The Regressor of Mount Hua
Chapter 387. Blessed Existence’s Intention (1)

Chapter 387. Blessed Existence’s Intention (1)

Blessed Existence snorted, "Hmph."

In the end, the strategy was a success.

The betrayal of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance had brought great shock to the murim.

“The Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance has split!”

When someone said the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, they were the alliance of the Righteous Faction that came to mind right after the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Ancient Families. Since it wasn't just one of the sects, but three of them who betrayed the alliance, the impact was enormous.

“Have you heard about the Sword Mountain and Forest in the middle of Mount Hua Sect? The Mechanism Dragon installed a mechanism there, and according to rumors, its power is so incredible that it shocked everyone. They say that the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, or rather the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, wasn't able to move at all.”

The situation of the Mount Hua Sect was known to the murim in detail. There were several witnesses, and there were also outsiders such as servants and councilors inside the Mount Hua Sect, so it was no surprise that the details spread.

“The Sword God has returned to the Mount Hua Sect!”

“The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance is also stupid... to mess with the Sword God’s sect of all places. Tsk tsk tsk!”

"The One Hundred and Eighty Nine Paths, the Mount Tai Sect’s Sword, Chaoyi Shitai... The three Sect Masters of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance have died.”

“Then what will happen to those sects now?”

“The Martial Alliance, Mount Hua Sect, and the Hengshan Sect have decided to seal the sects after coordinating their opinions. It seems that they will ban them from all activities in the gangho for the next hundred or two hundred years.”

Even for a prestigious sect of the Righteous Faction, being sealed was fatal. It wasn't that they couldn’t accept disciples, but rather that most had no reason to enter a sect that had limited freedom and kept them from appearing in the murim.

While it was better than being destroyed, the future still wasn't bright.

The survivors of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance decided to return to the sect and live in seclusion under the leadership of the Martial Alliance and the Hengshan Sect.

But the consequences didn’t end there. The betrayal of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance triggered waves across not just the Righteous Faction, but the entire murim.

“These days, I wonder if the Righteous Faction is really righteous.”

“Are you worried about something? Why do you think so?”

“Why... I mean, think about the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance a while ago. Even if you call them small or medium-sized sects, the most famous alliance after the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Ancient Families was destroyed.”

"But what about it?"

"Think about it properly. The situation is worse than people think. Prestigious sects from the Righteous Faction ended up distrusting their own allies to the point that they betrayed them. And it all stemmed from discrimination."

"Hey, be careful what you say! The head of the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, Mount Hua Sect, has produced many masters and achieved results not only in this generation but also for many previous generations. The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance’s distrust is nothing more than an inferiority complex.”

"No, what I'm saying is..."

The betrayal of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance caused a great stir in the murim.

The small and medium-sized sects that were the starting point of the betrayal gained strength from this and became even bolder and more aggressive.

Blessed Existence Star and Vast Gate Star of the Dark Heavens Association, as if they had been waiting for this very moment, spread rumors and stirred up discontent.

“Do you see? This is the current state of the murim!”

“Even the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance is discriminated against and distrusted!”

“If you think that only the Sword Mountains are corrupt, you're greatly mistaken!”

Of course, the Righteous and Evil Alliance hadn't stayed still either.

“This is a conspiracy by the Dark Heavens Association.”

"They’re trying to divide us from the inside. Be on guard."

"They claim it’s revolution and reform, but in truth, they’re just making excuses for their own faults!"

Debate and controversy erupted everywhere.

"Ha, seriously. How did it come to this."

"Don't you think we should switch from the Righteous and Evil Alliance to the Dark Heavens Association at this point? Hasn't the Righteous Faction's power decreased again?"

"Hey there, why don’t you join the Dark Heavens Association? Let’s fix this broken murim.”

“Righteous and Evil Alliance? Dark Heavens Association? I don’t care about either of them. It’s hard to even make a living from day to day, so what...”

“The world isn't changing because of indifferent people like you!”

“What has the world done for me? Hey, if you give me three taels of silver, I’ll shut up and go along with whatever you say.”

Some criticized, some called for change, some pushed back, and some couldn’t care less.

But among all the reactions, the one who smiled quietly was the Strategist of the Dark Heavens Association, Blessed Existence.

“It’s going according to plan.”

As always, the Dark Heavens Association was behind the entire scheme.

“Even if you have achieved the pinnacle of martial arts with the Righteous Faction’s qi cultivation method, as a human being, there are still gaps in one's heart, and one will feel inferior, resent others, or accumulate resentment.”

What a terrifying person.

The Seven Stars Division soldiers shuddered when they heard Blessed Existence muttering.

Nine Sects and One Gang, Five Great Ancient Families, Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance. All of them are meaningless in front of this man. To control an entire alliance with a proud history like a mere puppet... he truly is the Strategist of the Dark Heavens.

What was truly terrifying about Blessed Existence was his skill in exploiting the hearts of people. While his strategical abilities were one thing, his ability to see into people's hearts was so uncanny that the soldiers couldn’t help but feel both fear and admiration.

On that note, Zhou Xuchuan is amazing, too.

At times, Blessed Existence seemed almost inhuman, yet even he had been thwarted multiple times by none other than the Sword God.

Zhou Xuchuan had ruined the Dark Heavens Association’s plans time and again. Everyone present was reminded once more of just how formidable he truly was.

"Well, then... since Zhou Xuchuan has appeared again, I suppose it’s time to turn the murim back into a battlefield.”

Blessed Existence’s pen that had paused began to move once more.

***

Zhou Xuchuan had been staying at the Mount Hua Sect for the past few days, exchanging letters and opinions with the Martial Alliance. The Martial Alliance's elders weren't happy that Zhou Xuchuan's journey to the North Sea had taken longer than expected, but they were very pleased when they heard that the North Sea Ice Palace Master of the Six Empyrean Overlords offered to help in person.

