The death of Heavenly Lord Xi Ying did not cause much of a stir in the martial world. After all, his opponent was the Heavenly Saber Song Que. For Daniel, the only regret about Xi Ying's death was not being able to witness his Purple Qi Heavenly Net, a supposedly powerful and unique martial art. At its peak, it was said to create a powerful energy field, though it required time to set up.
In some ways, the Purple Qi Heavenly Net was similar to Fu Cailin's Chess Sword Technique, as both required time to fully unleash their power. Just like setting up a game of Go, these techniques were profound but had a critical weakness—they were vulnerable to opponents with explosive power.
For example, Song Que, the Heavenly Saber, was likely the opponent Fu Cailin least wanted to face. Similarly, Xi Ying had died at the hands of Xu Ziling because he had underestimated Xu Ziling's explosive power, leading to his swift defeat.
"Next is Li Zitong in Yangzhou. It seems the Demon Sect really isn't united."
The Demon Sect had their own motives for aligning with Daniel. Naturally, they didn't want others to come in and share their benefits. With Xi Ying emerging at this time, his potential inclusion in the Tang forces would inevitably dilute the benefits of other Demon Sect members. In such a situation, it was only natural for someone to exploit Xi Ying's arrogance and lure him into a trap.
This was one of the reasons the Demon Sect couldn't compare to the Ci Hang Jing Zhai. They were too focused on immediate gains, neglecting long-term benefits. This was also why, throughout history, most uprisings were started by the common people, but the fruits of victory were rarely reaped by them.
If not for their differing principles, Daniel might have even considered collaborating with Fan Qinghui.
"I never expected it to really be you two."
"Of course. It seems you've been doing quite well for yourselves, becoming hall masters."
Outside Yangzhou, in a secluded room in a small town, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling met their childhood friends from Yangzhou, who were also members of the Bamboo Flower Gang.
It was somewhat ironic that despite spending so much time in Yangzhou, the Twin Dragons had remained small-time混混, not even becoming basic members of the Bamboo Flower Gang. In contrast, their two friends had risen to the rank of hall masters.
However, that was in the past. For the Twin Dragons now, even the position of gang leader wouldn't interest them.
This time, the Twin Dragons had come to Yangzhou to assist the Song Clan's army in capturing the city. After the Tang forces defeated Zhu Can, Li Mi, Dou Jiande, Yuwen Huaji, and secured the surrender of Du Fuwei's Jianghuai Army, Li Zitong had already begun considering surrender.
The Tang forces had sent envoys to negotiate Li Zitong's surrender. However, the situation had escalated to the brink of war because Li Zitong's demands were excessive.
If it were the Li Clan, they might have agreed to the terms and then reneged later. But Daniel had no intention of doing so. The idea of "committing crimes and then being pardoned" didn't sit well with him.
Thus, the situation had reached its current state. The Twin Dragons had contacted their old friends, planning to coordinate from within to capture Yangzhou. With the Twin Dragons' current reputation and the Song Clan's existing arrangements in Yangzhou, even with the city's strong defenses, capturing it wouldn't take much time.
For a city like Yangzhou, a full-scale siege was the least desirable option.
"Compared to you two, we're far behind. You've not only made a name for yourselves but also won the heart of the Song family's young lady." As they spoke, the two friends couldn't help but marvel at the Twin Dragons. Despite their familiar faces, the changes in their demeanor were striking.
"Don't worry. Now's your chance."
Facing their childhood friends, Kou Zhong laid out his plan. Yangzhou couldn't withstand the Tang forces, and the key now was to see who would surrender first and who could offer the most value.
Since many members of the Bamboo Flower Gang were aligned with Li Zitong, Kou Zhong saw no harm in stirring the pot further.
"Opportunity?" Hearing Kou Zhong's words, Gui Xiliang and the others' eyes gleamed with ambition.
If anyone else had said this, they might not have believed it. But coming from the Twin Dragons, it was a different story.
"Of course, the opportunity to become gang leader."
Under Kou Zhong's persuasion, Gui Xiliang and the others seemed tempted but hesitated, saying they needed a couple of days to consider.
