Chapter 86: Your Highness! Your Highness, this is bad!

Zilin Holy Land, within the main peak’s great hall.

On the Holy Lord’s throne, which sat atop high steps like an imperial dragon chair, Jiang Qingshang covered her small mouth and let out a soft yawn, her fair palm continuing to prop up her slightly pointed chin.

Inside the hall below the steps, it was the usual daily bickering.

The last argument was because the front lines between the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path had entered a fever pitch; every hall and peak of Zilin Holy Land believed the others were dragging them down.

This time, the quarrel was because the war between the righteous and demonic was nearing its end, and they were engaged in a war of words over the uneven distribution of spoils.

This war between the righteous and demonic, which had lasted nearly half a year, was quite brief.

Mainly, the various Sects of the Demonic Path had used Lin Xun’s name to plunder far too much land and resources back when he was invincible, far exceeding their ability to defend.

And in rumors, Lin Xun was a Devil Head who killed without blinking; if you so much as glanced at him, he would slaughter your entire family.

Thus, regarding the previous actions of the Demonic Path, the Righteous Path truly felt indignant but didn’t dare speak up.

Who knew if they might provoke Lin Xun and have their entire Sect wiped out in one go?

But now, Lin Xun had suffered a great dao injury and was near death. Without such a Heaven-Defying Devil Head like Lin Xun, everyone in the Righteous Path, who had been holding their breath, couldn’t wait to raid all the demonic Sects’ nests!

In truth, most demonic Sects were merely “bloated” by using Lin Xun’s name; their actual strength wasn’t much at all.

As a result, the demonic Sects suffered defeat after defeat, while the Righteous Path advanced triumphantly.

As the fighting continued, some righteous Cultivators realized that the demonic Sects acting tough at their doorsteps were actually such weaklings!

And they had actually endured in silence for so long!

Furthermore, upon investigation, let alone having a relationship with Lin Xun, he might not even know these demonic Sects existed!

The more they thought about it, the angrier they got!

It was like being swindled out of three hundred bucks by a three-year-old brat; the damage wasn’t great, but the insult was immense… Thus, in this war, the Righteous Path attacked the demonic Sects like madmen, forcing them to spit out everything they had taken and retreat back to their nests.

Some demonic Sect nests were even completely wiped out to vent their pent-up rage.

Among them, the Nine Great Holy Lands of the nine continents did the most raiding, and even Bodhi Holy Land participated quite a bit.

After all, why let it go to waste? It’s not that this poor monk has a grudge against you, it’s just that we are fated; I was just walking along and “accidentally” ended up at your nest, so I might as well stir things up a bit. Who’s to blame?

“Alright, stop arguing.”

On the Holy Lord’s jade throne, the young girl gave a light shout.

In the hall, everyone fell silent at once and bowed to Jiang Qingshang with clasped hands: “We beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”

In fact, a so-called Sect was essentially equivalent to a Dynasty, except a Dynasty had fixed borders while a Sect only held its own territory.

But if a Holy Land was powerful enough, its influence could radiate across the entire world!

“How is the battle situation in various places? Dafeng Hall, list the important points for me,” Jiang Qingshang said impatiently.

She was beginning to understand her Elder sister’s difficulties.

In this place of cultivation, these people bickered endlessly; if this were the actual court of the Qian Kingdom, wouldn’t the scheming and power struggles be even worse?

How did her sister handle all that?

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ya Suo, the Hall Master of Dafeng Hall, stepped forward and began his report.

“Since the start of the war between the righteous and demonic, the overall statistics of the battle situation are as follows:

In Longming Continent, the Black Dragon Sect suffered a heavy blow from an unknown Cultivator on the Night of the Demonic Sword. Their front lines have retreated, and the remaining remnants of the Black Dragon Sect have all returned to their headquarters in Longming Continent.

In Longming Continent, the Saintess and Saint of Yuelong Holy Land are each leading teams, attempting to tear a piece of flesh off the Black Dragon Sect.”

“Tear a piece of flesh off the Black Dragon Sect? Heh.”

Jiang Qingshang gave a cold smile.

“No matter how weak the Black Dragon Sect is, as long as that Ascension Realm Sect Master of Black Dragon Sect hasn’t fallen, their foundation won’t be harmed. I suspect that old fogey, the Holy Lord of Yuelong, intentionally wants his two Disciples to suffer a bit, gain more experience, and build up their reputations, which is why he sent them.”

“Your Highness is absolutely correct.”

“Next point.”

“In Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent, the battle situation with the demonic Sects is the least active and has basically concluded. However, rumors say Bodhi Holy Land wants to take advantage of the Righteous Path’s current momentum and join forces with the various Buddhist temples of Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent to attack Blood Shadow Cliff.”

Jiang Qingshang’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly: “Monk Yuan Jing is not one to stir up trouble. The reason?”

“Rumor has it that Blood Shadow Cliff wants to undo Great Master Yuan Meng’s Seal and release the things beneath the Nether Abyss.”

