The Northern Department.
"Majestic momentum, condensed Inner Strength, you’ve reached the Outer Realm. Not bad."
Luoi Yangyi stared at Chen Xin and nodded slightly. "Xu Hongru, the Venerable of the Lunar Mansions of the Celestial Fragrance Sect, has staged an uprising in Shandong’s Yuncheng under the name of the Sect Leader. He has proclaimed Wang Haoxian as the Emperor of Revival and Fierce from afar, while styling himself as the Mahayana King.
"Multiple ’Celestial Fragrance Sect experts’ have emerged out of nowhere across various prefectures and counties in Shandong. They led their followers to capture Teng County, Zou County, and Yi County. Now, the rebel forces of the Celestial Fragrance Sect are massing in Zou County, bearing down directly on Xia Town and threatening the grain transport along the Grand Canal.
"At the same time, Yu Hongzhi of the Bangchui Association in Hebei has launched a rebellion in Wuyi. Numerous ’Celestial Fragrance Sect’ experts have echoed his call across Kaiyi, Jingzhou, and other regions."
Hearing this, Chen Xin sensed that something was amiss. He wondered how the Celestial Fragrance Sect could suddenly produce so many experts and possess the capability to lead their congregation in conquering towns.
After all, the Celestial Fragrance Sect was not an Evil Cult in the Martial World like the White Lotus Sect, which boasted a long-standing lineage, an abundance of Divine Skills and Techniques, and legions of hidden Martial World experts.
The Celestial Fragrance Sect’s ability to sweep across multiple prefectures in such a short time relied on using the Evil Scripture to bewitch minds and leveraging faith to deceive the lower-tier congregation. They then used the organizational structure of general and branch associations to control and use wealth to buy off mid-tier believers. Finally, the Sect Leader fanatically deified himself, erecting a "banner" to rally the entire church’s power.
The mastermind and executor of this entire series of operations was none other than Wang Sen, the Celestial Fragrance Sect Leader who had already been beheaded at the Caishikou execution grounds. Thus, as soon as Wang Sen was arrested and the Divine Robe Guard tortured a massive amount of intelligence out of him, the nationwide Celestial Fragrance Sect was systematically eradicated, as if they no longer knew how to operate. Their once-rapid expansion was stopped dead in its tracks, leaving them utterly crippled.
Without a doubt, Wang Sen was the true core of the Celestial Fragrance Sect. Even if his martial prowess was only slightly greater than that of an ordinary person, he could still sit securely on the Sect Leader’s throne.
"Sir, do you mean... the White Lotus Sect?" Although Chen Xin’s tone was inquisitive, he was already certain in his heart.
"Exactly, the White Lotus Sect," Luoi Yangyi scoffed coldly. "Xu Hongru’s alternate identity is none other than the ’Praise Envoy’ among the Eight Wind Envoys of the White Lotus Sect."
The poet Wang Wei once said, "Unattached to the Three Realms, the Eight Winds blow in vain." The Eight Winds, also known as the "Eight Worldly Conditions," was a concept from the Buddhist School. It referred to the eight worldly matters that enticed human hearts: gain, loss, defamation, praise, acclaim, ridicule, sorrow, and joy. Obtaining what one desired was called "gain," while losing it was "loss." Slander behind one’s back was "defamation," while admiration behind one’s back was "praise." Ridicule to one’s face was "ridicule," while admiration to one’s face was "acclaim." That which oppressed the body and mind was "sorrow," while that which pleased the heart was "joy."
The apostles of the White Lotus took their names from these eight inescapable human conditions, making their intentions glaringly obvious.
After a brief introduction to the situation in Shandong, Luoi Yangyi continued, "Chen Copper Order, with the White Lotus wreaking havoc, you are ordered to lead your unit to Yanzhou in Shandong to support the official army and pacify the Demon Thieves!"
"Yes, sir," Chen Xin cupped his fists to accept the order.
"The White Lotus Sect and the Celestial Fragrance Sect cannot be treated as one and the same. You must exercise caution in this regard."
