Chapter 187
The Heavenly Secret Hall, monitoring the Four Borderlands Influences at Baek Mu-Guns request, discovered the significant movements at the Northern Deserts Sun God Palace and Nanmans Sky Beast Palace, indicating an imminent invasion of the Central Plains.
The Heavenly Secret Hall promptly shared this crucial information with the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families, prompting them to be on high alert.
Aware of the formidable strength possessed by the Sun God Palace and the Sky Beast Palace, the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families recognized the need for unified action. The looming threat from the Tyrant Cult and the Myriad Poison Sect further intensified their concerns.
Faced with this imminent danger, the factions collaborated to assemble a robust defense, realizing the importance of working together against the impending invasion.
The challenge, however, was the lurking presence of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect within the Central Plains. With five formidable factions still active, the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families hesitated to deploy their forces carelessly.
The potential risk of a coordinated attack from the remaining factions complicated their strategic planning, demanding a delicate balance between defending against external threats and addressing internal challenges.
After careful deliberation, the leaders of the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families opted to create the Central Plains Murim Alliance. They decided to concentrate their forces at four strategic footholds: Shanxi Province, Sichuan Province, Hunan Province, and Jiangsu Province. While this approach left their headquarters vulnerable, the primary concern was the safety of their people.
The alliance prioritized securing the well-being of their members, confident in their ability to reclaim bases and territories when needed.
The Central Plains Murim Alliance took shape, with each foothold strategically assigned to prominent factions. Shanxi Province saw the gathering of forces from the Mount Hua Sect, Zongnan Sect, Shaolin Temple, Hebei Peng Family, and Great Huangfu Family. Sichuan Province became a focal point for the Sichuan Tang Family, Ami Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Kongtong Sect, Kunlun Sect, and Dianchang Sect.
In Hunan Province, the Wudang Sect, Great Zhuge Family, Great Ximen Family, Guangdong Jin Family, and Great Namgung Family converged their forces. Finally, Jiangsu Province hosted the Loyal Heart Alliance and the Putuo Sword Sect, providing a strategic position for its ease of movement throughout the Central Plains via the Changjiang River.
As the Nine Prominent Sects, the Seven Great Families, and various clans across the Central Plains mobilized their forces to these four footholds, preparations intensified for the impending clash with the Sun God Palace, the Sky Beast Palace, and the lurking threats from the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
Recognizing the critical role these footholds played in safeguarding the entire Central Plains' murim, the leaders understood that the collapse of any of these strategic locations would spell doom for the entire martial community. The safety of the factions was intricately linked to the stability of these four footholds.
In light of this, they named these crucial locations the Northern Sky Branch, the Western Sky Branch, the Southern Sky Branch, and the Eastern Sky Branch, symbolizing the collective effort to shield the Central Plains' murim from impending threats.
* * *
Upon reaching Lake Mo in Heilongjiang after departing from Beihai, Mu-Gun encountered an informant from the Heavenly Secret Hall who shared crucial information about the Central Plains.
Learning about the imminent invasion by the Northern Deserts Sun God Palace and Nanmans Sky Beast Palace, and the concerted effort of the Central Plains murim to fortify themselves against the two Borderlands Influences and the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Mu-Gun faced a pivotal decision.
After careful consideration, he opted to redirect his course to the Northern Desert instead of returning to the Central Plains. His strategy involved targeting the Sun God Palace and dismantling the faction of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect orchestrating these sinister plans.
Recognizing the formidable challenge posed by the combined forces of the Sun God Palace and the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Mu-Gun aimed to weaken them gradually using the Specter Sects martial arts. His ultimate plan was to rendezvous with the assembled martial artists of the Central Plains in Shanxi Province, combining their strengths to overcome the looming threat.
Hmm, if I knew this would happen, I would have brought the Specter Slayer King along.
Mu-Gun lamented the absence of the Specter Slayer King, acknowledging that the planned assassinations would have been more efficiently executed with his formidable skills. Despite this setback, Mu-Gun instructed the informant from the Heavenly Secret Hall to keep Dan Seol-Young informed of his movements and promptly set forth on his journey.
* * *
Mu-Gun faced a critical time constraint to reach the Northern Desert before the Sun God Palace initiated their invasion of the Central Plains. Traditional travel by horse would take a month, exceeding the available time. However, Mu-Gun possessed a unique abilitythe Thunder God's Shadowthat, if pushed to its limits, could cover the distance in ten days.
Aware of the toll this would take on his body, he saw it as an opportunity for both crucial training and enhancing his Iron Blood Vajra Body Cultivation.
Embracing this resolve, Mu-Gun set forth from Lake Mo, Heilongjiang, and astonishingly crossed Mount Dahei, Qiqihar, and reached Changchun within a mere three days. Without adequate rest, he resumed his journey after a brief night's stop in Changchun to alleviate accumulated fatigue.
Running for three more days through Heishan, Shenyang, and Chaoyang, Mu-Gun, after another night's pause, continued his rapid journey. Surprisingly, within the next three days, he arrived at the Northern Desert, breathing out a hot sigh of relief.
The Northern Desert, divided into Mobei and Monan, housed the Sun God Palace's headquarters in Mobei. Meanwhile, during Mu-Gun's journey, the Sun God Palace executed their invasion plans, advancing to the area of Hohhot in Monan [1] in Monan.
It would take three or four days to get from Hohhot to Shanxi Province. Mu-Gun was able to hear about the movements of the Sun God Palace through the Heavenly Secret Halls informant at Xilinhot[2], which was ten days away from Hohhot.
