The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chapter 1665: Chapter 844: Winds Rise in the South Sea (Part 2)

"If the court truly moves with the force of thunder this time, sweeping through like a plowing storm, not only can we cripple Jianmu’s operations, but perhaps we can also trace the clues back to uncover more hidden vines. We’ve been searching across Nanling for these thirty-six ’Pillars of Passage’, and the source is the chaotic influence stirred by Japan."

He paused, looking towards the direction of Guangzhou, his voice turned grave: "The calamity in Guangzhou, the Crown Prince is unharmed, yet the soldiers and civilians in the city suffered heavy casualties, seven steam engines fell into the hands of thieves, this hatred cannot go unavenged."

"If the court sends troops to Japan, we will clear the earth vein’s hidden dangers here, to coordinate with those efforts from afar, thus clearing sinister atmospheres in the rear to stabilize the foundation. The affairs of Lingnan also cannot wait."

Everyone heard this and nodded silently.

Wang Daoxuan put away the secret report, carefully placing it inside his robe: "Since this is the case, we absolutely must not slack off, swiftly nailing down and removing these thirty-six ’Acupoints’ in Nanling!"

The task was set, and the brief discussion beside the bonfire swiftly concluded.

The forest returned to silence, with only the crackling of burning wood and the call of distant night owls intertwining.

Everyone seized the chance to rest, conserving their energy.

In the days that followed, this elite squad comprised of Mystical Sect elites, Feng Shui masters, military scouts, and the Twelve Yuan Chen Squad, penetrated deep into the rugged, barbaric regions of Nanling like a comb.

Without the noise of the outside world, the search and destruction proceeded in an orderly manner.

Panlong Ridge.

Feng Shui Master Lai Kong, holding an ancient compass, stood atop a cliff shaped like a dragon’s head, concentrating to sense the flow of earth energy.

During the finger calculations, he keenly detected an abnormal point where earth energy was stagnant and evil qi surged subtly.

"The energy is stagnant here, like a dragon trapped in shallow waters, there must be something amiss!" He warned gravely.

Mr. Shen from the Dragon Erosion Team immediately commanded his subordinates to deploy the specially-made "Diameter Plate", the dark metal pointer vibrated intensely among the complex runes, ultimately locking onto a natural stone cave completely concealed by vines beneath the cliff.

Unlayers of camouflage were peeled away, revealing the decayed base of a sacrificial altar and distorted runes inside the cave.

The group united, using vermillion mixed with rooster blood to draw an Exorcism Talisman, and Zhang Xuanling recited the Thunder Department’s True Method, channeling Heavenly Gang Qi into the ground, completely defiling the node array foundation, as the clogged earth energy slowly dissipated...

Black Water Pond is a bottomless cold pond, shrouded in perpetual black mist, and poison miasma pervades, ordinary birds and beasts dare not approach.

Strewn around the pond are animal skeletons drained of flesh and blood, exuding a sinister aura.

Long Yan’er commanded several poison-tolerant golden-threaded toads to leap into the pond for investigation, but shortly after entering, the toads became restless, one even flipped its belly white.

"There are living creatures lurking below, their aura is insidiously toxic."

Upon her warning, Daoist Qingwei pinched a spell and conjured several radiant "Evil-breaking Talismans", the talismans plunged into the water like hot irons, stirring up large patches of pungent white smoke.

The pond water surged violently, a hideous monster resembling a giant python, covered in malignant tumors, roared and charged out!

Sha Lifei quickly responded, pulling the trigger.

Bang!

Flames burst forth, lead bullets shot towards its weak spot.

Two disciples of the Qinggang Skill Magic Veins approached from left and right, their steel blades and thick back knives whipped up gusts of wind, aiming directly at its vital points.

After a fierce struggle, the monster was finally slain by Zhou Qingyuan’s Thunder Fire Skill.

In the mud at the pond’s bottom, they found an Evil Attraction Stone Stake inscribed with evil symbols, which was broken with collective effort...

Ghost Cry Forest is an ancient forest pervaded year-round by eerie sobbing sounds.

Tall ancient trees, their branches and leaves cover the sky.

Legend says ghostly apparitions surface after nightfall, beguiling people’s minds.

Situ Hua, skilled in Illusion Techniques, first detected a faint but persistent spiritual interference throughout the forest.

"It’s the Confusing Heart Miasma, mixed with traces of Southern Ocean Sorcery!" He alerted.

Wang Daoxuan immediately lit the specially-made "Calming Incense".

Wisps of green smoke dispersed, driving away the invisible pressure.

Lv San’s Bone Flute sounded rapid and sharp, dispelling the lurking poison insects. The team cautiously advanced and finally discovered a miniature altar made of human bones inside a gigantic, hollow ancient locust tree.

The long ancient years had petrified it, merging it with the tree.

Zhang Xuanling the True Man used talismanic fire to burn it, turning the remains into flying ash.

