Chapter 62. The time had come to open the temple.

Zhang Zhujin, the leader of the Galaxy Hall, frowned.

As the saying goes, a long tail is bound to be stepped on; it seems the Righteous Alliance has caught a whiff of something.

"How many have come?"

"Twenty from the Righteous Alliance's Righteousness Corps, and thirty-six from the martial families and temples of Luoyang."

"Hmm, the Righteousness Corps and the martial families of Luoyang. Then the Gentleman Sword must have come as well."

"Yes, he has."

For some reason, Zhang Zhujin chuckled.

"Over twenty years ago, the leader said something. He said that if the number of the White-Headed Demon Army exceeds seven, we no longer need to avoid fighting. He must have had the Seven Sects in mind."

The experts of the Galaxy Hall held their breath, focusing on Zhang Zhujin's words.

For over twenty years, the Famous Sect had been in hiding. But with Zhang Zhujin, the number of the White-Headed Demon Army was now seven. According to the leader's words, it was time to step out into the world.

"I will show them the fear of the Famous Sect. Prepare to receive our guests."

"Yes, sir!"

"Understood!"

The Four Great Protectors and the members of the Famous Sect responded in unison.

Despite the opposition being the Righteous Alliance and the martial families of Luoyang, no one was afraid or intimidated.

***

By afternoon, the Righteousness Corps and the experts from the five martial families had gathered again at the spot where the bodies were found.

Gong Bai, the monk, and Li Lianyi, the head of the Yi Tian Gate, approached Man Bai, the leader of the Righteousness Corps.

"Master, there was nothing unusual downstream. What about upstream?"

"About ten li (about 4 kilometers) upstream, there is a huge mansion called the Galaxy Hall. It's strange that it's so large but not well-known. We should visit and investigate it."

Li Lianyi glanced at Gong Bai.

"What do you think?"

"If there are doubts, we should resolve them."

He means we should go and see.

Li Lianyi nodded at Man Bai.

"Let's check it out. See if they have any connection to the Famous Sect."

Soon, over fifty righteous martial artists moved upstream in an orderly manner.

After about an hour (about 30 minutes), a huge mansion appeared in the forest, far from the river.

The three characters "Galaxy Hall" were written in bold calligraphy on the sign at the main gate.

First, the Righteousness Corps member and Yi Tian Gate disciple Xu Zai lightly knocked on the gate.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

After waiting for a moment, there was no sound of movement.

Xu Zai, tilting his head, gently pushed the gate.

Creak.

He thought it would be locked, but the heavy gate opened with a loud sound.

Surprised, Xu Zai turned to Man Bai, the leader of the Righteousness Corps.

After a brief hesitation, Man Bai led his men inside.

Li Lianyi and the experts from the five martial families followed.

As the Righteousness Corps and the experts from the five martial families entered the courtyard, the gate closed with a loud thud.

***

On the road from Yuzhou to Pingdingshan.

Five martial artists, carrying bundles on their backs, were walking diligently. They were the direct descendants of the five martial families, bringing the ransom to Wufeng Mountain.

The five martial families had sent elders to Wufeng Mountain in place of the heads of their families who had gone to Yuzhou.

However, only Lian Shengbai was assigned this task, not the elders of Wulong Hall and Baxian Gate. The elders of Wulong Hall and Baxian Gate had avoided it, considering it a shameful act.

Lian Shengbai and Huang Yan, mixed among the three elders, quickly became friends due to their similar ages.

Lian Shengbai, the second son of Wulong Hall, spoke to Huang Yan, who was beside him.

"Huang Xiaojun, will Yuzhou be alright?"

"It should be. The Righteousness Corps consists of the elite of the Seven Sects. I'm more worried about Wufeng Mountain."

"Why?"

"What if those bandits suddenly change their minds? We can't handle them, and they might just take the money and make trouble."

"That's unlikely. If they do, the Yi Tian Gate and other martial families won't sit idly by."

Huang Yan whispered, glancing at the elders.

