The Dao Has a Heart to Save the World, and the Fury of Thunder

Floating Cloud Mountain, True Mystery Peak.

His wooden sword returned to its sheath. Xuanming first swept his sleeve to put away the Golden Blade, then took out the Projection Stone and tossed it to Xuan Kong, instructing him:

"The Dao has a heart to save the world, and the fury of thunderous Rage."

"Though our Truth-Seeking Abbey belongs to the Daoist tradition, shuns conflict, and treats others kindly, we will not tolerate being bullied or schemed against. Since the Chen refuse to let the matter rest, we need not stand on ceremony either. It is time to show our edge."

"Now that Old Master Chen has come up the mountain, his clansmen must be waiting anxiously. Little time has passed, and they have yet to guess that he is dead, so they cannot react in time. Our Truth-Seeking Abbey must act swiftly and catch the Chen off guard."

"Junior Brother Xuan Kong, sorry for the trouble, but please set out tonight. Ride a crane to Fengyang Commandery, explain the matter to the Broad Dharma Bureau, and request an Execution Warrant."

Xuanming looked at the others and continued giving instructions:

"If you cut the weeds without pulling out their roots, they will grow again when the spring wind blows."

"Sorry for the trouble, junior brothers, but please descend the mountain, surround the Chen Residence, and cut off their retreat to prevent any clansmen from escaping. Since we have made enemies of them, we must uproot them as soon as possible, lest they seek revenge later and bring trouble to our door, disturbing the peace of our Truth-Seeking Abbey."

The Daoists also understood the urgency and immediately voiced their agreement:

"Rest assured, senior brother. I will set out at once."

"We will gather the disciples and head down the mountain immediately."

Xuanming nodded in satisfaction.

As the Daoists sprang into action and busied themselves with their tasks, he stood with his hands behind his back, gazing down at Floating Cloud County with a cold gleam in his eyes.

Time waited for no one; every morning and evening had to be seized.

What mattered now was exploiting the gap in their timing.

Of course, Xuanming also had a selfish motive for deciding so decisively to strike at the Chen.

With a hundred years of heritage, their collection of books was bound to be substantial. Since enmity had already been forged and no peaceful resolution was possible, he naturally had to bring those texts onto the mountain as soon as possible, before they could be burned or moved elsewhere.

There might even be Daoist scriptures the Scripture Pavilion lacked.

Drawing back his gaze, Xuanming covered a thousand feet in a single step and departed as well.

He had said everything that needed saying, and the Daoists were dependable. They would not falter at a critical moment.

He need not worry about the rest.

That was the advantage of working as a group.

Dao-Treasuring Peak, Path-Seeking Courtyard.

The Lifeless Golden Blade lay casually tossed on the desk. Xuanming sat cross-legged, silently reviewing the battle that had just taken place.

No one knew his own affairs better than he did.

He seldom fought and lacked experience.

Whether slaying demons last time or killing Old Master Chen this time, he had won by sweeping everything aside with overwhelming strength.

Though crushing his opponents felt immensely satisfying, Xuanming did not let his ambitions outrun his abilities. Having lived for sixty years, he was clearheaded and thorough in his thinking, not someone easily blinded by victory.

Thus, after every fight, he carefully reviewed the details of the clash, analyzed his strengths and weaknesses, and distilled what he had learned, doing his utmost to shore up his shortcomings.

Only after an incense stick's worth of time did Xuanming lie down on his side to sleep.

With each breath, spiritual energy flowed in and out, circling his body.

He drew his breath deep, letting every inhalation and exhalation return to its root.

With every breath, his magic power and reserves grew a little stronger, and his essence, energy, and spirit increased a little more.

As time passed, Xuanming sank into blissful sleep, drawing in the pure and exhaling the impure. Mist wreathed him like an immortal elder sleeping soundly among clouds, and he unwittingly gained a touch more immortal grace, ethereal and beyond the mundane.

With matters urgent, the Daoists raced against every passing moment.

At this moment, time itself was the advantage.

In the silent depths of night, the entire Truth-Seeking Abbey stirred into action.

A plump figure rode a crane out of the mountains, followed by a Corpse-Carrying Crane.

Dozens of Daoists, young and old, were awakened and hastily assembled. Led by their elders, they descended the mountain with swords on their backs. Even the weakest had second realm cultivation, and Chang'anzi, Changqingzi, and the others were among them.

Xuan Yin was quick-witted. Before leaving, he entered the Path-Seeking Courtyard to seek an audience with Xuanming. When he emerged, his steps were light, and an extra Peachwood Sword rested on his back.

Floating Cloud County, the Chen clan grounds.

Inside the Hall of Gathering Heroes, the Chen leadership had gathered.

They had stayed awake all night. Ever since the Old Ancestor left home, they had been sitting on pins and needles, fraught with worry.

The stakes were simply too high.

If he succeeded, the Chen could overpower the Truth-Seeking Abbey. From then on, only one voice would hold sway in Floating Cloud County.

If he failed, the Chen would plunge into peril in an instant. Not only would the Truth-Seeking Abbey target them, but they might also be punished by the authorities above. With their clan's rise or fall at stake, they could hardly take it lightly.

By the fourth watch, the Old Ancestor still had not returned. Panic rose among them as they huddled together and whispered, an atmosphere of restless anxiety spreading through the hall.