"Your subordinate understands," Chen Xin cupped his fists once more.
***
As the Emperor’s personal guard, the Divine Robe Guard shouldered various duties, and assisting the military in suppressing rebellions was naturally one of them.
The chaos in Shandong involved the White Lotus Sect, so there was bound to be a large number of Martial World experts among the rebels. While they wouldn’t dare confront the vanguard of a large army directly, their presence mixed within the rebel ranks to assassinate lower-ranking officers would inevitably cause massive turmoil. The joint operation between the Divine Robe Guard and the official army was designed to prevent this exact scenario.
Chen Xin exited the Inner Hall, rallied his men, and set off immediately. Besides him, numerous other Copper Orders were gathering the Red Cavalry, preparing to reinforce the various prefectures and counties across Hebei and Shandong. As for the Silver Orders, those currently out on assignments were dispatched from nearby locations, while those stationed at the Northern Department set out ahead of the main force.
With the military situation being urgent, Chen Xin dared not delay. The party of one hundred men galloped along the official road. They quickly left Shuntian, passed through Baoding, and arrived at the borders of Hejian Prefecture.
Suddenly, two figures appeared standing rigidly on the spacious official road, their backs turned to Chen Xin and his men, seemingly so terrified that they had forgotten to move. At the speed Chen Xin’s group was riding, the only outcome for these two would be getting struck dead and trampled into a pile of mud.
Chen Xin furrowed his brows. Two glaring interface panels were floating before his eyes, indicating that they were enemies, not friends, at the Outer Realm Level, with an Evaluation of "Refined and Masterful."
If they were to trample right over them, these two might fiercely fight back, potentially causing casualties among the squad. Chen Xin bellowed, "Halt!"
The Divine Robe Guard acted with strict discipline. Everyone immediately reined in their horses, stopping about twenty meters away from the pair. Chen Xin leaped from his horse and, without wasting words, thrust out two fingers in mid-air.
Majestic Seven Luminaries Finger: Moon Over the Year Star!
Two streams of Finger Force pierced through the air, displaying a peerless Tyrant Dao. The two blocking the road hadn’t expected the other party to launch an attack the instant they stopped their horses. By the time the Finger Force closed in, they finally reacted. Turning around with a wave of their hands, the Soul-Hooking Chains wrapped around their arms lashed out.
CLANG!
The chains blocked the Finger Force, but simultaneously, the intense impact sent a numbing sensation through the webbing of their hands, making them feel as if they were being torn apart.
Chen Xin stared intently at the two who had turned to face him. They each wore a bizarre mask that looked neither entirely beastly nor fully human.
"So, it’s assassins from the Underworld." Chen Xin was somewhat surprised. He wondered who had placed a bounty on him.
The "Underworld" was an assassin organization that had eerily risen to prominence during the founding of the Taixuan Dynasty. Their origins were mysterious, their leader unknown, and they proclaimed the motto, "Soul Hook and Life Seeker, King Yama passes judgment." There was no one they wouldn’t assassinate, provided the price was right.
The Exotic Weapons known as the Soul-Hooking Chains and the bizarre masks of Ghost Messengers were the standard equipment for members of the "Underworld" assassin organization. The masks of the two men before him were recorded in the Archives of the Divine Robe Guard. They were Leopard’s Tail and Fish’s Gills, members of the "Four Demon Nether Envoys: Leopard Bird Fish Bee."
"Quickly, assist His Excellency!"
Seeing the assassins, the hundred riders behind him immediately drew their Mechanical Crossbows, preparing to help fight the enemy.
Chen Xin waved his hand, signaling them to stand down. "Keep an eye on your surroundings. The Four Demon Nether Envoys always operate together. Don’t fall victim to a sneak attack."
These one hundred men were the fresh reinforcements for Shandong; they could not afford any losses.
"As for Leopard’s Tail and Fish’s Gills, I will handle them," he added.
The moment his words fell, Chen Xin vanished.
