Chapter 414. Thoroughly with those Mulberry Tree Roots, Tightly and Densely Tie Up (1)

Avaricious Wolf, Tang Mingren, was dead.

Even at the very end, Zhou Xuchuan didn’t take any chances. He stabbed Tang Mingren in the heart several times to confirm the man's death before leaving the Underground Labyrinth. When he came out and raised his sword high as if it was all over, the Northern Upper Army, who had been waiting tensely, could only cheer and rejoice.

“Sword God.”

“Fourth Generation Direct Disciple of Mount Hua Sect, Zhou Xuchuan, greets the Patriarch of the Peng Family.”

Just as he was about to join his disciple brothers and sisters, Peng Zihu approached him. He looked terrible, as if he had just waded through a battlefield.

Peng Zihu smiled proudly as he was greeted politely by an Absolute Master, one of the terrifying Empyrean Overlords.

“It’s an honor to be greeted so respectfully by someone praised as a hero of the Righteous Path, no, the

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, who's also an Empyrean Overlord on top of that. Please raise your head. I heard you appeared and helped us when we fell in danger. As a representative of the Northern Front, I would like to express my gratitude.”

"It was nothing. Are you injured anywhere?”

"This small scratch? This'll heal if I rub some spit into it, so don't worry. That aside, I have a question," Peng Zihu prodded.

“What is it?”

“Those who were hiding around here, did you bring them? They look like assassins...”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. However, they aren't with me, but rather hired by the Gold Will Merchants. They aren't enemies, so don’t worry.”

Not only were the hidden figures the legendary assassination group, the Valley of Phantoms, but it was also impossible for him to admit that Peng Zihu was staring right at their leader, so Zhou Xuchuan had no choice but to lie.

“It may be inconvenient, but could you please convey our thanks on our behalf?”

“Your thanks... what do you mean?” Zhou Xuchuan asked in surprise.

The Hebei Peng Family, one of the Five Great Ancient Families, had always been outspoken defenders of the Righteous Faction. They hated injustice and strongly believed in cooperation. But they were also known to be extremely strict, refusing to tolerate anything they deemed dishonorable.

With the Demonic Path's Two Lineages and the Evil Faction as givens, that was why they even hated wanderers and assassins, who sold their beliefs and souls for money.

Peng Zihu laughed at Zhou Xuchuan's puzzled expression.

"Hahaha, whether it is my Family or even me, we certainly don't like those who make a living in ways that go against the Righteous Path. However, no matter how wrong or upset we may be, we aren't trash who wouldn't thank the people who saved our lives."

"Indeed, I understand. I will convey it to them in your stead."

The Peng Family's personality seemed quite cheerful and upfront, true to their reputation.

"While I'd like to continue talking to you, I don't think this is the time for that. I'm worried about a different place."

"Are you talking about the Northern Lower Army?”

“Have you heard?”

“I heard that they split up for the Underground Labyrinth. However, I don’t know what happened after that, so I need information.”

"Then let’s start with the report. I’m planning to send a letter to headquarters immediately. Would you like to come with me?"

"There’s something I need to check first. I’ll catch up with you shortly.”

“Understood. Then I’ll see you later.”

Peng Zihu said his farewells and left.

Zhou Xuchuan stepped away from the group.

“Little Ghost.”

“Yes.”

As always, she appeared to have been there from the beginning.

"The Patriarch of the Hebei Peng Family asked me to pass on his thanks."

“Understood.”

Ha.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

From Little Ghost’s perspective, what Zhou Xuchuan had just said ended after she finished hearing his sentence. She had no questions about it, let alone any feelings.

The answer just now was just 'I've received his thanks.' Nothing more, nothing less.

"While I didn't expect much from the answer... no, it's fine. More importantly, how is the Black Iron Gauntlet?"

“Excellent.”

Little Ghost raised her left arm to show off her new weapon.

Even at a glance, it was different from ordinary gauntlets. The fingertips that were sharp like the claws of a wild beast were its unique point.

