Chapter 109.2: Dao Shi'er Kills When He Is Awake! (II)

The Tao Clan had offended the Sand Dragon Sect, one of the most powerful factions in Taoyuan Prefecture.

The sect master's only son, the sole heir produced across three generations, had taken an interest in Tao Shen's daughter. Relying on his status, he harassed her openly. A clash followed, and amid the chaos, one of the Tao Clan's guards struck too hard and killed the sect master's son.

With his only heir dead, the sect master naturally refused to let the matter rest. Rather than launching a direct assault, however, the Sand Dragon Sect chose a slower and crueler approach. They applied pressure bit by bit, deliberately driving the Tao Clan toward collapse.

Unable to endure the mounting trouble and pressure, Tao Shen's father passed away.

Yun Haitang's gaze sharpened. "There must be a reason the Sand Dragon Sect didn't immediately destroy the Tao Clan. They want the Tao Clan's assets."

"That's correct," Tao Shen nodded. "They intend to take everything."

It all made sense to Yun Haitang now. The Tao Clan's assets were vast. To any sect, they represented an enormous boost. No faction, no matter how lofty its ideals, could survive on prestige alone. Resources and wealth were necessities.

The Sand Dragon Sect had likely been eyeing the Tao Clan for a long time. The death of the sect master's son, accidental or not, simply gave them the perfect excuse.

With that incident, they finally had a justification to move openly and carry out a plan they had long prepared.

Furthermore, the Sand Dragon Sect's involvement was why the Tao Clan could not secure assistance from other factions or Divine Strength martial artists. Interfering meant making an enemy out of the Sand Dragon Sect.

In Taoyuan Prefecture, who would dare offend them?

Seeing that Yun Haitang remained silent, Li Wenying's heart sank. She gnashed her teeth and suddenly dropped to her knees.

"I beg the Heavenly Maiden to save the Tao Clan," she pleaded. Then she turned toward Tao Shen. "Darling, say something. Quickly."

Li Wenying was truly desperate. The Tao Clan had already reached the brink of life and death, yet Tao Shen was still hesitating. If the Sand Dragon Sect succeeded in taking over their clan, no one within would be spared.

On the other hand, if he asked the Heavenly Maiden Sect for help, the Tao Clan would have to offer their resources to the Heavenly Maiden Sect.

Truth be told, this was Yun Haitang's true goal. Just like the Sand Dragon Sect, Yun Haitang wanted the Tao Clan's resources and support. This would help her solidify her authority within the sect, and perhaps make her the most powerful Heavenly Maiden in the sect's history.

She wouldn't make her way down the mountain to confront a major sect for a single disciple. If the Heavenly Maiden Sect were to wage war on major powers every time a disciple encountered trouble, it would have been destroyed long ago.

However, unlike the Sand Dragon Sect, she did not want to take the Tao Clan's resources without permission. She wanted the clan to offer everything willingly. After all, the day-to-day management of those assets would still rely on the Tao Clan's own people.

The Heavenly Maiden Sect was, at its core, a jianghu sect. If it involved itself too deeply and too crudely in the Tao Clan's business affairs, the result would only be chaos.

Time passed bit by bit...

At last, Tao Shen made his decision. He knew that the fate of the Tao Clan would be decided at this very moment. Drawing in a deep breath, he stepped forward and fell to his knees.

"The Tao Clan is willing to submit in its entirety to the Heavenly Maiden Sect," Tao Shen said solemnly. "I, Tao Shen, am willing to serve as the Heavenly Maiden's vanguard.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"I beg the Heavenly Maiden to show mercy and spare the hundreds of lives within the Tao Clan."

Yun Haitang smiled.

Tao Shen's choice did not surprise her. It was not made by desperation alone. Li Wenying's influence mattered as well. Disciples who married out of the Heavenly Maiden Sect often carried a quiet loyalty in their hearts, one that would never truly fade.

"Very well," Yun Haitang said calmly. "Tao Shen, Li Wenying, you may rise. The Heavenly Maiden Sect will handle the Sand Dragon Sect."

Relief and joy surged through Tao Shen and Li Wenying at the same time. Their knees barely left the ground before they called for their daughter to come forward as well. Together, they paid their respects once more, and then they carefully requested Yun Haitang take their daughter in as a disciple.

Though Yun Haitang appeared youthful, she was already in her thirties. Martial practitioners possessed powerful blood qi, and age rarely showed upon their faces.

Yun Haitang looked at Tao Jing. She was indeed a striking young lady. It was no wonder that the Sand Dragon Sect master's son was tempted. More importantly, she was quick-witted and composed, qualities that pleased Yun Haitang greatly.

To further ease Tao Shen's worries, Yun Haitang agreed to take Tao Jing as her disciple.

Bang!

