Chapter 576 - Leave it to Me

Recultivated to the Seven-leaf stage?!

Yu Zhenghai, Si Wuya, and Hua Chongyang were shocked.

Bai Yuqing bit back the pain and said amidst fits of coughing, “Throughout the past six months, aside from defending… aside from defending Liang Province City, we sent some of our men to contact the Other Tribes. The Roulians worship the Wolf King… Their survival rates and cultivation speed after severing their lotuses… are peculiar. They improved very quickly.”

Yu Zhenghai rested his palm on Bai Yuqing. A weak surge of Primal Qi entered Bai Yuqing’s body and stabilized his breathing. “Let them rest. Have the best doctors look after them.”

“Understood!”

After his three subordinates were carried away, Yu Zhenghai frowned. Although Bai Yuqing had a hard time stringing sentences together, he understood the message.

Si Wuya said, “That’s unexpected. If that’s the case, this might be the best chance for the Other Tribes to invade Great Yan.”

“The Roulians have always eyed Great Yan like a predator eyeing its prey. After Emperor Yong Shou ascended the throne, the Roulians have trespassed on our borders several times. Although Lou Lan is allied with Great Yan through marriage, they have the ambition of wolves. Rongbei, Rongxi, and the other ten nations might follow suit as well,” Hua Chongyang said.

Si Wuya nodded. “It’s still too early to worry about the alliance of the 12 nations, including Rongbei and Rongxi, but that’s an inevitability that would soon happen. Once they synchronized their paces and reached an agreement of benefits, it would be the most dangerous time for Great Yan.”

Yu Zhenghai cursed, “If the Imperial family isn’t so useless, these wolves would never have the chance.”

Hua Chongyang and Si Wuya knew that Yu Zhenghai loathed Lou Lan. He would leap at the opportunity to annihilate the nation.

“If that’s the case, Island Master Huang as the sole Eight-leaf cultivator won’t be enough…”

The others nodded.

The Nether Sect’s strength was indeed one of the best in Great Yan. However, most of its members are now concentrated in the provincial cities around the Divine Capital as they prepared themselves for a siege. If they sent more of their forces to Liang Province, it would be increasingly difficult for them to conquer the Divine Capital. Even without the disturbances from the Other Tribes, it would still be difficult for the Nether Sect to take down the Divine Capital, let alone with half of its forces.

“Wise brother, think of something else. We can’t give the Other Tribes this chance at this juncture,” Yu Zhenghai said, “Don’t you have moles planted among the Other Tribes as well? Are there any conflicts among them that we could use to our advantage? You’re good at sowing discord…”

“…” That might be true, but it did not sound like praise. In fact, Si Wuya would have sworn that it was sarcasm. “Eldest Senior Brother… I’ll need time to investigate, and more time to instigate a quarrel. However, the battle of the Divine Capital is close at hand… Unless…” He continued to say in a lowered voice, “Unless master helps us defend Liang Province.”

When Si Wuya said these words, he had braced himself to be reprimanded by Yu Zhenghai. Knowing Yu Zhenghai’s temper, Yu Zhenghai would probably mobilize all his troops there than let their master leave the mountain.

Even Hua Chongyang instinctively took a step backward. He knew it was best to stay out of this matter.

However, contrary to Si Wuya and Hua Chongyang’s expectations, Yu Zhenghai asked, “Would master agree to it?”

Si Wuya. “???”

‘This is awkward. It seems like I’ve spoken without thinking things through. Moreover, your recent letter has angered master. Aren’t you asking for a beating if you ask master to leave the mountain now? You should be grateful that he didn’t come here to give you a beating.’

“Wise brother… why aren’t you saying anything?”

“…”

Hua Chongyang retreated further. He had a strong premonition that if his sect master truly intended to ask Senior Ji to descend the mountain, he would be sent to make the request.

At this moment, an indifferent but gentle voice rang from outside the hall. The voice was light and clear. “Leave it to me.”

The surge of Primal Qi was smooth as well. All the signs showed that this person was an elite.

“Who’s there?”

The three of them looked at the source of the voice. They saw a figure descending from the sky before sauntering into the hall from the corridor outside with his arms crossed.

The sun shone behind him. The hilt of a sword poked out from his left shoulder while the tip of the scabbard could be seen at his lower right.

Although the trip could not see the figure’s face clearly, Si Wuya recognized him immediately. He smiled as he cupped his fists together and said, “Greetings, Second Senior Brother.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Chongyang bowed. “Greetings, Mister Second.”

Yu Zhenghai was puzzled. “Second Junior Brother?”

Yu Zhenghai greeted Yu Zhenghai calmly, “How have you been, Eldest Senior Brother?”

The duo had just seen each other a few days ago. There was no need to catch up. Yu Zhenghai said, “Second Junior Brother… I’m currently busy with my grand undertaking. I don’t have the leisure to entertain you.”

