Emperor Yuan Jing put away the note and ordered, “Notify Wei Yuan to come see me in the palace… No, never mind.”
The old emperor, who had just experienced life’s “ups and downs,” pondered for a long time before saying, “Inform the Prince of Huai’s spies to go to Sword Province immediately and compete for the Nine-Colored Lotus seeds. They can cooperate with the Earth Faction Daoists.”
After a pause, he added, “Take as many magical artifacts as possible.”
The old eunuch bowed and retreated.
…
Sword Province was located in the northwest of Great Feng, bordering Thunder Province to the west and River Province to the north. With two canal routes passing through, it was prosperous and flourishing.
However, what people found most intriguing about Sword Province was its unique regional culture: the Martial Arts Alliance!
Throughout history, dynasties mainly adopted policies of pacification or suppression towards jianghu organizations. Compliant ones were pacified, while defiant ones were suppressed or eliminated. This was how dynasties maintained their rule and kept the world peaceful.
But there are always exceptions.
The Martial Arts Alliance of Sword Province was a jianghu organization that could, to some extent, stand unafraid of the imperial court.
Since ancient times, Sword Province had a deep-rooted martial arts culture, with numerous factions, including many “century-old brands” that have stood the test of time. These factions all fell under the jurisdiction of the Martial Arts Alliance.
But these factions alone were not enough to support the Alliance’s current status. To trace its origins, one had to look into the history books.
During the late Zhou Dynasty, when people were destitute, heroes from all over rose to overthrow the tyrannical government. Before his rise to power, the Emperor of Great Feng was just one of many rebel forces.
He gathered several hundred soldiers, mainly focusing on capturing small counties and then recruiting more troops.
At that time, several rebel forces had already grown strong, possessing powerful military forces capable of controlling regions. One of these forces came from Sword Province.
The leader of this Sword Province rebel force was a Third Rank martial artist who rose to prominence during the chaotic era, campaigning everywhere without a single defeat.
Later, when the founding emperor of Great Feng rose and became one of the main forces in overthrowing the tyranny, after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, various righteous armies contended for control of the Central Plains. The old regime had been overthrown, and to avoid further bloodshed, the Third Rank martial artist from Sword Province challenged the founding emperor of Great Feng.
They wagered their respective armies on a duel between martial artists.
The outcome need not be elaborated. The Third Rank martial artist from Sword Province lost. As agreed, he handed over his army to the founding emperor of Great Feng, taking only his core subordinates back to Sword Province, where he established the Martial Arts Alliance.
That Third Rank martial artist had disappeared for hundreds of years, but the Martial Arts Alliance always proclaimed that he was still alive. This was the true backbone of the Martial Arts Alliance.
“So the Martial Arts Alliance originated from a righteous army…”
By candlelight, at the table, Xu Qi An closed the dossier he had brought from the Night Watchmen’s archives. He felt there was a glaring loophole that couldn’t be ignored.
“According to the records, the founder of the Martial Arts Alliance, that Third Rank expert, originally lost to the founding emperor of Great Feng. But the founding emperor has long since passed away, so how could he still be alive?”
It didn’t make sense that the stronger expert had died while the weaker one was still alive. They were both martial artists, equally crude, so how could one live for hundreds of years?
Following this line of thought, he suddenly noticed a detail he had overlooked before. The Martial Emperor who had usurped the throne under the pretext of purging the court was a formidable figure at the peak of martial arts.
But he died of natural causes a hundred years later…
“From the situations of the founding emperor and the Martial Emperor of Great Feng, it seems that martial artists can’t live long. But if that’s the case, how did that fellow from Sword Province live for hundreds of years?
“Is the Martial Arts Alliance bluffing, deceiving the world? Impossible. Such a lie might fool ordinary people, but not the imperial court. Yet the court allows the Martial Arts Alliance to exist, which means they have some apprehension. That former righteous army leader might still be alive…
“Then, is the problem with the Great Feng royal family? What reason prevents the high-ranking martial artists of the Great Feng royal family from achieving longevity?”
Xu Qi An couldn’t figure it out, so he turned to ask Zhong Li, who was sitting cross-legged on a soft couch nearby: “Senior Sister Zhong, I suddenly thought of a question.”
Zhong Li’s disheveled head turned towards him, her eyes hidden behind messy strands of hair, gazing at him.
“How did the founding emperor of Great Feng die?”
“He died slowly of old age.”
“…” Xu Qi An was taken aback for a moment, then quickly added, “But shouldn’t a peak martial artist’s lifespan be different from ordinary people?”
“I, I’m not a martial artist, so I don’t know…” Zhong Li said softly, feeling guilty for not being able to answer Xu Qi An’s question.
I see, well, it’s not like I urgently need an answer… Xu Qi An blew out the candle, took off his shoes, climbed into bed, and jokingly said:
“Want to come sleep together?”
Senior Sister Zhong was still a virgin, so she ignored him.
…
Sword Province.
According to the Geographic Records of the Nine Provinces, there’s a mountain in Sword Province where a beast resides. It has a human face and animal body, with six tails, capable of swallowing the moon. It’s called the “Dog Rong.”
