The Regressor of Mount Hua
Chapter 392. The Dark Heavens Mortal Enemy (1)

Chapter 392. The Dark Heavens' Mortal Enemy (1)

At the Northern battlefront...

After departing for the North, Zhou Xuchuan, the Sword God, finally joined the alliance forces.

The members of the forces welcomed him with open arms, but the moment he entered the command tent, the mood instantly changed.

“Who are you?” Peng Zihu asked in a low, growling voice.

Not only him, but several other key figures of the alliance forces also stared at Zhou Xuchuan with suspicion.

“Everyone, please calm down,” said Tang Hui, the Poison Phoenix, raising her hand to draw their attention. “Did you know that our enemy is trying to ruin the plan we worked so hard to create through bloodlust?”

“Lady Poison Phoenix, if you know something, please enlighten us!”

The Milky Way Sage demanded an explanation from Tang Hui.

“We were told that the Sword God from the Martial Alliance would join us, but this...”

Peng Zihu’s sharp gaze was fixed on Zhou Xuchuan, or rather, someone who only appeared to be him!

The facial mask was incredibly well made, almost identical to the real Zhou Xuchuan, but it couldn’t hide the one detail that mattered most: this imposter’s martial arts realm was nowhere near the Sword God’s.

The Coruscant realm stood so far above the others that lower-realm experts could not hope to measure it accurately. No matter how skilled they were, they shouldn’t have been able to discern Zhou Xuchuan’s true cultivation. The fact that they could sense this person was only at the Transcendent realm revealed the truth.

He might have fooled these experts from a distance, but when this close, it’d be impossible to keep up the charade.

“Forgive me,” said the man wearing Zhou Xuchuan’s face. Even his voice mimicked Zhou Xuchuan’s perfectly. “Our plan required me to conceal my identity.”

The man’s name was... Jia Wuliang, the Failed Phantom from the Valley of Phantoms! “The Sword God couldn’t come to the North because of his mission. Due to certain circumstances, he had to do this to deceive Blessed Existence.”

“I see... so he sent a substitute,” Ximen Erjin murmured, nodding slowly.

“I understand that there were circumstances stopping him, sure. But did he really have to hide the truth from us, too?”

Sun Yishan, the old beggar with messy, unkempt hair, grumbled in dissatisfaction. He was the famed Temperance Staff Beggar, who was the Beggar Gang’s old expert and one of its elders.

“We can only ask the elders to suppress your anger. We know you’re displeased by this deception, but please understand that the spies in our midst have prevented us from sharing this information with you.”

The Righteous-Evil alliance’s higher-ups believed that a few stragglers harboring evil intentions, such as the Dark Heavens Association’s spies and traitors, remained in their midst.

This was why the full details of the operation had been withheld until now. But they had to reveal the truth here, because experts like Peng Zihu could easily see through the disguise from up close.

“In that case, where is the real Sword God?”

When Peng Zihu asked suspiciously, all Tang Hui could do was smile faintly.

“Even that is a secret? It can’t be helped, then.”

Although they didn’t like it, demanding answers was out of the question now, since it seemed there was another factor at play here.

The Martial Alliance leader and the Evil Valley Master must have agreed to this arrangement. Besides, this was Zhou Xuchuan they were talking about. And the explanation had come from Tang Hui, the Poison Phoenix of the Tang Family.

She had likely received Black Shadow Division training since childhood, so keeping secrets had long become her specialty.

Not only did you abandon me and travel to the North Sea, you even returned incredibly late, too. Fine, let’s say I can let all that slide. I can even overlook the fact that you went straight to Mount Hua the moment you came back. That couldn’t be helped, after all...

While receiving the wary glances of the key players, Tang Hui thought to herself.

But! The first message you send me in half a year is a request for help in deceiving other people?!

Tap, tap!

Her index finger drummed lightly on her forearm beneath her sleeve. Arms crossed, her irritation simmered. She was infamous for not only her martial prowess but also for her personality. Even though she had put on a fake smile to prevent others from reading her emotions, her eyes were still ablaze with venomous anger.

She recalled Zhou Xuchuan’s letter to her, the one she had received not too long ago.

“Because of various circumstances, I need your help. Only you know the identity of the Domination God Monarch, which makes you the only person capable of mediating the situation from within. Do me this favor. Help me, please.”

“...Hmm.”

When Tang Hui recalled the end of the message, the rage burning in her eyes cooled instantly.

A secret only the two of us know?

That wasn’t entirely true, of course. A few others besides Tang Hui also knew about the true identity of the Domination God Monarch, otherwise known as the Phantom Bow Swordsman.

