Chapter 127, Confronting a Violet Palace and the Mu Clan’s Calamity

Translator: Raznick

 

Signals of distress from the Mu Clan of the Green Cloud Mountains swept across the land, forcing many factions in Mist Province to face critical decisions.

 

Should they dispatch reinforcements to aid the Mu Clan?

 

How many should they send?

 

These were serious questions that required careful consideration by Zhou Chun and many other cultivating clan leaders.

 

Within the Central Palace atop Pagoda Peak, Grand Elder Zhou Mingde, who had emerged from seclusion to arrive here, faced three clan elders.

 

Zhou Chun did not hesitate to voice his opinion: “I believe the Mu Clan must be rescued, and not only rescued, but rescued spectacularly, so everyone knows that the Zhou Clan went to their aid!

 

“There are several Violet Palace cultivators from the Green Lotus Monastery around Red Cliff Market. Given the relationship between the Mu Clan and the Green Lotus Monastery, and considering the enemy is a member of the Dragonized Sect, they cannot afford to stand idly by.

 

“Therefore, when the Zhou Clan goes to rescue, it must arrive at the Mu Clan before they do. This way, regardless of whether the Mu Clan can be rescued, the Zhou Clan’s reputation and word of mouth will spread among our allies, and we will be trusted even more.”

 

His words were logical, outlining the benefits of the rescue.

 

However, not long after he finished speaking, Grand Elder Zhou Mingde looked at him and said, “Have you considered the dangers of rescuing? What if this is a trick by the Dragonized Sect, deliberately using the Mu Clan as bait to lure and kill the cultivators who come to the rescue? If we rush to rescue, won’t we just walk right into their trap?

 

Zhou Chun, upon hearing this, immediately nodded in agreement.

 

Then, he answered solemnly, “I have.”

 

He continued, “However, I believe the possibility is low. To achieve this, the Dragonized Sect must have several Violet Palace cultivators involved. Otherwise, as long as one Violet Palace cultivator leads the rescue, they cannot carry out the trickery.”

 

“But what if they do have several Violet Palace cultivators?”

 

Zhou Mingde pursued the question.

 

Zhou Chun heard his words and immediately said respectfully, “If Grand Elder were to lead the rescue, even if the Dragonized Sect had several Violet Palace cultivators, I believe you would still be able to retreat safely!”

 

“You certainly think highly of me.”

 

Zhou Mingde said faintly, not sure if the words were praise or complaint.

 

The other Zhou Clan elder listened to the question and answer between the two, and they all looked at each other and dared not make a sound.

 

But they all admired Zhou Chun’s courage to speak with Zhou Mingde, the Grand Elder, with Qi Refining cultivation.

 

And the atmosphere in the hall fell silent after Zhou Mingde’s words, and no one spoke again.

 

After an unknown amount of silence, Zhou Mingde suddenly spoke, “Very well, then I will personally go to the Green Cloud Mountains to take a look.”

 

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun first breathed a sigh of relief.

 

This result was undoubtedly the best outcome.

 

“Grand Elder is wise.”

 

He sent praise with a respectful expression and then, along with several Zhou Clan elders, watched as Zhou Mingde rode off on a Fire Spirit Jackal.

 

On the other side, a blood lotus exploded above the Green Cloud Mountains, triggering an endless series of fires, and the Dragonized Sect cultivator began a fierce attack on the Mu Clan protective array.

 

“Put your backs into it and get that array to fall!”

 

The Black Dragon Guardian of the Dragonized Sect held a large flag with swirling dragons, constantly waving the flag, summoning water dragons that rushed towards the Mu Clan estate.

 

He knew that this method of transmitting messages through the guidance of a large number of commoners was fundamentally impossible to extinguish in time.

 

So, it was better to quickly break the array than split his manpower to extinguish the flames.

 

As long as the array was broken before reinforcements arrived, the Mu Clan, without a Violet Palace Stage cultivator, would be at his mercy!

 

However, Mu Yunshan, the Clan Leader of the Mu Clan, also knew that this was the most dangerous moment in the clan’s history. Therefore, when resisting the invasion, he spared no expense.

 

He saw talismans being triggered from the hands of Mu Clan cultivators, transforming into various mystical arts to attack the Dragonized Sect cultivators advancing outwards.

 

As a cultivating clan without a Violet Palace Stage cultivator guarding it, the Mu Clan naturally knew where its weaknesses lay.

 

It also considered how to respond when facing a Violet Palace Stage cultivator leading the attack on the clan.

 

Therefore, their clan’s array was arranged by a renowned array master from the Green Lotus Monastery at a high price, capable of concentrating the power of numerous cultivators to enhance the array’s power, sufficient to defend against attacks from Violet Palace Stage cultivators.

 

At the same time, they had a habit of stockpiling a large quantity of talismans.

