Chapter 204. The Central Plains Murim (2)

As Li Gen looked as though he would continue expressing his gratitude endlessly if left unchecked, Zhou Xuchuan stopped him preemptively. Zhuge Xiang then guided Zhou forward.

"You've worked so hard to carry out your mission. However, since the Alliance Leader is waiting, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll have to ask the representatives to make the report before you rest."

"It's fine. It's something I should do anyway."

They hadn't hurried back in the first place, taking appropriate breaks whenever they stopped by a village along the way.

While they were somewhat tired from their long journey, traveling at a relaxed pace meant they weren't so exhausted that they couldn't give their report.

The search party arrived as the sun began to set, marking the end of the day, ready to deliver their report.

Zhou Xuchuan, Tang Hui, Tang Lian, and Duan Hecheng went to the Alliance Leader's office alone.

"Welcome."

As they opened the door and entered, the Alliance Leader, Nangong Weiwu, sat at the desk and greeted them as if he had been waiting for them.

"We greet the Alliance Leader."

"You must be tired after coming all the way from the Southern Jungles. You didn't need to see me right away. It's fine for you to rest first."

Nangong Weiwu smiled kindly.

Then, the Empyrean Overlord's gaze turned to Zhou Xuchuan.

"We should be holding a grand banquet to thank you for your hard work. Please forgive us for not being able to do so."

"It's okay. After all, wasn't it a confidential mission?"

The Benevolence Clinic had been afraid of the Divine Physician's disappearance becoming known. That was why they had deliberately marked the request as top secret.

The only people aware of the mission were those directly involved, along with the leaders of the Mount Hua Sect, Diancang Sect, and Tang Family, as well as the Alliance Leader and the Strategists.

Even the elders of the Martial Alliance were mostly unaware of the mission.

Now that the Divine Physician had returned safely, the others would be informed in due time. However, for now, they couldn't hold a public banquet to celebrate.

"Thank you for your understanding. Then, could I ask you to begin your report?"

"Of course."

Zhou Xuchuan reported what happened in the Southern Jungles.

To avoid boring them, he omitted the unnecessary details and kept his report brief.

"Oh ho, to think something like that could happen."

When Zhou Xuchuan finished recounting the events, Nangong Weiwu let out an exclamation of disbelief.

"The power behind the major tribes... you're saying it's the Dark Heavens Association?"

The most important part was the Dark Heavens Association.

It's about time they were revealed.

The dark force that was trying to control the

murim

in secret.

The name of that force had finally come out of the Alliance Leader's mouth.

With the Dark Heavens Association's intelligence network, they're definitely going to discover how the Head Archivist lost his life in the Southern Jungles. Then, it's only a matter of time before my involvement is revealed.

While the Divine Physician was missing, everything about the mission had been kept confidential. However, now that everything was resolved, things were different. The leaders of the Benevolence Clinic had kept the matter a secret because they had been worried about their own lives, but now, they would be able to talk about it without any worries.

Now, in order to clear up the misunderstandings of those who had been worried about the Divine Physician's actions and had suspected his disciples, the Benevolence Clinic would have to reveal the details. There was no way around it.

Since he was going to be targeted by the Dark Heavens Association sooner or later, he decided to force them into the open gradually and raise the alarm within each faction.

It would be essential to borrow the power of the Martial Alliance in the future war, so there would be no harm in telling them now.

However, he didn't tell them everything he knew.

No matter his status as the hero of the Righteous Faction, even a hero would be suspected if they knew too much. He had to keep enough hidden so as not to be suspicious.

As if he had mastered the Dao of Mixing Lies and Truth, the story that he had made up in advance came out as smoothly as butter.

He had

accidentally

discovered the Dark Heavens Association in the past during his cultivation journey. At first, he hadn't thought much of them and just forgot about it. However, he soon realized that they had been involved in many incidents across the

murim

and that their scale and power weren't ordinary. Zhou Xuchuan emphasized that the Stockade Boss of the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest had also been a member.

Even without Zhou Xuchuan's testimony, the strange actions of the former Stockade Boss, Meng Gang, had already raised suspicions.

The story of a master of that level suddenly appearing out of nowhere and taking over the entire Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest had always seemed odd to the leaders. This detail lent further credibility to Zhou Xuchuan's claims about the Dark Heavens Association's existence.

