Chapter 656 - 503: Allies
Spirit Vein decline, heralding destruction?!
Lu Qian was shocked. This phenomenon was not something that had happened overnight; it was a long process. If the rumors were true, could it be that the reason Master Cangfeng had kept silent about his desire for Mingjian Mountain was because of this?
He immediately ordered the intelligence group to gather all relevant information, striving to have a comprehensive report ready by the time he returned to the Mountain Gate. Without further delay, he headed straight back to Minglong Mountain.
Traveling swiftly without any distractions, by the time he returned to Minglong Mountain, the bright moon was already high in the sky, surrounded by countless stars.
This particular escape light was very conspicuous, and combined with the natural sensing of the Reversed Scale Blood Talisman, the Jade Flood Dragon sat up with a start, sending various delicacies that had been laid out on him clattering to the ground, startling the nearby young disciples.
He was in utter bliss at that moment, sipping on spirit wine, nibbling on snacks, taking little naps, with a few disciples eagerly competing to massage his back and legs. Ah, this life was far more comfortable than staying at the bottom of the Hidden Dragon Stream.
Though he had only been there for two days, the story of how the Sect Leader captured a Flood Dragon and kept it in the Flying Waterfall and Deep Pool near the Mountain Gate, making it the Yunshan Sect’s Mountain Protection Spirit Beast, spread like wildfire. The disciples, full of excitement and admiration, crowded in to see for themselves.
Gosh, it was a Flood Dragon! The Taoist texts were clear: once transformed into a Flood Dragon, it would possess Golden Core Cultivation. A Golden Core could dominate an entire county and was revered as a Zhenren everywhere, yet now the Sect Leader had captured it to guard the mountain.
The Sect Leader was truly formidable, and our Yunshan Sect was indeed grand!
Thus, hundreds and thousands of young disciples squeezed to the edge of the deep pool to observe the true form of the Jade Flood Dragon. The pool was deep, and with a waterfall crashing down, it wasn’t easy to see clearly, but the occasional glimpse of the white body had everyone shrieking with excitement, finding it novel and thrilling.
Originally, on Lu Qian’s orders, the Jade Flood Dragon ignored these disciples, but their increasing noise irked the Jade Flood Dragon immensely. Thus, the Jade Flood Dragon emerged from the water, revealing its true form with a roar of intimidation—a thirty-zhang long Flood Dragon with the potent spiritual pressure of the Golden Core Level, scaring everyone into fleeing.
Just as the Jade Flood Dragon thought it could finally find peace, not even half an hour passed when a few clever disciples came over, holding all sorts of spiritual birds and beasts, Spirit Flowers, Spirit Fruits, and Spirit Wine, eager to curry favor.
Having always cultivated in the depths of the Hidden Dragon Stream, the Jade Flood Dragon was unfamiliar with such things and immediately became delightfully immersed, transforming from a pitifully small flood dragon forced to guard the gate into the leisurely Jade Flood Dragon Master, waited on hand and foot.
While he boasted his achievements to the newly acquired young disciples, claiming he would protect them in the future, Lu Qian’s aura reached him, causing the Jade Flood Dragon to jump up instantly, sending bowls and plates crashing down.
The awe-inspiring flood dragon rolled in the air, transforming into a pitiful little child, calling out plaintively, "Greetings, Lord."
The disciples were left stupefied.
The Jade Flood Dragon pouted, cursing Lu Qian, "My idol image just shattered!"
Lu Qian had no time for him, glanced over, and only said, "Don’t cause trouble, watch over the Mountain Gate," before flying towards the mountaintop.
By the time Lu Qian landed and entered the Council Hall, the Patrol Disciples had already relayed the Sect Leader’s return to the mountain. Duty guards, attendant disciples, and others hurried in, but Lu Qian only took the latest organized intelligence, then signaled everyone to leave, not convening the elders for discussions.
This was of great importance; he had to first understand the overall situation clearly and clarify his thoughts.
As the compiled intelligence unfolded, Lu Qian also furrowed his brows.
It turned out the person who spread these rumors was none other than the former Mingyu Sword Sect’s genius disciple, Yan Hengzhou.
He is called the "former Mingyu Sword Sect disciple" because he had already defected from the Mingyu Sword Sect!
The course of events was now relatively clear.
After Master Cangfeng and Ye Xiao commanded the allied forces to break through, the cultivators from Junle, Dongping, and Huaiyou Counties had already gathered and realized they would not gain further advantage by advancing, so the allied forces retreated back to Liangxiang County after taking key positions on the Dongping County border.
This advance had little gain in terms of territory, but occupying several nodes paved the way for future offensives.
The main achievement was in breaking through various mountain gates’ Spirit Veins in Dongping County, plundering substantial wealth and inflicting heavy losses on Dongping County’s vital forces.
However, they did not achieve strategic goals, and with the significant loss of elites from Hidden Dragon Stream and the mysterious event involving a Celestial Monarch’s descent, coupled with the unsettling actions of once-close allies, Master Cangfeng was in a poor mood.
Upon returning to the Heaven-Sundering Sword Peak, he found the unconscious Yan Hengzhou who, upon waking, did not reflect on his mistakes but aggressively demanded answers about his father’s death. With so many things weighing on him, Master Cangfeng, who had intended to have a sincere discussion with Yan Hengzhou, couldn’t contain his temper; he scolded him severely and ordered him to contemplate his actions behind closed doors.
Unexpectedly, the proud, immature Yan Hengzhou, in a fit of rage, fled the Heaven-Sundering Sword Edge, defecting to Dongping County!
With Yan Hengzhou’s betrayal, a startling message rapidly spread, and the full alertness of Liangxiang County further corroborated this message.
That was Mingyu Sword Sect’s Heaven-Sundering Sword Edge Fourth-Level Mid-Tier Spiritual Vein had already shown signs of decline and shrinkage, which Master Cangfeng had kept under wraps. Now it showed signs of degradation; the destructive waves were beginning to spread, and if it continued at this rate, the Spirit Vein might completely dissipate in a mere ten or twenty years!