One Act Ends, Another Begins

The melee continued, and the death toll kept rising.

Whether they belonged to the righteous sects, Heavenly Venerable, or the Sun Moon Holy Cult, all sides suffered casualties.

The major sects had also noticed when Black Stone suddenly appeared and surrounded Yu Huatian to kill him.

But by now, both sides were seeing red. The righteous sects swore to slaughter the members of the Sun Moon Holy Cult and Heavenly Venerable, ridding the martial world of this scourge. Meanwhile, the Sun Moon Holy Cult and Heavenly Venerable wanted to seize this opportunity to wipe out all the martial sects present in one stroke. Not only would this cripple the righteous sects' power, it would also bolster the Demonic Gate's fearsome reputation.

Thus, neither side paid any attention to Black Stone, the third faction that had suddenly appeared.

They were also too far away to make out what Black Stone's people had said to Yu Huatian. They merely assumed someone had paid Black Stone to kill the white-robed swordsman and his two companions.

But as Wheel King, Colorful Performer, Lian Sheng, and the others fell one after another, every faction was shaken.

Wheel King needed no introduction. Having roamed the martial world for years without being wiped out by the imperial court, all while keeping his identity a mystery, he had to be a Grandmaster-level expert.

Black Stone's gold-medal assassins were all innate experts skilled in assassination as well.

Together with that black-robed swordswoman of unknown origin, one Grandmaster and four innate experts had attacked him, only to be killed instead?

Just who was that young man in white?!

Quite a few people began stealing glances at the battle over there.

After killing the last black-robed swordswoman, the young man in white turned his attention to Black Stone's last remaining gold-medal assassin, Drizzle. He retrieved the sword lodged in Colorful Performer's body some distance away and slowly walked toward her.

But just then, another sound of rushing air came through the curtain of rain.

"Hahaha! Such a lively gathering in this downpour!"

"But how could a clash between the righteous and demonic factions be complete without our Bright Moon Cult?"

With a piercing burst of laughter, a black shadow swept across the night sky like a bat on a rainy night. Its lightness skill was extraordinary, and it appeared on the battlefield in the blink of an eye.

Immediately afterward, the ground began to rumble. By the faint light of lightning and the moon, densely packed shadows could be seen emerging from the depths of the desert, with banners of every color flickering in and out of view in the rain.

"Burn this broken body of mine in the blazing sacred flame; what joy is there in life, what suffering in death? Do good and purge evil, for the sake of light alone; joy, sorrow, grief, and delight all return to dust. Pity the people of this world, beset by so many troubles!"

The sudden development brought the fierce battle to another brief halt.

Then the expressions of both the righteous and demonic factions changed.

"The Five Elements Flags? It's the Bright Moon Cult!"

Someone stared at the densely packed five-colored banners approaching from afar and cried out in alarm.

"The Bright Moon Cult?"

Yu Huatian also stopped and turned toward the mass of distant figures, his brows drawing together slightly.

"The Sun Moon Holy Cult, Heavenly Venerable, Black Stone, the Bright Moon Cult... what a complete gathering!"

"Director!"

At that moment, Ding Xiu and Zhao Tong both broke away from the battlefield and gathered beside Yu Huatian.

Zhao Tong had only needed to face Murong Fu's three retainers, which had been relatively easy, so he had suffered no injuries. Ding Xiu, on the other hand, had fought the two innate experts Murong Fu and Drizzle alone. His breathing was now ragged, and several fine sword wounds marked his body, clearly Drizzle's handiwork.

But Murong Fu and Drizzle had not escaped unscathed either. Ding Xiu had slashed several wounds into both of them.

Taking advantage of the Bright Moon Cult's arrival, they swiftly withdrew. Murong Fu breathed an inward sigh of relief and immediately led his three retainers back into the crowd of martial sects. Drizzle glanced at the distant bodies of Wheel King and the others without a word, then flickered away and soon vanished into the night.

