Chapter 451: Rogue on the Roam

Chapter 451: Rogue on the Roam

Rogue yawned. Why do I feel so tired? Is it going through the network? Damn didnt expect that to happen. Is this payback for using the network to get Healer drunk?

He looked around as he flew through the sect. Healer and Sectgoer were talking about that one Senior the pill cultivator. Both of them ended up with disciples instead. If I go around looking for that Senior, will I end up with a disciple, too? I dont mind the sound of that.

Ah, a beautiful female disciple at my side then my life could be complete. I used to have Zhubi, but now I have no one. Im all alone on my peak

Huh, I think I understand why Peak Lord kept running away from the peak. We get lonely, dont we?

He looped around the various peaks, casually observing the mountains chained below. Most peaks were sparsely populated, empty save a peak or pavilion somewhere on the mountains height. The few that did have disciples had dozens or hundreds, with all the related infrastructure that went along with it.

It seems All-Heavens has recently expanded. Recruiting new peak lords, and these sparse peaks without much on them but the peaks that do have disciples all have lots of disciples. The Inner Peaks Rogue turned, gazing at the large mountains in the distance. Even from here, the mountains buzzed with energy. Sword beams shot from one to another, or cultivators on shuttles or ships took leisurely journeys between the peaks. At a guess, the main Inner Peaks have thousands of disciples each. If I base it on Gui Deluns army, then each Inner Peak can be considered equal to a lesser sect like Starbound or Mysterious Heavenly Forest. As for the outer peaks if you combine their total might, Id estimate they come to a total of equivalent to one lesser sect that is, one Starbounds worth of power and disciples.

Thats still the equivalent of nine lesser sects. I dont have anywhere near that power.

Which is exactly why I need to turn the sect against itself. Divide and conquer! Its an ancient tactic. Many times in the ancient era, a lesser army has been able to sweep in after infighting and conquer a greater power. Looking at it one way, successfully splitting the sect in two is my only hope for destroying it!

But first, I should meet up with Zhang Minyan. I need to know more about both factions to know how to encourage the sect to attack itself. I know plenty about Gui Delun. Ive married his daughter, for goodness sakes. Hes egoistic and heavy-handed. He doesnt care about righteousness, or about anything but consolidating power. Hes willing to destroy entire sects to get his way, and will take shortcuts rather than actually work to resolve issues. In both his interactions with Starbound and the Mysterious Heavenly Forest sects, he took the shortest possible way to resolve his problem without actually solving anything, and didnt bother to discover the actual truth behind any of it, but simply did whatever would give him good optics to All-Heavens Sect as quickly as possible.

Well, thats politicians for you, I guess.

One way or another, since optics are so important to him, if I do something that should harm his optics, hell move quickly to resolve it however he can its a good way to draw him out into a situation he might otherwise avoid. Its how I can trigger him into inciting an internal conflict.

The problem is that I dont know what Zhang Minyan values to know what would trigger her to respond. Basically, I solved one half of the equation, but I still need to solve the other half. But He sighed, casting a glance at the Inner Peaks. Outer Peak Lords sound good, but they arent allowed to freely enter the Inner Peaks. In reality, were equivalent or perhaps lower than, Inner Peak Disciples. If I cant catch her somewhere, itll be hard to enter the Inner Peaks.

I mean I can. Outer Peak Lords can enter the Inner Peaks if they fulfil a certain number of meritorious deeds for the sect. But I dont want to do that. Its boring for one, and for two, I dont want to help the sect. Id rather draw her out some other way.

But how?

Flying a circle around the Inner Peaks, Rogue raised a hand to his chin. What if I find some kind of heavenly alchemy herb? Ha, and where am I going to find that? Er what else? Maybe I could interest her in some of Zhubis scales but no, I just got a single precious scale from Zhubi. Im not giving that up. Hmm

A pair of passing sword beams drew to a halt as Hui circled around the peaks. They drew up alongside him, moving at the same speed. Hui looked up, then nodded at the two late-teens men who appeared. Good afternoon, Elder Brothers.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Eh, Gan Li, what is this? the first man, a somewhat short cultivator, asked.

It looks like one of the new Outer Peak Lords, Nian Ji. I wonder what such unnecessary excess is doing, wandering around our Inner Peaks? the second man, with a narrow-frame and pinched face, replied.

Hui bowed to them. Would Elder Brothers happen to know where small cultivator can find Zhang Minyan?

Gan Li, the slender one, scoffed. Do you hear that? This Outer Peak Lord thinks he can meet Zhang Minyan.

Hui casually flew on, leaving the two arguing cultivators behind. While these two are distracted, Ill go figure out how to contact Zhang Minyan. I dont have time for this nonsense.

Hey! Stop right there! Nian Ji shouted.

No, Hui replied.

Nian Ji raised his hand, hurtling at Hui. Gan Li darted forward and grabbed his arm. What? Nian Ji snarled.

Nian Ji, theres no need to harass him further. Theres a limit to harassment, after all, Gan Li said evenly.

Weve only just gotten started! Nian Ji said.

Gan Li shook his head. You cant call the winds and summon the rain in All-Heavens the way you could in the sect back home. Act with caution, Young Master.

I told you not to call me that, Nian Ji grumbled.

Hui quirked an eyebrow. It almost sounds like like a transmigrator who knows better than to let Young Master run free, trying to hold back a Young Master! Could Gan Li be a fellow world-hopper? He cleared his throat. Elder Brother Gan Li, have you ever seen the internet?

Seen what in a net? Gan Li asked, confused.

Guess not. Hes simply a servant from the original clan earnestly trying to mind his Young Master! Ah, how admirable, how admirable. Hui nodded to Gan Li. No, no, I said, have you seen Zhang Minyan?

The two dont sound remotely similar, but Ill just pretend like thats what I said all along, and see if he goes along with it.

Gan Lis brows furrowed for a moment, but then the clouds cleared. He nodded over his shoulder at a distant peak, one of the particularly majestic peaks. A thin stream of white smoke streamed nonstop from the upper right side of the peak. Im not worthy to enter Seniors presence, but her peak is right over there.

Gan Li! We werent going to tell him that, Nian Ji said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

What does it matter? Zhang Minyan hasnt taken guests in years, Gan Li returned. He shook his head. Nian Ji, lets leave this man alone.

Hui cupped his hands to the duo and flew up toward the peak. As he went, the two squabbled behind him. Nian Ji leaped at his back, but Gan Li blocked his way.

An impetuous Young Master and his diligent servant. Hmm a Young Master like that could be quite useful in certain scenarios. Ill have to remember that Nian Ji, Hui thought to himself, tucking his hands behind his back.

The peak loomed up before him, exuding a thick medical scent. The bitterness of pills mixed with the herbal and floral notes of the fresh spirit herbs growing on the mountainside. Wood-element qi swirled around him, even purer than the wood-element qi in the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect. Hui took a deep breath, his body instinctively relaxing in the qi flow. I have a lotus body right now, after all. This wood-element qi feels like coming home to a warm bath for this body.

Abruptly, the sky darkened. A bolt of lightning struck Hui out of nowhere. Startled, Hui lost his grip on flight and plummeted out of the sky.

In the distance, Nian Ji pointed and laughed, laughing so hard he fell off his own flying sword. Gan Li darted out and caught him before he could go tumbling like Hui.

Ah now I understand why Gan Li gave in. Well played at placating your master, you damned diligent servant! Hui thought, crossing his arms with a scowl as he fell toward the earth.