“Great Master Yuan Meng has been suppressing the Nether Abyss with his own body for a thousand years. If Blood Shadow Cliff wanted to release what’s beneath the Nether Abyss, it wouldn’t be that simple; otherwise, they would have tried long ago. Why wait a thousand years?”

Jiang Qingshang shook her head, feeling that things weren’t that simple.

“Who has been nominated to lead the operation in Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent this time?”

“Ruo Wangchen. For the attack on Blood Shadow Cliff, Bodhi Holy Land has nominated Ruo Wangchen to be in charge.”

.”

Jiang Qingshang fell into a brief silence.

“Monks don’t lie. Blood Shadow Cliff may indeed have some minor designs on the Nether Abyss recently, and Yuan Jing truly wants to stop them.

But the matter is definitely not that serious.

This time, I fear Yuan Jing wants Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent to truly recognize Ruo Wangchen’s status as the Buddhist Maiden; he’s establishing her authority.”

“If it’s as Your Highness says, making Ruo Wangchen the true Buddhist Maiden of Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent won’t be so easy.

Although Buddhism emphasizes ‘fate,’ Ruo Wangchen is, after all, a woman, even though many temples recognize her cultivation in the Buddhist path.

However, if she is to rise from the Saintess of Bodhi Holy Land to the Buddhist Maiden of Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent—even if Buddhism claims to follow fate—Ruo Wangchen is ultimately just a woman. There has been no such precedent since ancient times.

Those monks might not say it, but they likely harbor great resistance in their hearts.”

“That is their Buddhist business then.” Jiang Qingshang didn’t plan on wasting more time. “Dispatch some people to keep a close eye on the Nether Abyss side. If Blood Shadow Cliff really takes action, we must pay attention, no matter how small.”

“Yes.”

“Next.”

“In our Qianye Continent, under the wise leadership of the Holy Lord and Saintess, our Qianye Continent—”

“Cut the nonsense.”

“Yes.” Ya Suo had no choice but to abandon his prepared sycophantic lines.

“In Qianye Continent, setting aside the minor demonic Sects, the vast majority of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect’s peaks and halls retreated without a fight. Their evacuation was extremely rapid, and most treasures and Spirit Stones were moved away.

However, a few peaks and halls resisted to the death before finally being taken down by us; the spoils are currently being transported back to the Sect.

With the Ten Thousand Demon Sect in retreat, the other demonic Sects are even less of a threat; they have suffered heavy losses and are currently lying low.”

Jiang Qingshang: “The Ten Thousand Demon Sect is not a monolith. After Lin Xun disappeared, their peaks and halls either became relatively independent or huddled together into factions. Which faction suffered the least losses this time?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, it is the faction of the Demonic Girl Su Ying. According to our spies, it turns out Lin Xun’s forces are also all under Su Ying’s control. Moreover, when Lin Xun was nine years old, he handed over his entire power base to Su Ying.”

Luo Hansan stroked his beard and spoke up:

“The Saint and Saintess of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect are competitors. In the past, which Saint or Saintess of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect didn’t fight tooth and nail for the position of Demon Lord? Even if Lin Xun was invincible, would he really hand over all his power to his greatest rival?”

“Luo Hansan, that’s where you’re mistaken.”

Ya Suo said gossipingly.

“The Saint and Saintess of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect this time are different. Su Ying is Lin Xun’s Junior Sister, and rumor has it they are Dao Companions, the kind with an arranged marriage since childhood.

There’s even a legend in the Ten Thousand Demon Sect that before Lin Xun went to Merge with the Dao, he told Su Ying, ‘When I successfully Merge with the Dao, I’ll come back to marry you.'”

“Holy crap! The Demonic Path actually has such pure and touching romance?”

“One is a demonic Genius unseen since ancient times, and the other is the number one beauty of the Demonic Path today. If there are no sparks between them, what else would have them?”

The Peak Master of the Sword Peak chimed in.

“It’s just a pity. A spear is like a sword; the thing it needs to stay away from most is women. Surely Lin Xun’s failure to Merge with the Dao was because he had a woman in his heart, so his spear heart wasn’t pure enough.”

“Then why do you still like that Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion?” Gong Juren rolled his eyes at the Sword Peak Master.

“You! What do you know? Lament is the goddess of us Sword Cultivators! We Sword Cultivators love Lament! We love that unattainable coldness, where she only has the sword in her heart and no man can get near her!

Because no man can have Lament, she will forever be the most pure!”

“Enough.” Jiang Qingshang stopped the topic from veering further off course. “This woman Su Ying is likely not simple. Dafeng Hall, within thirty days, do your absolute best! I want all information on that woman!”

“Yes!” Ya Suo complied.

“Continue.”

“In Penglai Continent, the battle between the Confucian Academy and the demonic ‘Death Knell’ remains intense, but the Confucian Academy holds the upper hand.”

“Wanjian Continent—”

“Ice Soul Polar Continent.”

Ya Suo reported the general battle situations of the nine continents.

Except for Penglai Continent, the battles were nearing their end, and before long, ‘Death Knell,’ one of the Four Great Demonic Sects, would also retreat.

