Chapter 377: Calm Deployment

Nalan Hongwu’s immense martial qi flooded into his blade, generating a terrifying sword-gargantua that shattered the protective spiritual light on both of their ritual implements almost instantly!

"How is this possible?!"

"Who?! Who is there?!" The two cultivators scanned their surroundings in utter dread, yet they could not discern a single soul!

"Where is everyone?! Who exactly is launching this ambush!" the black-haired cultivator roared. "What kind of skill is hiding your head and showing your tail? If you have the ability, come out and fight this old man in a fair and square match!"

A look of sheer horror was now written completely and utterly across their faces!

On the giant screen of the Origin Internet Club:

"Now they want a fair and square match? Where was that attitude earlier?"

"Hahaha, a bunch of old geezers, and they actually dared to instigate the great sects to attack our Great Jin Country?"

"The Boss is awesome! We'll root out his old nest in a moment!"

On the screen, a sky full of sword-rain poured down like a violent tempest!

Yet before the mountain gate, everything had once more reverted to its original state; the various rare and exotic beasts carved from giant stone had also returned to their former likeness, and the world between heaven and earth was clear and bright.

...

"Master! Master, things are bad!"

Within the Taixi Sect.

A disciple was seen running in from the outside in a frantic panic.

Clad in a robe of pure white and holding a fishing rod in his hand, Venerable Duyou spoke with a placid expression: "Why the panic? Speak, what is the matter?"

"That... that Owner Fang of the Origin Internet Club has fought his way to our doorstep!" that white-robed disciple said in a flurry.

"Fought to our doorstep?" Venerable Duyou laughed heartily. "I did not expect him to lose his composure so quickly, but this suits my intentions perfectly. With the Elders Black and White watching over the mountain gate, and so many guarding disciples present, what is there to fear? Even if his power reaches the heavens, he will not be able to enter anytime soon!"

"No..." the disciple explained, "they have already fought their way inside!"

"I told you not to be frantic. How does your master usually teach you?" Reclaiming the fishing rod in his hand, he subsequently looked up, only to see that in the sky ahead, countless long swords had converged into a massive curtain of blades!

Then, they poured down like a torrential rainstorm!

"Master..." the disciple cried out in alarm, "that... what is that?!"

"What audacity!" Venerable Duyou hurriedly threw his fishing rod aside, his countenance darkening instantly. "Where are the two elders, Black and White? What have they been doing?!"

"The Grindstone Grand Array was broken long ago!" the disciple said anxiously. "They have already fought their way in! The two venerable elders, Black and White, are likely facing grim fortunes!"

"What?!" Venerable Duyou’s expression changed drastically on the spot. "You impudent whelp! How dare you be so flagrantly rampant?!"

"To actually dare come into my sect to make trouble?" Venerable Duyou let out a cold snort, dusting off his robes. "Come out with this seat to take a look!"

"Then... should we activate the Sect-Protecting Grand Array?" the disciple inquired.

"How many of them are there?"

"Two," the disciple gestured.

"A mere two! Look at how terrified you are?!" Venerable Duyou said in a freezing tone. "The Sect-Protecting Grand Array is a supreme treasure left behind by our patriarch thousands of years ago. Are a mere two people even worthy of having this sect activate it?"

"Call upon several of your senior brothers and sisters, and come outside with this seat to see!"

"Yes..." The disciple was seen drenched in sweat.

...

At the same time, to the east of the Great Jin Country, a large fleet of armored warships from Mount Linglang, leading a massive army of cultivators, was deployed here.

"Hmm?"

"What is going on?" A white-robed elder stared intently at the surrounding sky. "Strange..."

"Elder, what is the matter?"

"Report!" Just then, a communications officer came forward to report, "The family head has sent a message ordering us to rush to the Ask-the-Way Slope thirty li away, to rendezvous with the cultivators of the Longhai Daoist Palace."

