Chapter 128, Someone Falls and Someone Fills His Belly

Translator: Raznick

 

Zhou Mingde’s words were easily confirmed through the mouths of the surviving cultivators from the Mu Clan.

 

Upon confirming that Zhou Mingde’s words were true, Ming Xia and the other Green Lotus Monastery Daoists felt quite distressed.

 

It was less than half an hour’s difference.

 

If they had arrived half an hour earlier, the Mu Clan could have been saved, and the Black Dragon Guardian from the Dragonized Sect would not have had it so easy to escape!

 

Now, because of this half an hour, a cultivating clan that had a legacy of over three hundred years, a loyal vassal clan of the Green Lotus Monastery, had been destroyed.

 

How could two Green Lotus Monastery cultivators feel good about any of this?

 

And just as the two Green Lotus Monastery cultivators were feeling upset about how to handle the aftermath of the destruction of the Mu Clan, Zhou Mingde seized the opportunity to address them: “Now that the Mu Clan has two Fellow Daoists here, I am no longer needed. I still need to guard the clan estate, so I will take my leave.”

 

Hearing his words, the Ming Xia Daoist immediately nodded slightly in response: “Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured. Today, the favor of your assistance to the Mu Clan, we have accepted on behalf of the Mu Clan. When Mu Shizhe and the others return to rebuild the clan, they will certainly come to your door in person to thank you.”

 

“Then I will take my leave.”

 

Zhou Mingde spoke, then cupped his hands towards the two and quickly left the Green Cloud Mountains riding his Fire Spirit Jackal.

 

“Junior Sister Ming Xia, are you and Fellow Daoist Zhou familiar?”

 

After watching Zhou Mingde depart, the male Daoist couldn’t help but curiously look at Ming Xia Daoist and ask softly.

 

Hearing his question, Ming Xia Daoist nodded slightly: “We have something of a relationship, I suppose.”

 

The male cultivator immediately spoke, “This person possesses considerable strength; he managed to force back a Dragonized Sect guardian. It seems if we can locate that group of Dragonized Sect members, we can request his assistance in a joint effort to eliminate them.”

 

“Requesting his assistance presents no problem, but we must first find him!”

 

Ming Xia furrowed her brow, her voice low as she said, “Now that the Mu Clan has been raided, it remains to be seen which clan those individuals will extend their claws to next. We, as per the Abbot’s instructions, have been dispatched to Mist Province to stabilize the rear, and we cannot allow those individuals to continue their rampage.”

 

“Junior Sister is correct; we cannot permit them to rampage any longer, otherwise we’ll be embarrassed.”

 

The male cultivator’s expression turned serious, and he began to take the matter seriously.

 

The two remained on the Green Cloud Mountains for half a day, waiting for additional reinforcements from various clans that were late.

 

They naturally harbored no goodwill toward these reinforcements that arrived so late.

 

However, they also knew that it wasn’t something to blame them for; after all, even they themselves were late.

 

Thus, they could only reassure the various reinforcements who were startled by the incident involving the Mu Clan before leading the surviving cultivator of the Mu Clan to Red Cliff Market for temporary residence and practice.

 

At Nine Peaks, after learning about the Mu Clan’s encounter through the returned Zhou Mingde, Zhou Chun and other Zhou Clan cultivators were filled with lament.

 

Both were cultivating clans and also friendly clans within the alliance; the Mu Clan’s experience easily made the Zhou Clan cultivator feel sympathetic and share their feelings.

 

This is the harsh reality of the cultivation world.

 

Even if one hadn’t provoked anyone, calamity might still fall, destroying homes and clans due to factional alignment.

 

Today, it was the Mu Clan; tomorrow, it might just be them.

 

Any Mist Province cultivating clan would likely be feeling apprehensive at this moment, mourning for the Mu Clan.

 

And after speaking about the results of his journey to the Mu Clan, Zhou Mingde also looked at Zhou Chun and the others with a serious expression, cautioning them, “Although I gained Fellow Daoist Ming Xia’s favor by coming to the Mu Clan’s rescue, I also offended that protector of the Dragonized Sect.

 

“To avoid his retaliation against the Zhou Clan, you all must be careful going forward and instruct those guarding the array to be vigilant, ensuring no one from the Dragonized Sect sneaks in to cause trouble.”

 

Upon hearing his warning, Zhou Chun and the others’ expressions turned grave, and they immediately replied, “Yes, we will certainly remember Grand Elder’s teachings.”

 

Subsequently, the Zhou Clan did indeed strengthen their scrutiny of cultivators entering the estate. The three elders took turns stationed at the estate entrance, examining the cultivator entering the estate.

 

Zhou Chun even ordered a reduction of half the rogue cultivators guarding the Purification Pavilion, replacing them with Zhou Clan cultivators to guard it.

