Chapter 353. Black Iron Armor (1)

Chapter 353. Black Iron Armor (1)

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Zhou Xuchuan and the others went north from Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei, eventually arriving at the temporary headquarters of the Martial Alliance in Kaifeng, Henan.

The capital of Henan was Zhengzhou, but Kaifeng was also a prosperous city like Zhengzhou.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was a large city with a population of over a million, and it was a historic city that had been the capital of several dynasties, including the Wei Dynasty of the Warring States Period, the Liang Dynasty, the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Jin Dynasty.

Since it was connected to several cities south of the Yangtze River through its various waterways, it was also called the "Heavens' Meeting Place."

It was a large city, so it could easily accommodate about four thousand martial artists.

On the other hand, the high prices of goods and rent made it difficult for most to survive. They had to bend their backs and tighten their belts for the sake of survival. Fortunately, the warriors of the Martial Alliance were able to survive with the help of the Gold Will Merchants.

"We greet the Sword God!" greeted a Martial Alliance guard clad in a full suit of armor. Zhou Xuchuan and the others were standing before him. All of them were at the entrance of the manor prepared by the Gold Will Merchants.

Zhou Xuchuan, Duan Lihua, and Zhuge Xiuluan met with the Martial Alliance upper echelons for a report and a meeting.

"Welcome, Sword God."

It felt a little awkward to report in a place other than the Martial Alliance Leader's office or conference room.

"Thank you for your hard work," Zhuge Xiang greeted with a nod. Given the circumstances, his complexion didn't look all that good.

"You worked so hard in Guizhou, I'm sorry for ruining your efforts."

A lonely smile spread across Yun Guang's lips.

"You must be tired from the distant journey, but could you explain what happened during the Battle of Guizhou and the ongoing situation again?"

Zhou Xuchuan didn't rush to the temporary headquarters without any contact. He had sent a messenger several times in advance to give a rough explanation.

However, it was different from a direct report, so he had to make another report.

"Of course," Duan Lihua answered in Zhou Xuchuan's stead.

The two people who would know Guizhou's situation were those who had been on the battlefield. Thus, the elders valued the report of the commanders on the scene.

Duan Lihua and Zhuge Xiuluan gave the report they had prepared in advance. As they had excluded all unnecessary opinions and explanations, only focusing on the main points, the other elders were satisfied with their report.

However, it still took time due to how important the report was.

"Even after the Righteous and Evil Alliance was formed, Guizhou still wasn't under the alliance's control since both parties are on bad terms. It was truly fortunate that you were able to unite them and block the Dark Heavens Army there without any problems.

"You truly worked hard."

"We just did what was expected of us as members of the Righteous Faction."

Duan Lihua smiled slightly and showed humility.

Ahem... she's doing better than I thought?

Zhou Xuchuan thought. Duan Lihua's tongue was more shameless than most men's. Zhou Xuchuan was worried that she would make a dirty joke in front of Yun Guang, one of the Six Empyrean Overlords and the Martial Alliance Leader, but fortunately, things went well.

"Could I hear about what happened in Hefei?"

"Of course. I was going to tell you anyway."

Yun Guang showed respect for Duan Lihua, even though she was young enough to be his daughter—no, his granddaughter. Of course, it was all because of her abilities and position.

"The Strategist will handle the explanation," Zhuge Xiang explained on Yun Guang's behalf.

In fact, Zhou Xuchuan and his party had heard things through letters, rumors, and information groups, so they knew what they needed to know. Still, they listened to compare what they had heard and to hear stories from the field.

"The Yangtze River..."

The ancients had said that the Yangtze River was the greatest river in the world, and whoever controlled the Yangtze River controlled the heavens.

The ongoing situation was exactly like that.

The Dark Heavens Association had been cooperating with the Nine Water Gangs to control the Yangtze River, obtaining a lot of benefits.

The transportation route was a particularly large benefit.

"What a meticulous man."

Zhuge Xiang stuck out his tongue, looking tired.

Zhou Xuchuan also nodded to Zhuge Xiang's words.

If the special force had arrived a little earlier, they would have noticed that the bandits near Dongting Lake had attacked

them

before they arrived at Guizhou.

However, they were too focused on Guizhou to notice it.

After diverting our attention, they divided their forces and sent their troops slowly. It was truly a brilliant move.

It was an amazing plan, but they were still enemies, so there was nothing else left to say.

