Enshrinement as a God

A thousand swords filling the sky.

The Taoist Lingbao's pupils were moving restlessly within his closed eyelids.

The Nine Gates Ten Thousand Sword Adjustment was an ultimate art completed by obtaining the understanding of his lifelong martial art, the Nine Gates Harmonious Heart Art, and the Ten Thousand Sword Adjustment of the Ten Thousand Sword Master.

It was the essence of the sword control art and the ultimate of the sword art, which moved hundreds of swords rotating along the sword path of the Nine Gates Harmonious Sword Art in one go to kill the enemy.

But the opponent was the Black Qilin.

The spatial sword he displayed was a divine skill that created an absolute domain and subdued the enemy.

No matter how many swords he handled and moved, within the Black Qilin's domain, sharp swords became dull, and fierce moves became simple.

In the mind of the Taoist Lingbao, who had closed his two eyes, dozens, hundreds of bloody battles were already taking place.

The fight was evenly matched.

Although he was half a step ahead, in the realm of the supreme, that much of a difference eventually led to the result of mutual destruction.

Beads of sweat began to form on the forehead of the Taoist Lingbao, who had been competing with Wenzhong in his mind for more than ten days.

He did not have much time to prepare.

Since it was clear that Wenzhong was already preparing with a duel with him in mind, the difference of a single sheet of paper would surely become meaningless.

The surroundings of the Taoist Lingbao, who was engrossed in his mind alone, were full of the smell of blood. Screams and cries were bursting out here and there.

It would have been nice if there had been a space where he could concentrate more, but the situation was not so favorable.

"I've been bitten so badly in my old age."

The Taoist Lingbao, who had finished numerous decisive battles in his mind, let out a sigh with a hoarse voice.

The Black Qilin was still not on the battlefield. Soon, in reality, not in their minds, they would cross swords and compete with their moves.

* * *

The clear sky after the rain was boasting a clear light for the first time in a while.

But under the clear sky, in the land of Sichuan, hatred and heat were constantly bursting out and showed no signs of cooling down.

The martial artists of the Sichuan Alliance, who had arrived in Kangding, immediately established a base in the front yard of Baidao Wumen, and their prestige was as magnificent as if they were waging a great war.

The first clash took place without rest for three days.

The Black Contemplation Fortress, which had already occupied Baidao Wumen, launched a storm-like offensive, and the martial artists of the Sichuan Alliance also fought without a moment's hesitation.

As a result of the bloody battle that had continued for three days, there were corpses everywhere, and wherever one went, the smell of blood pierced the nose.

The government, which had recognized the seriousness of the situation, immediately ordered the two forces to withdraw, but for them to take action, both sides were in a situation where they could not back down.

Although the damage on both sides was serious, the encouraging fact for the Sichuan Alliance, which had taken the revenge of Baidao Wumen as its justification, was that the martial artists of the righteous path with a will were continuously gathering.

The renowned masters of the martial world, who had gathered in the command barracks, excluding the Taoist Lingbao, who had left his seat, were all talking to each other with serious expressions.

"The power of the Black Contemplation Fortress is truly amazing. We have been on the offensive for more than ten days, but their spirit has not been broken at all."

Sheng Houhu stroked his beard and looked at the map spread out in the arena.

Baidao Wumen originally had a fortress-like structure in preparation for the Black Contemplation Fortress.

Since martial artists were not very experienced in siege warfare, there were many difficulties in attacking the Black Contemplation Fortress, which had occupied Baidao Wumen.

"Damn bastards... I don't think I'll ever be able to sleep with my legs stretched out until I completely wipe them out."

Jiang Huanchao, with a clear character for 'heaven' on his forehead, gritted his teeth and opened his mouth.

It was easy to see how much Jiang Huanchao's heart was burning, as he was attacking his own sect, Baidao Wumen, again, without anyone having to say it.

"What do you think, Sect Leader Xi?"

"Although we are superior in a full-scale war because righteous people with a will are continuously participating, don't we have various problems on our side? The supply route... the government is also putting pressure on us again."

The representatives of the four great sects and the renowned masters of the martial world in the arena nodded with serious expressions.

They were also worried about that.

As martial artists, they had expected to have a grand showdown, but no one had expected that the Black Contemplation Fortress would take a defensive posture like a turtle after the first battle.

"And since the martial prowess of King Wucheng and the young master of the Black Contemplation Fortress, Jeshin, is so great..."

In fact, what had caught Xi Xichang's attention in this battle was nothing other than Jeshin's martial prowess.

