78: Chapter 78 Attacking Bright Peak: Pre-emptive Planning

Fang Yanqing clutched the silk cloth containing the Nine Yang True Scripture, simply unable to put it down.

This was the Nine Yang Divine Skill!

Once mastered, wouldn't one be invincible under heaven?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Lu Chen.

This guy was indeed a man of his word; it seemed giving her body to him was the right choice after all!

However, the temptation of the Nine Yang Divine Skill was too great, so she could only temporarily suppress these small emotions in her heart.

"Ahem, well, Sect Master Lu, it's getting late. You should rest early too," Fang Yanqing said with a blush.

Lu Chen chuckled. "Sect Leader Fang, are you sure you want to drive me away? A man and woman alone together, here atop the Golden Summit..."

"You... what nonsense are you talking!" Fang Yanqing spat.

That night, the Golden Summit Great Hall of Emei was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity.

The Emei Sect Head, Fang Yanqing, held a banquet to entertain the Xiaoyao Sect Revered Master, Lu Chen, as well as the Hall Revered Master of the Heavenly Eagle Sect's Ziwei Hall, Yin Susu.

However, today's banquet wasn't purely for eating and drinking.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

Lu Chen set down his wine cup, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone, today I have something to say. This matter concerns the safety of the entire Martial Forest!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Fang Yanqing also put down her chopsticks, looking at Lu Chen with doubt.

She knew Lu Chen wouldn't speak without reason; this guy must be brewing some bad ideas again.

"Does everyone know why the Yuan-Mongol Court wants to stir up conflict between the Ming Cult and the major sects of the Central Plains?" Lu Chen looked around, his gaze sharp.

"Hmph, isn't it because of their wild ambitions to unify the Jianghu!" an Emei Disciple said indignantly.

Lu Chen shook his head. "It's not that simple. What the Yuan-Mongol Court truly fears is the emergence of a second Guo Jing!"

"Guo Jing?" Everyone was stunned, not quite understanding Lu Chen's meaning.

Yin Susu raised an eyebrow, seemingly having thought of something.

"Years ago, the father of Emei's founding Ancestral Master Guo Xiang, the Great Hero Guo Jing, led the heroes of the Jianghu with his own strength to defend Xiangyang for ten years, making it impossible for the Yuan-Mongol iron cavalry to advance an inch."

"The slogan 'A great hero serves the country and the people' made the Central Plains Martial Forest unite against their common enemy to resist the Yuan-Mongols together." Lu Chen's voice was impassioned, as if returning to that era of war.

"After the Yuan-Mongols seized the Central Plains, in order to dismantle the resistance of the Martial Forest, they had to provoke conflict between the Ming Cult and the righteous sects. Because the Ming Cult is the main force of resistance against the Yuan-Mongols!" Lu Chen said word by word.

"This..." Everyone listened in shock, finally understanding the sinister intentions of the Yuan-Mongol Court.

Everyone came to a sudden realization; it turned out the Yuan-Mongol Court was afraid of another figure like Guo Jing appearing to lead everyone in rebellion against them.

"Also, does everyone know how Emei Sect's Gu Hongzi actually died? It is widely rumored in the Jianghu that Gu Hongzi died of depression after losing a duel to Yang Xiao of the Ming Cult. This is a great fallacy!"

"Your sect's Gu Hongzi was a hero of his generation. How could he possibly die of depression just because he lost a duel? That's looking down on Emei too much!"

"The reason Gu Hongzi died of depression was that he was injured in a sneak attack and the heaven-reliant sword was stolen!" Lu Chen changed the subject, dropping another bombshell.

"Senior Gu Hongzi felt he had failed Emei by losing the sect's treasure, the heaven-reliant sword, and coupled with the injuries from the sneak attack by Western Region experts, he died of depression. Otherwise, with Gu Hongzi's attainment in the Emei Nine Yang Technique, how could he possibly have died of depression?"

"Could it be... this matter is also related to the Yuan-Mongol Court?" Ding Minjun's face changed as she exclaimed.

Hearing this, Fang Yanqing said, "Minjun, shouting like that, where are your manners?"

