Chapter 225: The Dilemma of the Sword of Radiance Sect
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Zhu Hongwu said composedly, "The Celestial Sect of Wonders boasts outstanding advantages, but also bears fatal flaws."
Yan Mingyue and Liang Pan looked at each other. Liang Pan's interest was piqued, and asked, "Oh? Please share what you have learnt."
"It would be an honour, Your Majesty." Zhu Hongwu stood up and bowed, and carried on to share, "The Celestial Sect of Wonders' strongest point isn't that its mantras and abhijna are strong, though the mastery levels of its disciples far exceed those of their peers. Neither is it due to the sect's master Lin Feng's impressive abhijina."
"The sect's mantras and abhijina may be powerful, and its disciples may have been able to rely on Aurous Core levels of mastery to fend off a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage, but this is not an unprecedented feat. As far as I know, there have been a couple of talented new individuals who have accomplished this before."
"Not to mention, a key reason as to why the disciples could challenge a Nascent Soul cultivator was that their sect master Lin Feng handed them Nascent Soul weapons, which greatly increased their combat capabilities."
"The sect's mantras and abhijina cannot be underestimated, but there's no need to overestimate their powers either."
Zhu Hongwu's gaze was resolute and his tone was calm. "As for the sect's leader Lin Feng, being able to crush the heavens and earth, and conjure matter from virtual space, are certainly impressive feats that even some cultivators in the initial Immortal Soul stages cannot replicate. However, many Immortal Soul cultivators with advanced mastery levels also possess these powers."
"Pardon my rudeness, but even Your Majesty can achieve them."
Liang Pan nodded and chuckled, "Hongwu, you forgot to mention yourself."
Zhu Hongwu replied, "I wouldn't dare to be placed on the same level as Your Majesty."
Liang Pan then said, "But the things that the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders has demonstrated so far may not be his entire arsenal."
"Your Majesty is indeed perceptive. I concur with that thought." Zhu Hongwu continued, "This is why I have recognized this sect's strength. The sect master is very mysterious, it's extremely difficult to gauge his true mastery levels."
"But as I mentioned previously, while these may be the Celestial Sect of Wonders' outstanding areas, they are not the sect's greatest weapons. Their sect's true ace is their sect's mountain, the legendary Mount Yujing!"
Zhu Hongwu's unwavering gaze finally showed some movements. "That mountain is truly mystifying. The sect's entire residence can enter the turbulent flow of virtual space, making it nearly impossible to track them down. This is the Celestial Sect of Wonders' most formidable weapon, one that is the hardest to counter."
Regardless whether it's Mount Shu of the Mount Shu Sword Sect, or Mount Baiyun of the Great Void Sect, or even Tianjing City of the Great Zhou Empire, all these places are stationary and unmovable.
It doesn't matter whether these places are penetrable - as long as people wish to attack them, they can be attacked.
Only Mount Yujing can be concealed in virtual space. Even those with incredible amounts of tolerance cannot track down Lin Feng's sect no matter how much they wish to ram down his front door.
The other three present nodded in agreement.
Due to the overbearing powers of Mount Yujing and the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree, even if it emerges from space and lands on a physical area, penetrating it would be even harder than ascending to the heavens.
Once Lin Feng decides to move Mount Yujing, hardly anyone can stop him. Who knows how many great cultivators would be sacrificed just to attack Mount Yujing.
But once Mount Yujing disappears, it's almost impossible to locate it again. When it surfaces next is entirely dependent on Lin Feng's mood.
Yan Mingyue said calmly, "In order to defeat the Celestial Sect of Wonders, its leader has to personally ride Mount Yujing to launch an attack on either Mount Baiyun, Mount Shu, or Tianjing City in a battle to the death. Only then would there be a slim chance of annihilating them."
"But the price to pay would be unimaginable."
Zhu Hongwu grabbed his fists and said faintly, "This wouldn't be easy if he had no desire to attack. But judging by his actions, he's definitely not a dull and unmotivated person. If he wants something, he would crack his brains to obtain it."