Besides that, Zhou Xuchuan had sent messages to the Gold Will Merchants and spent time with his long-missed master and disciple brothers and sisters. However, the time he could spend resting and socializing didn't last long.

Not long after, the Dark Heavens Association, which had opened up their Martial Arts Treasury to strengthen its power, moved their heavy butts.[1]

"Urgent report."

The espionage war was over.

"There’s movement in Hefei."

"What happened?" Xue Song asked, sweat sliding down his forehead. He wasn’t sure if it was due to the heat or anxiety.

The matter was serious enough to call an immediate meeting of the Upper Palace.

As expected, the Valley of Phantoms was excluded from receiving this information.

“The Dark Heavens Association has begun marching its troops to the North and South simultaneously. Their speed is unusually fast.”

“It’s finally happening!”

Zhao Wuyang jumped up from his seat.

“The Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance has split, and the Mount Hua Sect has also suffered considerable damage, so we have no choice but to move.”

There was concern in Shen Yulian’s voice.

Could this really be what they meant by achieving their goal?!

Martial Alliance.

“Blessed Existence’s intention should have three important points."

Zhuge Xiang raised his index, middle, and ring fingers.

“One, the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance’s strength is reduced.”

This weakened their ability to stand against the Dark Heavens Association.

“Two, the betrayal of those respected Righteous sects has increased distrust in the entire faction. It not only lowers morale, it will also sway those who were hesitating to join.”

“Hmph.”

Several elders groaned.

The betrayal had already caused enough headaches. Clearly, the damage left by the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance was significant.

“What’s the last one?” Peng Junping asked.

"To locate and guide the movements of the Sword God, Zhou Xuchuan."

“Zhou Xuchuan?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Xiang nodded his head.

“Not long ago, the Dark Heavens Association sent thirty unidentified Peak Realm experts to take advantage of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance’s commotion and target his master, the Gentle Smiling Swordsman Liu Zhengmu.”

Zhuge Xiang told the elders what he had heard from Zhou Xuchuan.

“From the perspective of the Dark Heavens Association, having the Sword God, who constantly disrupts their plans, vanish for several months must have been a serious problem.”

The Six Empyrean Overlords, especially Zhou Xuchuan, were mortal enemies who interfered with everything the Dark Heavens Association did. They couldn’t help but be concerned.

"So, they attacked his master just to force him out of hiding?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Xuchuan’s love for his master was widely known.

Even after rising to fame as the Sword God, he never stopped saying that Liu Zhengmu was the greatest swordsman in the world and should be ranked above the Empyrean Overlords.

Given that, it was no surprise the Dark Heavens Association went after Liu Zhengmu. In fact, it was surprising they hadn’t done so earlier.

There was simply no more effective way to draw Zhou Xuchuan out.

“Ah!” Huang Gou exclaimed in realization.

“So that’s what you meant by guide." Hui Lu muttered.

"After calling him over to the Mount Hua Sect, they wanted to attack us from both the North and South to prevent him from intervening on either side!"

"That's exactly right."

Everything the Dark Heavens Association did was interrupted by Zhou Xuchuan.

So this time, they decided to stop him from intervening altogether by attacking the North and South simultaneously.

“Logically, we should participate in the war in the North since it's closer to us. However, this thinking creates an opening.”

“So the North is just bait.”

If Zhou Xuchuan is the strategy of force itself, then Blessed Existence is the strategy of wisdom itself.

Just his presence alone created hesitation and uncertainty.

What if the goal is to tie up Zhou Xuchuan in the North?

“Can’t we choose both?”

“Ha.”

Huang Gou looked at Peng Junping like he had asked a foolish question.

"Look here. Unless the Sword God ascends to become an immortal and rides the clouds, or uses a void shrinking art, that’s impossible. They’ve just started advancing, but in a few days, the distance will be considerably wider. How can he stop them both?”

“That’s right. On top of that, there are still troublesome people who haven’t been resolved under Hefei.”

"The Water Gangs!"

There was the largest river that divided the Central Plains into the North and South.

“While we’re on the subject, what’s going on with the Hainan Sword Sect?” Jingren Shitai asked.

“I received word that they departed two days ago. They’ll probably arrive just in time, so they’ll be able to support the Southern front.”

With that, the issue of the Water Gangs was resolved.

But that made them even more worried.

“Why don’t we send the Sword God to the North and the Domination God Monarch to the South?” Peng Junping suggested with sudden confidence.

“Unfortunately... That's impossible. The Evil Valley Lord said that the Domination God Monarch is on a special mission and has limited movement.”

“Ugh! What’s with everything being so frustrating!”

Peng Junping pounded his chest in annoyance.

The other elders also seemed to have a similar feeling and let out a sigh.

"In the end, the choice is up to the Sword God. However, we should keep in mind that there isn't much time left. If we hesitate, we risk losing both sides.”

The elders nodded at Wu Bai’s words.

Zhou Xuchuan was troubled.

North or South?

In the North, the North Sea Ice Palace will help, and in the South, there's the Hainan Sword Sect. If I only look at the support troops, there's no problem.

In the case of Empyrean Overlords, there were the Martial Alliance Leader and the Evil Valley Lord.

In the North, where the Righteous Faction is at the center, there are fewer people but more skilled experts. In the South, where the Evil Faction is at the center, there are more people but fewer skilled experts. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s hard to decide.

He couldn’t just think about it forever. The situation was changing by the moment, so he had to make a decision as quickly as possible.

Where I should go is...

1. Euphemism for making someone who rarely makes a move take a step forward. ☜