Although she had heard that the two young masters of the Black Contemplation Fortress had a great talent to be responsible for the martial world of their time, the shock of Xichang, who had seen the arena become a mess with a single gesture of Jeshin, who was of the same age as her, was truly great.

Not only that, but she could not help but be astonished once again at the fact that the identity of the new master called King Wucheng was the Escort King, Huang Feihu, whom she knew well and had been with.

Since she could be criticized and suspected if she were to talk about Huang Feihu on a battlefield that had already become as intense as it could be, she could not bring herself to say it, but she was wondering alone for what reason Huang Feihu had joined the Black Contemplation Fortress.

And in the end, she had no choice but to come to the conclusion that it was not unrelated to the fact that he had helped her.

'A small decision soon brings about a storm-like result.'

"Sect Leader Xi?"

As the complexion of Xi Xichang, who had closed her mouth gloomily, was not good, Sheng Houhu, who was next to her, glanced at Xichang.

"...Ah, ahem. I'm sorry. So I think it's a top priority to defeat those two first."

"As you say. Since their martial prowess is not ordinary, all the chivalrous warriors should concentrate their attacks on King Wucheng and Jeshin."

In fact, Sheng Houhu had also given up on the thought of competing with him alone after seeing King Wucheng's martial prowess on the first day.

Although he had not mentioned it because his pride was hurt to say that he should attack Huang Feihu, who had been an escort in the past, in a joint attack, he was not confident of winning if he were to face him alone.

"How about we go back for now, reorganize, and attack the Black Contemplation Fortress directly?"

Bang!

"Nonsense!"

At Yue Shengwu's words, Jiang Huanchao showed great anger.

"If we retreat from here, we will only become the laughingstock of the martial world! Moreover, to retreat because we are afraid of the government! This Jiang Huanchao cannot bear to see Baidao Wumen being defiled by the Black Contemplation Fortress any longer!"

In an instant, the arena was engulfed in silence.

"Sect Leader Jiang's words are right. Now is the time to think only of how to defeat them in one go."

"In any case, the Black Contemplation Fortress bastards are no different from a motley crew if we just execute the Black Qilin. The important thing is how to execute the Black Qilin."

Sheng Houhu, who had been quietly observing the arena, quietly moved to the center.

As everyone's gaze was focused on him, Sheng Houhu continued his words again.

"Whether it's King Wucheng or the second young master of the Black Contemplation Fortress, in the end, they are just pawns. In the end, we must strike the head to end this fight."

To catch the Black Qilin.

Wenzhong had not displayed his martial prowess even in this fight.

Since the Taoist Lingbao, who was maintaining his silence in the arena, was also not making a move, for the Sichuan Alliance, which was in a hurry, it was a very frustrating matter.

"But the only ones who can face the Twelve Honored Ones of the world are them. In order to face the Black Qilin, the Elder Sword Immortal must step forward, but for the Elder Sword Immortal to draw his sword against the Black Qilin, who is not even the Mo Guangdi of the Black Contemplation Fortress, is not a very good picture for the Sichuan Alliance."

Sheng Houhu was inwardly thinking that Wenzhong and the Taoist Lingbao were not stepping forward because they were afraid of each other.

But if he were to reveal such an inner thought here, there was a risk of incurring the Taoist Lingbao's anger, so he hid his intention as much as possible and continued his words.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Even so, the duel between the two must be held first. The problem is after that."

"If you say after..."

"After sending a letter to the Black Qilin tomorrow and formally requesting a duel, if he agrees, the Elder Sword Immortal will face him, and if the situation becomes unfavorable, we will lure him into a trap and subdue him with a joint attack formation."

Although the faces of several masters showed displeasure at the words 'joint attack formation', since they were not confident of subduing Wenzhong alone, excluding the Taoist Lingbao, their dissatisfaction did not come out of their mouths.

In fact, although they had not said it for various reasons, they had already considered a joint attack against the Black Qilin in case of an emergency.

"What if he refuses?"

Sheng Houhu answered with a confident expression.

"He will not refuse. Since his fighting spirit will be piercing the sky, it is unlikely that he will refuse. Even if he refuses, he will be ridiculed by the world as a coward, and our morale will rise, so there is nothing to lose."

"Hmm, then who do you think would be good to display the joint attack formation?"

"In order to lure the Black Qilin, at least Sect Leader Jiang or Sect Leader Yue must step forward. And here."

Sheng Houhu pointed to the steep valley he had thought of in advance.