For the attack on Yangzhou, aside from the Twin Dragons, Shen Luoyan was in charge of leading the troops. Even the Song Clan's army was under her command.
"I've made some progress in spatial overlap. I wonder if temporal overlap is possible."
While Shen Luoyan and the others were methodically preparing to unify the south, Daniel was in his secret chamber, using the Time and Space Stones to further his cultivation.
Having mastered spatial manipulation, Daniel began to wonder if similar principles could be applied to time. Currently, his abilities with time included stopping, reversing, and observing the future. He speculated that if time could be manipulated like space, it would be even more powerful. However, this was still just an idea, and he hadn't made any breakthroughs yet.
"Some abilities from that shut-in seem quite interesting. I wonder if I'll have a chance to experience them firsthand. But that place seems dangerous. With my current strength, I might not be able to handle it."
Daniel never slacked in his cultivation of time and space. After all, space was supreme, and time was king. Using the power of the Op-Op Fruit, he slowly deciphered the secrets of the two Infinity Stones.
"It's time to teach the Li Clan a lesson. They can't keep sending assassins after my people."
After finishing his cultivation, Daniel drew a golden portal in front of him and stepped into the Yang Gong Treasure beneath the Yue Ma Bridge in Chang'an, planning to assassinate several key figures of the Li Clan.
"Li Yuan and his three sons—one each."
After some thought, Daniel decided to deal with the four members of the Li Clan equally. With his current strength, this was a simple task. After the four died in their homes, Chang'an went into lockdown, but by then, Daniel had already returned to Luoyang.
"Once the Twin Dragons return from Yangzhou, we can leak the information about the Yang Gong Treasure."
The news of the Yang Gong Treasure and the Evil Emperor's Relic would undoubtedly draw countless experts to Chang'an, including Zhao De, the Demon Marshal from the distant DTZ.
"The Palace of Eternal Life, the Hall of War, and the Ten Absolute Passes—there's still no news about them."
Out of curiosity about the Palace of Eternal Life, Daniel had tasked some idle Confucian scholars and Daoist practitioners with researching related information.
Not long after the battle with Li Mi, Daniel met the Medicine Sage Sun Simiao. With his advanced medical knowledge and strategies for medical development, Daniel successfully convinced Sun Simiao to stay and take charge of establishing a medical system and medical academy.
This was a significant achievement for Daniel. While he could have set up the system himself, Sun Simiao's reputation and ability to gather Daoist teachers far surpassed his own. In this regard, Daniel couldn't trust the Demon Sect to handle it.
"Fu Cailin is making a move. I haven't gone after him yet, and he's coming to me. Ning Daoqi, let's see how you handle this."
Intelligence provided by the Song Clan made Daniel sneer. The chaos in the Central Plains had drawn the attention of those who coveted or feared the region. As the emerging ruler of the south, Daniel was undoubtedly in their sights.
Similarly, some far-sighted individuals in the Central Plains were also monitoring the situation beyond the borders. For example, the Song Clan had numerous arrangements in Goguryeo, partly for trade and partly for intelligence gathering. This was how they knew about Fu Cailin's movements.
From Daniel's proclaimed policies, it was clear he was a man of strong character. Such a person unifying the Central Plains was not good news for some, and they would naturally seek to nip the threat in the bud.
Daniel was pleased with Fu Cailin's actions. This saved him the trouble of going to Goguryeo, and it also involved another grandmaster, Ning Daoqi.
If a foreign grandmaster came for a casual visit, that was one thing. But if they took action against certain individuals, and Ning Daoqi failed to intervene, some questions would undoubtedly arise.
Daniel immediately ordered the news of Fu Cailin's possible actions to be published in the Tang Daily, aiming to kill two birds with one stone. Whether Ning Daoqi intervened or not, it would be beneficial for Daniel.
"Amitabha. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution for your actions?"
In a temple destroyed by flames, the elderly monk among the three survivors glared at Duan Lang, his eyes bloodshot with anger.
"Divine retribution? Hahaha! Do you really think spouting a few lines about choosing the emperor on behalf of heaven makes you understand heaven? If that's the case, I understand heaven better than you."