Leopard’s Tail wielded a Profound Iron Lock Chain and was highly proficient in the Soul-Beating Whip Technique. Fish’s Gills had a deep and enduring breath, having practiced the Spiritual Essence Breath Closing Technique. The intelligence on Leopard’s Tail and Fish’s Gills flashed through Chen Xin’s mind. It was all flashy and impractical; in essence, they were merely two Outer Realm combatants at the "Refined and Masterful" level.
The next second, executing the Meteor Meteor Body Technique, he appeared right in front of Leopard’s Tail.
Seven Kills Saber Technique: Golden Wheel Miao!
"Unstoppable" vibrated, its blade suddenly trembling in a deadly dance. True Qi condensed into a golden thread upon the edge. As it danced, it seemed to form an ethereal golden wheel, so magnificent that one might forget it was a terrifyingly lethal move.
SWISH!
Devoid of any expression beneath his mask, Leopard’s Tail swept his Soul-Hooking Chain horizontally toward the "golden wheel."
Leopard’s Tail’s Soul-Hooking Chain differed from those of the other three. It was forged from Profound Iron—heavy, powerful, and indestructible. Paired with his near Perfection of the Soul-Beating Whip Technique, its swings were imbued with unmatched ferocity. Even a fully armed Armored Cavalryman would suffer the fate of both horse and armor being shattered if struck.
On the side, Fish’s Gills also seized the opportunity to attack, coordinating with Leopard’s Tail in a pincer maneuver against Chen Xin.
SLASH!
"Unstoppable" and the Soul-Hooking Chain clashed. The fierce and powerful Sword Technique was instantly suppressed by an even more overwhelming Sword Qi. The chain of Profound Iron was completely defenseless against the ethereal golden wheel, shattering into countless segments in an instant.
With his chain broken, Leopard’s Tail’s defenses were thrown wide open!
Chen Xin twisted his wrist, shifting his Sword Technique to follow up with the stance, Dust Returns to Earth. The blade light sliced unstoppably through Leopard’s Tail’s waist, cutting him in two with a single slash.
SQUELCH!
Fish’s Gills’ attack arrived shortly after, striking from a blind spot. Taking advantage of the moment when Chen Xin’s previous exertion was spent and his new strength was yet to be born, he tautened his Soul-Hooking Chain with True Qi and thrust it directly at the vital point of Chen Xin’s heart.
The Sword Momentum had passed, but Chen Xin had more than just his blade!
Using the momentum to turn around, Chen Xin revealed his left hand, which had been hidden behind the right half of his body. His left middle and index fingers were joined to form a sword gesture—it was none other than the killing move of the Majestic Seven Luminaries Finger: Mars Guards the Heart!
BANG!
His fingertips met the taut chain. The Sword Qi, materialized from surging Inner Strength, instantly tore apart this soul-hooking Exotic Weapon. The Sword Qi surged upstream, obliterating Fish’s Gills’ hand and forearm.
With the Sword Qi paving the way, Chen Xin followed closely behind. He closed the distance to Fish’s Gills and landed a strike of Mars Guards the Heart dead center between Fish’s Gills’ brows. The Finger Force pierced through, causing the large head to explode like a watermelon.
Slaying Leopard’s Tail with a single slash and obliterating Fish’s Gills with a single finger—both Demon Nether Envoys perished in the span of a few breaths!
Behind Chen Xin, the one hundred Divine Robe Imperial Guards watched this scene in disbelief, completely stunned by this Copper Order’s decisive and ruthless slaughter.
With a casual slash to decapitate the remaining upper half of Leopard’s Tail’s body, Chen Xin vaulted onto his horse.
"If Bird’s Beak and Wasp dare to show themselves, this will be their fate." Chen Xin sheathed his blade and scanned the hundred riders under his command as he spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but the thick killing intent within it sent shivers down the spines of the Divine Robe Imperial Guards. "Continue moving forward!"
"Yes, sir!"
The awestruck Divine Robe Imperial Guards finally snapped out of their daze, roaring their response with a volume that seemed to stop the passing clouds.