Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 662 - 53: Acting Sect Leader?!_2

"The disciple from the Xiantian Palace was killed, which was orchestrated by Yang Du. Otherwise, would a mere provincial official risk angering such a colossal entity as the Xiantian Palace, going so far as to execute a disciple who was inexplicably framed?" Zhu Shanhe calmly spoke.

"Are you saying... Yang Du intentionally wanted to provoke a conflict with Sun Han?

But by doing so, wouldn't it further confirm the suspicion that he harmed Sun Han?" Gao Tianxiong questioned with a frown.

"Yang Du is someone with quite a cunning mind.

He first created a conflict with Sun Han, causing a huge uproar, and drew in the Domineering Body Sect to mediate.

Afterwards, Sun Han followed the usual Dao Alliance procedure and went Outside the Domain, and not long after, news of his demise came.

During that period, Yang Jingzhe of the Domineering Body Sect had always been in his County Yamen.

With this Primordial Spirit True Honor to vouch for him,

Yang Du naturally cleared himself of suspicion. Even though there were rumors outside, as long as the Dao Alliance could be satisfied, everything would not be a problem." Zhu Shanhe explained slowly.

"Yang Jingzhe's Undying Golden Body had long been perfected, how could Yang Du slip away right under his nose?

Could it be... he had help?"

As if realizing something, Gao Tianxiong squinted his eyes and slowly uttered a name:

"Gu Wanli!

Aside from him, no one could intercept and kill Sun Han Outside the Domain.

His 'Wheel of Heaven and Earth Void Saint Skill' utterly nullifies Sun Han's 'Eight Divisions Primordial Laws True Scripture'.

Only he could prevent Sun Han from even having a chance to call for help.

So it seems, Huihuai and Linghang have already joined forces?"

"Not just that. As far as I know, to deal with us and Elder Li, Yang Du, along with Gu Wanli from Linghang, Feng Tianci from Fu Min, Wanyan Cang from Green Border, Wang Hui from Lu Jin, and Huang Taiqing from Yan Yu have allied, establishing the Royalist Camp to attack Zhao Da's army.

Now, except for Qin Long, the Northwest, and Liaodong where there is no movement,

within the Great Profound Realm, it's already a tripartite standoff.

The Zhao Family is entrenched in Shangjing and Jiangnan Province, putting up resistance. You, I, and Elder Li occupy the South, while Yang Du and the others straddle the East and West, holding nearly half of the nation's territory.

Moreover, they have numbers on their side; the combined troops of the six provinces total over a hundred million.

Additionally, they have six Primordial Spirit Realm Governors.

If we were to fight them head-on, we wouldn't hold the upper hand."

Zhu Shanhe's words caused Gao Tianxiong to fall into deep thought. Frankly speaking, within the current Twelve Directives Enforcers of the Great Xuan,

his and Zhu Shanhe's combat strength is undoubtedly among the top.

But even with Li Huangliang added to their ranks,

with the power of these three, trying to contend against Yang Du's six Primordial Spirit Realm Governors seems unrealistic.

Plus, they command an army of over a hundred million.

If they form a Great Array of Military Dao, they can crush any opposition and sweep through the territories of the three provinces.

"You mean to say we should endure for now?" Gao Tianxiong asked in a deep voice.

"Not endure, but wait." Zhu Shanhe's fishing rod trembled slightly, his eyes flickered, shifting his gaze to where the hook rose and fell:

"The Zhao Family's withdrawal is already set in stone. Without Zhao Baye supporting them within the Dao Alliance, it's considerate enough that the Alliance hasn't intervened to clean them up themselves.

So the Zhao Family's stubborn defense of Shangjing and Jiangnan is nothing more than a futile struggle, not worthy of concern.

The Dao Alliance is currently eager to deal with the matters Outside the Domain and is neither willing nor interested in deciding who will re-manage the Imperial Divine Artifact of the Human Race.

At this point, the more eager they are to stir up chaos in the Great Xuan, the more likely they will incur the annoyance of the Dao Alliance.

Thus, what we must do is to wait for labor in repose, to respond to action with inaction.

Yang Du and his associates are too impatient, eager to dethrone the Zhao Family and claim that seat for themselves before us.

But they forget,

that position is just a position.

Without the nod from the Dao Alliance, they would still be overthrown even if they took the seat."

With a forceful flick of his wrist, Zhu Shanhe hooked a completely white fish, its scales shimmering, with whiskers longer than its tail and eyes that emitted Divine Light.

"Hahaha, five years of vigilance weren't in vain, Tianxiong, today we shall feast." With a hearty laugh, Zhu Shanhe removed the white fish from the hook and placed it in the basket, lightly patting Gao Tianxiong on the shoulder before rising and striding off into the distance.