"

Hmm,

the question about transportation has been answered... but how did they appear in one place as if they had risen from the ground?" Duan Lihua asked with a puzzled expression.

They appeared right in front of Hefei, not just any corner of Anhui. Since they appeared in the center of the Righteous Faction's sphere of influence, she wondered how ten thousand people had done that without being detected.

"As I said earlier, the Dark Heavens Association divided their troops into small groups and transported them that way. Things would become inconvenient if they were caught out by gathering in one place at such large numbers, so they stayed divided in the same manner that they were transported.

"They had to have taken refuge in the nearby mountains, underwater caves, and even rocky cliffs. They could have also disguised themselves as members of merchant ships.

"In a nutshell, they only regrouped on the day of the ambush."

The problem was that the Yangtze River in southern Anhui was closer than Hefei. In particular, the area near He County and Mount Ma'an, which crossed over to Jiangsu, was a perfect strategic location.

"For the sake of our future strategies, I think we should do something about the Nine Water Gangs before the Dark Heavens Association," Zhuge Xiuluan said rather than Zhuge Xiang.

As expected of a tactician, she was usually quiet, but she was very talkative when she had to use her brain.

"If the Dark Heavens Association is located in the headquarters at Hefei, then the Yangtze River will be their best escape and transportation route.

"Furthermore, neither the Righteous Faction nor the Evil Faction is good at water immersion arts, so if we find ourselves in another critical juncture, we will have no choice but to face them with our eyes open.

"I believe we should deal with the gangs before anything else."

They could chase their enemy all the way on land, but they had no answer if their enemies were on the river. Yes, the Righteous and Evil Alliance had ships, but the problem was that they wouldn't be able to exert much power on the river, so they would most likely be overwhelmed by their enemies.

In fact, it would be even more problematic than they could imagine.

"It is as the Tactician Phoenix said."

Zhuge Xiang thoroughly distinguished between public and private affairs. Even when it came to his younger sister, whom he had known since childhood, he still used honorifics.

Zhuge Xiuluan seemed to take that for granted and didn't seem to care much.

"We were already thinking about the subjugation of the Nine Water Gangs."

"There is one big problem," Yun Guang opened his mouth, saying, "As the Tactician Phoenix said, there is no one good at water immersion arts among us."

Yun Guang let out a deep sigh, seemingly frustrated.

"Of course, if we send a subjugation force composed of experts, a subjugation is possible, but if we do that, there will be problems elsewhere."

That was why they couldn't subjugate the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest at the same time.

"You don't have to worry about that." Zhou Xuchuan smiled slightly.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, the Hainan Sword Sect. We might be able to get help from the Hainan Island's

murim

sect."

"...!"

Yun Guang and Zhuge Xiang's faces brightened.

"I'm just letting you know, just in case, but a few dozen people won't be enough."

"That was why I said Hainan Island, not just the Hainan Sword Sect."

Zhou Xuchuan ended the conflict on Hainan Island and became a benefactor of the Hainan Sword Sect, the small and medium-sized sects there, and the South Sea Dragon Gate.

If he were to leverage his accomplishments and ask them for aid, they would become strong allies, just like the Potala Palace, not too long ago.

"The Sword God is truly a hero! A hero!"

The worry marring Yun Guang's face disappeared. The new Martial Alliance Leader smiled kindly in delight.

"Thank you. More importantly, may I ask you one more thing?"

"Of course. Even if you were to ask me about the sutras of my sect's techniques, I would answer you truthfully, Sword God," the Taiji Sword even joked, seeming quite pleased.

Zhou Xuchuan momentarily considered asking about the sutras of the Wudang Sect's Three Divine Cultivation Arts, but he regretfully gave up on it and asked something else.

"I would like you to tell me in detail about your confrontation with the Dark Heavens Association Lord."

"Hmm." A reserved voice echoed from Yun Guang's mouth.

I have to learn more about the Dark Heavens Association Lord's martial arts.

Zhou Xuchuan had seen the Dark Heavens Association Lord on the battlefield, but he hadn't seen the latter as close. After all, he was far away. Above all, he had never seen the man fight properly.

The battle between the masters was so chaotic that Zhou Xuchuan was forced to stay far away, lest he become a part of the collateral damage.

Moreover, Zhou Xuchuan himself had had no time to watch the battle between the masters, as he had been fighting against the Seven Stars Division soldiers of the Dark Heavens Association.