Dog Rong Mountain was the headquarters of the Martial Arts Alliance.
Soul-Consuming Hand Rong Rong, along with her master and the pavilion master, arrived at Dog Rong Mountain by carriage. This was the holy mountain in the hearts of Sword Province’s martial artists.
The pavilion master of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion brought more than a dozen experts, to respond to the summons.
The Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion was mainly composed of women, each one beautiful and alluring. Those with good aptitude were kept as direct disciples, while those with less talent were married off.
Over the past hundred years, most of the top-ranking factions in Sword Province had some form of marriage alliance with the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion.
“This time, your master has brought you out to see the world. Remember not to show off, just be an observer,” the beautiful mature woman instructed her disciple.
Rong Rong, who stood out even among the beauties, nodded first, then said somewhat defiantly, “Master, I’m already at the Sixth Rank.”
The Sixth Rank, with bronze skin and iron bones, was considered a pillar of strength in the jianghu, commanding respect wherever they went. It was only in a martial arts holy land like Sword Province that it seemed ordinary and unremarkable.
The beautiful mature woman shook her head: “The Sixth Rank isn’t enough. In the upcoming events, I’m afraid only those above the Fifth Rank will be able to participate. Below the Fifth Rank, they might just be cannon fodder.”
Soul-Consuming Hand Rong Rong’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked in a low voice, “Master, what exactly is happening?”
As they spoke, the carriage stopped at the foot of Dog Rong Mountain. The women of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion leaped down from the carriage and looked up.
Dog Rong Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, with steep peaks, strange rocks, dense forests, and centuries-old trees. Pavilions and courtyards were hidden among them.
Passing through the white marble archway at the foot of the mountain, Rong Rong lifted her skirt and climbed the steps, hearing her master say in a low voice, “You know about the Earth Faction, right?”
Rong Rong nodded.
The Three Sects of Daoism were “immortal sects” in the jianghu, the top forces in the Nine Provinces. The leaders of the three sects were existences that even the imperial court had to be wary of.
“I heard from the pavilion master that a group of Daoists from the Earth Faction has been cultivating a treasure called the Nine-Colored Lotus in Sword Province. Recently, the treasure matured, sending a beam of colorful light into the sky. Alliance Leader Cao went to ask for the lotus rhizome but was refused, leading to a fight with the Earth Faction Daoists.
“Afterward, the Martial Arts Alliance summoned various major sects, intending to surround and annihilate that group of Daoists.”
Rong Rong was shocked: “What is Alliance Leader Cao doing? Even if the Martial Arts Alliance is at its peak, it absolutely cannot afford to offend the Earth Faction of the Dao Sect.”
The beautiful mature woman nodded worriedly, then shook her head: “Alliance Leader Cao is a man of great talent and unique vision. If he dares to do this, there must be a reason, we just don’t know it yet.”
At this moment, Rong Rong heard the soft, alluring voice of the pavilion master leading the way ahead: “Silence.”
The master and disciple stopped talking. Rong Rong raised her head, looking at the back of the pavilion master.
The women of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion dressed quite revealingly, and it was the height of summer, so their attire was quite light. From Rong Rong’s angle, she could see the pavilion master’s round, full, and pert buttocks, above which was a waist so slender it could be encircled by one hand, tied with ribbons; and the smooth, graceful curves of her back.
The pavilion master always wore a thin veil over her face, relying on her fox-like eyes and voluptuous figure to be hailed as the “top courtesan” of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion, her charm evident.
Soon, they reached the mountaintop and were led by a steward into a large courtyard. The pavilion master of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion crossed the courtyard and entered the main hall, while the others remained outside.
Rong Rong looked around discreetly, seeing many familiar faces waiting in the large courtyard.
Those with swords on their backs were disciples of the Ink Pavilion, with Young Master Liu and his master among them.
Those in green clothes were from the Divine Fist Gang, a faction known for their methodical punching techniques, which had recently recruited many flamboyant female disciples.
Those in gold and red attire were from the Thousand Mechanism Sect, skilled in using various hidden weapons and poisons, with tricky and difficult-to-deal-with methods.
Those shrouded in black robes were from the Flying Knife Sect. Flying knives were both hidden weapons and not hidden weapons. It was said that the sect leader of the Flying Knife Sect could control one hundred and eight flying knives.
When attacking, they were direct and formidable.
Rong Rong silently withdrew her gaze. There were as many as eighteen jianghu organizations present, and those who could respond to the Martial Arts Alliance’s call and come to join forces were all experts, definitely no weaklings among them.
The Alliance Leader is determined to get that Nine-Colored Lotus… Rong Rong thought to herself.
…
Time passed minute by minute, second by second. After more than two hours, the pavilion master of the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion was the first to come out, followed by other sect and gang leaders.
Through the open doors of the meeting hall, Rong Rong saw a tall, burly middle-aged man sitting on a high chair inside. He wore a purple robe embroidered with layer upon layer of cloud patterns in gold thread.
