Chapter 211 Breaking the Stalemate "I certainly didn't come here for nothing."...

On the training ground, the female cultivator who had stormed into the Heavenly Palace alone with her sword stared at him, her cold, mocking gaze filled with resentment.

"You allowed him to cultivate the forbidden Soul-Devouring Technique in the mortal realm, stood idly by while he slaughtered mortals, thinking that mortal lives were as worthless as ants, and that you could let him do as he pleased. But you never thought that he had already turned his blade against you! Isn't today's situation a result of your inaction!"

Xing Xuan was greatly shocked. Before he could even make a move, he was forced back several steps by her aura. The Tianque disciples beside him quickly stepped forward to help him up. He said to Jiang Yuhuo in a stern voice, "You have trespassed into my Tianque without permission, injured countless disciples, and stolen the sect leader. How dare you speak so arrogantly to the elders?"

The other disciples of Tianque also stood in front of Xingxuan, brandishing their weapons and ready to fight, clearly indicating that they were prepared to fight her to the death.

Wen Yizhan stepped forward with his sword. "My junior sister was merely telling everyone the truth. Why is Tianque acting like this? Is he perhaps angry out of embarrassment?" He brandished his sword and stood protectively in front of Jiang Yuhuo. "If Tianque wants to test the sharpness of Kunlun's swords, he'll have to get past me first."

Jiang Yuhuo's eyes were sharp as well. If Xing Xuan insisted on fighting her today, she would accompany him to the end. Upon closer examination, Jia Qianyang's misdeeds and Jia Yue's injuries were all his fault!

She didn't kill him in Tianque last time, but this time, she wouldn't mind killing him again!

Ling Changyu, who had been standing in the crowd, saw the situation getting out of control and hurriedly came out to stop it, saying, "Jiang Xianjun, you mustn't! Elder Xingxuan spared your life that day. Don't continue to seek revenge."

Although Zhang Zhenyang was unaware of when his disciple had formed such a deep grudge against Tian Que, and even less aware that she had dared to steal someone else's sect leader, he knew from Jiang Yuhuo's indignant expression that what Tian Que said was most likely true.

Not only had his apprentice secretly mastered the ninth sword technique, but he was also growing increasingly audacious...

He wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"No, no! We are all cultivators of the immortal sect, we must not kill each other." Zhang Zhenyang handed the blue crystal he had brought out to everyone, and then explained the inside story he had found in the cave.

"The balance of the Heavenly Dao has been broken, and this will be a calamity for all cultivators."

Even without Zhang Zhenyang's confirmation, the cultivators of the Immortal Sect were well aware of the gravity of the situation. After all, they had all witnessed their fellow disciples lose all their cultivation under such weapons, be killed by mortals, and even have their bodies unable to dissipate in time due to the dissipation of their spiritual power, leaving them exposed in the wilderness without dignity, trampled upon by others.

"Those of the immortal sect should unite to fight against the enemy."

This statement settled the principle of cooperation between the immortal sects, and even the deepest grudges from the past had to be put aside at this moment.

Xingxuan is one, and so is Jiang Yuhuo.

"It is not just a tribulation for those who cultivate themselves, but for all people in the world."

On their way to visit Zhou Sidao, Jiang Yuhuo told the other two about what she had seen in Shannan County. Although her anger had not subsided, she always knew what was more important.

"What a cruel madman! The Heavenly Dao protects such a monarch!" Wen Yizhan said indignantly.

He and Zhang Zhenyang had only been at Zhou's camp for a short time when the Zhou army had already retreated outside the city, and they were unaware of the situation inside. Now, Wen Yizhan only wished he could kill the instigator immediately. He knew very well that his junior sister's past misfortunes were caused by this person.

Zhang Zhenyang felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. Shannan City had only been occupied by the Zhou army and yet it was treated this way. One could only imagine what would happen to the people in the city if the Yong army were to actually invade Xidu City.

That was a city he had won with his entire cultivation, a country she had poured her heart and soul into protecting. He would never allow her people to be treated so cruelly, no matter the cost.

