Recruitment Campaign, Competition Between Both Sides

Mount Song was wiped out, and two Grandmaster experts died.

This outcome shocked not only the Martial World Rogue Cultivators.

Even Xiang Wentian and Ren Yingying were taken aback.

The two of them knew Zuo Lengchan's strength quite well.

In the martial world, strength had always commanded respect.

Without sufficient strength, how could Zuo Lengchan have securely held the positions of Mount Song Sect Leader and leader of the Five Mountains Alliance?

Even within a gathering place of experts like the Sun Moon Holy Cult, Zuo Lengchan still counted as an exceptionally formidable master.

Those who could reliably defeat him were likely only the two successive Cult Masters, Ren Woxing and Dongfang Bubai.

Xiang Wentian considered his martial arts far from weak, but if he faced Zuo Lengchan head-on, fleeing for his life would be his only option.

Forget killing him—being able to save his own life would already have been fortunate.

What was more, Zuo Lengchan had the evil-path Grandmaster Whiteboard Fiend assisting him.

Suppressing his shock, Xiang Wentian turned to Ren Yingying and said joyfully, "That black-clad swordsman is immensely powerful. If we can persuade him to help, we will certainly be able to rescue the Cult Master safely."

He then added, "Yingying, you truly have better judgment. When I saw him throw away his blade earlier, I thought he was doomed to lose. If you had not insisted that we keep watching, we might have missed this expert today."

Ren Yingying shook her head and replied, "Uncle Xiang, I did not expect him to be this strong either, capable of killing two Grandmasters by himself."

"However, the stronger he is, the more advantageous it is for us."

"It is just that I do not know whether he will be willing to help us." Ren Yingying's face showed concern.

Both of them fully acknowledged Su Chen's strength.

But whether Su Chen would be willing to help them remained unknown.

After all, Ren Woxing had been imprisoned by Dongfang Bubai.

Rescuing Ren Woxing was undoubtedly the same as opposing Dongfang Bubai.

And Dongfang Bubai was a genuine Great Grandmaster. Beating ten Zuo Lengchans would have been effortless for him.

Neither Xiang Wentian nor Ren Yingying dared guarantee that this black-clad swordsman would be willing to risk offending Dongfang Bubai to help them rescue Ren Woxing.

After a long silence, Xiang Wentian spoke first. "Whether it works or not, we must try first. If the black-clad swordsman refuses to help, we can simply look for someone else."

"Uncle Xiang is right." Ren Yingying nodded in agreement.

For now, they could only try contacting him first before making further plans.

Having reached a decision, the two did not delay. They immediately rose, preparing to head to Liu Manor and speak with Su Chen.

However, just as they stood up, they saw a middle-aged man eagerly heading toward Liu Manor.

"Tong Baixiong..." Ren Yingying recognized the middle-aged man, and her gaze immediately sharpened as her body involuntarily froze.

Xiang Wentian also stopped in place, his expression grave. His hawk-like eyes stared fixedly at Tong Baixiong as he headed toward Liu Manor.

Xiang Wentian was no stranger to Tong Baixiong.

This man was the Wind Thunder Hall Master of the Sun Moon Holy Cult and Dongfang Bubai's absolute confidant.

Back when Dongfang Bubai's martial arts had yet to reach completion, he had been besieged by the Seven Tigers of Ludong in the Taihang Mountains.

When his life had hung by a thread, Tong Baixiong had risked his own life to save him, giving Dongfang Bubai the chance to escape with his life.

Later, when Dongfang Bubai had first ascended to the position of Cult Master, many within the Sun Moon Holy Cult had refused to accept him.

Tong Baixiong had also rendered great assistance then, killing the former Vermilion Bird Hall Elder Luo with a single stroke.

Only then were the voices of opposition subdued, allowing Dongfang Bubai to firmly secure his position as Cult Master of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

The grace of saving his life, the merit of securing his position!

These two great contributions made Tong Baixiong Dongfang Bubai's most trusted brother.

Now that he had appeared in person, it must have been under Dongfang Bubai's direct orders.

Xiang Wentian was puzzled. What was Tong Baixiong going to Liu Manor for?

Ren Yingying's eyes flickered as her thoughts raced. Suddenly, she said, "I think he is also going to find that black-clad swordsman."

Xiang Wentian was quick-witted as well. At Ren Yingying's reminder, he immediately understood everything.

"This black-clad swordsman is immensely powerful, and his methods are ruthless. He does not seem like one of the righteous figures. Dongfang Bubai has likely developed an appreciation for his talent and wants to recruit him into the Holy Cult."

By this point, his face had already gone stiff.

