Chapter 1639: Chapter 954: Witch God Temple (2)
The fact proved he might have overthought. He also believed that Professor Cui wouldn’t harm him, but after experiencing so much, he chose to be prudent. After all, this thing is the Hundred Demons Coffin Clothes, his biggest secret.
He wasn’t afraid of being recognized as an Evil Cultivator, but if people knew the Hundred Demons Coffin Clothes were on him, he’d be in big trouble. Overnight, even the Provincial Office might be leveled by expert invaders.
"What else?" Professor Cui inquired.
"There’s... there’s also the Yi Sect," Yang Xiao answered, his face unchanged.
"Yes, very good. They also count as one. This sect has long been the domestic force resisting the Japan Ghost Sect, with many experts within, making it a formidable power that cannot be ignored."
"Originally, the Yi Sect didn’t have much contact with our Jiangbei Province Office, but the last time they sought you through us, a connection was established, and that’s another of your good deeds."
"I heard you have a good relationship with their young priest?" Professor Cui asked curiously.
"It’s fine, just buddies," Yang Xiao reluctantly recalled the moment when he stepped out from behind the tree, wishing he could dig a hole and hide.
At that moment, he saw an indescribable, complex emotion on Jiang Qingluan’s face.
Not wanting to discuss this topic any further, Yang Xiao deliberately changed the subject, "Right, there’s also Upper Three Bookshops, Yiling Academy, Ru Lin Academy, and Lingxi Academy."
These three are also major forces. Yang Xiao once went to Ru Lin Academy for a covert competition. The Ru Lin Yang Family’s influence in Yun Qi City is deeply rooted, and the strength of the Old Clan Leader Yang Qianhe is quite terrifying.
This person was the first Netherworld Envoy Yang Xiao had ever seen, killing Peak of Ghost Level experts like slaughtering pigs, leaving a deep impression on Yang Xiao’s young heart at the time.
This person also easily invaded Yang Xiao’s Mirror World.
"Although Upper Three Bookshops is not weak, their main focus is on education, and their reputation in the world of martial arts exceeds their actual strength. When it comes to true foundation and power, they are far inferior to those top-tier forces."
"Among the domestic three major forces, our Patrol Defense Office is the most well-organized, reputed for its strong combat power and high execution rate."
"The United Federation’s advantage lies in its multitude of members. After all, they are not a single force or sect but composed of hundreds or thousands of sect forces united into a large power. In terms of envoy numbers, they surpass Patrol Defense Office and Chamber of Commerce combined."
"Chamber of Commerce’s influence is quite complex. On the surface, they don’t have many members, but secretly they flirt with various Evil Cultivators and external forces, conducting many shady deals, accumulating vast wealth in the process."
"They have secretly cultivated many assassins, whose combat power is terrifying. These individuals are mostly outlaws, many have been wanted as Great Heretic Cultivators for years. Chamber of Commerce provides shelter for them, and in return, they serve Chamber of Commerce," Professor Cui detailed.
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao thought of Second Demon Uncle, who lived under Chamber of Commerce’s roof and was guarding the Peace Hotel in Xiang Ma Town, seemingly prestigious but plainly just a gatekeeper.
It seemed that Chamber of Commerce had many people like Second Demon Uncle.
If all these individuals were organized, they would undoubtedly be a formidable force.
"Apart from affiliating with our Patrol Defense Office and Chamber of Commerce, most sect forces in the country have joined the United Federation, banding together for warmth."
"And some truly powerful sect forces disdain to do so, navigating between the three major forces to secure maximum benefits for themselves. Upper Three Bookshops is an example."
"But there are many such powerful forces. People in the world of martial arts have ranked them, selecting the ten with the strongest foundation and power: Buddhist Temple, Taoist Sect, Dongtian Mansion, Qimen, Mo Family, Qingming Sect, Yi Sect, Witch God Temple, Bone Painting Tower, Wuya Academy."
