The weather in the vast desert was ever-changing. Often, the blazing sun shone overhead during the day, bringing unbearable heat, yet by night, fierce winds and torrential rain might sweep in, sending temperatures plummeting.
As the sun sank in the west, wild winds rose and fell across the desert. Many of the Dragon Gate Inn's old beams creaked and cracked in the gale, while even the martial artists gathered outside could no longer stand the cold. They huddled in groups of three or five in corners along the walls, clustering together for warmth.
By late night, the wind howled even louder.
In the Ruined Ancient Buildings ten li northeast of the Dragon Gate Inn, pinpricks of firelight flickered, threatening to gutter out in the cold wind, yet still bringing a trace of warmth to the freezing desert.
Hundreds of figures in assorted clothing sat around the campfires in various postures, carrying all manner of weapons. The only thing they shared was the pattern embroidered on their chests: the sun and moon hanging in the sky.
These hundreds of martial artists were disciples of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, whose very name struck terror into the righteous sects of the martial world.
When news of the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure first surfaced, the Sun Moon Holy Cult had been the first to hear of it and hurry to the desert. Who could have expected the news to spread afterward, bringing the righteous sects in their wake to prevent the cult from obtaining the treasure?
At first, the Sun Moon Holy Cult had held the advantage. But as more and more righteous sects arrived in the desert, even the cult began to struggle, and ultimately had no choice but to withdraw into the shadows. They had not left the desert, however. Instead, they had settled in these ruined buildings not far from the Dragon Gate Inn, monitoring the movements of the various martial sects while awaiting the arrival of their leader, Dongfang Bubai.
At that moment, seven imposing figures sat around a campfire in the middle of the ancient buildings.
The Sun Moon Holy Cult had attached great importance to the emergence of this treasure. Not only had three of its four halls come, but four of its Ten Great Elders had arrived as well.
The seven people beside the campfire were the masters of the three halls-Jia Bu, the Yellow-Faced Venerable of the Azure Dragon Hall; Shangguan Yun, the Eagle Hero of the White Tiger Hall; and Tong Baixiong of the Wind and Thunder Hall-along with four of the Ten Great Elders: Bao Dachu, Qin Weibang, Sang Sanniang, and Qu Yang.
In all, there were four Xiantian experts and three first-rate Houtian experts, along with over two hundred disciples from the three halls.
A force like this could have stirred up a storm of blood and slaughter anywhere in the martial world.
Yet news of the treasure had drawn many first-rate sects, including such leading powers as the Wudang Sect, Shaolin Temple, and the Money Gang, all riding high at present.
Against so many righteous experts, the strength the Sun Moon Holy Cult had brought was clearly still somewhat inadequate.
Thus, as early as three days before, they had sent word back to the Sun Moon Holy Cult, informing their leader, Dongfang Bubai.
To the Sun Moon Holy Cult, only their peerless leader was the pillar they could rely upon.
Once their leader arrived, they would fear no force. They were absolutely confident they could seize the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure from among the many martial sects!
Whoosh-
Just then, amid the howling gale, a crimson figure swept across the night sky and swiftly appeared atop a crumbling wall within the ancient buildings.
"Who goes there?!"
The Sun Moon Holy Cult disciples sprang to their feet. But when they saw the crimson figure clearly, their expressions changed dramatically, and they all knelt respectfully in greeting.
"We pay our respects to the cult leader!"
The four elders and three hall masters beside the central campfire also rose, lowering their heads and bowing, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
For this crimson figure was none other than Dongfang Bubai, leader of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, a towering figure of the demonic path whose very name struck terror into the great sects of the martial world!
"What is the situation?"
A cool voice came from atop the crumbling wall, impossible to distinguish as male or female. His scarlet robe snapped in the wind, and the night was too dark to make out his features.
Yet that silhouette alone was enough to suggest that above those crimson robes lay a face of peerless beauty.
The seven beside the campfire exchanged glances. Then Tong Baixiong, master of the Wind and Thunder Hall, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and spoke respectfully.
"Reporting to the cult leader: the people from the great martial sects are all gathered at the Dragon Gate Inn ten li away. There are nearly a thousand martial experts in total!"
Dongfang Bubai still did not turn around. "Which sects have sent people?" he asked indifferently.
Tong Baixiong replied, "Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, the Money Gang, the Mount Song Sect, and the Kongtong Sect have all sent people. Southern Murong of the Great Song Dynasty, Murong Fu of Gusu, has also come with his Four Great Retainers. Most of the others are insignificant minor sects without many experts."
"Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, the Money Gang... which experts have come?"
Dongfang Bubai continued questioning him.
The only ones he cared about were Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, and the Money Gang, the three foremost sects of the age.
Likewise, only these three had Grandmaster experts presiding over them, forcing him to proceed cautiously.
"Shaolin Temple sent the Eighteen Arhats of the Arhat Hall, led by Divine Monk Kong Jian and Divine Monk Kong Zhi, two of the Four Great Divine Monks. The Wudang Sect's leader, Song Yuanqiao, came with Yu Lianzhou and Mo Shenggu, the second and seventh of the Seven Heroes of Wudang, as well as the sect's elders, Daoist Chongxu and Wooden Daoist. The Money Gang is led by Jing Wuming, Shangguan Jinhong's foremost expert, accompanied by the Money Gang's Five Great Xiantian, all experts listed in Bai Xiaosheng's Weapons Catalogue."
Tong Baixiong replied.
At this, Dongfang Bubai fell silent for a moment before asking, "What about Heavenly Venerable and Black Stone?"
Tong Baixiong shook his head. "The people from Heavenly Venerable and Black Stone have yet to appear. However, quite a few martial artists died in Dragon Gate City a few days ago. Word in the martial world is that it was probably the work of Drizzle, the Black Stone assassin."
"No one has come from the Demonic Cult or the Bright Moon Cult?"
"No!"
Tong Baixiong shook his head again. Then, as though remembering something, he cupped his hands and said, "A white-robed swordsman did arrive at the Dragon Gate Inn today. His martial skills are formidable. He killed members of the Money Gang as soon as he arrived, and Jing Wuming did not even dare attack him. He must be very powerful, but we have yet to discover his origins."
"A white-robed swordsman?"
Dongfang Bubai murmured, then asked, "He isn't one of the Ten Great Swordsmen?"
"Probably not."
Tong Baixiong said, "The swordsmanship of the Ten Great Swordsmen is easily recognized, and they likely have no interest in the treasure."
Dongfang Bubai nodded. "Good, as long as he isn't one of the Ten Great Swordsmen. The others can be dealt with one by one."
As he spoke, Dongfang Bubai slowly turned, a fierce killing intent bursting from his cool eyes.
"Didn't they kill quite a few of our people recently? Make preparations. Tonight, we'll go meet them first and teach them a lesson. Let them see that not just anyone can lay a hand on the people of my Sun Moon Holy Cult!"
Excitement immediately shone in everyone's eyes. They all bowed and cried out fervently.
"The Sun Moon Holy Cult, invincible in battle! Leader Dongfang, accomplished in letters and arms! For a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, unite the martial world!"
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There'll be another chapter in a little while, so you won't keep thinking I update too slowly. Posting it in two chapters should feel a little better for you.
(End of chapter)