Chapter 272 - 270: Plotting for the Sun-piercing Sword
After hearing Qiao Yunfei’s words, Chen Yuan stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Zuo Xinglie wasn’t dead, but he was trapped within the Sun-piercing Alliance.
’If I don’t get him out of there, I’ll never obtain the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*.’
In fact, his main concern was that Zuo Xinglie might accidentally die in the Sun-piercing Alliance. If that happened, all of his schemes would be for nothing.
In Zuo Xinglie’s physical condition, it would be all too easy for something to go wrong.
’And if I want to deal with the Sun-piercing Alliance, I certainly can’t do it alone.’
Therefore, Chen Yuan had to weigh whether confronting the Sun-piercing Alliance for the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* was worth it.
Just as Chen Yuan was contemplating whether it was worth going against the Sun-piercing Alliance, Qiao Yunfei, who was standing to the side, looked at him expectantly. "Master Chen, can you save Elder Wen?"
In Qiao Yunfei’s eyes, Chen Yuan was already an extraordinary figure.
He was a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings and a Hall Master of the Four Martial Halls of Zhenwu. Now, he had even personally forged alliances to annihilate the Nine Swords Alliance.
If he had to rely on himself to rescue Zuo Xinglie, who knew how long it would take.
Chen Yuan shook his head. "You think too highly of me. You said it yourself, some of the Martial Artists have ties to the Murong Family. Even when the Murong Family went to demand their release, the Sun-piercing Alliance refused. Do you think I have more pull than the Murong Family?
"For now, there’s no good solution. But the Sun-piercing Alliance’s outrageous actions have earned the scorn of everyone in You Province. This can’t be a long-term strategy. Perhaps they’ll eventually succumb to the pressure and release him."
A look of disappointment crossed Qiao Yunfei’s face.
But on second thought, it made sense.
The Murong Family and the Sun-piercing Alliance were both based in You Province, and the Murong Family was even slightly more powerful.
If the Sun-piercing Alliance wouldn’t release their captive under those circumstances, they certainly wouldn’t do it for an outsider like Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan offered Qiao Yunfei a few words of comfort before sending him away.
’Now that I know Zuo Xinglie’s whereabouts, things are much clearer. All that’s left is to decide if the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* is worth me making a move.’
Emperor’s Gaze, Inner Vision Divine Observation.
He had already obtained the *Inner Vision God Observation Method*. While its overt power wasn’t obvious, it was of tremendous benefit to Chen Yuan’s cultivation.
Whether for bolstering his foundational strength, advancing his practice, or healing, the *Inner Vision God Observation Method* was extremely potent.
’As a technique as renowned as the *Inner Vision God Observation Method*, the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* surely couldn’t be inferior.’
’Moreover, these two cultivation techniques cultivate the inner and outer worlds in tandem. Combining them can shatter the barrier between life and death, allowing one to perceive the divine without being destroyed. Their potential power in later stages is limitless. It is indeed worth the risk of taking action against the Sun-piercing Alliance.’
As Chen Yuan was thinking, the battlefield was already being cleared. The Martial Artists of the Nine Swords Alliance had all been slain, and everyone had begun tending to the wounded.
Just then, Duan Hengshan approached Chen Yuan, holding two pieces of Ancient Jade.
"Master Chen, this is the Murong Family’s Star Shifting. Is there any use in us keeping it?"
Chen Yuan shook his head. "The Murong Family’s Divine Artifact Incarnation requires their bloodline to be activated. For other Martial Artists, there’s little point in keeping it."
Duan Hengshan glanced at the surrendered Murong Family Martial Artists and said in a low voice, "What if we find a Murong Family Martial Artist and bleed them?"
This was a Divine Artifact Incarnation, after all. To a Martial Artist of Duan Hengshan’s level, it was the stuff of legend. No matter how calm his temperament, he was still reluctant to let it go.
"You could forcibly activate Star Shifting by bleeding a Murong Family Martial Artist, but how would you keep the Qi Blood’s vitality active?
"Once Qi Blood loses its vitality after being stored for too long, it can’t activate Star Shifting. The only way would be to keep a Murong Family Martial Artist with you at all times, ready to be bled whenever you want to use Star Shifting."
Duan Hengshan shook his head regretfully.
Setting aside the fact that doing so would make a mortal enemy of the Murong Family, it would also be impossible to use in battle.
After all, it was a living person. Was he supposed to carry someone on his back every time he fought?
After Duan Hengshan left, Chen Yuan suddenly slapped his forehead.
’I was so focused on the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* that I completely forgot something.’
’The Sun-piercing Alliance’s value right now isn’t just the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*—it’s also the Divine Weapon Sun-piercing Sword!’
The Sun-piercing Alliance no longer had a Commander-in-Chief, so they couldn’t control the Sun-piercing Sword.
So, even though the Divine Weapon Sun-piercing Sword was still enshrined within the Sun-piercing Alliance, it was effectively ownerless.
Not only that, but the Sun-piercing Sword was also in a state of turmoil, urgently needing a Commander-in-Chief to control and suppress it. This was the perfect opportunity to seize it.
’Storming the Sun-piercing Alliance alone just to rescue Zuo Xinglie and obtain the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*... the risk definitely outweighs the reward. But what if I add the Sun-piercing Sword to the equation?’
Of course, Chen Yuan wasn’t thinking of taking the Sun-piercing Sword for himself. Rather, he wanted to use it as bait to attract other forces to help him deal with the Sun-piercing Alliance.
’The Sun-piercing Sword has a special attribute. Even if I obtained it, I wouldn’t be able to wield it. I might as well use it in a trade.’
