CHAPTER 490: CHAPTER 237: THE MIRAGE REAPPEARS (SEEKING MONTHLY VOTES)

The Assembly of a Hundred Sects.

News of it spread, sweeping through South Nether Prefecture like the wind. All the Sects that received the message were hesitant and uncertain. As another major force in South Nether Prefecture, the Heaven Alliance also immediately received the news.

Myriad Buddhas Sect.

Outside the Mahavira Hall, Xuankong brought his hands together in prayer and said aloud, "Sect Master, I seek an audience on an urgent matter!"

As his words fell, the long-closed doors of the Mahavira Hall slowly creaked open. A vast and surging aura spilled out from within, invigorating Xuankong’s spirit. He strode in.

The Mahavira Hall, where he had spent decades, suddenly felt foreign to him. The Buddha statue before him still wore a smile, its fingers delicately holding a flower, yet it seemed to lack some of its former spirituality. Looking beneath the Buddha statue, he saw Shimohe. Draped in a white monastic robe, Shimohe sat in the full lotus position, one hand holding a flower with a gentle smile. For a moment, Xuankong felt as if he were gazing upon a reincarnated Buddha, his mind momentarily lost in a trance.

Soon, he regained his senses, his eyes filled with shock.

"What is it?" Shimohe asked, his voice calm, unhurried, and imbued with an air of supreme authority and sanctity.

Xuankong involuntarily bowed his head. "Sect Master, the Demon-Subduing Division has exterminated several Sects, accusing them of violating the laws of Great Qin. Many of the remaining Sects have sought refuge with our Heaven Alliance, but some still adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Now, the Demon-Subduing Division intends to convene the Assembly of a Hundred Sects to consolidate these remaining Sects. I fear that if we ignore this, it will negatively impact our Heaven Alliance."

If we do not resist, then so be it. But once we resist, there is no turning back. Xuankong knew the survival of the Heaven Alliance was inextricably linked to that of the Myriad Buddhas Sect, so he dared not take this lightly. If things went south and the Heaven Alliance fell apart, the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s thousand-year legacy would be instantly destroyed. After all, if the Heaven Alliance were to fall to the Demon-Subduing Division, other Sects within the alliance might still find a sliver of hope for survival. However, as the leading force, the Heaven Alliance would undoubtedly face annihilation.

"The Assembly of a Hundred Sects..." Shimohe murmured to himself, his expression unchanging. After a long pause, he shook his head. "There’s no need to concern ourselves with the Assembly of a Hundred Sects. Right now, our Heaven Alliance should prioritize recuperation and strengthening. If other Sects come to join us, accept them all. For anything else, it’s best not to meddle for the time being."

"Sect Master—"

Xuankong wanted to say more, but Shimohe interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "Enough. You may leave."

Seeing this, Xuankong could only bow and depart. The moment he left the hall, the grand doors of the Mahavira Hall boomed shut behind him.

Interestingly, though the doors of the Mahavira Hall were closed, the interior did not fall into darkness; instead, it was as bright as day.

On the meditation cushion, Shimohe did not immediately re-enter a state of deep meditation. Instead, he reflected on Xuankong’s words.

The Assembly of a Hundred Sects... intriguing, he mused. Yet, any scheme is futile in the face of absolute power. Soon, just a little more time, and I will achieve my breakthrough. When that time comes, our Heaven Alliance will sweep through South Nether Prefecture and truly reign supreme!

Finally, Shimohe closed his eyes once more. Several months of secluded cultivation had yielded him substantial progress in understanding the Dao of Destiny-Fortune. He had a premonition: with just a little more time, he would surely achieve a true breakthrough. The recent influx of Sects joining the Heaven Alliance had significantly bolstered its providential fortune, which in turn brought him considerable benefits.

Inside the Council Hall, Li Shou entered, his clean-shaven face bearing a faint smile. "Lord Shen, do you remember me?"

Shen Changqing responded with a smile, "Eunuch Li, how could I forget? Has His Majesty sent you from the Capital City with a message for me?"

"His Majesty heard of Lord Shen’s great achievements in South Nether Prefecture and was overjoyed," Li Shou replied. "He specially commanded me to bring rewards."

"I see!" Shen Changqing’s smile became warmer. Since he’s here to deliver rewards, he’s on our side.

As they spoke, Li Shou waved his hand, and an attendant following him stepped forward with a tray. "Lord Shen, by the Emperor’s decree, for your meritorious service in South Nether Prefecture, you are rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and three thousand Merit Points."

After speaking, Li Shou unveiled the yellow cloth on the tray, revealing stacks of silver notes and Demon-Subduing Coins, which represented the Merit Points. "For your convenience, Lord Shen, I have already exchanged all the silver into silver notes."

"Thank you very much, Eunuch Li!" Shen Changqing said as he took the tray, his smile evident. Ten thousand taels in silver notes meant little to him; they were dispensable. However, three thousand Merit Points were a completely different matter. Merit Points had always been what he lacked most, and these three thousand arrived as a welcome relief to a pressing need.

Watching Shen Changqing accept the rewards, Li Shou continued, "Additionally, His Majesty asked me to convey a message: when you have time, Lord Shen, and if it’s convenient, please make copies of those Grandmaster Martial Arts and place some in the Martial Hall. This will allow members of the Demon-Subduing Division to study them and thereby strengthen the Division’s foundations."

Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing laughed. So, this is what they were waiting for, he thought. It makes sense. He recalled his previous conversation with Li Shou; the eunuch had evidently relayed the information, and Emperor Qin clearly valued Grandmaster Martial Arts greatly. Shen Changqing hadn’t yet gotten around to making copies for the Martial Hall. Now that Emperor Qin had personally sent someone to inquire, he couldn’t make any more excuses.

"Eunuch Li, you’re aware that the situation in South Nether Prefecture hasn’t stabilized yet, so I cannot leave for the time being," Shen Changqing explained. "Grandmaster Martial Arts are of immense significance, and we can’t afford any mistakes. How about this: once the South Nether Prefecture matter is settled and the Heaven Alliance is dismantled, I will personally make a trip back and copy the Martial Arts then?"

"If Lord Shen trusts me, I can actually help bring them back," Li Shou offered.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing shook his head slightly. "It’s not that I don’t trust you, Eunuch Li. However, many across Heaven and Earth are eyeing Grandmaster Martial Arts. After the black market auction concluded, numerous Sect Forces were ambushed. Even Martial Artists at Grandmaster Peak might not have escaped unscathed from such encounters. You’ve come from the Capital City, Eunuch Li, and I fear you’re already being watched by interested parties. They might not dare to act under normal circumstances, but if you were carrying Grandmaster Martial Arts, it would be a different story. So, for your safety, I believe it’s better to wait."

Li Shou’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t thoroughly investigated the ambushes following the black market auction. He only knew that Wang Xiao and Beiming Wang had been attacked by Demonfolk, and nothing more. Now, hearing Shen Changqing’s words, Li Shou truly grasped the gravity of the situation. He didn’t doubt the truth of Shen Changqing’s statements; such matters could be easily verified with a little investigation.

At this thought, Li Shou’s expression returned to normal. "I was indeed somewhat negligent. In that case, I will report back to His Majesty exactly as you’ve said."

"Mm," Shen Changqing nodded.

Just as Shen Changqing thought Li Shou was about to leave, the eunuch suddenly glanced around mysteriously and took two steps closer. "Speaking of which, there is one matter I’d like to ask Lord Shen about."

"Please speak, Eunuch Li."

"Regarding the Heaven Alliance, that malignant tumor—how much more time does Lord Shen estimate it will take to eradicate it, root and branch?"

"I made a one-year wager with Shimohe. About half a year has passed, so I believe this matter should be settled in another six months or so," Shen Changqing replied. He had thought Li Shou was going to ask about something else; he had no intention of hiding anything concerning the Heaven Alliance.

Li Shou nodded slightly. "Actually, His Majesty attaches great importance to the Heaven Alliance. Lord Shen, if you have the opportunity, please eradicate the Heaven Alliance as soon as possible. It will surely bring His Majesty immense joy. If that happens, well, I needn’t say more, need I?"

"I will certainly do my utmost."

"Good. That’s all I have to say. I must report back to His Majesty, so I won’t stay long. Farewell."

"Take care, Eunuch Li."

Shen Changqing had Li Shou escorted out. He then took his Merit Points and the silver to the Demon Slaying Hall.

Of the three thousand Merit Points, the Heaven Rank and Earth Rank sub-halls each received one thousand, and the remaining two sub-halls shared the final thousand. As for the ten thousand taels in silver notes, he kept them for himself. One should always have some silver on hand, he thought. In fact, Shen Changqing had spent almost all the silver taels he had acquired recently, leaving very little for himself. Now, this extra ten thousand taels would serve as a reserve for unforeseen needs.

BOOM!

A clap of thunder suddenly echoed as if from a clear sky, clearly audible even inside the great hall. For some reason, hearing this thunder, Shen Changqing felt a sense of unease well up within him.

He stepped outside the great hall. Thunder and lightning surged between Heaven and Earth, as if something ominous had emerged. With a single step, he soared into the sky. Free from the constraints of buildings, his vision suddenly widened. Looking around from his vantage point above Mountain-Breaking City, nothing within his sight seemed out of place.

Yet, the thunder and lightning continued to rage overhead, dancing wildly like frenzied dragons, threatening to strike at any moment. This caused many people in Mountain-Breaking City to involuntarily retreat to their homes, not daring to venture out for fear of being struck by a stray bolt. Some Martial Artists, though not fearful, watched the spectacle with wary eyes. Their first thought was that Shen Changqing might be the one causing the celestial disturbance. However, when they saw him standing aloft, scanning the surroundings, they dismissed this idea.

Descending from mid-air, Shen Changqing wore a puzzled expression. Strange... He couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary. Could this celestial phenomenon be natural? It’s possible... But... He clearly felt something was amiss; the uneasy feeling in his heart refused to dissipate.

Just then, Mu Qing approached. "Defender Shen."

"Defender Mu," Shen Changqing acknowledged, realizing Mu Qing had also been drawn by the thunder.

Mu Qing, seeing Shen Changqing already there and then looking up at the raging thunder, also wore a puzzled expression. "I initially thought this anomaly was caused by you, Defender Shen. It seems now that someone else must be responsible."