Just like Tang Hui, Wu Qu also figured out the truth, thanks to the Mind Qi Separator. There was also Jiang Ningchu, the current master of the Xia Wu Sect, who stood in opposition to Vast Gate.

What made her different was that she had entered closed-door training to avenge Zhou Xuchuan’s supposed death, learning about the Domination God Monarch’s activities later than the others.

So irritating!

Despite her best attempts to remain calm, she kept failing. It felt like her pride was trampled on when she realized how her anger simply melted away by the idea of sharing a secret with that man, and the fact that he was asking for her help.

Ximen Erjin’s brow furrowed. “Doesn’t that mean we must defend the Northern front without the aid of the Sword God?”

“There’s no need for concern,” the Milky Way Sage said firmly. “The Sword God isn’t the only powerful expert the Righteous Faction has to rely on!”

***

Earlier, back in Mount Hua...

While Zhou Xuchuan was still contemplating whether to go to the North or South, a Martial Alliance courier delivered a letter from Zhuge Xiang.

“So, the enemy will most likely deploy the Sixteen Stockade of the Red Forest at the Southern front? I see. As expected of Zhuge Xiang!”

The Red Forest’s numbers might have decreased from eighteen to sixteen, but its strength and influence remained as strong as ever. That was why Zhou Xuchuan had traveled to the distant Southern seas, didn’t he?

While mentioning Anqing, one of the river’s port towns, Zhuge Xiang spoke of how the Dark Heavens Association’s army would lure the alliance forces toward the Yangtze River.

Deciphering the Dark Heavens’ intentions is one thing, but to think he would send a reply at such perfect timing, as if he had also anticipated my own predicament... the title of Heavenly Strategist truly isn’t just for show, is it?

Thoroughly impressed by Zhuge Xiang’s advice, Zhou Xuchuan decided to travel south.

I was originally thinking of just participating in the battle of the South, but to think they would prepare a strategy like this, too.

Zhuge Xiang’s sister, and a genius strategist in her own right, Zhuge Xiuluan also took part in planning this operation.

She remained in Shandong until Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance’s betrayal was resolved, then timed her departure to the Southern front to coincide with Zhou Xuchuan’s movements.

The two joined up along the way and exchanged ideas.

She said, “If it’s the Dark Heavens Association and its Blessed Existence... They would definitely know about Hainan Sword Sect’s mobilization. I’ve sent my agents to the roads connecting the Eastern sea to the Southern sea and also alerted my mole, so we should soon hear about the forces hostile toward the Hainan Sword Sect.”

He asked incredulously, “When did you plant a mole?”

“Nothing will create a better opening than gathering six thousand martial artists at short notice, you see?”

“I see. You truly are amazing, Lady Zhuge. I mean it.”

“I-it wasn’t anything special... Anyway, this is also a good opportunity to wipe out the river pirates who’ve been troubling us for so long.”

“Do you mind if I ask you about your plan?”

“Since the Hainan Sword Sect might get delayed due to the hostile forces... I was thinking of requesting the South Sea Dragon Gate’s assistance.”

“Ah! I see now. You were thinking of ambushing them by having our allies travel not in ships, but underwater! I understand. They will gladly lend their help if you mention my name.”

“I’m sorry... I feared any further delay could cause trouble for our allies, so I’ve already sent a letter containing the outline of our plan along with your name to the South Sea Dragon Gate.”

“I see. No, don’t apologize. You’ve made the correct decision. Mm, in that case... Sounds like we can expect the Imoogi’s help, as well.”

She had already sent a messenger hawk to the city of Guangzhou at the south of the Central Plains. Afterward, an Evil Valley-affiliated martial artist urgently set off toward Hainan right away from the city’s gate.

As luck would have it, the weather remained calm, and unlike before, the South Sea Dragon Gate’s barrier arrays no longer hindered the delivery of Zhou Xuchuan’s message.

Upon receiving the message, the South Sea Dragon King used the Dragon Roar to notify the Imoogi of the news and even mobilized the warriors of the South Sea Dragon Gate as well. All of this took only two days.

The Imoogi carrying the warriors of the South Sea Dragon Gate swam toward the Central Plains at an astonishing speed. As befitting their fame as the water dragon and the sect of mermen, they even overtook the Hainan Sword Sect, who had departed before them, and arrived at the Yangtze River much sooner.

To think he was the Domination God Monarch all along!