Lu Chen said, "Sect Leader Fang, it's fine. It's only normal to be a bit surprised knowing this!"

He then nodded to Ding Minjun. "That's right. Back then, the Yuan-Mongol Court dispatched experts disguised as Ming Cult members to injure Gu Hongzi as he returned from the duel at Bright Peak, and they took the heaven-reliant sword along the way. The purpose was to deepen the hatred between the Emei Sect and the Ming Cult!"

"This... this Yuan-Mongol Court is truly too despicable!" an Emei Disciple trembled with rage.

The expressions of the Emei crowd turned somber. They hadn't expected so many conspiracies behind this matter.

"Sect Master Lu, do you have evidence for what you've said?" Fang Yanqing was, after all, a Sect Head and maintained a shred of rationality.

Lu Chen chuckled. "Evidence? Of course I have it. But I can't say it yet. I can only tell everyone that the Yuan-Mongol Court's conspiracy goes far beyond this. They also want to..."

Lu Chen paused deliberately to create suspense, then lowered his voice and said, "They also want to stir up conflict at the Martial Forest Assembly, making the major sects kill each other to achieve their goal of completely dismantling the Central Plains Martial Forest!"

"What?!" The entire hall broke into an uproar.

The Yuan-Mongol Court was actually this insane!

Fang Yanqing's expression became incredibly solemn; she knew this matter was of great importance.

If what Lu Chen said was true, then the entire Martial Forest would face a massive crisis.

"Sect Master Lu, thank you for informing us of this. My Emei Sect will certainly consider it carefully," Fang Yanqing stood up and cupped her hands to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen waved his hand. "Sect Leader Fang is too polite. My Xiaoyao Sect only wants to make a contribution to the Martial Forest. My next step is to gain the support of the various Ming Cult divisions; I intend to take the position of Leader of the Ming Cult!"

Yin Susu also stood up and said to Lu Chen, "Brother Chen, if you want to be the Leader of the Ming Cult, I will definitely convince my father to support you with all his strength."

Lu Chen smiled and nodded. "Susu, don't worry. I want to be the Leader of the Ming Cult naturally to lead everyone to fight the Tartars together and restore our Han people's lands."

Ji Xiaofu, who was sitting next to Yin Susu: "Lu, Brother Lu, is what you're saying really true?"

Lu Chen smiled slightly and looked at Ji Xiaofu, his tone firm: "I speak no lies. As long as we find the heaven-reliant sword, we can naturally prove who injured your Senior Gu Hongzi back then. Won't all these mysteries be solved then?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Minjun immediately stepped forward. Since being lectured by Fang Yanqing, she had indeed restrained herself a lot and lowered her posture: "Sect Master Lu, I wonder how we can reclaim our Emei's heaven-reliant sword?"

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth curled into a playful smile as his gaze swept over Ding Minjun, and he said slowly, "I didn't expect Heroine Ding to be so concerned about your sect's heaven-reliant sword."

Ding Minjun was a bit embarrassed by his gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly as she whispered, "Being able to share my Revered Master's worries is the duty of an Emei Disciple."

Lu Chen laughed loudly, but his tone carried a hint of testing: "Heroine Ding, can you handle the person who was able to injure your Senior Martial Uncle Gu Hongzi and steal the heaven-reliant sword?"

Ding Minjun's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and she stammered, "Uh, Minjun is naturally not an opponent..."

Seeing this, a flash of craftiness crossed Lu Chen's eyes as he changed the subject: "However, there is one thing you can do, which I believe is something you are good at."

Fang Yanqing, who had been standing to the side, raised an eyebrow and said with some displeasure, "Sect Master Lu, why are you starting to order my Emei Disciples around?"

Lu Chen waved his hand and explained with a smile, "Isn't this all for your sect's heaven-reliant sword? Heroine Ding, lead the Disciples to contact the Six Great Sects of the Jianghu, set a time, and prevent the Six Great Sects from attacking the Ming Cult's headquarters at Bright Peak."

He paused, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "I don't believe those Yuan-Mongol experts won't fall for the trap!"