Raise a sword!

Outside the formation of the Cangshan Sect, in mid-air.

Qi Zhenren suddenly frowned and reached out to catch a few drops of rain.

"These dark clouds..."

"Something's not right." Master Si stood up and looked around. "From a clear blue sky to suddenly being overcast, when did the weather in the Southern Mountain Region become so unpredictable?"

Master Qi also stood up and said solemnly, "No one has ever used the technique of summoning clouds and rain before, and even the Spirit Plant Master's methods don't produce such a big commotion... This dark cloud should be able to cover an area of ​​dozens of miles."

"It is the essence of Tao."

Master Si tilted his head slightly, letting the fine rain fall on him.

"The Cangshan Sect has no Golden Core cultivators with water spiritual roots, so which fellow Daoist has come here? This battle concerns the future of my Chen family, so please do not interfere. My Chen family will offer generous gifts afterward."

A child's innocent voice rang out immediately afterward.

"Is it a lavish gift like the ones given to the Sword Pavilion and the Illusionary Sound Sect?"

Before the two Golden Core cultivators of the Chen family could respond, the child's voice continued, "Even if I, your mother, were to stay out of it, judging from your two old and decaying appearances, I'm afraid you wouldn't be a match for Old Man Lü."

Master Si raised an eyebrow slightly.

He was somewhat unsure of the newcomer's identity, but he was certain that the other party was indeed a Golden Core cultivator.

Such Daoist principles are no longer mere trifles at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"This time, Fellow Daoist Fang of Feiyan Tower and the Chen family have joined forces. The Cangshan Sect is unworthy of its position. Even if we don't destroy its lineage today, we will drive them out of the northern foothills... Fellow Daoist should also recognize the situation and not knowingly invite enemies when things are hopeless."

"Provoking enemies? Are you threatening me?"

"I am simply telling you frankly."

As soon as Master Si finished speaking, the drizzle in the sky suddenly closed up and transformed into a celestial river floating in the air.

A massive amount of river water rushed straight towards Si Zhenren.

"Hmph, stubborn as a mule!"

Master Si snorted coldly, and suddenly a wooden staff appeared in his hand. He faced the raging river water alone, and with one strike of the staff, he dispersed the water.

Almost at the same time, a little girl suddenly appeared in front of Master Qi, who was watching the battle from the spot.

He felt that the person looked familiar.

The next moment, the girl raised her hand and pointed, and the dense drizzle around her immediately changed direction. Every raindrop turned into a sharp needle and swept towards Master Qi.

"How dare you challenge both of us to a magical duel at the same time!"

Master Qi exclaimed in surprise. With a mere thought, the spiritual energy around him transformed into waves, blocking out the countless rain needles.

At the same time, Master Si, who was entangled with Tianhe, also broke free and swung his cane at the girl's figure.

But just as the cane was about to fall, the little girl suddenly turned around and showed a disdainful look.

bang——

The cane fell heavily onto the little girl, but immediately afterward, the girl's body turned into endless raindrops.

"It's fake." Master Si shook his head slightly, his expression extremely solemn.

He and Master Qi exchanged a glance, each seeing disbelief in the other's eyes.

"Has this person reached the Golden Core stage?" Master Si asked.

"The flow of Daoist energy is still somewhat delayed; that must be the case," Master Qi nodded.

Master Si then said, "This woman looks familiar to me. Is she Ni Chang?"

Master Qi nodded.

It's her.

Master Si couldn't help but frown and say, "What makes the Cangshan Sect think of this? Isn't my Chen Kingdom several times larger than this small northern foothills? Why don't we see such a figure appearing in Chen Kingdom?"

Master Qi remained silent, knowing that Master Si was merely venting, frequently quoting classic lines from "Raising the Sword!" to find resonance, rather than genuinely being curious about the reason.

If the northern foothills were not part of the main ridge of the Diming Mountains, and if this place had not shared some of the Diming Mountains' fortune and natural resources, why would the Chen family have set their sights on this place?

Just as the two were talking, Ni Chang's figure slowly appeared in the rain.

Master Qi laughed first, "My dear niece, Ni Chang, you've grown even more beautiful after all these years."

Ni Chang's expression darkened.

"If you can't speak properly, shut up. Do you think I don't look in the mirror? I'm clearly getting worse as I get older. Where's my beauty? If you want to see beauty, go to a brothel! Every woman there is more beautiful than the last. I guarantee you'll be dazzled, you old lecher."

Master Qi shut his mouth.

Master Si frowned and said, "Why must my niece speak so rudely?"

Ni Chang didn't say anything, but just looked at Master Si as if he were a fool.

She kept staring at him until he blushed and was speechless before she sneered, "You come to my door and ask me why I spoke so rudely? Fine, I'm not one for verbal sparring."

"No matter the outcome of this battle, I'm going to the State of Chen. I'll go and kill all the members of your Chen clan. First, I'll wipe out all the Foundation Establishment cultivators, and then I won't let the Qi Refining cultivators go either."

"However, I am also a compassionate person and cannot bear to commit too many atrocities. So I only slaughtered the members of your Chen family who have spiritual roots, leaving the mortal descendants, which can be considered as leaving an heir for your Chen family."

Master Si's expression immediately changed upon hearing this.

"How...how dare you do this?"

"How dare I do that?" Ni Chang asked in surprise. "Weren't you two the ones who attacked our sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators first?"

At this point, Ni Chang suddenly looked at the empty space on the other side.

"Since Brother Zhang is here as well, let's ask him to be the judge."

The expressions of the two Golden Core cultivators from the Chen family changed slightly.

They already knew someone was secretly watching, but since the Chen family hadn't gained any advantage yet, it wasn't the right time to expose that person.

But just as Ni Chang spoke, a middle-aged Taoist priest slowly appeared in the empty space in mid-air.

The middle-aged Taoist priest's gaze fell on Ni Chang, with a scrutinizing look mixed with a hint of helplessness.

"It's not time for the Dragon and Snake Temple to get involved yet," the Taoist priest said.

Ni Chang snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"It's a shame we still have that old friendship from when we dug holes and buried people together. Now they're acting like they've turned their backs on us."

Ni Chang turned to look at the two Chens.

"If the Dragon and Snake Sect insists on fighting, then please show us your true skills... You've already come to the gates of my Cangshan Sect, so why bother with this pretense? If it weren't for Master Lü keeping a close eye on things, you two would have already joined the fray, wouldn't you?"

Seeing this, Zhang the Taoist priest finally appeared between Ni Chang and the two Chen family Golden Core cultivators in a flash.

"That's enough."

Zhang the Taoist priest looked around and his face turned solemn.

"The True Lord has sent this humble Taoist to negotiate peace."

Zhang the Taoist priest bowed slightly to both sides, then his gaze fell on the Chen couple.

"This battle was all caused by the Chen family."

Master Qi immediately spoke up, "It is clearly the Cangshan Sect that has infiltrated my Chen Kingdom..."

Taoist Zhang did not argue, but simply looked at Master Qi quietly.

Seeing that even Master Qi couldn't continue speaking, he calmly said, "Fellow Daoist, do you intend to deceive the True Lord?"

"I wouldn't dare," Master Qi quickly replied.

Taoist Zhang nodded slightly.

"The True Lord's decree states that the State of Chen is shrouded in chaos and evil, with the Way waning and demons rising. This is the fault of the Chen clan."

"Effective immediately, two hundred li of Chen's northern territory shall be ceded... Do you have any objections?"