"Once we rescue the hostages, we'll launch a crackdown, right? The bandits know this, so will they willingly hand over the hostages?"

"..."

For a moment, Lian Shengbai was speechless.

After all, it is too naive to believe the bandits' words.

"Ha! Let's think positively. Things are already complicated because of the incident in Yuzhou."

"That's true."

As they walked, Lian Shengbai suddenly looked back.

He hoped that Lian Wubai would shake Yuzhou's name as his father did twenty years ago.

***

Yuzhou.

Galaxy Hall.

"Cough!"

Blood spurted from the mouth of Junzi Jian Li Lianyi as he took a step back.

Li Lianyi glared at the front.

The tingling sensation in his dantian indicated that he had suffered internal injuries from the previous battle.

He had lived his life thinking that, as the head of the Yi Tian Gate, he was unmatched except by the Ten Great Experts of the world.

But he couldn't even last ten seconds.

'Is Huonse Jianma Zhang Zhujin this strong?'

The leader of the Galaxy Hall was Zhang Zhujin, formerly known as one of the Three Great Demons of the Green Forest.

When he learned that the leader of the Galaxy Hall was Zhang Zhujin, he wasn't overly worried.

In his memory, the Three Great Demons of the Green Forest were a step below him.

But this complacent thought was shattered in just ten seconds.

Zhang Zhujin used his unique martial arts, the Twelve Heavenly Swords, just as he did thirty years ago.

But he couldn't defend against the obvious sword techniques.

Each time his sword met Zhang Zhujin's, an unprecedented force was transmitted, making it hard to resist.

At first, he thought Zhang Zhujin had taken some miraculous medicine to increase his internal energy.

But this wasn't the kind of power that could be achieved with just a miraculous medicine.

The pressure he felt, like a mountain, was similar to what he experienced when sparring with Yi Tian Jianzun Li Yizheng.

When he barely managed to withstand ten moves, the word "superpower" came to mind.

The same person using the same move, yet he couldn't defend against it even though he knew it was coming.

Zhang Zhujin, seeing Li Lianyi panting, said,

"Hehe! Junzi Jian. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Do you know why I chose to settle in Yuzhou? I knew that if I stayed here, I would eventually meet you."

"Hmph! A demon of the Green Forest becoming a lackey of the Famous Sect. Aren't you ashamed?"

"When you cursed me as a demon of the Green Forest, you were fine, but now you're complaining about being a member of the Famous Sect? And the one who should be ashamed is you, who is beaten like a dog and groveling. Isn't that right?"

Li Lianyi didn't respond, looking around.

The Righteousness Corps had been wiped out before reaching the main gate, about three zhang (about 9 meters) away. Man Bai, the leader of the Righteousness Corps, lay in a pool of his own blood.

In the Galaxy Hall, the only ones standing were himself and the representatives of the four martial families. They were still standing not because of their own strength, but because the Righteousness Corps had held the front line.

Li Lianyi said to the representatives of the martial families,

"Everyone! Don't fight, just run! Try to survive and return!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the heads of the martial families and Lian Wubai ran towards the nearby wall.

Li Lianyi also leaped without looking back.

Zhang Zhujin's sword, like an arrow, flew towards Li Lianyi.

It was a technique of the Li Qi Er Jian, surpassing ordinary sword skills.

"Ugh!"

A short scream escaped Li Lianyi's mouth as he was about to jump over the wall.

His left arm burned, and upon inspection, it was cleanly severed.

He had no time to be surprised by the unfamiliar sight.

The sword, after cutting his left arm, soared into the sky and made a smooth turn in mid-air.

A chill ran down his spine.

How much internal energy must one have to wield such a sword technique!

Li Lianyi clutched his severed elbow and fell to the ground below the wall.

Zhang Zhujin, who had been using the Li Qi Er Jian, sighed regretfully when Li Lianyi disappeared from his sight.

Swoosh.

The sword, trailing a long streak like a meteor, returned to Zhang Zhujin.

Soon, the Four Great Protectors ran up and bowed.

"Lord, one of them escaped the mansion. Should we send a pursuit team to finish him off?"

