuanjian]
[Realm: Outer Realm]
[Evaluation: Refined and Masterful]
[Martial Arts: Fragrance Scripture, Dragon and Tiger Iron Cloth Shirt, Scattering Flower Palm]
As for Wang Sen, Chen Xin paid him no mind. Just as the evaluation stated: "Unable to withstand a single blow."