The portion of the gauntlet that covered the hand was also quite long. It didn't just cover her hand but her entire wrist.

"I mean, it’s made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. Of course it’s excellent."

If Li Yicai had been here, he would’ve drooled and argued about its price.

It made sense, as the material to forge the Black Iron Gauntlet had been Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. After all, it was an artifact of Qin Shi Huang that had been damaged by Zhou Xuchuan.

While it was good that he had been able to recover the Black Iron Armor that had even blocked Formless Aura, the damage had been so severe that it had to be melted down to be reforged.

After much thought, Zhou Xuchuan had decided to reuse the raw material for Little Ghost.

A good weapon wouldn't have been bad, but as a martial artist, relying solely on weapons alone isn't a good decision.

Zhou Xuchuan himself wasn't that concerned about weapons.

He thought about giving the weapons to his master or Luo Xiaoyue as a gift, but he stopped, thinking that it might interfere with their ability to reach higher realms.

Little Ghost has a lot to do, so it's not bad.

Zhou Xuchuan stared at the Black Iron Gauntlet and then turned his eyes to the back of Little Ghost’s waist.

"And the Horn Saber?"

Ssss.

Just as Little Ghost always seemed to appear from nowhere, she suddenly drew a saber about two chi in length from a scabbard that had also appeared out of nowhere. The color of the blade was also black, like the Black Iron Gauntlet.

“This won’t corrode, even if poison is left on the blade. It’s incredibly durable, and it blocks aura as well."

"As expected of the horn of the Seven Horned Serpent.”

The material of the sword was the horn of the Seven Horned Serpent, the King of the Poisonblood Valley.

Zhou Xuchuan hunted the Seven Horned Serpent on Mount Ailao in the past and had obtained its neidan and six horns. Originally, there were seven, but he gave one to the Seventh Young Master of Diancang for cooperation and silence.

I should have used it a long time ago, but since there was no craftsman who could handle the horn, it's only being used now.

Zhou Xuchuan had left the production to Gan Yezi.

He had also given the blacksmith various materials he had stored with the Gold Will Merchants.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The Seven Horned Serpent’s horn was used to make weapons for the Phantoms, as well as materials for the mechanism.

“Stay behind for a bit. And I’ll say it again, if there are any wounded Phantoms, don’t abandon them.”

“Understood.”

The Phantoms treated themselves and their allies as tools. If they thought an ally would be ineffective or a nuisance, they threw them away. They even took their own lives for fear of their secrets being exposed.

The Valley of Phantoms wasn't a mysterious group for nothing. Their obsession with maintaining secrecy was beyond simple insanity.

“From now on...”

It was hard to believe that only the Association Lord and Blessed Existence remained as the leaders of the Dark Heaven. Zhou Xuchuan was overcome with emotion once again.

Suddenly, he looked up and saw the dim night sky.

The twilight had not yet completely faded, but that moment passed quickly. Soon, a dark curtain spread across the sky and covered the surroundings.

“Two.”

What caught Zhou Xuchuan’s attention was not the moon caught in the clouds. It was the seven stars shaped like a ladle.

“Great Hero! Great Hero Zhou Xuchuan!”

How much time had passed?

A warrior from the Martial Alliance came rushing toward him in a panic. He looked like a messenger.

“There's a big problem! The Northern Lower Army...!”

"What’s going on?”

Zhou Xuchuan followed the messenger and hurriedly returned to the command barracks.

When he entered, he immediately saw a familiar face. It was Shen Daoyun, Peng Zihu’s counterpart and commander of the Northern Lower Army.

Even from the doorway, the atmosphere felt tense and grim.

“Sword God!”

Shen Daoyun greeted Zhou Xuchuan joyfully as soon as he saw him.

“What happened?”

“That..."

Shen Daoyun explained the whole story.

The mood in the room darkened even more.