 

Ensuring that every Purification Pavilion had at least two Zhou Clan cultivators present at all times and that there was certainly a cultivator with cultivation higher than the rogue cultivator present.

 

And the subsequent impact of the Green Cloud Mountains Mu Clan being annihilated quickly spread.

 

First, all the cultivating clans in Mist Province were startled and further strengthened their vigilance.

 

Then, clans with amicable relations increased contact and finalized agreements to immediately support each other in times of trouble.

 

Even some weaker clans sent their juniors to Red Cliff Market or Lotus Province.

 

This way, even if they were destroyed like the Mu Clan, there would be a chance for a comeback later.

 

Among these, the Zhou Clan also became an object that various clans vied to favor.

 

Zhou Chun was not wrong. The Zhou Clan’s demonstration of a positive attitude and noble sentiments regarding the rescue of the Mu Clan did indeed impress and move some clans.

 

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

 

Regardless of how well they spoke or what fancy alliances they made in normal times.

 

If something were to happen, would they follow up on their promise?

 

No one knew until it was too late.

 

The Zhou Clan was able to fulfill its promise this time, promptly dispatching the clan’s sole Violet Palace Stage cultivator to rescue the Mu Clan.

 

This demonstrated an attitude that no one could question or fault.

 

With this precedent set, in this era where everyone lacked a sense of security, other clans would naturally think of the Zhou Clan when they considered outside assistance.

 

So, almost immediately after the Mu Clan’s misfortune, the Sun Clan, located on Gold Maple Peak closest to the Zhou Clan, personally sent their Clan Leader, Sun Zhongping, to visit Zhou Mingde and present a generous gift.

 

Because the clan had a Violet Palace Stage cultivator within its ranks, the Sun Clan had always considered themselves the second strongest within the five major cultivating clan alliance, only slightly inferior to the Wang Clan.

 

Yet, when Sun Zhongping came to visit Zhou Mingde this time, he lowered his standing significantly, even uttering words that would later elevate the Zhou Clan to a position of respect.

 

Mu Clan’s demise filled him with terror for the near future.

 

This was hardly surprising; the Sun Clan’s relationship with the Green Lotus Monastery was no different than the Mu Clan’s, and in some ways, even deeper.

 

If the Mu Clan could be destroyed, who would say that it wouldn’t be their turn?

 

If it were, a Sun Clan without a Violet Palace Stage cultivator stationed within would fare no better than the Mu Clan.

 

When that time came, even the Green Lotus Monastery would be of no help; their only hope would be the Zhou Clan, located just over a hundred miles away.

 

With that short distance, Zhou Mingde could reach them in less than half an hour.

 

In response to the Sun Clan’s overtures, Zhou Mingde readily accepted and expressed, with righteous words, that the two clans were akin to relatives and should help each other.

 

Although no assurances were given, the attitude had been clear.

 

Sun Zhongping also knew that obtaining guarantees was simply unrealistic; Zhou Mingde could not provide any assurances.

 

Therefore, receiving some reasonably positive feedback was enough to slightly appease his own emotions, as well as the emotions of his Sun Clan relatives.

 

He considered himself satisfied as he left the Zhou Clan.

 

Subsequently, other cultivating clan cultivators, similar to Sun Zhongping, visited; even the He Clan from Bamboo Groove, located over three hundred miles away, sent a Foundation Establishment elder to pay a visit.

 

Everything unfolded as Zhou Chun had predicted when he first heard about the Dragonized Sect invading Jing Kingdom.

 

The destructive impact of foreign forces on local powers was more beneficial than harmful to the Zhou Clan, further aiding the Zhou Clan in consolidating popularity and reputation and expanding the clan’s influence.

 

As long as the Zhou Clan could protect itself from the invaders, it could become one of the victors in a war with an uncertain outcome.

 

“Who’s next?

 

“The Nine Peaks Zhou Clan? That’s not feasible. A clan with a Violet Palace Stage cultivator is beyond what this guardian’s forces can handle; we must let them go for now.”

 

“What about the Chen clan in the Twin Peaks Range? No, no, they’re too close to the Red Cliff Market. The distance of over a hundred and fifty miles would allow those rotten Daoists from Green Lotus Monastery to arrive in just two hours; it’s too risky.”

 

Within the temporary hidden encampment of rogue cultivators, the Black Dragon Guardian of the Dragonized Sect looked at the various cultivating clan markers on the map in his hand, revealing a hesitant expression in his eyes.

 

The success of the Mu Clan had not made him complacent.

 

He was also acutely aware that, without reinforcements, he absolutely could not make a mistake while operating deep behind enemy lines, or he would risk losing his own life.

 

However, he also knew that with the downfall of the Mu Clan, Green Lotus Monastery would significantly increase its efforts to track him down.

