Embers of Sword

Chapter 335: Ten Heroes
"I never thought that even Buddhism would have such a bleak time..."

Junshan Zhenren sat in front of the campfire and said with a half-smile: "Bald donkey, you dare to tell me this news?"

Taoism and Buddhism are in confrontation with each other.

He and Miaozhen were enemies in their previous lives.

"Why don't you dare?"

Miao Zhen is indifferent: "There are ups and downs, prosperity and decline, this is the truth of the world. Now is no longer the era of the struggle between Buddhism and Taoism. It is meaningless for you and me to fight to the death..."

"You want to join forces with me?"

Junshan sneered.

"We have to join forces."

Miao Zhen smiled and said, "Xie Zhen, if you, I, and the three religions we represent don't join forces, we will soon be in danger."

these ten years.

The Buddhist sect was suppressed by the cavalry.

The Taoist sect is in seclusion, and the Sword Palace is in seclusion.

None of these three thousand-year-old holy places that transcend the earthly world have an easy time.

Taoism is powerful, but it is also in a turbulent era... Junshan Zhenren knows this better than anyone else. Once the eldest senior brother Xiaoyaozi continues to retreat and allows the great Zhenren Chongkan to continue to hold power, Taoism will go down a strange path.

"We are gathered here tonight. It is both the arrangement of fate and the conclusion of cause and effect."

The Buddhist disciple raised his head, his eyes penetrating the gaps between the long leaves, gazing at the dim starry sky above his head.

"Almost got it."

Junshan Zhenren waved his hands impatiently and scolded: "Don't be so pretentious... How do you want to join forces?"

"No matter how carefully the delegation sailed westward this time, it must have attracted the attention of Nalan Xuance."

The Buddhist disciple restrained his smile and said solemnly: "Given his personality, he will most likely kill me..."

"Isn't this against the rules?"

Junshan Zhenren narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "The Ten Heroes of the World, who are stationed in the four realms, have long established a rule that any cultivator who has been promoted to the Yang God realm cannot move around at will. At this critical moment, if a Yang God takes action, the Qi will be disturbed, which may directly lead to a war... A person like Nalan Xuance is being watched by countless eyes. If he makes any movement, it will be discovered by other Yang Gods."

"Perhaps this is the reason why Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong joined forces."

The Buddhist disciple lowered his eyebrows and said slowly: "Some people suspect that Chen Chong could have been promoted to Yang God a long time ago. It's just that he has always been in the realm of Yin God Perfection, so the rules set by the Ten Heroes cannot constrain him."

"wild ambition……"

Junshan was a little unconvinced and frowned, "Is there anyone in this world who can resist the temptation of becoming a Yang God?"

"Chen Chong is a ruthless hero."

Faced with Junshan's questioning, Miaozhen just sighed softly.

these ten years.

The Buddhist sect was suppressed by the joint efforts of Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong, making it quite a headache to control it.

"Yin Shen is perfect... How can I help you?"

Junshan said coldly: "If this kid surnamed Chen is really as powerful as you say, even if you and I have both broken through the realm now, we can't be his opponent."

The reincarnated real person and the reincarnated living Buddha are certainly powerful and invincible in the same realm.

But it takes time for them to practice.

There is a huge gap between the perfection of Yin God and the initial stage of Yin God.

The spirit, knowledge, and combat experience of the previous life...are not enough to make up for this natural gap.

"Chen Chong won't do it himself."

Miao Zhen raised a finger and said, "Over the years... there has always been a delicate balance in the fight between us and the Iron Cavalry. Whether it's Nalan Xuance or Chen Chong, no matter how iron-blooded and cruel the cleansing plan they set up, their real bodies will never show up, because..."

"The Zen Master is just old. He is not dead."

Xie Xuanyi gave the answer for Miaozhen.

He said calmly, "Chen Chong cherishes his life, and Nalan Xuance is afraid of death. Such ambushes may seem tempting, but what if it is a trap set by the Fanyin Temple? As long as the Zen Master shows up, they will be in trouble."

"good."

Miao Zhen nodded and said, "The rules set by the Ten Heroes have been effective for all these years, but no one knows... whether these rules can restrain people above the Ten Heroes."

these years.

The list of the top ten heroes has hardly changed.

The ten famous Yang Gods on the list are almost the ten most powerful people in the world today...

But on this list.

Some names will not appear.

For example, Qin Zu, Zhao Chunyang, Xiaoyaozi... they became the "Ten Heroes" of their generation many years ago, and voluntarily gave up their positions to the young people of the next generation. The throne changes, but the top of the mountain remains. These people have long since jumped off the list of the Ten Heroes, and do not need the help of this luck, nor do they care about the blessing of this so-called fame.

If you say that the Ten Heroes are the sky.

Then they are the people standing above the sky.

None of these people lived as long as the Zen master.

Which of the ten heroes dares not to give face to the Zen Master?
"Speaking of which...is the new list of the top ten heroes coming out soon?"

Junshan raised his eyebrows and suddenly thought of something.

This year, Fangyuanfang released news that after the Tianjiao list is replaced, the list of the top ten heroes will also be replaced.

This news attracted the attention of many people.

Compared to the Tianjiao list.

The new list of the top ten has attracted greater attention.

"Why, do you want to reach the top of the mountain in this life and become the new generation of 'Ten Heroes'?"

Miao Zhen sneered and said, "Back then, you seemed to have missed the Ten Heroes by a hair's breadth. You wouldn't be brooding over this and still haven't forgotten it, right..."

"I don't care about the Tianjiao Ranking, but can't I think about the Ten Heroes?"

Junshan said angrily: "I'm reincarnated again, can't I fulfill the unfulfilled wishes of my previous life?!"

"No matter which era, being one of the Ten Heroes is not easy."

Miao Zhen said calmly: "It was not unfair that you lost to Zhao Tongtian back then."

"Ok?"

Xie Xuanyi tilted his ears, he seemed to have heard some extraordinary unofficial history.

Did Junshan lose to Tongtian Zhanglu back then?

"Pooh……"

Junshan Zhenren blushed and said angrily: "I was just being polite. Zhao Tongtian is in that state, who can have the heart to beat him? Besides, the position of the 'Ten Heroes' he wanted back then was not for himself..."

"Too."

Miao Zhen sighed softly, "It's not your fault. If I were in Da Chu, I would also give up this position."

He noticed Xie Xuanyi's expression and explained, "Back then, the Lotus Master of the Dasui Sword Palace was praised as the person with the best chance of being promoted to the Ten Heroes. It's a pity that this female sword fairy died in the Battle of Drinking Poison... At that time, Zhao Tongtian had just been promoted to Yang God, and he went on a killing spree in the battlefield of the demon clan, fighting with several great masters. He was simply a killing god. After the Battle of Drinking Poison, Zhao Tongtian became the new generation of 'Ten Heroes'."

Xie Xuanyi understood the character of the lawyer.

Winning this position as one of the "Ten Heroes" is somewhat like making up for the regrets of the deceased.

Junshan never won the fight.

It is indeed impossible to win the competition.

"What are the conditions for becoming one of the Ten Heroes?"

Deng Baiyi, who had been listening quietly by the campfire, blinked and asked curiously.

"Why, Miss Deng is interested in Shihao?"

Miaozhen did not ignore Deng Baiyi just because her cultivation level was low.

He smiled and said, "The Ten Heroes of the World are considered to be the makers of the rules. This position is almost only occupied by Yang Shen. What specific conditions are required for the new generation of 'Ten Heroes'... I think there are probably only two words."

“Strong enough.”

"So……"

Deng Baiyi listened attentively and asked again: "Xie Xuanyi back then?"

"Xie Xuanyi back then?"

Miao Zhen raised his eyebrows and said regretfully, "It's a pity that I was not born in that era, so I couldn't see with my own eyes how graceful the young Xuanyi Sword Immortal was. If he could live longer, I'm sure he would have a place among the top ten heroes in the world."

This is a very tactful statement.

Xie Xuanyi in the Battle of Beihai was not qualified enough to become one of the Ten Heroes.

"The Ten Heroes are usually the masters of holy places with profound backgrounds." Junshan Zhenren said calmly: "Looking back on the past, there may have been peerless independent cultivators with extraordinary talents, but the difficulty for such people to cultivate into the Ten Heroes is no less than that for evil cultivators to attain the Yang God. If Xie Xuanyi had not died in the North Sea, he would have to take a seat as one of the Ten Heroes if he wanted to become the headmaster of the Dasui Sword Palace."

"I see……"

Deng Baiyi murmured.

She suddenly looked at the boy beside her and asked seriously, "Do you think it's difficult to become one of the 'Ten Heroes'?"

"???"

Xie Xuanyi was caught off guard by being asked this question for no reason.

Why are you asking yourself this all of a sudden?

"Difficult. Of course it's difficult."

Xie Xuanyi said helplessly: "It is said that there are a total of ten seats in the world, but in fact, every generation of the Ten Heroes changes, and only one or two newcomers are on the list. It is not easy to stand out from millions of people and become the ten most powerful and influential people in the world. If you are really curious about the answer to this question, why not ask your cheap master."

Tang Fengshu is the current master of the world. After Xie Xuanyi's death, he is truly invincible in the same realm.

until now.

None of it has anything to do with the Ten Heroes.

Sometimes, just one step away can make the difference between a thousand miles away.

……

……

The weather was cool as water, and the candlelight in the library flickered.

Black-scaled guard Sang was walking out of the portal filled with light and fire, and came to the jade table to present the case file.

"Sir, Master Xie is about to arrive at Yuzhou."

Sang Zheng whispered, "We have been peaceful for three days since we set out from Tailing. The Imperial City Administration did not send cavalry to intercept us. Yuan Jimo has been listening to music in the Imperial City these days and does not seem to have any intention of taking action."

"……Um."

The thin and sickly scholar who was sitting at the desk writing something hummed softly.

Chen Jingxuan didn't look up. He was not at all surprised by the results of the report.

"gentlemen……"

Sang Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you worried?"

"worry about what?"

Chen Jingxuan smiled gently.

"The Fanyin Temple delegation has already left Zhongzhou."

Sang Zheng frowned and said, "Master Jiang said that you were expecting Yuan Jimo to take action... but now there is no movement. Could it be that Yuan Jimo has given up?"

"What kind of person is Yuan Jimo?"

Chen Jingxuan slowly put down his pen.

Sang Zheng was stunned for a moment.

"Yuan Jimo is a cruel, violent, cold-blooded, and ruthless person..."

"This is a real villain."

He thought for a moment and answered truthfully: "Use whatever means necessary, and take revenge."

After Yuan Jimo gained the favor of the Holy Empress and became the head of the Imperial City Division, he made countless enemies.

The fact that he has survived in the Imperial City till now is not only due to the protection of the Holy Queen.

He is ruthless enough and his methods are strong enough.

This is the reason why he can live well, and it is also the key reason why the Holy Queen is willing to use him.

"Yuan Jimo doesn't hold grudges overnight."

Chen Jingxuan said calmly: "He would torture anyone who provoked him and treat them harshly. But there were exceptions... For those powerful children of big families, Yuan Jimo often left a way for them to mediate."

Being surrounded by enemies on all sides does not prevent you from being good at dealing with people.

Yuan Jimo had many enemies and many friends.

But unlike enemies... these friends are not true friends.

After all, he is the head of the Imperial City Bureau, holds the power of life and death in the Imperial City, and has enjoyed the utmost favor from the Emperor.

No matter how much the world hates him.

There will always be someone willing to be "friends" with him.

"It seems that there is no room for mediation between Master Xie and him."

Sang Zheng was thinking back over the past few days' intelligence and spoke carefully.

"Yes."

Chen Jingxuan said calmly: "Yuan Jimo never intended to be friends with Xie Zhen from the beginning."

Sang Zheng was shocked and slowly raised his head.

"On the eve of the Dasui Sword Palace Xuanshui Competition, there was a Yuanhuo explosion."

Chen Jingxuan said calmly: "If Xie Zhen was just an ordinary person, he would have died in the Yuanhuo explosion... From that time on, Yuan Jimo had no room for mediation. If I am not mistaken, he must have tried to 'negotiate peace', but it's a pity that Xie Zhen would not accept it."

He knew Xie Xuanyi too well.

The imperial city’s usual trick, the lofty soul contract, must have been torn to pieces by Xie Xuanyi.

Hence, there was the subsequent test of the imperial city and the frame-up in Yong'an Street.

"what do you mean?"

Sang Zheng murmured.

"Yuan Jimo won't stay in the Imperial City for too long."

Chen Jingxuan lowered his eyebrows and said slowly: "Everything he is doing now is just 'acting'. The spies of the Imperial City Department must have been scattered everywhere, capturing all the information related to Xie Zhen. It only took three days to get from Tailing to Yuzhou. The delegation has just started its journey eastward. The current news is not enough to impress Yuan Jimo."

Snow Lord, Huang Su, Qi Lie, Chen Jingxuan...

All the people are thousands of miles away.

But this is not enough.

Sang Zhengdao: "So, Yuan Jimo is waiting?"

The words fell to the ground.

Sang Zheng's waist trembled slightly, and a secret order came from Ruyi Ling.

He looked down, checked the message, and read it out loud.

"Half a quarter of an hour ago, Yuan Jimo left the imperial city with special envoys Queqi and Huangxi, and more than ten archers, on the pretext of carrying out a secret mission. He headed eastward and his whereabouts are unknown."

Sang Zheng had a complicated expression, and couldn't help but sigh: "Sir, you are right... Yuan Jimo was acting before, he left the imperial city! Should we send someone to follow him?"

"no, do not want."

Chen Jingxuan shook his head.

"If you want to be a good hunter, you must first learn to treat yourself as the prey."

He looked calm as he continued writing on the jade slip, and said slowly: "Yuan Jimo is a cruel and violent man. But he is also a very timid person. Before the hunt begins, the slightest disturbance may scare him away."

Sang Zheng was full of admiration. He bowed and left.

The huge library was empty and deserted.

Only the Confucian scholar and the jade slip on the table were left.

On the jade slip, there were ten names glowing with golden light. Perhaps it was because of the blessing of the Hunyuan Instrument, the few names on the jade slip exuded a sacred atmosphere that made the entire library quiet and ethereal.

The thin scholar in blue robes kept writing because of this tenth name...

The last line of the jade slip.

It originally read Shu Lou, Yan Xin.

I wrote and deleted today, deleted and wrote again.

Write and delete, save and save.

Finally, the golden light flows and the pen and ink are finalized.

The young imperial master thought over and over again, and finally, on the last line, he slowly crossed out the name of his master Yan Xin.

He wrote down the new name stroke by stroke.
It's no longer a bookstore, Yan Xin.

But...the library, Chen Jingxuan.

(End of this chapter)