Yu Huatian glanced over but paid them no heed. Turning to Zhao Tong beside him, he said, "Send the signal."

"Yes!"

Zhao Tong immediately stepped aside and took an oilcloth-wrapped object from his robes. Holding it at his waist and shielding it from the rain with his body, he carefully unwrapped it, revealing a signal firework inside.

Zhao Tong picked up the firework and pulled the fuse. A streak of fire instantly shot skyward, flashing brightly in the night before quickly fading.

"What are you doing?!"

Someone spotted the signal firework, immediately turned toward Yu Huatian and his companions, and shouted angrily.

Many others turned to look as well.

Hiding in the crowd, Murong Fu immediately shouted, "He's Yu Huatian, director of the West Depot! They're signaling for reinforcements!"

"What? Yu Huatian?!"

"People from the imperial court!"

Everyone was instantly shocked. Many martial artists close to Yu Huatian and his companions scrambled backward as though they had seen a plague god.

No-to the people of the martial world, the imperial court inspired even more fear and loathing than a plague god!

The eminent monk Kong Jian, Song Yuanqiao, and the other experts from the righteous sects frowned slightly.

The gazes of Jing Wuming and the other Money Gang members sharpened as well. No wonder this man had behaved so brazenly upon arriving at the Dragon Gate Inn, killing their fellow gang members in public. He was a lapdog of the imperial court!

Dongfang Bubai's breathing fluctuated. Looking at Yu Huatian's somewhat feminine yet flawlessly handsome face, he, too, fell briefly into a daze.

"Haha! Just as I said, how could the imperial court possibly keep its hands out of something as important as the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure?"

While everyone was still reeling from Yu Huatian's identity, a light laugh sounded nearby.

They turned and saw another young man in white strolling through the rain, a folding fan in hand, looking every inch a graceful young gentleman. A transparent halo enveloped him, keeping the rain at bay.

Several figures with deep, powerful auras followed behind him. The most striking were the four on the left. Although each had a distinct bearing, their auras seemed to form a single whole, suggesting they belonged to the same school. Their combined presence was scarcely weaker than the white-robed young man's. One of them, however, had arrived in a wheelchair, apparently suffering from a physical disability.

"The leader of the Bright Moon Cult, Zhang Wuji!"

The gold-masked figure leading Heavenly Venerable spoke gravely. As he watched the young man in white, a trace of wariness appeared in the cold eyes behind his mask.

"He's the leader of the Bright Moon Cult?"

Many people immediately looked startled. After all, the Bright Moon Cult was a notorious demonic organization in the Ming Jianghu, one that dared to openly defy the imperial court. Its fearsome reputation in the martial world was considerable.

Yet no one had expected the Bright Moon Cult's leader to be such a handsome young man.

The Wudang Sect alone was an exception.

The expressions of everyone from Wudang shifted slightly upon seeing the white-robed young man. Song Yuanqiao looked especially conflicted as he called out, "Wuji!"

"First Martial Uncle, Second Martial Uncle, Seventh Martial Uncle!"

With a refined bearing, Zhang Wuji cupped his hands and bowed to Song Yuanqiao, Yu Lianzhou, and Mo Shenggu.

"What? He's a Wudang disciple?"

"The leader of the Bright Moon Cult is from the Wudang Sect?"

"How is that possible?!"

Everyone was startled once again.

But those who knew the inside story, such as the Shaolin Sect, Emei Sect, Kongtong Sect, and Money Gang, were not surprised. Their expressions merely grew complicated.

In that great battle years ago, the six major sects had besieged Bright Peak. Who could have known that not only would they fail, they would also give rise to another formidable overlord of the martial world?

That man was the white-robed youth before them-the leader of the Bright Moon Cult, Zhang Wuji!

"Martial Uncles, I've come today on important business. Please forgive my discourtesy. Once today's matters are settled, I'll find time another day to visit Grandmaster and all of you at Wudang."

Zhang Wuji spoke with a slight smile.