 

This encampment housing rogue cultivators, providing them with shelter and supplies, could be exposed at any moment.

 

Once exposed, without a place to rest and resupply, they would naturally lose the ability to stir up trouble.

 

After all, they couldn’t continuously restore spiritual power by consuming pills like the Qi Restoring Pill.

 

Therefore, before exposure, they needed to expand their gains as much as possible and create greater panic in Mist Province.

 

After studying the map for a long time, his gaze settled on a specific location.

 

“Let’s go with this one. Although this place has a loose connection with the Green Lotus Monastery, it’s rich enough to plunder. Taking them down will secure a good profit from this expedition!”

 

He slammed his fist onto the map, quickly making up his mind.

 

Two days later, the Yu Clan, a clan with a legacy of over six hundred years in Mist Province, was attacked by the Dragonized Sect. The Yu Clan’s five Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with three Foundation Establishment cultivators from other cultivating clans who came to assist, were all killed by the Dragonized Sect cultivators.

 

In that single battle, the Yu Clan lost over one hundred and twenty cultivators, and more than seventy had their cultivation ruined, reducing them to utter failures.

 

The Yu Clan, renowned for their talisman-making skill and possessing several secret talismans, saw their clan’s accumulated wealth entirely plundered by the Dragonized Sect.

 

When this news spread, the impact on the cultivation world in Mist Province was several times greater than that of the Mu Clan.

 

After all, the Yu Clan not only possessed a long legacy, but the power displayed in this battle was multiple times greater than that of the Mu Clan.

 

Despite this, they were still annihilated by a small contingent of the Dragonized Sect.

 

This result left cultivating clans without a Violet Palace Stage cultivator feeling like startled birds, constantly on edge.

 

If not for their reluctance to abandon their clan’s long-held estate, some clans would likely have fled Mist Province altogether.

 

The immense pressure also fell upon several Violet Palace cultivators, including Ming Xia.

 

Because even though the cultivating clans were reluctant to leave Mist Province, they certainly weren’t going to do nothing.

 

They did the same thing without coordinating—writing petitions to the Green Lotus Monastery, listing the severity of the situation, and indirectly pressuring Ming Xia.

 

The Green Lotus Monastery wasn’t just one person’s sect, and there were many factions within it.

 

The cultivating clans from Mist Province, Cloud Province, and other provinces were deeply entangled with some of those factions, and they routinely provided gifts and favors.

 

Now that the clans faced an existential crisis, these clans naturally sought the assistance of the Green Lotus Monastery’s high-ranking cultivators, who had long received gifts from them.

 

As the saying goes, don’t bite the hand that feeds you. The high-ranking cultivators of the Green Lotus Monastery, having long accepted gifts from others, would certainly have to lend a hand.

 

Therefore, Ming Xia and the others, who accepted the monastery’s mission and went to Mist Province to oversee the situation, naturally became the focus of these high-ranking cultivators’ pressure.

 

“The Abbot has already sent a message saying this cannot happen a third time at all costs, or else we’ll take the blame!”

 

“Junior Sister Ming Xia, what do you think we should do now?”

 

Inside Red Cliff Market, the male Daoist who had accompanied Ming Xia to Green Cloud Mountains and the Mu Clan was now sitting across from Ming Xia in a quiet room, his face filled with worry as he spoke about the latest news from the monastery.

 

They had both visited the Yu Clan’s estate, and the scene was truly heartbreaking to witness.

 

But they couldn’t be blamed for it!

 

The Yu Clan’s estate was a full three hundred miles from Red Cliff Market, and even with their speed, it would take nearly four hours to reach it.

 

And the Yu Clan hadn’t put on as many signal fires as the Mu Clan had, only using sending talismans to relay a request for help.

 

It was already more than two hours when they received the news of the attack on the Yu Clan.

 

This made it impossible for them to arrive in time to rescue them.

 

But this reason was clearly not enough to satisfy the sect. After all, those in power only cared about the outcome, not the process.

 

The result was that they had failed in their duties.

 

Facing the questioning of her senior brother, Ming Xia Dao Ren was silent for a long time before finally raising his head and saying, “A Yu Clan survivor said the Black Dragon Protector was also injured by the Yu Clan Clan Leader using an implement, and many other members of the Dragonized Sect were also injured.”

 

After finishing, she looked at the other man and asked, “Senior Brother Ming Jian, if they don’t leave Mist Province, where would they be hiding to heal?”

 

When Ming Jian heard her, his expression was startled, and then his eyes lit up with surprise as he said to her, “Junior Sister, do you have a plan?”

 

“I have a way, but it will require a lot of help!”

 

Ming Xia nodded slightly and then spoke out her own plan in a low voice.