Chapter 235

At that moment, an elder from the Dongjiang Gang was visiting the Cangsheng Sword Sect. "Sect Master Wu," he said, "our gang leader has already led the gang's elites to Xiazhou. Elder Shi of the Canglan Sect and his junior disciples are also accompanying them. Elder Shi is a second-rank cultivator, and the other experts from Canglan Sect are all third-rank."

Sect Master Wu Jianchen of the Cangsheng Sword Sect, for some reason, felt restless at that moment and wasn't in the mood for much small talk. Hearing this, he casually asked, "Then, what is Elder Zhou's purpose in seeking me?"

"This time, we will form an overwhelming force to pressure the Tianxing Sword Sect into ceding benefits," Elder Zhou explained. "Essentially, the Tianxing Sword Sect's founding ceremony last time followed a similar pattern. Under those circumstances, Shen Tang could only claim to produce a small quantity of high-grade flying swords, not daring to directly compete with your sect. Now that their wings have hardened, they wish to compete head-on. Should we not pressure them again?"

Wu Jianchen sighed. "I am only a fourth-rank cultivator. Back then, I was equally matched with Shen Tang, but now Shen Tang is already mid-stage third-rank. What can I do?"

"Your sect is not without backing," Elder Zhou whispered. "The Tianxing Sword Sect has offended someone in the capital... While their founding ceremony appeared grand on the surface, it clearly showed they received no congratulations from any external friendly forces. Shen Tang and her group might be strong on their own, but such isolated individuals are nothing to fear."

Wu Jianchen was utterly frustrated. "My superiors have been extremely perfunctory about this matter, wasting so many annual offerings."

Elder Zhou remained silent.

"I looked into it," Wu Jianchen continued, "it's because Lu Xingzhou has a debt of gratitude to the Huanhua Sword Sect. Back then, Ye Wufeng killed Chu Qingchen, a direct disciple of Huanhua Sword Sect. Lu Xingzhou killed Ye Wufeng, which was considered an act of revenge for Chu Qingchen. Although this debt isn't very direct, and it even disrupted the Huanhua Sword Sect's own path to revenge, if Huanhua Sword Sect were to act against Lu Xingzhou, they would be condemned by the world."

"Such a convoluted relationship..." Elder Zhou began, disdain welling up inside him.

*You only just found out about this? We've known for ages, and we suspected you might be unreliable, so we needed to drag you into this.*

Just as he was thinking this, a disciple burst in frantically through the door. "Sect Master, Sect Master! People from the Demon Suppression Bureau are here. They said our sect members were caught robbing on a highway outside Xiazhou and ordered the Sect Master to claim them!"

Wu Jianchen was perplexed. "Our sect members? Highway robbery? Whose highway?"

"They said... they said they were robbing goods from the Tianxing Sword Sect and were apprehended on the spot by the Demon Suppression Bureau."

"Nonsense! How is that possible! What good would that do us?"

Amidst the chaos, Shen Tang's voice resonated from the air: "Tianxing Sword Sect's Shen Tang, accompanied by guest elder Lu Xingzhou, pays respects!"

The voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to echo in everyone's ears, making their eardrums hum.

Wu Jianchen was startled. "Her strength... is she truly mid-stage third-rank?"

"What should we do, Sect Master?"

"What do you mean, 'what should we do'? Invite them in, including the Demon Suppression Bureau."

Wu Jianchen was much calmer than his disciples. He knew that Shen Tang wouldn't openly declare war like this. Instead, he felt a grudging admiration for the audacity of this couple. To come to an enemy sect, where closing the protective array would trap them like turtles in a jar—they truly weren't afraid of trouble.

Even if the Demon Suppression Bureau was present, who could guarantee that their opponent wouldn't lose control? Unless they themselves had absolute confidence that they could leave safely even if their opponent went berserk. Wu Jianchen, for one, would not dare.

Not long after, Lu Xingzhou pushed Shen Tang into the hall.

Including Elder Zhou, everyone present felt a sense of "a perfect match" – the man was handsome and graceful, the woman possessed an elegant demeanor and beautiful features, exuding inherent majesty.

Even the few Demon Suppression Bureau members following behind them seemed to fade into the background, as all eyes were drawn to the couple.

If "good looks" were used to select the strongest sect in the county, they would surely win first place.

Wu Jianchen finally broke the silence. "To what do we owe the honor of Sect Master Shen's visit?"

Shen Tang calmly stated, "Your sect dispatched people to rob our goods. This Sect Master has come for an explanation."

"Impossible," Wu Jianchen immediately retorted. "We did not do this."

A Demon Suppression Bureau constable, who had seemed like a bystander, spoke coldly from behind him. "Sect Master Wu, are you suggesting our Demon Suppression Bureau has wronged you? Is Lu Wei not a hall master of your esteemed sect?"

Wu Jianchen was aghast. "Lu Wei is indeed a member of this sect, but we never sent them to rob goods. What benefit would that bring us?"

"Acknowledging that they are your people is enough," the Demon Suppression Bureau constable said coldly. "Sect Master Wu is also suspected of sending people to commit wrongdoing. Currently, their confessions admit it was a private act, unrelated to your sect. Otherwise, even Sect Master Wu would have to be interrogated."

*Since when has the Demon Suppression Bureau been so strict? If a subordinate commits a crime, the sect master gets interrogated?*

Wu Jianchen broke out in a cold sweat. "Where are Lu Wei and the others, then?"

"The Demon Suppression Bureau has detained this group. Considering it's a first offense and no severe consequences were caused, Commander Wan's intention is for Sect Master Wu to bail them out and deal with them according to your sect's laws. If Sect Master Wu believes we should handle this officially, then we will schedule an interrogation. The message has been delivered; Sect Master Wu can handle it as he sees fit."

The high-ranking members of Cangsheng Sword Sect exchanged glances, while the couple, Lu and Tang, smirked.

"Now, what does Sect Master Wu have to say?" Lu Xingzhou asked with a smile.

Wu Jianchen awkwardly replied, "Lu Wei's actions were personal and do not represent the sect."

Lu Xingzhou then asked, "So, Sect Master Wu, are you saying your sect has no intention of being our enemy?"

This question was subtly malicious. If he answered no, would Wu Jianchen have the face to appear later for the supposed joint pressure?

If he answered yes, would it mean this was no longer a "private act"? The Demon Suppression Bureau constable was still standing there watching.

Wu Jianchen had never imagined that a mere constable could put him in such a dilemma. The words were stuck in his throat for a long while; he couldn't answer for the moment.

Seeing his silence, Shen Tang calmly said, "Sect Master Wu's meaning is understood by this Sect Master."

As she spoke, a flying sword was drawn.

A brilliant purple light erupted, and a terrifying pressure weighed down on everyone's hearts.

"Shen Tang! You..." Wu Jianchen didn't even finish his sentence when a vast purple energy violently swept through.

"Sect Master!" The surrounding high-ranking members quickly rushed forward to assist, and together they blocked the purple energy.

With a loud *boom*, everyone was sent sprawling. Wu Jianchen, who bore the brunt of the attack, spat out a mouthful of blood, but to his horror, he realized the sword was not aimed at him at all.

The sword light changed direction just before reaching them. After tearing through their defenses, it shot directly towards the main beam of the hall.

*Boom!* The heavily reinforced main beam snapped, and the aftershocks continued, with terrifying energy overflowing and spreading, making the entire hall tremble and seem on the verge of collapse.

Someone else near Shen Tang had launched a desperate attack at her back when she drew her sword, trying to take advantage of her disability.

Lu Xingzhou turned with a spinning kick, sending the person flying out of the hall.

Wu Jianchen finally understood. This couple's solitary visit was not boldness; it was because they were simply not on the same level. Some who are ranked first on the rising stars list get abused in rotation, but how many other fourth-rank cultivators can play with them? Similarly, some third-rank cultivators cannot be viewed as ordinary third-rank cultivators.

Shen Tang might not have had the full power to destroy the Cangsheng Sword Sect by herself, but leaving would be as easy as playing a game.

A Cangsheng Sword Sect elder furiously shouted, "Shen Tang, are you trying to declare war on us alone?"