According to Zhou Xuchuan's previous lifetime, the Dark Heavens Association would be killed by the future Empyrean Overlords, including the elderly Hong Gao, about fifty years from the present.

He shouldn't be as strong as back then since he doesn't have the Ten Thousand Convergence Art, but he's still a monster. I need more information to win.

There was a saying about how one ought to know one's enemy, and one would win every battle.

"Then..."

Yun Guang was conscious of Duan Lihua's presence.

Neither Zhuge Xiang nor Zhuge Xiuluan had any interest in martial arts, and as strategists, keeping the Dark Heavens Association Lord's Manifestation of One's Path in mind was necessary for their strategy and tactics.

However, a warrior like Duan Lihua was different. Learning about such abilities early could affect her ability to gain enlightenment.

"I'm done with my report, so I'll take my leave now," Duan Lihua said, bowing.

Judging by her gaze, she seemed curious, but she knew that she had no choice but to step aside regretfully.

After confirming that Duan Lihua had left and the guards waiting nearby had sent her far enough, Yun Guan finally opened his mouth, saying, "Tactician Phoenix, please make sure that what I say next will never leak out."

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."

"Dark Heavens Association Lord, that bastard... was as ridiculous as you warned, Sword God."

Yun Guang's face was stiff as he explained in detail. He recounted everything from the Taiji Prajna Sword, Manifestation of One's Path, Grafting Flowers onto Branches, and everything else that had occurred before the retreat.

From what I've heard, it seems to be a quicksword technique, but it's impossible to glean anything else.

A quicksword technique, and an extreme quicksword technique at that.

However, quicksword techniques were common throughout the Righteous and Evil Paths, let alone the Demonic Path, so it was difficult to specifically infer the Dark Heavens Association Lord's cultivation method.

It was frustrating, as there was nothing they could glean just from his attacks being absurdly fast.

Back then, it was impossible to tell because he learned so many martial arts due to that damned Ten Thousand Convergence Art, but... ugh, I can't even begin to guess his Manifestation of One's Path.

If Zhou Xuchuan hadn't retrieved the Ten Thousand Convergence Art from the Three-Eyed Godly Thief's treasury, he would have had to wait for the future Empyrean Overlords to even attempt this battle.

Despite being weakened, he was able to withstand the combined attacks of the Taiji Sword and the Juvenile Fist Emperor without any problems. Hah, seriously.

Zhou Xuchuan felt like cursing.

"Things would have been different if we had sustained any wounds from his attacks. Unfortunately, those who died at his hands are still at the headquarters, so it's impossible to learn anything further than that.

"We can't check the wounds of the deceased, after all."

"Most of the Dark Heavens Association's techniques are from the Imperial Repository, so he's probably using a true martial art.

"The Strategist Troops are currently reviewing those old documents, so if anything is discovered, I'll let you know immediately," Zhuge Xiang added.

"If even the Alliance Leader can't recognize it, then it must either be a lost or an ancient martial art."

As expected of a hero of the previous generation, the Taiji Sword had indeed traveled the world of

gangho

and experienced many battles.

The Evil Faction and Demonic Path were given, but he had even exchanged blows with members of the Righteous Faction. In other words, he had considerable knowledge of martial arts.

At the very least, it was clear that the Dark Heavens Association Lord's main cultivation method and technique weren't known to the current

murim

. Still, putting aside his martial arts, it was regrettable that they couldn't discover the Association Lord's Manifestation of One's Path.

A battle between masters could be decided in an instant, and a battle between Empyrean Overlords, Absolute Masters of the Coruscant Realm, was determined by one's Manifestation of One's Path.

Zhou Xuchuan understood that as well, which was why he kept his other Manifestation of One's Path, Regression, a secret from everyone.

"Okay, thank you for telling me."

"No, I just explained something I was supposed to explain. On the contrary, I'm truly sorry that I could not be of much help."

"Please, your information helped in many ways. It's much better than not knowing anything, so please don't worry about it, Alliance Leader."

Zhou Xuchuan felt that Yun Guang was truly sorry, so he smiled casually to ensure that the man wouldn't feel burdened by the lack of information.

Good. Now, I'm going to send a letter to Hainan Island and show Gan Yezi the Black Iron Armor and the Flame Point Spear.

Zhou Xuchuan prayed that the artifact he had taken from Destructive Soldier would be of help.