She didn’t dare to look at the man’s face, quickly lowering her head and following behind the pavilion master and her fellow disciples as they left the courtyard.
Arriving at the quarters assigned to the Flower of Ten Thousand Pavilion, the pavilion master summoned several elders, including the beautiful mature woman, to discuss matters inside.
At dusk, the beautiful mature woman returned. Rong Rong immediately pulled her master back to their room, closed the doors and windows, and asked eagerly, “Master, what’s going on?”
The beautiful mature woman pondered for a long time before slowly saying:
“Things have become clear now. The group of Earth Faction Daoists hiding in Sword Province are traitors to the Earth Faction. They stole the Nine-Colored Lotus and are hiding under the ‘protection’ of the Martial Arts Alliance to avoid pursuit by the Earth Faction.
“Recently, the treasure matured, causing an unusual phenomenon. The Earth Faction leader came in pursuit, but because he was wary of the Martial Arts Alliance, he reached an agreement with Alliance Leader Cao. Both sides will jointly surround and annihilate the Earth Faction traitors, with the reward being a section of the lotus rhizome.
“Alliance Leader Cao promised the pavilion master and others that when they cultivate the Nine-Colored Lotus to maturity in the future, all participants will receive lotus seeds. Hehe, you may not know, but these lotus seeds are rare treasures that can transform all things. Even ordinary iron can gain a spirit through them.
“Of course, the lotus seeds mature only once every sixty years, a long cycle. Alliance Leader Cao also promised other benefits.”
Transform all things… Rong Rong pursed her lips, a covetous light secretly flickering in her eyes.
Such a supreme treasure, that anyone would desire it, and anyone would covet it.
She then frowned: “If that’s the case, why did Alliance Leader Cao summon us? With the strength of the Martial Arts Alliance on Dog Rong Mountain, combined with the Earth Faction, wouldn’t it be easy to eliminate that group of renegade Daoists?”
The beautiful mature woman nodded approvingly: “That group of Daoists who betrayed their sect is indeed not a concern, they can be eliminated easily. What Alliance Leader Cao is guarding against should be the Earth Faction going back on their word.”
Rong Rong suddenly understood.
…
Meanwhile, in the quarters where the Ink Pavilion was staying, in a room.
Young Master Liu exclaimed excitedly, “Are those lotus seeds so magical?”
Young Master Liu’s master, polishing his beloved long sword, nodded:
“Of course. How could a supreme treasure of the Earth Faction of the Dao Sect be anything less than extraordinary? If your master could obtain a lotus seed, I would use it to imbue this sword with spirit.”
Young Master Liu’s gaze immediately fell on the magical weapon that originally belonged to him. He swallowed and nodded vigorously: “The lotus seeds will mature sixty years from now. Don’t worry, master, I will take good care of it.
“In the future, it will be a peerless divine weapon passed down through generations of our lineage.”
Young Master Liu’s master didn’t contradict him, just nodded slightly and smiled: “I heard the pavilion master say that the group of renegade Earth Faction Daoists isn’t very strong, but we can’t be complacent. You shouldn’t participate this time, just observe from the sidelines.”
Young Master Liu nodded vigorously.
…
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. The local officials in Sword Province were shocked to discover that during this period, many jianghu figures had arrived in Sword Province.
They gathered in inns, taverns, and brothels, widely spreading the news that a miraculous treasure was about to appear in Sword Province.
The prefect of Sword Province belatedly realized the seriousness of the situation. What the officials disliked most was the gathering of martial artists, which easily led to trouble.
He immediately mobilized the garrison troops to strengthen defenses, keeping them on standby outside the city at all times.
Then he sent people to gather intelligence, and surprisingly easily learned the location where the treasure would appear: a manor in the distant suburbs of Sword Province’s capital.
The Sword Province officials were relieved. As long as the battle didn’t occur within the city, they couldn’t care less about jianghu people fighting and killing each other.
In the manor, Daoist Jin Lian stood on a tower, gazing at the mountain path in the distance.
The fair and beautiful White Lotus climbed the tower and stood beside him, sighing: “Just now, another group of jianghu people fell into the maze formation and were knocked unconscious and tied up by our disciples.
“During this time, we’ve captured dozens of jianghu figures. These people don’t deserve death, and killing them would be slaughtering the innocent. But not killing them leaves a hidden danger. What should we do?”
Daoist Jin Lian sighed: “This is Black Lotus deliberately spreading rumors…”
In other factions or organizations, encountering such a situation would lead them to act decisively, using a show of force to intimidate potential threats. However, Jin Lian and his companions could not take such measures. Their sect, the Earth Sect (Di Zong), cultivated virtues and could not kill without just cause. Doing so would invite inner demons and risk falling into the path of darkness.
“The Black Lotus is aware of this, which is why they’ve circulated these rumors, attracting many in the martial world,” Bai Lian said, lifting her delicate hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, sighing in resignation.
Jin Lian maintained a calm smile as if everything was already under control. He spoke leisurely, “There’s no need to rush. We just need to wait for a certain individual. If he arrives, those rabble will likely scatter.”