A dull thud sounded outside the door, and a rough voice yelled out. "Heh! The Heavenly Maiden Sect talks big, but do you really think you can handle the Tao Clan's affairs?"

The voice rolled in like a resounding tide. Its source was impossible to pinpoint as if it was echoing from every direction at once.

Yun Haitang's expression shifted slightly. There was no doubt about it. Only a Divine Strength martial artist could project their voice like this.

Despite being a Divine Strength Realm expert herself, she wasn't confident that she could take on a Divine Strength expert, especially if the opponent was from the Sand Dragon Sect.

Yun Haitang immediately turned her gaze toward Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng raised his head and looked at her. He had remained so quiet to the point that Tao Shen, Li Wenying, and even Tao Jing had barely spared him a glance.

"Are you finished talking?" he asked calmly as he rose to his feet. "If you are, then it is time to get down to business."

"I'll leave this to you, Brother Dao," Yun Haitang said.

She understood perfectly well what Dao Shi'er meant by "getting down to business." It was to kill. No matter how much they talked inside the Tao residence, it would all be pointless if the Sand Dragon Sect did not feel threatened.

Unless they were made to feel real pain and were forced to bleed out, nothing would truly change.

"I will leave this to you as well, Mr. Dao," Tao Shen said quickly with a bow. Li Wenying followed suit, pulling Tao Jing along with her.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just then, three figures from the Sand Dragon Sect burst into the Tao residence. Their movements were swift and forceful, and each of them radiated an overwhelming aura of the Divine Strength Realm.

Lu Changsheng said nothing else and began walking toward the exit. Watching him head out alone, Tao Shen couldn't help himself. "Heavenly Maiden, Mr. Dao is going by himself. This..."

Tao Shen and Li Wenying exchanged worried looks, unaware of just how powerful he was. All they knew was that Lu Changsheng was Yun Haitang's Dao Guardian, but they weren't sure if he could take on three Divine Strength martial artists on his own.

"There's no need to worry," Yun Haitang replied confidently. "Brother Dao can handle it."

Everyone watched in silence as Dao Shi'er stepped out of the hall, one step at a time. He did not have to go far. The three Divine Strength martial artists of the Sand Dragon Sect had already charged in and stopped about ten

zhang

away from him.

One of them narrowed his eyes. "

Hm?

Just one person?"

Another scoffed. "You think a single man can block our path?"

"The Heavenly Maiden Sect has grown bold," the third laughed coldly. "Instead of staying in Zhanhai City, you dare interfere with the affairs in Taoyuan Prefecture. Do you really think you can intimidate the Sand Dragon Sect so easily?"

Their voices boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the Tao residence. The sound alone made hearts tremble.

Dao Shi'er remained silent and continued walking forward. The faces of the three men darkened even further.

"So the Heavenly Maiden Sect is unwilling to talk this through with the Sand Dragon Sect?" one of them asked coldly.

Anger surged among the three martial artists. In Taoyuan Prefecture, they were the dominant force. No one here had ever dared challenge them, let alone a sect from another region.

The idea that the Heavenly Maiden Sect had challenged them here felt like an insult.

Suddenly, Lu Changsheng stopped.

At the same time, Yun Haitang yelled out. "If you can reach me, then we can talk!"

"

Hmph.

How arrogant!"

"In that case, don't blame us for being ruthless."

"Kill them all."

Cold light flashed in the eyes of the three Divine Strength martial artists. The next instant, they struck together. Blood qi roared as they surged forward, crashing toward Lu Changsheng like a tidal wave.

Instead of panicking, Lu Changsheng simply stood there, enjoying this moment. Schemes, factions, negotiations, he cared for none of them. In the jianghu, words should be spoken with blades.

Schwing!

Lu Changsheng drew his saber and swung it.

Starry sky waterfall!

A streak of crimson light tore through the air.

The three men felt the world darken around them as the sky above seemed to collapse into a vast expanse of stars. Within that starry void, a waterfall that stretched across heaven and earth emerged, and then it crashed down on the three martial artists with overwhelming force.

Splurt!

The three martial artists were split cleanly from head to toe. Their bodies hit the ground with dull thuds as blood spilled across the floor, filling the air with a sharp, acrid stench.

Lu Changsheng sheathed his saber and turned around as if killing three Divine Strength martial artists wasn't worth noting.

"It's done," he said. "You may continue."

Then, he closed his eyes once more and did not speak again.

Tao Shen and Li Wenying stood frozen in place, staring at him in disbelief. Their minds went blank. Three Divine Strength martial artists, figures who had driven the Tao Clan to the brink of destruction, were killed with a single strike.

The entire Tao residence became deathly silent, and all eyes turned toward Dao Shi'er. In an instant, they all understood that he was a man who would kill when he was awake.