Before long, the situation of demonic arrogance influenced by Lin Xun alone would be pushed back ten years. The Righteous Path would continue to hold the upper hand, and the demonic Sects would have to keep lying low, especially since they had suffered heavy losses in this war.

“Oh right, Your Highness, there is one more thing!”

“Speak.”

“The Saintess of the Huanxi Sect has emerged into the world. Rumor has it she has already entered the territory of the Qian Kingdom.”

“Hiss—”

In the hall, half of the Elders sucked in a breath of cold air.

They had long since heard rumors about this Saintess of the Huanxi Sect.

Rumor had it that this Saintess of the Huanxi Sect was extremely beautiful; as for how beautiful, they didn’t know, but she was just beautiful.

There were even rumors that the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect was the true number one beauty in the world! Both Jiang Qingshang and Su Ying would have to step aside!

Of course, such claims were quite unrealistic; after all, how many people could actually see the Saintess of Zilin or the Demonic Girl of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, Su Ying?

In any case, people just followed the hype; perhaps those shouting it were just part of the Huanxi Sect’s publicity stunt.

That’s what they thought at first.

But until recently, rumors said more and more young talents had completely lost their souls after catching just one glimpse of the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect, as if they had lost their minds.

There were even rumors that a direct Disciple of an ordinary Sect, after seeing the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect, was willing to be her sycophant, but she ignored him entirely and had her maidservant beat him back.

After returning to his Sect, this direct Disciple lost his appetite and thought of finding that Saintess day and night. He was eventually locked up, but to everyone’s surprise, a month later, he actually succumbed to inner demons and died!

The most terrifying thing was that from beginning to end, this direct Disciple had not been under any charm Spells!

These were facts; Dafeng Hall had gone to that Sect to verify them.

In other words, even if this Saintess of the Huanxi Sect wasn’t as good-looking as their own Saintess, she was definitely not far off. Not to mention the Huanxi Sect specialized in charm techniques, which were especially effective against male Cultivators.

“The Qian Kingdom? What is she doing in the Qian Kingdom?” Jiang Qingshang was somewhat puzzled.

“Reporting to Your Highness, rumor has it that Lin Xun is lurking in Luo City. This Saintess of the Huanxi Sect is likely here for him.”

At this point, Ya Suo tried his best to choose his words carefully. After all, although Her Highness the Saintess was already in the Late Stage of the Jade Purity Realm, she was essentially still a pure eighteen-year-old girl; some terms couldn’t be too crude.

“After the Saintesses of the Huanxi Sect of every generation make their debut, they must use a Secret Technique to control a peerless powerhouse and turn them into their slave! Since Lin Xun’s injuries haven’t healed yet, this is the best opportunity!”

“Indeed.”

Daoist Shu of the Book Peak nodded.

“Although Lin Xun has suffered a great dao injury, he hasn’t become a nobody. Rumor has it that the Secret Technique cultivated by the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect can not only control powerhouses through her pure primordial yin but can also mend injuries and raise the Realms of both parties!

Once Lin Xun recovers, he will be another great Devil Head.

This Saintess of the Huanxi Sect might even use this to break through into the Upper Five Realms! It’s not impossible for the Huanxi Sect to become the fifth great demonic Sect from then on.”

Luo Hansan stepped forward: “Your Highness, does my Rakshasa Hall need to intercept and kill the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect?”

Jiang Qingshang looked at Ya Suo: “Does the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect enjoy slaughtering Mortals? Or does she enjoy plundering and killing?”

“Neither.”

Ya Suo shook his head. He knew his Saintess had a principle: Cultivators are responsible for their own lives and deaths, but she absolutely would not allow Cultivators to harass Mortals, let alone slaughter them.

“Since this Saintess of the Huanxi Sect entered the world, she has always traveled at night and worn a veil, as if deliberately avoiding disturbing the Mortal world.

Otherwise, with her Naturally Alluring Bones, Mortals would only go mad upon seeing her. Bringing ruin to the country and its people would be an understatement.

Thus, according to what our Dafeng Hall has learned, we have never heard of a Mortal dying at her hands.

And she hasn’t taken the initiative to provoke those righteous Cultivators. The Cultivators who died at her hands were all because they lusted after her body, and were then either directly obliterated or had their Three Ethereal Souls and Seven Corporeal Spirits destroyed by soul techniques to be refined into Puppets.”

“This Saintess of the Huanxi Sect is quite interesting.” Beneath her veil, Jiang Qingshang smiled slightly. “In that case, there’s no need. Rakshasa Hall!”

“Present!”

“Have a few female Disciples tell that Saintess of the Huanxi Sect: I don’t care where she goes, but if she tries to enter Luo City, she will have to bear the consequences.”

“Yes!”

“Today’s meeting ends here.” It was almost noon, and Jiang Qingshang, who had to rush home to cook, supported herself on the jade throne and rose gracefully.

Just as Jiang Qingshang was about to leave, the maidservant Xiao Chan flew down before the hall’s entrance. Clutching her Flying Sword, she ran into the hall in a flustered hurry.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, this is bad! The Holy Lord… the Holy Lord, she—”