Though Chen Liang had grown somewhat impatient after returning from Floating Cloud Mountain last time, he possessed some genuine ability as clan head. At this moment, he made a prompt decision and issued orders:

"The Old Ancestor has yet to return. I fear the odds bode ill."

"Before considering victory, consider defeat; before considering gains, consider losses. Under the present circumstances, whatever the outcome, we must prepare for the worst. We cannot pin all our hopes on the Old Ancestor. To preserve our lineage, we need a fallback plan. Some of our younger clansmen must be moved out immediately."

"So long as the green hills remain, we need not fear running out of firewood. If the Old Ancestor returns victorious, all the better. But if he truly meets with disaster, they will be the hope that carries on our Chen clan."

Everyone agreed with these words.

At this moment of crisis, they stood united against the outside threat, neither arguing nor dragging their feet.

The somewhat fierce-looking Third Elder rose and added, "If the Old Ancestor truly faces a brush with death, then the Truth-Seeking Abbey is more terrifying than we imagined. They may be concealing an expert no weaker than him, or some other unknown and dreadful means."

"There is no shortage of clever people on that mountain. Those Daoists may already be on their way. We must mend the roof before the rain comes and take extra precautions. Moving our clansmen out is not enough. We must divide those leaving into two groups."

"One group will flee beyond Floating Cloud County. The other will head to the Floating Cloud County Divine Office, voluntarily relinquish our place at the Heaven and Earth Tower, and seek the Imperial Court's protection by offering our lineage's inherited treasures and invoking our achievements in controlling the floods last time."

"Only a two-pronged approach will give us greater security."

"Otherwise, even if our clansmen escape, they will be caught and find it hard to avoid death."

Everyone nodded like pestles pounding garlic.

Then they each took up their duties and swiftly got to work.

With their lineage's survival at stake, none dared be careless.

In the hours before dawn, the Chen clan grounds blazed with lamplight.

Some handled defense, while others moved supplies.

Some of the boys and young men were gathered together. Strong-bodied and quick on their feet, they had a better chance of escaping. As for the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, they could only remain in the clan grounds and wait.

This world was practical and cruel. Faced with a life-or-death crisis, the weak could only let others dictate their fate.

Besides, having enjoyed the lineage's protection, they had to sacrifice themselves for it when necessary.

Everything was for the continuation of the lineage!

Watching his busy clansmen, Chen Liang felt heavyhearted.

He entrusted his children, including Chen Qingshu, to the Third Elder, hoping he would lead the clansmen away.

Though the two usually fought over power and influence, Chen Liang had to admit that the Third Elder saw matters clearly and surpassed him in both strategy and wisdom. He was one of the few truly clearheaded people in the clan.

Entrusting the clansmen to him was the safest course.

Unfortunately, the Third Elder waved his hand and refused.

He extended his right hand, which had only four fingers, and said, "In my youth, I was rash and arrogant, with my eyes raised above my head, looking down on everyone. While traveling abroad, I brought disaster upon myself."

"Later, a powerful enemy came to our door. Only the lineage's protection, at the cost of great wealth and many heavenly treasures, saved my life. Afterward, I cut off one of my own fingers to declare my resolve: for the rest of my life, I would conduct myself cautiously, think three times before acting, and pledge this life to the lineage."

"Now, knowing full well that my uncle was going to take a risk, I failed as his junior to dissuade him in time. That was my fault. I clung to the hope of luck, broke my vow, and plunged the lineage into danger. That was my wrongdoing."

"By either sentiment or reason, my guilt is beyond pardon."

"I am already a guttering candle in the wind, not much younger than my uncle. If disaster truly descends upon the Chen, let this failing body shield the younger generation for a little while and perish alongside our clan grounds."

"I was born here, grew up here, aged here, and knew joy and sorrow here. Here, too, I should repay my debt. To have my bones buried in our clan grounds would bring my heart great comfort."

Seeing the Third Elder reveal his true feelings, Chen Liang felt a tangled mix of emotions, both moved and ashamed.

Yet the affairs of the world were hard to predict.

Though the Chen clan had reacted swiftly,

They were still one step too late.

Some of their clansmen had yet to evacuate.

The Clan-Guarding Formation had yet to be activated.

And the Daoists of the Truth-Seeking Abbey arrived.

Dozens of Daoists swung their swords together, unleashing the same sword art: Eight Trigrams Sword Art.

Sword qi, large and small, surged forth, while sword intent of varying strength erupted.

Eight Trigrams sword qi swam like darting fish, weaving into a dense sword net. With the Peachwood Swords in their hands as its foundation, they laid down the Eight Trigrams Sword Formation.

Peachwood Swords were planted in the ground around the Chen Residence, one every thirty feet.

Dozens of Daoists guarded their positions, ready for battle. Anyone who tried to break through the formation and escape was wounded by sword qi.

Some had their arms severed, some had their chests pierced, some lost hands, some lost feet, and some coughed up blood.

Xuan Yin, Xuan Yang, and the others each stood on a different side, guarding the key routes. As they watched the Eight Trigrams Sword Formation, their faces blossomed with smiles.

Thanks to 2024...0901 for the 100-point tip; thanks to Boyi, Tongtai Aaa, 2022...3547, 2019...9581, and This Humble Daoist Is Here for one monthly ticket each; thanks to 2024...0901 for two monthly tickets.