Duan Lang swung the Fire Lin Sword in his right hand, and scorching flames engulfed the three monks. Watching the flames consume them, his expression remained unchanged.
The entire luxurious temple was reduced to ashes, with no survivors. Amid the flames, a golden plaque could be seen—Tiantai Sect, one of the four hidden sects of Buddhism and the sect of the Four Holy Monks' Master Wisdom.
Daniel's shadow clone, Duan Lang, had left Luoyang and directly targeted the four hidden sects. Unlike other temples that opened their doors to the public, the hidden sects were located in remote areas.
This made sense, as the hidden sects, unlike other temples that competed for followers in bustling areas, were secluded in serene, picturesque locations, far from the reach of ordinary devotees.
This raised an interesting question: why build such grand structures in remote mountains, inaccessible to the public? The answer was simple—funding from other temples.
Of course, this funding wasn't free. The hidden sects were responsible for training the most outstanding disciples of Buddhism. In essence, the hidden sects were like advanced training academies for Buddhist disciples.
Upon discovering this, Daniel had initially planned to assess the hidden sects. If they were genuine temples, he would have spared them. But after learning the truth, he acted decisively.
"Fiery Breath."
"Who are you?"
At the Sanlun Sect, after Duan Lang transformed into a black dragon and unleashed a torrent of flames that destroyed the temple, the survivors stared in terror at the sky.
At that moment, their minds went blank.
"By the will of heaven, I punish the traitors."
Huayan Sect.
Chan Sect.
In a single day, Duan Lang eradicated all four hidden sects, leaving no survivors. When the news spread, the Four Holy Monks, gathered together, spat blood in unison. Known for their compassion, they now radiated killing intent. They immediately abandoned their pursuit of Shi Zhixuan and turned their attention to hunting Duan Lang.
Meanwhile, Fan Qinghui also mobilized her forces to join the hunt for Duan Lang. If they couldn't deal with Daniel in Luoyang, surely they could handle Duan Lang.
Duan Lang, of course, was unaware of this. But even if he knew, he wouldn't care. By then, he had already arrived at Shanhaiguan, near the Great Wall in the northern frontier.
"Zhai Jiao moves fast."
Entering Shanhaiguan, Duan Lang noticed the presence of glass products and nodded in approval. Zhai Jiao had already established a trading company here, and the exquisite glassware had quickly become a trend in the frontier.
"Du Xing, the Overlord of the North?"
In these chaotic times, especially in a border town like this, the local authorities held little power, while gangs flourished. The North Overlord Gang, led by Du Xing, was the largest gang in the northern frontier, and Du Xing was known as the region's top martial artist.
Du Xing was said to be a man of great charisma and righteousness. In the northern frontier, if anyone encountered trouble, such as being robbed, they could seek his help. He also frequently provided aid to the poor.
Additionally, due to his background, Du Xing had connections with the Turks, Khitans, and Goguryeo, effectively monopolizing trade along the Great Wall.
"The Great Wall's passes controlled by a mere gang? If Emperor Qin were here, he'd send an army immediately."
Daniel didn't believe a word of the praise for Du Xing. There were too many people who put on a facade of righteousness while hiding their true nature. Moreover, Daniel had intelligence on Du Xing.
Although the information wasn't detailed or conclusive, Daniel suspected Du Xing had ties with the bandits beyond the wall. Otherwise, how could it be that every time a merchant caravan left Shanhaiguan, it was immediately robbed?
Du Xing would then play the mediator, retrieving the goods—for a price. For some, certain goods were too valuable to lose, so they had no choice but to pay.
It was only when the Twin Dragons came to the frontier to recover Zhai Jiao's stolen eight thousand sheepskins and refused to pay that Du Xing was forced to return the goods.
"Such a fine town like Shanhaiguan, reduced to being ruled by foreigners. Disgraceful."
Du Xing, being of mixed Khitan and Turkic heritage, discriminated against the Han people. In Shanhaiguan, Khitans, Turks, and other foreigners thrived, while the Han people suffered. Zhai Jiao's ability to do business here was partly due to her strength and partly because she paid hefty protection fees.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]