NOVEL NEXT Chapter 93: Threat
On the first of October, the Fate Altar announced its relocation to the Northern Zhou, and its union with the Qintian Observatory of the Northern Zhou.
Meanwhile, the new Heavenly List was published.
First, Supreme Taoist Master
Second, 'Sword God' Nangong Duanjian/'Sword God' Yu Chen
Third, 'True Martial Dao Jun' Qing Yu
Fourth, Mi Shenweng
Fifth, 'Life and Death in the Palm' Xinyuan
Sixth, Demon Lord
Seventh, 'Demon Moon Soaring' Yin Tianxia
Eighth, Mu Cangsheng
Ninth, 'Confucian Master' Meng Shanhe
Tenth, Yama
Less than a year has passed since the previous update to the Heavenly List. This time, the list is missing another name. 'Sword Master' Shen Yunji, he has died, fallen to the Sword God.
The death of yet another supreme warrior has left many people anxious. If even the strongest can die, what about the others?
The great battle at the Great Zen Temple, the massacre in Shu Province, various rumors are spreading crazily in secret, even the most isolated common folk now know that at least ten thousand people have died in the past year.
As a result, people are living in constant fear, afraid to even step out of their homes.
Moreover, this time the Heavenly List differs from before as it provides more detailed information about the people on the list and explains why they are ranked accordingly, instead of merely listing ten names as before.
For example, the co-ranked second positions of the Sword God and the Blade God, according to the list, are because these two are regarded as gods in the Sword and Blade Paths, and unless they compete, it's unknown who is stronger, thus they were tied for second place.
And then there's the fifth rank, the abbot of the Great Zen Temple, Xinyuan. Many people saw Xinyuan turn into light and enter the Pure Land, seemingly already deceased.
However, the list reveals that Xinyuan had prepared in advance, cultivating his disciple Shi Jue as an avatar, and he is still in the human world. Furthermore, he can borrow the power of the Pure Land, and if not for the limitations of Shi Jue's body, he might have been ranked fourth.
In just a few words, it reveals all of Xinyuan's secrets. The abbot of the Great Zen Temple turning his disciple into an avatar—this is simply an earth-shattering scandal. Simultaneously, many scandals within the Buddhist sect were exposed, such as a certain nunnery offering lay services, a certain Buddhist temple occupying fertile land, and a certain master researching Joyful Zen, etc.
Amid various scandals, the reputation of the Buddhist sect has plummeted.
And as for Meng Shanhe and others, the list states that Meng Shanhe has not acted for many years, while Mu Cangsheng nearly killed Golden Wolf Khan, who had been entangled with Meng Shanhe for many years, so Mu Cangsheng was ranked above Meng Shanhe.
Compared to past lists, this one can be said to be quite detailed, at least letting people know the reasons for the rankings. It even notes at the end of the list that it can be changed at any time, with reality as the primary basis.
This means anyone unhappy with their rank can directly challenge others to prove them wrong with facts.
At first glance, this version of the Heavenly List indeed seems very detailed. But in reality, it's full of intrigue.
Blade God and Sword God, you claim there's no way to tell who's superior, so have a showdown then. The struggle between blade and sword has ancient roots; the Blade God dominated the Sword Dao for one hundred and fifty years, greatly enhancing the prestige of the Blade Path.
The Sword God may not care for the empty glory of the Heavenly List, but that doesn't mean he will accept being tied with the Blade God.
Throughout history, those standing at the peak are always proud, especially the two at the apex of blade and sword.
In summary, this version of the Heavenly List has caused hidden storms to become even more turbulent.
In the wake of the Heavenly List, another piece of news circulated though less prominently. It involved Luo Fu Palace.
It was confirmed that the Palace Master of Luo Fu Palace, Hua Yufei, secretly cultivated Blood Dao Martial Arts and colluded with the Netherworld Palace, practicing with human lives. Upon learning of this, Daoist Master Qingyu immediately sent a letter questioning Luo Fu Palace.
