Eternal Saber

Chapter 571 - 177: Stone Breaks the Heavens

"Could it be that the grievance between Uncle Wang and Xia Daozi was just a sham, a performance for the outside world, with their discord being staged to avoid suspicion?"

"In that case, hasn’t General Wang been planning this all along, waiting for this day? Such a formidable mind and means are truly terrifying!"

"True or false doesn’t matter now. Xia Daozi is a power-hungry and treacherous minister, but he’s not foolish. The Profound Celestial Sect’s entry into the Capital City aims to overthrow the current dynasty. After all, Xia Daozi belongs to the Royal Family. If the Profound Celestial Sect seized power, what would be left for him?"

"Indeed, no matter how great the conflict, as long as there is shared interest, compromise is possible."

The heroes of Jianghu speculated endlessly.

Ye Xuan remained silent.

The alliance between Xia Country’s generals and ministers this time was immensely complicated, with extensive involvement, far from being as simple as the people discussed.

The discord amongst them couldn’t be faked.

The only reason they could put aside past grudges and choose to collaborate was because Uncle intervened.

Convincing Uncle Wang wasn’t difficult—the threat of the Profound Celestial Sect to Nanxia was growing, becoming a major menace to the Northern Expedition Army.

But persuading Xia Daozi posed a considerable challenge.

The turning point came with Xia Yuanxian’s death.

Xia Yuanxian had close ties with the Profound Celestial Sect, having learned from a master within the palace.

Xia Daozi only knew of this person’s existence, but not her background or history.

With Xia Yuanxian dead, his connection with the Profound Celestial Sect was severed.

In the eyes of the Profound Celestial Sect, Xia Daozi was insignificant, replaceable, especially with that person in the palace.

Uncle disclosed the identity of the one in the palace to Xia Daozi and reminded him that Nanxia had seen several emperors die untimely deaths, all at the hands of this person!

Xia Daozi was a smart man.

This meant, if the Profound Celestial Sect entered the Capital City, he would lose everything he had, even his life!

He had no choice but to cooperate.

There’s more.

After Chen Tang killed Xia Yuanxian, the Profound Celestial Sect failed to avenge him.

Although Sun Lingxiu made a move, she was stopped by Uncle.

Sun Lingxiu failed, so naturally wouldn’t run to Xia Daozi to explain.

This deepened Xia Daozi’s distrust of the Profound Celestial Sect.

Thus, he agreed to Uncle’s arrangement to join forces with Uncle Wang, setting up this deep plot.

As for Shen Guobao, he was merely a pawn in this scheme.

If not for this, the Profound Celestial Sect would not have entered the trap so easily.

"No, that’s not right."

Yun Yifeng frowned and said, "According to the Profound Celestial Sect’s plan, they intended to wait until the Capital Imperial Guard, Northern Expedition Army, and Jiangzhou Army were mutually weakened before taking action."

"Even if Uncle Wang and Xia Daozi secretly joined forces, if both camps hadn’t started fighting, how would the Profound Celestial Sect be deceived?"

Yang Jianzhi replied, "According to the secret letter from my uncle, General Wang initiated action ahead of time. Xia Daozi lured the Profound Celestial Sect members into the palace, where a fierce battle erupted!"

"The two Sect Leaders of the Profound Celestial Sect, ’Duke Lei’ Sun Jing, and ’Wind Master’ Du Ling, all perished! Of the twenty-four Sacrificial Wine of the Profound Celestial Sect and their thousands of Mystic Masters, countless died or were injured, with only over a hundred escaping!"

"Ah!"

The crowd erupted in exclamations of shock.

This news was staggering, truly earth-shattering!

The two Sect Leaders of the Profound Celestial Sect were killed, the Profound Celestial Sect’s defeat in the Capital City was nearly total!

This dealt a significant blow to the Profound Celestial Sect, cutting them off at the root!

Everyone knew that Duke Lei and Wind Master, the two Sect Leaders, posed the greatest threat to Nanxia, and the thousands of Mystic Masters were the foundation of the Profound Celestial Sect.

But now, all of them were buried in the Capital City, felled by the alliance of Uncle Wang and Xia Daozi!

Without the two Sect Leaders, twenty-some Sacrificial Wine, and thousands of Mystic Masters, even if the Profound Celestial Sect mustered tens of thousands of troops, they would be untenable.

Chen Tang found himself quietly astonished.

