Legend of Swordsman

”You’re right!”

Hua Xuejian waved his hand and then arrogantly declared, ”In Baoguang Temple, it’s nothing more than a Luohan, or perhaps a true immortal, or maybe just the spirit keeper of the Princess Tomb. These are all minor issues. Besides, this time we’ve come to uphold the righteous path.

Within Mangshan County lies a vast amount of death energy, so much so that even ordinary people can sense the endless resentment hidden within it. Clearly, demonic cultivators have emerged within the Tang Empire. It is our duty to eradicate these demonic cultivators. Even if the entire Tang Empire falls into demonic ways, I, Hua Xuejian, will wipe out the entire Tang Empire if I must!”

This lengthy speech was delivered with such passion that Hua Xuejian almost painted himself as a saint.

Miao Renfeng could hardly suppress his laughter. Wasn’t the most infamous demonic cult in the outside world the one from the Northern Region’s glacier?

He glanced at Zhang Xiansheng, whose expression remained unchanged, though a trace of anxiety still lingered between his brows.

Hua Xuejian began to employ the tactics he used in the Southern Sky Realm, starting by addressing Zhang Xiansheng. ”I’m glad that the Northern Region’s glacier could join us this time. I’ve thoroughly investigated that demonic cult; it has some connections with your Northern Region’s glacier. So this time, you might consider it as cleaning up your own house. I’m someone who values boundaries and usually doesn’t interfere in others’ affairs. But this time, the Chiyang Sect’s actions have been too egregious. Rumor has it that the Chiyang Sect harbors a devastating weapon capable of threatening the entire cultivation world. We, the Southern Sky Realm, must intervene and eliminate this sect!”

”Ahem, ahem! Alliance Master Hua, you’re most righteous. With the three of us united, eliminating the Chiyang Sect is certainly not an issue. The key point is that this is their territory. On the surface, everything seems calm, but who knows what dangers lie within? The most pressing matter now is to gather the strongest from all three sides and storm Mangshan County’s capital together!”

Miao Renfeng couldn’t bear the conversation’s direction any longer. If they kept talking, they wouldn’t reach a conclusion before dawn, so he redirected the discussion back on track.

Seeing the conversation finally hit the critical point, Zhang Xiansheng nodded and said, ”Indeed, given the current situation, relying on one side alone isn’t enough. We need to unite and first enter Mangshan County to investigate.”

Noticing the anxious expressions on their faces, Hua Xuejian first showed a trace of worry, then looked at the two of them and asked, ”Do you two have any brilliant ideas?”

The sudden shift in attitude caught Zhang Xiansheng and Miao Renfeng off guard. However, since the discussion was finally moving forward, they didn’t dwell on it and quickly presented a comprehensive strategy.

The strategy was simple.

Each of the three factions would send five late-stage Golden Core cultivators to lead the charge!

The second wave would consist of a Nascent Soul cultivator from each faction to reinforce the frontlines.

The third wave would involve dispatching thirty Golden Core cultivators and three hundred innate martial artists from each side.

Since the Northern Region’s glacier didn’t bring any innate martial artists, they would compensate by sending more Golden Core cultivators, with each counting as ten innate martial artists.

This plan was straightforward and wouldn’t cause any dissatisfaction among the three factions.

But internally, things weren’t so clear-cut.

Each faction had its own complex internal issues, and if they got entangled, resolving them could take a long time.

Replicating this plan perfectly would be impossible.

For example, among the many tribes in the wildlands, some only had two or three Golden Core cultivators, while others had dozens.

How should that be calculated?

Should the smaller tribes send one person, and the larger ones send two?

Surely, someone would be unhappy. This was where a strong and capable leader was needed to mediate the situation!

Miao Renfeng had no issues with the plan, especially since much of it was his own suggestion. Now, he was more concerned about the internal problems.

So, after the three of them finalized the decision, they each returned to notify their respective tribes or sects and discuss sending out powerful individuals.

In the canyon, on the way back, Miao Renfeng glanced at Hua Xuejian and wondered to himself, ”This person loves the spotlight so much, yet he didn’t say a word about the plan?”

His curiosity quickly faded, and now he had to worry about how to explain this to his own people.

In the sky, aboard the largest warship.

Hua Xuejian returned to the grand hall inside, feeling quite satisfied.

He was very pleased with the three-way discussion that had just taken place.

On the surface, he had taken charge, but he intentionally held back when it came to the plan, not participating at all.

The reason was simple-this was something even a child could come up with. Why should he be the one to state it?

It wouldn’t benefit him in any way and might make others think he was simple-minded.

So, he deliberately let Zhang Xiansheng and Miao Renfeng present the idea.

That way, he could avoid internal issues.

Since the plan came from them, if anyone had complaints, they could go to Zhang Xiansheng and Miao Renfeng. It had nothing to do with him!

Most importantly, being labeled as someone who sends others to die on dangerous missions wasn’t a reputation he wanted. He wasn’t going to wear that hat.

Sure, he could dress up the idea of sending people to their deaths in grand, noble language,

but deep down, who knows how others might be cursing him!

So, he avoided doing anything that was thankless and unrewarding.

He then revealed everything, streamlining what he had said earlier, and presented the plan proposed by Miao Renfeng and Zhang Xiansheng.

The hall immediately fell silent.

In the Southern Heaven Realm, there were nine sects, large and small.

Among them, Tianyang Sect, where Zhang Xianzong was from, was the most powerful, with over a hundred Golden Core cultivators and three Nascent Soul cultivators, including Zhang

himself.

The other sects were somewhat weaker.

The only one that could compare to Tianyang Sect was Giant Sword Sect, which had two Nascent Soul cultivators. One of them, known as ”Giant Sword King Lan,” was reputed to be the second strongest cultivator in the Southern Heaven.

His strength had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul mid-stage.

He was a powerhouse who could even challenge late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Aside from that, each of the other seven sects had only one Nascent Soul cultivator, and their Golden Core disciples numbered only in the dozens, with the smallest sects having just over

ten.

The combined strength of the nine sects wasn’t much, and in terms of quality, they couldn’t compare with the Northern Territory Glaciers. Their combat power might not even match that

of the Barbarian Tribes.

”Since the alliance leader has brought back a plan, let’s discuss it!” Wang Lan, who was always blunt, spoke up first, his words tinged with mockery toward Hua Xuejian.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at everyone present, and said, ”Actually, there’s not much to discuss. I think this plan is quite good; it suits me well. Since each of the three factions will send out cultivators, the number from our Southern Heaven Realm isn’t that many. I have a suggestion that everyone can consider.

For the first tier, five Golden Core cultivators: three from the nine sects and two from the unaffiliated cultivators. For the second tier, I’ll personally take command. For the third tier, the nine sects will send twenty Golden Core cultivators, and the unaffiliated cultivators will send ten. As for the remaining innate martial artists, I don’t think it’s necessary to divide them. We have enough people this time, so we can draw lots to decide. Who agrees? Who

opposes?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the powerful cultivators of the nine sects all nodded in

agreement.

However, the unaffiliated cultivators were put in a difficult position.

Resources in the Southern Heaven Realm were tightly controlled, and the path of an unaffiliated cultivator was already hard enough.