Chapter 206: Chapter 206: The Fish Takes the Bait

The North, Qing Country.

An old man with white hair and a beard was strolling through a courtyard filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, an iron cage in his hand containing an Armored Feathered Bird he was toying with.

Then, a Splendid Light was the first to descend.

“Old Monster Hua, a Demon Sect Perfected Lord has personally issued a conscription order. Nearly half the North has been mobilized, yet you’re in high enough spirits to be here playing with your bird.”

A middle-aged man strode out from the Splendid Light.

The man he called Old Monster Hua was actually quite famous in the North. He was the Sect Leader of the Five Elements Sect, with a Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment cultivation, known as Five Elements Zhenren.

At this moment, Five Elements Zhenren smiled while holding his birdcage.

“We’ll meet soldiers with generals and floods with dams. It’s as simple as that. Xia Weiming, have you finished relocating your clan?”

“The entire Zhaoxia Clan has moved into Qing Country. I assume the same is true for the Five Elements Sect? Regardless, we can only see this path through to the end.”

After speaking, the middle-aged man seemed somewhat melancholic.

“Hmph. So what if we see it through to the end?”

Just then, another voice rang out, and this time, a young man emerged. “Under the Demon Sect’s rule, we never had a way out to begin with.”

“By joining the Dao Court, we at least have a fighting chance!”

“Old Monster Chen…” Xia Weiming sighed at the sight.

The other man’s name was Chen Anze. Like Xia Weiming, he was the ancestor of an Immortal Race, and the Yuan Chen Clan’s reputation was even greater than that of the Zhaoxia Clan.

A moment later, a Fragrant Wind suddenly swept in.

Wisps of cloud began to drift through the courtyard, coalescing into a human figure before suddenly dispersing to reveal a beautiful woman in palace attire.

“Fairy Yun He of the Panyun Sect has also arrived.”

“What about the Upper Profound Sword Sect?”

Before Five Elements Zhenren could finish speaking, a piercing sword cry echoed from the heavens. A Sword Light then shot down and transformed into a figure.

It was a young man with sharp brows and bright eyes, his expression cold and severe. A Golden Sword on his back continuously radiated sharp Sword Qi, causing Five Elements Zhenren to click his tongue in amazement. “They say the Upper Profound Sword Sect has the support of the South and possesses three Superior Magical Swords. The rumors are indeed true.”

“Profound Gold Sword Master, I greet Elder Hua.”

The young man clasped his hands in a salute toward Five Elements Zhenren. “Our Sect Leader is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, so he is unable to meet with you, Elder.”

“No matter, no matter.”

Five Elements Zhenren waved his hand, his eyes bright. “If Fellow Daoist Shangxuan can break through to the Late Stage and achieve the rank of Great Trueman, it will be an even greater boon to our cause.”

After that, the group took their places in the courtyard.

The five Foundation-Stage Cultivators were clearly led by Five Elements Zhenren.

After all, he was the only one at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment; the others—Xia Weiming, Chen Anze, Fairy Yun He, and the Profound Gold Sword Master—were all in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Just then, an indescribable sense of oppression simultaneously rose in the hearts of all five. In the span of a breath, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, which they normally controlled as easily as their own limbs, suddenly spun out of their grasp. It abandoned them as if they were worthless, surging instead toward a handsome young man who was walking over.

“Champion Scholar.”

Five Elements Zhenren was the first to clasp his hands in greeting, and the other four hurriedly followed suit. The handsome young man, however, was very friendly, earnestly returning each of their salutes one by one.

“This junior, Zhong Xin, greets you, Elders.”

“We wouldn’t dare accept such a title.”

Five Elements Zhenren shook his head. “The Champion Scholar is the top of the current imperial examinations and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. At such a young age, you already hold the position of a Third-Grade Official…”

As he spoke, Five Elements Zhenren glanced at Zhong Xin again. He cultivated the Dharma Eye Divine Technique, which allowed him to see things imperceptible to others. Right now, as he looked at Zhong Xin, he could see the dense Official Qi accumulated on his body. This Qi congealed into the forms of cloud-cranes and fierce tigers, which circled around him protectively.

And above his head floated a distinct Official Position:

Governor of Shun Dao Fengtian

This Official Position was Third Grade in Qing Country, putting him in charge of all matters in the Capital City. It was a position of great power and authority, and its blessing granted him the cultivation of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

And this was only in a tiny place like Qing Country.