Watching the two fish scales fall to the ground from the struggling white fish, Gao Tianxiong picked them up, glanced at them, chuckled softly, then turned to Zhu Shanhe and said:

"This year's fish should be seasoned heavily."

...

"Killed?"

The image of Gao Tianxiong being slain by the Nine Heavens Divine Firmament Ruler of Thunder True Venerable stunned the elders of the Shenxiao Sect.

It was hard to believe that a Primordial Spirit True Honor had just fallen like that?

"Awaken!"

While the elders were immersed in the illusion of Gao Tianxiong's demise, Hunyuan Daoist standing behind Qi Xiu suddenly spoke, his grand voice like a giant bell enveloping a white divine light that swiftly entered Qi Xiu's mind.

The thought containing the intent of the true self returned to his body, Qi Xiu's cold eyes devoid of any emotional change suddenly rippled.

In the next instant.

With the catalyst of the true self's thought, Qi Xiu slowly exited the [Body Fusion with Dao] state, the extreme exhaustion of his soul revealing a sickly pallor on his face. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Disregarding his body's condition, Qi Xiu took a deep breath and respectfully saluted the Nine Heavens Divine Firmament Ruler of Thunder True Venerable before him:

"Disciple thanks the Ancestor for protecting our Shenxiao Daoist Inheritance."

Upon hearing Qi Xiu's voice, the towering Nine Heavens Divine Firmament Ruler of Thunder True Venerable slowly turned, his face shrouded in divine light hinting at a glance falling on Qi Xiu.

"Well done!"

With a light exclamation, the Nine Heavens Divine Firmament Ruler of Thunder True Venerable nodded slowly, then turned into a divine light, returning to the Purple-Gold Command Token suspended in mid-air.

Swoosh—

The myriad divine lights converged, and the Nine Heavens Shenxiao Imperial Thunder Command withdrew all its powers, flying into Qi Xiu's hands.

"Xiuer, are you alright."

Almost at the moment of resolution, Daoist Yunxiong appeared beside Qi Xiu, seeing his pale face, he immediately asked with concern.

"Don't worry, Master, just a considerable exhaustion of my soul, I'll be fine after resting briefly."

Smiling and gesturing to Daoist Yunxiong that he was fine, Qi Xiu was about to speak when he saw divine lights arriving successively, it was the elders of the Shenxiao Sect.

"Yunxiong, you truly have taught an excellent disciple, if not for Qi Xiu returning today, our Shenxiao Sect would have been utterly disgraced."

Gently bumping Daoist Yunxiong's shoulder, Daoist Priest Yunqing spoke with envy, while secretly lamenting.

Why didn't he grit his teeth and snatch this kid back then.

Following Daoist Priest Yunqing, the other elders and Daoists also cast envious glances at Daoist Yunxiong.

Qi Xiu joined the sect for merely over a hundred years, his rapid growth almost breaking all records of the Shenxiao Sect.

Today, single-handedly, he turned the tide, slaying King of Dianchuan Gao Tianxiong who came to invade.

A Dao Body killing a Primordial Spirit, even if it borrowed the Ancestor's light, if this spreads, it would still be a monumental glory.

"Gao Tianxiong probably isn't dead yet."

Amidst the commotion, Daoist Yun Ya, the eldest, spoke slowly, causing confusion among the crowd.

His words were verified by Qi Xiu:

"Uncle Master Yun Ya is right, Gao Tianxiong has the Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill protecting him, unless he can be killed nine times consecutively.

Otherwise, he cannot be completely eliminated."

Moreover, this Gao Tianxiong deliberately let me kill him...

The last sentence Qi Xiu silently pondered, not speaking it aloud.

Though Gao Tianxiong was a Primordial Spirit True Honor, even if he couldn't withstand the Ancestor, he wouldn't be slain so easily.

He thought I couldn't see through his intention to offer me someone on a silver platter.

But at that time I was within the [Body Fusion with Dao] realm.

All worldly matters, none could escape my insight.

Was he trying to do me a favor?

But why would he do this? In front of him, I am merely a True Monarch of the Dao Body. Would he sacrifice a life to do me this favor?

As Qi Xiu furrowed his brow pondering this perplexing intention, he saw from a great distance a burly man wearing an apricot-yellow Daoist robe hurrying on a cloud of green, holding a scroll of decree.

Arriving swiftly before them, the man raised the decree high in his hand, shouting loudly:

"By order of the Acting Sect Leader, the disciples of the Shenxiao Sect branch must immediately head to the Dharma Lecture Cliff without error!"

The man's sudden appearance and shout caused the crowd to furrow their brows and glance sideways, feeling greatly perplexed by his words:

"Acting... Sect Leader?

Where did this Acting Sect Leader come from?"

...