He knew well the consequences of his refusal. Constantly being subservient to the governor brought him benefits. But what if he encountered problems and couldn't handle them? Would that be acceptable? After Yang Duo refused the governor, who would still look upon him favorably? Others would simply despise him.
The consequences could not be called insignificant. However, he knew that if he undertook this task, he would certainly not succeed. He would simply be going to his death. Although he was also a Jin Dan realm cultivator, Yang Duo clearly understood that he was no match for Bai Yao, much less for the Heavenly Jade Sect. If some sects were unwilling to provoke the Heavenly Jade Sect, then how could he, a rogue cultivator, dare to do so?
If he refused Zhou Shou Xiang, he would at least stay alive and could figure something out later. But if he agreed, he would simply be heading to his death. And what could a dead man do?
Zhou Shou Xiang waved his hand and said with a kindly expression:
"First, hear me out completely. You won't be sent alone. I have already dispatched a ten-thousand-strong elite army to ambush them at a certain point they are sure to pass. Moreover, there will be fifty cultivators, among them Jin Dan realm cultivators; counting you, that makes ten Jin Dan realm cultivators. Either way, you will outnumber them, and that should be enough strength to delay the Kuangai warriors and Bai Yao. During that time, you must kill Shang Chao Zong."
Yang Duo froze. Ten thousand warriors and fifty cultivators, including ten Jin Dan realm cultivators. And all this just to kill Shang Chao Zong? This could not be called a small force. However, after a moment's thought, he cupped his hands and said:
"Governor, please forgive me nonetheless!"
The most important reason he refused was precisely because of the Heavenly Jade Sect. How could he, a rogue cultivator, dare to oppose the Heavenly Jade Sect?
Zhou Shou Xiang narrowed his eyes and slowly said:
"Yang Duo, has this Zhou treated you poorly all these years?"
"Zhou Shou Xiang is magnanimous, and I will certainly thank the governor in the future. I take my leave!" Yang Duo cupped his hands, turned, and prepared to depart.
Zhou Shou Xiang called out:
"Don't rush; there are things I need to give you. Look at them, then you may go." Outside, two people entered, namely the governor's preceptors.
When Yang Duo saw them, he was startled. He took a few steps back and took precautions, believing they intended to kill him as an inconvenient witness.
Who knew that Zhou Shou Xiang would toss two jade pendants to him? Yang Duo immediately caught them and looked at them. He instantly raised his head and asked:
"Governor, what do you mean by this?" If someone else had looked at them, they wouldn't have suspected a thing. But Yang Duo knew that these jade pendants belonged to his wife and daughter.
Zhou Shou Xiang sneered inwardly. "I have constantly nurtured you, and the moment you encounter a task, you immediately decide to leave. Am I the kind of person you can come to whenever you wish and leave whenever you please?" However, outwardly he calmly said:
"Calm down, your wife and daughter are in good condition right now. They are in the Southern Domain, enjoying the beautiful scenery. They know nothing. And they are waiting for your return."
His intentions were clear; he was directly warning him. Yang Duo immediately grew angry, but it was a pity he couldn't seize the governor and exchange him for his wife and daughter. However, he knew that this was impossible now. The governor had already prepared and summoned his preceptors. Not to mention his daughter and wife, even he himself would not be able to leave peacefully if he wished.
Yang Duo clearly understood that he would now have to agree.
He said in a weary voice:
"I don't know who these fifty cultivators are? What schools do they belong to?"
Zhou Shou Xiang: "Just like you. Rogue cultivators. They don't yet know what they need to do. They haven't been told, so they won't disclose the secret."
"Rogue cultivators?" Yang Duo said with a trembling voice, "Is the governor confident that after they find out, they will dare to go against the Heavenly Jade Sect?"
Zhou Shou Xiang: "When they gather. You will give them certain items. They will then obey you." The two preceptors standing beside the governor tossed him some bags.
Yang Duo caught the bags and looked inside. He saw more jade pendants, or hairpins and other such trinkets. It was all clear. They were just like him. They had been seized by their weaknesses. And they would have to do what was demanded of them. Most likely, only people from other sects had done this to them. The sects themselves were afraid to attack the Heavenly Jade Sect, so they were forcing rogue cultivators to attack it. And it must not be just one or two sects, but many sects had done this.
"The governor indeed has excellent methods!"
"On the governor's salary, one must be loyal to the governor! His Highness has given his command; ministers can only follow orders!" Zhou Shou Xiang closed his eyes, ignoring the sarcastic remarks, and reminded him:
"All who attack must conceal their identities. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not. These affairs must not be linked to us or the emperor."
Yang Duo: "Since the governor has said so, we would not dare to disobey!"