Jiang Yuhuo pondered the blue stone. Why would such a strange thing appear in Liyue Village? But now, upon closer reflection, he realized that Liyue Village had more than just this one strange thing. For example, there was the barrier that protected the villagers from harm, and the "mountain god" white frog hidden in the mountains...

The Liyue Village itself is very different from the outside world.

She suddenly asked Zhang Zhenyang, "Master, have you ever heard of the Four Seals of Binding the Earth?"

Zhang Zhenyang shook his head.

Wen Yizhan looked over and asked her instead, "What is that? Where did you hear that, Junior Sister?"

Jiang Yuhuo pursed her lips, shook her head and smiled, "It's nothing, I just overheard someone mention it by chance, maybe... I misheard."

The matter was then dropped.

Lianjiang Yuhuo herself felt that perhaps Jia Qianyang had just made up a name to deceive her.

Just as all the cultivators from the immortal sects were worried about the impending battle, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived at the Zhou army camp.

A man dressed in purple robes walked leisurely into the tent where the cultivators were holding their meeting, and the chaotic arguments inside the tent came to an abrupt halt.

"Long time no see, Elder Xingxuan, Senior Biyun... oh, and Young Master Ji, it's been a long time." He greeted them with a smile as he went, almost greeting everyone of some importance in the immortal sects present, but he deliberately ignored the three masters and disciples from Kunlun Zhenyang Peak.

"I heard that the immortal sect is facing a crisis, a very dangerous one. Why weren't you called upon for such an important matter?"

Her shimmering peach blossom eyes swept over the crowd with a smile, exuding boundless unrestrained charm.

"What are you saying, Patriarch Li? We clearly informed the Li family long ago," someone said bluntly.

"Ah, it seems that Senior Ji's message was delayed in the hands of the messenger. What a damn thing!" Li Mengbai made up a lie unhurriedly.

Jiang Yuhuo felt a tightness in his chest, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

Wen Yizhan noticed her tension and his gaze lingered on the people in the room for a moment longer.

"Don't be nervous, I'm here to help." Li Mengbai smiled at a Tianque disciple in front of him, her eyes gentle and her demeanor harmless.

The Tianque disciple, who hadn't been particularly nervous before, became flustered and awkward under that gaze, hastily performing an inappropriately large bow to the person in front of him.

Li Mengbai turned around, his peripheral vision fleetingly glancing at the man in black not far away, like a dragonfly skimming the water, leaving no trace.

Jiang Yuhuo did not relax because of his words.

She didn't know Li Mengbai's purpose in coming; she only knew that Li Mengbai hated her. That arrow from Jia Yue had nearly killed Li Mengbai that day; now, he must hate her even more.

The others were also puzzled by his enthusiastic actions. In fact, the Li family was the earliest immortal sect to participate in this war, but for some unknown reason, the Ji family and the Li family broke off relations, and the Li family withdrew all their forces. The new head of the Li family was already known for his eccentric behavior and ruthless methods, so for a time no one could be sure whether he had really come to help or not.

A highly respected cultivator from Kunlun stepped forward, saying, "The Immortal Sect is in dire straits. We welcome Patriarch Li's willingness to join us. The Zhou army will soon face the Yong army head-on. Patriarch Li, why don't you sit down and discuss battle strategies with us?"

He gestured for Li Mengbai to sit down, and Li Mengbai gracefully accepted without hesitation.

“I certainly didn’t come here for nothing.”

He smirked and clapped his hands. Immediately, someone brought in a man dressed as a soldier from the Yong Kingdom. The soldier was bound hand and foot and was pushed to his knees as soon as he entered. He stared fiercely at the people in the tent. If he hadn't been bound, he probably would have rushed up and killed them immediately.

He was still holding a weapon in his bound hand, with a dark blue mark on the blade, clearly a weapon for killing immortals!

What does this mean?

Everyone was even more confused. Even Jiang Yuhuo stared intently, wondering what Li Mengbai wanted to do.

Li Mengbai stretched out a handkerchief, snatched the knife from the soldier amidst his wolf-like, fierce gaze, and, as if disgusted by its dirtiness, covered the hilt with the handkerchief, then playfully twirled the knife in his hand.