Song Yuanqiao and the others frowned slightly at his words, while everyone else's heart sank.

The eminent monk Kong Jian of the Shaolin Temple asked gravely, "May I ask what important business you speak of, Young Hero Zhang?"

Zhang Wuji replied evenly, "Isn't it obvious? Why have all of you gathered at the Dragon Gate Inn today?"

Kong Jian's gaze sharpened. "Are you also interested in the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure, Young Hero Zhang?"

Zhang Wuji smiled. "You jest, Master. How many years has the Great White Upper Kingdom been gone? Since the treasure has no owner, it naturally belongs to whoever has the ability to claim it. Although I have no shortage of money, I have no desire to see these riches taken by the imperial court's lapdogs, only to be used to bring misery upon the people!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wuji shifted his gaze to Yu Huatian a short distance away.

Yu Huatian remained expressionless, but Ding Xiu's and Zhao Tong's faces turned cold.

"Hahaha! Well said, Cult Leader Zhang!"

"The treasure belongs to whoever has the ability to claim it. How could these imperial lapdogs deserve to compete with us for it?"

"Since the major demonic sects are all here today, why not join forces with Heavenly Venerable and the Sun Moon Holy Cult, Cult Leader Zhang? The three of us could wipe out these hypocrites of the righteous martial world and these imperial lapdogs in one stroke, then divide the treasure equally. What do you say?"

The gold-masked man at the front of Heavenly Venerable laughed loudly, his voice low and grating.

Zhang Wuji glanced at him, a trace of disdain in his eyes. "Though people call the Bright Moon Cult the Demonic Gate, we're nothing like you fiends and monsters. We have no choice but to oppose the imperial court for the sake of the common people. Our purpose is to overthrow this rotten court and restore light to the world. Why would we cooperate with demons like you, who stop at nothing for personal gain?"

At these words, the faces of everyone from Heavenly Venerable and the Sun Moon Holy Cult turned cold, anger rising in their eyes.

Dongfang Bubai sneered. "You speak with such lofty righteousness, but in the end, aren't you still after the treasure?"

"So what if I am? At least I haven't colluded with demons like you who slaughter the common people!"

Zhang Wuji spoke calmly.

But just then, an icy voice suddenly rang out:

"So you won't cooperate with the Ming Jianghu, but you will cooperate with people from the Great Song imperial court?"

Zhang Wuji's expression shifted slightly. He turned and saw Yu Huatian staring coldly at him through the distant curtain of rain, the killing intent in his eyes utterly undisguised.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. Why would the Bright Moon Cult need to cooperate with anyone?" Zhang Wuji said coldly.

Everyone else looked puzzled as well. Where were these people from the Great Song imperial court?

Yu Huatian sneered and looked directly at the four figures of differing bearings behind Zhang Wuji. "You haven't cooperated with the Great Song imperial court? Then tell me, who are they?"

Everyone's gaze shifted to the four behind Zhang Wuji, confusion written on their faces.

Then Yu Huatian's voice rang out again. "The Four Great Constables of the Six Doors, disciples of Zhuge Zhengwo, the Divine Marquis of Six and Five of the Great Song Dynasty!"

Everyone was startled, then erupted into an uproar:

"What? They're the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors?!"

"Emotionless, Iron Hand, Chasing Life, Cold Blood!"

"They say Emotionless is crippled, with both legs disabled. It must be them!"

"The Bright Moon Cult really has joined forces with the Great Song imperial court?!"

--

There are quite a few characters appearing here. I wonder if you find it tiring to read or difficult to remember them all? But this is an entire kingdom's treasure, after all, so having too few people show up wouldn't make sense. I'll try to take things slowly and avoid skipping plot developments so everyone can keep track of what happens.

Please send recommendation votes and invest in the book. The number of readers keeping up with new chapters has been a little low lately, so I hope you won't stockpile chapters. You can wait until the book goes premium to do that. Thank you!

(End of chapter)