The Divine Fist Sect's Counterattack

On a mountain peak some ten miles outside Ningyun City, sprawling palaces and pavilions covered the landscape. This was the headquarters of the Divine Fist Sect, the true ruler of Ningyun Prefecture.

Inside a palace near the mountaintop, Jiang Hongyuan, the Sect Master of the Divine Fist Sect, had gathered the sect's elders for a discussion.

"Elders, what are your thoughts regarding Elder Ge's matter?"

Seated in the place of honor, Jiang Hongyuan addressed the Divine Fist Sect elders below him with a grave expression. Fu Ziping and the others had finally returned to the sect two days ago. Once the Divine Fist Sect had learned the full details of what happened, they began discussing how to respond.

"Is there even a need to ask? The Yellow Heaven Cult dared to murder an elder of our Divine Fist Sect. Of course, a debt of blood must be repaid in blood."

An irascible elder below spoke up directly.

"Indeed. Our Divine Fist Sect should simply declare war on the Yellow Heaven Cult. They dared wreak havoc on our territory and even murdered our sect's elders and disciples. If we do not strike back, would not the prestige of our Divine Fist Sect be swept into the dust?"

Some elders were even more radical, intending to wage an all-out war against the Yellow Heaven Cult.

"Not appropriate, not appropriate. From Ziping and the others' account, what happened in Lin'an City was likely the act of that demonic cult elder, Chen Pengfei, alone. The Yellow Heaven Cult is powerful now. If we wage all-out war against them, I fear our Divine Fist Sect will be unable to bear it."

"However, since that demonic cultist dared murder elders and disciples of our Divine Fist Sect, our sect must certainly answer in kind. As for how we should do so, that requires careful deliberation."

Some of the more steady-minded elders also spoke up.

Within Great Gan, the Yellow Heaven Cult was the most powerful force aside from the Great Gan Court. Its ranks included the Yellow Heaven Cult Master, the Left and Right Protectors, and the Four Emissaries—seven Condensing Gang Realm experts in total.

The Divine Fist Sect, meanwhile, had only three Condensing Gang Realm experts: the Sect Master and two Supreme Elders. If the Divine Fist Sect rashly went to war with the Yellow Heaven Cult, the situation would certainly be unfavorable to them.

"Now is indeed not the time to make a major move against the Yellow Heaven Cult. But neither can we simply ignore the matter of Yellow Heaven Cult members murdering our Divine Fist Sect's elders and disciples."

"Select three of the Yellow Heaven Cult's True Qi elders and kill them, avenging our Divine Fist Sect's elders and disciples, and killing the chicken to scare the monkeys."

As the Sect Master of the Divine Fist Sect, Jiang Hongyuan was immensely enraged as well. Yet for the sake of the bigger picture, he had no choice but to make a compromise.

"Hahaha! I never expected that after all these years, Hongyuan, you would still be so cautious by nature."

Just then, a bold voice rang out from beyond the hall. Immediately afterward, a figure flew through the air and landed within the great hall. Only then did everyone inside see the man clearly: he was a robust old man whose entire body was packed with muscle.

"Greetings, Supreme Elder."

At the sight of the old man, the elders in the hall all bowed to him.

"Master, I have disappointed you."

Even Jiang Hongyuan rose to his feet and spoke to the old man shamefully.

This robust, muscle-bound elder was Fang Yaoyang, a late-stage Condensing Gang Realm Supreme Elder of the Divine Fist Sect. He was also the master of Jiang Hongyuan, the current Sect Master of the Divine Fist Sect, and the sect's pillar that steadied the sea.

"I do not mean to blame you. Back then, it was precisely because of your cautious nature that we old fellows chose you as the Sect Master of the Divine Fist Sect. And judging by the sect's rapid development over these years, we have proven that we did not choose wrongly."

"I merely wish to tell you that excessive caution can sometimes cause you to miss many opportunities in martial cultivation."

Fang Yaoyang first nodded to the elders, then spoke earnestly to Jiang Hongyuan. Naturally, he understood his disciple's concerns. In the end, it was simply because the Divine Fist Sect as a whole was inferior in strength to the Yellow Heaven Cult.

"Master, what brings you here this time?"

Hearing that Fang Yaoyang had no intention of blaming him, Jiang Hongyuan breathed a sigh of relief before asking him. In his view, although Elder Ge Wenkang's matter was a major event for the Divine Fist Sect, it should not have been enough to alarm his master.

"I heard about Lin'an City from that girl Ziyue. I came this time to tell you that I will personally handle this matter. None of you need interfere."

Without wasting words, Fang Yaoyang spoke domineeringly.