 

At this moment, under the crisis of annihilation, Mu Yunshan brought out all of the clan’s most treasured items.

 

He saw him and several Foundation Establishment elders simultaneously presiding over the array, desperately resisting the Dragonized Sect cultivators’ attack, while launching one second-grade talisman after another to harass the envoys, preventing them from focusing on attacking the protective array.

 

“The destruction of our clan is imminent. Do not hold back for a second, otherwise everything will be seized by the enemy after the array is broken!

 

“Everyone must hold on! Reinforcements are on their way. The senior members of the Green Lotus Monastery are currently in Red Cliff Market and won’t stand for our Mu Clan’s destruction!”

 

On the Green Cloud Mountains, Mu Yunshan loudly called out to encourage the spirits of the Mu Clan people on the mountain, encouraging every Mu Clan cultivator to launch every talisman in their hands.

 

He knew that the Mu Clan would likely not have a good ending today, and now he only hoped to hold on for a little longer and kill as many enemies as possible before the array broke.

 

[As long as I can keep these Dragonized Sect thugs within the Green Cloud Mountains, even if my Mu Clan has to be destroyed today, Yun Tian and the others can rebuild the Mu Clan based on this merit!]

 

Mu Yunshan’s gaze was icy as he looked at the Dragonized Sect guardian outside the array, his hatred boundless.

 

How could he not hate?

 

Originally, the Mu Clan’s legacy was thriving, each generation better than the last.

 

If this continued, within three generations, a Violet Palace cultivator would surely emerge from the Mu Clan.

 

At that time, the Mu Clan within the Green Cloud Mountains would become a major clan within Mist Province.

 

But now, with the arrival of these Dragonized Sect people, the Mu Clan, which had flourished for over three hundred years, was likely to perish.

 

Although parts of the Mu Clan remained in the Green Lotus Monastery and other locations, it would not be wiped out.

 

However, after suffering this calamity, the Mu Clan’s strength would at least regress two hundred years, and it would be unknown how many more years it would take to become a major clan.

 

Outside the Green Cloud Mountains, the Black Dragon Guardian naturally sensed the hateful gaze from the Mu Clan cultivator on the mountain.

 

Instead of anger, he felt the gaze, and he madly laughed out, “Hahahaha, hatred, go ahead and hate! Today, I will use the blood of all your Mu Clan cultivators to warn all the clans in Mist Province: help the Green Lotus Monastery and be enemies with my Dragonized Sect, dooming everyone you hold dear!”

 

He had come to Mist Province to stir up trouble.

 

The bigger the trouble, the more intense the chaos, and the better he would complete his mission.

 

So killing wasn’t his main goal; his main goal was to spread terror.

 

He had even planned, after breaking through the Mu Clan’s protective array, to kill all Foundation Establishment cultivators, half the remaining Qi Refining cultivators, and cripple the other half.

 

Let those Qi Refining cultivators whose cultivation was crippled spread fear to other cultivating clans across Mist Province and drive fear into everyone’s hearts.

 

After enduring this difficult defense for over two hours, the protective array of the Mu Clan finally could not support it and shattered with a boom!

 

“Hahaha, kill, kill until you’re satisfied!”

 

The Black Dragon Guardian laughed maniacally as he led the charge into the Green Cloud Mountains, directly confronting several Mu Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators with despairing looks.

 

The other Dragonized Sect cultivators were also laughing and were bursting with excitement as they charged into the Green Cloud Mountains to burn, kill, and plunder.

 

As he looked, the entire Mu Clan within the Green Cloud Mountains was about to be utterly destroyed by war, centuries of legacy being lost in an instant.

 

But just then, a loud shout suddenly rang out from ten miles away.

 

“Mu Clan Fellow Daoists, hold on, Zhou Clan’s Zhou Mingde is here!”

 

Zhou Clan’s Zhou Mingde?

 

Hearing those five words, the Black Dragon Guardian paused slightly, as if he had a vague impression.

 

And before he could remember where the impression came from, he saw the formerly despairing faces of the Mu Yunshan individuals suddenly reveal an ecstatic expression.

 

“It’s Senior Zhou Mingde of the Zhou Clan. Hold on everyone, our reinforcements have arrived!”

 

To Mu Yunshan, it was like grasping a lifeline, shouting with a surprised and excited expression.

 

Those Mu Clan people who were originally despairing now likewise burst with an unprecedented power to survive.

 

Seeing this, the Black Dragon Protector’s eyes narrowed, and he muttered to himself, “That’s right, it’s the Grand Elder of the Spirit Beast Zhou Clan, and it seems that fellow also has a third-grade demon beast spirit pet.”

 

Then a cruel expression twisted his face as he looked at Mu Yunshan and the others with a vicious smile, saying, “What are you celebrating? Do you really think someone has come to save you, to rescue you cursed individuals?”