He had previously thought that there might be significant stirrings in the Capital City.

Yet he hadn’t expected the Sword Pavilion, Northern Expedition Army, Imperial Guard, and Jiangzhou Army to create such a significant movement!

Shopkeeper He appeared ashen-faced, looking somewhat panicked toward Drunken Elder.

Yun Yifeng, Isle Master Yan Yang, Yu Qingfeng, and Yue Zhen exchanged glances, recalling the words Ye Xuan had uttered earlier, feeling a wave of fear.

Thankfully, they had exercised caution and hadn’t rashly picked sides. Had they chosen to join forces with Drunken Elder, today they might not have been able to leave unscathed!

Ye Xuan clearly knew the outcome of the change in the Capital City long ago but deliberately withheld it, observing their reactions—his mind was truly sinister.

"General Wang’s tactics are truly impressive!"

"As expected of the Commander of the Northern Expedition Army, truly a pillar of protection for the country!"

"Just the merit of this one battle can rival that of the Xiajiang battle years ago."

Everyone felt their blood boil, praises flowing ceaselessly.

The faces of the Sword Pavilion’s people turned somewhat somber, showing discontent.

Ye Xuan remained silent, his emotions opaque.

The emotions of the Grandmasters present weren’t so easily swayed, as numerous doubts still lingered within their minds.

Jiang Feng frowned and asked, "How did Xia Daozi lure the Profound Celestial Sect members into the palace?"

That was the key issue.

If the members of the Profound Celestial Sect hadn’t entered the Capital City and merely observed, they wouldn’t have been completely captured.

Several Grandmasters found it difficult to imagine what method Xia Daozi used to lure the members of the Profound Celestial Sect, including the two Sect Leaders, into the Imperial Palace.

Yang Jianzhi glanced again at the secret letter, shaking his head and said, "It doesn’t detail that, but it’s certainly accurate."

Ye Yun, listening nearby, couldn’t help but snort and was about to speak when Ye Xuan shot him a look, shaking his head slightly.

Ye Yun clenched his fists, his expression shifting uncertainly, ultimately falling silent.

The Grandmasters perceived this scene, and couldn’t help but feel suspicious in their hearts.

Yun Yifeng asked, "What else does the letter say?"

Yang Jianzhi responded, "The situation in the Capital City has settled, with General Wang and General Yang joining forces to confront the Profound Celestial Army landing along the coast of the Wu and Jiang Provinces. They should be able to defeat these forces soon."

Yun Yifeng asked again, "Is there anything else?"

"There’s nothing else."

Yang Jianzhi shook his head.

After a pause, he seemed to remember something, saying, "Oh, Empress Dowager Yu passed away from shock in her chambers."

The Grand Empress Dowager Yu had lived through several reigns and was already a centenarian, her days numbered—even catching a cold could claim her life.

The eruption of such a fierce battle in the palace, her death from shock was also quite understandable.

Jiang Feng suddenly asked, "Has the Old Pavilion Master come out of retirement?"

"Ah, Elder Zong from the Sword Sect?"

Yang Jianzhi checked the letter thoroughly and shook his head, saying, "It’s not mentioned."

Jiang Feng asked again, "Did it mention the Sword Pavilion?"

Yang Jianzhi still shook his head.

Shen Zijing asked, "Who killed the two Sect Leaders of the Profound Celestial Sect?"

Yang Jianzhi hesitated for a moment and answered, "The letter didn’t specify, but they must have died at the hands of General Wang."

"Hehehe..."

Drunken Elder suddenly began to laugh, initially tinged with a hint of mockery, his laughter low.

"Hahahaha!"

Later, Drunken Elder’s laughter grew louder, echoing through the surroundings!

"Why are you laughing?"

Jiang Feng said coldly, "The Profound Celestial Sect is finished, at the end of the road. You won’t escape death today!"

"Right!"

Yun Yifeng spoke indignantly, with righteous determination, "I was momentarily confused, almost making a grave mistake. If Nanxia’s Martial World truly fell into the hands of such an old villain as you, it would be endless disaster, too late for regret!"

Yue Zhen said, "I was truly blind back then to believe you!"

"We are irreconcilable with the Profound Celestial Sect. Since you belong to them, there’s nothing more to say. All fellow Jianghu companions are here, today I shall cut ties with you!"

Yu Qingfeng spoke in a stern voice.

These individuals immediately stepped forward, distancing themselves from Drunken Elder.