"Master, why have you made such a decision?"

Jiang Hongyuan was greatly surprised by Fang Yaoyang's words and hurriedly asked.

"Those Yellow Heaven Cult thieves trespassed upon the territory of our Divine Fist Sect and murdered our sect's elders and disciples. As the sect's Supreme Elder, it is only natural for me to seek justice for them."

"It was one thing when the Yellow Heaven Cult caused trouble in Jin'an Prefecture before. But now that they dare encroach upon Ningyun Prefecture, even if I take action, that old emperor will have nothing to say."

Only then did Jiang Hongyuan finally understand his master's intentions. While part of it was indeed to stand up for their sect's elders and disciples, the greater reason was that Fang Yaoyang had been stifled for too long. Now that he finally had a legitimate reason to act, he naturally would not let this opportunity slip away.

In truth, Fang Yaoyang had wanted to act as soon as the Yellow Heaven Cult began causing chaos in Jin'an Prefecture. Jin'an Prefecture neighbored Ningyun Prefecture; no one could tolerate others running wild on their own doorstep.

Yet word had come from the Great Gan Court, sternly demanding that the Divine Fist Sect not interfere in Jin'an Prefecture's affairs. They had also promised that the Yellow Heaven Cult's unrest would remain confined to Jin'an Prefecture and would not spread to Ningyun Prefecture. Only then had the Divine Fist Sect allowed the Yellow Heaven Cult to run rampant in Jin'an Prefecture.

"Then, Master, how do you intend to proceed?"

Knowing that his master would not change a decision once made, Jiang Hongyuan directly asked about Fang Yaoyang's plans.

"I intend to strike directly at Jin'an City, the prefectural city of Jin'an Prefecture, and shatter the Yellow Heaven Cult's arrangements in Jin'an Prefecture in one stroke."

Fang Yaoyang did not beat around the bush and directly revealed his plan.

"Master, would it not be too risky for you to do this alone?"

Hearing that his master intended to single-handedly destroy the Yellow Heaven Cult's arrangements in Jin'an Prefecture, Jiang Hongyuan immediately became concerned. Although Fang Yaoyang was already a supreme late-stage Condensing Gang Realm martial artist, the Yellow Heaven Cult Master was at the same level, and the Yellow Heaven Cult Master's whereabouts were often a mystery.

To strike at Jin'an City without knowing what truly lay within was indeed somewhat risky.

"Who said I would be alone? The Yellow Heaven Cult acts with such arrogance that there is no shortage in this world of people who bear grudges against them. Some even hate the Yellow Heaven Cult far more deeply than we do."

Fang Yaoyang naturally would not act rashly. He had his own considerations in making this decision.

"You mean the Demon Extermination Society?"

After thinking it over, Jiang Hongyuan asked uncertainly.

"Not only the Demon Extermination Society. You will find out when the time comes."

Fang Yaoyang nodded at Jiang Hongyuan, yet still kept him in suspense.

The Divine Fist Sect's response to the Yellow Heaven Cult wreaking havoc in Lin'an City had thus been decided.

In the backyard of a shop tucked into a corner of Gold-Sprinkled Street in Ningyun Prefecture, Bi Changsheng wielded the Qingfeng Sword. The sword light appeared utterly unstructured, yet it radiated a chilling killing intent, as though this were a sword art born solely for slaughter, seeking to massacre all things beneath heaven.

Even Liu Zhengqing, watching from the side, felt the hairs on his body stand on end. It was as if, in the next instant, the sword in Bi Changsheng's hand would slash at him from an angle he could never anticipate and take his life.

This was the Killing Sword Art Bi Changsheng had just exchanged for from the Demon Extermination Society. After breaking through to the True Qi Realm, he had begun cultivating this sword art.

Although the Killing Sword Art was far more difficult to cultivate than the Thirteen Swords of Qingfeng, Bi Changsheng's progress had still been exceptionally smooth. It took him only half a day to successfully gain entry into the art.

When Bi Changsheng had chosen to exchange for this sword art, it was not only because of its formidable power, but also because, upon cultivating it to perfection, one might comprehend an incomparably powerful sword move.

A "Self-Sacrificing Sword" that slaughtered all things under heaven—even oneself.

The Self-Sacrificing Sword was an overwhelmingly powerful strike that burned away all of one's lifespan, staking everything on a single slash. The moment Bi Changsheng saw this move, he felt it suited him perfectly, so he chose it without the slightest hesitation.

The moment he saw the Self-Sacrificing Sword, Bi Changsheng had already begun to look forward to just what kind of power Jade Burn could unleash when paired with it.