Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 123
Chapter 123: There’s Credence Behind His Title
“Young master, we need to rush to the Profound Saber Sect, or else…” Yuan Zhuang anxiously told Fang Chen with a suppressed voice.
“What are you worried about?” Fang Chen chuckled. “Are you worried they would stomp the Profound Sword Sect?”
Yuan Zhuang nodded.
The Profound Saber Sect had been encircled by many sects, and his cousin, Yuan Yu, was trapped in there. Even Jue Panshi, a Valiant Defenders’ chiliarc, couldn’t intimidate them. If they really stomped the Profound Saber Sect, all of them would be goners.
“Their encirclement of the Profound Saber Sect merely symbolizes their stance. Why else do you think you’re able to escape and deliver the message to me? Even Huangfu Jie wouldn’t have been able to flee from the mountain alive if the Greatsword Gate really intended to raid the Profound Saber Sect, let alone you.” Fang Chen pointed out with a smile.
“Are you saying…” Yuan Zhuang gasped. Fang Chen’s words had enlightened him to the reality of the situation. Shit! I thought the pugilistic world is supposed to be more straightforward, but it turns out to be just as scheming as the imperial court!
The Greatsword Gate’s sudden move was likely related to the South Immortal Commandery’s purging of the minor sect. That move might have threatened the interests of some, so they went ahead with this encirclement.
Their goal was not to have a fall out with the imperial court but to make a clear stance.
Having thought things through, Yuan Zhuang wasn’t that anxious anymore.
Hours later, the crowd arrived at a bustling town. Beyond this town was a towering mountain, and that was where the Profound Saber Sect was located.
This town was not usually this crowded, but the martial artists from the Nine Commanderies had rushed here after receiving the Greatsword Sect’s invitation. As a result, armed martial artists could be spotted strutting around the town here and there.
Most of these martial artists were at Ki Refinement, making them small fry in the pugilistic world. There were also some reputable Ki Explosion martial artists among them, and they were clearly treated with respect.
“Oh? Those people appear to be from distinguished backgrounds.”
“That’s the Bear Mountain Sword Sect’s Zhong Ying. She reached Ki Explosion at a young age. Her Bear Mountain Sword can easily curb the two of us together.”
“Ah, it’s a disciple of the Bear Mountain Sword Sect! Now that the Heavensword Mountain Villa has fallen, the Bear Mountain Sword Sect is likely to join the ranks of the Four Great Sects…”
“Heh… I don’t think the Profound Saber Sect will last long either. The Bear Mountain Sword Sect will take one of the slots, but I wonder who will claim the other seat.”
Such discussions could be heard from the crowd. There were occasional fearful glances directed at Zhong Ying.
“Junior Zhong Ying, you’re finally here!”
A group of white-robed people carrying massive swords on their backs suddenly approached them. The person leading the group was a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties.
They were disciples of the Greatsword Gate!
The surrounding martial artists narrowed their eyes.
“Senior Xian? I thought you had already scaled the mountain,” Zhong Ying greeted with a smile.
“Paying respect to Senior Xian,” the other Bear Mountain Sword Sect’s disciples said.
Xian Kun chuckled. “Junior Zhong, I was waiting for you. I heard from your sect master that you and your juniors are reaching the Profound Saber Sect, and I was worried you might struggle to find your way around.”
“I’ll be troubling Senior Xian then,” Zhong Ying said.
Xian Kun glanced at the group and noticed two unfamiliar faces—Fang Chen and Yuan Zhuang. That piqued his curiosity. “Those two are?”
Zhong Ying quickly explained their backgrounds.
When Xian Kun learned that they were from a wealthy clan in the northern region, his eyes turned cold. He looked at the two of them with a superficial smile and remarked, “Wouldn’t it be dangerous for someone as esteemed as the two of you to come to a place like this?”
“The southern region isn’t suited for delicate young masters like you,” a Greatsword Gate’s disciple added.
