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Chapter 126: Chapter 111: Territory Grabbers Have Arrived (3K Words for Monthly Ticket)
"Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution?"
Li Qian was utterly astonished.
He didn’t expect the jade stone to contain a secret array manual.
At this moment, the lines and demon text on the jade had warped and melted away, transforming into a bizarre array map that twisted and evolved in unfathomable ways.
Although he knew nothing about arrays, just watching the evolving array map made him feel it was incredibly magical.
After a long while, Li Qian slowly opened his eyes, letting out a breath, with his mind now enriched by many pieces of array knowledge.
"This array solution is too complicated, isn’t it?"
After going through it, Li Qian felt his brain was overwhelmed.
The difficulty involved with this array solution was akin to studying advanced mathematics in his previous life.
Suddenly, he closed his eyes again, with a thought, the Chen Bell Sound began to toll in his mind.
Instantly, his thoughts were invigorated, as if he had an epiphany, and his understanding efficiency greatly improved.
After a long time, Li Qian opened his eyes again, a smile appearing on his face.
It had to be said, the Chen Bell’s assistance was indeed powerful.
It was truly like having divine help.
"I wonder if this array learning will show up on the systemic interface after I get started?"
Li Qian pondered.
If it could be displayed, that would change everything; it would mean that progress would show up, and every realization could eventually be solidified into data.
However, he needed to get started first.
The initiation into array learning was different from beginning a Martial Arts Heart Method.
This involved a large amount of fundamental array knowledge, which he must understand one by one before possibly getting started.
But he wasn’t in a hurry.
After all, this array solution was memorized in his mind, and he just needed to study it slowly.
In the following days, Li Qian’s daily life of striking the bell for his cultivation practice included the new activity of contemplating the Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution.
His schedule was even fuller.
He found arrays quite interesting, especially after understanding them, his interest only grew.
No wonder the math whizzes in his previous life could delve into such dull and abstruse higher mathematics. Li Qian never understood it before, but now he finally got it. As a poor student himself, he never experienced the joy they felt in learning higher mathematics.
Every time he understood a profound piece of array knowledge, he felt a tremendous sense of satisfaction and was deeply immersed in it.
Now, whenever he had time, he would ponder over the Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution and do so tirelessly, often losing track of time until Liu Ming reminded him that it was almost time for bell striking, which snapped him back to reality.
...
It was during Li Qian’s deep dive into array studies that Divine Sword Sect launched its strategic operation against the Xuanming Sect.
Every day, quite a few Divine Sword Sect Martial Artists left quietly.
"Brother Qian, I’m preparing to participate in a clearing mission."
One day, Chen Yong came back from the inner gate and suddenly said.
"Haven’t you just returned not long ago, and you want to join a mission again?"
Li Qian was surprised.
"It’s my own decision to go; I heard that the points for missions these days are very high, several times higher than before," Chen Yong said.
"It must be a cleaning mission related to Xuanming Sect, right?"
Li Qian said.
"Yes."
Chen Yong nodded.
"Then you must be careful."
Li Qian said.
Even though Xuanming Sect was on the brink of collapse, such a millennium-old faction, even severely damaged, was still a force to be reckoned with—a camel_thin_from starvation is still bigger than a horse. This mission was still quite dangerous.
"I’ve been through more dangerous times. I feel lucky... and there won’t be such a good opportunity if I don’t fight for it now," Chen Yong said.
Li Qian nodded and didn’t say much. Chen Yong was different from himself; how else would he obtain resources for cultivation and improve his strength without taking risks?
Anyway, he wasn’t going to participate in this clearing mission.
It was not a matter of danger, as Xuanming Sect had no Heavenly Persons left, and there were truly no threats to him.
It was mainly a waste of time.
To eradicate an immense faction like Xuanming Sect wasn’t going to happen overnight; it would undoubtedly take a long time.
Time passed day by day.
Li Qian’s learning into array knowledge deepened gradually. Though he had the assistance of the Chen Bell, he still spent nearly a month and a half before he finally initiated into the Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution.
Host: Li Qian.
Cultivation: Innate True Pill (Mid-Stage 59/100).
Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Power 5079/10000).
Martial Arts: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Perfect), Pure Holy Body (Perfect), Soul Chasing Sword Skill (Perfect), Great River Sword Qi (First Layer 21/100).
Martial Intent: Heartless Sword Intent (True Image 59/100).
Divine Skills: Qi Blood Holy Realm (Nascent Form 15/100).
Secret Skills: Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Qi, Blood Burning Technique.
Auxiliary Skills: Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution (Begun 1/100).
...
Looking at the latest information on the system panel, Li Qian showed a hint of a smile.
It really wasn’t easy.
Over a month’s time, he had learned all about the Lion Camel Ridge Array Solution; it had to be said that the cultivation of this array was truly difficult.
In the Divine Sword Sect, there were professions like Alchemist, Spirit Plant Master, and Exotic Beast Breeder with a vast amount of specialized knowledge needed, which took a lot of time and effort to learn.
--- 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
For these reasons, martial arts experts seldom dabble in these professions, as they are too time-consuming and may hinder their martial arts cultivation.
Likewise, professionals, although the majority of them practice martial arts to strengthen their physique or possess some self-defense capabilities, would never devote too much time to it.
"This array learning must be a hundred times more difficult than those professions."
Li Qian thought to himself.
