Chapter 231: Chapter 226: Return to Canglan City

Time flowed by, like a white steed galloping past a crack,

The Human World underwent a long spell of peach blossom; as the peach blossoms withered, it was time for fruit, and then ripening season arrived in June, when late spring gave way to the height of summer.

In just a few months,

Great waves stirred throughout the Yunxi Land; the Demon Dao, dormant for many years, re-emerged into the Martial World.

Thirty-some years ago, Yunzhou had once witnessed a sweeping war between Righteous Dao and Demon Dao—a battle that engulfed all Yunzhou’s Martial World, sweeping countless Martial World Influences. That conflict completely rewrote the Martial World structure in Yunzhou.

During that war, even the Court joined the fray. At that time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, though already in decline, still wielded lingering power. They partnered with the Astronomical Bureau to take part in that Righteous-Demon war.

When all was said and done, many great Martial World sects relocated to Yunxi, forming a dynamic where Martial World Influence outshone the Government Office. It was also after that war that the Embroidered Uniform Guard became complete vassals to the Astronomical Bureau—the Astronomical Bureau rooted itself in Yunzhou, replacing the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As for the Demon Dao, once at its peak, it hid itself within the Ten Thousand Mountains, clinging to survival in its mountainous fortress. For more than thirty years, it rarely emerged—even when it did appear occasionally, it was mere trifling disturbance. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The Righteous Dao Martial Arts had no way of dealing with Demon Dao either,

The Ten Thousand Mountains are rugged, situated between the Northern Territory and Yunxi, with towering mountains and deep ravines, swamps and toxic mists in the wilderness. The terrain is harsh, teeming with poisonous creatures. Previously, the Mang Mountain Thieves who collaborated with the Lingxi Sword Sect were Demon Dao, hiding amid these mountains. It’s too complex; annihilating them in one stroke is simply unrealistic.

Thus, over these past thirty-some years,

A strange stalemate has formed in Yunzhou.

Yundong and the Northern Territory remain dominated by the Court and Government Office, whereas Yunxi is controlled by Martial World Influence. Between the Northern Territory and Yunxi, the Ten Thousand Mountains belong to Demon Sects—a case of well water not disturbing river water.

In these thirty-odd years, Demon Dao only once mobilized on a large scale: about a dozen years ago when the White Lotus Sect’s rebellion failed and they fled in all directions, trying to gain control of the Ten Thousand Mountains. They met united resistance from the Demon Dao. After that, the White Lotus Sect went into hiding, and Demon Dao ceased any movement.

It was precisely because of that conflict,

So last year, when the White Lotus Sect rebelled noisily and the stalemate dragged on until now, not a single Demon Dao figure has gotten involved.

However, what left Martial World folks baffled was,

The Demon Sects hiding in the Ten Thousand Mountains, for reasons unknown, began appearing frequently in Yunxi, annihilating many Martial World Influences; in fact, several first-class sects were obliterated.

In an instant, the Yunxi Martial World was shaken,

As the Demon Dao grew increasingly rampant, famous Martial World seniors and sect leaders were mysteriously killed, creating an atmosphere of fear and danger—everyone became wary. Countless sects petitioned the leading power in Yunxi, Sword King City, to uphold justice.

In order to maintain the Righteous Dao, Sword King City issued a Martial World call to arms, and soon, the other four top powers of Yunxi publicly responded.

The Beidou Bang Gang Leader, Medicine King Valley Valley Master, Qianyu Sect Sect Leader, and Golden Crow Sword Sect Sect Leader all personally traveled to Sword King City to help convene the Martial Arts Conference, instructing subordinate forces to hurry toward Great Desert City, the nearest city to Ten Thousand Mountains.

...

In Canglan City, Mo Jingzhou, long in secluded training, emerged and headed for Sword King City, entrusting all Beidou Bang affairs to the Elder Council. Furthermore, he recalled the two Protectors who had been away; the Left Protector accompanied him to Sword King City, while the Right Protector remained stationed in Canglan City.

Not long after, Canglan City issued summons to its sub-branches, various halls, and to all the sects.

Now, the townships outside Canglan City were gradually filling up with Martial World Influence members from Canglan Dao, who had come to attend the Martial Arts Conference.

Canglan City’s position was unique; all major forces were placed in the surrounding townships. Thousand Lights Town was particularly lively—after all, it boasted Bai Jiu’Er, the most beautiful woman of Canglan Dao and fourth on the Rouge List.

Yet those hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauty’s stunning face were disappointed: Bu’Er Inn had ceased operations entirely,

But even so, plenty still loitered outside Bu’Er Inn every day.

However, disappointment awaited them,

Because Bai Jiu’Er wasn’t in Thousand Lights Town at all, but rather, inside Canglan City.

In a secluded manor,

Bai Jiu’Er was poring over intelligence reports. Hong Zhu entered carrying her sword, bows, and said, "Miss, Sixth Young Master has replied—Young Master Gu has arrived with his forces."

Bai Jiu’Er set aside the scrolls, frowned slightly, and said, "Alas, had I known he was so heaven-gifted, I shouldn’t have let him go to Pingyang Prefecture and be swept into these troubles..."

"Miss," Hong Zhu spoke softly, "I don’t know why, but Young Master Gu seems completely confident, almost fearless. I’ve pondered over these days—perhaps... this is the difference between us ordinary folks and the top-tier prodigies. He truly has no fear!"

Bai Jiu’Er lightly beckoned, and the fat cat lounging on the windowsill leapt into her arms. Bai Jiu’Er gently stroked it, slowly asking, "Over these past two months, what’s Gu Zhan been doing?"

Hong Zhu’s expression turned peculiar and said, "He’s... killing people!"

"Hmm?" Bai Jiu’Er’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Hong Zhu spoke slowly, "He’s been killing people. Young Master Gu seems—seems addicted to it. These past two months in Pingyang Prefecture and three neighboring County Mansions, he’s been aggressively expanding the Embroidered Uniform Guard—setting down laws, slaughtering infamous gangs, or leading the Embroidered Uniform Guard to suppress bandits. Everywhere they passed, rivers of blood flowed."

Bai Jiu’Er frowned. "In the Pingyang Prefecture region, he wiped out six major first-class powers; the others, second and third-class influences—did he handle those himself?"

Hong Zhu nodded. "Slave cannot figure it out. Sixth Young Master finds it normal, saying Young Master Gu is probably training his troops. However, I must say, the Embroidered Uniform Guard he leads now are truly terrifying. Their reputation chills the heart."

Bai Jiu’Er looked down, stroking the cat, murmuring, "But why does it feel as if all he wants to do is kill?"

...

Beyond Thousand Lights Town, on the official road,

Galloping hooves thundered, clouds of dust billowed,

Hundreds of Embroidered Uniform Guards in Flying Fish Robes were riding at full tilt.

At the forefront, Gu Zhan wore a red Flying Fish Robe, with two specially-crafted Horizontal Sabers thrust into his saddle. These Treasure Sabers were forged in recent months, using rare materials—their edges could slice hair and cut through iron like mud.

He tugged his reins to race ahead, while dividing his attention to summon the system to check his Experience Points, already accumulated close to six million,

He originally had only a few hundred thousand Experience Points,

But these months, he patrolled the Pingyang Prefecture and neighboring County Mansions, as the Embroidered Uniform Guard, enforcing laws—either hacking people down or on his way to do so.

[Use 1 million Experience Points]

[Killing Fist upgraded to Great Success Realm]

...

[Use 1.5 million Experience Points]

...

[Use 3 million Experience Points]

[Netherworld King’s Array-breaking Saber upgraded to Great Success Realm]