Soul Prayer Mountain.
A large gathering of martial artists from the Martial Arts World had assembled around the valley where Piaoling Meiyuan had sunk, preparing to descend underground. They were divided into several teams by Lady Hong, forming eight waves that would launch a relentless assault against Fengliudian.
The first vanguard, Group A, was led by Tie Jing of Biluo Palace, accompanied by ten others from the palace. Tasked with clearing the path, they were skilled in techniques to split mountains and shatter rocks, opening the way for the forces behind them to reach Piaoling Meiyuan.
Following Biluo Palace’s Group A were Meng Qinglei, Zhang Hemo, Dongfang Jian, Li Hongchen, and over twenty of their disciples, assigned to guard the vanguard of Biluo Palace.
Cheng Yunpao, Gu Xitan, Qi Xing, and others led another group of over twenty disciples from the Central Plains Sword Association, responsible for breaking through doors and eliminating enemies.
Finally, Abbess Wenxiu and her disciples were stationed at the rear to watch for ambushes and provide support.
He Yan’er of Biluo Palace led another ten from the palace as the vanguard of Group B, also tasked with clearing the path.
Dong Hubi, Wen Baiyou, Xu Qingbu, Liu Hongfei, and over twenty of their disciples followed Biluo Palace’s Group B, guarding He Yan’er and the others as they breached the defenses.
Jin Qiufu of the "Fire Cloud Stronghold" from Plum Blossom Mountain led over twenty elite warriors, responsible for killing enemies. Since the deaths of Chi Yun, Yin Dongchuan, and Xuanyuan Long, Jin Qiufu harbored an unrelenting hatred for the Nine Hearts Pill and Tang Lichen. Now that the Central Plains Sword Association was confronting Tang Lichen of Fengliudian, Jin Qiufu had traveled thousands of miles from the freezing north to lend his aid, seeking nothing but justice for Chi Yun’s death.
Group B’s rear guard was led by Yu Furen with disciples from the Central Plains Sword Association, ready to assist Group A at any sign of trouble.
The remaining martial artists who had not yet faced Fengliudian were organized by Lady Hong into Group C. Should any members of Groups A or B be injured or defeated, they would immediately fill the gaps, ensuring Fengliudian had no chance to recover.
The eight teams of Groups A and B would take turns launching a thorough sweep of the deeply buried Piaoling Meiyuan. Whether it was Yu Konghou or Tang Lichen, under the overwhelming might of the righteous martial world and its indomitable spirit, they would be crushed like withered grass, left with no place to bury their corpses.
This was no mere arrogance. After news spread that the Central Plains Sword Association held the antidote to the Nine Hearts Pill, more and more people flocked to their cause. With the arrival of the Fire Cloud Stronghold’s cavalry, the association’s momentum surged. Both morale and combat strength were now incomparable to before.
Lady Hong and Wan Yu Yuedan estimated that Fengliudian had no more than three hundred white-robed and red-robed female envoys. In contrast, the Central Plains Sword Association had already gathered over five hundred, along with the eight hundred imperial guards Yang Guihua had brought to "protect the princess." With such a vast numerical advantage, even if the female envoys of Fengliudian possessed unexpected dark arts or sorcery, they would be hard-pressed to resist.
But Fengliudian was not limited to just white-robed and red-robed envoys. Lady Hong, who knew Fengliudian intimately, understood that they were merely puppets under Liu Yan’s control—tools for Bai Suche’s killings. The most formidable and elusive force within Fengliudian was the "Ghost Venerable."
Those faceless, seemingly identical, and endlessly appearing Gui Mudan.
They were enigmatic and unpredictable.
Their martial prowess was unparalleled.
No one knew where they came from or what they sought.
And then there was Bai Suche…
Lady Hong couldn’t fathom why Bai Suche, who had proclaimed herself sovereign, remained hidden within Fengliudian without making a move. What was she planning?
Deep within Piaoling Meiyuan…
On Yu Konghou’s gilded chair, Bai Suche had placed an ordinary sword.
On its scabbard were engraved two words: "Like a Pine."Deep within the grand hall, the flickering lights cast shifting shadows. Clad in white with her hair loose, she stood behind the golden throne, gazing down at the intricate patterns carved upon its high back.
The throne's back depicted a scene of four mythical beasts frolicking amidst clouds beneath the Kunlun Mountains, its gilded lacquer shimmering under the lamplight.
From the far distance came heavy reverberations—the sound of Iron Serenity from the Bihua Palace leading an assault on the Toad Moon Terrace, preparing to breach its defenses once more. Last time they had invaded under cover of darkness, only to be repelled by Mad Orchid Wuxing and Yu Konghou.
Today, Mad Orchid Wuxing was already dead.
And Yu Konghou... was likely dead as well.
Bai Suche had patiently observed the tiny venomous spiders Yu Konghou had released, discovering they drifted with the wind and had infiltrated every corner of the Drifting Eyebrow Pavilion unnoticed. These spiders devoured everything—not just humans—but there was one type of person they refused to consume.
The red-robed maidservants, already deeply poisoned and stumbling from qi deviation—the spiders left them untouched.
They would follow these red-robed women, even preferring to dwell in their chambers, yet never attacked them.
It was as if they recognized them as kin.
These were peculiar creatures indeed.
But it mattered little. Bai Suche's fingers lightly brushed the throne's back where two dust-sized spiders had been crawling. At her touch, the spiders stiffened and fell dead to the ground.
They were but insignificant spiders. If you poisoned them before they could poison you, what harm could they do? Bai Suche's fingers bore traces of brown medicinal powder—bitter admonisher powder, lethal to insects though slow-acting. She had mixed additional toxins into it, having the junior maidservants who attended the red-robed women use it to scrub the floors.
Outside, the young heroes of the Central Plains Sword Assembly were hacking through brambles, advancing toward her with blades drawn.
Yet she stood here, awaiting an opportunity painstakingly crafted through meticulous planning.
The Toad Moon Terrace trembled, its obstructing Green Lion Gate emitting faint groans like a beast's growl. Contrary to the external tremors, a rhythmic sound emerged from beneath the earth—thud... then another thud.
Bai Suche slowly raised her head to see two figures approaching step by measured step from the underground passage. One was short in stature, leaning on a cane, while the other moved with unnatural stiffness, as if unaccustomed to walking.
Supporting each other, they advanced into the grand hall to the cadence of the cane's rhythmic thuds.
Bai Suche regarded the newcomers with considerable surprise.
One was an elderly woman past sixty, the other—a walking corpse that could only be Yu Konghou.
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