Hearing Ji Tianlu’s words, Fei Yun did not readily interject. To tell the truth, his current state had hardly stabilized. Forcibly using a secret technique had caused him severe damage, and he simply couldn’t recover in a short period. But if he hadn’t done so, forget being severely injured; he would have lost his life. Comparatively speaking, Fei Yun still felt somewhat fortunate. At that moment, after he briefed them on the matter regarding the expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect, he had no desire to get involved any further.
"You gentlemen continue your discussion. I’ve said all I need to. I must go recuperate and won’t stay any longer," he said.
"Defender Fei, take care," Ji Tianlu nodded.
After Fei Yun left, Yun Venerable’s expression turned grim. "It’s not just Xiao An’s death; I suspect Fu Yue and Yun Dingtian from the Qingyu Sect also perished at his hands. Without the strength to break the limit, it would be impossible to be so formidable."
Xiao An’s death and Fei Yun’s severe injuries had caused the strength of the South Sea City Demon-Subduing Division to plummet to a nadir. Regarding this, a surging killing intent roiled in his heart. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to provoke the Demon-Subduing Division so brazenly.
Yuan Ji’s face was indifferent. "Whether Yun Dingtian is dead or not is of no concern to us. The forces in the Jianghu have always been at odds with our Demon-Subduing Division. However, the matters concerning Fu Yue and Xiao An are not so simple. Our Demon-Subduing Division has been dormant for too long, causing those Jianghu forces to forget its past methods. Now, a Grandmaster who has broken the limit dares to slay a Defender Envoy. If we let this matter slide, then our Demon-Subduing Division will have no prestige left!"
As his words fell, Ji Tianlu nodded slightly. "Regarding this matter, our Demon-Subduing Division must make its stance clear. Since the founding of the Demon-Subduing Division, never has a Defender Envoy died at the hands of Jianghu forces. For hundreds of years, Defender Envoys have been stationed across Great Qin, maintaining regional stability. In the eyes of those Jianghu forces, Defender Envoys are an invincible presence. Now that a Defender Envoy has fallen, it might lead them to mistakenly believe our Demon-Subduing Division is powerless, potentially stirring up trouble."
The Demon-Subduing Division suppresses the world. All forces in the Jianghu pale at the mere mention of its name. The reason for this is the terrifying strength of the Demon-Subduing Division, which prevents these forces from even conceiving a hint of rebellion. This prestige was forged when the Demon-Subduing Division first burst onto the scene, exterminating numerous defiant Jianghu forces and then going to great lengths to collect Martial Arts from all over. These actions made all Jianghu forces understand the fearsomeness of the Demon-Subduing Division. Thus, it has been a long time since any force or expert dared to provoke the Demon-Subduing Division. This time, the fall of two Defender Envoys is akin to a new beginning. If word gets out and others mistakenly believe the Demon-Subduing Division is merely a shell of its former self, and that Defender Envoys are not invincible, the resulting trouble would be far from minor.
The Jianghu of South Nether Prefecture alone might not amount to much, but the Jianghu within Great Qin is vast. If those individuals or forces in the Jianghu were to take this opportunity to stir up trouble, resolving it completely would come at a considerable price.
Subsequently, Ji Tianlu looked at Yun Venerable and said calmly, "Defender Yun, have you already reported the news to the Capital City?"
"It has been reported." Yun Venerable’s expression was icy. "The fall of a Defender Envoy is a major event; how could it not be reported to the Capital City? It’s just that insufficient time has passed, and word hasn’t come back yet. What we need to do now is ascertain the identity of that person from the Myriad Buddhas Sect. An expert who has broken the limit couldn’t possibly appear without reason. The Myriad Buddhas Sect has hidden so deeply, only to be exposed now; it’s likely they have other schemes."
Although furious, he still retained his reason. The emergence of a mysterious expert often brings unpredictable changes to the situation.
Yuan Ji said, "Whatever the plot, in the face of absolute power, it is futile."
At this, a cold smirk suddenly appeared on his face. "So what if he has broken the limit? A Grandmaster at the pinnacle of one major system is merely equivalent to a General Rank Defender Envoy. One at the pinnacle of two major systems is, at best, considered fairly good among Marquis Rank Defender Envoys. Someone who has broken the limit is, at most, equivalent to a King Rank Defender Envoy. Each of our three Demon-Subduing Divisions has King Rank Defender Envoys presiding; on what grounds does he dare contend with us!"
Are King Rank Defender Envoys strong? Very strong! In any Demon-Subduing Division branch, excluding the Capital City, a King Rank Defender Envoy is a top-tier commanding figure.
However, from another perspective, a typical King Rank Defender Envoy isn’t considered an overwhelmingly powerful entity for the Demon-Subduing Division as a whole, because the head of each branch is a King Rank Defender Envoy.
Though it’s true that no expert who had broken the limit had ever appeared before, based on the strength of a peak Grandmaster, one could roughly ascertain the level of power someone who broke the limit would possess. A King Rank Defender Envoy was already equivalent to a high-rank Demon Evil. An expert who broke the limit, possessing strength of this Realm, would indeed be considered very powerful.
If the opponent had directly leaped to the Venerable Rank Defender Envoy level—the equivalent of a Great Demon—Yuan Ji simply wouldn’t believe it. In fact, if they truly possessed such strength, Fei Yun couldn’t possibly have returned alive.
Ji Tianlu looked at him. "Defender Yuan, what do you plan to do?"