"To be honest, it's difficult to take what you're saying at face value."

"That's understandable."

It was natural that anyone would be shocked to hear that a dark force controlled the

murim

from the shadows.

In truth, it was surprising that they hadn't laughed him off but instead listened seriously.

This is why having a reputation is important.

The reason he hadn't talked about the Dark Heavens Association when he was younger wasn't only because he lacked power but also because he had assumed that no one would believe him. To tell someone this story and convince them, one needed the power and prestige to back it up.

Fortunately, the fame of being the Plum Blossom Order Sword and the Hero of the Righteous Faction was enough to convince the Alliance Leader to listen.

"You should be able to hear the detailed story regarding that man if you ask the Divine Physician."

"Understood."

Nangong Weiwu's face hardened.

If the story regarding the Dark Heavens Association was true, this wasn't an issue that could be easily overlooked. It was a matter of great importance that affected the safety of the entire

murim

.

Once the Divine Physician gave his testimony, things would become far more complicated.

Now, this is just the beginning, Dark Heavens Association.

Zhou Xuchuan licked his lips.

Two of the Seven Stars of the Dark Heavens Association were dead, and the Head Archivist of the Archive had also lost his life.

Their existence has also been exposed.

The Dark Heavens Association would undoubtedly target him in the future, but Zhou Xuchuan was confident in his ability to face them. He found it fun to imagine what kind of expression Blessed Existence would make.

****

The Alliance Meeting began.

There were two items on the agenda. As expected, the first concerned the Benevolence Clinic's request.

While the elders were somewhat dissatisfied about being kept in the dark, they ultimately understood why it had been necessary and chose not to press the issue.

However, the next item on the agenda was the real problem.

"I just can't believe it," Stick-Holding Beggar Huang Gou said with a frown.

It was hard to believe that there was a secret force that even the Beggar Gang, one of the two major intelligence forces in the

murim

, didn't know about.

"Are you suspicious of the intelligence?"

"Namu Amitabha. Isn't the source the Plum Blossom Order Sword?" Hui Lu, an elder dispatched from the Shaolin Temple and someone of the Hui Generation, the same generation as the Abbot, said as he rolled the prayer beads around his wrist.

Zhou Xuchuan may have been the one who had destroyed their last chance to resolve their grudge, but at the same time, he was also the benefactor who had brought the Prajna Divine Art back to them.

Even within the temple, there were various opinions about him. However, in Hui Lu's case, he considered Zhou Xuchuan to be the temple's benefactor.

"Hmph. I also understand that he's a trustworthy person. However, if the information is even slightly inaccurate, or if he misunderstood something, investigating it will waste manpower and time."

After all, as someone responsible for handling intelligence, suspicion came naturally to him.

"You're not wrong."

Their Strategist, Zhuge Zhonghao, nodded.

The matter was far too serious to act on based on a single person's words.

The story itself sounded like something out of a children's tale or the ramblings of conspiracy theorists, so there was naturally a lot of debate.

"Isn't he just a child whose achievements have been exaggerated because he was lucky? It's just like Elder Huang says."

The elder of the Hebei Peng Family, Peng Junping, agreed with Huang Jian's words.

"Huh? What's with you all of a sudden?"

Huang Jian looked at Peng Junping curiously. Since they usually bickered, they generally always expressed opposing opinions.

"No, is it that you're finally using your brain? Kekeke."

"Shut it, beggar. If you keep insulting me, I'll cut your head off with my sword and throw it away," Peng Junping growled softly at Huang Jian's laughter.

"Now, now, elders, please calm down."

Zhuge Xiang tried to stop him with a bitter smile.

"What Elder Huang said makes sense. However, the information regarding the Dark Heavens Association didn't come just from the Plum Blossom Order Sword."

"Who else testified regarding them?"

"The Poison Phoenix and Elder Tang Lian of the Tang family. Moreover, the Seventh Young Masters of Diancang, Duan Hecheng, and the Divine Physician."

"Hmm..."

The names of those who also testified were more powerful than expected. The Poison Phoenix, the daughter of the Tang Family Head and a younger generation talent herself, not to mention an elder of the Tang Family, the Seventh Young Master of Diancang, and the Divine Physician, too.

