Chapter 154
The best option we have right now is to gain enough power to defend even against one of the Nine Great Demon Kings attacks, but that is practically impossible. We have to come up with a way to preserve our forces in case of an emergency, Flying Lance Sect Patriarch Jo Jin-Myeong suggested.
You want to create an escape plan? Jiuhua Sect Patriarch Lee Geom-Hwan said with a dissatisfied expression.
Running away is not always shameful, Jin-Myeong answered calmly. Rather than fighting recklessly even though we have no chance of winning, it would be wiser to escape first and preserve our forces for future battles.
I already have an escape plan in mind, so dont worry, Baek Cheon-Sang said.
In the worst-case scenario, Cheon-Sang thought of evacuating the Loyal Heart Alliances forces to the Sea Dragon Archipelago. Not even the Nine Celestial Demons Sect would be able to do anything against its Fantasy Fog Array.
Can you share your plan with us? Tae Gong-Pyo asked, wanting a more definite answer.
I unfortunately cannot. Truthfully speaking, the plan involves a closely guarded secret of our sect. However, with the evacuation measures we have prepared, I guarantee that we will be able to evade the Nine Celestial Demons Sects threat if the situation calls for it. Of course, it would be best not to be in a situation that requires it at all.
Although they did not get a specific answer, Cheon-Sangs guarantee convinced the councils delegates for now. They knew fully well that Cheon-Sang was not the type to lie about a plan that did not exist.
Although it is necessary to come up with evacuation measures in the worst-case scenario, I find it far more important to devise a sure-fire way to win against the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Yong Gun-Seong said, implying that having an evacuation plan was not enough.
Do you have any particular idea? Cheon-Sang asked him.
Unfortunately, I dont, Gun-Seong replied with an embarrassed look, flustered by the fact that he urged the others to come up with another countermeasure even though he did not have any idea himself.
What about the rest? Does anyone have any ideas? Cheon-Sang turned to the other delegates.
To prevent the immediate threat of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, we need masters that are in the Absolute Realm or above. For now, there is no other way to solve that other than to recruit outsiders, Flying Lance Sect Patriarch Jo Jin-Myeong said.
Do you think that is as easy to do as it sounds? Gun-Seong replied, seemingly convinced that it was impossible to do.
Not at all. What I truly mean is that it is difficult to immediately come up with a countermeasure, Jin-Myeong responded.
Nevertheless, we cant just sit on our hands and wait for something to happen, can we? Gun-Seong replied.
For now, the best option we have is to focus on our martial arts training and try to raise our martial prowess, Jin-Myeong suggested.
Patriarch Jo is right. We still are not strong enough, so what point would there be in recruiting Absolute-Realm masters? Putting the Nine Celestial Demons Sects threat aside, our role is crucial in ensuring the Royal Heart Alliance becomes a full-fledged force. We have to be powerful enough to support that cause, Jeong Won-Hyo spoke in support of Jo Jin-Myeong.
This is suddenly becoming a time for self-reflection, Iron Palm Sect Patriarch Dam Hwa-Seong said with a bitter smile.
That just means we are not skilled enough. Bluntly speaking, if we were all at the Absolute Realm, we would not have to worry about the Nine Celestial Demons Sects threat as much, Won-Hyo said.
Everyone wants to advance into the Absolute Realm, but its not something we can achieve just because we want to. Many martial artists in murim strive to advance into the Absolute Realm all their lives. However, only less than ten thousand martial artists have managed to reach it. It is not something that can be achieved just by working hard, Clear Sun Sect Patriarch Shim Seok-Gun said with choked-up emotions.
Everyone present, including Seok-Gun himself, put a great amount of effort into trying to advance into the Absolute Realm. However, when that did not work, they were left wondering what else they could do. Nonetheless, Jin-Myeong and Won-Hyo did not suggest a specific method. Rather, they only said that they should put in more effort, which made Seok-Gun emotional for some reason.
I am not trying to belittle your efforts. I also know that no matter how hard we try, advancing to the Absolute Realm will still be difficult. To reach it, one must have talent and possess strong enough martial arts. A certain amount of luck and effort was also required just to barely knock on the door of the Absolute Realm. All this while, our martial arts were never good enough and we never had the luck to reach it, Won-Hyo said. However, things are different now. We now have excellent martial arts thanks to the Baek Sword Sect, and we are also fortunate enough to be able to consume spiritual pills. Although we cannot say that our martial talents are exceptional, that does not mean our talents are lacking. We also meet all the other conditions. All that is left for us to do is put in the effort. I believe that if we put in a great deal of effort, there is a good chance for us to advance into the Absolute Realm.
The Loyal Heart Alliance also has a lot of Absolute-Realm masters, including the Alliance Leader, Jin-Myeong added. I believe they will spare no effort in teaching us for the sake of our development. If we do our best, it is definitely possible to reach the Absolute Realm.