“I’m not here to spar with you.” Yu Shangrong shook his head and sat down.

“Hm?”

“Liang Province’s location is important. I don’t think Huang Shijie and some third-rate sects can hold such an important place… Victory might not even come easy with you there, Eldest Senior Brother. I’m the only one who can solve this. I’m the only one who can defend Liang Province. I’m the only one who can cut down the Wolf King.” An expression of absolute confidence appeared on Yu Shangrong’s face when he spoke. He smiled when he saw the unnatural expression on Yu Zhenghai’s face. “My apologies. I’ve always been frank. If I made you uncomfortable with my words, Eldest Senior Brother, I’m willing to make up for it.”

Yu Zhenghai, Si Wuya, and Hua Chongyang were speechless.

Yu Shangrong smiled when he saw the trio keeping quiet. “What do you say?”

Yu Zhenghai was about to speak, but Si Wuya beat him to it. “Second Senior Brother, it’s not easy to defend Liang Province. Are you confident that you can do it?”

“It’s precisely because it’s difficult that I find it interesting.”

“That’s not the point. The point is, what do you have at your disposal?”

In other words, how was Yu Shangrong, a Six-leaf cultivator, supposed to defend Liang Province?

Yu Zhenghai shared this thought as well. He had always been at odds with Yu Shangrong. Moreover, Yu Shangrong was only at the Six-leaf stage.

“I have confidence,” Yu Shangrong replied with a straight face.

“Uh… what’s the source of your confidence?” Si Wuya asked.

“The sword in my hands.”

Zing!

The sword flew out of its scabbard and hovered in front of Yu Shangrong as it glowed with a faint scarlet light.

Si Wuya, “…” He found it exhausting to speak to Yu Shangrong. Yu Shangrong did not seem to get the point at all.

Yu Zhenghai asked, raising an eyebrow, “Second Junior Brother… you want to help me?”

“Of course not… I have two reasons. First, I’ve been rather bored recently and need something to kill time. Second, the Nether Sect is pincered by enemies on both ends. The battle of the Divine Capital will surely be one of life and death. If something were to happen to you, I’d no longer have an opponent. Such a life is too boring.”

Yu Zhenghai’s expression did not betray his thoughts. He said, “I’d be bored if something were to happen to you as well… Are you really going to Liang Province?”

“I’ve made up my mind.” Yu Shangrong stood up and turned around calmly.

Zing!

His Longevity Sword returned to its scabbard on its own accord.

“Defending Liang Province won’t be easy. On top of that, you’re only a Six-leaf cultivator… Hua Chongyang, you’ll go with him,” Yu Zhenghai said.

Hua Chongyang bowed. “Yes, sect master.”

Yu Shangrong came to a halt. He gave Hua Chongyang a sidelong glance. With a gentle smile, he appraised Hua Chongyang and said, “If you can keep up, I’ll show you something incredible.”

Something stirred in Hua Chongyang. When he looked up, there was a gust of wind.

Grand technique!

A lingering afterimage was left in Yu Shangrong’s wake.

Hua Chongyang wasted no time and unleashed his grand technique as well to catch up to Yu Shangrong. When he rose above Yan Province City, he saw an avatar heading west. In just a blink of an eye, it vanished from his sight. He muttered to himself, “Is… Is he really a Six-leaf cultivator?”

…

Si Wuya smiled faintly. He looked at Yu Zhenghai who was walking out of the hall with his hands on his back and said nothing.

Yu Zhenghai walked into the courtyard. He looked up at the sky for a while before he looked away.

Shortly after, Hua Chongyang returned to the courtyard and fell to his knees. “I’m useless! M-Mister Second has escaped… I mean, Mister Second’s cultivation base is too profound, and I couldn’t keep up with him!”

Yu Zhenghai did not blame Hua Chongyang. He merely sighed. “Let him be.”

“You’re not mad at Second Senior Brother, are you, Eldest Senior Brother?” Si Wuya asked with a smile.

Yu Zhenghai said, “I hope that his confidence won’t make him conceited.”

“I believe in Second Senior Brother,” Si Wuya said.

…

Two days later.

Inside the meeting hall in Yan Province City.

“Eldest Senior Brother, the Blossom Faction, the Fiend Temple, and the Ten Thousand Poison Sect have all replied. They will send all of their forces to defend Liang Province,” Si Wuya said.

“The Penglai Sect hasn’t replied?” Yu Zhenghai asked.

“Island Master Huang departed yesterday… I didn’t know that Jiang Aijian is Island Master Huang’s first disciple. He’s heading to Liang Province with Li Jingyi.”

When Yu Zhenghai heard this, he nodded. “Good.”

“For the battle of the Divine Capital, everything will go according to plan.”

“Three days from now, we’ll mobilize the force of our entire sect to lay siege on the Divine Capital!”