After all, Qing Country’s system was modeled after the Dao Court, but due to its limited territory and small population, it could not truly replicate the Dao Court’s full scale.

Otherwise, in the Dao Court in the East, a Third-Grade Official would be a true Celestial Official, a Great Trueman at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment at minimum. They would never have only an Early Stage cultivation. In fact, throughout all of Qing Country, only the current Prince Qing could consolidate an Official Position comparable to a Great Trueman at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Even so, to gain cultivation so easily was still enviable.

In the next moment, Qing Country’s Third-Grade Champion Scholar, Zhong Xin, asked curiously, “Elder, for what important matter have you summoned me to discuss?”

“…It concerns the enemy from the North.”

Five Elements Zhenren gathered his thoughts and solemnly took out a Fei Xin. “Two friends I won over in the North sent a message. They said they’ve encountered a Demon Sect Zhenren.”

“My friend has invited us to join them.”

“My friend’s cultivation is not weak; he’s also at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. For him to want to organize an ambush, the target is, nine times out of ten, also at the mid-phase—and that’s not even mentioning they’re from the Demon Sect…”

“I suspect this person is very likely the one the Demon Sect sent to lead the invasion of our country!”

Five Elements Zhenren assimilated quickly. He was clearly a Foundation-Stage Cultivator from the North, yet his words already framed him as a citizen of Qing Country.

Seeing this, Zhong Xin also showed a flicker of interest. “Elder, you mean to say?”

“I intend to go and ambush them!”

Hearing this, Five Elements Zhenren’s brow rose, and he declared in a rousing voice, “The great battle is imminent. If we can kill a Demon Sect Zhenren beforehand, it will surely crush the enemy’s momentum.”

Zhong Xin hesitated upon hearing this. After a long moment of thought, he shook his head. “A decree came from the Daoist Court Celestial Observatory. It said that the Demon Sect’s Perfected Chong Guang has already been reincarnated. Our top priority should be to find Chong Guang’s reincarnation. As for you, Elder, you only need to defend our position…”

“Champion Scholar, I must disagree!” Five Elements Zhenren shook his head.

’Defend? How can I earn any merit by just defending!’

He had brought the entire Five Elements Sect to join Qing Country and side with the Dao Court, all to secure a future for them within the Dao Court. He had to achieve some merits.

And slaying a Stain Sect Zhenren was, without a doubt, a great merit.

’Otherwise, if we win and the one who captures Chong Guang’s reincarnation gets all the credit, what about us? The ones who just defended and waited for reinforcements?’

’We’d be labeled as nothing more than freeloaders who got carried to victory!’

Therefore, Five Elements Zhenren was burning with eagerness for a fight. He wished he could go out and kill a few Demon Sect Zhenren right now, just to show the Dao Court how hard he had worked and how much he had achieved.

And he wasn’t the only one who thought this way.

The four Foundation-Stage Cultivators standing behind him, who had also pledged allegiance to the Dao Court and come to help Qing Country fight the Stain Sect, all shared the same thought.

Seeing this, Zhong Xin could only nod helplessly. “…I understand.”

“I can agree to this matter.”

“However, you will be going deep behind enemy lines. Please be extremely careful, Elder. If the mission proves too difficult, it would be best to return quickly. Do not get trapped in the territory of the Jiangbei Demon Sect.”

“Rest assured, Champion Scholar!”

Having received Zhong Xin’s approval, Five Elements Zhenren’s face lit up with excitement. He turned to the others and announced, “Everyone, our chance to earn merit has arrived!”

…….

Leaving the trade fair, Lü Yang flew toward Gai Bamboo Mountain. He was in no hurry, riding his Flying Light at a slow pace, looking completely carefree.

’It’s about time. They should be catching up soon, right?’

’If they truly have ill intentions and chase after me to kill me, then it won’t be considered an ambush on my part. It’ll be self-defense. No matter how you spin it, I’ll be the one in the right…’

That’s right, Lü Yang was fishing.

’These Jiangbei Loose Cultivators are all still too naive. These tricks might work on a Saint Sect Zhenren like Wu Cang, who also came from a Loose Cultivator background…’

’But trying to fool me with them? They’re far too green for that.’

’They wouldn’t even be able to fool Perfected Yin Shan, let alone me.’

Soon, a Flying Light appeared in the distance, speeding toward him. A smile touched Lü Yang’s lips, and he simply stopped in place, clasping his hands behind his back to wait.

’The fish has taken the bait!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep