A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

Chapter 125 The Two Elders of Xuanming, Xiao Zhao Pleads for Help

Poyang Lake Wharf in Jiangxi Province.

The riverboat was two stories high, with iron cannons mounted on the bow deck and on both the port and starboard sides. The river wind howled, causing the cloak on Prince Ruyang to flutter loudly.

He gazed at the surging tides of Poyang Lake, one wave pushing the next, and muttered to himself, "People in the martial world often say that there's no end to the wine in the cup and no end to the heads of enemies. Aren't I the same? I just finished wiping out the Maitreya Sect and the White Lotus Sect in Jiangxi and Fujian, and now there are demonic sects stirring up trouble in Shaanxi and Sichuan. When will the world be free from war?"

As Prince Ruyang thought this through, a look of relief appeared on his face. "Fortunately, Baobao is already capable of handling things on his own, and Minmin is becoming more and more intelligent and sensible, which can be of great help to me."

Two tall, thin old men approached at that moment, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, it's time to board the ship."

"Hmm." Prince Ruyang nodded and turned to walk towards the large ship at the dock.

The gray figure suddenly swept in from the direction of the dock as if shrinking the distance to an inch, and a warning voice rang out instantly.

"Who is it?"

"Protect the prince."

Prince Ruyang frowned slightly and turned around, his gaze falling on the gray figure that had stopped approaching. He suddenly smiled and said, "Please invite Mr. Lu to bring the master over."

"Your Highness, please wait a moment."

Master Lu strode toward the man in gray, while Prince Ruyang stepped aboard and entered the room.

After a guard served tea and left, the sound of footsteps approached from the deck. The curtain was lifted by an iron-gray hand, and a man in gray clothes walked in, lifting his hood. It was Cheng Kun.

"Please have a seat, Master."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cheng Kun clasped his hands together in thanks and sat upright in the rosewood chair.

"The master drinks tea."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cheng Kun picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and set it down. "Has Your Highness heard of the Purple-Robed Dragon King and the Princess?"

"I've heard some news from scouts in Anhui and around Hongze Lake."

"This humble monk has a request for Your Highness."

"The master speaks frankly."

"We beg Your Highness's assistance in capturing the Purple-Robed Dragon King."

"What does the master mean?"

"The Purple-Robed Dragon King was seriously injured when she appeared in Mingguang not long ago, with a broken leg. If she manages to escape from the princess's encirclement, she will definitely go somewhere else."

Prince Ruyang smiled slightly, "Master, your wisdom is extraordinary. I will not speculate. How can I assist you?"

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cheng Kun poured tea for Prince Ruyang and said, "Ling She Island. Although I don't know the location of Ling She Island, Dai Qisi has difficulty walking, so she will definitely hire a large ship from the Yangtze River dock to go out to sea."

"I hereby order the Yangtze River to be blocked, and all large ships traveling to and from the river to be inspected."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cheng Kun took out a portrait from his bosom and placed it on the table.

"Regarding the Demonic Sect, has the Master's plan made any progress?"

"Everything is under control, Your Highness awaits good news."

"Very well. You've worked hard, Master."

"You're too kind. Your Highness is very busy. I'll take my leave now."

"This king is sending off the master."

Cheng Kun got up, and the Prince of Ruyang saw him off. The two left the room and walked to the bow of the boat. Cheng Kun put his hands together in farewell, pulled up his hood, jumped ashore, and disappeared into the rows of buildings.

On the upper reaches of Poyang Lake, dusk recedes towards the vast city of Hanyang, and the lights in Jingyun Nunnery gradually come on.

"Senior sister, do you think it's right?"

"correct."

Chen Yu carried the solid Bodhisattva statues, each weighing several hundred kilograms and containing a dragon-slaying sword, to the altar one by one. He asked Jingyi to check if they could be placed properly. After receiving her affirmative reply, Chen Yu landed, took the yellow incense, and offered three sticks of incense.

There was no need for him to take out the Dragon-Slaying Saber; he could wait until Extinction arrived before taking it.