When Chai Lia, known as the Beggar Dragon, heard that the Temperance Staff, Beggar Sun Yishan, and the rest of the Beggar Gang had been wiped out while trying to buy time, he nearly lost control. And when they learned that a village had been found during the retreat and that the Shaolin Temple and the Ximen Family had stayed behind, everyone was stunned.

No.

Zhou Xuchuan’s face also turned pale.

"We've lost the Abbot of Shaolin, one after another?" the Milky Way Sage muttered in disbelief.

The morale that had been rising suddenly plummeted again.

The Shaolin Temple was the Righteous Faction, and furthermore, the pillar of martial arts. The martial might of the Hundred and Eight Arhats went without saying.

With this, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple had lost his life at the hands of the Dark Heavens Association three times. This was despair itself.

But it was not the end. Zhou Xuchuan was delighted when he heard Wu Qu's name from Shen Daoyun.

“If the Elder is gone, then at least the worst has been avoided.”

"By Wu Qu, are you referring to the Sword Demon who fought in the Great War of Good and Demonic?”

“Yes.”

“I have also heard of his exploits, but no matter how outstanding his skills are, they are not comparable to the Association Lord, are they?”

“No. He's stronger than you think. I guarantee it in the name of the Sword God.”

Wu Qu was also an Absolute Master who had been called the Greatest Under the Heavens in Zhou Xuchuan’s previous life.

He hadn't taken the position of Warped Valor and became the right-hand man of the Dark Heavens Association Lord for nothing.

"For now... I have to prepare to leave."

It was none other than the Dark Heavens Association Lord who had appeared, so he couldn’t just sit still.

“Surely you’re not planning on leaving now, are you?”

All eyes turned toward the speaker.

It was Tang Hui, the adjutant and assistant of the Northern Upper Army.

She looked anxious, having lost her brother less than a day ago, but contrary to everyone's worries, her eyes were clear and focused.

“I agree with the Poison Phoenix’s opinion.”

Shen Daoyun raised his hand.

“The army is currently more exhausted than you can imagine. We are short-handed due to the injuries of the Northern Lower Army, so even just keeping guard is difficult right now. More importantly, rumors about leaving Shaolin Temple behind must have spread within the army, and morale would have plummeted. If we are attacked by anyone in this situation, it would become a big deal.”

“Haven’t we already dealt with the nearby enemies?” Peng Zihu asked as if there was something wrong.

“Blessed Existence’s specialty is exploiting the gaps as things naturally occur. We should still be careful in case something happens."

Shen Daoyun shook his head slowly, as though the thought gave him chills.

Leaving the headquarters alone and sending the Dark Heavens Association Lord to the front lines, he could never have imagined something like that.

"We don't plan to hold you down for long. At the very least, we would just like you to stay until the sun rises so we all can get some sleep."

"..."

Zhou Xuchuan hesitated at their words.

They made sense, but...

“You don’t have to worry about them.”

Just as he was about to make a decision, the command barracks opened and a handsome man with an exotic appearance came in.

“You are...”

Inside the command barracks, Luo Xiaoyue’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Myagmar?”

It was Myagmar, the scout captain of the North Sea Ice Palace.

“The Shaolin Temple is safe.”

***

Tremble.

The Dark Heavens Army, who were on their way back to Hefei, trembled.

At the foot of the mountain, one of the soldiers from the Seven Stars Division looked around nervously, then opened his mouth, his voice strained with effort..

"O-oh, Master of the Dark Heavens... what is it that you..."

Squelch.

The Seven Stars Division soldier couldn’t continue speaking as his head exploded.

The atmosphere around the Dark Heavens Army sank deeply. They all looked confused as they trembled with fear.

“North Sea Ice Palace Master...” the Dark Heavens Association Lord muttered in a voice seething with anger.

“How dare you deceive me with such a ridiculous trick, the next time I see you, I’ll pull out your cunning tongue.”

The Dark Heavens’ Army, who were on their way back, was fine.

That was understandable, since they hadn’t clashed with anyone since the initial return order.

"No matter what."