It was at this point that Zhou Xuchuan revealed the true identity of the Domination God Monarch to Zhuge Xiuluan. Not only was she a trustworthy individual, but she was also the strategist fighting at the front lines, which meant she needed to have access to vital information like that.

No, keep yourself together! I need to focus. Getting stunned can wait!

Zhuge Xiuluan shook her head to clear her thoughts.

“W-what is that?!” The jaw of the leader of the Red Forest, Hong Xialang, fell to the floor. “A d-dragon?!”

“U-uwaaahk?! It’s a dragon! It’s a water dragon!”

“A-am I dreaming?! Am I dreaming right now?!”

The Imoogi’s appearance was somewhere between that of a true dragon and a snake. But people still mistook it for a dragon because of its enormous size. The sudden appearance of a beast seen only in legends caused chaos within the enemy camp.

“L-Lord Dragon God is angry!”

“It’s-it’s the Water God!”

It wasn’t only the people of Hainan who were believers of water-related superstitions. The river pirates were the same.

“Everyone, listen to me!”

The one who shouted was a bewitching beauty who looked like a legendary mermaid, with the sea-blue hair reaching down to her waist. It was none other than Chi Shuishui, the Dragon’s Tail, standing tall above the Imoogi to address the pirate’s leaders.

“My name is Chi Shuishui, the Southern Red Dragon and the South Sea Dragon King’s Dragon's Tail!”

“The Southern Red Dragon?!”

“The Four Seas Dragon King? Really?!”

Practically everyone had heard about the legend of the Four Seas Dragon King. That included the river pirates, of course.

“S-senior sister!”

Unsurprisingly, ripples of unrest spread across the Waterway Gang.

“Tsk!” Hong Xialang scowled deeply. “Listen up! Do not get fooled! That’s just a beast that failed to become a dragon! It’s merely an Imoogi!”

She tried to regain control by suppressing her surroundings with her charisma.

Chi Shuishui shouted back, “I’m here to declare that neither I nor the South Sea Dragon Palace have come to invade the Central Plains!”

“What are you all doing?! Kill them already!” Hong Xialang scowled even deeper while yelling at her subordinates.

“We are only here to repay the kindness of our benefactor, the Sword God, who quelled the ocean’s rage and prevented the Dragon Palace’s destr—Kkyaahk?!”

Whooooosh!

Hong Xialang threw a nearby subordinate’s ax, cutting off Chi Shuishui mid-sentence.

“What the hell is going on, Present Darkness?!” Hong Xialang roared, her voice seething with rage. “You didn’t tell me anything about this crap!”

She might have told her subordinates not to lose their cool since they were only facing a beast that had failed to become a dragon, but the truth be told, she too was panicking.

That creature wasn’t a small snake you could crush with one hand. It was a monster larger than most buildings.

“Hey, you son of a bitch from Blessed Existence Star! Say something already!”

“B-but, how...”

The Present Darkness Liu Shao's lips trembled. His derisive smirk of the victor was long gone now, replaced by the pale, stunned expression of a man facing death.

Meanwhile, unrest also erupted at the rear of the alliance forces.

“L-look, maybe something has gone wrong here?”

“D-dammit!”

“Did I... Did I throw my lot with the wrong group?”

Many of the traitors, now overcome with crippling regret, looked around nervously, searching for a way to escape. The morale within the Dark Heavens Association had plummeted.

“We anticipated your move, then your next, and then the one after that.” The Domination God Monarch, Zhou Xuchuan, grinned in satisfaction. “Fuu-huuuph!”

He then took a deep breath.

“Ku-oooooooooohhh!”

Ku-oooooooooohhh!

He unleashed yet another Dragon Roar. This time, the Imoogi reciprocated his roar with a roar of its own. Their roars signaled the start of the battle on the land.

“D-dammit?! Stop them!”

Liu Shao screamed, his face soaked in either sweat or rain as dark clouds rolled overhead. The dark heavens, once seemingly on his side, now loomed with ominous dread.

“Uwaaaahk?!”

RUMBLE!!!

The Yangtze’s waters churned angrily. The Imoogi used its body like a whip, hitting the pirate ship closest to it directly and reducing it to splinters.

A large whirlpool was created in the river from the impact, causing the debris of the destroyed ship to get sucked in.

Thankfully, the pirates had mastered various water arts to ensure their survival even after falling into the river, but it was far too early for them to relax.

Kko-ru-ru-ruk!

Panicked, the pirates spat out bubbles as they lost control of their breathing.

What they were facing beneath the water’s surface were the demons of the ocean that wielded three-pronged spears, the mermen of the South Sea Dragon Gate!