"This implicates the sect's greatest weakness. Although they are stellar, they can falter due to an unstable foundation. Besides the sect master himself, there are no other Immortal Soul cultivators in the sect. Once the sect master falls, the Celestial Sect of Wonders would be doomed."
As he spoke, Zhu Hongwu closed his eyes. "As strong as he is, there's only one of him. There are only two Nascent Soul stage cultivators and three Aurous Core cultivators among the remaining members of the sect. Although their combat skills are formidable, even the sect master must surrender if cornered by three to five Immortal Soul cultivators."
"The only thing we need to think about is how to prevent him from escaping using the holy mountain."
Liang Pan gently tapped the armrest of his throne as he deliberated for a while, then said, "Our initial strategy hasn't changed. We'll maintain friendly relations with distant states and attack those near us. We'll befriend the Celestial Sect of Wonders and attack the Mount Shu Sword Sect and Great Qin Empire."
"In this plan, the strength of the Celestial Sect of Wonders would be of great use to us."
Zhu Hongwu and Mei Wulang replied simultaneously, "We shall follow Your Majesty's orders."
Mei Wulang hesitated for a moment and said, "I think the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders may have other plans. He spared the Lixiong Master of Mount Shu, Kong Chang, and sent him to the Heavenly Sword Sect. It seems like he has other things in mind."
Liang Pan smiled, "He definitely wouldn't willingly become cannon fodder for us, but sending Kong Chang's Nascent Sword to the Heavenly Sword Sect is indeed an interesting move. It seems like he wants to dissolve the Nine Heavenly Sword Alliance from the inside, and I support that."
"Whether he becomes cannon fodder, isn't up to him." Zhu Hongwu said softly, "It depends on whose tactics are more superior."
Yan Mingyue looked at Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu and cracked a faint smile as thoughts rushed through her mind. "Zhu Hongwu, your tactics may not even be as witty as Lin Feng's. Lin Feng, what exactly can you do this time?"
...
The Xingyun Peak, the main peak of the Yunhuan mountain range at the south-eastern region of the Great Qin Empire, is the sect residence of the Sword of Radiance Sect, a member of the Nine Heavenly Sword Alliance.
On Xingyun Peak, a woman in white sat cross-legged in one of the caves. Her facial features were beautiful, and green jade earrings hung from her delicate earlobes, gently swaying, and producing a crisp clank of jade.
A dainty ray of sword radiance swerved around her incessantly, before slowing down and landing on the scabbard on her back.
"Well done, Yanran, you are gradually grasping the essence of this sword technique." A beautiful middle-aged woman appeared before the woman in white and smiled, "You didn't waste any time training in the holy abode where time flows faster."
The woman in white was Murong Yanran. Her childishness had faded, and her face was bright and refined.
When she saw the beautiful middle-aged woman, Murong Yanran grinned and exclaimed, "Master!"
The middle-aged woman was the Tong Ling Priestess, an outstanding Aurous Core cultivator from the Sword of Radiance Sect. She smiled to herself as she glanced at Murong Yanran, "Yanran's talent is truly exceptional. Within such a short time, she has already reached the middle level of the Foundation Establishment stage. She shouldn't have any problems battling Xiao Yan."
With that thought in mind, the Tong Ling Priestess let out a smile and advised Murong Yanran on some areas of improvements for her mantras before returning to her own chamber.
Before she even sat down, the Tong Ling Priestess received a message from her master, the Azure Clouds Grandmaster. "Is Master already back from his expedition to investigate the Celestial Sect of Wonders?"
"Although the Celestial Sect of Wonders has caused quite a stir at the Northern Foothills of Mount Kunlun, it shouldn't be able to hold a candle to the Sword of Radiance Sect's thousands of years of experience. Mount Kunlun, Mount Kunlun, let's see if they can handle an assault from the Aeolus Sect first."
As she pondered over this, the Tong Ling Priestess arrived at the Azure Clouds Grandmaster's quarters. When she saw the Grandmaster, she immediately bowed and greeted him, "Good morning, Master."