I agree with the two Patriarchs. Our sects martial arts masters and I will fully support you all in this endeavor. Your advancement into the Absolute Realm will solidify the Loyal Heart Alliance as a strong force. Once that happens, no one will be able to recklessly touch the Loyal Heart Alliance, not even the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Cheon-Sang reassured them.
As the Alliance Leader said, we should do our best to reach the Absolute Realm for our own sake as well as for the Loyal Heart Alliance.
I believe that everyone here will be able to reach the Absolute Realm without much difficulty. I will also do my best to come up with a way to protect the Loyal Heart Alliance at the earliest. If any delegates here have come up with a good method, please let me know immediately, Cheon-Sang made a final remark.
Understood.
Lets call it a day for now. This meeting is now adjourned.
Realizing that further discussions would not result in any brilliant ideas, Cheon-Sang ended the council meeting.
*
Four elderly men had gathered in the annex of the Henan Inn, which was the finest inn in Xuchang, Henan Province. They were all members of the Seven Saints, renowned as living legends of murim.
The well-groomed Peng Mu-Hwei, the Hebei Peng Familys sovereign elder, sat at the entrance of the annex. The Great Namgung Familys sharp-eyed sovereign elder Namgung Byeok sat to Mu-Hwes left. The Great Zhuge Familys sovereign elder Zhuge Wen, who looked like a scholar, also accompanied them. Lastly, sitting opposite Mu-Hwe was a bald man known as the Great Huangfu Familys sovereign elder Huangfu Chong.
They gathered in Xuchang, Henan Province, where their connections did not extend, to discuss matters regarding the Thunder Gods successor. The other members of the Seven Saints could not join them because they were geographically situated quite far away. Hence, only four of them gathered given the urgency.
I cant believe the Thunder Gods martial legacy carried on even though the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword died in the final battle against the Hell-Blood Demon Sect, Mu-Hwe said in disbelief.
It is certainly shocking. I did not expect the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword to make a separate hidden base and leave his martial arts behind, Huangfu Chong also said in surprise.
It is no surprise. Even the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword was not confident in the fight against the Hell-Blood Demon, so it is only natural that he prepared for the worst-case scenario. Unlike the others, Zhuge Wen seemed to have expected this much.
Putting aside the fact that the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword left behind the Thunder Gods martial legacy, isnt it amazing how Baek Mu-Guns progress has been? It has been less than a year since that child recovered from qi deviation, but he is already close to achieving the Supreme Realm, Namgung Byeok said, surprised more by Mu-Guns advancement in martial arts.
Isnt it a pleasant occasion for you since he became your grandson-in-law? Huangfu Chong commented.
Why would it be a pleasant occasion? Even if he is my grandson-in-law, he is still only an outsider in the end. Do you not know that the hierarchy of parents or children is useless in the face of power? Even more so in our case since he is just my grandson-in-law. Namgung Byeok smiled bitterly.
To use the Baek Sword Sect, which had become in-laws with them, the Great Namgung Family would have to be able to control them with utmost superiority. However, the Baek Sword Sect had already grown beyond a level that the Great Namgung Family could control. Even if Mu-Gun was Namgung Byeoks grandson-in-law, he was useless to Namgung Byeok if he could not manipulate Mu-Gun as he wished. Taking that into consideration, Mu-Gun was basically no different from a stranger.
I suppose we can freely discuss the matters regarding the Thunder Gods successor without having to be wary of you, then, Mu-Hwe said, making Namgung Byeok look baffled.
Do as you have always done. Since when did you walk on eggshells around me?
Still, I was worried it would affect you since he is your grandson-in-law.
Whats the big deal about having a grandson-in-law? There is nothing more important to me than the Great Namgung Family. For its sake, I would be willing to mercilessly cut anyone offeven those more precious than him.
I heard that when you get older, your heart becomes more merciful. However, the way youre behaving right now makes me think that it is all just nonsense.
It has been a long time since I desired to spill blood with my sword.
Thats brutal.
Lets stop talking nonsense and discuss how we should deal with the Thunder Gods successor. Zhuge Wen pulled Namgung Byeok and Mu-Hwe back into the topic of their discussion while chatting around.
Wouldnt it be difficult to do something about the Thunder Gods successor right now? Although hes a problem, we cannot just ignore the forces of the Baek Sword Sect and the Loyal Heart Alliance. Furthermore, we will need him for the battle against the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. For now, I think we should just wait and see until the fight against the Nine Celestial Demons Sect is over. Huangfu Chong was the first to give his opinion.
What if he grows too strong for us to touch? At the rate hes improving, it will only be a matter of time before the Baek Sword Sects power grows beyond control. He is the Thunder Gods successor, after all. Sooner or later, we may not be able to do anything to him anymore even with the Seven Great Families powers combined, Mu-Hwe rebutted.
