Chapter 109, Unify the Martial Arts World for Thousands of Years!

Translator: StarReader

 

Zhao Juzhen, standing before the two armies, bellowed a question laced with sorrow and fury.

 

It wasn’t just a question on his mind but a shared bewilderment among the various leaders, martial groups, and disciples present.

 

Even Liu Hong of the Whale Gang, the head of the White Lotus Society, and the pirates and White Lotus Society disciples were holding back the same question.

 

[What does this Daoist desire?]

 

Daoist Han Shan seemed lost in thought, his expression unreadable.

 

Martial prestige?

 

An inexhaustible wealth?

 

Overwhelming power and status?

 

He was the foremost Grandmaster in the Wu Region, the leader of the Wu Region martial world. Even across the dozens of counties of Jiangnan, he was among the most formidable Grandmasters, having reached the very pinnacle of martial skill.

 

Unless he took a further step, entering that long-coveted realm of immortals, there was hope of surpassing him.

 

And such immortal cultivators didn’t exist in the dozens of counties of Jiangnan, at least he hadn’t encountered them in these past decades.

 

Those immortals who had left behind vestiges of legends had long since departed. There was nothing in this mortal realm they desperately wanted; lingering among mortals was purely a waste of precious lifespans.

 

Daoist Han Shan was acutely aware of these truths.

 

Scholar Liu Hong and Mao Ziyuan, the leader of the White Lotus Society, glanced at Daoist Han Shan’s expression, and a chill ran down their spines—a sudden wave of apprehension and unease.

 

The Whale Gang made a living by robbing and extorting, appearing to rake in money, but this existence was unstable. These past few years, the Whale Gang had swallowed up numerous small pirate groups in the Wu Region, expanding to an alarming degree. Maintaining this force of over ten thousand pirates was a constant drain, leaving little in the way of funds or provisions.

 

Just months ago, the Whale Gang was facing a severe food shortage, teetering on the brink of internal strife. It was only then that Liu Hong felt he had no choice but to set out to procure a massive supply of grain.

 

It was only because Daoist Han Shan, this white path leader, served as a powerful backer that he dared to take the risk, plotting to hijack the court’s grain transport along the Grand Canal. Otherwise, having endured decades of restraint, he’d only engaged in petty theft, never daring to plot a nearly treasonous act.

 

The White Lotus Society was no different. For decades, they’d been holed up in Lou County, with over ten thousand disciples being a group of struggling, impoverished people and refugees. Simply managing to fill the mouths of everyone in the sect and avoiding hunger during the lean months of the year was the greatest hope of the senior and junior members.

 

They had managed to accumulate a small amount of funds, but it was all used by the leader, Mao Ziyuan, to purchase golden armor talismans from Daoist Han Shan.

 

In truth, they were penniless and had nothing of value to offer Daoist Han Shan.

 

The court could have shown grace and generosity, offering Daoist Han Shan a substantial reward—untold riches, glory for his family, and hereditary titles—which would have dwarfed the power of these Whale Gang pirates and the White Lotus Society countless times.

 

But this Daoist Han Shan, whose reputation was unparalleled in the Wu Region, chose a different path. He actively sought them out, hatching a plan that sent shivers down their spines, luring the court’s navy and the Wu Region’s martial groups, large and small, to the islands west of Cave Mountain on Vastest Lake to be slaughtered.

 

This was a stroke of extraordinary good fortune for the Whale Gang and the White Lotus Society, dramatically boosting their strength and giving them hope of a successful rebellion.

 

Liu Hong and Mao Ziyuan naturally harbored anxieties, worrying that Daoist Han Shan might suddenly renege on his promise and betray them.

 

“I didn’t want things to come to this… I’ve painstakingly cultivated The Mayfly Chapter for decades. If I could attain Dao and immortality, the wealth and power of this mortal world would be as fleeting as a puff of smoke, simply brushed aside with a flick of my sleeve.

 

“But I’ve exhausted myself, toiled relentlessly for decades in search of ultimate Dao, and still found nothing. Now, in my seventies, I see no hope, and I’ve lost it all. It’s a pity I’m telling you all this—you wouldn’t understand the pain in my heart!

 

“As for what I’m after now, I don’t need the governor to trouble himself about it. I’ll take what I want, without the court’s charity.”

 

Daoist Han Shan recovered from his contemplative recollection and looked at the opposing Governor Zhao with a faint smile.

 

Zhao Juzhen felt despair creeping in.

 

Even wielding the authority of the court and offering him untold wealth, power, and status, he couldn’t sway Daoist Han Shan to change his mind. He had no other options left, only the path of fighting to the bitter end.

 

Magistrate Wang peered out from within the allied forces, shouting and wailing, “Old demon of Han Mountain, you treacherous fiend, you’ve massacred over ten thousand martial children of my Wu Region! Your reputation is ruined, and you’re bound to face the spit and scorn of the people and bring ruin to your descendants!”

 

Scholar Liu Hong’s face was a mask of murderous intent, a chilling aura radiating from him as he flicked his iron folding fan, pointing at Magistrate Wang and berating him, “Silence! You useless fool, unfit to even carry my sandals, what qualifications do you have to speak before two armies!

 

“You corrupt officials of the Wang Clan have plagued so many civilians, and yet you dare speak of us? Today, I will take your wretched head and display it as a trophy!

