Brewing tea in a mountain pavilion, discussing Sword Intent; storms stirred across the six alliances
A gentle breeze caressed my face.
The hot tea in the three jade cups floated and swayed, its delicate aroma slowly spreading out, but it was not carried away by the mountain breeze. Instead, it lingered among the three people, flowing within this small space and accumulating even more fragrance.
Liu Qinghe was cheerful, witty, and very talkative. He could quote classical texts and occasionally interject jokes, which amused Chen Shuangbai and Qu Heng.
Although Qu Heng didn't talk much, when he occasionally chimed in with a few words, they were often to the point, demonstrating his profound understanding of spiritual practice.
The three of them sat at the stone table in front of the fairy abode, sipping tea and chatting idly.
After chatting for a while, Liu Qinghe said seriously, " Junior Brother Chen, you should understand why we've come here."
Chen Shuangbai nodded.
Liu Qinghe's serious expression softened slightly as he continued, "My junior brother Qu Heng and I have come here today, firstly to take advantage of the blooming of the Treasure Kerchief Flower to observe the traces of Sword Intent left by our patriarch."
"Secondly, I would also like to ask you, fellow Daoist, for guidance on the Dao of Sword Intent."
"I don't think it's a problem. After all, I had a very pleasant conversation with you at the Sword Continuation Dharma Assembly and have some understanding of your character... It's just that Junior Brother Qu is a little uneasy, so he sent me to bring him along to pay his respects to you."
Chen Shuangbai looked at Qu Heng, the direct descendant of the Flower Washing Sword Sect, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "It was me earlier... oh well, never mind."
Upon seeing this, Liu Qinghe couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Chen Shuangbai understood a little, and simply smiled, finding it quite amusing.
The only reason people would think Chen Shuangbai is such a rare genius, being a Grand True Person in the Late Golden Core Stage stage at less than a hundred years old and having comprehended Sword Intent... Those who haven't met him would naturally think he's an exceptionally talented individual.
The three of them gradually shifted their conversation from cultivation to swordsmanship, and then from swordsmanship to the current situation in Qinghua.
The first to be affected is naturally the Holy Origin Alliance.
Liu Qinghe stood up and poured tea for the other two, then said with a slight sigh, "We were originally entangled with the demonic army of the Holy Origin Alliance, the battle was at a stalemate, and our spiritual resources and manpower were constantly being depleted, but we hadn't made any progress... It was only after you, Junior Brother, came in person that you annihilated the enemy."
"Look... they've given back a lot of the territory they originally swallowed, and they're even starting to have the idea of giving up White Deer Mountain."
Chen Shuangbai chuckled and said, "It's not entirely my achievement. If it weren't for the help of all my fellow disciples in the Vast Waves Alliance, no matter how skilled I am... I might not have achieved such a great victory today."
Qu Heng, however, held a different opinion, saying, "No, no, no, in a war between us cultivators, the level of cultivation is the most important factor determining the outcome of the battle."
"Now, as long as you're here, Junior Brother, almost none of the Golden Core on the other side dare to come out... This is a tremendous achievement in the war, all thanks to you alone. There's no need to be modest."
From the battle situation in the Qian Kingdom, the three also foresaw the current relationship between the Six Alliances.
It can be said that the friction between the Six Alliances has now fully erupted.
Aside from the friction between their respective Vast Waves Alliance and Holy Origin Alliance, the Heavenly Star Alliance and Orthodox Mystery Alliance are also locked in a fierce battle.
On the border between the Zheng Kingdom and Yong Kingdom, low-level cultivators were falling every moment, and the intensity of the war between the two sides even far exceeded that between the Vast Waves Alliance and the Holy Origin Alliance.
Who could blame them Arrayed Mystery Sect and the Heavenly Star Mystic Sect had both old grudges and now new ones?
But when asked which alliance had the upper hand... Chen Shuangbai received a rather unexpected answer.