It would be better to keep the Thunder Gods successor around due to the threat of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Namgung Byeok said, then looked at Zhuge Wen. The best scenario would be to have the Thunder Gods successor and the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Nine Great Demon Kings fight each other and for both of them to fall into a situation where they would both suffer heavy losses, but that is most probably unlikely, right?
Considering the identity of the Thunder Gods successor was revealed in the Heretical Emperor Hall incident, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will also devise a strategy to eliminate the Thunder Gods successor. The best we can do right now is to let the Nine Great Demon Kings personally deal with the Thunder Gods successor. However, considering the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has yet to fully resurface, we should assume that the Nine Great Demon Kings are not completely prepared to attack the Thunder Gods successor any time soon, Zhuge Wen answered Namgung Byeoks question.
Even if the Nine Great Demon Kings martial arts have yet to be complete, I doubt the Thunder Gods successor can do anything about it if the Nine Celestial Demons Sect mobilizes a large number of Demonic Monarchs. Mu-Hwe raised a different view.
What if they suffer losses that are difficult to recover from? The Loyal Heart Alliance is not the only enemy of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. They are facing the entire murim, including the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families. If they overdo things just to kill the Thunder Gods successor and suffer huge losses as a result, their great cause will once again fail, Zhuge Wen immediately rebutted.
In other words, unless they are certain of victory, the Nine Great Demon Kings and their Demonic Monarchs will not make a move.
Arent we in the same situation? Even if the Nine Celestial Demons Sect was not a threat, it would be difficult to try and get rid of the Thunder Gods successor. Even if we, the Seven Saints, work together, were not confident of being able to defeat the Thunder Gods successor.
It was difficult for the other three to deny Zhuge Wens remarks. They knew better than anyone else how scary the Thunder Gods successor was. Upon the activation of the Thunder God's Descent, Mu-Gun would basically be an unkillable force to reckon with. Even if all the Seven Saints joined forces, it would be difficult to guarantee victory. Of course, it was highly likely for Mu-Gun to be weaker than the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword, the previous Thunder Gods successor, but the Thunder Gods Descent allowed its user to transcend beyond their current martial prowess.
Having personally witnessed the Thunder Gods Descent in the fight against the Hell-Blood Demon, the Seven Saints were not confident of going head-to-head with the Thunder Gods successor. It would be no different for the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Nine Great Demon Kings. Although they probably did not directly experience the strength of the Thunder Gods successor as the Seven Saints did, they would know his fearsome power better than anyone else due to the history of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. They would have confirmed those past encounters to be true through the godly power Mu-Gun showed in the fight against the Heretical Emperor Hall.
For that reason, the Nine Great Demon Kings would likely not execute any plans unless they were certain of winning against the Thunder Gods successor. Considering their martial arts were still not complete either, they would definitely not move.
So you want to just watch because youre scared of the Thunder Gods successor? Mu-Hwe asked with a discontented expression, which was to be expected of a Hebei Peng Family member. They normally displayed strong belligerent tendencies, after all.
There is no need to hurry. We should prioritize stopping the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. It will not be too late to deal with the Thunder Gods successor after that. The forces of the Baek Sword Sect or the Loyal Heart Alliance would crumble like a sand castle once the Thunder Gods successor disappears anyway, Zhuge Wen said, finding no reason to rush.
How do you plan to deal with the Thunder Gods successor? Huangfu Chong asked.
So frustrating. We have already killed the Thunder Gods successor once. What is there to stop us from doing it twice?
Do you want to use the same method we did back then? Namgung Byeok immediately understood what Zhuge Wen meant.
Zhuge Wen nodded. The most opportune moment to kill the Thunder Gods successor is right after he uses the Thunder Gods power. We should take full advantage of that.
If so, then we should maintain a friendly relationship with the Thunder Gods successor until then. Just like in the past. Namgung Byeok said as his lips curved into a smirk.
That goes without saying.
Shouldnt we externally support the Loyal Heart Alliance, then?
It would be best to leave that to the Patriarchs. We should just observe the situation for now.
So be it.
If this is what you have decided to do, then why didnt you just let me know about this through a letter? I would not have had to bother walking all the way here for no reason, Mu-Hwe grumbled.
It isnt that bad to see each other after so long, is it? Moreover, meeting and talking in person like this is better when it comes to gathering our opinions and avoiding misunderstandings. Zhuge Wen shrugged.
Fine. We dont know how many more times we can meet in the future anyway. It is nice to see you all again, Huangfu Chong replied.
Forgive my slip of the tongue. Lets finish this meeting and go for some drinks. All this talking has made me quite thirsty, Mu-Hwe suggested.
I agree. It has been a long time since we last drank to our hearts content, Namgung Byeok said in favor of the drinking session.
Not long after, the four members of the Seven Saints headed elsewhere and drank as much as they desired.
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