Zhou Shou Xiang:
"Don't delay. Head immediately to the ambush point. Then proceed according to the situation." It was obvious that few others knew about their mission yet.
After he spoke, one preceptor approached Yang Duo and, extending a hand, said:
"Brother Yang, please!"
Yang Duo cupped his hands, bowed to the governor, turned, and left. In his eyes, he struggled to suppress his rage...
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A whistling arrow flew up from the mountainous forest.
Then another whistling arrow shot skyward and exploded, signaling danger.
Bang, boom, bang! The enemy launched a sudden attack!
How many years had it been since the bell rang? Now it warned all disciples of danger. All the disciples gathered together.
Tang Yi, Luo Yuan Gong, Su Po, Tang Su Su, and a group of Supreme Purity Sect disciples assembled in an open area. Everyone was more bewildered than ever.
The consequences of Song Yang Qing's death had arrived. The very thing the entire upper echelon of the sect had worried about had now come to pass.
A group of people approached from the back of the mountain. Occasionally, sounds of battle could be heard. Clearly, those guarding the sect were fighting the attackers. One could imagine the difficulties facing the defenders.
"Despicable disciple!" Tang Su Su cursed loudly.
Luo Yuan Gong and the others understood whom she meant. Apart from Song Shu, no one else would dare attack.
However, they didn't know that the Song Family had no plans to attack at this moment. They had merely decided to calmly observe from the sidelines. After all, the Supreme Purity Sect was caught in a grand chess game where someone could destroy the sect with a single word. And besides the Song Family, there were people who absolutely did not want to see the Supreme Purity Sect thrive.
"Liuxiang Sect!" Luo Yuan Gong said in a grim tone.
The attackers were already visible. There were at least a thousand of them. They flew over the treetops. They wielded crescent-shaped scythes as weapons.
Shush! Tang Yi, as the sect leader, unsheathed her sword. She looked quite serious, standing at the forefront.
They were already ready for a battle to the death.
On the enemy's side, there were over 1,000 people. The Supreme Purity Sect could only muster a few hundred. Retreating would be tantamount to accepting a crushing defeat. If they fled, the disciples with weaker cultivation wouldn't be able to escape; they would simply perish. Moreover, it was unknown how many enemies had arrived, or if they had set up an ambush? Therefore, it was already too late to think about escape.
Even though the Supreme Purity Sect was doomed, in such a situation, would they abandon their disciples?
However, some disciples could not withstand the pressure. Seeing the powerful enemy, some slowly began to retreat. Some turned their heads and suddenly started fleeing.
"Traitors!" Luo Yuan Gong turned his head and said with a trembling voice.
Then he turned his head and looked at Tang Yi. He felt pity for her. What was it like when your sect was already without means of survival? And then, when a powerful enemy arrived, your own disciples scattered in every direction? And not just one disciple, but dozens. What did Sect Leader Tang Yi feel then!?
However, at this moment, all they could do was bravely face the enemies.
Over a thousand members of the Liuxiang Sect, with Elder Wu Shao Huang, surrounded the Supreme Purity Sect disciples in a crescent formation. Now, the opponents stood facing each other.
Luo Yuan Gong, holding his sword, shouted:
"Wu Shao Huang, our Supreme Purity Sect has no enmity with your Liuxiang Sect. Why have you invaded our mountains today?"
Wu Shao Huang calmly said:
"Brother Luo, the Ling Shan Mountains are so beautiful. And the Supreme Purity Sect has enjoyed the benefits of this place for too long. Isn't that too many blessings for you? You've used it for so long, now let others use it too. Our Liuxiang Sect is not looking for trouble with you. Just leave the mountains, and we will not pursue you. How about it?"
The Supreme Purity Sect had indeed occupied the best location. When the sect's founder was the preceptor of the Yan Kingdom's founder, he naturally chose the best spot in the Yan Kingdom for the sect. After his death, how many people coveted these lands.
Only the founder and all the former heads and ancestors were buried here. How could their disciples now abandon these places? If they surrendered these lands, how could they face other cultivators? Wu Shao Huang knew that they would not agree to this condition.
"If you want to take this place, come forward. Test your fate!" Tang Yi spoke with a stern voice.
Wu Shao Huang laughed: "This must be Sect Leader Tang? It seems the Supreme Purity Sect truly has no one left. To think such a young girl is now the clan leader. I see..."
"Aargh!" A fearsome roar echoed from the mountain.
Many people were frightened and looked around. One could see that from one side of the mountain, a beast, neither completely lion nor completely beast, fully covered in a golden aura, descended.
"Gold-furred Roarer!" A person cried out in fright.
Many members of the Liuxiang Sect's faces changed.