Chapter 22: Trickery Exposed

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Seeing his Cult Master’s composed expression, Vajra had also composed himself. He let out a mischievous laugh and said, “Cult master is supremely clever in his schemes and is able to destroy the enemy with a snap of his fingers.”

Chen Luoyang looked at Vajra and said, “Looking at your earlier reaction, are you very surprised with this outcome?”

Vajra got a shock and knelt down. “I don’t dare, I don’t dare! Cult Master has misunderstood me. I—I am just a boor who has never seen the world. That’s why I was making a fuss about nothing. Your brilliance is able to obtain victory even from thousands of miles away. If anyone dares to question this point, I shall be the first to burst the person’s head!”

Chen Luoyang looked at Vajra silently while the latter’s forehead was dripping with cold sweat.

After a long while, Chen Luoyang said indifferently, “Alright, get up.”

In response, Vajra let out a relaxed breath and stood up hesitantly. He then looked at Chen Luoyang and wanted to say something but held back.

“Speak.” Chen Luoyang sat on the tall throne and gently knocked on the armrest.

“Cult Master, didn’t Song Lun of the Five Color Hall reject your recruitment that day?” Vajra couldn’t understand as he asked, “Could it be that he looked for you privately again and pledged his allegiance?”

“He had already agreed that time,” Chen Luoyang said casually.

Vajra had a confused expression that was filled with question marks, but Chen Luoyang didn’t explain. A sense of mystery would aid to maintain a ruler’s prestige.

In fact, Chen Luoyang was hit with inspiration when they were facing the Sword Pavilion’s Nie Hua. He didn’t expose Yang Xiaofeng’s matter; instead, he used the Cloud Star Herb to give Song Lun a reminder.

On the one hand, it was to let Song Lun know that his only descendant was in the hands of the Demon Cult. On the other hand, it was an obscure method to remind Song Lun to keep his own secret. It was more advantageous to the Demon Cult for Song Lun to stay hidden in the Golden Summit.

It was obvious that Song Lun understood Chen Luoyang’s intention, resulting in today’s outcome.

Back when Chen Luoyang found out that Elder Mingjing was one of the Three Dragons that was secretly nurtured by the Azure Dragon Hall, and when he successfully subdued Song Lun, he was already confident in taking down the Golden Summit. The only problem was when and what price had to be paid.

After realizing that the opposition was using trickery to create a diversion, Chen Luoyang simply beat them at their own game and took advantage of the situation. He lured the opposition away from their territory and struck them at various locations. It was definitely the quickest way to seize the Shu Prefecture while paying the smallest price from the Demon Cult.

Right now, only the final phase remains.

“Cult Master, about the Sword Sovereign…?” Vajra looked outside the palace and probed with a question.

Chen Luoyang tapped his finger on the armrest. He was 70% certain that the Sword Pavilion Lord was also severely injured and was just putting on a strong front. He even suspected that the opposition wasn’t the Pavilion Lord himself. It was why he dared to execute this plan.

Now, it was to see the opposition’s reaction.

Nie Hua and his group were ambushed during the return trip. The news of an ambush on both the interior and exterior had been quickly relayed.

A vast and forceful sword light suddenly surged within the valley. As the sword burst through the clouds, it was extremely bright in the sky.

When the Demon Cult members saw the sword light, their hearts tensed up, while Chen Luoyang’s heart relaxed.

If the Sword Sovereign was genuine, he would have turned back to help out Nie Hua and the others who were in trouble. Why would he continue to show his prowess? Was he waiting for a group photo?

It was because the Sword Sovereign was only strong in appearance but weak in reality, while also being apprehensive that Chen Luoyang, the Demon Sovereign, had fully recovered. That’s why the Sword Sovereign could only demonstrate his prowess to intimidate.

On the other hand, Chen Luoyang had been constantly observing the Sword Sovereign’s sword light — during the meeting with Song Lun, when they were pursuing as the Demon Cult was withdrawing its troops, and at this current moment.

There were a total of three incidents, and the intensity of the sword light was exactly the same.

It might be possible to say that the Sword Sovereign had thorough control of his power; however, the sword light didn’t have any emotions or fluctuations.

On the first time, when the two Sovereigns were confronting each other, the sword light didn’t have any trace of determination for battle.

On the second time, when pursuing the Demon Cult, the sword light didn’t have any feeling that it was at ease after the victory.