The most concerning one was the Divine Physician. The Benevolence Clinic was a force that could rival the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Ancient Families.

While his medical arts were one thing, what they couldn't ignore was the debt they owed to the Divine Physician. Since they were all martial artists, it was impossible for them to cut ties with the Benevolence Clinic. There had been several instances where they had received help with neidans and elixirs.

The world of the

murim

was a place where every relationship involved some form of connection, whether it was gratitude or resentment. Since these connections were so important, they couldn't ignore something like this.

"I think we need to discuss this matter a little more."

"I agree."

As a result, the meeting dragged on even longer.

Meanwhile, while the Martial Alliance was busy for several days, the search party took the opportunity to rest and recover from their ordeal.

Thanks to the many conveniences provided by the Alliance Leader and the Deputy Strategist, they were treated to a life of luxury, one befitting royalty.

They were served all kinds of rare delicacies and had maids to take care of their every need.

That

was how important the Divine Physician's rescue mission had been.

"Hello. We're from the Anhui Merchants..."

"You can refer to us as a fellow Righteous Faction Sect active near Hefei, the..."

Although information regarding them were masked for the sake of their peace and quiet, eyes were still immediately drawn to the search party the moment they stepped beyond the Alliance Headquarters' gates.

It was understandable since they were elites who had personally completed a confidential mission assigned to them by the Benevolence Clinic and the Alliance Leader. It was no wonder that they attracted people's attention.

Most of the people who approached them not only brought gifts to build connections but also desperately tried to show their faces, even if it was just once.

Now that I see them, they're from the Diancang Sect and the Sichuan Tang Family, right?

The Nine Sects and One Gang, and the Five Great Ancient Families... their backgrounds are already obviously incredible, combined with their outstanding abilities...

Even if I can only get the slightest bit of their attention, it's worth it.

Wasn't this why the Martial Alliance was founded?

The center of the Righteous Faction, the Martial Alliance.

Since it was where all of the famous Righteous Faction Members were gathered, it was also referred to as the Market of the Brilliant.

People gathered, looking for opportunities to meet each other while trying to pursue their own interests.

Among all the warriors present, the one everyone most wanted to meet was, of course, the Hero of the Righteous Faction, the Plum Blossom Order Sword.

"It doesn't matter if I can't see him. Please, at least give him this gift."

"Are you saying the Plum Blossom Order Sword is at the Martial Alliance?"

"What are you doing?! Let's go quickly!"

He was the Great Hero, the Hero of the Righteous Faction. People did everything they could to catch a glimpse of him.

"Kya!!! The Great Hero!"

"I heard that Great Hero Zhou is incredibly handsome!"

"I want to try hugging his broad chest. Just look at those well-trained muscles. They must be strong, right?"[1]

"Father told me not to think about coming home until I meet the Great Hero. What should I do?"

Zhou Xuchuan was the most eligible bachelor in the Central Plains.

Whether it was his cultivation or his background, no one could rival him. He may not have been the World's Most Beautiful Man, but he was by no means unattractive.

His personality also went without saying. He was known as the Hero of the Righteous Faction and a Great Hero, after all. Most importantly, although he was a Daoist, since he didn't hold a leadership position in the Mount Hua Sect, he could still get married.

No matter how small the force, as long as they could catch Zhou Xuchuan, their sect's glory would be guaranteed.

However, no one was able to see the man of the hour.

"The Great Hero has entered secluded cultivation and cannot see anyone."

"As he's a busy man, we haven't even been able to see him for the past few days.

No one, regardless of their status, was able to meet with him.

While some of the higher-ranking people ranted, calling him arrogant, when they heard that the famed hero had said, 'I think I'm about to achieve enlightenment,' and locked himself in an underground cultivation hall set up by the Martial Alliance, they had no choice but to turn back.

"..."

In a cultivation hall where not even a single ray of light could intrude, there was only a single door connected to the stairs, and not even the faintest sound of the wind could be heard.

On the rectangular marble floor, in the exact center of the hall, Zhou Xuchuan sat cross-legged.

In front of him was a burning red elixir, The Divine Pill of the Au Co.

1. Bruh. ☜