 

“And you, Zhao Juzhen. You’re only able to become the governor of the Wu Region because you’re a scion of the esteemed Zhao Clan! Today, let’s see if your education or my scholarship is more impressive!

 

“When this battle ends, Daoist Han Shan will be the king of this Jiangnan, and I, Liu Hong, will be the king of the Wu Region! Though I cannot claim to be emperor, a piece of the Tang Dynasty’s realm will be mine to enjoy.”

 

Liu Hong roared and cursed before the two armies.

 

These corrupt officials could be granted titles and honors, and even the worthless Wang Clan could become magistrate of Gusu City. What right did he, Liu Hong, who possessed the talent to govern a state and a commandery, have to be denied the honor of becoming a scholar or official, earning a position of authority?

 

Unable to serve as an official, he flew into a rage and became an outlaw, becoming the leader of the Whale Gang, dedicated to opposing the government. He hated scholars and degree holders the most, and the fact that this entire brotherhood of the Zhao Clan ran to surround him was unbearable.

 

“Daoist, don’t waste any words with them; kill them!”

 

Liu Hong sneered, then flicked his iron folding fan, intending to spur his horse forward to the front lines to sacrifice Zhao Juzhen as a trophy.

 

“Wait a moment!”

 

Daoist Han Shan silenced the restless Whale Gang leader, Liu Hong, his voice a low command. “Zhao Juzhen, you have four officials in your family, and your reputation extends both within the court and beyond. You are a rare and invaluable talent. If you surrender to me, I will sweep through Jiangnan, and positions and titles will be yours without question! Don’t resist futilely; surrender!

 

“I spare your lives, not out of kindness, but because I intend to absorb your remaining, scattered forces. Otherwise, I would have slaughtered you all long ago. This will be my last act of mercy to you!”

 

“Hmph! The Zhao Clan’s name is renowned across the nation, loyal to the court! We will never betray!”

 

Zhao Juzhen ignored him, wheeled his horse back to the allied forces’ formation, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Li Shuo, leader; Sun Baihong; Han Ya; and others, shouting, “Prepare for battle!”

 

“Daoist Han Shan, your divine power is unmatched! For all time, to unify the martial world! To crush the allied imperial forces, to dominate the Wu Region—that will be today. Kill!”

 

Whale Gang leader, Liu Hong, roared with furious rage, his eyes flashing with fanaticism, and a whirlwind of his iron folding fan heralded his order to advance.

 

“To unify the martial world!”

 

Over ten thousand pirates of the Whale Gang brandished knives and spears, and over a thousand pirates held bows and arrows, all unleashing furious roars. Three thousand disciples of the White Lotus Society were shouting, waving the White Lotus Society flag, their voices shaking the heavens. The Daoists of Han Mountain Daoist Temple were in a frenzy, their blades gleaming with cold light.

 

The Whale Gang’s army of over thirteen thousand soldiers surged with morale and fighting spirit, advancing in large strides, closing in on the allied forces’ eight thousand formations from six hundred meters away.

 

“Spears forward! Archers, aim for three hundred meters ahead! Our army fights with our backs to the water; eight thousand sons of the Wu Region treat death as nothing! It’s yet to be known who will win or lose! This battle is not about life or death, but about safeguarding the people of the Wu Region!”

 

Li Shuo spurred his horse and shouted forcefully.

 

Behind him, eight thousand soldiers and numerous martial disciples of various groups gripped their weapons tensely, their faces etched with a tragic resolve. Whether they would see the dawn of the next day in this backwater battle was a question hanging in the air.

 

“To dare resist, to have no sense of their own mortality! Since they refuse to surrender, then they shall all be put to death!”

 

Daoist Han Shan’s expression darkened as he waved his hand, revealing five fire talismans.

 

The five fire talismans sped out, transforming into five rolling balls of fire mid-air. The intense heat of the flames warped the air as they hurtled towards the allied formation.

 

The terrifying aura of the flames, like the descent of a fire demon, descended upon the martial disciple.

 

“Fireball devil talisman!”

 

“We’re finished!”

 

Han Ya closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He had just barely escaped from beneath a fireball within Northern Swamp, and no one in the allied army was more familiar with the terror of those fireballs. Should a fireball fall, even a Grandmaster expert would be powerless to defend against it. Even armor and great shields could not withstand the searing heat.

 

Zhao Juzhen, Li Shuo, Han Ya, and Sun Baihong—three Grandmaster experts—and the numerous small leaders, alongside eight thousand armored soldiers and martial disciples armed with swords, spears, and arrows, stood ready, yet witnessed the scene with unparalleled despair.

 

The five massive fireballs, unstoppable, descended from the sky, soon to bring about a calamity of utter destruction for the eight thousand men.

 

But then…

 

The five fireballs seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, stopping them in midair.

 

Whoosh!

 

The five fireballs abruptly reversed direction, speeding back with the force of a fiery palm descending, pressing down upon the thirteen thousand soldiers of the Whale Gang pirates, White Lotus Society, and Han Mountain Daoist Temple.

 

Daoist Han Shan, Liu Hong, Mao Ziyuan, and the other pirates and White Lotus Society leaders looked up in stunned silence, watching the fireballs reverse direction and plummet from above their heads.

 

Boom!~

 

Within the vast army, swathes of flames erupted, a horrifying spectacle like a scene from the underworld.