On the third time, when his disciple was attacked, the sword light didn’t emit any feeling of anger or that the Sword Sovereign was offended.

It might be possible to explain it as the Sword Sovereign’s mental state being clear and unaffected by the outside world’s influence, allowing him to maintain a steady mind from start to finish. However, there was ultimately a kind of… overly mechanical feeling?

After the first two incidents, it was inevitable that Chen Luoyang would suspect that the opposition was just using a sort of diversionary tactic and that it wasn’t the Sword Sovereign himself.

After the third time, Chen Luoyang was almost able to confirm this suspicion.

“Bring the carriage forward.” Chen Luoyang was completely calm as he casually gestured at Vajra.

Seeing his Cult Master’s confident expression, Vajra was invigorated and immediately drove the Six Dragons Sovereign Carriage to turn back towards the mountain range that was enveloped in the Clear Sky sword light.

The distance between the two sides was starting to close up. That Clear Sky sword light finally had a bit of change and seemed to be stronger.

After seeing that the Demon Sovereign’s Six Dragons Sovereign Carriage didn’t have any intention to stop, the sword light suddenly dimmed… and retreated rapidly!

The opposition wasn’t able to maintain their vigor. The members of the Demon Cult were in an uproar.

Vajra was radiant with delight. “Cult Master, it seems like the Sword Sovereign’s body isn’t doing well!”

Chen Luoyang responded with an “mm” before saying, “Chase.”

The sword light was rapidly moving towards Nie Hua’s group. Apart from Nie Hua, the others were first delighted before they were alarmed.

The person inside the sword light wasn’t the orthodox faction’s main pillar, the Sword Pavilion Lord. Instead, it was a young man that didn’t seem to be 20 years old yet.

Everyone recognized this person too.

Extinction Sword, Xie Xingmang.

He was one of the Sword Pavilion Five Heroes and the fourth direct-line disciple of the Pavilion Lord. He was also known as the Divine Province’s Fourth Sir of the Sword Pavilion. Similar to his other seniors and juniors, he was already a martial king at a young age. His sword dao was innovative and unique, and had the bearing of a grandmaster.

However, everyone felt their hearts sank after seeing him.

“Since the trickery has been exposed, why do you still come? You have also trapped yourself in danger.” Nie Hua smiled bitterly.

After seeing his junior’s appearance, he knew the whole situation.

“Even if I cannot rescue everyone, I can still provide support to bring the rest of you out. If I can rescue you, I definitely have to do it.” As Xie Xingmang spoke, he shattered the long box in his hand that was emitting the sword light.

When the box shattered, the sword light grew stronger, and there was a sword whetstone inside. When the members of the two factions saw it, they were immediately enlightened.

Subsequently, Xie Xingmang drew his sword and sliced on the sword whetstone multiple times to form an unadorned and mysterious rune mark. The sword whetstone’s sword light condensed onto the rune mark before cracks appeared. The whetstone suddenly shattered!

There was a violent force that suddenly extended out to temporarily block Xiao Yuntian, Zhang Tianheng, Shangguan Song, and the rest of the Demon Cult experts.

Nie Hua and Xie Xingmang took the opportunity to call out to their comrades to quickly leave. Right now, only martial kings like them had the capability to escape here.

However, right at this moment, an anomaly happened again!

A Buddhist staff suddenly rose up. Buddhist light condensed and turned into an eight-armed golden arhat that was over ten meters tall.

This eight-armed golden arhat was holding a staff in each of its arms. The eight staffs then turned into a flurry of light and shadow which enveloped Nie Hua, Xie Xingmang, and two of the Great Xia Empire’s martial kings.

The golden arhat was produced by the Qingliang Temple’s Elder Mingjing who had been fighting alongside them!

The sudden assault had shocked everyone.

Apart from Nie Hua who was fastest among everyone, the three others were held back and slowed down.

After slowing down by just a split moment, the Demon Cult members caught up again.

“You are the real traitor?!” Nie Hua let out a severe yell as streaks of sword light slashed down, but a burst of gale suddenly blew over and neutralized his sword light.

Xiao Yuntian abruptly appeared in front of Nie Hua.

Nie Hua and the others fell into more despair as the massive mountain-like Six Dragons Sovereign Carriage appeared in the distant horizon.