26: Chapter 26 Cheng Kun's Hidden Motives

In the Western Regions, at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains.

Yu Lianzhou, accompanied by Zhang Songxi, Mo Shenggu, and twenty elite Wudang Sect Disciples, traveled day and night and finally arrived within the territory of the Kunlun Mountains.

Along the way, they saw countless Disciples from the Six Major Sects traveling in groups, heading toward Bright Peak.

"Second Brother, it seems the Six Major Sects are determined to besiege the Ming Cult," Mo Shenggu said in a low voice, his brow furrowed as he watched the Huashan Sect Disciples passing by the roadside.

"We passed on orders along the way for them to stop heading toward Bright Peak, but they wouldn't listen at all, and even claimed that our Wudang Sect had been bought off by the Demonic Cult and was speaking on its behalf."

"A bunch of fools whose brains have been blinded by rumors," Yu Lianzhou cold snorted.

"Second Brother, now is not the time to talk about this," Zhang Songxi said, his tone heavy.

"The various sects are determined to fight, and we cannot stop them."

"The most important thing now is to reach Bright Peak as quickly as possible, find Left Emissary Yang Xiao, and expose Cheng Kun's conspiracy."

Yu Lianzhou nodded and said in a deep voice, "That's right. There is no time to lose; we shall depart immediately."

The group did not dare to delay and accelerated again, crossing mountains and ridges, speeding toward Bright Peak.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the Wudang group finally arrived at the foot of Bright Peak.

But just as they reached the foot of the mountain, they were stopped by the Five Elements Flag Disciples of the Ming Cult.

"Who goes there?! Stop! This is the Forbidden Ground of the Ming Cult's main altar. Take one more step forward, and we will kill you without mercy!"

Dozens of Sharp Metal Flag Disciples held bows and arrows, aiming at the Wudang group, and shouted sternly, their arrows nocked and ready to fire at any moment.

"We are Disciples of the Wudang Sect!" Yu Lianzhou stepped forward and said loudly.

"I am Yu Lianzhou of Wudang! We have an urgent matter and need to see your Ming Cult's Left Emissary Yang Xiao!"

"Wudang Sect?" The Sharp Metal Flag Disciples were all stunned upon hearing this, and then expressions of vigilance appeared on their faces.

"Isn't the Wudang Sect coming with the other major sects to besiege our Ming Cult? Why have you come here? Don't think you can deceive us!"

As the words fell, the surrounding Thick Earth Flag and Giant Wood Flag Disciples also swarmed over.

They brandished their weapons and surrounded the Wudang group, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense and ready for battle.

Seeing this, Mo Shenggu shouted angrily, "If we wanted to deal with you, we wouldn't have brought only these few people!"

The Ming Cult Disciples who had surrounded them instantly changed their expressions.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a dashing figure sped down from the mountain and landed in front of everyone.

The person wore white robes, had a handsome face, and carried a somewhat cynical smile at the corner of his mouth; it was none other than the Ming Cult's Left Emissary Yang Xiao.

He had no prior dealings with Wudang, and there was even some lingering resentment between them.

"Left Emissary Yang, we have come this time to save your Ming Cult."

Yu Lianzhou looked at Left Emissary Yang Xiao and said straightforwardly in a deep voice, "Your mortal enemy, Cheng Kun, has already snuck into Bright Peak with The Xuanming Elders from the Ruyang Princes Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Left Emissary Yang Xiao's pupils contracted suddenly, and the cynical expression on his face vanished, replaced by deep gravity.

Cheng Kun!

"Hero Yu, is what you say true or false?" Left Emissary Yang Xiao stared fixedly at Yu Lianzhou and asked in a deep voice, "What reason do you have for me to trust you?"

"Simply because we, the Wudang Sect, did not come with the other Schools to besiege your Ming Cult," Yu Lianzhou said calmly.

Left Emissary Yang Xiao's expression changed drastically, and he no longer had any doubt. "Thank you, Hero Yu, for the warning! Great kindness need not be spoken of!"

He turned around abruptly and shouted sternly to the Ming Cult Disciples, "Pass the order down! The Five Elements Flag must immediately blockade all entrances and exits to Bright Peak and strictly inspect all suspicious persons! Sharp Metal Flag, Giant Wood Flag, come with me!"

After speaking, he turned to look at Yu Lianzhou and cupped his fists, "Hero Yu, I will never forget this kindness of your assistance."

"I wonder if Hero Yu could lend our Ming Cult a hand and help stop this traitor, Cheng Kun?"

"Naturally," Yu Lianzhou nodded.

"Our Master sent us here specifically to stop Cheng Kun's conspiracy."

"Good!" A flash of light appeared in Left Emissary Yang Xiao's eyes. "Hero Yu, please!"

The group immediately sped toward the entrance of the Bright Peak secret passage.

Left Emissary Yang Xiao knew the Bright Peak secret passage like the back of his hand; he knew that if Cheng Kun wanted to sneak into the tomb chamber, this was the only path he could take.

He immediately took the Five Elements Flag Disciples and the Wudang group and set up an inescapable net outside the secret passage.

Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi, and Mo Shenggu guarded the three positions at the entrance of the secret passage according to the three-talents formation of the True Martial Seven-Section Formation.

Left Emissary Yang Xiao, along with Bat King Wei Yixiao and the Five Wanderers, guarded the exit of the secret passage. The Five Elements Flag Disciples surrounded the entire secret passage, making it impossible for anyone to escape.

Time passed bit by bit, from early morning until late at night.

Just as the moon was high in the sky, faint footsteps suddenly came from within the secret passage.

Three black shadows slipped out from the secret passage entrance silently.

The leader was none other than Cheng Kun, dressed in monk's robes.

Behind him followed two old men with sinister faces; they were The Xuanming Elders, Mr. Lu and Mr. He.

"I've succeeded!" A smug, sinister smile appeared on Cheng Kun's face as he whispered.

"With this Holy Flame Token, I can thoroughly confirm the crime of the Ming Cult colluding with the imperial court; the Six Major Sects and the Ming Cult will surely be at odds! Let's go!"

Just as he turned around, a cold voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Cheng Kun, where do you think you are going?"

Cheng Kun trembled all over and looked up abruptly. Under the moonlight, he saw Yu Lianzhou holding a long sword, standing in front of him, looking at him with cold eyes.

Countless Ming Cult Disciples and Wudang Sect Disciples swarmed in from all directions, surrounding the three of them tightly.

"Yu Lianzhou?! Wudang Sect?!" Cheng Kun's expression changed drastically, and he cried out, "How can you be here?!"

Yu Lianzhou sneered and drew his long sword. "Cheng Kun, your conspiracy has been exposed by us. Today, you cannot escape even if you had wings!"

"Seeking death!" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Cheng Kun's eyes; he knew there was no way out today.

He waved his hand violently. "Mr. Lu, Mr. He, kill your way out!"

Upon hearing this, The Xuanming Elders struck simultaneously. The deer-head staff and crane-beak pen in their hands, carrying the chilling, bone-piercing Internal Energy of the Xuanming Divine Palm, attacked Yu Lianzhou.

"Well come!" Yu Lianzhou shouted loudly, unleashing the Taiji Sword Technique to meet them.

Zhang Songxi and Mo Shenggu struck at the same time, the three-talents formation immediately operated, and the power of the True Martial Seven-Section Formation erupted instantly.

On the other side, Left Emissary Yang Xiao, Bat King Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers also attacked together, charging at Cheng Kun.

On Bright Peak, a great battle erupted instantly.

Yu Lianzhou was already in the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm, and with the support of the True Martial Seven-Section Formation, his strength soared. Facing the combined force of The Xuanming Elders, he was not at a disadvantage at all.

The Taiji Sword Technique used softness to overcome hardness, and the Wudang Nine Yang Skill neutralized the chilling Internal Energy of the Xuanming Divine Palm. After hundreds of rounds, The Xuanming Elders were beaten into a steady retreat, suffering strike after strike and spitting blood.

As for Cheng Kun, facing the combined siege of Left Emissary Yang Xiao, Bat King Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers, he was struggling to defend and was in a pathetic state.

He was only at the Peak of the Innate realm, a half-step into the Grandmaster Realm; how could he be a match for so many top experts?

Within a hundred rounds, he was struck in the shoulder by Left Emissary Yang Xiao's Finger Flicking Divine Skill and was severely injured on the ground.

"No! Impossible! My plan was seamless; how could you know?!"

Cheng Kun lay on the ground, looking at the people surrounding him, his eyes full of unwillingness.

"If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it in the first place." Yu Lianzhou stepped forward and stomped on his chest.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Cheng Kun's eyes. He suddenly pulled several gunpowder packets from his bosom, ignited them violently, and threw them all around.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Violent explosions rang out, fire shot into the sky, and rubble flew everywhere.

Using the chaos, Cheng Kun slammed a palm onto the ground, his body flying backward as he sped toward the foot of the mountain.

"Trying to run?!" Bat King Wei Yixiao cold snorted, unleashed his peerless lightness skill, and chased after him.

But Cheng Kun had already risked his life; enduring being severely injured by Sword Qi, he detonated gunpowder along the way and eventually, with The Xuanming Elders, fled Bright Peak in a pathetic state.

Left Emissary Yang Xiao looked at the Holy Flame Token he had regained in his hand, then looked at Yu Lianzhou beside him, and bowed deeply to the Wudang group, bending all the way down.

"Hero Yu, and everyone from Wudang, the Ming Cult will never forget today's kindness!"

[Detected that the host has completed the side quest: Stop Cheng Kun, preserve the Ming Cult's heritage; mission completion rate 80%!]

[Mission reward: Ming Cult and Wudang reach an alliance, world Fusion rate increases by another 2%, current total Fusion rate 80%!]

The System's notification sound rang in Zhang Sanfeng's mind.

And at this moment, he had silently snuck into the Yuan Dynasty's Dadu and was standing outside the high walls of the Ruyang Princes Mansion.