Wu Ying Gui shook his head.

"Let him go. He's a lucky one. Besides, Li Lianyi has already escaped. Instead, tell the Bright Hall, Chao Yue Mountain Hall, Xin Yue Temple, Yi Yuan Dao Hall, and Wu Shan Xiao Zhu that the time has come to open the temples. Even the Seven Sects won't be able to handle six temples opening at once."

"Yes, sir!"

With a short answer, Wu Ying Gui disappeared like smoke.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhujin asked the chief,

"Are the monks from Shaolin Temple still alive?"

The chief, Qi Jie Ma Dao Shen Yang, sighed and replied,

"Unfortunately, they were too skilled to be captured."

"Can't be helped. Monks and Taoists are plentiful. Just wait a bit. I will soon bestow the favor of becoming one of the Ten-Headed Demon Soldiers upon you."

"Thank you, Lord Demon!"

Shen Yang prostrated himself before Zhang Zhujin.

To become one of the Ten-Headed Demon Soldiers or the White-Headed Demon Army in the Famous Sect, one must impress the higher-ups.

The number of Eight Zhou Ling is extremely limited, so not everyone can enjoy this privilege.

One is needed for each person, but the number of people far exceeds the available spots.

Unlike other religions, the Famous Sect doesn't require faith. Instead, blind loyalty to the higher-ups is all that's needed. Then, the higher-ups will guide you.

Once one becomes a Ten-Headed Demon Soldier, they gain superpowers, as if reborn. This is the simple and certain reason why many martial artists from the evil sects are drawn to the Famous Sect.

***

Baofeng County.

Wufeng Mountain.

The people from the five martial families of Luoyang were still unaware of the events in Yuzhou. They were moving non-stop, trying to rescue the hostages as quickly as possible.

They arrived at the mountain stronghold around noon.

The Ten Heroes of Wufeng Mountain greeted them, and Li Yuanhao, the law enforcer of the Yi Tian Gate, spoke on behalf of the group.

"I am Li Yuanhao of the Yi Tian Gate. Let's get straight to the point. We have brought the money as requested by each sect. Release the captives."

As he spoke, Li Yuanhao held out a money bag.

The others also took out their money bags from their robes.

Lian Shengbai, who had a large amount to pay, hurriedly untied his bundle.

Lian Jie Xia's place was taken by Li Tieshan, who collected the money bags.

"Where are the Five Heroes of Luoyang?"

Feng Yan Chao signaled, and Huang Yaoming, the mind-reading wanderer, brought the Five Heroes of Luoyang.

Li Yuanhao frowned slightly at the sight of the Five Heroes of Luoyang, tied up. If the Grand Master knew how the Yi Tian Gate's family was treated, there would be chaos.

For a moment, Li Yuanhao was glad he had come instead of the Grand Master, Li Lianyi.

The Grand Master, known as Junzi Jian, was ruthless when it came to his family.

If he had seen Lian Jie Xia in such a state?

'He would have drawn his sword without hesitation...'

Meanwhile, Huang Yaoming held one end of the rope and stared at Lian Jie Xia.

However, Lian Jie Xia had a blank expression, staring at the distant mountains.

"Listen, we've paid the ransom. Release them now."

Li Yuanhao subtly reached for the rope Huang Yaoming was holding.

Huang Yaoming slapped Li Yuanhao's hand away.

Feeling both ridiculous and angry, Li Yuanhao had to wait for the Ten Heroes of Wufeng Mountain to make a decision.

At that moment, Lian Jie Xia looked around at the people from the Five Heroes of Luoyang's families and asked,

"The Grand Master isn't here, so who are you?"

"I am Li Yuanhao, the chief enforcer of the Yi Tian Gate. This is an elder from the Da Lian Gate, and the one next to him is an elder from the Qi Yang Gate. The two young men are the second son of Wulong Hall and the eldest disciple of Baxian Gate."

"Why didn't the Grand Masters come?"

The Five Heroes of Luoyang also looked at Li Yuanhao with curious eyes.