However, he would not be discouraged by the difficulty, treating it as an interesting hobby.
After all, he had plenty of time on his hands. Learning a supplementary professional skill wouldn’t hurt, nor would it delay his martial arts cultivation.
...
Xuanzhou, Guangze County.
The prominent martial arts sect, Xuanming Sect, was located here.
The Xuanming Sect now resembled a tree with scattered monkeys after its fall, desolate.
Many disciples fled one after another. Despite the higher-ups’ efforts to stop them, they couldn’t curb the spreading trend.
Everyone knew that the Xuanming Sect’s ship was about to sink.
Of course, there were also many disciples willing to share the sect’s fate.
The Divine Sword Sect had already deployed a large number of martial artists from their own territory, almost completely encircling the mountain gate of the Xuanming Sect.
Besides the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, there were also many affiliated forces that had some relationship with them... Everyone knew it was time to kick someone when they were down. As long as they followed the Divine Sword Sect and helped destroy the Xuanming Sect, the benefits would surely be abundant.
The reason they had not completely sealed them in was to prevent the Xuanming Sect from uniting as one, which would accelerate the internal division of the sect and thus reduce losses.
In a large camp, Peak Master Hou Shuwen of Guiyi Peak of the Divine Sword Sect sat in the main seat, making various arrangements.
"Any clues about the whereabouts of the Xuanming Sect’s seed disciples?"
Hou Shuwen asked in a deep voice.
Initially, the Divine Sword Sect had launched a seed continuation plan and a prominent martial arts sect like Xuanming Sect would have done the same.
The Xuanming Sect might have initiated their seed continuation plan once they saw the outturn at Luo Wangfu.
Thus, finding the whereabouts of the Xuanming Sect’s seed disciples was immensely challenging.
"There’s been no news. Even though we have moles in the Xuanming Sect, they’ve learned from the leakage of our seed plan and have become more cautious..."
The Purple Lightning Peak Master Wan Xian said while shaking her head.
"Then let’s ignore it for now and focus on destroying the mountain gate of the Xuanming Sect first."
Hou Shuwen said, "Nowadays, there are very few disciples fleeing from the Xuanming Sect daily. Those remaining are likely to be the resolute ones... Prepare to attack."
As for those fleeing disciples, the Divine Sword Sect wouldn’t let them go unchecked and would adopt tactics of intercepting and persuading. As long as they didn’t resist, they wouldn’t be killed immediately but detained for future handling.
Everyone immediately took orders and were about to make preparations.
Suddenly, an elder rushed into the tent in a hurry.
"Peak Master Hou, a large group of troops is marching our way, unidentified and numbering at least a thousand."
Surprise colored the faces of everyone present.
Who could it be, rallying so many people at this time?
It couldn’t possibly be reinforcements for the Xuanming Sect, could it?
At this point, who would dare to support the Xuanming Sect?
Wouldn’t that be a death wish?
"Go out and see."
Hou Shuwen said.
Thus, many high-level executives of the Divine Sword Sect left the tent.
Clatter, clatter, clatter...
The urgent sound of horse hooves echoed like roaring thunder.
Many high-ranking members of the Divine Sword Sect stood on a hill and saw a large group of knights coming at breakneck speed, with an overwhelming momentum.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the unidentified squadron of knights had arrived near the camp of the Divine Sword Sect.
"Who are you?"
An elder of the Divine Sword Sect stepped forward to ask.
"We are from the He clan of Yuanzhou, under the orders of the Empress Dowager, coming to annihilate the rebellious Xuanming Sect."
The leader among the knights, an old man with a black beard and blue robes, rode forward, saluted and spoke loudly.
...
"What do you all think?"
On the hillside, Peak Master Hou Shuwen frowned and asked in a deep voice after hearing this.
"This He clan, it’s obvious they’ve come to snatch our territory."
Purple Lightning Peak Master Wan Xian said coldly.
"Weren’t we the ones assigned by the Divine Sword Sect to exterminate the Xuanming Sect? How did this He clan suddenly appear... What kind of background do these people have to reach out so far?"
Xie Tiancheng, Master of Martial Peak, spoke with an unfriendly tone.
The downfall of the Xuanming Sect was only a matter of time; the Divine Sword Sect’s conquering was certain.
Now a He clan had appeared out of the blue... obviously hoping to steal credits and territory.
"It’s also pretty normal. Perhaps the higher-ups don’t wish to see the Divine Sword Sect monopolize such vast territory."
Hou Shuwen sighed.
Initially, within the Taixing Dao country, besides the Luo Wangfu, there were four large martial arts sects: the Divine Sword Sect, Baihua Palace, Purple Cloud Sect, and Xuanming Sect... it was to prevent any single party from becoming overpowering.
Now, with the Xuanming Sect and Purple Cloud Sect doomed to perish, and Luo Wangfu no longer existing, Baihua Palace would likely decline significantly after its rebuilding... That would leave the Divine Sword Sect in a potentially dominant position.
"Are we supposed to let an outsider clan take our territory from us?"
Xie Tiancheng of Martial Peak voiced his displeasure.
"That depends on whether the He clan has the strength."
Peak Master Hou Shuwen said solemnly.
Without sufficient strength, daring to snatch from the Divine Sword Sect’s established interests would be tantamount to courting death.
So, a group of people went to meet the He clan’s troops.
...
PS: Third update, asking for monthly votes!!!