*Whoosh!* The sword returned to its sheath. Shen Tang sat quietly in her wheelchair and calmly stated, "This Sect Master only knows that if others don't offend me, I don't offend them. If they offend me, I will repay them a hundredfold. Tianxing Sword Sect is not the Demon Suppression Bureau; we don't require evidence of Sect Master Wu dispatching his disciples. You robbed our goods, so I will destroy your hall. Next time, this flying sword will not be aimed at the beam. Conduct yourselves accordingly!"

Wu Jianchen suppressed the turmoil in his qi and blood and looked at the Demon Suppression Bureau constable. "Does the Demon Suppression Bureau just watch as others assault us like this?"

The Demon Suppression Bureau constable rolled his eyes. "No one was harmed, so I can't interfere. Those who rob others' goods should be prepared for retaliation."

*So this is how the Demon Suppression Bureau operates, is it? She can break into our sect and destroy our hall, but we can't kill her?*

Wu Jianchen spat out another mouthful of blood. He wanted to say something, but he was filled with unspeakable frustration, unable to utter a single word.

Lu Xingzhou, however, then spoke with a smile. "Sect Master Wu, logically, I also find it very strange that you would rob our goods. Who exactly wanted our goods to be robbed, and who wanted us to clash with your sect?"

Wu Jianchen's heart leaped, and he instinctively looked towards Elder Zhou by the side of the hall.

Lu Xingzhou immediately flashed forward, extending a claw towards Elder Zhou's shoulder. "Sect Master Wu, is this person not from your sect?"

Wu Jianchen replied, "This is a guest from the Dongjiang Gang."

Elder Zhou was also a fourth-rank cultivator. Seeing Lu Xingzhou move to grab him, he was about to dodge when a whip-kick landed on his lower abdomen.

Elder Zhou coughed up a mouthful of blood, his heart filled with dread.

*How could the difference be so vast?*

Lu Xingzhou grabbed Elder Zhou and lifted him, throwing him into the center of the main hall. "Sect Master Wu, there is still the connection of the Huanhua Sword Sect between you and I. I advise you not to be used as a pawn. I leave this person to Sect Master Wu for thorough interrogation. As for anything else, we can discuss it privately. Farewell."

The couple, accompanied by the Demon Suppression Bureau constable, turned and left directly. Countless people from the Cangsheng Sword Sect surrounded the area outside, yet not a single person dared to stop them. They watched as Lu Xingzhou pushed the wheelchair, parting the crowd like a ship cutting through waves, and striding away.

Not long after they left, the main hall collapsed with a crash, sending up clouds of dust.

Wu Jianchen and the others emerged from the ruins, their faces covered in dust, and he grabbed Elder Zhou by the neck. "Tell me, did Lu Wei and the others listen to your instigation and incitement?!"

Elder Zhou's eyes bulged, and he struggled to speak, "No, not me... it was... it was the gang leader..."

*Bang!* Wu Jianchen flung him to the ground, his chest heaving with rage. "Whether or not I confront Shen Tang is my own consideration! What do you mean by designing to drag me into this?! The friendship between my Cangsheng Sword Sect and your Dongjiang Gang is severed from this day forth!"

Elder Zhou gingerly touched his throat, thinking to himself, *You're clearly afraid of Shen Tang, but you only dare to vent your anger on me.*

However, the Tianxing Sword Sect's actions had already differed greatly from when they were first established.

Back then, establishing their might was merely for self-preservation, showing they weren't to be easily messed with. But this time, they displayed powerful aggressiveness.

They clearly knew that the Cangsheng Sword Sect was merely being framed, and that the robbery was not orchestrated by Wu Jianchen, yet they still assaulted the sect and destroyed the main hall. That carried an extremely strong warning to the world.

To rob their goods, even if unsuccessful, would incur such retaliation. What if one offended them more severely? Who else would dare to act recklessly?

And while the Cangsheng Sword Sect appeared to have lost face, they might actually be the least harmed in this conflict, provided they no longer involve themselves. This was, in fact, Lu Xingzhou giving face due to the Huanhua Sword Sect connection.

Hitting someone, yet paradoxically giving them face... This was the kind of presence only displayed by top-tier powerful sects.

What the Tianxing Sword Sect wanted to achieve this time was not simply to establish their might, but to suppress a thousand miles and establish regional hegemony... just like the first-rank sects do.