The Azure Clouds Grandmaster, who had been back-facing her, then turned around. The Tong Ling Priestess was thoroughly shocked when she saw his expression.
She has never seen her master look so troubled before.
"Master ..." The Tong Ling Priestess was at a loss.
The Azure Clouds Grandmaster sighed and asked, "How are the mastery levels of that brat Yanran?"
When he mentioned Murong Yanran, the Tong Ling Priestess became revitalized, and beamed, "After secluded training in the Holy Abode, Yanran has successfully formed her spiritual altar and reached the middle level of the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Moreover, she erected a Class Two spiritual altar!"
The Tong Ling Priestess has enough reason to be proud. Adding the time spent training in the Holy Abode where time flows faster, Murong Yanran wouldn't even be 20 years old. She hasn't been in the sect for ten years and she has already erected her spiritual altar, making her one of the best among the Sword of Radiance Sect's young disciples in this generation.
Especially since she erected a Class Two spiritual altar, it would mean that she had a decent chance of forming a Purple Pill in the future. This would be considered as an extremely outstanding achievement for the Sword of Radiance Sect.
The Tong Ling Priestess thought that the Azure Clouds Grandmaster would be elated as well, but when he heard the news, he frowned even more and laughed bitterly. "The middle level of the Foundation Establishment stage, huh, the middle level of the Foundation Establishment stage ... The three-year pact is almost up, what should we do?"
The Tong Ling Priestess sensed forbidding. "The three-year pact ... Master, has Xiao Yan improved drastically? What did he do at the Celestial Sect of Wonders ..."
The Azure Clouds Grandmaster's face was as crumpled as a Chinese bun. He smiled wryly as he nodded and sighed repeatedly, without any energy to speak.
The Tong Ling Priestess took a deep breath. "What's his current mastery level, the final level of the Foundation Establishment stage? In that case, there's still a chance of winning if I confer an Aurous Core stage weapon to Yanran ..."
Before she could even finish her sentence, the Azure Clouds Grandmaster shot his hand up to interrupt her. "Xiao Yan has already formed an Aurous Core, and judging by his mana pulses, it's no doubt a Purple Pill."
The Tong Ling Priestess was completely taken aback, so shocked that her mouth was wide open with no regard for her image. "How is that possible?! Even with Yanran's aptitude and her continuous training in the Sword of Radiance Sect, she's only at the middle level of the Foundation Establishment stage. How can that brat already have formed an Aurous Core?"
"Moreover, that brat is so young. Was he training in an abode where time flowed a thousand or ten thousand times faster for these three years? Does such an abode even exist?"
The Azure Clouds Grandmaster shot her a frustrated glare and said, "Not just that, the mantras and abhijina he mastered are incredibly formidable, and can even control both the Grand Sun Primordial Flame and the Nefarious Spectral Primordial Flame. His combat skills can crush nearly all the Aurous Core cultivators in existence."
He stared at the Tong Ling Priestess and said sombrely, "Naturally, that includes you too."
The Tong Ling Priestess gawked at her master in astonishment. The Azure Clouds Grandmaster forced out a bitter laugh. He still had his pride as a Nascent Soul Grandmaster, there were some things he just couldn't say.
After witnessing the battle between Xiao Yan and Master Cyclone, even the Azure Clouds Grandmaster himself was not confident of defeating Xiao Yan. Even if he did win, it would be a very close victory with severe damages on both sides.
Otherwise, why would he be wallowing in anxiety like this?
If a disciple challenges someone to a battle, but her master isn't even her opponent's match, heck, even her Grandmaster isn't confident of defeating the opponent, what's the point of such a stupid challenge?
The Tong Ling Priestess felt sick and dizzy and only came back to her senses after a good long while. She inhaled deeply, "Yanran's bet with that brat was that she would become his slave if she lost. The Sword of Radiance Sect cannot afford to be humiliated like this!"
"We must find a way to prevent this from happening!"