Thunder rumbled, and the newly recruited disciples residing in Hanyang City entered one after another. They praised the lifelike features of the Buddha statue, and then burned incense one by one to bid farewell to Chen Yu.

"See you tomorrow, senior brother."

"Will you be available tomorrow, senior brother? I would appreciate your guidance."

The disciples in Hanyang City were all well-educated and reasonable, and their personalities were lively and unrestrained. Chen Yu smiled and replied that he would see them tomorrow and test them then. As time went by, the bustling temple gradually quieted down.

Chen Yu walked through the courtyard and said to Jingyi, who was preparing dinner, "Shall I take a walk around the city?"

"Are you going to see Xiao Zhao?" Jingyi asked with a smile.

"Hmm, go check if there's been any news about her lately?"

"I've never been here before. Xiao Zhao is very ambitious; she won't seek help from the nunnery unless absolutely necessary."

"That's true." Chen Yu nodded with a smile, greeted Jingyi, took a black umbrella, and headed straight for the shantytown near the dock after leaving the temple.

After the clouds had been gathering and gathering at dusk, rain finally began to fall.

With a whoosh, the water droplets deflected by the umbrella lingered in the air for a moment before being pushed to the ground by more raindrops. The dense raindrops fell on the rooftops, converging into a torrent in the alley, overflowing uncontrollably.

"Xiao Zhao".

Chen Yu knocked on the door.

There was no response. Chen Yu pushed the door open with his right hand. With a creak, the wooden door opened, and dim light spread into the room. He went inside.

From the hall to the interior, it's only six or seven steps in total. The furnishings are simple, but clean and tidy.

Could it be that Dai Qisi came here and left with Xiao Zhao? Chen Yu returned to the hall and his gaze fell on the note under the teacup on the yellowed wooden table.

He walked over and picked it up.

"Brother Chen, my mother and I are going on a long journey. Though the mountains are high and the rivers are long, the world is not far away. We'll meet again in the martial world."

Perhaps she went to Ling Snake Island; that's fine too. Chen Yu put away the note, walked out of the room, closed the door, opened her umbrella, and her gray figure passed through the rain and mist, heading towards a dumpling restaurant hidden deep in the city.

Dark clouds shrouded the Yangtze River, the waves crashed against the lake shore, and large ships sailed through the gray rain.

"Mother, what happened to your leg?"

Xiao Zhao and Dai Qisi boarded a passenger ship. The two were alone in a small room. When Dai Qisi entered and took off her veil, Xiao Zhao saw her mother's legs.

call----

Dai Qisi let out a long sigh. At Xiao Zhao's question, she momentarily lost consciousness, then shook her head. What had initially seemed like a flawless plan, with the Dragon-Slaying Saber successfully obtained, was just a matter of bringing Xiao Zhao to Ling Snake Island to study the secret of "Supreme Martial Artist, Commander of the World." But from the Tonghui River in Dadu onwards, the course of events took a sudden turn. First, they were surrounded and attacked; then, while fleeing to Mingguang, they lost the precious saber and were severely injured. If it weren't for their quick thinking in rescuing Hu Qingniu and saving themselves, they might not have made it out of Mingguang. —

The once mighty Purple-Robed Dragon King has fallen to such a state, like a stray dog. Who exactly is that black-clad man who took the Dragon-Slaying Saber? His martial arts skills are secondary; his cunning is truly astounding.

"mother!"

Xiao Zhao's voice brought Dai Qisi back to her senses. She sat at the table, her dress as beautiful as a lotus, her long hair flowing over her shoulders. Every move she made was pleasing to the eye and flawless.

"Everything's alright now."

Ignoring Dai Qisi's comforting words, Xiao Zhao asked, "Mother, what exactly happened?"

Dai Qisi poured a cup of cool tea and then briefly recounted her experiences of taking Bai Guishou to sea, finding Xie Xun, returning to the Central Plains, losing the Dragon-Slaying Saber, rescuing Hu Qingniu, and recovering from her injuries.

Xiao Zhao already knew her identity and the reason why her mother had been hiding with her all these years. After hearing this, she pondered for a moment and said, "According to Mother, since we can no longer rely on the Dragon-Slaying Saber to ensure our safety, the only way is to use the 'Great Shift of Heaven and Earth' technique to atone for our sins when the Persian sect comes looking for us."

"It's easier said than done." Dai Qisi sighed, then, fearing it might affect Xiao Zhao's mood, she smiled and said, "The world is vast, there's nowhere you can't hide. On this voyage, I've encountered many secluded but habitable islands, like Ling Snake Island and deserted islands. I've moved around so much, surely I won't be found again. Don't worry, Zhao'er."

"How can I obtain the 'Great Shift of Heaven and Earth' divine skill?" Xiao Zhao's thoughts differed from Dai Qisi's. She secretly pondered what she should do for her mother.

"Mother was afraid that her limp would give people away, so she forced herself to walk the whole way, which injured her muscles and bones. She needs to recuperate for a while."

"Zhao'er will protect you."

"No need to worry, this is a passenger ship. The Eagle Sect and others are currently in Anhui. Once the passenger ship reaches downstream, we can hire a sea vessel, and our whereabouts will not be exposed."

"Hmm." Xiao Zhao nodded, but her gaze was fixed on the river through the window, and she listened to the sounds coming from the passenger ship's corridor. Dai Qisi suddenly felt a pang of sadness and sighed inwardly. She then came back to her senses and sat down to meditate.

The passenger ship cut through the rain and waves, entering the waters of Jiangxi Province around dawn.

The rain gradually subsided, becoming a light drizzle, and the riverbanks were shrouded in a hazy mist. Suddenly, a noisy sound arose from the passenger ship, and Xiao Zhao, who was dozing off, rubbed her eyes.

"mother!"

"Shh"

Dai Qisi landed beside Xiao Zhao and looked around, only to see the passenger ship docking at the riverbank.

With Dai Qisi's cultivation level, one could hear the falling leaves within a radius of several feet. The sounds of people leaping onto the passenger ship and the voices of conversation gradually entered her heart.

"Sir, this is a passenger ship."

"Stop talking nonsense. Search and investigate the remnants of the Maitreya Sect and the White Lotus Sect. Anyone found protecting them will be killed without exception."

"How dare I presume to do such a thing?"

Dai Qisi overheard the conversation between the boatman and the Tartar military officer and breathed a slight sigh of relief. They were searching for disciples of the Maitreya Sect and the White Lotus Sect in Jiangxi. It was a false alarm.

"It's alright, Zhao'er, don't panic when the time comes."

"Um."

A commotion, cries of fear, and screams from a woman quickly rose up. Suddenly, the cabin door was violently pushed open, and a Tartar military officer, a Tibetan monk, and a boatman appeared in Dai Qisi's line of sight.

The Tartar military officer glanced at Xiao Zhao, who was standing behind Dai Qisi, and then said, "You, take off your veil."

Dai Qisi removed her veil.

The air fell silent for a moment. The Tartar officer withdrew his gaze and said to the boatman, "Next."

"Please come to this room, sir."

The boatman led the Tartar military officer and the Tibetan monk to a cabin not far away. Dai Qisi floated up like a ghost, her fingers like swords, striking the Tartar military officer's pressure points. With a swift motion, she drew the officer's waist knife with her right hand and took the portrait from his hand with her left. The Tibetan monk heard the noise and turned around sharply. In the dimly lit corridor, a bright blade flashed down.

*Splash!* Fresh blood splattered in the air.

Dai Qisi killed the Tibetan monk, and with her left hand she unfurled the scroll. The portrait depicted a woman with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks—it was none other than herself.

If it weren't for the Tartar's composure upon seeing my appearance, I would have been almost fooled. Thank goodness, Dai Qisi thought to herself, and shouted, "Zhao'er, let's go!"