 

The words had barely left his lips when he let out a low growl, “Die!”

 

Right before the eyes of Zhou Mingde, who was rapidly approaching, all three Mu Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Mu Yunshan, were swiftly killed by the Black Dragon Protector in less than twenty breaths.

 

The Black Dragon Protector immediately instructed the Envoys, “You, retreat. I shall handle the rear.”

 

He then proactively advanced towards Zhou Mingde, who had already approached.

 

“You scoundrel! I will certainly take your head today to appease the spirits of Fellow Daoist Mu and the others!”

 

Zhou Mingde roared angrily and immediately surrounded the Black Dragon Protector with his spirit pet, Fire Spirit Jackal.

 

The sky was filled with clashing forces of water and fire, quickly tearing and destroying large swaths of clouds.

 

On the Green Cloud Mountains, the others witness Zhou Mingde engaging with the Black Dragon Protector.

 

The remaining Dragonized Sect followers no longer bothered to pursue those Mu Clan Qi cultivators who had fled into the mountains.

 

After hastily looting the bodies of Mu Clan cultivators on the Green Cloud Mountains, they swiftly retreated.

 

Zhou Mingde was inclined to let Fire Spirit Jackal stay behind to claim a few lives of Dragonized Sect Envoys so he could directly obtain Foundation Establishment Pills from the Green Lotus Monastery.

 

However, the Dragonized Sect Black Dragon Protector was strong, and if Fire Spirit Jackal was not by his side, the opponent could unleash the Dragonized Sutra, and he might not be able to handle it.

 

Therefore, after weighing things carefully, he chose to play it safe and didn’t separate from his spirit pet.

 

With the combined strength of master and pet, Zhou Mingde quickly forced his opponent to unleash the Dragonized Sutra.

 

With the casting of the Dragonized Sutra, the Black Dragon Guardian experienced a surge in power, even capable of close-quarters combat with a third-grade demon beast like the Fire Spirit Jackal!

 

The advantage Zhou Mingde had gained earlier was lost, and he even had to guard against the Black Dragon Guardian approaching him.

 

Without the Fire Spirit Jackal, he was merely an ordinary cultivator at the Violet Palace Stage, with unremarkable personal strength.

 

After intense fighting for over two hours, he saw that his subordinates had already left the Green Cloud Mountains, and the Black Dragon Guardian no longer wanted to entangle with Zhou Mingde.

 

He immediately burst out laughing, saying, “Hahahaha, that’s enough for today. I shall pay a visit to your Zhou Clan estate later for another spar!”

 

As his words fell, he immediately broke through towards the nearby Green Cloud Lake, without lingering for a moment.

 

Although Zhou Mingde tried to obstruct him, he was ultimately unable to stop the opponent.

 

He could only watch as the opponent plunged into the lake, using the water to escape his perception.

 

“The Black Flood Dragon is fond of water; it seems all of this was within his calculations.”

 

Looking at the lake, which had returned to its previous calmness, Zhou Mingde in the sky sighed deeply.

 

Then, he turned his attention to the still-burning Green Cloud Mountains and let out another sigh, saying, “The Mu Clan was destined to suffer this calamity.”

 

As a deeply allied clan, the calamity befalling the Mu Clan was clearly not a good omen for the Zhou Clan.

 

Zhou Mingde’s lament for the Mu Clan at this time was not a false display but a sincere expression of emotion.

 

And just as Zhou Mingde turned to extinguish the large fire on the Green Cloud Mountains and began searching for the survivors in the mountains, a Green Lotus Monastery cultivator arriving from Red Cliff Market finally reached the Green Cloud Mountains.

 

The arrivals were only two people, a male and a female.

 

The female was a female Daoist, Ming Xia, who had previously visited Nine Peaks.

 

These two Green Lotus Monastery Fellow Daoists, upon arriving at the Green Cloud Mountains, saw the devastated Mu Clan estate, and their faces immediately changed.

 

Then Ming Xia hastily looked at Zhou Mingde and asked, “Fellow Daoist Zhou, where are the bandits of the Dragonized Sect? Where are the Fellow Daoists of the Mu Clan?”

 

Upon hearing her question, Zhou Mingde let out a long sigh filled with sorrow.

 

“If the two Fellow Daoists had arrived a quarter-hour earlier, if they had arrived before me, the Mu Clan Clan Leader and the Fellow Daoists of the Mu Clan would not have perished at the hands of that Black Dragon Guardian!”

 

He then recounted how he personally witnessed the deaths of Mu Yunshan and others and how he fought the Black Dragon Guardian.

 

At the end, he sighed regretfully, “It’s a pity that I was powerless, lacking in strength, and unable to capture that Black Dragon Guardian, unable to avenge the Mu Clan.”