"After luring him to this place, at least four or more masters must attack in a joint attack. Sect Leader Jiang, Sect Leader Yue, me, and... Sect Leader Xi."

"I will do it in place of our sect leader."

At those words, as Liu Yezhi stepped forward, Xi Xichang glared at him with sharp eyes.

"Step back, Old Master."

"Sect Leader, you are still young and cannot handle the joint attack art. For the sake of success, it is right for me to do it instead."

"That is also true, so then, Great Hero Liu will have to take the trouble in place of Sect Leader Xi."

If this were to succeed, the merit would surely be shared by those who had faced the Black Qilin.

Sheng Houhu had no intention of giving such an opportunity to Xi Xichang, whom he looked down on.

Although she was a young girl, she was so bold that if he were to give her power, she would surely grab his beard and shake it.

"But there is still an important problem left. How do you plan to explain it to the Sword Immortal?"

"By the time we carry out this plan, the Sword Immortal will already have no strength to scold us."

Although he had said it in a roundabout way, this plan was a move that had the worst in mind.

The worst was the defeat of the Sword Immortal.

In other words, the death of the Taoist Lingbao.

At Sheng Houhu's words, everyone showed a resolute expression.

No matter how scary the martial prowess of the Black Qilin was, the fact that the supreme masters of Sichuan of their time were attacking in a joint attack like this meant that they would not even allow the thought of failure.

"I will accept."

Jiang Huanchao accepted cheerfully and looked at Yue Shengwu.

Yue Shengwu also felt Sheng Houhu's gaze and said firmly.

"I also agree."

"Then I will give instructions for the detailed plan and preparations."

"Please take the trouble."

Sheng Houhu lightly clapped his hands and cleared the surroundings.

"Since the sun has already set so much, let's stop here for today."

"Then I will go and tell the Sword Immortal."

As Jiang Huanchao, who was in a hurry, went outside first, the masters in the command barracks took a fist-and-palm salute and returned to their respective quarters.

And in the barracks, only Yue Shengwu and Sheng Houhu were sitting, guarding their seats.

"Tiger-Subduing Sword. May I ask one thing?"

As Yue Shengwu broke the ice, Sheng Houhu stroked his beard and answered calmly.

"Please speak."

"If we successfully repel the Black Contemplation Fortress, shouldn't we think about what comes after?"

"If you say after..."

For Sheng Houhu, the most difficult person to deal with, excluding the typical martial artist Jiang Huanchao and the still young Xi Xichang, was Yue Shengwu.

Yue Shengwu had been showing a political temperament, weighing the scales between himself and Jiang Huanchao, even before the Sichuan Alliance was formed.

"Although the Sword Immortal is clearly a master like no other in the world, doesn't he seem to have no intention of leading the Sichuan Alliance at all?"

No matter how much he was the Sword Immortal, the Sichuan Alliance was ultimately an alliance of the Sichuan martial artists.

Since the Sword Immortal, who had a different origin, was sitting on their heads, Yue Shengwu was feeling a sense of rejection.

Moreover, the Taoist Lingbao was showing neither talent nor passion in leading the Sichuan Alliance.

Although Xi Xichang had managed to bring the Taoist Lingbao, if the problem of the Black Qilin were to be over, there was a high probability that he would become a useless person.

In the future, it would be enough to have him as an elder, not a leader, and to borrow his martial prowess and name.

But still, the Sword Immortal was the Sword Immortal.

If the Sword Immortal were to subdue the Black Qilin, he would be a hero who had saved the Sichuan martial world, so he could not be carelessly pulled down from the position of the leader.

"I believe that the Tiger-Subduing Sword has the ability to read the situation."

Yue Shengwu was quietly asking Sheng Houhu about his intention for the next leader.

For Sheng Houhu, who coveted the position of the leader more than anyone else, the hand that Yue Shengwu had extended was bound to be desperate.

But Sheng Houhu had no intention of rashly taking the hand that Yue Shengwu had extended.

This was because if the price he had to pay was high, he could end up doing a losing business.

"Since the peace of Sichuan is in a crisis like a lamp in the wind, can we have such a conversation in a place like this? Let's discuss it later."

Yue Shengwu, as if he had expected such a reaction from Sheng Houhu, took a fist-and-palm salute without another word and politely withdrew.

The face of Sheng Houhu, who was watching the back of the disappearing Yue Shengwu, shone strangely.

And Sheng Houhu was sure that the expression on the back of Yue Shengwu, who had turned his back, was no different from his own.

(End of Chapter)