It was easy to differentiate between people from the northern region and the southern region. Those from the southern region tended to have a darker skin tone and a coarser complexion, including martial artists. Even Zhong Ying had a coppery skin tone too.
In contrast, it was an understatement to say that Fang Chen had a fair complexion, though his skin wasn’t as smooth after years on the battlefield. That being said, the nourishment from the spirit ki after he became a cultivator had given his skin a healthy glow.
It was visible that he was a young master from the northern region.
“I’m expanding my horizons,” Fang Chen remarked with a smile.
“Why don’t you open your eyes when you speak?” Xian Kun frowned.
Zhong Ying quickly stepped in and explained on Fang Chen’s behalf.
The Greatsword Gate’s disciples were amused to learn that Fang Chen was blind. Why is a blind man joining in the commotion?
“A battle has broken out on the mountain! The Seven Profound Saber has made his move! The Bear Mountain Sect Master has sustained severe injuries!” someone reported.
The crowd was taken aback to hear that.
“Big Senior Sister, let’s quickly scale the mountain!” The Bear Mountain Sword Sect’s disciples were anxious to learn that their sect master was injured.
Zhong Ying nodded.
“Come, I’ll take you up the mountain,” Xian Kun said.
With Greatsword Gate’s disciples opening up the path, the group was able to pass through the crowded street with greater ease.
“Young master Li, it’s best for you not to scale the mountain now. Why don’t you take a stroll in the town instead?’ Zhong Ying turned around and suggested.
“There’s no reason for my young master to stay at the foot of the mountain when he’s already here. It’s rare for something this huge to happen in the southern region’s pugilistic world. The least we should do is to take a look,” Yuan Zhuang replied on Fang Chen’s behalf.
Xian Kun turned around and sneered, “You’re here to watch our commotion? Do you really think that you northerners are superior to us?”
“I’m also a Ki Explosion martial artist. Do you have a problem with that?” Yuan Zhuang replied with a deeper, more menacing voice.
Ki Explosion martial artist?
Xian Kun was surprised. He carefully assessed Yuan Zhuang once more before softly chuckling. He didn’t say anything else afterward.
Zhong Ying thought about it, and it didn’t seem inappropriate for her to bring Fang Chen up the mountain. The latter had a Ki Explosion martial artist as a guard, after all. They had the means to protect themselves. Thus, she decided not to bother dissuading them anymore.
The road up the mountain was filled with martial artists.
It took the group an hour before they arrived before the entrance of the Profound Saber Sect.
There was already a large crowd gathered there by the time they arrived. There were many tents in the surroundings, a sign that they were determined to hold the encirclement and trap the Profound Saber Sect’s members.
Of them, the Greatsword Sect’s martial artists stood out the most. They had a few hundred disciples gathered in the area, and they strutted around with an air of loftiness.
Accompanying them were the other first-rate sects, such as the Bear Mountain Sword Sect.
The other second-rate, third-rate sects, and unaffiliated martial artists lingered at the outer perimeter.
All in all, there were at least 7000 to 8000 people gathered here. Despite not being a trained army, their martial art prowess was more than enough to threaten an elite army of 10,000 men. The Profound Saber Sect wouldn’t stand a chance if they chose to slaughter their way in!
Huangfu Jie was crossing blows with a Ki Control martial artist at the Profound Saber Sect’s entrance. Seven sharp sabers could be seen revolving around him through the manipulation of his inner ki. These sharp sabers wielded terrifying might, and they could unleash attacks from challenging trajectories.
His opponent was a Ki Control martial artist who appeared to be in his sixties. This martial artist’s aura paled in comparison to Huangfu Jie, but he was one of the more outstanding martial artists in the southern region. Yet, he was being suppressed, unable to fight back at all.
Zhong Ying and her group rushed to the Bear Mountain Sword Sect’s camp.
Their sect master’s face was pale. He massaged his chest while observing the ongoing battle and murmuring, “Huangfu Jie has grasped the powerful Seven Profound Sabers despite only being in his twenties. As expected of the number one expert of our southern region. He lives up to his reputation…”