"I see no need to wait for a response from the Capital City. Our three Demon-Subduing Divisions should join forces and eradicate the Myriad Buddhas Sect immediately. This will also let the other Sects in the Jianghu understand that our Demon-Subduing Division is not to be provoked by just anyone. Even an expert who has broken the limit is nothing but an ant before the Demon-Subduing Division."
Yuan Ji’s tone was icy.
Ever since learning of Fu Yue’s death, a murderous intent had been brewing in his heart, but he hadn’t found a chance to vent it. Now that the chief culprit was clear, there was no need for further consideration. Eradicate the Myriad Buddhas Sect, and all problems would cease to be problems.
Upon hearing this, Ji Tianlu’s expression was serious. "Destroying the Myriad Buddhas Sect is not an issue. The Myriad Buddhas Sect has long been dissatisfied with our Demon-Subduing Division; they simply hadn’t found an opportunity before. Now, with two Defender Envoys fallen, the Myriad Buddhas Sect has brought about its own destruction."
"But—" he continued, "no matter what, the Myriad Buddhas Sect is still a top-tier force in the Jianghu. If we are to move against them, we must also consider the broader repercussions."
As Ji Tianlu finished speaking, Yun Venerable sneered, "Is Defender Ji worried that other Jianghu forces will collude with the Myriad Buddhas Sect?"
"That’s not impossible," Ji Tianlu conceded.
"Even if all the Jianghu forces in South Nether Prefecture unite, so what? With the power of our Demon-Subduing Division, we can suppress them all!" Yun Venerable had no such concerns. His face was filled with murderous intent, his voice remaining cold. "These so-called heroes use their martial prowess to defy the law. In recent years, while Demon Evils wrought havoc upon Great Qin, those Jianghu folk were also busy stirring up trouble in secret. These unruly people refuse to be governed and will sooner or later become a menace. If they ally with the Myriad Buddhas Sect, our Demon-Subduing Division will have the perfect opportunity to uproot them all."
"The power of the Demon-Subduing Division," Yun Venerable continued, his conviction unwavering, "is completely superior to that of the Jianghu. Even in an all-out war, the Demon-Subduing Division is more than capable of handling them."
Hearing this, Ji Tianlu shook his head. "While Defender Yun’s words are not without reason, the Jianghu has deep foundations. Some Sects can even trace their lineage back to Ancient Times. We cannot be certain they have no hidden trump cards. If we truly have a complete falling out, the situation will not unfold smoothly." Follow current novels on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Moreover," he added, "the number of people in the Jianghu is vast. Even if our Demon-Subduing Division were to suppress the entire Jianghu, how many could we truly subjugate? If we cannot eliminate them all, they will remain a hidden threat. Defender Yun, some matters require more careful consideration."
Hearing this, both Yuan Ji and Yun Venerable frowned deeply. Although they didn’t take the Jianghu forces seriously, they had to admit Ji Tianlu’s words held some truth.
Then, Yun Venerable asked, "Defender Ji, what do you think we should do?"
"It’s simple!" Ji Tianlu replied with a calm smile. "In any undertaking, it’s crucial to have a legitimate pretext; our action against the Myriad Buddhas Sect is no different. First, we dispatch people to spread the news: claim the Myriad Buddhas Sect secretly colluded with Demon Evils, harmed Great Qin’s Defender Envoys, and weakened South Nether Prefecture’s defenses, thereby allowing Demon Evils to run rampant and causing numerous casualties among the populace. Our Demon-Subduing Division, upholding its duty to eliminate demons and defend the righteous path, is therefore mobilizing to attack the Myriad Buddhas Sect."
"Whether the Jianghu forces believe it or not, spreading this message will cause some to hesitate. Crucially, it gives us a legitimate pretext to attack the Myriad Buddhas Sect. With such a pretext, everything that follows will be easier to manage."
Ji Tianlu looked completely confident.
Of the three Demon-Subduing Divisions in South Nether Prefecture, only the Mountain-Breaking City Demon-Subduing Division had not suffered any deaths. Consequently, he was the calmest among them and perceived many matters with clarity. Currently, the Demon-Subduing Division and the Jianghu existed in a delicate balance. Attacking the Myriad Buddhas Sect without just cause could easily shatter this equilibrium. After all, despite their concerns for prestige, news of the Defender Envoys’ deaths from both affected Demon-Subduing Divisions had already leaked by this point. If they were to attack the Myriad Buddhas Sect now, based solely on these known deaths, other forces would likely assume the Demon-Subduing Division was preparing to move against the entire Jianghu.
"But wouldn’t doing so damage our Demon-Subduing Division’s reputation?" Yun Venerable frowned.
Ji Tianlu laughed. "Defender Yun, you’re too close to the situation to see clearly. Yes, having Defender Envoys fall at the hands of the Myriad Buddhas Sect is indeed detrimental to our Division’s prestige. However, as long as we annihilate the Myriad Buddhas Sect, no prestige will ultimately be lost. We just need a pretext. As for our reputation, it will all be restored with the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s destruction."
After Ji Tianlu finished speaking, Yuan Ji gave him a long, thoughtful look. "Defender Ji makes a good point. Let’s proceed as he suggests. First, our Demon-Subduing Division must secure a legitimate pretext, and then we will mobilize our forces to annihilate the Myriad Buddhas Sect."
"Securing a pretext isn’t difficult," Ji Tianlu stated. "A joint declaration from our three Demon-Subduing Divisions will suffice."