"What are the numbers of the Sun God Palaces forces?" Mu-Gun inquired.
There are a total of six thousand martial artists in motion, including three thousand elite martial artists from the Sun God Palace, two thousand demonic practitioners believed to be from the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Tyrant Cult, and one thousand martial artists from the Blood Ring Gang, which escaped from Shanxi Province, reported the Heavenly Secret Halls informant.
How many martial artists from murim have gathered at the Northern Sky Branch? Mu-Gun continued.
The forces at the Northern Sky Branch are also around six thousand people strong. Specifically, the Hebei Peng Family and the Great Huangfu Family mobilized one-thousand-five-hundred people each, whereas the Shaolin Temple, the Mount Hua Sect, and the Zongnan Sect each mobilized one thousand people respectively.
"For now, we are not behind in terms of numbers."
"However, the problem is that the Northern Deserts forces are not all of them. If the other branches of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect in the Central Plains move together in line with their offensive movement, it will be difficult for the Northern Sky Branchs forces alone to stop them," the informant continued to report.
We need to dwindle their forces as much as possible before the Sun God Palace and the Tyrant Cult fight against the Northern Sky Branch, Mu-Gun strategized.
But are you sure you will be fine alone? The Vice Leader is very concerned, the Heavenly Secret Halls informant expressed concern.
I wont put too much burden on myself to move, so please tell her not to worry.
Well, I dont think she will be relieved even if she hears that, the informant said truthfully.
Well, that is true. But, wouldnt it be better than not saying anything? Well then, lets get ready to go our separate ways; I have a long way to go. Thank you for the information, Mu-Gun thanked the informant.
After parting ways with the Heavenly Secret Hall's informant, Mu-Gun headed towards Hohhot, where the Sun God Palace's forces were assembled. Typically, it would be a ten-day journey, but Mu-Gun, utilizing the Thunder Gods Shadow at its maximum, reached Hohhot in just three days. Despite maintaining an intense pace, Mu-Gun didn't show signs of significant fatigue. His presence in the Supreme Realm not only enhanced his physical strength but also granted superhuman recovery abilities through the Iron Blood Vajra Body Cultivation.
Arriving in Hohhot, Mu-Gun examined the Sun God Palace's movements. While he was en route, the Sun God Palace had traversed Changcheng through a pre-secured infiltration path and gathered in Datong. Meanwhile, the Northern Sky Branch's forces remained stationed at Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, awaiting the approaching enemy.
The Northern Sky Branch's decision to stay in Taiyuan was practical, as marshaling a force of six thousand required considerable supplies and food. There was a significant disparity between airlifting provisions while stationary versus doing so while in motion. Choosing to wait until the adversary neared Taiyuan allowed for more efficient logistics. However, they weren't idle; a special task force was formed and dispatched to Datong, where the Sun God Palaces forces were concentrated.
This special task force had a critical missionto disrupt the Sun God Palace's supply chain. Understanding that even martial artists would struggle without essential provisions, the Northern Sky Branch aimed to compel the Sun God Palaces forces to withdraw by severing their supplies. Yet, the Sun God Palaces forces were well-prepared, recognizing the significance of their resources. Breaking through their defenses to disrupt supplies posed a formidable challenge.
Recognizing the gravity of the task, the Northern Sky Branch carefully selected one hundred exceptionally skilled warriors from the two Great Families and the three Prominent Sects, entrusting them with this vital mission. This elite group of one hundred martial artists moved northward, carrying the weight of a crucial assignment.
* * *
After crossing Changcheng, Mu-Gun swiftly headed south, aligning with the Sun God Palace's travel route. Two days post-Changcheng, he caught up with the Sun God Palaces forces, advancing past Datong toward Shanyin. To assess their strength, Mu-Gun estimated their numbers, finding that the Sun God Palaces forces exceeded eight thousand, surpassing the Heavenly Secret Hall's information by two thousand. This surplus consisted of personnel responsible for transporting supplies and food, an essential component given the size of the martial artist contingent, which surpassed six thousand. The logistics required an additional two thousand individuals.
Surveying the elongated formation of the Sun God Palace and the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Mu-Gun contemplated using the Infinite Thunder Sword to strike at the heart of their assembly. In such crowded ranks, a single strike from the Infinite Thunder Sword could claim at least a thousand lives. However, potential repercussions loomedsurrounded by the Divine Demons and Demonic Monarchs of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Mu-Gun could find himself in dire straits. While his Thunder Gods Shadow could likely facilitate a safe escape, Mu-Gun deemed it wiser to avoid unnecessary risks. Instead, adhering to his original plan, he opted to exploit the cover of night to assassinate key martial arts masters from the Sun God Palace, the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Tyrant Cult, and the Blood Ring Gang.
Moving stealthily, Mu-Gun trailed the Sun God Palaces forces. At sunset, the joint forces of the three clans, including the Sun God Palace, halted their march and set up camp for the night. Unlike a military camp, their setup lacked systemization. Camps were established solely for the martial arts masters of each clan, leaving most members to spend the night by a bonfire on the bare ground. While preferential treatment was customary for martial arts masters in murim, the treatment for ordinary practitioners was less favorable.
However, this was an inevitability of the murim code. Those who felt unfairly treated had a clear pathstrengthen themselves. That was the unyielding principle of murim.
1. Hohhot, formerly known as Kweisui or Guisui, is the capital of Inner Mongolia in the north of the People's Republic of China.
2. Xilinhot is a county-level city which serves as the seat of government for the Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia, China.
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