They had finally encountered a suitable helper, only for Dongfang Bubai to get there first.

Naturally, Xiang Wentian's mood could not have been good.

Ren Yingying's expression was equally unpleasant. She remained silent, saying nothing.

A fierce glint flashed through Xiang Wentian's eyes as he suddenly said, "Yingying, stay here. I will go kill Tong Baixiong."

"No!"

Ren Yingying immediately tried to stop him.

"Uncle Xiang, I know your martial arts are formidable. Killing Tong Baixiong would be no difficult task for you."

"However, killing him today would only alert the enemy and make Dongfang Bubai wary, which would be detrimental to our plans."

"We should watch for a while first. In my view, that black-clad swordsman may not necessarily accept Tong Baixiong's recruitment."

As she spoke, Ren Yingying suddenly asked, "Uncle Xiang, you said last time that the swordsman helped Liu Zhengfeng because of two hundred thousand taels of silver?"

Xiang Wentian nodded. "That is correct."

Upon hearing this, Ren Yingying's eyes turned as she said, "Uncle Xiang, I will have to trouble you to go out and prepare some silver..."

Ren Yingying understood clearly. Since this swordsman liked silver, she would use silver as a stepping stone to draw the two sides closer.

Xiang Wentian understood as well. He nodded, then left to prepare the silver.

Meanwhile, Tong Baixiong headed toward Liu Manor with delight in his heart.

"Today, I have truly stumbled upon a great opportunity." Tong Baixiong chuckled to himself as he walked.

"This swordsman killed Zuo Lengchan and Whiteboard Fiend by himself. At the very least, his strength must be at the Grandmaster Realm."

"Recruiting a Grandmaster would give the Holy Cult another powerful expert, and for me personally, it would also be a great merit."

The more Tong Baixiong thought about it, the happier he became, and even his steps grew lighter.

Before long, he arrived in the courtyard of Liu Manor.

At that moment, Mo Da, Liu Zhengfeng, and Qu Yang were cleaning the courtyard.

Seeing someone arrive, all three looked up in unison.

"Elder Tong?" Qu Yang recognized Tong Baixiong and could not help but be surprised. "Why have you come here?"

Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng, meanwhile, quietly became wary.

The righteous and demonic paths could never coexist.

Not every elder of the demonic cult was like Qu Yang.

With Tong Baixiong suddenly visiting at such a time, there was no guarantee that he had not come with malicious intentions.

Noticing Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng's vigilance, Tong Baixiong smiled and said, "The two of you need not be nervous. Tong has come today with no ill intent. I merely wish to find someone."

As he spoke, he looked at Qu Yang. "It so happens that Elder Qu is here. Could you introduce me to that black-clad swordsman?"

Hearing that Tong Baixiong had come for Su Chen, Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng did not relax. Instead, they became even more vigilant.

"Why are you looking for Mister Su?" Mo Da asked.

Tong Baixiong did not become angry at the questioning and calmly replied, "I heard that a powerful swordsman has appeared in Hengyang City. Our Cult Master Dongfang has taken an interest in his talent and specially ordered me to invite him into the Holy Cult..."

The moment these words were spoken, Mo Da, Liu Zhengfeng, and Qu Yang were all startled.

Tong Baixiong's meaning was clear: Dongfang Bubai wanted to recruit Su Chen.

Had Su Chen's reputation already become so great that even Dongfang Bubai had taken an interest in recruiting him?

But they quickly understood.

Su Chen had killed both Zuo Lengchan and Whiteboard Fiend, two Grandmasters, all by himself. His strength was terrifyingly high.

It was only natural for Dongfang Bubai to want to recruit such a figure.

"Well? Elder Qu, can you help?" Seeing that Qu Yang had not responded for a long time, Tong Baixiong could not help urging him.

Hearing this, Qu Yang came back to himself and said, "The master of this place is Brother Liu..."

The meaning was clear. Liu Zhengfeng was the master here, and some matters were not for Qu Yang to decide.

Tong Baixiong looked at Liu Zhengfeng and asked, "Second Master Liu, what do you say?"

Liu Zhengfeng's gaze flickered as he considered the matter.

In his view, Su Chen was a man of the imperial court and very likely a major figure among the Imperial Guards.

How could someone like that join a martial world force such as the Sun Moon Holy Cult?

However, since Tong Baixiong had made the request, and all Liu Zhengfeng needed to do was offer a simple introduction, there was no need for him to refuse.

Having made up his mind, Liu Zhengfeng gently nodded. "Elder Tong, I can introduce you to him. As for whether it succeeds, that will depend on you."

Tong Baixiong laughed heartily. "Haha, many thanks, Second Master Liu."