Liu Qinghe said, "It's strange, really. The only Orthodox Mystery Alliance that can be considered Nascent Soul sect is the Arrayed Mystery Sect... Yet, this one sect managed to withstand the Heavenly Star Alliance, which consisted of the Heavenly Star Mystic Sect, Crimson Cloud Sect, and Mystic Tranquility Palace."
He paused here, then continued, "And it even seems that the Orthodox Mystery Alliance has the upper hand!"
Chen Shuangbai frowned slightly; this was unexpected.
Logically speaking, the number of Nascent Soul between the Heavenly Star Mystic Sect and the Arrayed Mystery Sect should be roughly the same, and their cultivation levels should also be similar, which is why they have been able to hold each other hostilely for so long.
But after the establishment of the Heavenly Star Alliance, with the entire Crimson Cloud Sect, a major alchemy sect, joining, they should theoretically be able to suppress the Arrayed Mystery Sect... So how did things turn out this way?
Liu Qinghe, however, spoke in a mysterious tone, lowering his voice slightly, "This is precisely what we find strange."
"Later, rumors began to circulate that the Arrayed Mystery Sect possessed a special Secret Method that allowed several Golden Core cultivators to gather together and unleash power comparable to that of Nascent Soul Early Stage."
"Therefore, the Heavenly Star Alliance suffered a loss."
Is this a special Secret Method that allows several Golden Core cultivators to unleash power comparable to the Nascent Soul Early Stage?
The world is truly vast and full of wonders!
Chen Shuangbai sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that the Liexuan Arrayed Mystery Sect, which had been able to monopolize the Zheng Kingdom for so long... truly had some skills!
Liu Qinghe recounted many secrets he had heard from elsewhere, which broadened Qu Heng and Chen Shuangbai's horizons considerably.
Then the focus shifted from the Heavenly Star Alliance and Arrayed Mystery Sect to the Sword Alliance and the Buddhist Alliance.
The Sword Alliance is alright.
After all, the Flower Washing Sword Sect is also a sword sect, and its foundation is comparable to that of the three major sword sects that make up the Sword Alliance.
Furthermore, the Flower Washing Sword Sect has a good personal relationship with the three major sword sects that make up the Sword Alliance. Disciples and members of each other also interact, and some news circulates between the Vast Waves Alliance and the Sword Alliance through this relationship.
However, it was the Buddhist Alliance.
Chen Shuangbai was quite interested in the True Person Jinglian who had represented Lotus Temple at the previous Sword Continuation Dharma Assembly.
This person is deeply versed in Buddhism and is also a rare peaceful individual, seemingly quite different from the others at Lotus Temple.
Moreover, his Wisdom Sword was quite novel to Chen Shuangbai, and it was also of great help to her swordsmanship.
Qu Heng, who knew a lot about this, volunteered to introduce it.
"The main force of the Buddhist Alliance is the Lotus Temple. Almost no other temple or monastery under its command can compare to its."
"His family is also having a lot of headaches right now. Those lunatics in the Compassionate Chan Way act without any restraint and are now causing trouble within the Yuan Kingdom, giving Lotus Temple a real headache."
"Oh, by the way, the Sword Alliance is also somewhat displeased with Lotus Temple's actions of fooling its believers, and has been targeting them for years."
Upon hearing this, Chen Shuangbai became somewhat interested and asked, "Is there perhaps some discord between the Sword Alliance and the Buddhist Alliance?"
Qu Heng nodded and said, "Exactly. The Sword Alliance has always advocated that sword cultivators should repay grievances with justice and prove their hearts with their swords, without relying on external things."
"Everyone in the neighborhood knows that this Lotus Temple is no longer the Lotus Temple it once was."
" The Lotus Temple today deceives believers and resorts to all sorts of tricks to collect donations and prayers, using the name of Buddhism to secretly commit Heavenly Devil deeds."
"After learning about it, I couldn't stand it either, let alone those Sword Lord of the Sword Alliance."
"In particular, Sword Immortal Zhu Ling immortal of Ten Thousand Rains Sword School, once publicly stated that 'monks are ruining the country,' which greatly displeased the Lotus Temple."
"Although there has been no direct conflict between the two sides, there has already been considerable friction between them behind the scenes."