The eerie sobbing in the forest also disappeared along with it.

One after another, the ancient altars deep in the mountain, secret arrays, or natural evil acupoints exploited by Jianmu were either sealed by talismans or destroyed by Magic Artifacts under the collective investigation and thunderous methods of the group.

Each successful removal meant one of the thirty-six Pillars of Passage connecting the "Divine Country" that Jianmu attempted to introduce was forcibly broken.

Li Yan had inquired, these secret acupoints were all part of the ancient plan to cut off connections to Heaven and were no longer a concern after Heavenly Court formed, and the Daluo Law Realm set up other arrangements.

It should be known, these severing acupoints spread across the entire Divine State, and the nodes in Lingnan are just one part of them. Over the long epochs, countless earthquakes had destroyed many, and some might have already been discovered.

What Jianmu Organization aimed to do was reconnect the Daluo Law Realm through complete nodes; destroying most is enough to thwart their scheme.

After spending consecutive days in the mountains with additional summer heat and mosquito disturbances, everyone was covered in sweat and fatigue, with occasional conflicts with some Evil Spirits or Magic Veins.

However, the hidden dangers were gradually removed.

Half a month later, the task was finally completed.

Though arduous and tiring, the rewards were substantial; besides eliminating node hazards, Qiankun Academy rewarded plenty of merit, along with the goodwill from the court and Crown Prince Mansion, making the Twelve Primordial Spirits team quite wealthy.

They could even completely rebuild higher-level Magic Artifacts without any worry.

......

The ruins of Guangzhou City still carry the marks of smoke and flames.

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan, dusty from their return from Nanling.

Upon entering the city, an atmosphere different from the usual noise greeted them.

The street suddenly crowded with sword-wielding figures, varied attire of Daoist robes and casual uniforms mixed amongst ordinary folks, the tension in the air thick and taut like a drawn bowstring.

"Oh? Why are there so many people from the pugilistic world?"

Sha Lifei looked around, scanning the men with bulging waists and steady footsteps, along with the figures wearing Nine Ridge Hats or carrying Magic Swords.

They spoke in accents from Jiangnan, Min Province, Lingnan, and other places, gathered in small groups, whispered in conversation, eyes sharp and clearly not here for fun.

Lingnan Pai Sect’s bamboo hats, Jiangnan Navy’s unique wrist bindings, Fujian Martial Arts Hall’s tight short outfits... even among them were some Mystic Sect members wearing vestment robes and holding Compass Magical Artifacts.

Disciples from local Magic Veins, such as the Red Lotus Technique and Huaguang Skill from Nanling, also mixed among them. The essence of the Southern Martial World and Mysterious Sect Realm seemed to have gathered overnight in this city just hit by disaster.

Coming forward were several officials in Xuan Sacrificial Officer robes, surrounding a middle-aged Cultivator with a calm aura wearing a Taiyi Sect’s Cloud Pattern Daoist Robe.

Upon seeing Li Yan and the others, the Cultivator stepped forward, greeted them respectfully: "Are you the Daoist Li Yan, Daoist Wang Daoxuan, and others returning from Nanling? I am from Taiyi Sect, ordered by Xuan Sacrificial Officer and Heavenly Master Zhang Jingxuan to coordinate with fellow Daoists from the south."

He stepped aside for a team of Jiangnan Navy brave soldiers carrying escort supplies, explaining, "You must have noticed. The calamity in Guangzhou, Damen incited chaos, Southern Ocean Evil Cultivators, red-haired devils, and pirates colluded, pillaged National Treasures, slaughtered civilians, and dared to attack the Crown Prince’s Mansion, a grievous disgrace to the Divine State! Lingnan Navy suffered greatly in this incident. Now the court is furious and determined to punish the primary perpetrators."

He paused, scanning the robust or calm pugilistic world faces around, speaking softly yet clearly: "Mystical Sect Leader Heavenly Master Zhang, along with two Grandmasters, angered by the Southern Border’s misfortunes, have issued hero posts, calling for Jiangnan Martial World Daoists and Mystic Sect Disciples to go all out."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and chimed in: "Oh? Gathered here, are we directly attacking the Dragon?"

Taiyi Sect Cultivator slightly shook his head, his eyes glinting: "No. The court’s grand plan is a thunderous strike, completely rooting out Japan’s source of disaster."

"Nevertheless, a thousand-mile expedition must not allow the rear to catch fire. Those red-haired barbarian bases entrenched on our southeastern coast, Southern Ocean Evil Path lairs, pirate nests, are the obstacles that must be cleared first!"

Pointing towards the port where masts could be vaguely seen, he continued, "Jiangnan Navy warships are now ready. We pugilistic world Daoists and Mystic Sect members will assist the Navy in sweeping coastal waters, eradicating these tumor nodes."

"First, to avenge Guangzhou’s humiliation, second... to clear the path and eliminate worries for the imminent eastern expedition of the court!"