"I've heard this weapon is incredibly powerful; a single strike can destroy years of cultivation. This formidable Immortal-Slaying Blade has appeared out of nowhere, causing fear and unease among all the immortal sects. Immortals who kill others are punished by Heaven, while humans who kill immortals go unpunished. Such an unchecked weapon… tsk, it's practically cheating…"

He slowly traced the blade with his fingertips, making the hearts of onlookers hold their breath, fearing that his fingers would be cut by the blade at any moment.

"Yet no one has tried something outside the rules..." He raised an eyebrow, his smile radiant, "...to kill people?"

Everyone present was astonished.

The silence inside the tent was replaced by a cacophony of whispers.

Li Mengbai's smile grew even brighter. "It's alright, I've already tested it for you. Things outside the rules are naturally not bound by the Heavenly Dao, so using it to kill mortals won't cause any backlash." He handed over the knife in his hand. "How about it? Want to give it a try?"

He walked up to the monk and offered him the hilt of his sword. "You want to try?"

No one dared to answer.

He asked them one by one, finally reaching Jiang Yuhuo. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her with interest, "You want to come?"

Jiang Yuhuo shifted her gaze from the blade to his face, exchanged a glance, and then looked back at the blade, her fingertips stroking the sword.

Wen Yizhan secretly squeezed her hand, signaling her not to take it.

Li Mengbai's gaze lingered on those hands for a moment, then he sneered, flicked his wrist, and immediately gripped the knife in his hand again.

"Hmph! Since none of you are willing to try, then I will do it."

With a swift movement, he slit the soldier's throat before anyone could react.

There was a moment of silence in the crowd.

The body collapsed to the ground, blood meandering across the earth like snakes.

Clang—

Li Mengbai tossed the knife in his hand away like trash, his expression unchanged. He slowly swept his gaze over the people present, his eyes seemingly saying: See? I told you so, but you didn't believe me.

Is that really the case?

"So that's how it is..."

The camp suddenly became noisy again, with some even checking the body of the Yong soldier to confirm he was truly dead. They had witnessed it all firsthand; Li Mengbai had killed someone with that knife without suffering any backlash. Even though he had only killed an ordinary Yong soldier, cultivators knew that no matter what kind of mortal one killed, a cultivator would suffer a backlash, whether minor or severe.

But he escaped, using that weapon outside the rules to evade the punishment of Heaven.

All of this seems both real and reasonable, yet something feels subtly off.

A young cultivator, who clearly hadn't been in the Immortal Realm for long, hesitated and said, "But if we do that, won't we be killing people with our own hands... Shouldn't we be protecting all living beings?"

Cultivators should not kill mortals weaker than themselves.

"Ridiculous! The common people are coming to kill you right now. If you don't kill them, are you just waiting for them to kill you? Wake up! It's come to a point where it's either them or you who die." Li Mengbai smiled mockingly and approached the young cultivator who had spoken. "Besides, what kind of people are the common people? You can choose not to kill them, you can even offer up your cultivation and your life, but do you know how many people of Zhou will die because of them?"

After the young cultivator finished speaking, he was already uneasy when he saw that there were no voices of support around him. He thought he had said something stupid. Now, after being ridiculed by Li Mengbai, he felt even more ashamed and shut his mouth.

Jiang Yuhuo also felt something was amiss, but she had to admit that Li Mengbai was right. The scene in Shannan City was still vivid in her mind. If no one could stop the Yong army, Xidu would be the next Shannan, perhaps even worse.

There were cultivators who disagreed with using weapons to kill mortals, but their voices were very small. Most cultivators were happy to have found a way to break the deadlock, and it seemed that they were about to drown out those discordant voices.

Is there really no better way?

Jiang Yuhuo looked at Zhang Zhenyang, "Master..."

The old man remained silent for a moment, his aged gaze fixed on the void, as if looking back a hundred years.

After a long while, he let out a sigh of relief. "Zhan'er, Xiaoyuhuo, we should also find some weapons to defend ourselves."

Zhang Zhenyang didn't turn around. Jiang Yuhuo watched his back and knew that he had made his choice.

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Author's Note: There are only 6 days left in November?! (Screaming)!! I can't finish writing again, I'm guilty, I repent... [melting][crying][crying]