Upon hearing these names, Yang Xiao immediately recalled the book found in the Mirror Secret Room, Startled Ghost Mask, with a handwritten note from a young sect master on the last page, recording some experts.
Qingming Sect Ming Feng, Buddhist Temple White Bone Temple Kongtan Wu Chan, Taoist Sect Mad Taoist Lu Panqi, Yi Sect Shao Changyin Ji, Mo Family He Dian Cang, Qimen Lu Cangji... He didn’t expect that young sect master to have such ambitions, targeting the true giants of the martial arts world.
Yang Xiao knew that in front of these true giants, Yu Yuan Sect was nothing. After all, that young sect master couldn’t handle Ru Lin Academy’s Yang Qianhe and was imprisoned for ten years after being captured.
"Any one of these ten, within their territory, possesses extremely strong dominance. Even the three major forces must give them face in their core region, unless absolute interests are at stake, they would avoid conflict," Professor Cui explained meticulously. "After all, even if not friends, don’t make enemies, or else you’ll push them towards the other two major forces, making the loss outweigh the gain."
In conclusion, the three major forces have the ability to deal with them, but there’s no need, and these ten are not so easy to deal with - pulling one hair moves the entire body.
"Little Yang, you’re lucky. Today alone you’ve seen members of five of the Ten Great Sects," Professor Cui said with a hint of deeper meaning.
Yang Xiao calculated briefly and realized something was off. Ku Daoist is from Taoist Sect, One-Eyed Monk is from Buddhist Temple, Trickster is from Qimen, the night watchman is from Mo Family, totaling only four people, four sects. Where did the five come from?
"Uncle, is someone among them hiding their identity?" Yang Xiao seemed to suddenly realize something, "No, it’s the Desire Demon! Is he also from one of the Ten Great Sects?"
To be honest, Yang Xiao couldn’t guess which sect Desire Demon came from, it was just too disgusting, truly a shame for a sect.
Unexpectedly, Professor Cui shook his head, "No, not him, nor those guys."
"Then who?" Yang Xiao pursued his curiosity, having seen very few people today in a significant sense, aside from those Evil Cultivators, it’s just the cadres from the Provincial Office.
"Witch God Temple, Wu Qingcang..." Yang Xiao joked, "Surely... surely not Captain Witch, right?"
"Eh, you’ve guessed right, it’s Wu Qingcang," Professor Cui nodded.
"Captain Witch is from Witch God Temple?!" Yang Xiao was surprised, "Is he also an undercover agent?"
Professor Cui paused, "What do you mean ’also an undercover agent’?"
"Ah no, I misspoke, I mean Captain Witch... how could he be from Witch God Temple, is his captaincy part-time? Is he drawing two salaries?" Yang Xiao was flustered.
"It’s somewhat complex, I’m not very clear on it either. Overall, Wu Qingcang is indeed from Witch God Temple but has no further connection with them."
"This branch from Witch God Temple doesn’t have many people, but they have indeed produced some fierce characters. The establishment battle they fought back then earned them the Twelve Witch Gods’ fame, many accomplished experts perished at their hands."
"This branch values bloodline tremendously, Wu Qingcang’s lineage seems to be a side branch, and something happened in between, leading to his departure."
"Some say he left voluntarily, others say he was expelled. The specifics are unclear, and no one dares to ask."
"Overall, he joined the Patrol Defense Office only after leaving, rising to his current position solely by his own efforts, without relying on connections or background, intimidating others with his Overlord Spear reputation," when mentioning Wu Qingcang, Professor Cui showed considerable admiration, considering this person a legend within Jiangbei Province Office.
Seemingly reminded of something, Professor Cui chuckled, turning back to Yang Xiao, proudly saying, "Wu Qingcang is Jiangbei Province Office’s legend of the past twenty years; as for you, Little Yang, you are today’s legend of Jiangbei Province Office. Your experiences are no less than his. I believe that in the future, you will climb higher, go further."
