Meng Qinglei gave a cold smile. "Acting?" He raised his sword to the heavens. "By the heavens above, if the Sword Association does not crush Fengliudian within three days, may I be struck by lightning and die a wretched death!"
The disciples of the Qingfeng Gang and the Broken Blade Sect were stunned—how could Meng Qinglei make such an audacious vow?
Liu Yan, who had been immobilized by acupoint sealing and tossed into Tie Jing’s hands, was also taken aback upon hearing this.
Yu Tuan'er, supported by Gu Xitan, looked bewildered at the declaration of crushing Fengliudian within three days.
Yet both Tie Jing and Gu Xitan nodded solemnly.
Tang Lizci had ordered the Central Plains Sword Association to observe quietly and not overstep their bounds.
But Wan Yu Yuedan and the Red Maiden had already observed for three days.
There was undoubtedly an earth-shattering upheaval brewing within Fengliudian. Having observed for three days, there was no need to wait any longer.
They had decided to act.
The martial world was thrown into an uproar. Rumors spread that Liu Yan, the demonic leader of Fengliudian, had been captured by the Central Plains Sword Association, who had also obtained the antidote for the "Nine Hearts Pill" from him. The Sword Association publicly announced through the "Desolate Thirteen Towers" that any martial artists afflicted by the poison of the Nine Hearts Pill could come to their base at Soul Prayer Mountain to receive the antidote.
Once this news broke, those who had taken the Nine Hearts Pill to enhance their skills rushed frantically to Soul Prayer Mountain, while those who had feared the pill’s poison and refrained from taking it also secretly made their way there. Everyone knew that the Nine Hearts Pill could boost internal energy—if the poison could now be easily cured, wouldn’t they fall far behind if they didn’t take it?
As for going to Soul Prayer Mountain, most would inevitably be drawn into the conflict between Fengliudian and the Sword Association. Since the Sword Association had produced the antidote, they were now the beacon of hope, the righteous force everyone rallied behind. Fengliudian, with its wicked reputation, deserved to be exterminated—only by standing united with the Sword Association and wiping out Fengliudian’s evils could the martial world’s righteous spirit prevail.
The two groups who arrived early at the Sword Association immediately took the antidote and underwent acupuncture treatment. True enough, the agony of the poison’s flare-up was greatly alleviated, leaving them overjoyed. With their greatest fear resolved, and with so many others also poisoned, who could tell whether they had taken the pill out of greed or had been forced into it? Now, being afflicted by the Nine Hearts Pill was no longer a shameful secret but proof of their sworn enmity against Fengliudian. Suddenly, the Central Plains Sword Association’s influence swelled, united in their determination to crush Fengliudian and capture Tang Lizci alive!
Liu Yan and Yu Tuan'er were placed by Wan Yu Yuedan near his own tent, while the other young disciples were housed in adjacent tents—these children were of critical importance. Tang Lizci had assigned three hundred disciples to learn the detoxification method from Liu Yan, aiming to cast a wide net. Most of these three hundred were likely spies from various sects, but that didn’t matter. The more people who mastered the technique, the more lives could be saved, and the more allies they would gain against Fengliudian.
They split into several groups, some dispersing into the martial world, others heading to Soul Prayer Mountain to join the battle. Since they were ordinary youths without martial skills, they were hard to identify and easy to conceal. Their sheer numbers made losses bearable. When selecting these youths, the Wanqiao Zhai had already made them sign agreements—this mission was perilous, entirely voluntary, and in case of death or injury, generous compensation would be provided.
As for whether Tang Lizci truly cared about these youths’ lives—no one knew.
Shui Duopo and Mo Ziru died in this battle.On that day, the Jiang Family Garden was engulfed in raging flames. The fire died down once, only to reignite and eventually burn through the mountain tunnel. The inferno surged out from the underground river's cave, floating atop the water and stretching for dozens of zhang. That night, the black water carrying flames meandered into the forest, with stars and moonlight reflecting off the blaze. The Seventeen Shaolin Monks, drawn by the commotion, stood atop various peaks, gazing at the wildfire on the water. It took an unknown amount of time before the flames illuminating the water gradually extinguished.
Fire floating on water could only mean one thing—someone had used oil.
And clearly, it was no ordinary oil.
The Shaolin Temple had also sent people to the ruins of the Jiang Family Garden. There, they saw scattered corpses and a massive collapsed pit in the courtyard. The pit bore sword marks both upward and downward, charred black inside and filled with long arrows. It didn’t look like a battle between martial artists but rather a clash between two armies, employing heavy weapons like fire oil and repeating crossbows.
Yet, judging by the sword marks, it seemed that amidst the barrage of fire and arrows, someone had swung their sword upward from below, deflecting most of the projectiles while shattering the rocks overhead to burst out from underground. Who could possess such godlike sword techniques? Such a master—friend or foe? If an enemy, given Shaolin’s current troubled times, none might withstand them. The Seventeen Shaolin Monks pressed their palms together in prayer before the sword marks, their expressions somber.
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