From the bow of the ship, several Tartars rushed forward with knives.

An astonishing battle spread across the large ships. Not far down the river, large ships were slowly moving forward, and figures appeared one after another at the bow after hearing the commotion.

As dawn broke, Prince Ruyang rose early, washed up, practiced a set of boxing techniques on the deck of the large ship, returned to his room for breakfast, and began reading military strategy texts. He was then startled by the screams and sounds of fighting on the river.

He left the room and walked towards the bow of the boat, where Wangfu guest ministers Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng were already standing in front of him.

"Your Highness, there's a fight on that passenger ship. The woman is quite skilled; she's a master."

Upon hearing Lu Zhangke's words, the Prince of Ruyang naturally thought of Cheng Kun's recent remarks about the Purple-Robed Dragon King. After Cheng Kun's departure, he had sent an urgent order across the Yangtze River, instructing everyone to search for the Purple-Robed Dragon King under the pretext of capturing the remnants of the Maitreya Sect, carrying his portrait. Could that woman be the Purple-Robed Dragon King?

-

"Move closer."

The Prince of Ruyang ordered the large ship to immediately adjust its course. When it was still four or five zhang away from the passenger ship, Lu Zhangke's figure swayed, and he flew through the air like a crane riding the wind, skimming across the river and landing on the passenger ship.

The sounds of panic on the passenger ship surged like the tide of the river. Dai Qisi continued to advance, her long sword leaving chilling marks in the air, and blood bloomed like fireworks.

"Mother, there are people behind us!" Xiao Zhao's voice rang out urgently. In an instant, Dai Qisi slashed backward with her sword. Suddenly, a powerful force came through the blade, causing her blood to boil.

"How come it's another top expert?" Dai Qisi was shocked. She lunged forward, and in an instant, she lost her momentum. Then, she leaned back like a swallow darting through the clouds, somersaulting and landing behind the newcomer.

The moment she landed, the tall and slender Lu Zhangke shifted his stance, twisted his waist, and spun around, unleashing a palm strike.

Dai Qisi hurriedly refused the palm strike.

The two palms collided with a resounding thud, like striking leather. Dai Qisi felt an incredibly strong force, the palm strike itself carrying an incomparably cold chill. This chill traveled along the Laogong acupoint in her palm, rushing into her body, causing her chest to churn with blood and qi, and a bone-chilling cold to seep into her bones.

Tatata!

Dai Qisi staggered back several steps, her footing causing the ship's planks to collapse section by section.

"Zhao'er, get in the water."

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Zhao leaped into the surging waves. In the instant Dai Qisi's figure rose from the ground, Lu Zhangke was already like a wisp of green smoke blocking the ship's side. His left palm, with fingers like a halberd, swiftly struck the "Chengman" and "Burong" acupoints on Dai Qisi's right abdomen.

Dai Qisi retreated swiftly, her long sword sweeping across the battlefield, severing enemies at the waist.

Lu Zhangke retreated a foot or so like a phantom, then instantly reappeared as if a shadow had landed on him. His palms unleashed a torrent of power, finding gaps and openings, and a series of palm shadows enveloped Dai Qisi.

In the narrow space of the corridor, the sounds of wind and thunder caused by Lu Zhangke and Dai Qisi's fight and the sound of footsteps pounding on the floor resounded wildly. The surrounding cabins and ship planks were constantly breaking. With a bang, the long knife in Dai Qisi's hand flew out into the rain and mist. Her arm was grabbed in time. Lu Zhangke spun twice and was thrown into the cabin.

"mother!"

Xiao Zhao surfaced on the river and shouted loudly. Lu Zhangke stood on the gunwale and looked at Xiao Zhao. Dai Qisi's hysterical voice rang out from inside the cabin.

"Zhao'er, go, the farther the better."

Sailors from the large ship belonging to the Prince of Ruyang had already jumped into the river with daggers in their mouths and Emei daggers in their hands. Xiao Zhao glanced at the large ship, took a deep breath, and then sank into the river, disappearing instantly.