Simultaneously, the cultivators of the Longhai Daoist Palace also received a message: "Report! The Palace Master sends word that Great Jin Country has deployed its main army to block the Mount Linglang cultivators, ordering us to strike directly at the capital of Great Jin!"

The cultivators of Mount Yuqiu also received a message at this time...

And at this moment, outside the gates of Great Jin Country.

A war of this caliber naturally did not require the sect masters of the great sects or the heads of the grand families to take the field in person; they only needed to mobilize their forces, and with various elders presiding over the matters, they could rest perfectly easy.

Therefore, the leaders of each sect, faction, and grand family were gathered together at this moment, practically celebrating ahead of time.

"It is said that this Great Jin Country actually made the Yundian Region suffer a defeat last time. I wonder, how much confidence do you all truly possess?" The rather stout head of the Zhu Family from Mount Linglang took a sip of wine and food, then spoke to ask.

"I have heard that the dharma boats of Mount Linglang are second only to the Gongshu Family, and their armored warships are ranked alongside the Gongshu Family of the Yundian Region as the finest in the world." The sect master of Mount Yuqiu, dressed in an emerald green satin robe, stroked his hands in praise. "Now that Mount Linglang has dispatched a full thirty armored warships, could it be you still fear you cannot defeat a bunch of warriors?"

"Haha! Sect Master praises us too highly." The stout middle-aged cultivator laughed loudly. "However, I, Zhu, dare say that in terms of armored warships, we are certainly no worse than the Gongshu Family. I have heard that the formations of the Longhai Daoist Palace are truly second to none; in this regard, I fear my Mount Linglang cannot compare."

"You flatter me, you flatter me!" The old Daoist of the Longhai Daoist Palace smiled. "It is merely thanks to everyone's high regard. In my view, it is the various ritual implements of Mount Yuqiu that are unique in style and formidable in power. They will surely catch Great Jin Country unprepared; when that time comes, I fear we won't even have a chance to strike!"

"Hahaha! Not at all, not at all!" The sect master of Mount Yuqiu said. "But looking at it this way, flattening Great Jin Country seems as though it won't require much effort at all, will it?"

"Even if we flatten them, what of it? This bunch of martial artists is dirt poor; even if we level them, there is not much wealth to be reaped."

"You cannot say that. That battle with the Yundian Region last time allowed them to reap quite a few benefits. I have heard that the spirit crystals sent over by the Yundian Region are piled up like mountains, along with countless rare treasures for their endless enjoyment!" The one speaking was precisely the white-robed middle-aged man who had shouted that day that he would not rest until these heretical fiends were exterminated. "It would be best to eradicate that bunch of heretical fiends altogether! It can be considered a good deed done for our cultivation world!"

"This gentleman is...?" The sect master of Mount Yuqiu looked at this white-robed middle-aged man, asking curiously.

"This is the Sect Master of the Tianyang Sect," the stout family head of Mount Linglang introduced. "The Tianyang Sect rarely moves about in the secular world."

"Since everyone is of the same mind," the sect master of Mount Yuqiu said, "then now, we need only wait in peace for the grand victory of this battle."

"Precisely! I toast to Perfected Master Longhai!"

"Hmm?" Just then, the old Daoist of the Longhai Daoist Palace retrieved the communication jade from his waist, holding it in his hand. "Strange?"

"What is it?"

"This old Daoist sent a message to Elder Liu of our main sect, so why has there been no reply for so long?" Old Daoist Longhai said in confusion.

"Now that you mention it..." The head of the Zhu Family also curiously retrieved his communication jade and said, "It seems I haven't received a reply on my end either."

"What on earth is wrong with these people?!" the head of the Zhu Family said in anger. "Could it be that upon seeing too many treasures in Great Jin Country, they don't even have the time to reply?!"

"Drink, drink!" the sect master of Mount Yuqiu said. "It is a mere Great Jin Country after all. Once we capture their monarch, we will naturally receive a satisfactory answer."