As for who he would trade with, Chen Yuan already had someone in mind: the Ming Sect.
They were outrageously audacious and immensely powerful. Furthermore, the Ming Sect was likely in desperate need of a Divine Soldier, and it should be easy to find someone among them who could serve as the Commander-in-Chief for the Sun-piercing Sword.
The requirements for the Sun-piercing Sword’s Commander-in-Chief were, in a way, both simple and difficult.
All it required was an ultimate swordsman who had cultivated the Sword Dao into the very core of their being. Such a person could suppress the Sun-piercing Sword and become its Commander-in-Chief.
It sounded simple, but in reality, Chen Yuan had only ever met one such swordsman: Gu Lichuan.
But Gu Lichuan’s current strength was insufficient to control the Sun-piercing Sword.
One would need to reach the Eighth Realm Divine Platform, at a minimum, to meet the Sun-piercing Sword’s requirements in both cultivation realm and state of mind.
Of course, this was just Chen Yuan’s preliminary idea. The specifics would have to wait until he contacted the Ming Sect.
By now, the members of the Nine Swords Alliance had been dealt with, and everyone began to descend the mountain.
Feng Tianbao’s breathing was weak, but he had recovered somewhat.
He solemnly cupped his fists at Chen Yuan and Duan Hengshan. "Thank you both for your help in dealing with the Vigorous Martial Army.
"From now on, my Flying Dragon Institute will send representatives to contact Big Master Duan about trading for warhorses. We will also send people to the Murong Family to warn them against any rash actions.
"I, Feng, have always held heroes in the highest regard. You two are true heroes of our time. It’s a pity you cannot serve the Court. That is truly the Court’s loss.
"However, should you ever have a change of heart and wish to serve the Court, you can come find me in the Capital City. I, Feng, will personally guarantee you both a promising future!"
Duan Hengshan and Chen Yuan both nodded and cupped their fists toward Feng Tianbao.
Neither of them held a favorable view of the Court, but Feng Tianbao, despite being a eunuch, was loyal, heroic, and magnanimous—a man worth knowing.
After descending the mountain, Chen Yuan first sent Cui Guan and his men back to the White Tiger Hall, explaining that he had some remaining business to attend to in You Province.
Once everyone had left, Chen Yuan put on a mask and made his way to Beihai Collection, on the border of You Province.
This was the very place where Chen Yuan had annihilated the Zhu Family and rescued Chu Hongshang. Returning now, he saw that the place hadn’t changed much.
Beside the long street of Beihai Collection, Chen Yuan took out a piece of white cloth, drew a strange symbol on it, and casually tucked it into the corner of a building before turning into a narrow alley.
This was a method for contacting the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower, and a very high-level secret signal at that, which Mr. Bei had given him previously.
The Ming Sect was hidden throughout the Jianghu and no longer had its own intelligence network, relying instead on the channels of the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower.
To contact someone of Mr. Bei’s standing, he had to rely on the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower to relay the message.
Beihai Collection was a relatively prosperous town on the border of You Province and also its gateway to the sea, so there was bound to be an agent from the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower present.
Sure enough, in less than fifteen minutes, an unremarkable-looking man entered the alley and bowed respectfully to Chen Yuan.
"Jiang Xun, agent for the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower in Beihai Collection, greets you, sir. What kind of intelligence would you like to purchase?"
Beihai Collection was just a market town, so the agent stationed here was not high-level—not even as high-ranking as Wen Rou had been in Lianshan City.
The secret signal Chen Yuan had used was of a very high level, indicating he was a person of great importance whom Jiang Xun could not afford to offend. Thus, Jiang Xun’s attitude was extremely deferential.
"I’m not buying intelligence. I need you to deliver a letter."
Chen Yuan handed him a sealed letter. "Give this to your superior, someone at the level of a branch master. Tell them to give it to Azure Dragon."
Azure Dragon was Mr. Bei’s codename. Any secret letter addressed to Azure Dragon would be passed up the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower’s chain of command until it reached Mr. Bei.
A shiver went through Jiang Xun’s heart, and he nodded quickly. "Rest assured, sir. I will see to it at once."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Xun moved and vanished from the alley in an instant.
Though he only had the cultivation of the Sea of Reincarnation Realm, his Lightweight Skill was truly impressive.
Chen Yuan rented a room in an inn in Beihai Collection to await news.
The Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower used arrays to transmit messages, so he trusted it wouldn’t take long to reach Mr. Bei.
However, he had no idea where Mr. Bei currently was. If he was close to You Province, he might be able to arrive sooner.
Chen Yuan ended up waiting for a full half-month before Mr. Bei finally appeared.
Late at night in the inn, a faint sound came from the window, yet Chen Yuan’s senses couldn’t detect anyone outside.
Chen Yuan’s eyes snapped open. With a wave of his hand, the window flew open, and Mr. Bei leaped inside.
"Greetings, Mr. Bei."
Chen Yuan cupped his fists in salute.
Mr. Bei looked at Chen Yuan, a gratified expression on his face. "No need for formalities. A while ago, I saw those two lads, Yun Tianguang and Du Yuanqi. They couldn’t stop singing your praises; they made you sound like a saint.
"Even Wan Guiyuan, the Hall Master of Dubhe Hall, is quite grateful to you. He said that without you, they wouldn’t have obtained that Healing Divine Pill so easily at the Furnace Opening Assembly. He personally said that he owes you a favor.
"I’ve also heard about what you’ve been up to lately.
"I never imagined that after the Furnace Opening Assembly, your strength would advance by leaps and bounds. To think you’ve reached your current Realm so quickly and accomplished so much."