Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Chapter 685: Chapter 360: Jade Girl’s Methods, Another General Envoy Slain, Dawning by My Side, Destruction in a Snap!

Li Xian furrowed his brows, glancing around, sensing the oppressive and terrifying silence. He realized that the elders’ courage had broken, and it would be hard for them to regroup. He couldn’t help but praise: "What a strategy, what a strategy... First, she sent a letter claiming to ’exterminate the Flower Thieves within ten days.’ She wasn’t necessarily sure she could eliminate them in ten days but was spreading pressure to provoke the Flower Thieves into conflict. Then she remained inactive for the first four days, causing the Flower Cage Sect to shift from extreme fear to extreme arrogance, following the principle of ’momentum builds, then declines, then exhausts.’ When the Flower Cage Sect’s momentum soared like a roaring fire, she became silent and inactive. As the fire burnt out and the sparks scattered, she launched a head-on assault, scattering their courage and passion entirely!"

"This woman is not merely famous; her strategic methods cannot be underestimated. The elders are already caught in her scheme, unable to extricate themselves, falling into passivity. I seek only self-preservation; why remind them? Even if I do, they won’t take it in anymore."

The elders saw more than a dozen corpses lying tragically and miserably, each thinking: "Among these many dead elders, there were those with greater skill, strategy, and wealth than me, yet they also couldn’t escape this fate. Can we... truly manage? Today’s corpses are tomorrow’s us; we’re in danger! Agony! Miserable!"

Continuously covering their faces with long sighs, filled with terror and unease, especially seeing "Jin Shichang" executed. The former protection had become a cage; trapped on the island, there was no way out, all retreats blocked, further feeling there was no hope, full of anxiety.

Zhou Zhengde said, "Let’s... let’s... first help the elders with their burial." The disciples carried the corpses and chose an open place to bury them. In a daze, the elders returned to the main hall of Wang Shouxin’s residence.

A long while later, Ye Cheng said tremblingly, "A blunder, such a blunder, we underestimated her!" Zhou Zhengde said, "Who could have expected that woman to have such skill, to kill over a dozen of our elders, and even... even the envoy Jin fell under her sword!"

Zhang Kaixuan, Meng Han, Liu Renyi, and others asked, "Brother Zhou, you are the leader. In this predicament, quickly come up with a solution!"

Zhou Zhengde lamented in his heart, "What solution do I have? I can hardly even leave the island now, only knowing the enemy’s name." He said, "Everyone, don’t panic. Although we can’t leave, it’s equally difficult for them to get in."

Qiao Zhengqi said, "Isn’t it impossible for them to enter? The corpses were sent back, probably before Jin Shichang died, he was severely tortured and gave up the method of entering and leaving the island! Our Water Altar has become a big urn, and we are the turtles inside. I’m afraid it’s... it’s no longer..." His chest clenched with pain.

Wang Shouxin trembled all over and faltered, "It seems... it seems... the ancient rumors are indeed true. Once the cauldron is destroyed, the energy disperses. This phrase passed down for thousands of years is coming true on us."

An elder trembled and said, "If we surrender voluntarily, could we save a life?"

Yesterday, they rode high, disdainful towards heroes in the world, today their courage fractured. Li Xian thought privately: "The Flower Cage Sect has always bullied the weak being strong, many against few -- it’s habitual, so they flee when facing strength and avoid difficulties. Though sometimes displaying rash courage, it never lasts long."

He took out a letter, recalling the teachings of Wen Caishang on discerning things, observing people, assessing words, and methods. In dealing with people and things, one mustn’t just observe their words but also their deeds. If unable to meet in person, first judge by letters. Understand their temperament, then strain, subdue, and strategize responding... He pondered: "This writing has a sharp penmanship; the person must be extremely arrogant. If the Flower Cage Sect is truly overrun, Sister Liuli might speak for me, turning enemies into friends, shifting allegiances..."

"They might not believe it. Also, my name, Li Xian, is sullied, accused of capturing the women of the Sword Sect -- it’s firmly placed upon my head. Relying solely on Sister Liuli’s words may not clarify it. If I completely rely on this, it’s equivalent to letting others decide my fate. If sentenced to death, changing it would be nearly impossible. Instead, better to seek my own survival path. If it must be this way, then I need to know the adversary well."

Having made up his mind, Li Xian said, "The elders have profound knowledge. The bodies of the deceased elders show various wounds; perhaps we should examine them to assess the opponent’s skills?"

Zhou Zhengde’s eyes brightened, saying, "Great idea, great idea, I should have thought of it earlier. Quickly, quickly, retrieve the elders." This idea wasn’t difficult to conceive, but he lost his composure, burying the elders hastily in the ground.

Soon, twelve corpses were arranged in the hall. The elders formed a circle to observe, first uncovering the clothing of a "Elder Gao." His full name was "Gao Nantian," aged seventy-nine, a deeply senior elder of the Flower Cage Sect.

The chest bore an inscription: Gift from Nangong Xuanming. A wound slashed across the left arm, a cut on the right leg, and a wound on the heart.

Though the martial arts of the elders were shallow, they had traveled widely and seen numerous martial abilities. Instantly, an elder remarked, "It’s the Three Shadows Returning Sword! I’ve seen this sword technique once by chance; when deployed, the shadow splits into three, precision swordsmanship, attacking both sides, then the center gate. Elder Gao... Elder Gao was killed in one move, far from being an opponent!"

Everyone’s hearts sank suddenly, Zhang Kaixuan asked, "Are you sure you didn’t mistake? Our Flower Cage Sect may not be the best, but it’s not to the point of being defeated in a single move, right?" Ye Cheng sighed, "Though hard to accept, it’s indeed so. These prominent families’ prodigies far surpass us in strength. Even if in the same realm, though we might have an edge, we’re still not their opponents."

This reasoning is not difficult to understand, like a ’common clay statue,’ not having stepped into martial arts. How could a three-year-old child fend off an eight-foot-tall man? How could an ordinary farmer contend with a battlefield soldier? How could a wealthy young lady oppose a grandmaster in a martial arts hall? These diverse figures, all with the same level of martial arts cultivation, differ greatly for their skills and capabilities.

The realm is like a platform; the capabilities one can display rely on individual skills and talents. The Flower Cage Sect’s rules are loose, and martial arts often gathered from various sources. Although there’s no lack of lower, middle martial arts, solitary pondering lacks achievement, learning speed is slow, and they fail to grasp the essence of martial arts. When encountering a master’s attack, they are caught off guard, with their martial abilities barely displaying one-tenth of their power. Knowing they cannot win, they are less inclined to fight.