If Luo Fu Palace is truly involved in such misconduct, then another sect within the Taoist sects might disappear.
Of course, it might also spark a battle between the Dao Master, Yama, and even Mu Cangsheng. Therefore, some well-informed people are closely monitoring the movements within the Taoist sects.
Inside the Daqian Palace, Mu Cangsheng once again contacted the Southern Border.
Wearing a black sacrificial robe, the face of the Great Witch Sacrifice showed ancient battle marks, dense with Evil Qi, detectable even through the Thousand-Mile Mirror Light Array.
"Witch King's sacrifice left our Southern Borders gravely wounded. Mu Cangsheng, if you don't hand over that item, don't blame the Southern Borders for turning against you," the Great Witch Sacrifice threatened coldly.
"The Witch King's death was due to your Southern Border's ambition, what's it got to do with me?" Mu Cangsheng sneered, "If the Witch King had killed Qingyu, I might have owed you Southern Borders a favor, but because of his inferiority that led to being counter-killed, you can only blame your Southern King for lacking self-awareness."
The Southern Border covets the Central Plains, hoping to incite internal strife in the Central Plains, which Mu Cangsheng is well aware of. The Witch King eyed the weakening of the Central Plains, only to be counter-killed, now wanting Mu Cangsheng to take responsibility—what a joke!
"Old man wants to vent this anger on you, and you have no choice but to accept it."
The Great Witch Sacrifice said coldly, "The Witch King may be dead, but our Southern Borders still have one hundred thousand battle bodies, and I, this old bone, can still fight a few rounds. Do you think if the Southern Borders and Hou Qian collaborate to attack your Daqian, would the Shengde Emperor agree or not?"
The Great Witch Sacrifice also knows that this side is unreasonable, but some things have never been decided by reason, but by interest.
With the Witch King dead, the Southern Borders urgently need to replenish their strength. So the Great Witch Sacrifice simply shamelessly threatened Mu Cangsheng to force him to hand over the so-called 'key'.
Yet, Mu Cangsheng cannot ignore the Southern Border's potential madness.
The Great Witch Sacrifice of the Southern Borders possesses lethal power for ordinary people and even for lower-level martial artists.
Aside from the battle bodies, the Southern Borders also have a notable feature: their Witchcraft Technique. The Gu poison of this ancient tribe is powerfully lethal, unmatched even by the Ten Thousand Poison Sect which has been eradicated. Moreover, the Great Witch Sacrifice is also a supreme warrior.
If the Great Witch Sacrifice truly goes mad, martial artists below the True Pill level virtually have no chance. Even if Mu Cangsheng can stop the Great Witch Sacrifice, he can't stop his Gu poison.
Moreover, the Southern Borders don't solely rely on the Great Witch Sacrifice for Gu techniques.
And for that 'key', the Great Witch Sacrifice indeed might go crazy. After the Witch King's fall, he obviously no longer desires to instigate internal strife, but only wants to seize the 'key'.
"That's impossible, you're delusional," Mu Cangsheng refused bluntly.
Launching a war against the Southern Borders carries enormous risks, but so does handing over the 'key'. Moreover, if he relinquishes the 'key' after being threatened, does that mean he'd fold under any threat, letting the Daqian fall into enemy hands someday?
Pursuing peace through resistance ensures peace, while seeking peace through compromise leads to destruction.
Mu Cangsheng wouldn't lose his mind to this extent.
"Then wait and see, I will make you agree."
The Great Witch Sacrifice abruptly severed the connection, and the image on the Array Plate dimmed quickly.
The Great Witch Sacrifice wasn't surprised by Mu Cangsheng's refusal. If coercion were so effective, he might starting doubting Mu Cangsheng's other intentions.
Whether the 'key' will ultimately end up in the hands of the Southern Borders depends on the subsequent tactics of both sides.